Google+ Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Our Blue Ribbon Vendors are turning out to be a pretty special group, which is why we take such great care when choosing them. It’s also why we’re so excited to introduce you to our ten newest members!

Amy Arrington approaches weddings by letting the day unfold naturally and documenting the real moments. She is based in Georgia.

Elaine Palladino is a Florida photographer who loves that she gets to tell stories for a living.

Kasey D Weddings is a Florida planner who believes that together you and she can create a day that is a true reflection of you and your love through a fun, organized and inspirational planning process.

KLP Photography loves helping couples feel at home in front of her camera and capturing that comfortable feeling in their images.

Megan of M. Elizabeth Events is a planner who believes every wedding should be a reflection of the bride and groom – your love for each other and your personal style. She is based in Alabama.

Natalie Franke serves Maryland, DC, and Virginia, and her goal is to capture images modern enough to grace the cover of a magazine, but timeless enough for you to cherish forever.

Priscilla of Orangerie Events’ goal is to be a voice of reason and source of guidance while planning and designing a wedding that is charming and unique to your love story.

Pen Weddings believes you have personality and your wedding film should, too.

The Relais & Chateaux Planters Inn is the perfect for an intimate and elegant Charleston wedding.

Simply Charming Socials is a full event planning and design company based out of Atlanta that offers a flawlessly executed event that is uniquely styled down to the very last detail.

To check out all of our Blue Ribbon Vendors, just click over to the full directory! You can search by category or state to find your perfect match.

Vendors, if you’re interested in getting involved, just fill out this form and Marissa will get in touch! Besides getting connected with the best brides in the world (that would be Southern brides, of course!), the benefits of Blue Ribbon Vendor membership include access to our private business blog, a resource for SW sponsors only where Lara, Emily, and the SW team share tips on submitting and branding to make your business even better, and access to our private vendor Facebook group, where kind and talented BRV members meet and collaborate! Curious? Just email Marissa and she’ll answer any questions you might have.

emily Written with love by Emily
0 Comments

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!

Reply to:
close

Hi ladies + gents! It seems like almost as soon as I finish writing one “Emily Plans a Wedding” post, the next one is on my doorstep (even though they’re scheduled two weeks apart – yikes!). Time marches on, does it not?

Yesterday, I was SO excited to skip out on work early to drive out to Nitsa’s in Winston-Salem and try on my dress for my first fitting!! My Mom was able to come, even though she lives in Connecticut, and we had a great time together. I still love my dress (whew!), it fit well (double whew!), and the only alterations that are needed are a hem, a (13-point!) bustle, and cups (of course).

BUT we’re actually not talking about my wedding fashion today, we’re talking about John’s! John will be wearing a tux, a decision he made on his own but that I was perfectly amenable to. I think he looks handsome in anything, but I would concede that he looks particularly debonair in a tuxedo, as do most gents.

A Bryan Photo

As soon as we knew he would be wearing a tuxedo, we knew we would be buying, and not renting. There were a few reasons for this:

1. He has to wear a tuxedo for two weddings this summer, and likely more in the future, so it made sense for us financially.
2. A great fit was very important to us, and you can’t tailor a rental. Grooms in baggy tuxedo pants make me sad!
3. We had a specific style of tuxedo in mind, and we didn’t think we’d find it at a rental shop.

Ashley McCormick via Southern Weddings

As I mentioned, we had a specific tuxedo aesthetic we were going for, and it was largely based off of two things: the J.Crew tuxedo (which is very sharp, but very expensive), and this handy New York Times graphic which has been floating around Pinterest.

Our first choice was in the lapel style. There are three options: shawl, peak, and notch. Shawl is the most old-school, while notch is more understated and business-like. We went for peak.

Top two images are shawl collar tuxedos from Katharine’s wedding by A Bryan Photo. Below, on the left is a peak lapel (photo by A Bryan Photo), and on the right is a notch lapel tuxedo (photo by Adam Barnes via Southern Weddings)

We were also looking for a two-button jacket and a shirt with a point collar.

