A Single (at least for now!) Woman's Reflection

With neuroscience out of the way, my first year of medical school is rapidly coming to an end (Can I hear an "AMEN?"). This means that wedding day is getting closer & closer! This is VERY exciting, and yet a bit sad, too. Why, you ask? Well, firstly, this means that all of my wedding planning fun will soon come to an end. Darling Fiance' & I have had such a blast visiting venues, sampling menus, and picking out special touches for our big day. It will be a bit sad when we aren't able to plan and design our big day any more. Secondly, this means that I will no longer have the same name. While that absolutely thrills & excites me most of the time, sometimes I think it will be hard not to carry my Daddy's name anymore. After all, I adore & admire him--he is and always will be the first man I ever loved. Lastly, marriage will entail new responsibilities & challenges for Darling Fiance' & I. While I'm completely confident in our love (after all, we've been together five years, I think we both know what we're getting into ;-) ), I hope that we'll always keep that spontaneous, fun streak that we cherish! I so enjoy taking random drives through the country, walking our puppy on a sunny day, and cooking new recipes together! Hopefully all of those experiences become more plentiful, not scarce.

Despite these mini-moments of sadness, I'm certain that the next few months are going to be some of the best of my life! I can't wait to marry my strong, quiet man and even if that comes with a few sad changes, I'm sure it will all be worth it when we're Mr. & Mrs.! So until then, I'll continue sampling menus & selecting personal touches for the big day, cherishing my maiden name, and enjoying long walks in the park with my puppy and, of course, Darling Fiance'.

Til Next Time....

Hugs & Kisses,

A Southern Sweetheart

Latest Wedding Inspiration

Good afternoon ya'll! I'm so sorry for abandoning you for so long! March was such a crazy month, and to be honest I just can't believe it's already mid-April! The days are slipping by, and that means wedding day is drawing ever nearer! I have so many new details to fill you in on!

First, Darling Fiance' & I finalized his wedding day attire along with the suits for his guys! They'll all be sporting dapper tan poplin suits, a crisp white button-up, and blush pink pocket squares. Darling Fiance' will wear a solid blush silk tie while his guys will wear blush & navy striped ties! To complete their looks, they'll wear tan buck dress shoes and a matching tan suede belt! Sounds so handsome doesn't it?! I just cannot wait to see him in his full wedding day attire! He's gorgeous every day, so I can't imagine what he'll look like on our big day!

We also selected the ushers' attire (tan suit, white button-up, and tan tie) as well as my Daddy's suit (he'll wear a sharp navy poplin suit, white button-up, and the same blush & navy striped tie as the groomsmen!). Yes, we were busy indeed!

Along with outfits for the big boys, we also selected outfits for the little boys! All of my younger male cousins (five, to be exact) will wear khaki dress pants, a bright white button up, suspenders & an adorable khaki bow-tie! Won't they be dolls?! They, along with my younger female cousins, have a very important role to play on wedding day! They'll be ringing silver bells and carrying "Here Comes the Bride" signs down the aisle! This "Parade of Sweeties" will be the highlight of the procession, I'm sure!

I'm certain that you're all dying to know what the ladies' attire will look like for wedding day, right? Well, the bridesmaids will be wearing a gorgeous long chiffon evening gown, with a sweetheart neckline, elegant beaded cap sleeves, and a twist-front bodice in a pearl pink hue. Here's a picture of the gown:

http://www.lightinthebox.com/chiffon-a-line-floor-length-evening-dress I just love the flowing, elegant skirt on this dress, and fell in love with the cute beaded sleeves! The little girls in the "Parade of Sweeties" will be wearing an adorable tulle skirted puff dress in pearl pink. It's definitely an over-the-top girly outfit that only little ones could pull off! I'm positive that they'll steal the show on wedding day--which I'm totally fine with :-) Here's a picture of their little outfits: http://www.lightinthebox.com/a-line-knee-length-tulle-and-taffeta-tutu Isn't it lovely?! So, all in all,  it looks like we've finally decided on outfits for all the members of the wedding party! Yay! That's definitely a huge step forward! Now, we're focusing on ceremony & reception details, like the guest book, ceremony readings, and unique reception games. Does anyone have any suggestions for these? I'd love to hear them :-)

Lastly, this week I have literally been OBSESSED with all the gorgeous blush wedding details I'm seeing on Style Me Pretty, Wedding Chicks, and Green Wedding Shoes! Obviously all these blush brides are women after my own heart! I just CANNOT wait to see all the gorgeous blush tones come together on wedding day! On that note, I have to share a couple of my latest wedding inspiration boards with you guys! Enjoy & Til Next Time....

Hugs & Kisses,

A Southern Sweetheart

Pretty Pink Peonies

Photography By / Mimmo & Naz

Photography By / Ifong Chen Photography

From \\\\\\\\

From \\\\\\\\

From \\\\\\\\

Photography By / We Heart Photography
Floral Design By / Jolie Fleur

Soft Colors & Romantic Details

Photography By / Jason & Anna Photography

Photography By / Kate MacPherson
Wedding Styling By / Charlotte Wood Events

Photography By / Aaron Delesie
Event Design & Planning By / Brooke Keegan

Photography By / Jennifer Images
Event Planning/Design By / Distinct Occasions

Photography By / Kristen Weaver
Design And Styling By / MMD Events

Photography By / Leila Brewster Photography
Event Planning/Design By / TRUE Event

Photography By / Michael And Anna Costa Photography
Event Planning By / Bella Vita Events

Photography By / Kristen Weaver
Design And Styling By / MMD Events

Photography By / Erin Jean

SHOES!

