Google+ college pride wedding ideas Archives - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Tag: college pride wedding ideas

I wasn’t able to be at Bryant Denny last weekend, but like any good Southern girl, I still spent my Saturday wearing my team colors, texting elephant emojis, and introducing my baby belle to a good ol’ Southern tradition: college football!!! Y’all know crimson and white runs deep in my family, and y’all even knew which bouquet was mine at the SW Retreat based on my team alliance! We frequently sign our emails with college rally cries here in the Southern Weddings office, so with a new game day on the horizon, we thought it would be the perfect time to share how these SEC-loving couples incorporated their allegiances into their wedding days! Roll Tide, y’all!

Want more SEC inspiration? Be sure to check out last year’s post here.

Reese Moore via Southern Weddings, Sara & Rocky via Southern Weddings, Gracie Blue, Aimee Reynolds, via M. Elizabeth Events

University of Alabama
Nickname: The Crimson Tide
Mascot: Big Al, an elephant
Colors: Crimson and white
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Joined the SEC: Original member (1932)

Unknown, Kourtney Allyse, Taylor Howard

University of Arkansas
Nickname: The Razorbacks
Mascot: Tusk the Razorback
Colors: Cardinal red and white
Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
Joined the SEC: 1991

Cassidy Carson via Snippet and Ink, Simple Color, The Studio B Photography, Stephen DeVries, Alisha Crossley, Spindle Photography

Auburn University
Nickname: The Tigers
Mascot: Aubie the Tiger. Since 1930, Auburn has also kept an actual eagle as a live, flying mascot at athletic events. War Eagle VII, a golden eagle named Nova, along with Spirit, a bald eagle, perform the “War Eagle Flight” before all Auburn home games at Jordan Hare Stadium!
Colors: Burnt orange and navy
Location: Auburn, Alabama
Joined SEC: Original member

Caroline Lima and Marissa Moss

University of Florida
Nickname: The Gators
Mascot: Albert and Alberta (alligators, of course)
Colors: Orange and blue
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Joined the SEC: Original member

Melissa Schollaert via Southern Weddings, A Bryan Photo, and Brita Photography

University of Georgia
Nickname: The Bulldogs
Mascot: Hairy Dawg, a costumed bulldog, and Uga, a real bulldog (currently the ninth bulldog from the same lineage to hold the role)
Colors: Black and red
Location: Athens, Georgia
Joined the SEC: Original member

Alexis Sweet and Alisha Crossley

University of Kentucky
Nickname: The Wildcats
Mascot: The Wildcat, a wildcat, and Scratch, a more child-friendly wildcat :)
Colors: Kentucky blue and white
Location: Lexington, Kentucky
Joined the SEC: Original member

Mark Eric Photography, Rachel Erin Photography, unknown

Louisiana State University
Nickname: The Tigers
Mascot: Mike the Tiger
Colors: Gold and purple
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Joined SEC: Original member

Aislinn Kate Photography and April + Paul Photography

Mississippi State University
Nickname: The Bulldogs
Mascot: Bully, a bulldog
Colors: Maroon and white
Location: Starkville, Mississippi
Joined the SEC: Original member

Danny K Photography, The Reason, Courtney Dellafiora via Southern Weddings, unknown, Lovely Union, Paul Johnson

University of Mississippi
Nickname: The Rebels
Mascot: Rebel, a black bear
Colors: Crimson and blue
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Joined SEC: Original member

Austin Gros and Courtney Tompson

University of Missouri
Nickname: The Tigers
Mascot: Truman the tiger
Colors: Black and MU gold
Location: Columbia, Missouri
Joined the SEC: 2012

All by JoPhoto except for third photo by Ramblin Rose

University of Tennessee
Nickname: The Volunteers, or Vols
Mascot: Smokey X, a Bluetick Coonhound (The current Smokey is the tenth since live mascots were adopted in 1953! He is cared for by the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity on campus.)
Colors: White and orange
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Joined the SEC: Original member

Jessica D’Onofrio, Sunglow Photography via Southern Weddings, Krystle Akin via Southern Weddings

Texas A&M
Nickname: The Aggies
Mascot: Reveille, a collie
Colors: Maroon and white
Location: College Station, Texas
Joined SEC: July 1, 2012

Anna & Spencer, unknown

Vanderbilt University
Nickname: The Commodores
Mascot: Mr. Commodore
Colors: Black and gold
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Joined the SEC: Original member

Corey Potter, unknown, unknown

University of South Carolina
Nickname: The Gamecocks
Mascot: Cocky the gamecock
Colors: Garnet and black
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Joined the SEC: 1991

Tell me: Where does your alliance lie? Have you been to or will you be representing your alma mater at your wedding? We’ll be covering the ACC next week, so be sure to send in any good photos you might have to share!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
8 Comments
  1. avatar Lauren Taylor reply

    What a fun round up of photos! I’m a UGA Bulldog living in the Triangle now, so its nice to see some red & black in the middle of all this Carolina blue! My husband’s groom’s cake was a GA Bulldog with a Duke hat (since we were heading up to Durham for him to start Law School this fall), and everyone loved it!

