Google+ Ryan Ray Photography Archives - Southern Weddings

Southern Weddings

Tag: Ryan Ray Photography

After reading hundreds of real wedding interviews as an editor here at Southern Weddings, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what my own wedding day would feel like. But, from the moment I woke up on May 2, 2015, all of my expectations were blown out of the water in the sweetest, best way. The entire day felt like a dream–not because every detail turned out perfectly or every second of our timeline was followed to a tee (neither was the case!), but because after a journey that spanned five years, three states, and two countries, I got to marry my best friend in the world, surrounded by the people I love more than anything. I was so honored and humbled to share my and Dave’s wedding day with y’all in V8, and I sincerely hope that you enjoy reading a little bit more about the heart behind our inspiration and the details we included below!

I am forever grateful to Ryan Ray for capturing our day so beautifully on film. These images take me right back, and I can think of no greater gift than that!

I was SO nervous about dress shopping—I love bridal fashion, and knew I wanted a dress that I had never seen before (easier said than done for this wedding magazine editor!). I only had one weekend to shop with my mom and sisters, so we scheduled four appointments in Houston, the first being at Joan Pillow, where they were having a trunk show for my favorite designer, Monique Lhuillier. My dress ended up being the second one I tried on, and while I loved it right away, I still wanted to see what else was out there. I went to two other appointments and tried on lots of beautiful options, but ended up comparing every other dress to the Monique Lhuillier. By the time we went back to Joan Pillow the next day, I could hardly wait to get into my dress (technically, a top and skirt combo!), and when I had it on, it just made me happy. I loved the combination of lace and tulle, and the alternating raw and horsehair-edged tiers on the skirt were so unique and special. I now can’t picture our wedding without it, and it was one of my very favorite details of the day!

One of the best decisions I made for the wedding was asking Kelly Perry of Philosophy Flowers to create the bouquets, boutonnieres, and ceremony flowers. She was a dream to work with, and the arrangements she created were perfect. Pink peonies were the first flowers Dave ever gave me when we started dating, so they’re extra special to both of us, and I dreamed of including both peonies and dogwoods in my wedding flowers. When the dogwoods began to bloom a month early, I was heartbroken that they wouldn’t make it to May. Kelly told me not to worry, and I still have no idea how she did it, but sure enough, she made it happen in a bigger way than I had ever imagined! She included so many gorgeous spring flowers, including peonies and dogwoods, in all of the bouquets, and every time I smell my favorite peonies now, it brings me back to that day.

Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! My something new was my dress, and my something old was a beautiful embroidered handkerchief that had belonged to Dave’s grandmother. My something blue was my favorite! On her way to the wedding from Austin, my sister picked a few blue bonnets, and snuck them up to North Carolina in a water bottle. I tucked them into the back of my bouquet, and they made me so happy! It was really sweet to have a little piece of my home state with me all day, especially since we weren’t getting married in Texas.

What did the groom and groomsmen wear? Our number one priority for the gents was great fit. Dave chose a navy blue suit from J. Crew, and his groomsmen wore similar navy J. Crew pants that were a bit less expensive. Our dads wore navy suits from J. Crew Factory, so we technically had three slightly different J. Crew navies on the guys, but you could hardly tell, and it was great to ask everyone to pay a price they were comfortable with. As his gift to them, Dave bought all of the guys white shirts from Brooks Brothers and had the cuffs monogrammed in navy thread. They all looked so handsome, and we got multiple comments from the guys about how much they loved their outfits!
Did you include any Southern traditions in your wedding? Dave buried a bottle of bourbon at our first look location a month before the wedding, and then dug it up the morning of the wedding with his groomsmen—we credit this, plus lots of prayer, for our beautiful weather!

Did you do a first look? We did—we are admittedly both criers, and thought seeing each other before the ceremony would help us hold it together during my walk down the aisle! Even though we did a first look, we chose not to do any family or bridal party portraits during that time. It was an intimate time for just for the two of us to pray, rejoice, and thank God for the blessing of that day.

We had a traditional Catholic Mass ceremony, and it was perfect for us in every way. We spent a lot of time during our engagement praying about and preparing our ceremony so that it would truly reflect how important our faith is to us and how deeply we value the sacrament of marriage. Having our priest, Father Edward Wolanski, marry us was a huge blessing—he knows us and our story well, and did the most incredible job expressing the beauty of sacramental marriage throughout the ceremony. We were so honored that the reverence of our ceremony was the number one thing our guests commented on—God is the most important part of our lives and our marriage, and we are so happy our guests were able to recognize that on our wedding day.

