Three adjectives that describe the day are: Blissful, surreal and whimsical.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The blue Louboutins, the peacock feathers and the fabulous wine glasses we had made from FizzyArt for our wedding party
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: It was really quite simple. I had made appointments at several bridal salons in NC, so my mom and I ventured off to Nitsa's in Winston-Salem.  I tried on eight dresses and bought the second one. Mom and I cancelled all other appointments and went to lunch to celebrate.
Describe your wedding flowers: Our flowers were centered around the peacock feather and included various shades of ivory, champagne, green, blue and brown.
Describe your wedding cake: Our wedding cake was a simple three-tiered white cake with peacock feathers embossed on the cake.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Our first look; we have our fabulous photographer to thank for that! It was truly magical. Seeing each other for the first time, sharing those moments before we took our vows and knowing we were made for each other… it was truly incredible.  We also had an audience watching through the windows!
Did you write your own vows?  If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We went with the standard Presbyterian vows. We did love the explanation for why we chose the peacock motif printed in our program:
The Peacock: a bird of protection and safe guarding, representing fidelity, good luck, harmony, and serenity. Since peacocks are pure at heart, loyal and faithful to their partners, they also symbolize eternal love.
What's next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future? We couldn't be happier to journey through the rest of our lives together. We are looking forward to sharing love and laughter, having children together and raising our family, and traveling the world.  Most of all, we are looking forward to enjoying every day and making memories together as husband and wife.

Thank you for sharing your wedding with us!  Congratulations to you both!

Kellie Kano is a Southern Weddings sponsor.

Hey y'all!  You may have heard some rumblings in the Twittersphere this week about our excitement over the new print edition.  We're in the beginning stages of planning features and photoshoots, and our level of enthusiasm is sky-high!  But before we really get going, we wanted to take a minute to hear your thoughts on Volume II of the magazine -- what you liked, what you didn't like, ideas you have for the next issue.  On that note, we'd like to invite you to take our super quick, super simple survey.

And, just because we're nice like that, if you take our little survey (and leave us your email address at the end, which is, of course, totally optional and won't be tied to your answers -- we like anonymity as much as the next girl!), you'll be entered to win a sweet Southern swag bag as well as 200 custom labels from SW fave Bottle Your Brand!  Summer brides, we're looking at you -- these would be uber-cute at an outdoor reception, or even handed out to guests before a sunny ceremony!  BYB is offering the choice of two different shapes and several sizes to the winner, so there's something to please everyone.

The survey will be open until Sunday, February 14 (Valentine's Day!), at 11pm.  We encourage both those who have and have not read the magazine to take the survey (of course, your survey questions will be different depending on whether or not you've taken a look at the issue).  By the way, if you haven't had a chance to pick up a copy yet, now might be a good time to do so -- all proceeds from sales through February 14 will go to Haiti Relief.  All answers are anonymous, but if you'd like to be entered to win, please leave your email address at the end.

Click here to take the survey. 

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story. Boy meets girl walking into the hotel. Boy is girl's boss. Boy drinks lots of coffee and is a pretty funny dude. They are fast friends. Life is full of surprises and they realize they are more than friends. Boy and girl go on dates. They drink wine and laugh. Alot. Girl sees boy combing little girl's hair. Girl melts. Girl and boy realize they are meant for each other. Boy proposes in the dead of winter at the beach and girl spends next 10 months planning (and driving him crazy!). They say 'I do' on a magical day and dance the night away. Boy and girl honeymoon Down Under and have the time of their lives. Boy and girl start on their journey of 'happily ever after,' loving every second...
Describe the proposal (As told by the Groom) Originally, I had planned to propose to Kilbi at Lake Tahoe on an upcoming ski trip. I hadn't quite figured out the time and location, but thought that it would be a beautiful setting to ask her to marry me. However, a series of events and my suspicion that Kilbi was catching on to my plan called for a change of plans.