  2. avatar Loverly reply

    The little football chocolate covered strawberries… TOO cute!!

  3. avatar Annie reply

    What about University of South Carolina Gamecocks?!

  4. avatar Football Wedding Round-Up: The ACC – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] our reception, which our guests got to keep as a favor! Clearly, I couldn’t let Marissa and her beloved SEC Football have all the fun. Without further adieu, welcome to the ACC – Southern Weddings […]

  5. avatar J reply

    Next year can you include a USC wedding in the SEC roundup?!

  6. avatar Mary reply

    Woohoo Aggies! Have you ever seen the popular groom’s cake modeled after Kyle field? Those are my favorite!

  7. avatar Jennifer reply

    I love the navy koozie with gold wheat/wreath & initials . Do you know where I can get this design?

  8. avatar Holli reply

    LOVE seeing my South Carolina Grooms cake photo on your webpage!

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

Y’all know that when it comes to Southern Saturdays in the fall, college football rules! Not many brides with SEC roots plan their wedding without checking the schedule (something we included in our manifesto!), and though this may sound quite strange to our northern counterparts, I can vouch for its truth: yes, I consulted that trusty schedule before picking my wedding date. Better that than no-show family members, including my then soon-to-be MIL! Yes, gameday alliances run deep here in the South, y’all!

Since we’re in the thick of football season, we figured it was high time to celebrate the sweet spot where the sport we love so much intersects with another of our favorite topics – weddings! From groom’s cakes to garters and shakers to socks, I couldn’t be more excited to share this SEC wedding round-up. And we’re even starting with my personal favorite – the University of Alabama! Roll Tide! (I’m convinced Emily put Bama first because she knows how much I love them, not because we’re doing the schools in alphabetical order.)

Top to bottom: The Photography Shoppe via M. Elizabeth Events, next two Spindle Photography via Southern Weddings, unknown, Rob Ingram Photography via M. Elizabeth Events, Spindle Photography via Southern Weddings

University of Alabama
Nickname: The Crimson Tide
Mascot: Big Al, an elephant
Colors: Crimson and white
Location: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Joined the SEC: Original member (1932)

Any talk of Bama leads right into a discussion of rivalries. I know y’all have seen those “house divided” license plates around, but if alliances run deep here in the South, then rivalries run straight through to China! We love a little friendly competition weaved into wedding day decor.

Stephen DeVries via Southern Weddings and Chelsea Patricia Photography

Next up? Auburn!

Chelsea Patricia Photography, Finch Photography, and Ann Wade Parrish via M. Elizabeth Events

Auburn University
Nickname: The Tigers
Mascot: Aubie the Tiger. Since 1930, Auburn has also kept an actual eagle (whoa!) as a live, flying mascot at athletic events. War Eagle VII, a golden eagle named Nova, along with Spirit, a bald eagle, perform the “War Eagle Flight” before all Auburn home games at Jordan Hare Stadium!
Colors: Burnt orange and navy
Location: Auburn, Alabama
Joined SEC: Original member

Let’s head down to Florida!

Chris Martin via Desiree Dawn Events, Maile Lani via Southern Weddings, Stephen DeVries via Southern Weddings, Anna Kirby via Southern Weddings, Stephen DeVries via Southern Weddings, Daniel Taylor Photography via M. Elizabeth Events

University of Florida
Nickname: The Gators
Mascot: Albert and Alberta (alligators, of course)
Colors: Orange and blue
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Joined the SEC: Original member

Next, slightly north to Georgia!

Scott Hopkins Photography and Melissa Schollaert Photography via Southern Weddings

University of Georgia
Nickname: The Bulldogs
Mascot: Hairy Dawg, a bulldog
Colors: Black and red
Location: Athens, Georgia
Joined the SEC: Original member

Up to Kentucky!