We like to joke that Dave is a country boy from New York and I’m a city girl from Texas. Balancing urban and rustic is something we find ourselves doing in our day-to-day lives, and choosing just one aesthetic for our wedding didn’t seem like it would reflect us accurately enough. I love that we gave our guests a taste of downtown Raleigh through our ceremony—the church is right in the heart of the city, a block away from the state capitol. The tailored, elegant styling at our reception carried that feel throughout the day, but the reception setting provided plenty of Southern pastoral loveliness, from the gardens around Fearrington, to the barn venue, to the black and white Belted Galloway cows grazing in a field just a few yards from the party!

Did you have a cocktail hour? If so, what was it like? Our guests gathered in the courtyard outside of the barn before the reception, and enjoyed our two passed hors d’oeurves (a mini BLT and a potato fritter with truffle crème fraiche), our two signature cocktails (a cucumber gin and tonic and a spiked sweet tea and lemonade), and a display of local cheeses (the one thing my Wisconsin-born and bred dad insisted on!). We also served wine and a selection of four beers, including three that were brewed in North Carolina. In the meantime, Dave and I had some champagne with our bridal party and families in the Fearrington Garden House, took family and bridal party pictures, took portraits of the two of us, and then relaxed alone together. We loved how much time we got alone together on our wedding day to soak in the moments—both during our car ride from the ceremony to the reception, and at the end of cocktail hour!

I had always wanted to be married in the spring—I think it’s the most romantic season, and all my favorite flowers are in bloom! We chose May 2 because it was the Saturday before a Catholic feast day that is meaningful to us. Choosing which state to get married in was one of our hardest decisions, since I’m from Virginia and my family lives in Texas, and Dave is from New York. We settled on our new state of North Carolina because we wanted to be married by our priest and at our parish, Sacred Heart Cathedral in Raleigh. It’s so beautiful and intimate, and I’d be lying if I said we didn’t picture our future wedding the first time we set foot inside together while we were dating. We chose Fearrington for our reception because I wanted an indoor venue that was surrounded by beautiful outdoor space for portraits. There are lots of fantastic indoor venues in the Triangle, but Fearrington was the only place that checked off both of my must-haves. The vibe there is also a lovely combination of European and Southern, which nodded to both the place where we met and the place we now call home!

Describe some of the decorations or décor elements you used: We splurged on beautiful white draping and twinkle lights on the ceiling to make the room feel a little bit magical. Our long guest tables were covered in white linens with gray and white ticking stripe runners, handmade by my mom. Running down the tables were alternating gray and white taper candles in mismatched silver candlesticks we had collected, and silver julep cup-sized floral arrangements in pale blushes and whites with greenery that trailed onto the tables. At each place setting was a gray napkin and a crisp white menu that featured our new married monogram. Dave and I sat at a sweetheart table covered in a sparkly white linen, in white chiavari chairs decorated with garlands. Our black and white checkered dance floor was one detail my mom insisted on, and we’re so glad she did—it made the room! Our cake was displayed on a round table covered with a white, sparkly linen, and placed on a silver cake stand. We also had a dessert display that featured four of our favorite treats, arranged on all different white cake stands. Finally, we had a table for our family photo display, where we included wedding pictures of our parents, grandparents, and Dave’s siblings. That table also held our “guest book” cards—postcards from Texas (my home state), New York (Dave’s home state), and North Carolina (where our wedding was held), where our guests could write their prayers, wishes, and advice for our marriage.

Our reception was so much fun! I really wanted to dance a LOT, and am so glad that that’s exactly what I did. Dave and I started the reception with our first dance as soon as we entered. We enjoyed a delicious dinner, listened to sweet toasts from my sisters and Dave’s best man, and cut into our delicious cake. Then, my dad and I did our father-daughter dance to “Little Miss Magic” by Jimmy Buffett—he raised my siblings and me on Jimmy Buffett music, and I couldn’t imagine having our dance to anything else. He sang the whole thing in my ear, and kept me posted when my mom and sisters started bawling! Next up, Dave and his mom danced to “Say a Little Prayer for You,” which transitioned into a polka to open the dance floor! Wedding polkas are a Kirk family tradition, and since both of our families share Polish heritage, it got everyone out there! I stayed on the dance floor for most of the night, breaking only to show my Grandma her and my Grandpa’s wedding picture in our family photo display, and to sneak a few bites of our wedding cake!

