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I must say, the beginning of March has been delightful! We hosted a handful of calligraphy workshops with the talented Lauren Essl (recap coming soon), tested out our Mason-Dixon Madness bracket again and again (had to get the match-ups right!), and have been making the most of the occasional warm days by getting outside. Here’s a little peek into what else we’ve been up to this week!

1. Emily found a bed for her guest room at the flea market–and bought it from a gent in a top hat!
2. Kristin met Roy Williams (head basketball coach at UNC, in case you were like me and had to ask :)) just in time for March Madness.
3. I (Lisa) spent a gorgeous afternoon wandering around downtown Durham.
4. We’re not surprised at all that Marissa has been dressing little Emmy Kate in bows already! Isn’t she precious?

Have you filled out the 2014 Southern Weddings Reader Survey? We would love your feedback about what you like, dislike, want to see more of, want to see less of, etc. It takes five minutes to complete, and all participants receive a discount code to the Southern Weddings Shop, plus a chance to win a $50 AMEX gift card!

Catch up on this week’s features!

We kicked off Mason-Dixon Madness, a Southern food tournament! Vote for your favorites here.
We’re delighted that honorary SW gal, Meredith, will be sharing her wedding planning journey with us!
We celebrated Mardi Gras with a tradition-filled New Orleans shoot.

We love real weddings!

Kate and Cesar (above) included farm animals, bright blooms, and fabulous vintage finds in their big day.
Grace and Bobby‘s wedding was a classic celebration in a historic Southern town.
We especially loved Meagan and Josh‘s thoughtful wedding planning advice.
Summer and Jonathan filled their wedding with their favorite Texan details.
On Southern Living’s The Daily South, we fell in love with Nicole and Stuart‘s all-American love story and colorful fall wedding!

Last but not least!

We are so excited for our friends at Heidi Elnora–they’re launching a new reality show! If you’re interested in having your wedding dress shopping experience filmed for a major network, and live in Birmingham or are willing to travel there for the show, see below for all of the casting details!

Have a wonderful weekend!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
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Psst! Have you taken our 2014 survey? It closes soon, and we only ask for your thoughts once a year. We would SO appreciate hearing from you today if we haven’t already! Plus, you could win a $50 AMEX gift card, and you get a shop discount code just for completing it! Thanks, y’all!!

Like most Southern gals, we are quite fond of monograms here at Southern Weddings. They’re a way of carving your mark into your world, a way of saying, this is who I am, this is my family. They’re inherently and unabashedly personal. John and I didn’t register for tons of monogrammed items on our registry, but one thing I was really looking forward to post-wedding was ordering a return address label for our new family. (Technically, you’re not supposed to debut your joint married monogram until after the ceremony!) Vino Backyard Designs makes some lovely options!

Can you imagine how many cramped hands you’d save yourself after a few years of sending out Christmas cards with these lovelies?

Victoria’s stamps also come neatly packaged, making them a great option for gifting. I’d have loved to receive one of these for a bridal shower gift!

Vino Backyard Designs has several options to choose from, including block and script monograms and stamps with and without a return address. The monogram stamps would be perfect for stamping wedding favors, menus, or other reception items!

Vino’s prices are totally reasonable, and their options include something for everyone. Take a peek at all of her options here, then leave a comment below for a chance to win the design of your choice! We’ll choose a winner next Friday.

Itching to get started? Good news! Vino Backyard Designs is offering everyone 15% off with code SOUTHERNWEDDINGS until May 1! Be sure to check out her beautiful wooden monograms, too – perfect for wedding decor! Happy monogramming, friends!

emily Written with love by Emily
91 Comments
  1. avatar Catherine Grace reply

    oooo, they look devine.

  2. avatar Miranda reply

    These are so classy! They would be great for the thank you letters for after the wedding!

