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Hi belles! Our friend Stephanie Scholl is the newest gal to take you through her wedding process here on the blog! Stephanie will be blogging for us every two weeks or so until her wedding in April. In case you missed her first post, be sure to check it out here! — Emily

The final countdown is here, friends! Our wedding is less than a month away, Rob and I just returned from our bachelor and bachelorette weekends, and all of the RSVPs for our wedding are in! I seriously can’t believe we’re in the homestretch of our engagement. It’s been such a sweet season for both of us, and we’ve grown so much as a couple, too. (PS: I can’t say enough good things about investing your time and hearts into pre-marital counseling!) I love knowing that Rob and I will get to be joined together as husband and wife on April 1st and that so many of our loved ones will be in Raleigh to celebrate with us! We’re so grateful for it all, and, of course, I love finding creative and thoughtful ways to express our thanks.

One of my favorite Southern traditions is the bridesmaid luncheon, and I cannot wait to partake in this sweet and celebratory tradition! Generally the day before her wedding, the bride hosts a luncheon to honor her bridesmaids and the beloved ladies in her life. I am ecstatic that I get to celebrate how incredible, encouraging, generous, and thoughtful my bridesmaids and our moms (and a few other special ladies!) have been throughout the years. I am having this luncheon at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, NC, a place very near and dear to my heart. Not only do I plan weddings there regularly, but during college I lived in a cute house just across the street – and my sister got married at the Carolina Inn almost four years ago!

For many months now, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect gifts for my bridesmaids, and I wanted to share some of my finds with you all, as you very well might be on the hunt, too! Most any bride-to-be has heard of the dreamy floral robes from Plum Pretty Sugar, and their robes (so many styles and patterns!) are the perfect accessory to get ready in the morning of your wedding.

Speaking of the morning of your wedding morning and getting ready with your best girls… you can’t forget the mimosas to properly toast to your wedding day! Champagne from Le Grand Courtage (I always love rosé!) or white wine from Speak Wines are two favorites: not only are their labels and packaging both beautiful and occasion-appropriate, but most any bridesmaid would love to be gifted a bottle or mini-bottle of champagne or wine. And with mimosas, you can’t forget the toasting flutes! Naturally Chic Gifts, based out of Raleigh, creates personalized champagne flutes (I’m a fan of the stemless ones!) and wine glasses in an array of metallic colors for your best girls.

I also have long loved the adorable Minimergency Bridesmaid Kits from Pinch Provisions, which hold everything you’d ever need for a wedding-day snafu. And, of course, one of the most popular bridesmaid gifts is jewelry for the wedding day, like matching earrings or a necklace that complements her bridesmaid dress perfectly. I love finding local stores to get jewelry from, and Moon & Lola is a Raleigh favorite! The best way to beautifully hold your bridesmaid gifts is in a pretty bag, like this Hello Lovely tote from PCB Home, all tied up with a pretty ribbon. And, above all else, a card with a written note expressing your thanks and love is the most important part. Taking the time to write a thoughtful note (to your soon-to-be spouse, your parents, your wedding party, and even vendors) is paramount!

We are hosting some fun wedding weekend events to love on our guests well and to welcome everyone to Raleigh, especially since most everyone will be traveling into town for the festivities. Welcome bags are always a marvelous way to show your guests some local flavor and your personalities, and they can also provide information on the wedding weekend timeline.

We are having an informal, everyone-is-invited welcome party on Friday night immediately following our rehearsal dinner, as it was important to us to spend as much time with our guests as possible! It’s a great way for everyone to get to know each other better, for us to meet those extended family members that we haven’t been able to meet yet, and to extend the celebrations even more. Most of all, we want to make sure our family and friends feel welcomed and celebrated when they arrive in Raleigh, especially since quality time are both mine and Rob’s love languages!

I’d love to hear how you celebrated your wedding weekend: did you have a bridesmaid luncheon or a welcome party? Are there any fun traditions or celebrations that you incorporated into your wedding weekend, or want to when you do get married?! And I’m cutting it close here with our rapidly approaching wedding date, but I have to ask: do you have a great idea for a meaningful, thoughtful gift for grooms? I have one gift for sure (so excited!), but I’m still searching for the perfect accompanying gift for Rob. I’m all ears if you have any suggestions!

All photos by Sarah Morrel Photography

P.S. In case you missed a post:
The proposal
Venue and photography
The dress
Bridesmaid style
Engagement photos
The details

emily Written with love by Emily
6 Comments
  1. avatar Christian reply

    Stephanie,
    Great ideas! Your bridesmaids are going to love everything! I had a hard time with a groom’s gift too. I spent so many hours searching, until I had a lightbulb moment. I have designed a valet box for him that my dad is building and staining out of wood that was harvested off of some family land I own. I ordered two engraved plaques for it – one for the top of the lid with his initials and one for the inside with a special message. Inside, I’m going to be putting a few trinkets including a book of notes I’m writing to him. Also, if you haven’t checked out UncommonGoods online, do so – they have some really awesome unique gifts. Good luck!!!

    • avatar Stephanie Scholl reply

      Christian, these are AMAZING ideas!! Thank you so very much for sharing! I love, love, love the sentiment + meaning behind your gifts for him, and goodness is he going to love it all!!!