For accessories, we vetoed both vests and cummerbunds in favor of suspenders for a more clean, modern, and fuss-free look. And all you Southern ladies will be pleased to know that John will be tying his own black bow tie! (Well, maybe with some help from Dad… or this handy SW graphic!)

Amanda Rae Photography via Style Me Pretty and A Bryan Photo

So we knew what we wanted, but not where to find it. Enter Marget’s fiance, who wears tuxedos frequently for work (fancy!) and is something of an expert. He recommended the Tommy Hilfiger tuxedos at Macy’s as a reasonably-priced option of good quality. On the day we cruised over to the Macy’s site to check things out, the tuxedo that caught our eye just so happened to be 66% off! With free shipping and free returns, we didn’t hesitate to snap one up in John’s size. For those that are curious, we bought this jacket and these pants, and this shirt. We’re still on the hunt for the perfect bow tie, suspenders, and shoes!

Jessica Lorren

So we have a tux – yahoo! Now all that’s left is to get it tailored, and to add a little personalization. Who says belles are the only ones who get to have fun with embroidery and monogramming? We haven’t decided yet exactly how we’ll add some pizazz, but embroidering the inside of the jacket is at the top of my list:

Lisa Poggi

What will your groom be wearing on his wedding day? If he’s wearing a tuxedo, which lapel style did you choose? Will you be renting or buying? Please comment + let me know!

In case you missed a post…
The main characters
Where we’re getting married
I go dress shopping
We choose a photographer
I ponder bridesmaid style
Mini food!
The music
We’re renting a tent!
We discuss bouquets + boutonnieres
We send out our save the dates
I gather hair and makeup inspiration
We talk cake and sweets
I introduce you to our videographer
We create a registry

P.S. If you like this post, check out these other ones, too!
What to wear to a black tie wedding as a guest
Our menswear favorites from 2011
An overview of wedding menswear options
How about tuxedos with navy dresses?

Adam Barnes and Jessica Lorren are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

emily Written with love by Emily
13 Comments
  1. avatar Hannah reply

    I love that peaked lapel! We thought about going with tuxedos for my handsome groom but with a wedding date at the end of July and the East Tennessee humidity, We will probably be putting the whole wedding party (well at least the gentlemen) in seersucker! I’m super excited but have a few groomsmen that are not quite as excited as we are yet… We’re working on that :) I’m also having trouble knowing where to find a good quality seersucker that fits in a modest budget. Any ideas?

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Hannah! Considering your location and date, seersucker sounds like the perfect choice for your wedding! I don’t have a great option for good, reasonably-priced seersucker, but I’m going to check with the other gals in the office and will get back to you if we come up with anything!

    • avatar Elizabeth reply

      Hannah: Joseph A Banks has good inexpensive Seersucker

    • avatar Elizabeth reply

      Thanks Emily for all your advice my fiance wants to have a custom tuxe made, but I am going to show him this one from Macy’s. I love it. We are also going to let our groomsmen wear what they have no need to make them spend extra if they already own one.

    • avatar AmandaR reply

      Hannah: If you are in or around Knoxville, try Coachman Clothiers, Brooks Brothers or John H. Daniel, and maybe American Clothing. My wedding is in Knoxville June 9th and the guys all ordered custom suits from http://www.studiosuits.com. They have TONS of fabrics, cuts, price ranges, and quick production time. I’ve seen the final product and it is pimp. That was the fiance’s way of letting his groomsmen and ushers invest in something nice, as opposed to renting an awkward tux that was only $50-100 less anyways.

  2. avatar Amanda reply

    So glad you for your dress at nitsa’s in Winston! I did too!!! But as soon as I saw your tweet about the tux at Macy’s I sent the link to my fiancé. He’s so tiny that renting is not an option! So I am in the same boat! I am curious as to what the groomsmen are doing though. My family is stuck on the idea that everyone has to match which is making everything so difficult! (everyone from my mom to his is complaining about this.) so we ordered a tux from topman and see how that fits. Not super nice material but no friends weddings in the future either.. Love to hear your thoughts on your men! And congrats on all the wedding success so far!!