How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. The first time Dave and I saw each other was in January 2010 while studying abroad from Franciscan University in the Sound of Music-esque little town of Gaming, Austria. Dave had already spent the fall semester there, and was an RA for the spring, so my very first memory of Dave was that he was the handsome RA. I was a little bit excited when I was assigned to his small group to learn about things like which Austrian cleaning material was which! We officially met about a month or so later, in the cafeteria. He sat down next to me at dinner with some mutual friends, and after asking me where I was from, we found out that one of my high school friends (side note: I went to high school in Qatar) was one of his best friends. A few weeks later, we connected immediately while in Italy with a bunch of friends, and were inseparable for the rest of the semester. We made some amazing memories in Europe as friends over the next few months, but after the semester ended, I transferred schools and we didn’t keep in touch. We never stopped thinking about each other though, and three years (and a lot of growing up) later, we reconnected at the perfect time in both of our lives. We knew within a week of talking again that this was it, and Dave proposed ten months later!
Tell us about the proposal! Dave flew to North Carolina to celebrate with me at my very first Southern Weddings launch party. A few hours into the party, while I was mingling and chatting with guests, Dave told me he had a letter from my mom that she wanted me to read in private. I reluctantly agreed to go with him “in just ten more minutes,” while unbeknownst to me at the time, the rest of the SW gals were trying to cut off all my conversations! Finally, I agreed to follow Dave out of the ballroom and down the hall of The Carolina Inn to the Sun Room, where he claimed his coat was being kept. There, he gave me a letter and I sat down on the couch to read it. The first line was the answer to a promise I had made my mom when I was 7, telling her I’d never agree to a proposal without calling her and asking if it was okay first! Dave had me stand, told me the sweetest things, and then got on one knee and asked me to marry him. After a few minutes of relishing in the joy of the moment, I asked Dave what to do now—should we call our parents? Go back to the party? Should I hide the ring? He told me to “leave it on and see who notices,” which I thought was strange, but I went with it. As soon as we stepped back into the ballroom, Lara grabbed the mic to announce our engagement, and confetti filled the air. Dave pulled me onto the dance floor for a dance to our song, played by the live bluegrass band, and then we spent the rest of the night Facetiming family and friends from the hallway. It was a magical day!
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Joyful, sacred, and sweet
How many guests attended your wedding? 130
Were there any family traditions you included in the ceremony? We walked back up the aisle to the Wedding March, which my parents had also used at their wedding. I wasn’t even considering it at first, but knew we had to use it when our music director played it during our meeting and I burst into tears picturing that moment! Hearing it on the organ as we exited the church, mixing with the bells chiming outside, was completely surreal.
What was the most memorable or touching moment of your wedding day? Lisa: While our first look, walking down the aisle, and saying our vows were all incredible, memorable moments, the one that stands out the most for both of us is one we hadn’t planned or anticipated. After the last song of the night, our DJ sent all of our guests outside to get ready for our sparkler exit. I was standing at the edge of the dance floor alone, trying to take in everything just one more time, when our DJ began to play “La Vie en Rose” over the speakers. Before I knew what was happening, my new husband pulled me onto the dance floor and held me close while we had one more dance. We held each other and cried grateful tears and said “We’re so lucky” over and over again. We’ve played that song just a few times since that day and danced in our apartment, and every time, when I close my eyes, I’m right back there in that perfect moment. Dave: Our last dance. Everyone was lining up for the sparkler exit outside, and the DJ unexpectedly played one last song, “La Vie en Rose.” Lisa and I just held each other and soaked in every last second of what was the most incredible day of our lives.
Tell us a bit about your first dance. Our first dance song was a given to us: “Wagon Wheel” by Old Crow Medicine Show. We bonded over our love for the song early in our dating days, and it has seemed to follow us everywhere! We’ve danced to it at a honky-tonk in Austin, an Irish pub in Syracuse, behind the trees at an outdoor bluegrass show in North Carolina, and now, at our wedding. That said, we barely practiced for our first dance, and never got around to scheduling the dance lessons we had wanted to take. Our first dance was far from the most impressive ever, but it was really sweet to us and we just had fun with it :)
Did you toss the garter or bouquet? Neither of us is a fan of garter tosses, so we skipped that tradition, but I did toss my bouquet! I think that moment has such a sweet “rite of passage” feel, and I definitely didn’t want to miss out on it. The DJ played “Haven’t Met You Yet” by Michael Buble, and my little sister caught the bouquet—can’t say my dad was super thrilled about that ;)
How did you prepare for marriage while planning your wedding? We are both passionate about the Catholic teachings on marriage and the theology of the body, so preparing for marriage was very spiritually focused for both of us. Along with an engagement retreat and meetings with our priest, we also read a number of books, including Love and Responsibility, The Theology of the Body for Beginners, Heaven’s Song, and Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while planning your wedding? Our reception venue handled the coordination, catering, cake, lighting, and reception flowers, and while such an all-inclusive place is a wonderful option for many brides, I would have preferred to choose more of my own vendors.
What advice would you give to someone currently planning his or her wedding? Give yourself a deadline for all of your wedding tasks to be done, and once that day comes, hand everything off to someone else or let it go. I was so stressed out in the month leading up to the wedding, so the week before, I decided I would do two more little tasks, but that was it. I even told my coordinator that if anything came up, she should talk to my mom to have it taken care of instead of me. Worked like a charm! As soon as I did that, I felt like the burden was lifted off of my shoulders, and I got to truly enjoy the week leading up to our wedding.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are settled into our apartment outside of Raleigh, and are loving every single second of being newlyweds. Living together and sharing every aspect of life is such a joy! We are looking forward to lots of travel, both to explore new places and to visit our families on opposite sides of the country, and we are excited to someday have a big family!

