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Category: Southern Bride of the Month

Happy May! I’m so very excited to introduce you to our third Southern Bride of the Month. Readers, meet Megan! She comes with a handsome fiance, Brandon. Read on for all the details of her wedding planning journey, including her ah-mazing Southern reception menu (mac and cheese on a stick!) and the hilarious (and sweet) way they chose a first dance song.

Hi! What’s your name?
Megan

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Brandon

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
Oddly enough, a girl from New York and a boy from DC ended up at the same tiny college in Chattanooga, TN. We would see each other around the softball fields at school but never actually spoke to one another. Brandon remembers my braces. I remember when he actually had hair on his head! We were never in the same circle of friends, so it took us years to finally meet.

After graduation I was offered a job teaching second grade and spent the summer planning for my first real classroom. Brandon and I were both with friends at a local Chattanooga Lookouts game when we were introduced. It wasn’t love at first sight. In fact, we both had our hearts in different places at the time. That summer, however, Brandon basically became like another roommate around my house. The turning point in our friendship was when he met my mom. She spent a week helping me set up my new classroom, and at the end swore he liked me. Moms are always right about these things!

From that point on, things had changed. We never spent another day apart. And he spent many of those days asking me to be his girlfriend. And even though it took some time, saying yes was the best decision I ever made.

Image credit: Leslie Woodard

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
Although Brandon and I had talked about getting married, he did his best to throw me off course for a while. Brandon got down on one knee on many occasions before he actually asked me to marry him. Sometimes he would get down on one knee… and pick something up. Or get down on one knee, look at me… and tie his shoe! He thought those games were clever! Me, not so much.

Our proposal was simple and sweet and, most, importantly, us. One Friday evening after work, we picked up a few slices of pizza and drove out to the beach. We laid out a big towel on the sand and had a yummy picnic. We kicked off our sandals and went for a walk along the water. Brandon stopped and got down on one knee. I tried to pull him up, and told him to stop playing these games with me. He told me he loved me and he couldn’t wait for me to be his wife, and took out a beautiful ring. I dropped down onto my knees and hugged him and kept asking, “Is this real this time?” Please don’t be joking!”

When’s the big day?
May 29, 2011

Where might you two be tying the knot?
Eden Gardens State Park in Point Washington, FL

Image of Eden Gardens by Pure7 Studios. See more from this wedding here + here!

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
We knew we wanted to choose a venue that would offer a warm Southern welcome to our families traveling from up north. I had been to Eden Gardens years ago for a friends wedding, and found myself comparing each venue we looked at to it.This is the venue of my dreams. We will be getting married under a huge moss-draped oak tree, and celebrating, in true outdoor fashion, under strings of white cafe lights.

Image credit: Jose Villa via Snippet & Ink

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
I am a wedding blog stalker! Even before Brandon and I got engaged, I was saving pictures to my wedding folder of all the colors and ideas I loved. Southern Weddings features the most beautiful weddings, and saving pictures of centerpieces, cakes, dresses and decor was such a great place to start.

Who or what has been most helpful in the wedding planning process?
It’s amazing how much people are willing to help with wedding projects. Our families and friends have been so supportive of our ideas, that many of them have stepped up to the plate to take things off our hands. For example, last weekend my aunt and grandmother went to a farmer’s market and basically bought out 30 pounds of ripe organic strawberries to make jam for our wedding favors. A lady from our church is making us wooden signs. My roommates helped me make banners, table numbers and even stuff our invitations. We really are so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who love us.

Has your vision for your wedding changed or evolved over the course of your engagement? If so, how?
Being realistic about our budget has definitely evolved my wedding vision. Along the way there have been many times where I’d have to stop and ask myself, “Do I need this? Is this a non-negotiable?” Some things fell into the “worth the splurge” category, and others didn’t make the cut.

