  A celebration without cake is merely a meeting and one of the biggest celebrations in south Louisiana is Carnival Season and the symbol of Mardi Gras is the best cake ever: the king cake! What exactly is a king cake? In short, a king cake is made up of a sweet brioche dough in the shape of a hollow circle with a glazed topping sprinkled with colored sugar. They come in a variety of flavors, fillings, and colors. Traditionally they are colored purple to represent justice, green to represent faith, and gold to represent power. (Scroll down for a history about Mardi Gras.) Who has the best king cake? To date, I have tried dozens of king cakes from all over the southern region of Louisiana that spans over several decades. I've tried the good, the bad, the moist, and the dry. I'm slightly critical of food, so I won't list the bad, instead I'll tell you about the BEST king cakes I've ever had and they both hail from Sucré in New Orleans, Louisiana; the first one is the Sucré signature King Cake - a rich, braided, buttery brioche dough sweetened with cinnamon and sugar, filled with whipped cream cheese, and finished with Sucré’s signature glaze. The second best is the Sucré Sugar + Spice King Cake! It's the beautiful partnership of Sucré and Tabasco and is their newest flavor. If you like a little heat, you'll love the flavors of the Sugar + Spice, a braided, buttery dough sweetened with cinnamon and sugar, filled with a single-bean Swiss chocolate whipped cream cheese filling, and accented with TABASCO® Habanero Sauce, that has a surprising hint of mango, papaya, and banana!  For History Buffs: A Brief History About Mardi Gras
via History.com ORIGINS OF MARDI GRAS According to historians, Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, including the raucous Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders decided to incorporate these popular local traditions into the new faith, an easier task than abolishing them altogether. As a result, the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.Along with Christianity, Mardi Gras spread from Rome to other European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and England. Traditionally, in the days leading up to Lent, merrymakers would binge on all the meat, eggs, milk and cheese that remained in their homes, preparing for several weeks of eating only fish and fasting. In France, the day before Ash Wednesday came to be known as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday.” The word “carnival,” another common name for the pre-Lenten festivities, may also derive from this vegetarian-unfriendly custom: in Medieval Latin, carnelevarium means to take away or remove meat. MARDI GRAS IN THE UNITED STATES Many historians believe that the first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when the French explorers Iberville and Bienville landed in what is now Louisiana, just south of the holiday’s future epicenter: New Orleans. They held a small celebration and dubbed the spot Point du Mardi Gras. In the decades that followed, New Orleans and other French settlements began marking the holiday with street parties, masked balls and lavish dinners. When the Spanish took control of New Orleans, however, they abolished these rowdy rituals, and the bans remained in force until Louisiana became a U.S. state in 1812. On Mardi Gras in 1827, a group of students donned colorful costumes and danced through the streets of New Orleans, emulating the revelry they’d observed while visiting Paris. Ten years later, the first recorded New Orleans Mardi Gras parade took place, a tradition that continues to this day. In 1857, a secret society of New Orleans businessmen called the Mistick Krewe of Comus organized a torch-lit Mardi Gras procession with marching bands and rolling floats, setting the tone for future public celebrations in the city. Since then, krewes have remained a fixture of the Carnival scene throughout Louisiana. Other lasting customs include throwing beads and other trinkets, wearing masks, decorating floats and eating King Cake. Louisiana is the only state in which Mardi Gras is a legal holiday. However, elaborate carnival festivities draw crowds in other parts of the United States during the Mardi Gras season as well, including Alabama and Mississippi. Each region has its own events and traditions. Why does Mardi Gras season start on Jan. 6? (as told By Doug MacCash, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune ) In the Catholic world, Jan. 6 is called Epiphany or Twelfth Night (since it's twelve days after Christmas) or Kings Day (hence the King Cake tie-in, right?). It marks the moment in the Bible that the three kings, having traveled over field and fountain, moor and mountain, arrived in Bethlehem to behold the baby Jesus. Traditionally, Epiphany is considered the last day of the Christmas holidays. Traditionally Kings Day, aka Epiphany, aka Twelfth Night, is a time of feasting. So, back in 1870, one of the very first Mardi Gras clubs decided to have a parade and party on that night. They called themselves the Twelfth Night Revelers. According to a 2009 NOLA.com story titled "A History of Mardi Gras" by Becky Retz, The Revelers employed jesters to serve king cake to young ladies at the party. Back then, king cakes had a gilded bean hidden inside (because pink plastic babies were very, very scarce in those days). Whichever young lady got the lucky bean would be crowned queen of the Revelers. But, according to Retz, the Revelers' jesters went off the rails. "It seems the fools were drunk," Retz wrote, and instead of presenting the cake, they either dropped it on or threw it at the women." Oh you guys! And there you have it. Since the Twelfth Night Revelers' fateful drunken king cake party, New Orleans has apparently begun the Mardi Gras season on Jan. 6. At least that seems to be the answer. Your Jan. 6 rights and privileges Starting at 12:01 a.m. Friday, you are free to say "happy Mardi Gras" to the bus driver, in the same way you might start saying "Merry Christmas" on the first day after Thanksgiving. Starting Jan. 6, you are also free to wear purple green and gold, the ghastly colors of Mardi Gras. But start out slow. In the workplace, your fellow employees should not be asked to endure your purple, green and gold bowtie or scarf until, say, Endymion Saturday (Feb. 25). Starting Jan. 6, you are free -- obliged, even -- to eat king cake (round pastries with ghastly purple, green, and gold sprinkles) whenever you encounter it. Truth is, these days you'll see king cakes for sale pretty much all year round. However, purists view purchasing king cakes before Jan. 6 as a demonstration of gauche impatience. Sort of like shooting off fireworks on July 3. Or opening the Christmas presents a day early. It's no big deal. A cultural misdemeanor.
