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With Lisa on maternity leave snuggling the newest SW beau, I’m thrilled to be joining y’all here on the blog to share some beautiful wedding days with you, starting with Laura and Patrick’s Key West celebration! From opting to wear the veil her mother wore on her parents’ wedding day to tucking handwritten thank you notes into small bottles for each guest, Laura and Patrick took a day that is traditionally about celebrating a bride and groom and instead chose to cultivate the beginning of a life full of love by celebrating their families, their story, and what matters most to them. I hope you enjoy reliving their day as much as I did!

A big thanks to Erika Delgado for sharing Laura and Patrick’s day with us!

I knew I wanted a simple dress, without any lace or beading, that would complement my mom’s veil, which I planned on wearing. My mom’s veil was given to her by her grandmother for her and my dad’s wedding 40 years ago. The first day I decided to make appointments, I went with my mom and matron of honor. After trying on a few options that didn’t wow me, the consultant had an idea to have me try on a dress that came with a lace overlay, but to leave the overlay off. As soon as I put the dress on, I knew it was the one! I felt gorgeous in it–it was simple, classic, fit our venue, and most importantly, I could see myself marrying Patrick in it.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something borrowed meant a great deal to me: my grandfather’s dog tag from World War II. I tied the tag to lace ribbon and wrapped it around my bouquet. Even though he couldn’t be there in person, he was there with me as I took some of the most important steps of my life. Something old was my mom’s veil, which she wore on my parents’ wedding day. Something blue was the ribbon on my garter. Something new was two things: my wedding dress and my wedding day gift from Patrick.

Describe your wedding flowers. I knew from the moment I started planning that I wanted an all-white palette for the flowers, keeping it simple and classic. Because the reception was taking place in gardens, I didn’t want to compete with the beautiful landscape there. Our florist created a gorgeous mixture of white peonies, garden roses, ranunculus, and lisianthus. Instead of having large centerpieces, I preferred the look of many smaller arrangements mixed with oil lanterns and candles. I collected all of the glassware used for the florals throughout our engagement.

We met in Key West and experienced many memories throughout our relationship there, including our engagement. It made perfect sense to get married in the city where we fell in love. Both of us share a love of the ocean and the unique history and culture that Key West provides. When it came time to decide on a venue, we knew we wanted a location that held true to Key West. The lighthouse, being a beacon of safe refuge for sailors, coupled with Patrick’s time in the Coast Guard, made perfect sense. The large banyan tree next to the lighthouse provided a beautiful spot to say our vows. For the reception, we loved the the gardens of the Audubon House. The layout was unique and it felt like we were inviting friends and family to a backyard celebration in the heart of Key West. Between the ceremony and the reception, everyone boarded the Conch Tour Train to take in a little bit more of the island. The evening was finished off with dinner and (lots of) dancing the night away under the stars. All of our guests generously traveled to be with us, so we wanted to give them as much of a Key West experience as possible.

Did you decide to do a first look? Why or why not? We decided not to do a first look on our wedding day. It was important to both of us that our eyes met for the first time in front of our loved ones, moments before we became husband and wife. When our eyes locked as I rounded the corner, all that mattered was each other. We will cherish that feeling forever.

What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? Do what makes you and your significant other happy. People will have plenty of advice, but what worked for them may not work for you. Pick the things that matter the most to you, and that will make you happy. Do your research on vendors–choose ones who align with your style and understand the vision you have. When you you feel confident in your vendors, it makes the day run smoothly, and it allows you to relax and enjoy the day! Finally, throughout the planning process, it helps to think of the day from guests’ point of view. It is your wedding, but taking a little extra time to think about their experience will be greatly appreciated–they did travel just to be with you both on this big day!

