Southern Weddings

Every post I get the chance to write on Southern Weddings is special, but today’s post is especially close to my heart! Each of the SW gals will readily admit that our respective gents are our touchstones, our rocks, our trustworthy support systems, and that could not be more true for today’s guest: my husband, John! Some of you may recognize him from our wedding or wedding film, but those two features only scratch the surface of his history and relationship with Southern Weddings. Like me, he’s been with SW almost from the beginning, and as you’ll see, he has some pretty strong feelings for this company. I’m so excited for y’all to get to know him a bit better, so without further ado…

Though John has yet to appear in any SW photo shoots, he has attended many SW magazine launch parties! This gem is from SWV2.

Name: John Thomas
What do you do for a job? Financial guidance and retirement planning
Your Southern Weddings gal: Emily
How and when you became a Southern Weddings gent: Emily and I started dating our senior year of high school. We stayed together through college, then decided we’d both move to North Carolina when she got her job at Southern Weddings. We were married in 2012.
What is your favorite SW memory? I always love attending the staff dinners because it’s always inspiring to be around the SW ladies. One I remember in particular was on a beautiful August day at Fearrington, and all the ladies went around the table talking about what it is that they treasure about one another. It was neat to be a part of something so real and sincere.

One of our first team dinners, in April 2011!

What is the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of SW? There is a lot of photo shoot scouting that I get recruited to do. Knocking on a stranger’s door to ask permission to use his yard for a shoot and driving across the Piedmont looking at half a dozen peach orchards come to mind.
What contributions have you made to SW that people may not realize? See previous answer. Also, back in the wedding planning days of SW, I helped as day-of labor and invented a pretty sharp-looking chair tie.
What is something you shouldn’t know about weddings, but do, thanks to SW? I think the big question is, what do I know about weddings that didn’t come from SW? But if I had to pick something, I’d say my somewhat extensive knowledge of wedding vendors is something there is no chance I would have if it wasn’t for SW. I know to look suitably impressed if Jose Villa is mentioned.

V5’s launch party!

Have you ever been recognized by a stranger because of SW? A few times, but never without Emily. At least twice we’ve been recognized by people new to our church, and once when we were at an outdoor concert in Durham. Probably most memorably, when we were in the checkout line at Wal-Mart soon after we were engaged, an older woman came over to congratulate us and to take a look at Emily’s ring.
What percentage of your social media followers come from SW? Probably a pretty low percentage, since Instagram is pretty much the only form of social media I use and I keep my feed on private.
What is the best thing about being an SW gent? Being able to be close to an inspiring, mission-focused company, and the opportunity to travel to neat places and eat incredible food on occasion.

Gina Zeidler

What is your least favorite thing about being an SW gent? Trick question: there is none.
If given the chance, would you become a Southern Weddings employee? Yes.
Favorite Southern food? That is so difficult to narrow down. Top contenders would be eastern North Carolina style BBQ, biscuits, and pimento cheese.

Missed the first post in this series? Catch up with Ari here! And get excited, because next week is Mr. Brandon Kloess!!

Written with love by Emily