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
My mom and sister flew down from New York to go dress shopping with me. I had no idea what I wanted. I didn’t even bring any pictures with me! The girls at Solutions Bridal are amazing! They selected six dresses for me to start with, but by the time I tried on my second dress, I was sold! I will be wearing a Marisa 737 gown and it was made for me!

I knew what my bridesmaids would be wearing, however, way before I had a clue what I would put on: navy Amsale dresses in six different styles. They are fabulous!

Who is your favorite vendor you’ve booked so far?
I am so excited about our caterer, Dine by Design. The owner, Kim, has been so helpful throughout the entire planning process. Brandon and I wanted fun food, that put a Southern spin on comfort food! Dine by Design is knocking this one out of the park! You might wanna sit down for this. Macaroni and cheese on a stick, two-bite burgers, garlic mashed potatoes, grits, and my dream-come-true biscuit bar just to name a few.

Image credit: Anna Robin (see more from this V3 shoot here!)

Do you have a favorite Etsy store you’d love to tell us about?
Etsy is addicting. By Invitation Only made our gorgeous invitation suites. We got so many compliments on them! And Weddingcollaborator made our adorable flower girl dresses.

What has been the best part of wedding planning? The worst part?
The best part of this planning process would have to be how invested my groom is! Brandon isn’t much help when it comes to color palettes and flowers, but watching him eat six pieces of wedding cake and hug our cake vendor was priceless! He even picked out our wedding song in the middle of a pet store. He heard a song playing over the speakers, pulled me in to dance with him in the middle of the dog food aisle, and told me he found our wedding song.

What do you wish you would have known at the beginning of your engagement?
I wish I had known how much work goes into a true outdoor wedding. Since both our ceremony and reception will be outside, we will be renting everything from spoons to stoves. I had my wedding goggles on when the planning began. I only saw the possible challenges I wanted to see, and now I truly see how much work and how many details are going into the event.

Image credit: Leslie Woodard

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
Become a blog obsessed bride like me, and enter as many contests and giveaways as possible! It doesn’t hurt! And you’ll be so excited and overjoyed when you finally win something. I even won a free wedding website through Wedding Window!

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
It feels like there are a hundred gifts to buy before our wedding arrives. There are no shortage of suggestions for bridal party gifts, but what will you be giving your groom, parents and readers?

Thank you so much for playing along, Megan! Readers, if you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

The Southern Bride of the Month header was designed by our intern Sierra, with illustration by Curious & Company!

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

    Southern Bride of the Month has become one of my new favorite blog features! Megan, you are so adorable and you are going to be a gorgeous bride!

    • avatar Kelly reply

      Megan! Hi from the April Southern Bride! :) I am from Destin, FL and Eden Gardens is one of my all time favorite spots! I’ve been there numerous times just to walk around and sit on the dock that overlooks the bay! It’s absolutely gorgeous there!!! Congratulations! It’s almost here!

    • avatar Jess reply

      Oh my heck, I LOVE the doily “Love is sweet” banner! It matches these fabric doily hangings I made for my reception

  2. avatar Alison reply

    Congrats Megan! You will be a beautiful bride! I am also in desperate need of ideas for gifts! We need ideas for southern, meaningful gifts for our moms and dads. Any ideas out there???

  3. avatar Amanda reply

    Megan, I am recently engaged and my wedding is not until June 2, 2012. But, I already have bought my fiance’s wedding gift!! When we were having my engagement ring resized at his jeweler, he pointed out the Tag Heuer Carrera Calibre watch. I secretly put it on layaway for him and he has no idea. My advice for your groom gift: give him something he REALLY wants, but that he would never buy for himself, nor would you likely buy for him on a birthday or Christmas. One of my other friends bought her husband a riding law mower, the kind that turns 360 degrees. She rode up to the reception on it in her wedding dress! Coolest wife ever.

  4. avatar erica reply

    Thanks for featuring our infamous tree image again! And a big congrats to Megan & Brandon!