We had visited Bald Head Island over New Year's and had really fell in love with the island. Over the previous couple of months, we had looked at somewhere very similar to get married, called Palmetto Bluff. So when we visited Bald Head, the unique feel and layout of the island was perfect for a smaller and more special wedding, which was exactly we wanted. After returning from the island, we made inquires as to what dates were available for a wedding at Bald Head Island. Fortunately, there were still a few dates left in the Fall, which was exactly when we wanted to get married!  We planned to go to BHI to look at the chapel and other wedding locations the following weekend. She had discussed visiting BHI with her mother, wanting her to go, but her mom wanted to see some "hardware" prior to making wedding plans. If momma is not happy, then nobody is happy :). I knew I had to act smoothly and swiftly because I wanted to make sure that we would be able to get our date at BHI for this year. I wanted this special day to be perfect for Kilbi, just as she had always wanted. My mind was set and I did not want to wait a moment longer to marry her.

With her parents’ help, we devised a plan for Kilby and I to head to the beach for the weekend and for her parents to join us later that night. (My parents, who were already down at the beach, were also part of the plan.)  I had my mother make dinner reservations for Kilby and me at a quaint restaurant on the water. After a nice dinner and some conversation over a bottle of wine, I tried try to throw her off track with discussion of the ideas to visit BHI to make plans for our wedding. At this point, there still was no ring so that plan had been put on the back burner and was a bit of a sore subject. However, little did she know I was about to change that very quickly!

Out of nowhere I pulled the ring from my pocket and asked Kilbi if she would marry me. I think my quick change of direction threw her off-guard.  She was in total shock!  All I remember is her crying and freaking out from sheer excitement. Her reaction, which we both laugh about now, was better than I could have ever imagined. All of our plans and thoughts of spending our lives together had now become a reality. We were getting married on November 21, 2009 and the rest is history...

Kellie Kano is a Southern Weddings sponsor.

Describe your wedding flowers:  Hanging amaranthus, amnesia roses, hydrangea, terracotta roses, grape vine, and moss, with tiny birds nests and tufts of fabric and lace mixed in.  The bridesmaids' bouquets were the most vibrant and beautiful things I have ever seen, but the sticks kept getting caught in my long veil! The groomsmen's boutonnieres were tiny nests.  So cute!  And the buffet centerpiece was the most enchanting arrangement of sticks, flowers and hanging candles.  My florist, Brette, took my ideas and really blew me away!
Describe your wedding cake: The cake was very clean and organic.  Each tier was a different size and was edged in tea-stained lace.  I made the "cake stand" birds nest using sticks and moss.  The cake topper was also handmade using wire and sticks.  
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day?  Meeting each other before the ceremony.  We arranged for a "special reveal" in Piedmont Park before the hustle and bustle of the day began.  It really calmed our nerves and reminded us what the real meaning of this day was all about: us.

Congratulations, Kyle + Chris!  Good luck and best wishes from your friends at SW.

How did the two of you meet?  I moved in across the street from Chris in 1999.  Friendship bloomed in high school and then romance blossomed in college.  Eight years later, he proposed!
Describe the proposal.  Chris tricked me into thinking we got an upgrade to the Presidential Suite while vacationing at the Jekyll Island Club.  He proposed at sunset on top of the historic tourette.  An engagement at a national historic site is areal perk because you can buy all sorts of memorabilia!
What was the design inspiration for your wedding?  Relaxed elegance evoking all the bright and vibrant fall tones: eggplant, amber, saffron and teal.  I wanted it to be a very organic garden party with birds, wood, candles and rod iron all under a big lit tent.  I fell in love with my florist because she really understood my quirky request to make it feel like the "night after" a wedding.  I wanted the arrangements to be loose and spilling over like the party was yesterday and the arrangements were now all grown over with moss and spilling over the pots and out of the birds cages.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was:  Marrying the old with the new.  The old:  all the lace tablecloths were either family heirlooms or borrowed from friends.  Many of them had small holes, but that made it even more special.  The birdcages were all vintage, bought from antique shows or lovingly loaned to us by friends and family.  They were decorated with broken chandelier pieces I have amassed over time.  Then we brought in the new: vibrant colors, a wagon full of flip flops, spot lighting, and of course, the photobooth… a real guest favorite!  People loved throwing on flip flops, dressing up with the props and posing for the flash bulb!

