Goodness gracious, we’ve almost come to the end of another year. And what a year it has been! We figured it was only appropriate to take a little walk down memory lane, considering we’ve spent the rest of the week remembering some of our favorite features from the year. And what a year it was! We thought it might be fun to do a “by the numbers” breakdown for 2011, so here’s a brief rundown of some of the changes, additions, events, and milestones that made the past twelve months so wonderful for Southern Weddings.
9 :: new blog features that have stood the test of time: Southern Style, Newlywed Kitchen, Southern Inspiration Boards, Southern Color Palettes, Southern Traditions, Southern Bride of the Month, Southern Spotting, Southern Hospitality, and the Ultimate Southern Challenge. We’ve got a few more up our sleeve for 2012!
11 :: number of photoshoots created specifically for V4
Images by Leigh Webber. See more behind-the-scenes details from our polo shoot here!
3,376 :: number of followers we currently have on Pinterest. Pinterest didn’t even exist in 2010!
264 :: number of pages in V4, a HUGE jump from V3’s page count of 169!
76 :: number of real weddings that were featured on the blog. See them all + more in the gallery!
11 :: number of weddings that were featured in print
52 :: number of giveaways we ran on the blog
1,019 :: most number of comments on a post, for our iPad giveaway
1,489 :: dollar amount raised for Stop Hunger Now and Southern tornado victims at the first annual Southern Weddings yard sale
2 :: number of major site additions we debuted this year (the Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory and the Honey List)
63 :: current number of Blue Ribbon Vendors
1 :: number of departures from the Southern Weddings office. Katharine is as happy as a goat in a briar patch in grad school, y’all!
1 :: number of new offices for the SW crew. We moved into our new office in May, and haven’t looked back! We LOVE it! Pictures coming soon, we promise!
1 :: number of full staff photo shoots. We love working with Millie!
1 :: number of new engagement rings in the Southern Weddings office
1 :: number of new additions to the Southern Weddings office. Welcome to the team, Grace!
Of course, there are things that numbers just can’t do justice to, so we each wanted to take a minute to share our favorite memory from 2011.
From Nicole:
One of my very favorite memories from 2011 was our Gingerbread Barn Building event. I loved getting to meet our local readers and see how creative and competitive they were! The whole night was such a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season.
Images by Nancy Ray
From Sierra:
My favorite SW memory from 2011 was the V4 getaway shoot. I loved the location, the Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation, and the fashion for the shoot was definitely up my alley: short dresses, clutches, and hair accessories. But most of all, I loved getting to help set up, then throw, poms, airplanes, streamers and confetti, and wave ribbon wands and pendants for multiple takes! I think Emily and all others involved (like our reader models) could agree it was just too much fun!
Images by Corbin Gurkin
From Marissa:
My favorite SW memory from 2011 was the trip to Bridal Market with Whitney. Not only did we get to see gorgeous dresses and all our favorite friends, but we had SO much fun! You know it’s a good trip when you’re even having fun when your cab nearly gets in a wreck and you walk/run two miles through Comic Con wearing heels! All in the name of fashion y’all!
Image by Trent Bailey
From Whitney:
What a year it has been! The 2011 highlight? I have to go with Marissa and say Bridal Market! Between attending the many fashion shows, gasping at jaw-dropping gowns and getting the opportunity to meet many of the designers, Bridal Market might be my version of heaven.
Images by Trent Bailey
From Emily:
I would have to say one of my favorite memories from 2011 is the SW yard sale. Though it was a scorcher of a day, we had a fabulous turnout, and it was so fun to meet so many readers, drink Cheerwine, and eat cupcakes! Plus, we raised a great amount of money for two important causes.
Image by Nancy Ray
Here’s to an even more amazing 2012!
Congrats on such a strong year! Wishing you the best on the years to come!