  5. avatar Weekly Round-Up « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] plans, their gorgeous venue, and yes, the macaroni and cheese on a stick they’re serving here! Save Facebook it Tweet […]

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Happy April! I’m so very excited to introduce you to our second Southern Bride of the Month. Readers, meet Kelly! She comes with a handsome fiance, Rob. Read on for all the touching details of her wedding planning journey, including one prolific honeybee and a pair of heartfelt ceremony readings.

Hi! What’s your name?
Kelly

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Robert

What do y’all do for a living?
I am, believe it or not, a wedding planner! Rob works as a civilian for the Army specializing in logistics.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
It was February 2007. I was a Zeta & Rob was an SAE, and our sorority and fraternity were paired up together for Homecoming. Against my will, I was nominated for the Homecoming pageant. Rob was doing a lip sync skit competition with a bunch of other people, and we met one night during practice. I remember he was wearing Nantucket red shorts, New Balances, a hooded sweatshirt, and this tacky Alabama sweatband around his head – and I still thought he was cute!

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
Well, I went on to be crowned queen. Now fast forward to the Homecoming pageant in February 2009. I went with a bunch of my sorority sisters to cheer on the girl from our chapter, and Rob came too, claiming he hadn’t seen any of his fraternity brothers in a while (at that point he was working on his masters). We sat separately in the theater. After the “talent” portion was over, the guy onstage who had just finished singing (coincidentally, one of Rob’s fraternity brothers) said, “Can I have Kelly Walsh onstage, please?” I was all, “Hmm, this is odd -maybe it’s for old Homecoming queens?” Being a good sport, I got up – and saw one of Rob’s fraternity brothers in a suit standing in the aisle. He asked me to come with him, which made me really nervous – like, OMG, what is going on?! Then, as he took me down to the stage, I saw another of Rob’s fraternity brothers in a suit with a dozen roses. By this point I was SO nervous because I knew something was going on! He took me to the center of the stage, where Rob came out in a tuxedo, got down on one knee, and asked me to marry him in front of about seven hundred people. He opened the box, and inside was his grandmother’s emerald cut engagement ring. I couldn’t have been more surprised, and of course I said yes! It was so amazing to have all of my sorority sisters and one of my biological (also sorority!) sisters there to share in the excitement!

When’s the big day?
June 18th, 2011

How did you pick your ceremony and reception venues? What do you love most about each space?
Rob and I didn’t know where we wanted to get married, just that it had to be somewhere in the South, and somewhere outside with amazing views. My wedding planner, Melissa, recommended our reception venue, which is a private home on the river in Savannah. I love it because it gives us more flexibility to do what we want, versus having to work within a time frame or stick to a preferred caterer.

Above: a shot at the reception venue

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
I think who Rob and I are has been the most inspiring part of the process. We really took into consideration what we love, where we are from, and what means the most to us. We want people to leave our wedding saying, “That was SO Kelly and Rob!” The backdrop for both the ceremony and reception has had a huge part in the inspiration, as well. We don’t want to do anything or bring anything in that will feel out of place. We want to highlight the natural beauty that is already there!

Who or what has been most helpful in the wedding planning process?
I think my knowledge of the event industry, our wedding planner Melissa, and Rob’s strategic budget management have all helped keep me calm! I am actually planning two weddings in Richmond, VA (where we live) on the same day as mine, so Rob and Melissa have been a saving grace! Rob is amazing at keeping me grounded, and any problems we have run into Melissa has been able to fix immediately – I swear she has a magic wand!

Above: Kelly’s hair and bouquet inspiration, both from The Knot

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Yes! I just had my first dress fitting a couple of weeks ago, actually. It’s an Alvina Valenta. My mom flew up to Richmond last year to look with me, and though there were tons I loved, I never had that “cry moment” with “the dress.” At the end of a long day, my mom wanted to stop in this little shop called Jingles. The name really bothered me – it reminded me of an old cat lady, or something, But I agreed to go in and pulled a few random dresses. I came out in one of them, looked in the mirror, and just started crying! So did my mom. I found some gorgeous slate blue Badgley Mischka’s to wear as my something blue, and I’m planning to keep it simple with pearls.