    • avatar Emily reply

      Yay Nitsa’s! For the groomsmen, we gave them the option of either renting or buying, or wearing a tux they already have. We’re not so concerned about everyone matching exactly, but I can sympathize with you! I pointed the ones who were interested in renting towards the new Vera Wang line at Men’s Wearhouse, because they look like they have a more modern/slim fit!

  3. avatar Theresa reply

    Congrats Emily on your first dress fitting going so smoothly! I have mine this Sunday! We opted for light gray suits in a lightweight fabric due to an outside wedding on Hilton Head Island in July.

  4. avatar Bri @ Posh Purpose reply

    I know how wonderful it feels to have the groom squared away (mostly!). My beau can’t rent or even buy off the rack because he has an athletic build, think 6’4″ man with a 6’10” wing span – wonderful for swimming, but terrible for clothing him! Fortunately, we caught the 20% off made to measure event at Brooks Brothers and had a charcoal grey herringbone suit made. He particularly loves the special suit lining in MIT colors, our alma mater. It just arrived yesterday and I am so excited to see it this weekend!

    I decided that it would be silly to buy a tux for him since he will probably never need one again, and I also prefer men in grey ;) That being said, I am still debating between suits or tuxedos for the groomsmen. The local shop in town has a grey suit for rent, but I do love that Vera Wang line. Either way I am not concerned about the groomsmen matching the groom perfectly. I figure since it is expected for me to look different from the bridesmaids, then it should be fine for the groom to not match the wedding party.

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Bri! Very interesting! Your groom’s suit sounds wonderful – love the custom lining! I’ve never really seen a groom in a suit while the groomsmen are in tuxes, and while I’m totally fine with the groomsmen dressing differently than the groom, I don’t know how I feel about them being more formal than him. Maybe let them wear their own gray suits, if you’re not concerned about them all matching perfectly? I’ve seen that done before, and it looks great!

  5. avatar jessica lorren reply

    Great idea for a post Emily! Love it. Thrilled to have Kyle’s groom style featured!

  6. avatar Black, White & Gold Wedding Color Inspiration – Crafty Pie Press reply

    […] Lily of the Valley Boutonniere via Southern Weddings. […]

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!

Reply to:
close

A couple of months ago, Whitney had the great pleasure of actually meeting Matthew Robbins while he was in our neck of the woods. We’ve long enjoyed the weddings and events he’s worked on. From elegant to effortless, glamorous to modern, he can create a beautiful space under any design theme.

Just flipping through his work inspired me to make this pale garden inspiration board. Full of the lush and gorgeous arrangements that we love him for and his clean and elegant presentation, I think it’s perfect for a spring garden wedding. And yes, all of those images came from weddings Matthew designed!

Image credits (from left to right): top row by Mel Barlow, Christian Oth, Karen Hill middle row by Christian Oth, Terry Michael, bottom row by Roey Yohai, Christian Oth

As pretty as these designs may be, you know that we love weddings with meaningful details here at Southern Weddings. That’s why we had to share Matthew’s new book, Matthew Robbins’ Inspired Weddings: Designing Your Big Day with Favorite Objects and Family Treasures! In the book, Matthew shows you how to build a full design based around something significant to you as a couple and he shares some industry tips and secrets! Plus, a bride in lace on the cover? So Southern.

To Enter: There are two ways to enter!
1. Comment below and tell us what you’re more looking forward to about your wedding day!
2. Tweet “I just entered the @mrobbinsdesign giveaway on @iloveswmag!” Then come back here and a leave a SEPARATE comment telling us you did so!

Win: A copy of Matthew Robbins’ Inspired Weddings

This giveaway closes on April 19. Good luck!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
45 Comments
  1. avatar Paige reply

    I’m most looking forward to cocktail hour with my new husband and all our guests!

