Now that V5 is out on shelves, we get asked quite frequently if things have slowed down a bit and all of us SW gals are relaxing. Well, we are quite relaxed, but the V5 hubbub has not died down. (Especially with surprise collector’s editions sprouting up throughout the South!) Nope, we’re still on the post-print high, soaking in the gold foil on our cover and the love in our pages. We still can’t believe this magazine is ours!
That’s why, in celebration of five years of publishing, of great love stories and of amazing friends, vendors and readers, the V5 Launch Party was a must-do! We were blown away by how many people came to celebrate with us last month. Over 200 of y’all! We had a blast at the Carolina Inn hugging everyone and piling into the Cheese Photo Booth.
Those adorable buttons up there are from our event sponsor, Busy Beaver Button Co.! They greeted guests as they began rolling in at 7:00 on the dot. (Apparently, they were so well liked that many people from the event down the hall from us wanted to take them!)
Ryan Ray and Stefanie Miles of Lavender Joy Weddings, the talented brains behind our cover, didn’t know they could come until the very last minute. We are so glad they did because not only did we get to give them giant hugs, but we got to witness them seeing their cover in person for the very first time!
With our fifth anniversary cover donning glitzy gold and bright yellow, you know we jumped on the chance to make the whole party and gold glitter bash! Our intern Alexia was crucial in executing ideas. (In all seriousness, we do often refer to her as the official glitterer in the SW office.) We’re big fans of rustic and glam, so we just love that Floral Cotton provided us with some fluffy bolls to stick in our glittered mason jar. Those cheery and dressed up yellow centerpieces are the work of Expressions of Love, who nailed our color theme.
Y’all, let me tell you. There was no shortage of delicious (mini) Southern food at this party. Heidi at the Carolina Inn is a master at creating menus. Ours was full of mini pies, mini chicken and waffles, pulled pork sliders, a sweet potato bar, a sweet tea bar, a hot chocolate bar and so much more. Of course, we washed it all down with something sweet, courtesy of our friends at Cheerwine.
After we cut the (delicious red velvet) cake, we had to hop into the Cheese Booth! The lovely people below are Faith Teasley and Stacey Lanning, the photo and styling masterminds behind our feature, “In Celebration of the Mason,” followed by photographer Lauren Larsen and V5 Real Wedding couple Hailey + Rhet!! We couldn’t resist dropping a few poses with our new cover, Ryan Ray and Stefanie Miles.
Yahoo! The party was quite a big night for us. (Lara’s car and mine are still covered in glitter!) Since we’re still celebrating, we’re giving away one of our swag bags from the party! This gilded bag is full of a golden V5, fun buttons and a Sweet Tea Society manifesto. Want to win? Leave a comment below telling us what you love about weddings.
In other merry news, ornaments should be rolling into your mailboxes as I speak! If y’all are participating in our annual ornament swap, you should have sent your ornaments out on Friday. Slipped your mind? Get them in the mail today!
There’s not too much that I don’t love about a wedding…but the very best thing about a wedding is the happiness. From the moment a bride puts on her dress, to the moment when the groom sees her for the first time and then the celebration on the dance floor, everyone is always happy and that’s as awesome as it gets.
I’m nowhere near planning my own wedding, but I love weddings that have a heavy emphasis on family, and two families becoming one. I want an small(ish), intimate wedding, but it’s impossible for me to imagine it without my family there! :)
I love the hope that you can’t help but feel at a wedding. It’s palpable in the air. Hope for the happy couple, hope that love conquers all, hope in general. Love it!
I love when the bride sees her reception space for the very first time. It brings tears to my eyes when you know in your heart that every dream she’s had for her wedding is coming true in that amazing moment.
That Sweet Tea, as well as the Chicken & Waffles bars, are brilliant. I want!
Looks like such a blast! Y’all need to head down to Atlanta for the next Launch party!! What do I love about weddings? Tough to narrow it down, but I’d day the traditions of two families coming together to celebrate the love and the beginning of two wonderful people’s forever. Love never fails, y’all!