Photographer: Ryan Ray | Videographer: Inkspot Crow Films | Ceremony Venue: Sacred Heart Cathedral | Reception Venue, Reception Florals, Coordination, Catering, Cake Baker, and Lighting: Fearrington Village | Personal and Ceremony Florals: Philosophy Flowers | Bride’s Gown: Monique Lhuillier | Bridal Salon and Veil: Joan Pillow Houston | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bride’s Earrings: BHLDN | Bride’s Bracelet: Kendra Scott | Bridesmaid Dresses: “Annabelle” in Mist Gray by Jenny Yoo for BHLDN | Mother of the Bride’s Dress: Watters | Mother of the Groom’s Dress: Adrianna Papell | Hair and Makeup: Lula Hair and Makeup | Groom’s Suit, Groomsmen’s Pants, and Flower Girl Dress: J. Crew | Men’s Shirts: Brooks Brothers | Invitation Suite Design and Menus: Paper Daisies Stationery | Invitation Suite Calligraphy, Escort Cards, and Bar Menu: MM Ink Studio | Watercolor Map, Programs, and Other Reception Signage: Morgan Moore | Dance Floor and Sweetheart Table Chairs: Party Reflections Raleigh | Sweetheart, Cake, and Guest Book Table Linens: La Tavola Linens | Transportation: Walter Harris | DJ: Mark McNally of Joe Bunn DJ Company

Inkspot Crow Films, Lula Hair and Makeup, and Joe Bunn DJ Company are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Our Wedding Morning – Something Pretty reply

    […] That story is coming on Tuesday…but if you want a sneak peek, check out our feature on the Southern Weddings blog this morning, and our video post which will be live at 10:30 EST! […]

  2. avatar Emily reply

    Magical and beautiful – all of it :)

  3. avatar Rhiannon reply

    The most beautiful wedding I ever did see :)

    • avatar Lisa reply

      Xoxoxo! The smell of the perfume you so sweetly gifted me takes me right back to it :)

  4. avatar Four years of marriage – Em for Marvelous – reply

    […] This year, I wanted to share some advice from the priest who officiated Lisa and Dave’s wedding. […]

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

Friends, it is with unbelievable delight that I introduce you to… the Southern Weddings V6 cover!!!

Oh my stars, indeed!! We are so, SO, so, SO, so, SO very proud of this beauty. Not only because she is quite obviously beautiful, but because of all of the stories between the pages that she represents. Ready for a little bit of her own backstory? Here we go!

Last spring we started working on an editorial shoot with our friends Ryan Ray and Stefanie Miles. (You may remember them from last year’s Yellow Rose editorial.) The shoot went off just as planned, and Ryan sent us the finished images a few months later. They were GORGEOUS, and we were so happy! I had mentioned to him before the shoot that we did not have a cover for V6 planned, and that we’d love for him to keep that in mind when cropping and posing portraits.