So every southern gal knows that fabulous shoes are a must! The perfect pair of shoes can not only complete an outfit but be the shining star of that ensemble! From sky-high heels to fantastic flats, shoes will always fit, even when those skinny jeans are a bit too tight ;-) So in honor of pretty pairs everywhere, today is "Shoe Sunday!" I'll be sharing four of the most gorgeous, lust-worthy heels from all over the web, in the hopes of inspiring and delighting each and every one of you! Enjoy!

 This gorgeous pair of yellow platforms would be the perfect addition to any spring outfit! Just imagine wearing these gorgeous pops of color with a blush pink ensemble! How cheerful and spring-y! Or, pair these with a gorgeous steel gray outfit for a perfect finish!

 






 


So I'm perhaps the world's biggest fan of nude and blush! And today, these heels are sending me far into blush heaven! These pumps would definitely lengthen even the shortest of gams, leaving the lucky lady feeling like a supermodel! 

Now these little stunners are a one-of-a-kind pair! Imagine wearing these gorgeous heels on a night-out with a sexy little black dress! Talk about show-stopping!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, last but not least, who doesn't love a cute bow?! These purple stunners are sure to leave your friends full of shoe-envy!

Just remember, heels can be worn even on the most casual of date nights, girls' nights, or even day-time outings, and are sure to transform a cute outfit into a stunner! Till next time!

 

Hugs & Kisses,

A Southern Sweetheart

Gorgeous Headpieces

So, like most wedding-obsessed gals, I've fallen completely and totally in love with headpieces! Fascinators, jeweled pins, beaded head bands, and of course a dramatic veil...I love them all!  So one can only imagine my ensuing dilemma: our upcoming wedding is just five short months away and I still need a knock-out headpiece. The only problem: I can't choose just one! Perhaps I'll wear a gorgeous long veil for the ceremony and change into a dramatic, trendy fascinator for the reception? Or maybe I'll wear a fresh flower in my locks for the I-do's and slip into a sparkly head band for the party? So many gorgeous pieces and so little time! Obviously this decision will require some much needed thought...and of course a heaping dose of web-surfing! Below are a few of my absolute favorite pieces at this moment! Enjoy!

From Twigs and Honey:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From TessaKim

 

From Tatishotties

  

From portobello

 

 

So many gorgeous options! Til next time lovelies!

 

Hugs & Kisses,

A Southern Sweetheart

A snowy engagement session...or not.

Yesterday was, shall we say, quite the whirlwind. For those of you who don't know, I am a very blissfully engaged Kentucky gal, and my fiance' and I are eagerly counting down the days til our wedding this coming July! My wedding dress has arrived, the flowers have been ordered, the invitations are being printed as we speak, and the days are flying by! Planning our wedding with my sweet fiance', and loving Mother and Sister, has been an exhilarating experience. I have studied countless wedding blogs (Style Me Pretty, Wedding Chicks, and Green Wedding Shoes, you know I love you!), scoured magazines a-plenty, and rummaged through a few-too-many interior decorating stores for unique and meaningful design ideas for our big day. With about five months to go, I finally believe that our dreams are beginning to take shape, and I am absolutely brimming with excitement about it!

One of the pre-wedding tasks that I had been most looking forward to was of course, our engagement session! I mean, snuggling up to your sweetie and being a model for the day---who wouldn't love that?! Always determined to leave my personal touch on every wedding-related detail, I was determined that our engagement session would be meaningful and unique to us! After many days of brainstorming we decided that a wintry engagement session, complete with a bonfire, hot cocoa, and LOTS OF SNOW would highlight Darling Fiance's Northern Heritage (He is, in fact, a Minnesota Man) & my love of white fluff. Unfortunately for us, this winter has been one of the non-snowiest in Kentucky's history. But being a rather persistent (ok, stubborn) gal, I was confident that our snow would come, and until then, we would wait for it. Well, come it did. For a blissful 3 hours on Wednesday morning, the flakes poured down, blanketing the rolling hills of the bluegrass in a pristine layer of glistening powder. I immediately contacted our wonderful photographers, who urged us to jump at the opportunity. Elated, I immediately began assembling the props and pressing our outfits. After loading the car in a head-full of hot rollers, I rushed to apply make-up, and in a cowboy second my darling and I were on the road to our destination--the beautiful Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill. There was only one problem...the snow was melting...and fast.

By the time we arrived to the Village, there was not a flake in site. I fought back nagging thoughts of failure and negativity and instead tried to remember that this would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Darling Fiance' and I. I realized that despite the gray-washed sky, the beautiful Kentucky grass was as green as a late-summer day, and suddenly, my spirits lifted. Perhaps our pictures would still be as beautiful as I had imagined, even without the snow. From that moment, as they say, the rest was history! Darling Fiance' and I grinned, laughed, and played our way through 2 blissful hours of engagement photography. The rolling hills & the antique props seemed somehow meant for each other. But best of all, Darling Fiance's strong arms and warm smile kept me from chilling too deeply and reminded me that sometimes, even the most disappointing starts can transform into the most wonderful endings.

It was, in essence, one of the best days of my life.

A Beautiful Start

Today is the culmination of many childhood dreams...a lifelong love of literature, culture, fashion, design, family and food are finally melded together in one tangible place--A Southern Sweetheart. This blog is as much a gift to my creative right brain as it is to you, the reader. Perhaps this outlet for my creative juices will enrich your life as much as I'm hoping it will mine. Here's to a beautiful start to a lovely future!