  2. avatar molly stillman reply

    OMG. the quatrefoil garden thing in the bottom left… AHHHHHHH i’m obsessed. :) <3

  3. avatar Nixon reply

    Can’t wait to look around and see all of our beloved ones gathered in the same place to celebrate our marriage! This will be a once in a lifetime moment we will never forget! :)

  4. avatar Helen reply

    I am looking forward to the party afterward! :)

  5. avatar Sara reply

    I just want to have fun and for the whole wedding group(and my church family) to have fun also! I don’t want to have to worry about anything. This should be a happy day!

  6. avatar Erin reply

    On my wedding day I’m most looking forward to walking into the reception ballroom and see everything put together–the cake, the linens, the chairs, the flowers. I can imagine each piece as I plan, but I’m so excited to see it all tied together and really have my breath taken away!!

  7. avatar Gretchen reply

    I’m most looking forward to walking down the aisle to stand by my beau’s side

  8. avatar Mallary reply

    I am most looking forward to marrying my best friend in the southern atmosphere of our dreams, thanks to Southern Wedding Magazines and hopefully Matthew Roberts Inspired Weddings, all of our dreams will come to a reality.

  9. avatar Mallary reply

    I also just entered the contest through twitter! and it was my first tweet! lol

  10. avatar Megan reply

    I am most looking forward to wearing my dress and seeing my hubby-to-be at the end of that aisle! I’m excited to see all the hard work come together into a beautiful setting. Thanks for this awesome giveaway, I could definitely fall in love with this book :)

  11. avatar Larissa reply

    That’s easy — being married to my best friend!

  12. avatar celeste reply

    On my wedding day, I am beyond excited to exchange vows with my future husband in front of all our family and friends. That is what is most important to me and I just couldn’t be more thrilled for the opportunity.

  13. avatar Theresa reply

    For our first look! I can’t wait for that moment. Also to be surrounded by our closest family and friends as we celebrate our love!

    • avatar Caitlin Allen reply

      I’m most excited about being able to spend time with my hubby! We live 2.5 hous apart (no not a huge long distance deal), but we only see each other on weekends about twice a month. I really can’t wait to spend a Sunday night cuddling on the couch instead of driving home! 192 days!

    • avatar Caitlin Allen reply

      I’m most excited about being able to spend time with my hubby! We live 2.5 hours apart (no not a huge long distance deal), but we only see each other on weekends about twice a month. I really can’t wait to spend a Sunday night cuddling on the couch instead of driving home! 192 days!

  14. avatar Kaley reply

    I’m most looking forward to totally letting go of planning stress and just enjoying my day with my new husband :)

  15. avatar Laura reply

    I’m most looking forward to seeing him waiting for me at the end of the aisle. We’re not doing a “first-look” so this will be my first time seeing him on our wedding day.

  16. avatar megan reply

    being married!!

  17. avatar Sarah reply

    Toasting my new husband with our family mint julep cups that were won over multiple decades and generations as tennis tournament trophies from the club where our wedding will take place!

  18. avatar Kelly reply

    I’m most looking forward to having people from all walks of life with us to celebrate our big day!

  19. avatar Carolyn reply

    I am looking forward to exchanging vows with my best friend in front of all those we hold dear ! And the walk down the aisle as husband and wife!

  20. avatar Carolyn reply

    Just tweeted!! :)

  21. avatar Lauren reply

    I’m most looking forward to spending the afternoon with my closest girlfriends and the evening with my new husband and all our friends and family! Also, the food…our caterer is out of this world!

  22. avatar Megan D. reply

    I am looking forward to getting my dance on with my new husband and our families.

  23. avatar chanel hawkins reply

    Other than marrying my best friend :) I can’t wait to make a wonderful memory and cry with bridesmaids and laugh with my guests. We’re having a funnel cake truck, live country band, games, yummy drinks. I want my guests to have the best time ever!