We didn’t immediately spot a cover, so we went busily about the business of finishing our shoot season. We selected a lovely image from one of our other editorials for the cover, and even sent it to the printer for proofing! From the beginning, though, we had been tweaking and adjusting to try and get the image to really shine, but when we saw the printer proofs, we just knew it wasn’t going to “sing.”

So, with just days (hours?) left before our final, final, FINAL version was due to be printed, we made the HUGE decision to scrap all of our cover plans (and launch party color scheme!) and choose an entirely new image — Ryan’s. Talk about a leap of faith — we never even saw a printed proof of the cover until the finished magazines arrived at our office!! I have to say, I was very resistant to the idea at first — as much as I love Ryan, I was looking forward to having a new talent grace our cover, and we were so far into the process at that point. But when we saw the new version mocked up, it was simply undeniable — this was our cover.

Perhaps the very BEST part? The couple on the cover is married in real life!! The bride is Christina Frederick, a wedding planner in Tulsa and Houston (one of our Blue Ribbon Vendors!) and one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet. We actually had the chance to surprise her IN PERSON with the news that she was going to be our cover girl! She attended Lara’s Making Things Happen Conference in October, and was totally bowled over when we flashed the cover on the screen. Thankfully, we had a photographer there to capture the moment:

So many emotions in such a short span of time! THANK YOU to Robyn Van Dyke (also a Blue Ribbon Vendor!) for capturing them all!! Of course, Christina knew that we’d be publishing the shoot, but at that point she hadn’t seen ANY photos from the day, and she most certainly didn’t know that she was going to be on the cover! She and her husband Blair are such a perfect example of why we love weddings and marriage, and we are so proud and blessed to have them grace our pages.

Though our official release day is Tuesday, we’ve heard that copies have already popped up on newsstands around the South! Yeehaw!! Be sure to snap a pic of yourself with your copy and tag #SWV6 on instagram or Twitter! If you live outside the South, you can always find a copy in our store. (And speaking of our store — be sure to stop by on Monday, when we’ll be sharing a look at the famous SWPS!)

THANK YOU, RYAN AND STEFANIE!!!

In the meantime, we’re DYING to know: What do y’all think??? Did we make the right decision? Are you as much in love with V6’s cover as we are?

P.P.S. Check back on Tuesday to see more from this gorgeous editorial!

emily Written with love by Emily
31 Comments
  1. avatar Harmony reply

    You guys made a great choice in choosing this cover and it’s especially sweet that it’s a real couple.

  2. avatar Oh My Stars! | Christina Leigh Events reply

    […] a marriage more beautiful than your wedding. If you have found the new issue, or if you have seen their post today you know where this post is headed. This post comes from a beyond blessed and completely honored […]

  3. avatar Christina Frederick reply

    Oh My Stars! Emotions have come rushing back! What an honor it is to be a part of V6 in such a special way. Blair and I could not be more blessed to not only be part of the SW family, but to have worked with such an amazing team that had the vision for the shoot, and to grace the pages with true love that resonates marriage! Thank you all for luring your heart into another fabulous issue!
    Here’s a peek at my take on this amazing issue. :)
    http://christinaleighevents.com/blog/blessed-completely-honored/

    xo Christina

  4. avatar Rebecca reply

    awwwwww what a SWEET post! I cant wait to get a copy of mine in the UK!

  5. avatar Katie Selvidge reply

    My heart is just bursting with happiness for Christina and Blair! Could not be more proud. Y’all, it’s just beautiful.

  6. avatar Sara Velordi reply

    This is gorgeous! Y’all have done it again! :)

  7. avatar Kat reply

    Ladies, I LOVE the cover & can’t wait to get my hands on my preordered copy!!!! It’s simply stunning – I love her dress, that gorgeous bouquet & the fact that they are ACTUALLY married really emphasizes what Southern Weddings is all about! I can’t wait to spend an entire day taking in every page :) SO HAPPY for you!!!!

  8. avatar Laura reply

    It’s beautiful! And you can definitely see the real-life love between the couple.