  3. avatar Casey Barreto reply

    Loving the monogram return stamp with the wavy edges! https://www.etsy.com/listing/175792264/monogram-return-address-stamp?ref=shop_home_active_12

  4. avatar Natasha Powers reply

    I loooove these, such a unique idea for the monogram!!! I really would adore having one of these for my stationary!!

  5. avatar Amy reply

    Love the monogram return address stamp at https://www.etsy.com/listing/120485489/monogram-return-address-stamp?ref=shop_home_active_3!

  6. avatar Hannah reply

    Love these!

  7. avatar Marie reply

    I love the monogram stamp! We tend to move around quite a bit, but it would be lovely to have a monogram that would work wherever we go.

  8. avatar Elyse G. reply

    The Monogram return address stamp is lovely! *fingers crossed*

  9. avatar Haleigh reply

    I love these! So adorable. I’m getting married in Wisconsin this June, but I am bringing some South to the North! :)

  10. avatar Brenna reply

    I would love to win this for my September wedding! I love monograms! :)

  11. avatar Martina reply

    Love the stamps and monogram wall hanging! Would be perfect in our nursery!

  12. avatar Loah reply

    Just loving the simple one inch monogram…gorgeous!

  13. avatar Carolina Garza reply

    Absolutely love the monograms!! Very handy and gorgeous engraving

  14. avatar Vanessa M reply

    Love these so much! Would be super helpful for thank you letters! this is my favorite! https://www.etsy.com/listing/120485489/monogram-return-address-stamp?ref=shop_home_active_3

  15. avatar Kari H reply

    I love how you used white on the coral envelope. Adorable and so classy!! I would love to do a similar DIY. Thanks for the inspiration.

  16. avatar Gracie reply

    Love these! So classy and clean. And the monogram venn diagram is very unique… I like it a lot!

  17. avatar Laura reply

    I love the classic monogram with no address :) How great to have & use, no matter how many times you move!

  18. avatar Diana Schmitmeyer reply

    Love the monogram stamp! PERFECT!

  19. avatar Victoria H. reply

    Even though my husband and I are not in our “forever home”, I would love a monogram stamp! Perfect for newlyweds!

  20. avatar Lynn reply

    Love the block monogram stamp. Can’t see how to order it. Hope I win one for my daughter’s new initials

  21. avatar Morgan DeGarmo reply

    I love this monogram-stamp so much! It’s perfect for the ultimate girly-girl!!

  22. avatar Lauren reply

    I love the classic script monogram return address! My new husband and I would use this ALL the time!

  23. avatar Stephanie reply

    Such beautiful stamps – I am loving all of the mongorammed ones so much!

  24. avatar Jamie Geddings reply

    love these monogram stamps!

  25. avatar Lauren M reply

    I love the monogram return address stamp.

  26. avatar Shannon reply

    Oh how lovely!! I love the monogram return address stamp, but also the 1.5 inch monogram stamp which would be perfect for all kinds of wedding projects!

  27. avatar Heather B. reply

    A stamp with my new monogram? sign me up!! the return address stamps are especially perfect for all those thank you’s post-wedding :)

  28. avatar Morgan Gremillion reply

    My fiancé and I just purchased our first home and this would be the perfect way to display our new address! These stamps are just adorable!

  29. avatar Dana reply

    Yes please!!!

  30. avatar Kristy reply

    It would be GREAT to have one of these!!

  31. avatar Samantha P reply

    I would love to debut my new monogram with a Vino Backyards Design stamp!

  32. avatar Krystal Kenny reply

    Happy Friday! I just checked out the Vino Backyard etsy shop, and all of the items are precious! These would totally make a perfect bridal shower gift! Thanks for sharing the website :)

  33. avatar Morgan reply

    Love these!

  34. avatar Jennie Smith reply

    I love anything monogram, what southern girl doesn’t! I have been looking for the perfect stamp and this is it!

  35. avatar Michelle reply

    “If it’s not moving, monogram it” is right! I would love to have one of these for our wedding invites and thank-you notes!!

