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Monthly Archives: May 2014

Many people call Memorial Day weekend the unofficial start of summer, and if the rising temperatures in the South are any indication, we’d say they’re right! Now that our white pants have been debuted and Jack Rogers have been dusted off, we’re ready to dive into experiencing all that Southern summers have to offer. Looking for a fun activity to do with your beau this weekend? Check off any last minute Spring Doins, or pull out our Summer Doins list from last year–there are so many great ideas in both!

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for the Southern Weddings newsletter, The Sweet Tea Sipper, before tomorrow to get a peek at our first Summer Doin of the year, plus tons of updates about what we’re up to this month!

See more from this engagement session by Pictilio on our Facebook page!

In case you missed it this week…

Emily and I shared our experience at the Salamander Resort for the Honey List.
We’re looking for reader models in Charleston! Info for applying here.
We gave y’all a peek behind the scenes of our V7 bouquet shoot.
Carlene of Healthfully Ever After and her husband shared their favorite meals in Southern Newlywed.

Victoria and William eloped before William’s deployment, and we were honored to share their special day!
Emily and Chris kept their Asheville wedding classic and intentional, and the result was gorgeous!
Lara Beth and Robert were inspired by their love of the ocean when planning their North Carolina wedding.
We can’t stop admiring Hayden and Logan‘s dreamy portraits and sweet love story!

On Southern Living…

We chatted about gift giving etiquette and rounded up some of our favorite wedding gift pairings.

Sponsor Corner

It is no secret that we love monograms, but why we love monograms may not be quite as obvious. Our sweet friend Stacy of Stacy Brown Designs hit the nail on the head: “To us, your monogram represents your deep-rooted family name and your legacy! It is our hope that every time you look at your customized piece, you will cherish all of your treasured memories of what your name truly stands for.” That is exactly why we love monogrammed wedding details, as well as all of the beautiful pieces at Stacy Brown Designs. From hand-painted bracelets that would be perfect bridesmaid gifts to colorful picture frames that would brighten up any newlywed home, Stacy’s love for family and the South are evident in everything she makes!

Have a happy weekend!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
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I can’t think of a better way to end the week than with these moments that You and I Pictures captured at Ciara and Christian’s wedding. Y’all, these two are just crazy in love, and it is the sweetest thing to see! Ciara recalls their “first touch” as her favorite moment from the day, and it’s my favorite moment from the video, too. Grab a tissue (you’ll need it!) and enjoy!

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story! Christian and I met during our senior year of high school. We both attended Student Venture, a youth group at our high school, and since we were both leaders, we spent a lot of time together. Christian asked me to homecoming, and when when we realized we had feelings for each other, he asked me out on a date! At the end of our date, he asked me to be his girlfriend. He proposed on our three-year anniversary at the same place where he had asked me out.
What are three words you would use to describe your wedding? Romantic, chic, simple
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Our wedding was in a barn that had been built as a wedding venue for the owners’ daughter, and they have been renting it out ever since! They also own horses, goats, and pigs.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Our first touch. Before the ceremony, instead of having a first look, we had a first touch so we could talk and pray together before the ceremony. It was the moment when everything became real. My nerves calmed as soon as I felt his hand. I will never forget that moment and the feelings that came with it.

Videographer: You and I Pictures / Venue: Birdsong Barn / Photographer: Tara Wells Stevenson with Leigh Wells Photography / Catering: Sonny’s BBQ / Desserts: Sweet by Holly / DJ: Patrick Fisher

See more of our wedding films here!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
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There is a long list of people I would love to have dinner with, and Carlene Thomas of Healthfully Ever After is certainly one of them! Not only do she and her husband, Chris, seem super sweet and down-to-earth, she is also passionate about helping brides achieve healthy lifestyles that last long after their wedding days. We love the idea of brides having such a supportive, inspiring, and uplifting presence in their lives during their engagements, and since that’s exactly what we aim to be as well, it’s safe to say that Carlene is an SW kindred spirit. Sit a spell with her at this beautiful dinner party she and Chris threw to introduce us to some of their favorite dishes!

By day: Carlene is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who also runs her own private practice and consulting company, Healthfully Ever After, which focuses on helping brides become healthier and happier. Chris is a project manager for a design build company that makes custom solar homes in the DC area and creates sustainable infrastructure in developing countries.