Kristin Vanzant

University of Kentucky
Nickname: The Wildcats
Mascot: The Wildcat, a wildcat, and Scratch, a more child-friendly wildcat :)
Colors: Kentucky blue and white
Location: Lexington, KY
Joined the SEC: Original member

Moving down to LSU!

Ivy Weddings

Lousiana State University
Nickname: The Tigers
Mascot: Mike the Tiger
Colors: Gold and purple
Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Joined SEC: Original member

Next up: Ole Miss!

By Shea Photography via M. Elizabeth Events and D Jones Photography

University of Mississippi
Nickname: The Rebels
Mascot: Rebel the black bear
Colors: Crimson and blue
Location: Oxford, Mississippi
Joined SEC: Original member

Next, the University of Tennessee!

KLP Photography, Soli Photography, KLP Photography, JoPhoto, KLP Photography

University of Tennessee
Nickname: The Vols, or Volunteers
Mascot: Smokey IX, a hound (The current Smokey is the ninth since live mascots were adopted in 1953! He is cared for by two student trainers.)
Colors: White and orange
Location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Joined the SEC: Original member

Fun fact: UT students will recognize “The Rock,” above, from their campus. Thousands of coats of paint have been thrown on its surface since the 1960’s, and we love that this couple used it for their save the date message!

Last but certainly not least, one of the newest SEC members – Texas A&M!

Ivy Weddings

Texas A&M
Nickname: The Aggies
Mascot: Reveille, a collie
Colors: Maroon and white
Location: College Station, Texas
Joined SEC: July 1, 2012

Fun fact: The photos above are from a wedding where the couple handed out “12th man” towels for their getaway! In 1922, the Texas A&M team was so depleted by injuries in the first half of the Dixie Classic that the coach called a reserve, E. King Gill, out of the stands and onto the sidelines. He donned an injured player’s jersey, and though he was not called into the game, he was the only player left standing on the sidelines at the end of the game — hence the 12th man. Current Texas A&M students still call themselves the 12th Man, and to symbolize their “readiness, desire, and enthusiasm,” the entire student body stands throughout the game, usually waving white 12th Man Towels. Texas A&M trademarked the term 12th man in 1990!

Tell me: Where does your alliance lie? Have you been to or will you be representing your alma mater at your wedding? We’ll be covering the ACC next week, so be sure to send in any good photos you might have to share!

M. Elizabeth Events, Spindle Photography, Ivy Weddings, Desiree Dawn Events, Anna Kirby, Scott Hopkins, Melissa Schollaert, and KLP Photography are fabulous members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

marissa Written with love by Marissa
36 Comments
  1. avatar Emily Alice reply

    As a proud Gamecock (whose team just beat Georgia *cough cough*) I will ABSOLUTELY be having Cocky come to my wedding! This is an awesome post!

  2. avatar M.R. reply

    You left out Vanderbilt. :(

    • avatar Marissa reply

      M.R! We would have loved to include Vandy, but sadly we were unable to find any awesome photos with the school’s inclusion.

  3. avatar Jessica reply

    All of these look great, however, as a resident of the state of Alabama, and an Auburn grad (I am in a divided relationship), I would like to clarify for all the non-SEC fans that Bama’s rivals are Auburn, and Tennessee, not Florida!

    • avatar Emily reply

      Hi Jessica! And this is why I never write anything about football! I’m sure Marissa, as a true Bama fan, knows better – I actually added in that line while I was placing the photos :) I’ve switched it just for you!!

    • avatar Marissa reply

      Ha! Yes, since Emily edits my posts after I write them, sometimes I don’t see the edits until they’re live. Of course, as a true Bama fan I would know that their rivals are Auburn and Ten! If you knew my hatred for orange, you’d know why! : )

    • avatar Desiree reply

      Emily: I totally resent Marissa’s hate for orange! LOL Looks like some teams are a little afraid to rival with my Gators…ahem…xo

    • avatar Marissa reply

      Ha! You know that I love you dearly to not delete this comment! ; )

  4. avatar Madelynne Moulton reply

    WAR EAGLE! :)

  5. avatar Meghan Peevely reply

    Loving all of the VOLS ideas in this post! Go Big Orange!

  6. avatar Megan reply

    Sad that I don’t see South Carolina on this post. :( BUT we will be having garnet & orange pom poms for our send off (fiance is a Clemson grad – yuck). I originally wanted to hire both Cocky and the Tiger to come to the reception but I didn’t want the whole thing about how we disagree when it comes to football. haha

  7. avatar Victoria reply

    My wedding is in December, and as a current student at Texas A&M I am SO excited that yall included the Aggies. Their move to the SEC the same year as our wedding just made the Southern feel that much more attainable. Nice timing. ;) We are actually really considering using game day towels too.. maybe personalized as well!