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 Brooke Lark  Gades Photography Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romance and love, which is why I choose to celebrate it with my husband and not my children. Does that make me a horrible mother; absolutely not! And you shouldn't feel horrible or made to feel guilty from others either.
If you have young, school-aged children, teachers will send home notes about Valentine's Day parties that require you to give a Valentine's Day card to every student. So, as parents, we go along with it and send cards and candies to school. I draw the line at that. I do not give my children gifts or cards for Valentine's Day at home. In my opinion, it is not a holiday that was meant for children to celebrate. If you look back in history, the true meaning of St. Valentine's Day was a time of courtship between men and women. Some even say that it was the start of mating season for birds, hence where the saying "two love birds" originated. It's okay to show and teach our children love and affection, just designate St. Valentine's Day for our significant others! Show them how special they are to you. Give them gifts and cards and candies. Tell them why you fell in love with them. But what if you have children and can't get a babysitter? That's okay, too. We all can't get sitters when we need them; however, we can still set aside time with our significant other, without our kids:
 Bud Johnson Photography Wedding trends change year after year; some stay the same or change slightly and other trends are complete opposites of the previous years. It's not that new trends erase old trends, they just add to it! Each celebration is as unique as each couple celebrating it is, many couples are inspired by trends, but make it their own in the end. 2019 is the year for personality, creativeness, and purpose; and we're looking forward to seeing more of these trends at your celebration!
 Photo credit; Brooke Lark Today's lifestyle quick tip is brought to you as I get into cleaning mode! I'm not really sure what day of the week it is; I know we're somewhere between Christmas and New Years and it's time to clean my house and the kiddos are still out of school for Winter break!
If you have leftover citrus fruits that may be going bad (the skin will be hard), put them to use in your kitchen for a natural and fresh cleaning solution. Here's a few suggestions on how to use your leftover citrus fruits:
Some kids just love junk food and run away at the sight or sound of vegetables! We've taste tested quite a few recipes and have come up with our 3 favorite recipes for faux snack foods! And the best thing is: they're kid approved!
Directions: Heat the oven to 275°F. Set a wire rack on a large baking sheet and set aside. Thinly slice the sweet potato on a mandoline about 1/8-inch thick. Toss together the slices with olive oil in a bowl, making sure each slice is coated well. Season with salt and pepper. Place the slices on the wire rack in a single layer. Bake for about 50 minutes, flipping the chips halfway through baking, until golden and crisp. Cool for a few minutes before serving. Recipe credits: Wishful Chef
Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. Cook broccoli according to package directions and chop into small pieces. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs. Add remaining ingredients to bowl and mix well. Shape into 1 1/2 inch nuggets and place on the baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, flipping the nuggets over half way through the cooking time.
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F Cream butter and sugar together in large bowl. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients together in separate bowl. Add to creamed mixture. Stir in zucchini, oatmeal, and your choice of an optional add-in. Roll balls of dough and place 2 inches a part on greased cookie sheet, press down slightly to flatten. Bake for 10-12 minutes.  The Christmas holiday season can be extremely stressful. Between the work parties, school parties, and family get-togethers the overload of constantly being on the go and feeling obligated to buy gifts for everyone can leave you in a funk. I know because I've been there, am there now, and will probably not listen to my own advice and be there again! However, each Holiday season I do get better with not beating myself up over not buying everyone gifts and learning how to say no to invitations when I'm already feeling overwhelmed. I've came up with a few tips, that hopefully I'll listen to in the future:  REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON At times, we get super wrapped up in pleasing everyone, that we forget why we celebrate Christmas to begin with. I know I'm guilty! The Christmas Holidays is not about the presents; it's about spending quality time with the people you care about. It's about the gathering of friends and family. It's about celebrating the birth of Jesus. One of the main reasons we have the custom of giving and receiving presents at Christmas, is to remind us of the presents given to Jesus by the Three Wise Men  DON'T GO BROKE TRYING TO PLEASE OTHERS Something I'm guilty of again. I'm getting better at it though! But it's hard to not buy gifts for those that you love. A few years back, we decided to quit going overboard on gifts for our children. We limited it to 3-4 gifts a piece. That's it. We also stopped buying gifts for others. Do I feel guilty for not giving when I'm receiving? Of course, I do! But, again, something I struggle with, is that when you don't have it to give, you don't have it. You just simply cannot go broke trying to impress others. Well, what about your kids, you might say? Well, if we've taught them the true meaning of Christmas, they won't be disappointed when they don't get everything they wanted. We get so wrapped up in the outside world, that we forget about our world in front of us. I guarantee that children are more impressed and grateful in the long run to experiences and time spent with each other, than the latest toy or gadget or the amount of gifts they did or didn't receive.  YOUR MENTAL HEALTH COMES FIRST For the sake of your sanity, you do not have to visit or invite everyone in your family for the holidays. Sometimes, it's just not worth it. Some family members are toxic to your health. The holidays are a time to relax and enjoy the season, not a time to be stressed. Don't use the holidays as a time or place to try and mend broken relationships, it can turn sour fast. IF you find yourself in a situation where you are around toxic family members, limit your timeframe on how long you'll be visiting. If you are not in control of the transportation, simply excuse yourself from wherever the toxic family member is and go elsewhere in the home, like outside if weather permits. Don't ever feel guilty for avoiding toxic family members during the Christmas holidays. Not everyone who is in your life was meant to stay there and family is no exception. It doesn't matter if they are parents, aunts, siblings, or grandparents; your mental health is more important.  