In dreaming up our day, the inspiration all came from the sea. The colors came from the varying tones of Florida Keys water, from a muted light minty blue in the shallows to deeper blues where the ocean meets the sky. All of the place cards were pieces of driftwood collected by us in Puerto Rico while Patrick lived there. We love the idea of messages in a bottle. Throughout our engagement, we collected small bottles from antique stores. At the wedding, we rolled up a thank you note for each guest and placed them in the bottles. Attached was a tag with guests’ names that led them to their tables. Each table was named after a different Key we had memories in throughout the Florida Keys. In place of a guest book, we asked that our guests leave us a message and drop them into large old bottles.

Our wedding cake was from one of the best bakeries in Key West. We wanted something simple, yet delicious, and went with a three-tiered, all-white ruffled cake, topped with a gold conch shell to symbolize the Keys. Inside, the cake had two flavors: French vanilla layered with mousseline and fresh strawberries, and Key West rum with layers of chocolate ganache, mousseline, and fresh strawberries.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. We met in Key West, Florida in January 2011. I had recently moved to the Keys and one of my best friends from college was in town for the weekend. We went for a night out in Key West, and she decided I had to meet her friend “just in case” I ever needed anything. Her friend was Patrick–they were childhood friends who grew up two streets apart, and he was stationed in Key West with the Coast Guard. Upon meeting Patrick, I was smitten, but never would have admitted it. Having just moved to a new town, I didn’t have much interest in getting into a relationship. I was stubborn, but Patrick’s persistence paid off, and two months later, we went on our first date.
Tell us all about the proposal! Patrick planned a date night in Key West at an amazing sushi restaurant. After dinner, he suggested we go for a walk down the pier next door. We got to the end of the empty pier, and while looking out over the water, we began talking about us and the changes our relationship was going to experience. Patrick was about to move to Puerto Rico for work, while I would continue living in the Keys. In the middle of this conversation, the words “I want to spend the rest of my life with you” came out of his mouth, while he spun me around and got down on one knee. After spilling his heart, he asked me to be his wife. I was completely surprised and, of course, said yes! After the fact, I learned that he had driven across the state to ask permission from my parents, had hidden friends taking photos of the proposal, and even coordinated with my boss to let me have the next day off of work.
When did y’all get married? April 18, 2015
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? 110
Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. The bridal party walked down the aisle to the instrumental version of “Skinny Love” by Birdy. My dad walked me down the aisle to the instrumental version of “All of Me” by John Legend. This song really stood out for the message it was sending to my future husband, and now, every time I hear it, it brings me back to that moment. After the ceremony, our song to walk back up the aisle was “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors. Patrick chose our first dance song. We were on a vacation together when we first heard “Hey Pretty Girl” by Kip Moore, and Patrick instantly said, “This is what we should dance our first dance to.” I loved that he was so excited about the song and that he wanted it for our big day. For my dance with my father, we chose a version of “My Little Girl,” sang by SoMo. The lyrics spoke true of the strong bond between a father and daughter, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room during the dance. Patrick and his mom danced to “The Baby” by Blake Shelton. This song has always been “their song,” so there was no question that it would be what they would dance to.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: How personal the wedding was, from the custom crest, to our dog’s silhouette on the drink stirrers. Every detail involved in our day had our personal touch on it.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? We got married in the southernmost City in the United States! I carried one of my dad’s handkerchiefs–I’ve never seen him without one. I also had handkerchiefs embroidered for both sides of parents as gifts on the day-of.
What’s next for you as a couple? What memories are you looking forward to making together? We just bought our first house! We are looking forward to making the house a home, traveling, and eventually starting a family.

Photographer: Erika Delgado | Planner: Jill Atkinson | Ceremony Venue: Key West Lighthouse | Reception Venue: Audubon House | Florist: Love In Bloom | Wedding Cake: Croissants de France | Caterer: Catered Affairs of Key West | Rentals: Mile Marker Party Rentals | DJ: Kiss Me Entertainment | Custom Crest: Juliet Grace Design | Paper Products: Smitten on Paper | Bride’s Gown: “D1367” by Essence of Australia | Bride’s Bracelet: Coordinates Collection | Hair and Makeup: Studio Marie-Pierre | Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Adrianna Papell, Amsale, Monique Lhuillier, Joanna August, and Donna Morgan | Menswear: Men’s Wearhouse | Groom’s Tie: The Tie Bar | Groom’s Watch: Citizen | Dog Silhouette and Drink Stirrers: Fire Hydrant Press | Head Table Sign: Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Envelope Calligraphy: Allie Seidel Design | Ring Box: The Mrs. Box | Tote Bags: Wedding Chicks Shop | Koozies: My Wedding Store | “Vows” Print: Southern Weddings Shop | Transportation: Conch Tour Train | Special Details: BHLDN | Soap Favors: Key West Soap Company

