Southern Weddings

We know it’s going to be a great wedding when a) it’s sent to us by the talented team at Next Exit Photography and b) it’s held at the Viceroy Palm Springs.  The fabulous hotel’s punchy palette has inspired countless weddings over the years, and Sabrena + Casey’s bash is no different.  Holy wow, just take a look at a few of the details below: the invitation suite (made by the bride!), the welcome bags, the stunning florals by Desert Floral Importers?!  I’m dying over here, and Katharine tells me the bridesmaids’ pink and black bouquet is her all-time favorite arrangement of 2009.  Check back soon for more from the ceremony and reception!

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story.  I was visiting my friends from college in Washington, DC and met Casey when we all went out for the 4th of July.  When we first met, we just really hit it off.  I was living in Los Angeles at the time, but we started emailing and talking on the phone, and before we knew it, we were trying the long distance thing.  Casey likes to say we kept Jet Blue in business during the first few months we were together!
Describe the proposal.  For our four year anniversary, we took a trip to the Viceroy in Palm Springs.  I thought we were celebrating our anniversary that weekend, but Casey had his own agenda and had been working with the hotel on a big surprise, including making spa reservations for shortly after we arrived.  While I was finishing my treatment, Casey cut his short to run back to the room, grab the ring, and make sure all the arrangements were in order before heading back to the spa to wait for me.  When we opened the door, I saw a room filled with flowers and poured champagne but was still a little out of it from my treatment so I said “You must have told them it’s our anniversary”… only to turn around and find Casey on one knee with the ring.  This all made having our wedding day at the Viceroy Palm Springs even more special.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: All of the special touches, from the gene chart, to the car escort cards to designing our own invitation suite.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress:  My long dress was a really easy decision — I just felt like I was shopping for normal clothes.  Eventually I started to get worried that I would be too hot in a long dress for the entire wedding, so that’s where the short dress came in.  I saw it online, fell in love, and immediately tried it on – it was perfect.

Our Labor of Love never ceases to amaze us!  Really, how cool are these pictures from Jennie + Brian’s fun-filled fete?  We love the heart details decorating the ceremony seating… a perfect complement to the couple’s red and pink color palate.  Be sure to visit Our Labor of Love’s blog to check out their post on this Milkwauke wedding awesomeness!

Confession time: After seeing the fun and flirty shots from Jennie + Brian’s July wedding (photographed by SW sponsor Our Labor of Love), we were desperate to feature the red and pink love-fest in our November issue.  The only negative?  Jennie + Brian are not Southerners but Midwestern natives who tied the knot at The Charles Allis Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum in downtown Milwaukee.  Sadness!  But this minor detail wasn’t going to stop us from sharing their awesomely one-of-a-kind celebration with you one way or another, so we hope you enjoy today’s special two-part post!  Hey, while we’re here: take a look at the bride’s sweet tea-length Priscilla of Boston frock, her bridesmaids’ J. Crew dresses and those adorable blooms from Belle Fiori, Ltd.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.  We met at a New Year’s Eve party thrown by a few of my good friends. Brian was their new neighbor that they graciously invited because they thought he might not know that many people yet (good job!). When he got to the party, my first thought was: I “Who is that? I’ve never seen him before!” Brian jokes that the only reason I noticed him is because he was the only person in Milwaukee that I didn’t know. While that might have been one reason, it certainly wasn’t the only one. Our friends introduced me to Brian as the one to talk to about getting to know Milwaukee better. I guess it worked!
Describe the proposal: The proposal was perfect (does everyone say that?) in the sense that it was very us. It was a weekday and I had taken the day off because it was my 30^th birthday. No one should have to work on his or her birthday. I was sleeping in, and Brian had gotten up early per usual. Around 9 in the morning, he came in the room to wake me up and wish me a happy birthday with a fresh cup of coffee.  Sigh.  I love coffee.  Then he said “I have something else for you” – and took out the blue box. Ladies, we all know what this box is. VERY EXCITING! And the he asked me to marry him! We hugged and kissed, all while trying not to spill our scalding hot coffee.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Lovely, personal and simple.
Tell us all the basics of your wedding!  Season, location, venue, time of day, city and state, etc.  Why did you choose these things?  Did any of these things hold special meaning for you as a couple?  Our wedding was held on a warm July evening. I had actually never thought of getting married in the summer since I was always terrified the heat would be unbearable and since no one likes a sweaty bride.  However, we didn’t want to have a terribly long engagement and summer is really quite something in Milwaukee. So summer it was! The ceremony was at 6:30 pm when the sun was still out, but not overpowering, at the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  The Villa Terrace is set atop a hill overlooking Lake Michigan.  It’s breathtaking.  Originally the residence of a successful local businessman, Lloyd Smith, it is now used as a museum and for events.  Did I mention it is  absolutely breathtaking?!
What was the design inspiration for your wedding?  Why was this design special to you as a couple? We just wanted the wedding to be whimsical, pretty and simple. Personal only to us. I made a couple of inspiration boards (from a style standpoint) in the beginning and just went from there. We wanted to keep it small (75 guests) so we would really be able to celebrate with our closest friends and family.
Favorite design element of your big day: Picking up things I liked and making it all come together.
What was your favorite detail of the wedding: My hot pink Kate Spade shoes! And…my Brian.