CREATE JOYFUL MEMORIES DURING YOUR WINTER BREAK If you have children, create joyful memories with them. You don't have to have a lot of money to create memories, remember that!! You don't always have to be on the go with your kiddos. Save money by making memories at home! Bake cookies, make crafts, watch Christmas movies! Because let's face it, running the roads everyday with cranky kids is not fun; they don't like being trapped in cars! Don't go on a two hour drive to go look at Christmas lights either, visit local neighborhoods that have Christmas light displays. Again, it's the whole traveling with kids thing that makes a joyful memory experience, a not so joyful experience. This blog post has been sponsored by The Sentimental Petal.   Cover Photo by: Rachel Erin Photography We love small businesses and our Southern communities! To give back we are giving away a quarter page ad in our Family Edition, launches May 2019! Yes, you heard right! We are giving away a quarter page ad, a long side bar ad to the Home page of SouthernCelebrationsMag.com, and a Vendor Listing (if not already listed, if you are already a valued vendor, your listing will be renewed for another year; to one very lucky small business! Advertising Giveaway is valued at $2450.00, we'll even design the ads for you! HOW TO ENTER:
That's it! We will check that you completed all requirements before entering your name. Giveaway ends Tuesday, December 18, 2019 at 10:00 a.m cst. A winner will be chosen at random Tuesday after 2 p.m. cst in a live Facebook video.
 Parents; We want to know, if you have multiple children, how do you handle sibling rivalry? Let's face it, not every child will get along with their sibling. They're going to argue and fight and nit pick with each other and most times, enough is enough! By using the form below, tell us how you handle sibling rivalry in your house. Please include how many children you have and their ages. Your answers will be published in our Family Edition that will launch May 2019. We will only include your first name and last name initial.  Last year, I introduced Special Editions into the Southern Celebrations Magazine
family with our Food & Drink issue. This year, I'm ecstatic to bring you a Family Edition; covering editorials from pregnancy & parenting to mom & dad life, and food & lifestyles! When I started Southern Celebrations nearly 5 years ago, my goal was to inspire the South with inspirational editorials about all of life's occasions, just not weddings and boy do we love a good celebration! Set to launch in May 2019, we'll be accepting print submissions (non-wedding related) through April 2, 2019.  Photo Credit: Marisa Howenstine Everyone wants to know the secrets to a long-lasting marriage or relationship; we all yearn for a love so deep and meaningful. Sometimes, there are no real secrets. A long-lasting marriage takes hard work and effort from both individuals. There is no 50-50; you're either 100% committed or you're not. But how can you maintain some spark after so many years? How can you and your partner still be in love with each other for so long? It's not easy! We interviewed several couples who have been married for over 30 years and they all had the same common advice about their many years of marriage. 1. COMMUNICATION I know, you hear it all of the time, but communicating with your partner truly is the number one tip when it comes to a lasting relationship. Discuss your feelings, your goals, talk about your emotions, talk about your finances........ If you can't discuss the small but important things in the beginning of your relationship, what makes you think that 15 years down the road the line of communication is still going to be open? 2. DON'T SETTLE For the sake of everything you love, don't settle! I strongly believe in the sanctity of marriage, so for me, there is only one shot at this! If you don't have butterflies in your stomach when you've been a part for a long time, if you don't get goosebumps and if the hair on your arms doesn't stand up when they get near you, if you don't tremble when they lean in to embrace you, if they're not your best friend, or your lover; then don't ever settle. 3. BE OPEN AND WILLING TO CHANGE Time changes things, situations change. Couples in long-lasting relationships adapt to change in their environment or situations together. You are on a journey together, not alone. More importantly, don't ever go in to a relationship expecting your partner to change. You either love them for who they are or you don't. Don't love them the way you think you could change them to be. 4. IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, PUT YOUR PARTNER FIRST This can be a really hard thing to accept. It's easy to get lost in the blur of putting your kids first, especially when they are young. Remember that it was just the two of you before your children came along and when they're all grown up and out of the house, it'll be just the two of you again. Don't wake up 20 or 30 years from now asking where your life went. 5. BE INTIMATE Every happy couple knows that maintaining intimacy is a key element in a long-lasting relationship! Make love to your partner, have toe curling sex, and long, deep kisses; and we're not talking once a month either or only on special occasions! Keep your flame going by creating the spark. As we get older, sometimes that drive diminishes and other problems arise, but that doesn't mean the intimacy has to stop. There are other ways to be intimate without physically having sex. 6. RESPECT EACH OTHER This goes without saying, don't ever disrespect each other; no matter how many disagreements, arguments, or trivial fights you may have. Without mutual respect for one another it is impossible for a relationship to work. 7. MAKE TIME FOR YOUR PARTNER Make it a priority to make time with your partner. Don't make excuses on why it's been years since the two of you went on a date. YES! Date your spouse! Take them out to eat, take them to the movies, go on a bike ride together. It's easy to get wrapped up in your career in the early years (trust me, I know), but remember that your success in your career can wait, your marriage and family cannot. 8. BE COMMITTED Commitment is the foundation of stability on which long-lasting marriages are built. Be 100% committed, 100% of the time. 9. APOLOGIZE Don't hold a grudge in your marriage. People are not perfect, we make mistakes. Forgive each other. Be willing to let go and move forward with the person that you fell in love with so many years ago and whom you still love today. Accept your differences. A simple, "I'm sorry" can go a long way. 10.UNITY