Written with love by Jess Metcalf
6 Comments
  1. avatar Erika Delgado reply

    What a beautiful wedding day! Thank you for sharing:)

  2. avatar Laura + Patrick Married in Key West » Erika Delgado Photography reply

    […] Featured on Southern Weddings […]

  3. avatar Curtis Wallis reply

    Love seeing all the smiles. Makes this day look so much more special. Beautiful wedding

  4. avatar Nancy Ellis reply

    any idea who makes the MOB gown? Thanks

  5. avatar Robb McCormick Photography reply

    Absolutely stunning wedding. Every detail perfectly executed in front of a perfect backdrop!

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My first thought when I saw Meg Sutton’s home was, “Good golly, this is ridiculously adorable.” My second thought was, “It’s like her products came to life!” As some of y’all might know, Meg is the amazingly talented Southerner behind Belle & Union Co., a staple of the Southern Weddings Shop. Since her product collection is impeccably curated, it’s no surprise to me that her home is, too, with not one of the 800 square feet marred by unnecessary clutter. It is, however, filled with plenty of meaningful mementos from their life together. Please enjoy this peek into the lovely Texas home and studio of Meg and Josh Sutton!

Big hugs to Amanda Marie for these lovely photos! And P.S.: scroll down to the bottom of the post for an exclusive Belle & Union discount!

Introducing: Joshua and Meg Sutton
Years married: 5
Where you live: College Station, Texas (whoop!)
Tell us your love story in one sentence. The art student and soldier fall in love along the sandy beaches of Tybee Island and beneath the mossy oaks of Savannah, Georgia. There was exactly one year between our first date and our wedding day. (Crazy kids!)

Do you rent or own? Currently, we rent our little carriage house–800 square feet of living space above the garage, which acts as studio space for Belle & Union. We know we most likely will not stay in College Station forever, as we are here while Josh is in school. We previously owned our home in Savannah, and can’t wait until the day that we buy again. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a fixer upper! Someday, we hope to own a little store with a studio in the back for me, and maybe a café next door for him, on a quaint little main street in smalltown USA.
Tell us about the process of moving in together. When we bought our first home, Josh was actually on the other side of the world, quite literally, serving a tour in Afghanistan. The house-picking process was one for the books, and I had to move everything from our little rental into the house myself. I then had three months before he came home to get everything all set up. I frustrated him quite a bit because I refused to share photos that entire time! I think it was all worth it for both of us when he walked in and said immediately that it just felt like home.

Which items from your wedding registry do you use the most often? I have to admit, the registry was more for Josh than it was for me! That being said, I asked him this question and he was quick to answer his knife set and the pots and pans. Safe to say, he is the chef around here.
What different decisions, if any, would you make for your registry if you knew then what you knew now? White! I wish we had registered for white stoneware from the beginning. We picked red stoneware, which was fun, but we got tired of it very quickly. I would suggest sticking with classic pieces, and adding the fun into your linens and other accessories that can be easily changed without a lot of expense.
Who cooks dinner? Josh is the chef. He loves to experiment in the kitchen, and is currently studying food science at Texas A&M. He cooks, I clean, and everyone is happy.
What is your go-to weeknight meal? Weekend meal? I don’t think we have a regular meal… Josh loves to experiment in the kitchen! But we do probably have Tex Mex at least once a week.
What’s your favorite place to find recipes? My creativity is all on paper, but for Josh, it is with food. We have a stack of cookbooks in the kitchen, but for the most part, he just starts creating. Sometimes, it’s like an episode of Chopped in our kitchen. I’ll pull out a few random ingredients and let him go to town. I haven’t had a bad meal yet!