The (nine!) bridesmaids will be wearing bright kelly green dresses, and the groomsmen will be in three-button seersucker suits with navy bowties.

Don’t have your own honeybee? Order some from Bee Raw!

Who is your favorite vendor you’ve booked so far?
Does my honeybee count?! Our guest favors are small mason jars of honey. Rob bought me a honeybee a while ago, and she lives on a bee farm in Georgia. We get all of her honey, and it’s always a different shade depending on the pollen and season. I am so excited for our guests to take these home – I think it’s so fun, and personal at the same time!

Tell us about the one that got away. Is there one dream thing or vendor you wish you could have fit into your budget?
A videographer, for sure! Not a tacky one, but one that films more like a documentary. I’d love to have a video like that to look back on one day!

What has been the best part of wedding planning? The worst part?
The best part is sharing this experience with Rob and getting excited every day about what our future holds. It’s also been wonderful to talk to my family about the details. I am the first grandchild in the family, and the firstborn for my parents, so it’s a really special time for everyone!

The worst part? Dealing with a budget and having to have a rain plan!!!!! Fingers crossed it will not rain on our wedding day – I mean, it never rains on weddings, right?? I think brides across the board agree about the budget aspect. It’s never fun to sit down and talk money or crunch numbers, but Rob is a math whiz, so I’m really thankful for him.

Left, Kelly’s bridesmaids’ dress, and right, her cake inspiration from Maggie Austin

What has been the biggest challenge so far in wedding planning?
Planning the wedding from far away! We booked our venue and all vendors when we were living in Florida… and then Rob got an amazing job offer that brought us up to Richmond. Being about seven hours from Savannah, we have to do mostly phone & Skype appointments, but we are making it work! It’s also hard to plan it without being close to my mom and maids of honor (I have two). Rob has been gone for three months at a time twice this past year, so sometimes it’s lonely!

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
Seeing Rob for the first time, and dancing with my dad. I am sure I will be so emotional for both of those. I did ballet for forever when I was younger, and to this day I still dance with my dad in the kitchen when I am at home. I take off my shoes and stand on his feet, little-girl style. I have found the most perfect song for us, and I can’t wait to share that moment with him. He’s a wonderful man.

I am also excited for the ceremony. I really wanted it to be personal, and about Rob and me becoming husband and wife. My two sisters are each going to pick a passage from the Bible to read – whichever one means the most to them. In honor of my grandmother on my Dad’s side, we’ve planned something special. She and my grandfather met after WWII, when my grandmother was a nanny for his siblings. They used to write love letters to each other all the time, and they are some of the most beautiful and romantic letters I have ever read. My Dad has two sisters. During the ceremony, one will read a letter that my grandfather wrote to my grandmother, and the other will read the letter that my grandmother wrote back. She is the only grandparent that I have had pass away, and I want her to be a part of this day.

Pie bar inspiration from Kate Headley. See more from this wedding on SW here + here!

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
What is the most unique or personal thing about your wedding? I love hearing how each bride puts her own spin on things!

Thank you so much for playing along, Kelly! Readers, if you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

The Southern Bride of the Month header was designed by our intern Sierra, with illustration by Curious & Company!

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

    Thrilled to have you on the blog, Kelly! I think your favors are the cutest thing ever :)

    • avatar Caroline reply

      Emily: Hi! I LOVE the idea of giving guests honey!! Where can I buy a honeybee in Georgia? Thank you! :)

  2. avatar Katie reply

    Hey there fellow Southern Bride of the month!!! You my dear, are going to have a georgous wedding! The venue selection and all of your inspiration pics are swoon worthy!! The tribute to your grandmother is going to be a tear-jerker for sure, I know it will be so special! Congrats!