  36. avatar Hannah reply

    I love these! They’re so classy and would add extra flare to our invitations.

  37. avatar jackie reply

    Super cute for my snail mail. :)

  38. avatar Lauren reply

    Great giveaway! I’ve been wanting a return address stamp since we got married 6 months ago. We’re about to close on a house in 4 day (!!!) so this would be perfect! Thank you!

  39. avatar mara reply

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE these and have been looking for the perfect one for years….found it! Fingers crossed :-)

  40. avatar Krista Earl reply

    I just got married and would LOVE to win a new monogram family stamp for our first home!

  41. avatar Katie Minnick reply

    Love the Venm Diagram stamp. So simple yet chic!

  42. avatar Krista B. reply

    These as sweet as pie!

  43. avatar Robyn McNally reply

    I absolutely adore all of these stamps! I would love to win this so that I can continue the art of writing beautiful letters!

  44. avatar Kate E. reply

    These are one of those things I can’t wait to buy post-wedding. So cute!!!

  45. avatar casey reply

    The Monogram return address stamp would be a life saver! My shower is next month and the wedding is in two… lots of thank you cards coming up!

  46. avatar Sarah Kane reply

    Precious! I love the Vine Couples Monogram!

  47. avatar Laura reply

    I love this idea for thanks cards, invites etc.!

  48. avatar Ellen Elizabeth reply

    My monogram is symmetrical so I just love to use it! I would love to win this for my mail!

  49. avatar Kelly E. reply

    I love the monogram return address stamp. Thank you so much for the chance to win!

  50. avatar Amie Kromis reply

    I’m absolutely in love with these! Especially since we decided to go with wax seals for our save the dates to add a personal touch. Although they added great detail, it was extremely time consuming. Thank you, Southern Weddings, for this great alternative!

  51. avatar Taylor Rae reply

    We’re moving soon and this would be so perfect!

  52. avatar Lindy reply

    These are SO lovely! I definitely am done with rewriting my return address on every single Christmas card and these designs are so much more stylish than many of the other companies I’ve seen!!

  53. avatar Amy C. reply

    My monogramming obsession has, um, exploded over the past year! I honestly have something monogrammed with me everyday (today it’s my tervis tumbler I brought to work). I am old-fashioned and write thank you notes/other letters all the time, and would absolutely LOVE if I could get one of the monogram stamps to make them all so personal :) Please pick me!

  54. avatar Jessica reply

    Oh I am SO excited to debut my new monogram after my September wedding!! I love the monogram return address stamp, would be so helpful for all those wedding gift thank you notes!

  55. avatar Laura reply

    So precious!! I would love to win one of these stamps!! Love the address ones!!

  56. avatar Em Ma reply

    I absolutely love the 1 inch monogram stamp and the Monogram Ven Diagram stamp. These would be perfect for me to stamp all of my wedding thank you notes with! Fingers crossed to win this amazing giveaway!

  57. avatar Kaya reply

    How cool! I would love one!

  58. avatar Alexandra W reply

    I love the Wedding Stamp. Since we live in an apartment and won’t be here forever, I’d love to get one that can be used long after our address changes!

  59. avatar Stephanie Claire reply

    What a lovely giveaway!!

  60. avatar Amy Bell reply

    These are beautiful! This is my favorite: https://www.etsy.com/listing/120485489/monogram-return-address-stamp?ref=shop_home_active_1

  61. avatar Amanda reply

    I’d love the monogram return address stamp! We just moved into our first official home so I’d love to have one!

  62. avatar Jessica Schaffner reply

    Absolutely love these and your other products! Do you ever partner with bloggers for giveaways by chance?

  63. avatar Emily W reply

    I love them all, they’re so gorgeous. I’d love to have ANY of them. What a great giveaway!

  64. avatar Ellen reply

    So cute! I love these! I’m definitely going to buy one when I know our new address!

  65. avatar Diane reply

    I love these! aren’t they so pretty?