A marriage is a team, you are united as one. You deal with adversity together. You deal with crisis together. You embrace the good times together. Don't let other people drive themselves between you. They are not a part of your team. Your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc are NOT a part of your team, your family yes, but your team consists of just you and your partner. Even with good intentions, those outside of your team can cause stress and turmoil within your marriage. Depend on each other only for solutions, not those outside of your team.  This August, Charleston’s newest venue in the heart of the Historic District, Merchants Hall, opened its doors for its first-ever public event. The Charleston community gave a warm welcome to this brand-new venue! Charleston's top caterers Salthouse Catering, Duvall Catering & Events, Tristan Events & Catering showed off their chops and served delicious Lowcountry-themed cuisine, while Spike by Snyder served up local beers and an assortment of wines. Loluma styled the event to perfection, going with a rustic chic theme. Pictured below, the crowd favorites were Duvall’s Pimento Cheese Fritters, Salthouse’s Smoked Pork Shank with Hoppin’ John Roasted Carrots & Molasses Pot Licker and Tristan’s Coconut Cake Truffles and Caramel Milk Chocolate Tarts with Sea Salt. It was a spectacular public debut for Merchants Hall! Merchants Hall provides a chic canvas for weddings and events in the Holy City. This circa 1856 building features exposed brick, wood columns, crystal chandeliers and views of City Market. 
 
 
      VENDORS:
Venue: Merchants Hall Photographer: Kate Dye Photography Caterers: Duvall Catering & Events , Tristan Events & Catering, and Salthouse Catering Drinks: Spike By Snyder Rentals: Snyder Events Event Designer: Loluma By Hannah Moses a contributing author for Charlie Mather Photography  Charlie Mather Photography Wedding favors for guests are made to be small tokens of appreciation for attending the wedding and they also serve as souvenirs from the wedding as well. Most couples want to be sure that people remember their special day, so they give out favors that are meaningful as their expression of appreciation. However, some wedding favors can become expensive as your guest list grows. Below, are DIY trendy wedding favors that will be a hit with your guest and save you money. 
 Charlie Mather Photography 
It's no surprise that we love food in the south and sometimes we just want to have a good burger and fries to celebrate life's occasions at home. Because of our busy lives, it's easier to have a small gathering at home versus meeting at a local diner. Cook up our angus burger with homemade sweet potato fries and our sweet, heat aioli (recipe below--you'll definitely want to try it out! We slapped it on our buns and dipped our fries in it!!). Although our burgers are pan-fried, they'd taste even better on the grill ;-) 
 Photo credit: Florian Klauer It goes without saying that we cannot control everything in life. Of course, we all want our celebrations to be perfect; whether it's our child's first birthday, our baby shower, or our wedding day. We've obsessed over details for months (and sometimes years depending on the occasion). It's only natural that we would want everything to be perfect. Here's a few tips that we've come up with to help you to NOT stress over the small things:
Stress can cause a lot of things to happen, both physically and emotionally and we would never want you to stress over the small things. At the end of the day, what is important is that you are surrounded by family and friends that are there for you to help celebrate your occasion, no matter what it is! Remember that they are there for you and while the small details are pretty to look at, that's not why they are truly there; so don't stress yourself out wrapping your brain around those things.  Photo credit: Brooke Lark  1-Don't expect to get much attention from service personnel by saying "we're on our honeymoon." Bora Bora gets many newlyweds, and the special treatment goes only so far. 2-Do pick up a fish identification guide so you'll know what you're looking at when you're snorkeling or diving. 3-Do sign up for one of the shark- and ray-viewing lagoon tours offered at Bora Bora. Be aware that these trips involve getting in the water with feeding reef sharks, something dozens of visitors do every day without incident. If you're not convinced, it's also possible to stay in the boat for that part of the tour. 4- Don't expect to find many bargains on Bora Bora. This is easily the most expensive island in the South Pacific—and also one of the most memorable. 5-Do ask about the operator's policy on shark feeding if you plan to scuba dive or snorkel. Shark feeding is a common practice on Bora Bora, though some experts feel it's unwise to make the animals dependent on handouts and to make them associate people with food. If you agree, or if you just don't like the idea of being near hungry sharks, seek out an operator who doesn't engage in feeding, though they can be hard to find.  6-Do take along everything you need (from camera supplies to sunscreen) if you want to save money. Prices for most items are far higher than what you'll pay at home. Also consider stowing a few food items in your suitcase to save on a trip or two to the pricey restaurants. 7-Do be careful if you're swimming near an offshore motu. At certain times, strong currents can be created that have the potential to sweep you out into the open sea. 8-Don't be frightened if you find a gecko in your room (usually you'll find more than one). They're harmless unless you're an insect, though their high-pitched "barking" can be a strange sound to wake up to. 9-Do book flights and hotels well in advance, especially if you're interested in the high-end resorts or if your vacation falls during a school holiday. 10-Do invest in a pareu and experiment with a few of the many ways to wear it. 11-Do take in the view of tombstonelike Mount Otemanu from the pier at Bloody Mary's Restaurant and Bar. 12-Don't feed the local dogs. There are so many strays that they have become major pests.  13-You can rent a bicycle or small car to circle the island on its winding, two-lane road. Jeep safaris take you up steep tracks to interior viewpoints. Seven large cannons installed at four different sites during World War II can still be visited. (Bora was the site of a U.S. base during the war.) Several ancient ceremonial sites, or marae, are also open to visitors. 