  9. avatar shelby reply

    oh my stars, that story makes me so happy! The cover is beautiful beyond words! congratulations ladies, I can’t wait to snag my copy :)

  10. avatar Robyn Van Dyke reply

    SO happy I was able to capture Christina’s priceless, tearful reaction!!! Can’t WAIT to get my hands on this gorgeous issue!! :D

  11. avatar Madi Reid Sanders reply

    I am totally TEARING UP as I see these images! Y’all never cease to amaze me with your dedication to this publication, the brand and the core of what it’s all about. I am so proud of each of y’all and what you’ve brought to the wedding industry…The focus on what matter’s most. I’m always cheering you on in every endeavor! Sending big southern hugs. AND Christina—YOU LOOK STUNNING!
    Love it all!
    -Madi

  12. avatar 11.8.2013 | Madi Reid Sanders reply

    […] teared up over this incredible post on Southern Weddings.  Man, oh man, these ladies are […]

  13. avatar Kylie reply

    SO IN LOVE with every square inch! Cannot wait to get my hands on a copy to see the rest of the amazingness. Y’all are simply wonderful, so happy for each of you! Big hugs from Oklahoma, xoxox

  14. avatar Jordanne Van Wert reply

    LOVE IT!!!! You definitely made the right choice!! Congrats Christina!!! That is so amazing!!!! :) Makes me tear up watching her face!

  15. avatar Jenn Dean reply

    The cover is absolutely stunning! I grew up with Christina- she is truly an amazing, loving, caring woman inside and out who works hard to make others’ special day the most beautiful it can be! She is so incredibly talented and loves sharing her talent with everyone else to make their dreams a reality! Couldn’t have picked a more deserving person to be on the cover!

  16. avatar Amanda reply

    In a society where marriages are breaking up all around us, it is so refreshing to see Southern Weddings taking a stand for the goodness of marriage. Love the cover and what it represents. Real love between real people. Love your hearts. Love your vision. Keep up the fantastic work. Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!

  17. avatar Nancy H reply

    It’s gorgeous!!!! Im one of the lucky few that was in the room when the cover was revealed. I welled up seeing Christina’s reaction and can not wait to see all of the delcious pages in person. Amazing work ladies :)
    XOXO
    Nancy

  18. avatar jacin reply

    what a gorgeous cover and i’m so happy for christina! she truly is one of the sweetest gals!! what a special moment for her :)

  19. avatar ame reply

    YES! YES YOU DID!!! What a GORGEOUS couple!!! I love seeing her reaction too, SO adorable. I got a little misty seeing this! Cannot wait to get mine!

  20. avatar Nancy Ray reply

    Undeniably the right choice. And watching Christina’s face when you revealed it was priceless. Can’t wait for the celebration next Thursday!

  21. avatar Stacey White reply

    My SW copy is on its way to my mailbox…and I cannot wait, in fact, I won’t…I’ll be buying another copy or two at the store. The cover is timeless and the cover couple, well, simply PERFECT! Thank you SW for your leap of faith; you did good!

  22. avatar Krista Janos reply

    Love hearing the sweet story behind this cover. Her face is priceless. What special way to remember your special day! Am I the only one wondering what the second choice cover looked like?

  23. avatar Blair M. Frederick reply

    First of all, Thank you all so much for capturing this moment of my gorgeous wifey! Secondly, I have to commend you gals for pulling off such an awesome surprise, Great job!

    We are both truly grateful and honored to be part of such a prestigious publication, and look forward to see you all at the launch party!

    Take care and see ya’ll then!

  24. avatar Madelynne Moulton reply

    Just fabulous. What a sweet sweet story and a happy ending to all of it! I cannot wait to go get my issue this week!

  25. avatar Southern Weddings Weekly Round-Up | Southern Weddings reply

    […] Oh happy day!! Many of y’all already have V6 in your hands (if you pre-ordered, your order is on its way!), and even though our official launch isn’t till Tuesday, we couldn’t be more excited about our new issue popping up a little early. We can hardly wait to hear what y’all think–don’t forget to use #SWV6 and tag us on social media if you take pictures with your magazines! Just in case you missed it this morning, we debuted our gorgeous new cover! Don’t miss the sweet story behind our decision, as well as pictures from the unique opportunity we had to reveal it to our gorgeous cover girl, here! […]

  26. avatar SWPS Volume 6! | Southern Weddings reply

    […] garage and we had opened a few boxes to get our first look at the V6 cover (read more about that here), we got to […]

  27. avatar SWPS Volume 6! – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] garage and we had opened a few boxes to get our first look at the V6 cover (read more about that here), we got to […]

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

After yesterday’s bright and colorful editorial, I’m so happy to bring you yet another sunny shoot. You’ll recognize it instantly, of course, since it’s the one from which we plucked our cover image! Photographer Ryan Ray and planner + stylist Stefanie Miles are the duo that pulled together this shoot — with lots of help from a few Texan pals!