  66. avatar Meredith reply

    I would love one for all my thank you notes and invitations for my southern August wedding! I love the classic monogram with no address, so my husband-to-be and I can use it for years to come no matter where we move :)

  67. avatar Abby reply

    What a cute idea! I don’t think I would have thought of something like these, but it is a sweet touch.

  68. avatar Kelly Hughes reply

    I would love to use an unfinished monogram to use as a decoration at my upcoming wedding!

  69. avatar Eileen L reply

    I really like the monogram return address label. So timeless.

  70. avatar Slee reply

    I do particularly love the font used on the monogram return address stamp. It seems simultaneously whimsical and classic.

  71. avatar Laura reply

    Love these stamps! I usually go for script monograms, but the block ones are just too cute.

  72. avatar Bethany reply

    The ven diagram stamp certainly speaks to our geek.

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/152991298/monogram-ven-diagram-stamp?ref=shop_home_active_7

  73. avatar Karen reply

    Soooo southern and so ELEGANT. Love tradition!

  74. avatar Heather S. reply

    I LOVE Monogram return address stamp! It’s an especially good time to get a new return stamp since we just bought our first home! I can’t wait to send out tons of handwritten letters from our new space, hopefully with one of those precious stamps on the envelope!

  75. avatar Mary P. reply

    My fiancé and I have been engaged since July 2013, but now that we have hit March 2014, it has finally hit me that I am getting married next year! I am definitely thinking more about planning and how I want to present our new monogram following our wedding – this would be such a wonderful way to help!

  76. avatar Allison reply

    I would use the the three letter script monogram style! It would really help make a dent in those thank you notes!!!

  77. avatar Julie reply

    This one would be perfect!https://www.etsy.com/listing/174086566/monogram-return-address-stamp?ref=shop_home_active_7

  78. avatar Samantha Spivey reply

    I have been dreaming of a chance to get one of these beauties! My wedding is May 24th in Dothan, AL. This would be perfect for stamping our Thank-You cards!

  79. avatar Stewart reply

    I am in a dear friend’s wedding in May and she and her fiance just finished building their first home together. A return address stamp would be the perfect add-on to her shower gift!

  80. avatar Victoria reply

    Looks great!

  81. avatar Kristyn Monaghan reply

    I love the monogram return address stamp! And those hey y’all ornaments are adorable!

  82. avatar Mary reply

    These stamps are so lovely! What a clever idea!

  83. avatar Michelle reply

    love the one pictured with the package!

  84. avatar Leslie reply

    I am newly engaged and working on getting the perfect design of all things paper and print for my upcoming wedding! I would love to have this beautiful stamp! This is perfect for all the southern belles out there! I hope I win!!

  85. avatar Hannah reply

    Love the block monogram with names and addresses!! Super cute!

  86. avatar Camry reply

    My sister got one for her wedding! I would love one for min too…classy and cute!

  87. avatar Sydney Basden reply

    These are gorgeous! Planning on a spring/summer wedding next year and would love to have one of these for invites! =)

  88. avatar Laurel reply

    These are BEAUTIFUL!! Love the Monograms.

  89. avatar Jackie C reply

    Oh my!! LOVE these. I’m probably too late to enter, but sure love them anyway!

  90. avatar Laura Oakley reply

    I’m trying to buy my niece a wedding gift. My late husband was from the south and I’m not understanding the monogram. Does the husband first,last name, then the wife? Please help. Thanks

    • avatar Lisa reply

      Hi Laura! We have a whole post about monogram etiquette here: https://southernweddings.com /2014/04/15/southern-etiquette-monograms/
      Hope this helps!

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March Madness has taken over the Southern Weddings office! Even though not everyone at SW considers herself a sports aficionado (ahem), we do live in the middle of Tobacco Road, and thought we should celebrate in style. Southern Weddings style, that is. Welcome to the 2014 Mason-Dixon Madness — a Southern food tournament!