14-Crime is relatively rare on Bora Bora. Still, it's wise to practice commonsense precautions. 15-Bora Bora gets its drinking water from a modern desalinization plant, and drinking it from the tap isn't as risky as it is elsewhere. However, if you would rather not take any chances, prepackaged water and other drinks are widely available. 16-When swimming on rocky or coral-laden beaches, always wear sandals, flip-flops or some other footwear to avoid stonefish, the lagoon's only common danger. These fish look just like rocks and have spines that inject a poison if you step on them, which can be extremely painful and occasionally fatal. If you do step on one, apply heat immediately and head to the nearest doctor or hospital. 17-Couples Retreat, starring Vince Vaughn, was filmed at the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort. 18-Transvestites (or mahu) are an accepted part of the French Polynesian community and often work in restaurants, on airplanes and in boutiques on Bora Bora. Ready to jump off your own over water bungalow into the crystal blue waters? The best way to get the most out of a honeymoon like this is to let a travel professional handle the details. This way you will not encounter any unexpected surprises!
 Your engagement is coming to an end, and the big day is weeks away! What to do now? You have the venue, dress, and photographer all locked in. Now it is time to shift focus on what you should devote your energy on. Check out these small investments that are sure to give you a peace of mind leading into the best day of your life! Sneak away for a girls day at the spa Your bachelorette party has come and gone but considering all the pre wedding stress, it might be a good idea to take a relaxing day trip to the spa with a couple close friends! Stepping back and taking a day for some self-care is just what the doctor ordered! Being pampered with your besties will provide you with the perfect distraction so you are fully prepared to take on the best day with your future husband! Invest in a quality bra Out of all the things to be worried about on your wedding day, like the weather, messing up your vows, and hoping everyone has a good time, feeling comfortable shouldn’t be one of them! But, when your bra wire is digging into your rib cage during your father daughter dance, it will shoot to the top of your list! Investing in quality undergarments will ultimately make you forget you have anything on under that dress! True & Co., an online bra company has plenty of bras that comfortably form to your body. Trust me, you won't regret this when you're heading to the after-party still in your wedding dress!
 Research a dependable deodorant As much as you prepared for this day to come, the nerves will kick in as soon as you wake up! When those nerves happen, the nervous sweat is following closely behind. Taking time to do your research when purchasing the perfect deodorant can go a long way. Plus, you’ll need to make sure you’re fully prepared when you’re rocking the dance floor with your guests! You do not want to be the bride with those smelly departing hugs! Remember, buy and test your deodorant weeks before your nuptials to ensure that it lasts for your body type! Buy stand-by flats Rocking those beautiful bridal heels feels amazing! Down the aisle, and throughout your pictures, you’ll look like a queen while feeling extremely confident. Then comes the best part, the reception! Constantly walking around, greeting everyone and dancing the night away with your new hubby can put a toll on your poor toes. Investing in an elegant pair of back up flats becomes almost necessary. You’ll be able to comfortably move around the reception, while not getting your bare feet crushed by your crazy uncle dancing next to you! Create an emergency kit One of the worst fears brides may have is ripping their gorgeous dress the day of. Being stuck with no way of quickly fixing the pull or tear can give you anxiety just thinking about it! An easy and simple solution to this potential problem is creating a bridal survival kit filled with the essential items days before the wedding. Don’t forget to include tissues for those sentimental moments! Make these personal investments, and your wedding day will be an amazing beginning to the rest of your marriage! Written By: Emily (Guest Blogger) Written By: Emily (Guest Blogger)
Author bio: Emily is a content creator who loves to write about lifestyle topics. She’s obsessed with keeping up with the current bridal trends of the month. Her favorite hobby includes binge watching Say Yes to the Dress with a refreshing face mask on! Fall weddings have got to be our favorite wedding season of the year! With summer coming to an end soon, wedding couples should be wrapping up last minute details for their Fall celebrations. Hopefully, some of these Fall trends will make their way into your planning! Fashion Trends
Fall weddings mean cooler temps (hopefully) and that means long sleeves and haute, cozy layers. Fashion week was all about 2 piece separates, cashmere sweaters, and full-length skirts. Cake Trends
Less is more! Couples are forgoing the fondant designs and sugar paste flowers and are instead opting for a newer version of the naked cake (instead of totally bare layers showing, a thin amount of frosting is spread which allows for the cake to show through) and decorating them with caramel drizzles. They are also ditching traditional cake toppers and opting for small bunches of flowers and greenery. You may also notice that the size of wedding cakes will be getting smaller, as more couples embrace other fun desserts to share with their guests. Color Trends
Deep burgundy and plum shades are dominating the Fall wedding scene and we can't get enough of this moody jewel tone combination! Complimentary colors include crisp whites and smokey blues paired with metallic. And while gold is always a timeless classic, silver and copper are the must-haves this Fall season. Flower Trends
Where the wild things are! Fresh, wild flower-themed designs are still the hottest trend; mix with the jewel tones of the season and you have the perfect floral designs for your bouquet, centerpieces, and ceremony! Food Trends
Food is probably hands down one of our favorite aspects of any celebration! And who wants to serve boring food to their guests?! Get creative and have different food and drink stations. From mashed potato bars and build-your-own mac n' cheese station to snowball and gourmet coffee stands with donuts; you can truly make your reception a unique experience.
