Talented, professional, compassionate vendors are the backbone of every smoothly running wedding day. When you hire people who are great at what they do AND good people to boot, your only job on your wedding day will be to act as a gracious hostess, love your family and friends well, and say “I do.” What a blessing! That’s why we’re passionate about our Blue Ribbon Vendors – because we want y’all to be worrying about those three things, and nothing else. Here are a few we’d love to introduce you to!
Name: Bows & Arrows
Where you call home: Dallas, Texas
How I got into weddings: Everything started out as a love of art and studying painting. Before I knew it, that passion fused with a desire to paint with different medium. Thus, floral and event design emerged.
Name: Divine Light Photography
Where you call home: New York City
Things you’d write home to your Momma about: We have been in business for over eight years, traveled all over the world with our clients, and been featured in many amazing publications and blogs, but our greatest achievement by far is being married for almost eleven years. We have had our struggles and adventures, but still call each other soul mates and lovers.
Name: Emerald Coast Convention Center
Where you call home: Okaloosa Island, Florida
Best piece of advice you can give to brides and grooms? Try to savor every minute. It goes by so fast!
Name: EraGem
Where you call home: Bellevue, WA
Favorite part of a wedding day? Exchanging of the rings!
Name(s): Good Earth Films
Where you call home: Reidsville, NC (it’s a little town close to Greensboro)
Things you’d write home to your Momma about: We feel blessed that we are able to work together. Starting Monday mornings with a warm cup of coffee, editing side-by-side, is something we never want to take for granted. We receive joy from the precious moments of ordinary life. We believe we create wedding films that encourage couples and their families to reflect on the joy in their own uniquely precious moments. And we hope that each film inspires folks to remember that this earth is a good place to be!
Name: Ritani Jewelers
Where you call home: New York and Seattle
Things you’d write home to your Momma about: Ritani was listed by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s Most Promising Companies in 2014. We’ve also been featured in Brides magazine, Bridal Guide, Glamour, Fox Business, CNN Money, and more!
Name: Sugar Bee Sweets
Where you call home: Arlington, TX
How I got into weddings: I’ve always loved weddings – even in college I worked at an event venue space as well as a bridal boutique. My passion for decorating cakes took it to the next level as I mustered up the courage to open my own bakery boutique seven years ago.
Name: A&P Designs
Where you call home: St. Petersburg, Florida
How I got into weddings: I have always loved paper. I designed my own invitations but didn’t know where to print them. I went to a stationer and after going through the design process, and it opened my eyes to the realization that this is my dream job. I just love designing and playing with paper all day long!
Name: Fritz Farm
Where you call home: Cordele, Georgia
How I got into weddings: In 2010, I started renovating the farm that my Uncle Fritz left in an estate upon his death in 1976. The locals started noticing, and a bride and her mom stopped by one day and asked if she could get married in our pecan orchard. Her wedding photos on Facebook and other social media outlets led to more inquiries and more weddings… thus the birth of The Fritz Farm Venue.
Name: Kelsey Barnard Catering
Where you call home: Dothan, Alabama
Favorite part of a wedding day? I love being able to witness the giddy excitement of a bride and groom’s new marriage as we escort them to their private meal. It’s even better when we can hear the “yums and mmmmms” from the other room.
Check out all of our favorite vendors in the Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory! I also wanted to mention that we’re working particularly hard to expand some of our areas of slim pickings – namely, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. If you would like to recommend someone (or nominate yourself!) for any of these states, please email emily at southernweddings.com!
Yay! I love the testimony of Lara and Ari’s marriage. It is such an example of a marriage founded on what matters most.
Marriage is wonderful and I completely agree that it is not about perfection it’s about working everyday to make wonderful memories and just respect each other.
What a beautiful baby and a beautiful testament to marriage. Thanks for the encouraging words!