Which room in your home is your favorite, and why? This is a trick question, since our house is basically one big room! All of the natural light makes it a wonderful spot to just sit and enjoy each other’s company. We were worried that moving from a 1500 square foot house to essentially an 800 square foot studio apartment would make us feel cramped and on top of each other. But honestly, I think we’ve loved living with less. You definitely learn what is more important to you in a smaller space.
Where do you splurge and where do you save when decorating? My best source has to be my husband. If I can’t seem to find just the right piece, I ask him to build it. Usually, it turns out better than I could have ever dreamed or imagined, and it costs a lot less money! He has built furniture, tiled a kitchen backsplash, and has even sewn roman shades for our kitchen! On the other hand, I do love a good day of junkin’! I currently have a weakness for all things typewriters, oil cans, and windmills.

How do you remember your wedding in your home? We have a few of our favorite wedding photos scattered around the house, but my favorite memento is our cake topper. It’s one of the first things I see every morning when I wake up, and it always brings a smile to my face.
What is your favorite memory from your wedding? My favorite memory is walking back up the aisle arm in arm after we were pronounced husband and wife. There was a bugler playing in the background (a surprise to my husband), and I remember turning and looking at him as we exited the chapel and feeling as if the world stopped spinning for just a moment.

Do you have a favorite date night idea to share? We tend to be homebodies, so there’s nothing either of us quite enjoys more than just cuddling on the couch while watching a movie. During football season though, we love to hang out with 80,000 of our closest friends and watch the Aggies BTHO whatever team we’re playing that week.
What has been the most surprising thing about marriage? I think a lot of brides (and grooms) expect any problems before the wedding to magically disappear after. Marriage doesn’t solve your problems–you have to do that yourselves, together!

What’s your best tip for balancing your relationship and other life priorities? With Josh in school and me working what feels like 24/7, it helps to be able to share what we do. He certainly helps me more with the business than I help him with homework (organic chemistry? No, thank you), but having a support system is invaluable. Knowing when the other person is stressed out and being able to step in, even if it’s something as simple as me giving him a ride to class, or him packaging cards for an order, helps us show love to one another, and thus grow closer together. But, probably the most important thing I can share is communication. Despite popular belief and expectations, we can’t read each other’s minds! Open and honest communication keeps us on the same page.

Do you have children? Currently, we just have one fur baby, our rescue dog, Ellie. The business is a baby all on its own, and combined with Josh in school, there’s a lot on our plates. We’d like to have children someday, once we are settled after Josh has completed school.

What is one small way you love or serve your spouse? When we were first married, it was common for us to leave little love notes around the house for each other to find. We both found our love languages to be words of affirmation (side note: read The Five Love Languages–it rocks). Being able to find a surprise full of kind words was always an instant day-brightener, and the notes were something that could be kept and treasured. For us, it all ties back to the importance of communication. That’s one reason I love what I do so much. For me, the Belle & Union line is not about the greeting card itself–it’s about the message it shares. It’s the opportunity to build, strengthen, and sometimes mend a relationship, connecting people in a thoughtful and tangible way. That’s what we try to do for each other in our marriage through those kind words and acts of love.

Before getting married, I wish someone had told me… love is a choice, a choice that you each have to make every single day. Josh and I have been through our fair shares of ups and downs, many we have put on ourselves, and others, such as hardships like physical separation while he was in the Army. We’ve had to grow up a lot, as individuals, and as a couple, in a very short amount of time. I think it’s key to know those are two very different things! The other person is not responsible for your happiness. They can certainly add to it, but you have to choose to be who you are, and whom you are with.
What is your favorite part of being married? I love knowing without a doubt that he is the man God intended me to be with. Even on days when I may not like him very much, I’m always reminded that he is exactly who I need.