The time has finally arrived: your wedding day! You probably didn't sleep much, but it's now morning and we're here to tell you that the nervous, jittery feeling that you're feeling: is completely normal! Every detail that you've been dreaming of is about to come to fruition! A wedding has many moving parts; there's your dress, your hair and makeup, your venue, your caterer, your florist and planner, and it's worrying about whether or not your groom is prepared......... STOP! And just breathe!  Photo Credit: Matthew Kane Here's a list of things to tell yourself the morning of your wedding: It's Going To Be Okay Like really, everything is going to be okay! It's your wedding day, whatever happens, just let it go! At the end of the day, you'll still be married to the person you're going to spend the rest of your life with! You Are Beautiful Yes, you are truly beautiful! We all have our issues when it comes to our appearances, no one is immune to that. But remember, your groom loves you and is marrying you for who you are, not what you look like. Don't let the little voices in your head weigh you down....you are beautiful! Trust Your Vendor Team You hired your wedding professionals for a reason. For many vendors, this isn't their first rodeo. Now trust that they'll have your back and give you a day that you'll always remember!  Photo Credit: Sweet Ice Cream Photography Love Surrounds You Remember that on your wedding day, you are surrounded by people that love you. Your friends and family are there to support you because of their love and they only want to see you happy. Enjoy A Moment Alone With Your Spouse Your wedding day will feel like a whirl wind that's going ninety to nothing. Remember to take a moment to yourselves, even if it's just for a short period of time. It's your wedding day! Yes, your guests are there to celebrate your union and will be excited to congratulate you, but at the end of the day, it'll just be you and your groom; show him during your wedding that he's the most important thing in your life. Our suggestion is to take a moment after the ceremony/post-ceremony photos and before the reception to sit down in solitude with your groom. Have a quick, intimate meal, have a drink, or just enjoy the alone time, before the whirlwind of wedding events continue.  Photo by Natalie Thornley  Whether you're getting married in Louisiana or North Carolina, searching for a rustic venue or plantation, we've complied a list of the top venues to get married in the South!  Photo credit: London Lane Studio  Photo credit: Captured By Mary  Photo credit: The Wise Image  Photo credit: Light Up Wedding Photography  Photo credit: Breath of Light Imagery  Photo credit: Yaste Photography  Photo credit: Carolynn Siebert Photography  Photo credit: Photography by Brea  Photo credit: Double Windsor Photography  Photo credit: Grant & Deb Photographers  Photo credit: Ripperton Films  Photo credit: Kristy Roderick Photography  Photo credits: Heather Durham Photography  Photo credit: Allison Jeffers Photography  Photo credit: K. Jugar Photography  Photo credit: The Oberports
Photography by: MLM Photography | Bride: Shruhi Modi | Groom: Ravi Patel 
 An Engagement Story by Shruhi: "After 3 and a half years and a year of asking “when are we gonna get married?” it finally happened. So the Thursday before Father’s Day weekend, Ravi shows up at like 10pm out of nowhere at my house. My parents are like “uhh Shruhi did you know Ravi was coming?” And I’m like “no he didn’t tell you guys at least?!” So everyone was shocked to see him and he surprises me and shows up out of nowhere all the time, so I didn’t think anything of it. And so every year all my aunts and uncles in my hometown get together on St. Simons island for Father’s Day and we grill and hang out. So my dad had mentioned that the Father’s Day Get Together was on Saturday and I was like “oh okay sounds good, Ravi and I will be there.” So Saturday comes around and Ravi says “oh let’s go a little early and we can get just spend time together and get ice cream at Fuse” (it’s a frozen yogurt shop on St. Simons and every time Ravi and I are together we get frozen yogurt, so again I didn’t think anything of it.) So we get to the island and we get frozen yogurt and walk around and Ravi says “oh hold on I forgot napkins I’ll be right back.” So I’m just sitting on the bench eating my ice cream and he comes back with napkins and says “oh they were having some kind of raffle at Fuse so I entered our names in.” (So Ravi is literally always entering raffles at his job every few months and he’s always winning, it’s crazy.) So when someone called him 15 minutes later saying he won the raffle, I didn’t think anything of it. So we go back to Fuse and they’re like “you guys won tickets to the lighthouse! Enjoy!” And I’m like oh that’s awesome, I’ve only been once when I like 8 years old. Little did I know, that when he went back to “get napkins” he actually gave the people fake Tickets to the lighthouse and asked the Fuse worker to call him saying he won the raffle. So we go over to the St. Simons Island lighthouse and Ravi hands the desk clerks these tickets. They look at him a little weird but I have to go to the bathroom so again, I don’t think anything of it. Again, little did I know they were fake tickets and he had the real ones on his phone in an email that he conveniently showed them while I had to go to the bathroom, without me knowing. So I go to the bathroom and come back and Ravis like okay let’s go up. So we start walking up and get to the top and it’s just us and some random lady who looks like a classic tourist with a camera and fanny pack. So then I, myself, go to this lady and ask her to take a photo of Ravi and I. Little did I know, this lady was the photographer Ravi had hired to take photos of the proposal. So she takes a photo on our phone and then she says “oh here, I have a professional camera I can take a better photo of you guys and just send it to you. You guys are so cute.” So in my mind I’m like well that’s a little weird but that’s really nice of her so sure. So I pose for the photo and she says “look turn around!” And I turn and Ravi is on his knee with the ring and he’s like “look down.” So I look down from the lighthouse and there’s someone at the bottom holding a sign saying “will you marry me.” And of course I’m freaking out. So after the whole freak out he puts the ring on and we take some more photos and then walk down the lighthouse and from behind the lighthouse my entire family and all of Ravi’s family come out with flowers and I’m again shocked to see everyone. And then we take more photos and everything calms down and Ravi and I take some his family walking around the island and on the Pier. Then he and I finally head back to my house and we walk in and my whole family and everyone is there and they’re like “surprise!” and they had decorated the house and had food and we had a small engagement party with everyone that’s close to us. It was absolutely the most perfect day of my life."