I adore this shoot’s super clean palette of yellow and white. The stationery suite from The Creative Parasol kicked things off on the right note, with sunny hues and a snappy gingham pattern.

This shoot benefited from a few serendipitous finds, including the vintage yellow rose locket from Rhonda’s Treasures, below.

Alright, we’ve passed by enough floral photos to make it almost a crime to not have mentioned Bows + Arrows yet. They gathered and arranged all of the yellow blooms in this shoot, including the overflowing bouquet, the table centerpieces, and this stunning floral fence!

Hello, ladies! None models, all gorgeous. One of these gals is photographer Ryan Ray’s wife!

Last year we debuted a beau bar, and this year, we switched it up with a boutonniere bar! I love the sentiment behind making every guest feel like a VIP, and for a shoot focused on blooms, nothing could be more appropriate.

Isn’t this wood wall amazing? I also love that those rental chairs are super common and affordable – no chivaris needed!

Stefanie found the yellow plates at a local flea market, and made the patterned napkins herself! Talented lady, that one!

Alright, y’all, get ready for a squeal fest. Not only did this team put together an adult reception table, they put together a pint-size one, too! Remember what I said about those serendipitous finds? This yellow rose tablecloth (just $35!) falls under that category, too! And I LOVE that they used wooden crates for the kids’ seating!

Oh my word — there are no words!

Straight up love, wouldn’t you say? Be sure to check out the story of our beautiful bride and groom — a real couple! — in the print edition!

Lavender Joy Weddings is a a fabulous member of the Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory, and a Southern Weddings advertiser!

emily Written with love by Emily
32 Comments
  1. avatar Jen reply

    I love the colours, photography and styling! All totally gorgeous :) x

  2. avatar Lisa reply

    The flowers, the linens, the bridesmaid dresses, the sweet little ones…everything is perfect!

  3. avatar Cheri {Woodsy Weddings} reply

    Ahhh…everything about this sweet lemonade-colored shoot makes me happy. :)

  4. avatar Ryan Ray reply

    This shoot was so much fun! It was a huge honor to shoot for y’all..

  5. avatar thelefthandedcalligrapher.com » Blog Archive » Southern Weddings Magazine – Yellow Rose of Texas reply

    […] can see more of the feature on the Southern Weddings blog here and in the magazine on newsstands now. Tags: Calligraphy, copperplate, Dallas, Invitations, […]

  6. avatar Anna reply

    where was this wedding/shoot held?

  7. avatar Southern Weddings Magazine | V5 Launch! | Rebecca Rose Events reply

    […] just adore her. I’m also so proud of her beautiful work in this magazine. Stefanie styled the cover shoot and it is […]

  8. avatar Happy News :: Southern Weddings V5Lavender Joy Weddings Blog – Lavender Joy Weddings Blog reply

    […] the rest of the sweet-as-honey Southern Weddings team, and see more of the online V5 features here, here, and a special preview from the Wedding Chicks […]

  9. avatar yellow rose of texas – Hello Love Blog reply

    […] to give a shout out to my very own Bows + Arrows for them landing the COVER (yes, the cover!!) of Southern Weddings!! This was a “Yellow Rose of Texas” theme and it turned out so gorgeous. So proud of […]

  10. avatar Golden Sunrise » Off The Page – Nebraska WeddingDay Blog reply

    […] from left to right, top to bottom: iloveswmag, iloveswmag, inspired-design, iloveswmag, jenhuangphoto, marthastewartweddings, oncewed, […]

  11. avatar Ann McWilliams reply

    Hi
    I was trying to find out where the children’s clothes are from? I clicked on the link and couldn’t open it. (Baby CZ)
    Thanks!
    Ann

  12. avatar Yellow Rose of Texas @ Taylor'd Events reply

    […] is such a happy wedding from Southern Weddings! I love how happy the color yellow makes everyone.  This is a great color pallet for a wedding.  […]

  13. avatar May Goals + Mood Board | Elizabeth Ashleigh reply

    […] bridal party, ribbon garland, swing, lemonade, chocolate […]

  14. avatar Sette idee uniche per un matrimonio indimenticabile reply

    […] Southern Weddings […]

  15. avatar Pale Yellow Wedding reply

    […] credits: yellow bridal bouquet, lemon meringue pie < from I Love Southern Weddings, champagne < via Style Me Pretty, yellow floral arrangement […]