How did the two of you meet?  Tell us your story. We met through mutual friends at a party.  We would see each other from time to time and would always talk.  But then it became more frequent and we were running into each other every weekend.  He eventually asked me out on a date and we’ve been inseparable ever since. 
Describe the proposal. We were stopping by Glenn’s condo to drop off some things, and we decided to have a cocktail on his terrace.  We began reminiscing about our first date and all of the great times we’d spent on the terrace.  Then he pulled out the ring and proposed.  I was in so much shock that I barely heard anything he said.  I just cried and stared at the ring.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Unforgettable, heart-warming and amazing.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The candle globes our florist hung above us for the ceremony.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I went to a number of bridal shops and they all had great dresses, but I wanted something really simple.  I had a gut feeling I would end up buying my dress from JCrew (because I am a huge JCrew fan), and I did.  Best of all, it only took a few days from the time I ordered it to the time it arrived on my doorstep!
Describe your wedding flowers: Ranunculus! I originally wanted peonies, but they were out of season.  Ranunculus are a year-round flower and are not very expensive.  I had an all white-ranunculus bouquet and my sister, who was the matron of honor, carried shades of pink ranunculus, cabbage roses and bouvardia.  
Describe your groom's cake: Glenn picked Q*bert as his groom’s cake because back in the ‘80s, Glenn spent all of his days in the arcade.  One day, he played Q*bert all day on one quarter.  He eventually had to end his game because the pizzeria closed.  But rumor has it that he actually held the world record for some time.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Limiting the number of guests.  We wanted to have all of our friends there but, at the same time, realized we had a budget to stick to.  
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Walking down the aisle and seeing each other for the first time that day.  Waiting to see each other for the first time brings back so much emotion, and you get to share that moment with your family and friends. It’s definitely the way to go.  
What’s next for you as a couple?  What are you looking forward to in the future?  We just bought a new house and have been moving in ever since the wedding.  We can’t wait to start our new life there together as husband and wife.  

Congratulations, Karen + Glenn!  Good luck on your new home!

W. Scott Chester is a Southern Weddings sponsor.

Hey y'all! We've been sitting in our office for the last few weeks, racking our brains for the best way to help the people of Haiti recover from the earthquake that devastated their country in January.  This morning we hit upon the solution that will be our small part to help the recovery process:

From now through Valentine's Day (February 14), we will donate the proceeds from sales of Southern Weddings Volume II to the American Red Cross.

We would love to have your support.  Even if you've already bought your copy, consider purchasing one for your best friend, your bridesmaid, or your pal who just got engaged.  You can do so here!

Of course, you can always donate directly to the Red Cross or to the organization of your choice at any time (Charity Navigator is helpful in finding a reputable group).

If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to let us know!  Our inboxes are always open.

While walking past the Kate's Paperie store in Midtown Manhattan, I was blown away by their new window display. An homage to the upcoming Fashion Week in NYC, Kate's decorated their storefront with paper-crafted white gowns fronting a glorious backdrop of pearly-gray paper pom-pom garlands and massive drapes of lace-patterned wrapping paper. Inspired by one of my favorite shops in New York, I thought a board made up of fun paper crafting ideas would be the perfect Wanwisa Wednesday post! So without further ado...

First Row: Paper lanterns fashioned from white honeycomb tissue ornaments via Martha Stewart Weddings, paper lace wedding garland via Martha Stewart Weddings, and a pop-up wedding alter also via Martha Stewart Weddings.

Second Row: gorgeous customizable flourish favor boxes (prettier than a jewelry box!) on sale at Martha Stewart Crafts, fun and pretty floral cake boxes on sale at Martha Stweart Crafts, and divine lace wrapping paper from Kates Paperie.

Third Row: Chic paper-tag menus via Martha Stewart Weddings, paper-chairs seating cards via Martha Stewart Weddings and a chic cake featuring pleated tissue paper via Martha Stewart Weddings.

