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Monthly Archives: February 2012

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Southern Inspiration Board: A Modern Mardi Gras Wedding

by in Color Palettes and Inspiration Boards, Main on

With Mardi Gras festivities gearing up in Southern locales like New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, we figured it was the perfect time to bring y’all some fabulous Carnival inspiration! As I’m sure y’all know, Mardi Gras is one of the biggest cultural celebrations in the South. Though Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, is typically host to the biggest parties and feasting, the Carnival celebrations stretch all the way from Epiphany to the beginning of Lent. That’s a lot of King Cake, y’all! To celebrate, we’re taking the day to offer up three posts chock-full of Mardi Gras hootenanny. Yes, hootenanny.

I’m up first, and I’ve got an inspiration board to share with you! I wanted to do offer a softer twist on the traditional purple, green, and gold color scheme while still reflecting the fun and celebration of Mardi Gras.

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The Details:

A sparkly gold bolero adds instant pizzazz to any wedding day ensemble (photo by Shannon Nicole Smith via Southern Weddings). Dress your ‘maids in shades of shiny plum and mulberry for a dazzling effect (photo by Elizabeth Messina). A gorgeous feather fascinator picks up on the notes of Mardi Gras costumes without going overboard (photo by Veil and Bow via Southern Weddings).

The Blackberry Smash, with its purple hue and pop of green mint, would make a perfectly color-coordinated signature drink! (Photo by Andrew Purcell via Design*Sponge) We love this cascading centerpiece by Flowers by Fancy (photo by Kate Preftakes). The gold beads adorning the back of this chair remind you a bit of really classy Mardi Gras beads, don’t they? (Photo by Aaron Delesie via Once Wed.)

A classic carriage is the perfect transport to — or getaway from — your ceremony (photo by Bryan Johnson). Last but not least, no Mardi Gras inspired wedding would be complete without a King Cake. We love this one from our friends at Sucre.

Check back in later today, as Marissa will be sharing Mardi Gras traditions and inspiration from real weddings, and Nicole will be rounding up some French Quarter finds!

emily Written with love by Emily
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  1. avatar Beane and Company reply

    Love the lavender and gold together. My college colors were purple and gold…I never thought they could be used in such an elegant way! Beautiful!

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The Third “Ultimate Southern” Challenge: Burlap!

by in Contests, Main on

We loved bringing you even more super Southern ideas in our 2011 series the “Ultimate Southern Challenge,” and we’re excited to start it up again in 2012! In case you missed the festivities last year, we focused on mason jars and escort cards. The response to both Challenges was fantastic, and the entries, even better!

This time around our starting point is the perfect blank canvas: burlap! Burlap is an inexpensive material, and though it’s most often seen in rustic settings, we’re excited to see what possibilities y’all will dream up for this humble cloth! To get your wheels turning, here are a few of the favorite burlap details we’ve featured on the blog:

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A burlap bouquet cuff (photo by Pasha Belman) and a burlap bouquet wrap (photo by Brion Hopkins)

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Sweet burlap ring bearer pillows (photo by Landon Jacob Productions)

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A burlap-covered bar (photo by 13:13 Photography)

Vendors, feel free to team up, though your submission doesn’t have to be anything elaborate — in fact, we want these ideas to be easily executable by brides everywhere!

A few details:

– Your submission can take any form (as long as it involves burlap!), but the most important piece is that it be SOUTHERN.

– Anyone can enter as an individual or a team — vendors, brides and grooms, and wedding or Southern enthusiasts alike. And you don’t have to be Southern to enter!

– To enter, please send 5-10 professional-quality photos at 600 pixels wide and a brief description of your submission to howdy at iloveswmag dot com. Subject line: “Ultimate Southern Challenge: Burlap.”

– Include the names and websites of all your team members, and a list of materials and links to sources used. Please include directions for any DIY projects you may have done.

