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Monthly Archives: May 2012

We really couldn’t tear ourselves away from the Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby celebrations once Monday rolled around. (I may have had a harder time with this. I’m sure I made chips and guac every day this week.) Did anyone do anything spectacular on Saturday?

A fun Fiesta Celebration in honor of Texas’ independence was the perfect way to ease the transition.

Emily’s getting pumped for her trip to the National Stationery Show in just a few weeks. As a paper prelude, we featured four Southern spring invitation suites from Kristy at Momental Designs.

April shower bring May flowers, you say? We thought it was the perfect time to show off the beautiful bouquets that graced the pages of V4.

One look at Emily’s visit to the Inn at Palmetto Bluff might make you a little green with envy. Charming cottages, wonderful food and 20,000 acres of natural beauty make it an ideal honeymoon getaway.

We were all ears when Emily told us about what accessories she’ll be donning at her wedding in September. Lovely shoes, simple jewelry and a gorgeous veil? We’re big fans. Bonus points to Em for taking the “borrowed” in “something old, new, borrowed and blue” to the next level!

We’re bringing our model call back down below the Mason-Dixon! We know we’ve got some gorgeous readers, so if you’re free on June 20 and near Richmond, Virginia, join us for a V5 photo shoot!

Southern Stems never fail to make us fall in love with them. This week, Texas’ state flower, the bluebonnet stole our hearts with their vivid color.

Real Weddings are the bees knees!

Gabrielle + Paul attributed the warm Southern atmosphere of their wedding to their gorgeous venue. We think the addition of pink peonies and luxe linens are the cherry on top! See it here.

Good news for the weekend!

Sperry Tents have arrived in Charleston! You might be familiar with these pretty sailcloth tents (Emily’s using them for her own wedding!), and we’re thrilled that they’ve expanded their original Charlottesville, Virginia office to Charleston. The new office will also offer lighting, flooring, furniture by request, and other rental accessories! See their site for more details.

Before y’all leave, we had to share these adorable engagement photos of Sherry and her beau. How sweet is it that she included a copy of V4 in her session? Thanks Sherry and Epic Photography!

Finally, happy wedding weekend to one of our Southern Bride Bloggers, Tina!! We’re sending lots of love your way!

Have an amazing weekend, lovelies!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
1 Comment
  1. avatar Ashley reply

    I had a spectacular Cinco de Mayo! It’s one of my favorite holidays. This year was exceptionally special since on Saturday I graduated college, spent the weekend at a beach resort celebrating with family, and then got engaged on the balcony overlooking the beautiful Gulf of Mexico! I’m still on cloud 9 from all the excitement!

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Y’all, you know that we at Southern Weddings are never going to be the type to encourage you to update your Facebook status at the altar. Not. Happening. Ever. That’s a moment when technology should be the furthest thing from your mind!

But, we’ll be among the first to say that gizmos and gadgets absolutely have a place in wedding planning – a big place! After all, new-fangled things like blogs and Lover.ly and Pinterest have revolutionized the way weddings are planned, and we love that. And today, we’re happy to introduce you to one more piece of technology that will change the way you think about weddings!

Appy Couple is the first truly mobile (and stylish!) way to share your wedding with friends, family, and guests. That’s right, we’re talking about your very own wedding app :) Among just a few things your app can do?

Most importantly, it will give your guests all the info they need, when they need it: direction mapping, travel details, dress code, ceremony start time, childcare arrangements…

For our eco-conscious belles, Appy Couple offers a number of green benefits: it includes an RSVP function, and makes printing out complex direction cards a thing of the past.

For our stylish belles (and who among you is not stylish??), Appy Couple offers 100+ designs to choose from, in so many colors and combinations that you’re sure to find something that matches your wedding aesthetic.

Concerned about less tech-savvy guests? Don’t be! In addition to being on iPhone and Android, your app will be on the web in the form of a partner wedding website — perfect for guests who don’t have smartphones. And don’t worry about privacy, either — guests can only see events they’re invited to.

Possibly the coolest feature? Guests can upload pictures within the app! How fun would that gallery be to scroll through on your honeymoon?!

Best news of the day: For a limited time, Appy Couple is offering our lovely readers the opportunity to get Appy Couple free! Use code SWSP1 at appycouple.com after you choose your design. They’re in invitation-only beta right now, and would love your feedback.

Y’all, I already have a wedding website, but I think I know what I’m going to be doing this weekend. Tell me: Which is your favorite design? Mine has got to be the “Nautical Summer,” even if it’s not the perfect fit for the wedding I’m planning. I’m just about dying over the cuteness!!

emily Written with love by Emily
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Over the last few weeks, we’ve been exploring blooms that are particularly prized beneath the Mason-Dixon Line. Today, it’s all about Texas, because we’re chatting about the bluebonnet!