Basketball mavens, we are not (at least not all of us), but everyone was more than willing to dress up in their favorite college colors and get outside on the courts last week for a little school spirit photo shoot. Since our office is located in the heart of ACC country, we had representation from all three schools in the Triangle (Emily = Duke; Morgan and Abbie = NC State; Lara, Grace, Nicole, and Kristin = UNC), along with some love for Big 12 Red River rivals, Texas and Oklahoma (Lisa and Meredith, respectively).

Admittedly, I am a bit biased, but I do think that this shade of blue is mighty pretty, and doesn’t Grace make the best SW mascot/Carolina cheerleader?

(It only took two tries to build this spirit pyramid!)

As the resident SW college basketball fan in the office, I boxed everyone out (lingo I learned from watching countless hours of games with KPW) for the chance to write these posts and to hang on the goal while we were taking pictures. Don’t worry, we all contributed to the cast of food and drink characters you see below, debating the relative qualities of Southern favorites at length to determine the rankings. We even learned a few things about one another in the process! Any guesses as to who fought hard for mac and cheese to make it deep into the tournament, or which gal is quite partial to pastries and rooted for beignets over pralines? (My sweet grandmama makes the best pecan pralines in Dixie, so it definitely wasn’t me.)

Our tournament begins with 64 of the best and brightest Southern favorites, divided by course so that pecan pie doesn’t go head-to-head with fried chicken in the first round. Each week, y’all will get the chance to weigh in on your favorite Southern delicacies until we whittle things down to the championship match-up on April 7th!

Will there be some upsets in the first round? How far will boiled peanuts and red velvet cake make it? It all depends on you, dear readers. P.S. Not familiar with some of these Southern gems? Check out our past Southern Delicacy columns or call your grandmama! Get educated, maybe have a taste test at home with your beau, and then pick your preferences from their head-to-head match-ups! First-round voting will be open until March 12, when we’ll set the winners up for the round of 32!

Feel free to print your own bracket (download it here), fill in your favorites, and see if you can pick the ultimate winner of the Mason-Dixon Madness. In full disclosure, I already have my favorite and I know I will be devastated if it goes out in the first round.

Invite your beau and your best friend to join in the fun and help us decide what will ultimately be named the best bite or beverage in Dixie! Take a break from wedding planning and spend some quality time with your favorite people debating the finer points of Southern cuisine. I’m betting you might learn a fun fact or two about your friends and family in the process. May the best food (or drink) win!

(RSS readers – click through to see the embedded poll!)

P.S. Photos by the always amazing Faith Teasley who is a lovely member of the Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory.

P.P.S. We owe big THANK YOUS to our significant others for their insight and input into the rankings and final 64 contestants, with a special shout-out to Taylor for spending an entire evening with Nicole debating the merits of foods–from collard greens to coconut cake–to make sure that the final field was fair and balanced!

kristin Written with love by Kristin
8 Comments
  1. avatar Graham reply

    This is so fun! I’m excited to see the results! I’ve got my Sweet Tea jersey on!!! :)

  2. avatar Lisa reply

    Here we go, mac and chesse, here we go!!

  3. avatar Emily reply

    Deviled eggs all the way :)

  4. avatar Maghon reply

    As a fellow Carolina girl, I LOVE this post to pieces!

  5. avatar Abby reply

    Adorable! I know my picks of KY hot brown and Big Red may be long shots but I love this idea!

  6. avatar Sara Velordi reply

    This is wonderful! Y’all never cease to amaze me!

  7. avatar Erin reply

    This is the best idea!!! And it’s got my stomach rumbling for some biscuits and sweet tea!!

  8. avatar Five on Friday | 6 | Seeking Joy reply

    […] prize as the ultimate Southern food. You can play along, too, by helping vote for your favorites here! I have strong pulls for: BBQ, chicken & waffles, biscuits, mac n cheese, banana pudding, & […]

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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