How they met: Let’s set the scene. You’re awkward and in fourth grade in a school of 100 kids. Chris was the new kid, and as he tells the story, his vocal performance as Pappa Mozart in the school play, Mice and Mozart, must have really sealed the deal. As fate would have it, Chris moved to a different part of Virginia in middle school and my family ended up moving to that same place. Fast forward to middle school and we became best friends. And after lots of persistence on Chris’ part, he eventually wore me down (kidding!) and we started dating in high school.

Their wedding: We had an October wedding at the Thomas Birkby House in Leesburg, Virginia. It was brisk, but warm, with no humidity (a big factor for all Southern girls and their hair!). Probably one of my favorite wedding details was my bouquet, which has become sort of everything my business stands for in one image. Holly Chapple graciously met my insane request for a total foodie bouquet. She called me the night before like “Are you all in?” and I just said “ I trust you!” She put in okra, green beans, herbs, carrots, brussels sprouts and more. Chris’ boutonniere had a baby carrot. She’s the best.

Meal planning: I almost always do the meal planning. I like to use overlapping ingredients throughout the week, and with our CSA, which runs from May to October, we don’t really have a say in what ends up in our kitchen. For us, it’s all about being flexible. Additionally, whatever I make often ends up on my blog, so I need time to plan during the day, photograph the food, and then eat it later! However, you should see Chris whip up a meal–he goes all out.
The cooking: I do most of the cooking, but Chris is the total sauce and dressing master. He’s also amazing at flavor pairings. Cooking is actually kind of my zen time and I enjoy it. It’s not a chore at all!

Favorite meal-related memory: We love to walk to the farmer’s market down the street, come back with some goodies, and have an outdoor lunch. When you have good ingredients, that’s all you need. We grab artisanal bread, cheese, produce, and bacon (says the dietitian). We put it all on a big platter with a salad and sit outside and nibble. It works on any scale, from two people to ten. Just add wine or cocktails!

Top ten favorite recipes:
1. Lentil burgers: These lentil burgers are “meaty” enough for the carnivore and a good meat alternative for the veggie lover!
2. Vegan chili made with fig jam: This easy, one-container meal (minus the salad) is our go-to for winter.
3. Schaum tortes: Our go-to celebratory dessert. I’ll take these over cake any day. They’re always great in summer with fresh berries, although they can sometimes be hard to make if it’s humid outside.
4. Fish sticks: This recipe has significantly less sodium and fat than your typical fish stick. And significantly more yum.
5. Whole wheat biscuits: Chris makes insanely good biscuits that we eat with soft, runny eggs and local bacon. We’ll have to do a blog post about them soon!
6. Salmon hash: For a luxurious brunch, we’d rather make salmon hash at home rather than battle the crowds out and about.
7. Lemon meringue pie: Some Grandmas make cookies, but Grandma Helble makes lemon meringue pie when we visit! It’s a heavenly, tart cloud.
8. Salmon with anything: On any given day, if you poke your head into my fridge or freezer, there are likely perfectly portioned filets ready for a quick cook. I usually swing by Costco and grab a half fish to portion/freeze and use for a few weeks.
9. Grandma’s tuna patties: Chris and I are obsessed with these tuna patties that my Grandma makes–they really taste more like a rich crab cake than a typical tuna burger.
10. Rainbow veggie slaw: We love this as a vinegar kick for everything from chicken to lentil burgers.

Thank you so much for sharing, Carlene and Chris! For more of their healthy recipes and tips, follow along on Carlene’s blog and Instagram.

lisa Written with love by Lisa
4 Comments
  1. avatar Carlene: Healthfully Ever After reply

    Thank you all SO much for this feature! We are in love with what you all represent and are so happy to share our little part of the world with you. AND I found that picture of us from 4th grade!!!! Here it is on instagram: http://instagram.com/p/ol05EmI-bW/

  2. avatar Kristin Winchester reply

    I am dying over those grilled peaches and have added the lentil burgers to next-to-try recipes. Thanks for sharing a few of your secrets, Carlene! Newlywed cooking = my favorite

  3. avatar Molly reply

    OH WOW! Best bouquet ever! Such a hoot! And so pretty!

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

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