Bluebonnet image by Athena Pelton, overlay by SW

Beautiful! I’m sure the heart of every Texan reading this post is swelling with pride, because the bluebonnets are truly a treasure of the Lone Star State. They’re also, of course, it’s state flower.

Clockwise from top: Chase A. Fountain via the Dallas News, via Aggie Horticulture, CarolWatson on flickr, and Carla Stewart

Bluebonnets are a wildlower, and they grow over the winter, generally blooming in the last week of March or the first week of April. Because the seeds are encased in a hard outer “shell” that must be worn down by wind and rain, it’s said that the worse the winter, the prettier the bluebonnets. That’s a nice reward, don’t you think? According to Texans, the best bluebonnet spotting area is the triangle formed by Austin, San Antonio, and San Angelo.

Because of the short, unpredictable growing season, it’s risky to include bluebonnets in your plans for things like bouquets or centerpieces. If you do, make sure you have a backup bloom in mind! Grape hyacinth or muscari is a more widely-available spring flower with a similar look. Here’s a little inspiration for those of you getting married in the bluebonnet sweet spot:

From top: first two by Arielle Doneson, middle three by McGowan Images via Style Me Pretty, and last two by Melissa Schollaert via Southern Weddings

Keep in mind that we know not all of these images are of bluebonnets (though most are!), but we figured the shape and hue of the blooms would give you a good approximation of what bluebonnets might look like if you chose to use them!

Even if you’re getting married in, say, September, working with your photographer to shoot your engagement photos during bluebonnet season is a great way to work some Texas pride into your wedding! They do make a beautiful backdrop…

Amanda Marie Portraits

One last fun fact about bluebonnets? They have five leaves, which are said to represent the five points of the Texas Lone Star :)

What’s your favorite Southern stem? Any Texans out there want to share some Texas pride or up close and personal bluebonnet encounters in the comments?

P.S. Don’t miss our posts on camellias and wisteria!

Melissa Schollaert is a fabulous member of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

emily Written with love by Emily
7 Comments
  1. avatar JM reply

    It’s illegal to pick bluebonnets in the state of Texas, to my knowledge, so it’s impossible to use them in a bouquet or anything else for a wedding. A real Texan would NEVER pick one! But they are a gorgeous backdrop and inspiration.

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi JM! Thank you so much for chiming in! I actually did some research, and according to the Texas Department of Public Safety, it is NOT illegal to pick bluebonnets – just illegal to trespass on private property, and to damage or destroy rights of way (so don’t dig up an entire field). But a few blooms for a bouquet should be no problem at all! You can read more here: http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_information/pr032602.htm

  2. avatar Jenn reply

    Thanks so much for posting about The Lone Star State! Bluebonnets do make a lovely backdrop for a wedding, and while we can pick them or grow our own, I think their stems are pretty delicate, making them less-than-hardy for a bouquet, but I’ve seen them planted in tiny planter pots for centerpieces at a garden wedding! They also look striking against the unofficial flower that blooms about a week to two weeks later, the Indian Paintbrush.
    http://www.ranchflowers.com/photoszb_combos/indian%20paintbrush%20%26%20texas%20bluebonnets.htm
    They’re almost coral in color! So pretty with the blue and white…

  3. avatar Angeline Kincannon reply

    This is so Awesome!!!!!! :))))

  4. avatar athena reply

    Spring in Texas is one of the most magnificent seasons I’ve ever witnessed (And I’m from the Midwest, so I know seasons). The bluebonnets – and the rest of the Texas wildflowers – are a big reason why. It’s really quite breathtaking – seeing fields stretched as far as the eye can see – blue. Purple. Specks of white. It’s not french lavender, but it may as well be. If you ever have the chance to get to Hill Country in the Spring – do it. You won’t regret it. Promise :) xoxo

  5. avatar Heather reply

    I was told that you weren’t allowed to use real bluebonnets in a wedding so I’m incorporating silk bluebonnets, along with trying to get bridal pictures done in a bluebonnet field. My grandfather’s family was originally from Texas, and my fiance is from Texas and thats where we hope to live one day so bluebonnets are definitely something I wanted to incorporate into our wedding. Its in May this year, so hopefully I can get some nice bluebonnet photos in March maybe!!

  6. avatar Southern Stems: Magnolia – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] Orchid What’s your favorite Southern stem? Don’t miss past posts on dogwood, gardenia, bluebonnets, wisteria, jasmine, and […]

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