  3. avatar Mary reply

    My beautiful daughter….i love you so much!! April’s Southern Bride of the Month!!!! Grandma Walsh is so impressed :) You know she would say that she was the April’s “Northern Grandmother-of-the-Bride” of the month!! Can’t wait to see you in May!! xox

  4. avatar Hannah reply

    Love, love, love everything about this wedding! I am getting married the weekend before & have the same bridesmaid dresses, hair inspiration & bouquet of peonies inspiration!

  5. avatar Paula reply

    blog fan from Australia! Kelly – you’re ideas sound/look amazing; i especially love that you will read your own grandparents love letters! How beautiful!
    One of the ‘something special’ things we did from our wedding was have my MOH (and only sibling) hand my finance my ring during the ceremony and the Best Man (Dan’s only sibling) hand me Daniel’s ring. It meant alot that our sister and brother kind of ‘gave’ us their blessing in this way.

  6. avatar Wedding Flowers Co reply

    Love the pink Sarah Bernhardt peonies!

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Happy March! I’m so very excited to introduce you to our first Southern Bride of the Month, Katie, and her handsome fiance, Nathan! Make sure and read down to the end, where Katie asks for your advice!

Hi! What’s your name?
Katie

What’s your fiancé’s name?
Nathan

Are either of you on Twitter, or do you have a blog?
Yep! I have a blog that I keep promising myself I will update more frequently, but life always gets so busy! I don’t necessary write in order, just what I’m thinking or feeling at the time. Here it is.

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story.
We almost didn’t meet at all, actually! We both attended the same college, Elon University in North Carolina (not too far down the road from the SW office!). My sophomore year, however, I was thinking about transferring, and he had only recently transferred to Elon from UNCC. We were both convinced by different people to attend a recruitment night for the campus business fraternity. Throughout the meeting I kept thinking, “Wow, that guy is cute!” and “Dang it! I wish I had worn a cuter outfit!” Turns out I wasn’t the only one noticing people that night!

Now tell us alllll about the proposal.
Our proposal story is simple and sweet. A walk in downtown Charleston with friends turned into one friend “forgetting” his wallet and taking the other friend with him to retrieve it — all in a secret mission to give us some time alone. We were at Waterfront Park, and I remember wondering why Nate was so fidgety! We sat down on a bench overlooking the water, and the air was that thick mix of the savory smells from King Street restaurants, the scent of the blooming jasmine, and the salty brine of the water. If you’ve been to Charleston, you know that smell well!

Is it terrible that I don’t remember what he said to me when he proposed? Oops! He did get down on one knee, though, and said he couldn’t imagine his life without me in it. A group of tourists walking by erupted in cheers when I nodded yes. Good thing I said yes, right?! Ha!

When’s the big day?
May 1, 2011. We’re getting so close!

Where might you two be tying the knot?
A gorgeous historic home in downtown Charleston.

Were you totally that girl who planned her wedding from age 5, or not so much?
You know? It’s funny, because I have always loved everything wedding — I’ve been collecting magazines for years now. I loved pouring over the pages of beautiful brides, and noticing how different all the weddings were, yet until I met Nate, I didn’t really have any concrete ideas of what I wanted. I guess when you meet the right guy, it just sort of falls into place!

Who or what has been most inspiring in the wedding planning process?
I have gathered inspiration from so many places for this wedding — so many, I’ve lost track of what ideas I’ve gotten where! The inspiration sites, the wedding blogger sites, and treasure hunting in antique shops have all yielded great finds. More than anything, though, Nate has been my biggest inspiration. He is my sounding board for ideas, and pulls me back in when I get too far up in the planning clouds. I always keep in the back of my mind, “Will Nate like this? Does this reflect who we are?” It makes decision making SO much easier!

Who or what has been most helpful in the wedding planning process?
Definitely a who for this one! I absolutely could not have made it this far without our planner, Sara. She is beyond amazing, and more importantly, has become a great friend with a killer fashion sense!