  8. avatar Amy reply

    How about an ACC wedding round-up next? GO PACK!

    • avatar Emily reply

      Look for an ACC round-up next week!

    • avatar Lauren reply

      Yayyyyyyyyy!!! My relationship is divided too. I’m a grad student at UNC and my fiancé graduated from NC State! He’s so much more passionate then I am about this sort of thing, I will definitely get him a NC State grooms cake :-)

  9. avatar Birmingham Wedding Photographer reply

    I love these weddings! My last one had a cake that was half Mississippi Sate and half Auburn. One of the best ones I’ve seen.

  10. avatar Kelly reply

    I love the Pom-pom send off idea, but I am having difficulty finding them. Any advice?

    Looking forward to an ACC round-up – We have a FSU and Wake Forest rivalry going on!

    • avatar Marissa reply

      Hey Kelly! Of course! The College Football Store has some really fun options for gameday shakers (as I’ve always called them!). Take a look here: http://www.collegefootballstore.com/search/pom%20poms. Also be sure to check your school’s bookstore as we’ve found them there before. Best of luck! xx

    • avatar Emily reply

      We’ve ordered them from cheerleading.com, too, for a past story!

    • avatar Megan reply

      Kelly: Also check out orientaltrading.com

  11. avatar Amy Arrington Photography reply

    ROLL TIDE!

  12. avatar Featured: Southern Weddings Magazine » KLP Photography | Blog reply

    […] My Favorite Magazine, Southern Weddings did a blog post on SEC teams and people who incorporate these teams on their wedding day. They featured three of my pictures and I am so honored! Check out the full article here! […]

  13. avatar Morgan reply

    Wow, really disappointed to not find any South Carolina Gamecock weddings on here.

    • avatar Marissa reply

      Hi Morgan, we tried our best to include all the schools, but we were unable to find images for some. Wish we could have included your Gamecocks! xx

  14. avatar Kelly D reply

    Although I went to a small private Christian school that had no football team (BOO!), my allegiance is forever to Tennessee!!!! It causes some pretty major contention with my (fair weather fan, cough) Alabama-loving husband. But GO VOLS!!!!! I’ll be rocking my orange all fall long!

  15. avatar Bri @ Posh Purpose reply

    I love this post! My wedding date is December 1, which is also the SEC Championship this year. When I picked the date, the Gators were in the middle last year’s extremely depressing season (that followed an equally depressing one) so I figured there was NO way my Gators would be playing on my wedding day. Come to find out, it isn’t totally out of the question!

    In the (less unlikely) event that Florida goes to the Championship, we will probably set up a screen to watch the game. I’m sure the photographer will catch a few very “flattering” pictures of the bride yelling at the screen and her new Buckeye inlaws pouting because Ohio State can’t go to post season games this year. To placate my fiance, I am going to make some buckeyes to set out on the groom’s cake table but I can’t promise a few die hard wedding guests won’t put some gator figurines around the bowls ;)

  16. avatar Elizabeth reply

    Love this post! I am a northerner who moved south for college and stayed, and I had no clue how important college football was until I got here.

  17. avatar Bethany reply

    Love these photographs, so much fun!

  18. avatar Janna reply

    I die! This post is amazing! Love how people are so creative when it comes to showing their SEC pride! :) Go Gators!

  19. avatar Shannon reply

    One of my favorite parts of going to an Aggie wedding (I’m a current student) is that almost any bride and groom will have the A&M War Hymn played before the big send-off. It just brings the southern/Aggie spirit out in everyone :)

  20. avatar Rebecca Lord reply

    I love this story, except for one important detail. While Hairy Dawg is an officially recognized mascot of The University of Georgia, Uga, the live dog, is our primary mascot.

  21. avatar Kick Off Your Marriage With Football Wedding Details | Love Notes from Lover.ly reply

    […] by: Maile Lani on Southern Weddings via […]

  22. avatar Tiffany Wise reply

    Love the Alabama cakes! Who made them? ROLLL TIDEE!!!!!!

  23. avatar Brittany reply

    LOVE this! And it’s true, no Southern, football loving gal would EVER schedule her wedding without consulting a calendar!

  24. avatar SCOTT GABRISCH reply

    would like to find the company that sells the 12th-man towels
    Scott

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