Southern Weddings

Talented, professional, compassionate vendors are the backbone of every smoothly running wedding day. When you hire people who are great at what they do AND good people to boot, your only job on your wedding day will be to act as a gracious hostess, love your family and friends well, and say “I do.” What a blessing! That’s why we’re passionate about our Blue Ribbon Vendors – because we want y’all to be worrying about those three things, and nothing else. Here are a few we’d love to introduce you to!

Name: Anna Kerns, Anna Kerns Photography
Where you call home: Frederick, Maryland
Favorite part of a wedding day? The quiet moment the bride and groom share together during portraits! As much as I love spending time with family and friends, I remember on my wedding day how refreshing and romantic it was to have some alone time as newlyweds. It’s a chance to take in all the excitement and joy of becoming husband and wife! Plus, your photographers will get some really sweet photographs for you to treasure for years to come.

Name: Christopher and Nancy Nolan, Weddings by Christopher & Nancy
Where you call home: Little Rock, Arkansas
Things you’d write home to your Momma about: We have been featured in a number of national and local wedding blogs and magazines like Style Me Pretty, Ruffled, Southern Brides Magazine, and Arkansas Bride Magazine, and have even photographed weddings in Hawaii, Boston, and Florida, but we are most proud of the relationships we have made with our couples. A lot of them have turned into longtime friends, and that’s the best thing.

Name: Mariah Diehl, Diehl Farms Events
Where you call home: Wimauma, Florida
How I got into weddings: Diehl Farms Events was created four years ago after Frank and Ora hosted their granddaughter’s wedding at the ranch. Ever since then we have opened our doors to public. All we ask is that you bring your imagination.

Name: Erica Luttmann, Hey Lovely Makeup
Where you call home: Deep in the heart of Houston (Texas, of course)
Favorite part of a wedding day? The prettifying part. The camaraderie between bride, her best friends, and relatives is special. And when the bride puts on her gown… Disney princess moment for sure!

Name: Julie Bunkley, Invision Events
Where you call home: Auburn, Alabama
How I got into weddings: After working with a sweet group of girls in college directing weddings on the side, I decided to turn it into a business for our area. It’s been non-stop ever since!

Name: Max LeBlanc, Sun in My Belly
Where you call home: Atlanta, Georgia
Best piece of advice you can give to brides and grooms? The best piece of advice we can provide to any couple is provide your guests with menu items that you love and want them to experience. Your guests all love you and they will love what you provide. The sky’s the limit.

Name: Mary Louise Kennedy, The Event Group
Where you call home: Auburn, Alabama
How I got into weddings: ​Honestly, as a company founded by a couple of guys, we never expected to get into weddings. However, we have never accepted anything less than perfection in the execution of an event, which naturally pulled us into the wedding business! We’ve always loved bringing a unique feel to every event and that has only grown for each wedding we’ve been a part of. The individuality that our team has been able to bring to each wedding has certainly played a big part in the growth of our wedding business.

Name: Ty McBrayer, Twirl Boutique
Where you call home: Lexington, Kentucky
Favorite part of a wedding day? The groom’s face when he sees his bride at the end of the aisle is an all time favorite moment of ours. It doesn’t matter if they’ve already shared a first look or not, his expression when he sees his soon to be wife in her gorgeous dress is one of pure delight and joy. That moment never ceases to send our hearts soaring!

Name: Tori Austin, Victoria Austin Designs
Where you call home: Fairhope, Alabama
Best piece of advice you can give to brides and grooms? Don’t sweat the small stuff. Always remember this day is about you, your fiancé, and the Lord. Do your research when booking vendors, sleep on it, and don’t hire on a whim!

Name: Angela Mazanti, Angela Mazanti Event Design
Where you call home: Memphis, Tennessee
Favorite part of a wedding day? That moment when what I have created specifically for the bride and groom is unveiled. I am a giver by nature. I give more than is expected and I give more than I promise. I just can’t help it – it’s the way that I’m wired.

Check out all of our favorite vendors in the Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory! I also wanted to mention that we’re working particularly hard to expand some of our areas of slim pickings – namely, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and West Virginia. If you would like to recommend someone (or nominate yourself!) for any of these states, please email emily at southernweddings.com!

Written with love by Emily