 
 The Photographer's Favorite Moments:
"My favorite moment was when she told me she was really convinced that he was never going to propose to her. That even as he walked ahead of her on the path to the lighthouse she was looking at his pockets to see if she saw a ring box bulge and she didn't. So this surprise proposal was exactly what is was suppose to be a ......TOTAL SURPRISE!"  Hey Florist Friends!! Want to be featured in Vol 8 (May 2019)? We're looking for bouquets that make a statement for an editorial we're working on for our next issue! We're all about inspiring our readers, so fresh designs are always welcomed! *Submit 1-3 professionally edited photographs of bouquets you have designed for a chance to be published in Vol 8. Please include the type of floral used, including any greenery.  Here in the South, every occasion is worth celebrating and sometimes we need to stick to a budget. Here are 5 tips to keep your next celebration on a budget, while still having fun! {Please keep in mind that these tips are not suggestions for weddings, as those budgets are much different.}
  Photographer: Acadiana Photography It’s time for “one last fling before the ring!” That’s right, it’s time to plan the Ultimate Bachelorette Party! This is a great occasion to share a memorable evening or weekend with your besties, and let loose before the wedding. Here are some ideas and tips to help you create an unforgettable soiree. What is a “Bachelorette Party?”, you may ask. The modern day bachelorette party was modeled after the ever popular bachelor party, as a way for a single woman to celebrate with her closest friends and family before her marriage. This party is usually hosted by the ladies in the bridal party, but may be thrown by a close friend or relative, much like a bridal shower. It is a great time for bonding, and general merriment. Check with the Bride first. What would she do for a Klondike Bar? Ask her what she envisions for her party. Does she just want a wild night out, or a relaxing weekend with her nearest and dearest? Does she have a location in mind? She may want to go club-hopping, and to dance with tons of people. She may want to go to a winery for a tasting, or a sip and paint party. The bride may want to stay local in her hometown and have a great meal and a movie with her friends, or she may want to head to the nearest metropolitan area to catch a Broadway-worthy show. Renting a vacation home in a place like Edisto Beach, South Carolina, or taking a riverboat cruise are also fun options. Las Vegas is always a popular destination for bridal parties. Are there any special requests or hard limits to the bachelorette fun? Would the bride like to see an exotic dancer or sip a favorite alcoholic drink throughout the evening? Does she enjoy games? A fun scavenger hunt, with pre-planned clues and small gifts at several locations, could provide lots of excitement and photo opportunities. Bachelorette Bingo or Pin the (insert item of choice here) on the body part of choice is always good for laughs. Just remember to keep it tasteful, depending on the bride-to-be’s personality. Also, remember that if there are guests that are under the legal drinking age, or simply do not indulge in adult beverages, to plan accordingly. This includes having pre-arranged transportation, or designated drivers.  Photographer: Acadiana Photography To Theme, or not to Theme? That is the question. Many times, the party has a theme, such as Spa Day, or “Pop, Fizz, Clink!” Channeling our inner Mermaids, Unicorns, and Goddesses have been popular themes in recent years. Group fitness classes are also fun, with lots of choices available. Hot Yoga, Pilates, Spin Class, Bungee Cord and Fabric Aerial Classes, and yes, even Pole Dancing are all great options. Does the bride love music? A trip to Nashville would be a great theme, including cowboy boots, denim, rhinestones, and a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. Or perhaps a jaunt over to New Orleans, to sample beignets, gumbo, and the famous French Quarter would be perfect. If your bride is mad about the mouse, then slide on down to Orlando, to the Happiest Place on Earth – Disney World! Is the bride an avid traveler, or sports fanatic? Or does she prefer to wander leisurely through bookstores and flea markets? Does she enjoy shopping for pretty lingerie and accessories? Why not book a hair and makeup team, and a talented photographer, and host a boudoir marathon? Build the party around the bride’s interests and hobbies. Sometimes a theme can be as simple as using the colors of the wedding, and carrying it through the décor of the bachelorette party, from the invitations, to the tableware. Search a website like Pinterest for really cute and creative ideas. Don’t forget to coordinate the guests’ attire, with fun t-shirts or accessories to announce to all that you are part of the Bride’s Tribe. The bride should stand out among her crew, so add a great tiara and sash and you are ready to hit the town! Be sure to provide awesome swag for everyone, including a hang-over relief kit! There are so many options available, you can’t really go wrong in personalizing the celebration for the bride.  Photographer: Acadiana Photography Time is Money, or Divide and Conquer. Just as planning a very detailed wedding takes time, so does planning a smaller celebration, like the bachelorette party. The bachelorette party can take place anywhere from a few months to a week or two before the wedding. The sooner that the date is selected for the party, the sooner you can put your ideas into motion. Consider hiring an event planner to assist. Create a guest list. If the party is to be a surprise for the bride, consult with the other members of the bridal party and close friends, and decide on date, location, theme and overall budget for the party. Divide the party planning tasks accordingly: finding a venue for the party and making reservations, buying or making decorations, invitations and favors, planning activities or entertainment, ordering food and beverages, and transportation such as a limo, party bus, Uber or taxi. Also consider hiring a photographer to play paparazzi for the evening. They will capture the moments others may miss. Total up the costs of everything, and divide equally. Then collect the necessary amount of money from each guest to cover the bill, including tips. The only person that should not pay for anything is, of course, the bride. All she needs to do is enjoy spending time with her besties!