  16. avatar Pantone Spring 2013 Colors: Lemon Zest Wedding | Cherryblossoms and Faeriewings reply

    […] photo source: Southern Weddings […]

  17. avatar Sunny Afternoon Inspiration Board reply

    […] white wine bottles {white rabbit studios}; mason jars with striped straws {Callie V Photography}; bride and groom {Ryan Ray/Lavender Joy […]

  18. avatar Moodboard Hochzeit in gelb und blau | Friedatheres reply

    […] Love | Papeterie | gelbe Blumen | Torte | Braut | Brautstrauß | Strohhalm | Kugelleuchten […]

  19. avatar Let them eat…pie! | Brooklyn Bride – Modern Wedding Blog reply

    […] Instead of a main wedding cake that the couple slices, use a lemon meringue pie! […]

  20. avatar Introducing the Southern Weddings V6 Cover!! – Southern Weddings Magazine reply

    […] shoot with our friends Ryan Ray and Stefanie Miles. (You may remember them from last year’s Yellow Rose editorial.) The shoot went off just as planned, and Ryan sent us the finished images a few months later. They […]

  21. avatar Country Chic and Honeybee Inspiration – Bajan Wed reply

    […] Millay Photography} | Artisanal Honeys and Cheeses via Martha Stewart Weddings | Pie via Southern Weddings {Ryan Ray Photography} | Honey-Glazed Beehive Cake via Martha Stewart Living | Beehive Cupcakes […]

  22. avatar Blush, peach & yellow spring wedding inspiration | b.loved weddings | UK Wedding Blog & Inspiration for Pretty Contemporary Weddings | Wedding Planner & Stylist reply

    […] by Bryce Covey via Wedding Chicks // Claire Pettibone dress by Jose Villa Via Style Me Pretty // Ranunculus boutonnieres by Ryan Ray via Southern Weddings // Lemonade bottle by Millie Holloman Photography via Salt […]

  23. avatar 15 Bridesmaids Styles We Love | Coastal Bride reply

    […] Barton Photography via Well Traveled Wife // 10. Jessica Lorren Photography // 11. Ryan Ray via Southern Weddings // 12. Ellis Photo Studio // 13. Ellis Photo Studio // 14. Kate Robinson Photography via Style Me […]

  24. avatar Blush, peach & yellow spring wedding inspiration | B Loved Blog reply

    […] by Bryce Covey via Wedding Chicks // Claire Pettibone dress by Jose Villa Via Style Me Pretty // Ranunculus boutonnieres by Ryan Ray via Southern Weddings // Lemonade bottle by Millie Holloman Photography via Salt […]

  25. avatar Stephanie reply

    The yellow dress featured in this post on the right side of the bride…where is this dress from? I love it!

  26. avatar Sunflower + Emerald Wedding Inspiration reply

    […] sources from top left, clockwise: candles / happy girls / sunflowers/ rocks via bride/ tablescape / hanging bottles / bouquet /Polaroid escort […]

  27. avatar 25 Spring Wedding Bouquets The Bride Link reply

    […] Mulleck via Le Magnifique | Yellow Bouquet: Flowers by Stefanie Miles, Photo by Ryan Ray via Southern Weddings | Lavender Bouquet: Flowers by House Of Hannah, Photo by Jen Huang via Style Me Pretty | Yellow […]

  28. avatar 21 Ideas for a Spring Wedding reply

    […] Photo by Ryan Ray Photography via Southern Weddings […]

  29. avatar Lemonade & Love – Outdoor Wedding Inspiration in Shades of Yellow & Green – reply

    […] by Jodi Miller, Wedding Stationery ~ The Creative Parasol Photography by Ryan Ray via Southern Weddings, Bridal Shoes ~ Steve Madden Photography by Virgil Bunao via Wedding Chicks, Wedding […]

  30. avatar Top 10 Spring Wedding Colours for 2016 from Pantone reply

    […] Setting ~ Ryan Ray via Southern Weddings, Vintage Engagement Ring ~ Trumpet & Horn, Wedding Cake ~Kelly Cakes photography by Marta […]

  31. avatar Neen reply

    Where can I find these dresses? Especially the floral one?

  32. avatar 5 styling tricks for the perfect alfresco dinner party – Sporteluxe Global reply

    […] thekitchn.com burnettsboards.com southernweddings.com […]

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