Has your vision for your wedding changed or evolved over the course of your engagement? If so, how?
Has it ever! We don’t have the same colors, venue, or even the same city that we started out with! It wasn’t until we found our current venue that things really started taking shape. The house was built in the 1800’s — large white columns, wide porches, a beautiful curving staircase, and the coolest wrought iron gate leading to the backyard. When I saw it, I thought, “It’s like my grown-up secret garden!” And a little bit of “Where’s Mr. Darcy?” With that, the wedding really began to unfold.

Above: Katie’s inspiration board!

Which part of your wedding are you most invested in?
Southern gals love good food, so having the stick-to-your-ribs, clean-your-plate kind of food was a big priority. BBQ pork? Mac and cheese? Vidalia onion coleslaw? Yes, please!!! Oh, and the pie bar, man oh man, I absolutely cannot WAIT for the pie bar.

Besides the food, I’d have to say the ceremony. It is, after all, the reason for the day. We aren’t reciting our own vows (I figured I would leave that to the expert, our reverend!) but I’ll cry anyways, I just know I will. And wouldn’t you know that I am one of those unlucky people with the ugly cry face?!

Have you picked your dress yet? How’d that go? What will you be wearing on the big day?
Still can’t believe it to this day, but I found my dress on the first day of looking! I’ll have to bribe Nate not to go look this up, but it’s the Lauren dress by Modern Trousseau. All lace with a sweetheart neckline and godets at the bottom; it flares when I twirl! (Hence there will be much twirling at the wedding.) Funny side story with the dress: When I first heard its retail price at my local boutique, I knew that it was absolutely out of my price range. Thinking my chances small, I emailed someone directly at the showroom in Connecticut and told them my sad, sad, sad (did I mention sad?) story. To my astonishment, the director called me, and before I knew it, he had sold me the dress AT COST, and even let me pay it off over several months. The point is, don’t be afraid to ask — you never know when a serendipitous event is headed your way! OK, I guess there are two points, because the folks with Modern Trousseau are an amazing bunch! Thanks, y’all!

Who is your favorite vendor you’ve booked so far?
Our photographers! I seriously heart Joey and Jessica. They are such a fun couple to be working with, and Joey is responsible for me finding the best shrimp and grits I have ever had, so he earns extra brownie points. I love that they shoot on film; the resulting photos are stunning! We were so excited for them when they made the cover of SW, and it reaffirmed that we had made a great choice.

Do you have a favorite Etsy store you’d love to tell us about?
I have a major crush on our cake topper, so I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Krista over at BentBranch. The pair of felted lovebirds she sent us get a huge “awwww” from me every time I look at them! She went back and forth with me for days until I was completely happy with the chosen fabrics. Thanks, Krista!

Oh, and if you would like to channel your inner Elizabeth Bennett, head on over to Brookish for all things Mr. Darcy. I bought a dishtowel which will be making an appearance at the wedding! Too cute.

What has been the best part of wedding planning? The worst part?
Let’s rip the Band-Aid off, shall we? The worst part has definitively been struggling with the budget. Finding that balance between wants and “nope, not happening” is so, so hard! No way around it. As my mother has always reminded me, I have “champagne tastes on a beer budget.”

The best part has been the outpouring of kind words and support from friends and family, from people wanting to know how they can help, to people just wanting to say how excited they are for us! I’ve been soaking it up as much as I can. I really have enjoyed planning this wedding so, so much!

What has been the biggest challenge so far in wedding planning?
I can’t be the only one in this boat, but sometimes I just get tired of our wedding! Of course I am beyond excited about it, but when you’re looking at the same stuff day in and day out, sometimes you just need a break. There have been several times over the last eight months that I have had to close the computer, step away from the glue gun, and just spend some time with my sweetie. Those breaks always get me excited again and ready to resume the planning.

What are you most looking forward to on your wedding day?
The moment after we say I do and have rushed back up the aisle. I want a moment for just the two of us, to bask in the awesomeness of being married.