 Appetizers are the new dinner party! Years ago, a good dinner party in the South consisted of BBQ and good drinks! Now that we’re getting a little older, our we’ve made our dinner parties a little more sophisticated—BUT we still love our BBQs! A fun –and delicious—way to incorporate appetizers into your dinner parties is by creating a charcuterie board. What exactly is charcuterie? Charcuterie is a French word for any smoked, dry-cured or cooked meat. {You had us at meat!} You can add a variety of items that can be paid in many different combinations. Talk about an explosion of flavor in your mouth! Combinations usually include various ingredients that compliment the meats and cheeses for a fun do-it-yourself appetizer experience for your guests. Basic Tips for Assembling a Charcuterie Board:  · Select a variety of meat and cheese, meaning an assortment of mild, medium and bold flavors. Some people prefer softer, mild meats and cheeses, where other folks love big, bold flavors. Be sure you have options for both mild and bold flavors, as well as middle-of-the-road options. · Add seasonal fruit to the mix. While the main event attraction of a charcuterie board should be the meat, it is always smart to include fresh in-season fruit to add sweetness to the salty and to change up the experience. If you want to get extra fancy, you can roast or grill fresh fruit. · Jams or preserves: Include 1 or 2 jams or preserves for some added flavor and sweetness to balance out the dry and salty meat and cheese. Fig spread goes marvelously with many cheeses and meats, so I always like to include it. I also like to include apricot jam, but raspberry or grape jam works, too. Again, you can step this up by using homemade jams, but store-bought works great and chances are you already have several options in your pantry. · Provide something briny to pair with the meat and cheese. Pickled vegetables, such as gherkins or pickles, olives, pickled jalapenos or pepperoncinis are great on charcuterie boards. They can be paired easily with the bold meats, such as salami or sopressata, and add a mouth-watering tang. · Other spreads: You may also include any of your favorite spreads, such as stone ground mustard, tapenade, pate, hummus, and/or white bean dip. These spreads are great for smearing on sliced baguette for stacking meat and cheese on top.   · Etc.: Get creative by including anything else you think your friends would enjoy. For instance, cheese or chocolate fondue with fresh fruit and bread for dipping, dark chocolate bars, roasted or raw nuts, compound butters, nut butters or hazelnut spread, etc, etc. · Alcohol: When appropriate, include alcohol to your charcuterie experience. Wine and beer pair excellently with meat and cheese and can enhance the flavor experience. Generally speaking, you want to pair bold-flavored meat and cheese with bold-flavored alcohol. For instance, goat cheese, smoked salmon and prosciutto pairs well with white wine, while salami, cheddar and blue cheese go great with red wine. · Crackers & bread: While your guests can get along perfectly well without crackers or sliced baguette, these items can be great for pairing a variety of ingredients for providing stability to the bite. I like to provide gluten-free crackers as well as regular crackers. I choose crackers that don’t have a huge amount of flavor, added herbs or salt so that the crackers don’t detract from the flavor of what’s being added to them. · The finished product: Putting all of these elements together, you will end up with a board that has a variety of pairing options. Here is what I included on the board pictured in this post: For the meat, I chose prosciutto, pancetta, sopressata, and Genoa salami. For the cheese: goat chevre, Gruyere, English blue cheese. In the fruit department, I added fresh red grapes, figs, blueberries and dates. For the spreads, I used a fig spread and apricot preserves, both of which I already had on-hand. Last, but not least, my briney elements were brown mustard and olives. I also had a variety of white and red wines, as well as beer available in the refrigerator for whoever wanted it. Credit: The Roasted Root  The “Grand Board” at City Pork in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is mainly made up of St. Andre Triple Cream Brie, Gruyere, Roquefort, Gouda, Lonza, Smoked Duck, Chicken Liver Paté, Hog’s Head Cheese, and Truffle Sausage. Photo Credits: Rachel Erin Photography | City Pork, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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