We’re so grateful to Meg and Josh for sharing their hearts and home with us! Be sure to follow along with Meg at @belleandunionco and the Belle & Union site. We’re also offering 15% off all Belle & Union products in the Southern Weddings Shop, including tea towels, cards, recipe cards, and magnets! Enter code ILOVEBELLE&UNION at checkout until August 15.

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! Our hope is to feature REAL couples in the South – your inspiring friend, super talented cousin, or neighbor with the cutest house – the kind of person everyone would love to “e-meet.” If that sounds like you or someone you know, take a peek at our Southern Newlywed submission page and shoot us an email!

emily Written with love by Emily
8 Comments
  1. avatar Rachel Nordgren reply

    What a beautifully curated home! I’m such a fan of small, functional and clutter-free spaces!

  2. avatar Lisa reply

    Not surprised at all that her house is so darling, and I LOVE her interview!

  3. avatar Mary reply

    MEG! Can we be BFFs?
    I just loved this feature so much! As a fellow Aggie, former military spouse, and lover of junkin – I think it’s just meant to be!
    Beautiful home, beautiful views on marriage, and such a wonderful company!

  4. avatar Meg reply

    I’m still absolutely giddy about this! Thank y’all so much for featuring us and our little home. XOXO!

  5. avatar Maria @ ritzy bee reply

    Great feature – your place is awesome Meg…just like you!!! xo

  6. avatar Lindsay reply

    I love how they decorated their home!

  7. avatar Stephanie Creekmur reply

    I am in love with every detail! So beautiful and cozy! I’m definitely envious of that gorgeous studio! :)

  8. avatar Sweet Tea Sundays No. 45 – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] she and her husband Josh gave us a tour of their darling Texas carriage house in one of the first Southern Newlywed features. We were so grateful that they shared their marriage advice with us in […]

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Who else is still swooning over last week’s peek into Erin and Ben’s Mississippi home? I, for one, most definitely am! As you may have gathered from the post, I am a big fan of everything Erin touches, and so when she reached out about Lucky Luxe’s newest offering, At Home, I begged her to let us do a giveaway – and she agreed!

From Erin: When we bought our 1925 craftsman cottage, I did this little portrait of our house inspired by the illustration work of Rebekka Seale and printed the painting on notecards. Since then, friends have asked me to do house notecards for them as well, and I suggested Rebekka but I found that she retired from illustration to pursue the Camellia Fiber Company. I didn’t feel right about taking her idea and running with it, so I reached out to her and with her blessing we’re now picking up where she left off and offering whimsical custom watercolor house portraits on folded notecards.

Aren’t they delightful??

As a longtime fan of both Rebekka and Erin, I couldn’t be happier about this development. If you’re not the type to go for monogrammed stationery, I think these At Home cards are perfect for newlywed correspondence!

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win one custom house print and a set of 25 notecards!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: Instagram entries from people with private profiles won’t appear, so you might have to change your settings for a week to enter the contest!

We can’t wait to see your homes!

emily Written with love by Emily
3 Comments
  1. avatar Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] We love these hosting tips from the gal who threw the cutest backyard engagement party. Nicole recapped her trip to the National Stationery show! For lots of paper goodness, see parts one, two, three, and four (hint: there’s an amazing giveaway going on in part four!). I shared my inspiration for mine and Dave’s engagement pictures. The lovely Kate Bryan shared her favorite piece of marriage advice in last week’s Sweet Tea Sunday. We’re giving away a custom house illustration from Lucky Luxe on Southern Newlywed. […]

  2. avatar Heather @ Beyond the Aisle reply

    Erin’s work is gorgeous!

  3. avatar At Home featured on Southern Weddings & Oh So Beautiful Paper | Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence | Letterpress Wedding Stationery reply

    […] so excited to see our new At Home stationery line getting some love on the internet lately. Southern Weddings sponsored an instagram Lucky Luxe painting + stationery giveaway a few days ago and we drew the […]

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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