  24. avatar Katie S. reply

    I cannot WAIT to see my oh-so-handsome groom at the end of the aisle for the first time!! (and I’m also really excited about dancing with my Daddy as his MARRIED little girl!)

  25. avatar Patty reply

    I am most excited to become Mrs. Brewton :) I can’t wait to marry the man of my dreams in front of all of our friends and family. I especially can’t wait for my sister to sing our first dance song.

  26. avatar Tracy reply

    I’m most looking forward to my future hubby’s facial expression as he sees me walk down the aisle.

  27. avatar Andi reply

    I can’t wait to see the look on his face at the end of the aisle when he sees me and my dress for the first time! And then, of course, dancing the night away under the stars to some motown music with our best friends and family!

  28. avatar Shanda K reply

    I am most looking forward to marrying my best friend in front of all of our friends of family! I cant wait!

  29. avatar Mary Ann reply

    I’m looking forward to seeing my groom for the first time as I’m walking down the aisle!

  30. avatar christie reply

    I’m so, so, so excited about having all of my best friends and closest family there to get super creative and set up all of the fun decorations & details! But I’m MOST excited about seeing the look on my fiance’s face when I walk down the aisle (i have a secret, special song picked out… he’s going to melt ;)!!

  31. avatar Jennifer reply

    I am most looking forward to celebrating the start of the rest of my life with my beloved family and friends.

  32. avatar cathy steiner reply

    I can’t wait to see my vision come together. it’s all in pieces in my head, but I know it’ll all make fabulous sense come the big day!

  33. avatar Beth reply

    I am marrying a boy that I met over ten years ago at summer camp. Little did I know then that I was playing silly camp games alongside my future husband! I am blessed beyond measure to have such a wonderful husband-to-be. Although I am giddy just thinking about every aspect of our day, I am most looking forward to serving communion to each of our guests as our first act of service together as husband and wife. It will be a sign of our blessing and appreciation for those we hold most dear, honoring the love, growth and challenge they have given us over the years, making us who we are today. I’m also really looking forward to our lighthearted, whimsical reception of childhood delights afterwards!

  34. avatar Marcie reply

    I’m most looking forward to getting married in my fiancée’s home land this July! He’s originally from Texas but moved to Scotland to work, (where we then met) but now we’re getting married we’re moving back to his home state! My future mother in law has been helping me organise the perfect Southern wedding in, I hope its good enough for the Southern guests and will make a good start with my new family :)

  35. avatar Marcie reply

    I just tweeted! I just entered the @mrobbinsdesign giveaway on @iloveswmag!—Verified Marcie(@MissMarcie_x) April 14, 2012

  36. avatar Cecilia reply

    I am most excited to spend the reception with my family, friends, and most importantly husband. I can’t wait to celebrate the beginning of our new life together!

  37. avatar Melissa reply

    Looking forward to seeing my husband-to-be as I walk down the aisle with my Dad!

  38. avatar Mattye reply

    There is one thought about our wedding day that gives me butterflies more than any other: saying vows of lifelong promise to my sweet Georgia boy. There is nothing more romantic than professing our love and commitment out loud to each other, God, and all our friends and family. What a joy!

  39. avatar Mattye reply

    The Tweet is live!

  40. avatar Evan G. Cooper reply

    Ok. As much as I would love to write about what I am most looking forward to on my big day, I can’t! Why? I’m not getting married. Truth is I’m just a HUGE, HUGE, HUGE Matt Robbins fan. He is so fantastic at what he does. I would LOVE to win a copy of his book. I know its filled with lots of wonderful tips and tricks. Pick Me! ;)

  41. avatar Evan G. Cooper reply

    BOOM!!! I tweeted!!

  42. avatar Jana reply

    What I’m looking forward to most about our wedding day…is GETTING MARRIED! I can’t wait to see my fiance as I walk towards him down the aisle. It’s been a long time coming!

  43. avatar 书钉子 » Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up « Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] That’s why we couldn’t resist giving away a copy of Matthew Robbin’s Inspired Weddings! Go here to […]

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!

Reply to:
close
Top