Love the happiness and love surrounding weddings!
I love wedding videography as much as you guys but I especially love wedding films that capture vows that are both a little bit traditional and a little silly, showing the personality of the couple! ( Lifestage Films’ video on a couple named Wiley and Mallory is my absolute favorite )
What a great party! Wish we could’ve been there. What a sweet and cheery recap, and we’re glad it was such a success!
I love weddings because they’re more than just a display of unity between two people, and more than just an expression of love between two people. It’s a celebration of love between all sorts of people. It’s an expression of emotion that’s so beautiful, so well-planned and so thoughtful, that it makes everyone in the room feel something. Whether it’s your first wedding or your thousandth, whether you’re the bridesmaid or barely know the bride, there’s something in the air at weddings that goes beyond everyday emotions. It’s like the love between the couple transcends, and permeates the entire climate of the wedding.
There is so much that I love about weddings, but two of my very favorites are 1) the flowers and 2) the vows. Floral creations can turn any space into the perfect ambiance the couple is trying to achieve and often bring the outdoors in (particularly for the glistening prone summer bride who would not dare get married outside in the heat!). And the vows. The vows, whether traditional or personalized, really exemplify all the joy, hope and LOVE that that couple has for one another and their future. It makes me teary-eyed just thinking about it!
First off, the love is the best part of a wedding, but I also love the history of the details. What brought the couple to have these things at their wedding – their grandparents cake topper, a mama’s wedding gown, etc. So many special family historic details. Love!!
my favorite part about weddings is hanging with the girls 30 minutes before when everything is DONE, seeing the grooms face when the bride walks in, and the true celebration of love, friends and family that helped make it all possible
What I love about weddings is the different details and touches that every bride brings to the table! Every wedding we do at The Barn has a similar theme, but all the details vary in style and personality!
I love the ability to showcase a couple’s personality. No 2 weddings are the same the way no 2 couples are the same! Weddings should be a showcase of a couple’s love.
one of my favorite things about weddings is the father’s toast. gets me every time!
I LOVE all the pics from your events. I always with I could jump right on in! Your blog has given me SO much inspiration for my upcoming June wedding. Don’t know how I’d do it without you! :)
xo,
Emily
emilyannestyle.com
I love weddings for bringing families together to create a new family. The wedding itself is the celebration of two halves becoming whole, and in my opinion is the perfect springboard into a wonderful life full of love. I cannot think of anything better than being surrounded by so many people who all share the same love and support for you in your journey to find happiness and love. The greatest of these is truly love, and I am thrilled to start a wonderful life with the man I love with our families standing by our side.
I really like the tears at the weddings! You can fake the smile, but you can never fake the feeling with happy tears! Like when the couple is entering the church it’s beautiful to see the eyes of the bride, of her parents. So emotional!!
I enjoy seeing the grooms reaction and the two families coming together.
Love this! What’s NOT to love about weddings?!
What I love about weddings is how it is a glimpse of what Heaven will be like… a joyful celebration, a delicious feast, and beauty and love all around!!
I love the class and style of weddings! The color schemes, the small details, all of the thought that is put into the day make each one so classy and unique!
I love the feeling of family. I think it’s one of the few times in a couple’s life when they are surrounded by all those they love the most…and that warm fuzzy feeling is contagious!!
I love stealing my couples away for a few minutes during their reception to take photos of them so in awe of each other. Intimate and romantic times are witnessed through my viewfinder!
[…] Photos ~ via Southern Weddings Magazine […]
what do I love about weddings? love, laughter, family, friends, joy, tears, details, dancing, vows from the heart that cause you to choke back tears, good food, fun music, memories made for a lifetime, and the start of a new life together for the bride and groom!
what do I love about weddings? pretty much everything!! :)
[…] To see more of this awesomeness in action and lots of silly Cheese Booth poses, visit the Southern Weddings V5 Launch Party recap here. […]
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