Any advice you’d like to pass along to fellow brides?
I am such a control freak, I admit it. But heed my advice: learn to let the little things go. This wedding has given me a much needed lesson in sifting out the important, “focus all my energies on this” items from the “if it’s not perfect, no one will care” items. I sent my invites off yesterday, and when I got to the post office, they were out of the love stamps I had been envisioning for months. My response, after a deep breath in and out? “OK, king and queen stamps it is!” See? I am getting so much better!

Now it’s your turn to ask for advice – is there anything you’d like to poll the SW readers on?
Two things, actually! Where should we go on our belated honeymoon? We are thinking somewhere in Europe! Also, already-married ladies, any advice for calming the nerves on our wedding day? I tend to react to big events like this with a gurgling stomach and major anxiety. I could use some tips!

Thank you so much for playing along, Katie! Readers, if you’d like to apply to be a Southern Bride of the Month, check out this post for all the details! If you’ve already emailed me, you’re still in the running for future months!

The Southern Bride of the Month header was designed by our intern Sierra, with illustration by Curious & Company! A big thanks to Lauren of I Love You Much, who took Katie + Nate’s engagement photos and sent them our way!

emily Written with love by Emily
22 Comments
  1. avatar madelynne reply

    My fiancé and I studied abroad in Rome, Italy while in school and it was the most beautiful and romantic place. So much to do and see, but there are so many special places to find quiet as well. Overlooking the city on the rooftop at night is one of my fondest memories of Rome.

  2. avatar Amy P. reply

    Hi Katie! This is Amy, Julie’s sister and fellow Elon alum :) Much to my surprise I went on SW today and saw your beautiful face. A big congrats to you! Your wedding sounds like the most perfect Southern affair. I would have to recommend Venice or south of France for your honeymoon. Both spots are breathtaking! And maybe a glass of bubbly to calm those nerves ;) Lots of luck with the rest of your planning! xoxo

  3. avatar Emily reply

    Hi Katie! I’ve never been to Europe, but I’ve always wanted to tour the Greek Isles. That would be my pick!

  4. avatar Robyn Pigott reply

    I loved this post! The bride seems so sweet and fun to work with. The inspiration board looks great!

    I’m always pulling for European honeymoons. What a great alternative to the typical Bahamas honeymoon!

    I actually gathered a large list of advice from other brides – I’ll have to post it now! – and I’ve always heard to make sure and EAT on the day of the wedding. They said the big day fills up so fast with plans that they often forget to eat something. They suggested light meals as to not fill your stomach too much.

    It sounds like the bride will enjoy her day without stressing out too much. Congratulations!

  5. avatar Lisa reply

    Adorable couple and adorable pictures! :) Congrats, Katie!!
    I’ve been lucky to have done lots of travelling in Europe…here are some of my favorite spots I’ve been that you might like to consider!
    Fun, romantic cities: Paris, Prague, Venice (Venice is the only place on this list I haven’t been to, but of course, it’s supposed to be one of the most romantic cities in Europe!)
    Beautiful beaches/scenery: Santorini (Greece), Cinque Terre (Italy), Provence (France)
    Amazing historic cities: London, Rome, Vienna
    If you have any questions or would like recommendations about any of these places, please don’t hesitate to ask! You can find my contact info on my blog :)
    Congratulations again!
    Lisa

  6. avatar joey + jessica reply

    Congrats Katie and Nathan, We’re so excited about your wedding in May!!

  7. avatar Leika @ The Modest Bride reply

    Congrats, Katie and Nathan!! It sounds like your wedding is going to be lovely and fun!! I’ve lived in Europe, and definitely second Lisa’s recommendations for the historic cities (London, Rome, Vienna). Vienna is my personal favorite! There’s just something special about walking amidst so much history when you’re embarking on your own journey as a married couple!