  2. avatar Joy – Leicester Wedding Photographer reply

    I love these gift ideas!! Great touch :)

  3. avatar Amy reply

    Who wouldn’t want these gifts! So generous and loving! Looks like everything is coming together!

  4. avatar Sarah Frederick reply

    Great gift ideas and unique at that. One etsy shop that I think has some wonderful unique monogrammed and appliqued gifts is Southern Linens. I buy most of my shower and wedding gifts there and every couple has loved them.
    https://www.etsy.com/shop/SouthernLinen

  5. avatar Amanda reply

    I’ve got a gift idea for grooms. Actually, both the bride AND the groom can enjoy this one.

    I’m thinking espresso maker. What a wonderful way for the lovebirds to cozy up together with a nice, hot, homebrewed cup of coffee?

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Now that December (and therefore all Christmas-related things!) is only a few days away, the holidays are at the forefront of our minds. We’re ready for another fierce competition of the South’s Gingerbread Barn Building finest. Want to be one of them? RSVP today! Just want to hang with the SW gals and build a barn full of sweets that you’ll tear down and eat the next day? This event is for you, too!

We’re really excited that The Carolina Inn and Hammond’s Candies is sponsoring this event again. Experience tells us that it’s a match made in holiday heaven! Anna Kirby will be joining us to catch all the magic, so come with your game face on!

So are you ready to join us for a night of sugar highs and Christmas cheer? Email me ([email protected]) with “Gingerbread Barn Building” in the subject line and tell me you’ll be there!

See y’all soon!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
4 Comments
  1. avatar Amanda reply

    Can’t wait!!!!

  2. avatar anna dean reply

    so excited!!!

  3. avatar Jessica Clinch reply

    I cannot wait! My best friend and I have been practicing our gingerbread cookie/barn decorating skills, and we’re so excited to see the fabulous candy we can use at the event!

  4. avatar Nicole reply

    Yay! Can’t wait to see all of y’all there! The box of goodies I opened up from Hammond’s today is amazing.

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It’s that time again, y’all! Emily, Marissa and I are rounding up the highlights of March’s Real Weddings. We always love going back through our couples’ photos and picking out our favorite details. Of course, we want to know what you loved, too! Tell us below.

FAVORITE WEDDING DRESS: It was the ruffly tiers of Christina’s wedding gown that took Emily’s vote this month. Like Sarah, it was love at first sight for me when I saw her dress. The glamorous one-shoulder dress that Cee Cee rocked was absolutely up Marissa’s alley.

FAVORITE BRIDESMAID DRESS: Jessica’s bridesmaids’ dresses have been on Emily’s mind ever since we first saw photos of her wedding. For me, the uniform glam look that Cee Cee’s ‘maids wore immediately stole my attention. For Marissa, it was the slightly preppy and deep purple frocks that Rebecca’s bridesmaids wore that took the cake.

FAVORITE FEMALE ACCESSORY: Veils were all the talk in the office this month! Emily and Marissa agreed that Jessica’s fluffy veil was oh-so-chic. I, however, fell in love with Cee Cee’s dotted accessory.

FAVORITE MENSWEAR: I’m always impressed with the dapper gents on our blog. Marissa swooned over the seersucker suits at Meg + Jeremy’s wedding. I adored the yellow gingham bow ties at Alaina + Ryan’s wedding and Emily appreciated the monogrammed cummerbunds sported at K + T’s wedding.

FAVORITE DETAIL: It was the garden-chic food displays at Meghan + Michael’s wedding that caught Emily’s eye, while Marissa thought the hanging love notes at Christina + Scott’s were a sweet touch. I adored the colorful poms hanging off of Jessica + Derek’s getaway car!

FAVORITE CEREMONY: It was the clear blue sky, floral details and wrought iron altar from Sarah + Dan’s ceremony that won my heart. Marissa, taken by the gorgeous white chapel interior of K + T’s wedding, had to pick theirs as her favorite. Emily, always appreciative of the elegant and lovely, chose Rebecca + Colin’s ceremony.

FAVORITE BOUQUET: Marissa, always a lover of pink, couldn’t help but swoon over Christina’s lovely bouquet. I was torn on opposite sides of the spectrum, loving the bold colors of Brittany’s bouquet and the eclectic mix of blooms in Sarah’s. Emily loved the fall colors and mixed flowers in Meghan’s bouquet.

FAVORITE SWEET: The cascade of petals down Jessica + Derek’s white cake spoke to Marissa’s Southern tastes. The spiraling arrangement of lush blooms on Meghan + Michael’s cake was a no-brainer pick for Emily, while I was completely in love with K + T’s textured treat.

FAVORITE PHOTO: The photo of Sally + Dave dancing at their boat reception is so joyful, it was immediately my top pick. Emily and Marissa were romantics this month, choosing Christina + Scott’s lantern send-off and Rebecca + Colin’s sweet post-ceremony moment, respectively.

Previous monthly round-ups:
January
February

What do you think of these highlights from March’s Real Weddings? What details did you love?

View all of March’s weddings in our Real Weddings Galleries!

nicoleyang Written with love by Nicole
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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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