Until next Wednesday! Xoxo, Wanwisa

Describe your wedding flowers: I love succulents, garden roses, and ranunculus so it was important for me to have those elements in my flowers. My bridesmaids carried a smaller version of my bouquet and my flower girls carried even smaller arrangements; I loved the flow.
Describe your wedding cake: The wedding cake was delicious! We kept the cake very simple and added lace details so it had a vintage feel to it. The flavor was spice cake with raspberry puree and cream cheese filling and cream cheese butter cream. It was a crazy combo, but 100% amazing. Needless to say, we had none left. I guess we will have to re-order the top layer for our anniversary!  


Were there any wedding traditions or new ideas you included in the wedding? Both my mother and father walked me down the aisle. I was also proud to dance with all of the important men in my life. Patrick, his father, uncle and brothers all danced with Patrick’s grandmother, since she traveled all the way from Michigan for our wedding. He along with his brothers, father and uncle were able to share a dance with her.  All in all, we kept most of the wedding more traditional. 
We served our dinner family-style, which encouraged everyone to talk and mingle.  Our wedding day was also my father-in-law’s birthday. My little sister, Beth, made him his favorite cake (chocolate with green icing) and we all sand happy birthday during the reception.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Seeing each other for the first time before the ceremony. He surprised me under the tree and we were able to have a few moments alone without having everyone else around. I also was able to share a special dance with my mom.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are looking forward to being newlyweds for a while, living in Chicago and traveling. 
The wedding was awesome and I would do it all over again, change nothing and marry Patrick everyday. We are so blessed to have such amazing family, friends and support.

Congratulations, Meredith + Patrick!  Enjoy your time as newlyweds!

How did the two of you meet? Well, it is a very fun story. We were neighbors for about 2 years, living in the same condo complex in Dallas, TX, yet had never met. Then, we were introduced to one at a party by a mutual friend.  Neither of us thought anything of it, and just said "Wow, that’s cool... we're neighbors!”   After that December evening, we didn’t talk again until March, when I was out at lunch with our mutual friends. Patrick's name came up and they asked if I would be interested in meeting with him since they thought we would get along well.  So Patrick and I made plans to meet and the rest is history!  We remained neighbors while dating and, when Patrick accepted a job in Chicago, I followed him to the Windy City after a year of distance dating.
Describe the proposal. I had just moved to Chicago and, while we were getting settled into our new condo, Patrick surprised me with a last-minute trip to New York City... one of my favorite places since I lived in the city for about three years. Patrick had never been so I was happy to play tour guide. It was an amazing weekend! Patrick waited until the very last day (if not the very last minute!) of the trip to propose near a little chapel. 


Three adjectives that describe the day are: Southern, charming and cozy.
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? The love my mother had for the live oak tree was a huge inspiration for my wedding. She and my step-father built their house in a spot so she could see the tree from the kitchen, living room and back porch. 
It is over 300-years-old and I love what a tree stands for: roots that merge into one trunk and spreading branches.  To me, a tree symbolizes family and how it all comes together. What was your favorite design element of your big day? The use of the natural elements like the oak tree, raw silks, the gourds and pumpkins of the season.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The flowers and the Southern comfort food and Southern dessert bar we served at the reception.  I also loved the peanuts I got for Patrick since I call him “P-Nut.”
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: I was so lucky to work for Bridal Portfolio while living in Dallas. It is a couture gown salon that has amazing dresses from top designers like Anne Barge, Romona Keveza, Rivini and many others. The ladies are amazing and it is such a special place. During all my years at the salon, I had not come across a dress that really excited me.  Then one day I was unpacking a box and Debbie, the owner, told me to open a box containing a dress she had seen on the Anne Barge runway.  She said she thought of me when she saw that dress and just knew she had to order the sample.  I am not a fan of silk satin for an outdoor wedding so we contacted Anne and she and her team were happy to change the fabric for me.  I ended up with an Anne Barge couture drop-waist, deep V-neck shantung taffeta gown that featured Chantilly lace a custom-made veil. It was amazing and I would wear my dress again and again if I could.