    As for calm on the wedding day, I definitely recommend doing a “first look.” I was SO nervous until I saw my husband, and then all the nerves just evaporated!! Plus, seeing him for the first time on our wedding day was so special, and I’m glad we got to enjoy that without a whole crowd of people staring at us. We actually got to have a quick lunch together after our pictures (evening wedding), and it was so much fun. I spent the afternoon having a blast with my husband and our wedding party, rather than stressing! Most of all, just soak it up and enjoy!! It flies by quickly, but if you just take in and enjoy the moments while they’re happening, you really will remember it. Have fun!!

  8. avatar Kelly reply

    Love this new feature!!! So cute! Katie– I love your wedding colors and those engagement pics! I’ve heard of several of my friends going to the Dominican Republic for their honeymoon and loving it. Worth looking into at least! And as for calming down, you should get a massage the day before the wedding, breathe all day and soak it all in, and have fun!!!

  9. avatar Paloma reply

    Congratulations on being the first ever Southern Bride of the month, Katie! I loved reading your interview, especially your advice on staying grounded in wedding decisions.

    I spent a semester abroad in the south of Spain and if you and Nate are connossieurs of wine, delicious food, and especially cheese, I can’t imagine a more romantic honeymoon than a culinary tour through Andalucia!

  10. avatar Carolina reply

    What a sweet story!

  11. avatar Andrea reply

    Congrats Katie!! Beautiful post and of course I couldn’t help but notice that we attended the same University – GO ELON! – Even more funny was that I noticed in your “inspiration” board you chose the photo of me holding my bouquet from our wedding that was featured on the SW site months ago!!!

    Have a beautiful wedding — it goes way too quickly!

    • avatar Katie the Bride to Be reply

      Andrea: I remember seeing your Elon flags in the cupcakes and thinking it was so cute!! You had a beautiful wedding btw!

      Thanks everyone for the well wishes and the honeymoon suggestions. Ya’ll have given us some great ideas!

  12. avatar Abby reply

    So happy for you! This site is amazing, and I love the features and pictures. You’ll be a beautiful bride. :)

  13. avatar Kristin Nicole reply

    Love the new column and as a married lady my advice for you Katie is to surround yourself with the people you love on your wedding day, trust that your planner has things under control and remember the reason for the day, it will help you have a stress free day!

  14. avatar Ali @ His Birdie’s Nest reply

    Wow, those engagement photos are amazing!! I Love You Much did a fantastic job!

  15. avatar Jeanete reply

    I can totally relate to her, she sounds a lot like me :) King and Queen stamps for me, too. Great new feature and much happiness and blessings to Katie and Nathan.

  16. avatar Katharine reply

    Welcome, Katie! We’re so happy to have you as our first Southern Bride of the Month. Your wedding is going to be stunning! xo, Katharine

  17. avatar jacin {lovely little details} reply

    love the post!

  18. avatar FARout reply

    Love the feature story! Love the photography! Southern Weddings magazine rocks!

  19. avatar Andrea reply

    Congrats! I loved reading your post and find myself in a lot of your answers. Although I am not married yet (May 28, 2011 on St. Simons Island, GA) I have some advice for day-of anxiety. This is my favorite tip to pass on to brides. When you or any of your wedding party get nervous, have them belt out a song. What is the perfect song, you ask? Why, “Going to the Chapel”, of course. Often when we get anxious (even about good things), our body goes into survival mode and we breathe very shallowly. Singing “Going to the Chapel” requires a lot of breathing and most folks know the words to the chorus…And it sounds amazing A cappella. The last wedding I was in, every few minutes or so leading up to the big walk down the aisle, a bridesmaids would start singing it and the others would join in. It worked like a charm and create a very sweet memory. Best Wishes:)

  20. avatar Charleston Garden Wedding by Veil and Bow, Part I « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] bride was our very first Southern Bride of the Month! We loved hearing about Katie + Nathan’s plans for the big day and now we get to see it! I […]

  21. avatar Charleston Garden Wedding by Veil and Bow, Part II « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] and the backyard reception gave them the perfect space to do so. When we talked to Katie as our Southern Bride of the Month, she said she was invested in having good food. The couple delivered! Guests chowed down on good […]

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