– All submissions must be received by 11:59pm on March 8, 2012. Submissions received after the 9th will not be eligible.

– Our favorite submissions will be posted throughout the week of March 12th, and the winner, who gets ultimate Southern bragging rights, will be announced the following week.

– Submissions cannot be posted or tweeted until published on Southern Weddings.

We can’t WAIT to see what y’all come up with! Questions? Leave them below, and we’ll do our best to answer them!

P.S. Want to check out the winners of our last two Challenges? Go here + here!

Landon Jacob Productions is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

emily Written with love by Emily
4 Comments
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  1. avatar Taryn reply

    Can you submit more than one entry into the contest?

  2. avatar Gina reply

    Hello! I love a challenge that involves creativity… I am portuguese from Portugal… can I enter the challenge?
    Love all your amazing work!

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Southern Delicacy: Benne Wafers

by in Main, Southern Food on

This past weekend, my husband BDK and I had a fun little trip to the Boca Beach Club planned. Research for the Honey List, you know. Let’s just say it was a blast, but more on that later!

Our Southern Delicacy mini-series is taking a beach trip as well – to Charleston! I know, jealous! Our Southern Delicacy of the week is the benne wafer, and according to the Olde Colony Bakery, “the benne wafer perfectly represents the fine taste and heritage of the Charleston, South Carolina area.” Having never tasted benne wafers (shame!) I cannot concur without further research.

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Benne wafer photo by She Wears Many Hats; benne wafer favor photo by Veil and Bow via Style Me Pretty

I can, however, give you a little taste (pun-intended) of what my research found! Benne wafers are unique to the Lowcountry (the region located along South Carolina’s coast), and have been around since the Colonial era. The benne (the Bantu word for sesame) wafer is a thin cookie, made of toasted sesame, and has a almond-y or peanut buttery flavor. The original recipe was brought over from East Africa in the 17th century, and wafers are still made by hand today. Not local to Charleston but still looking to get your hands on this great Southern treat? Try Olde Colony Bakery, Market Street Munchies, or Byrd Cookie Company.

An additional detail for brides? According to Bantu folklore, eating the benne wafer is said to bring good luck; I think the luck alone is a perfect reason to serve this yummy treat at a wedding! (Well that, and its fabulous Southern history!) These sweet little cookies would also be perfect as a wedding favor or tucked into a welcome bag.

Looking to try your hand at benne wafers? Discover South Carolina has the recipe for traditional preparation of this delicacy for y’all!

Have you tried benne wafers? How do they rank among fabulous Southern treats, in your opinion?

P.S. Is this making you hungry? Check out our first feature in this series – grits!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
5 Comments
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  1. avatar Amy reply

    Oh, I love benne wafers! Living here in Charleston they are a MUST when shopping at the Market or to have on hand for visitors. In fact, I love these little delicious treats so much, I’m planning a Benne Wafer Bar for our wedding! Southern Sisters Bakery (http://www.southernsistersbakers.com/) sells their wafers downtown at the Market and have adapted the original recipe to include some new favorites like pecan, gingersnap and lemon cooler. Oh I’m getting a craving just thinking about them!

    • avatar Marissa reply

      Okay, a Benne Wafer Bar?! SO awesome! Thanks for sharing the Southern Sisters link, I’ll have to check out those flavors! xo, Marissa

    • avatar Lindsey reply

      Amy: I definitely think Olde Colony Bakery makes THE BEST benne wafers. They have the perfect yummy flavor and crunch every time. You can buy them all around town and on their website – http://www.oldecolonybakery.com. They are the home to the original benne wafers although my favorite cookie of theirs is the raspberry sassy or the key lime cookies.

      We’re putting them out at my wedding along with the candy and pies from Michigan. It is good luck after all :-)

  2. avatar Barbara stevens reply

    Hope that you had a lovely birthday. I have many fond memories of the Boca Hotel and Resort. My husband and i even went to prom there many moons ago.

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