Southern Protocol

Everyone loves Vera, how could you not? Did you see Sofia Vergara in that dress at the Golden Globes? To Die For. And after following her on Twitter (follow @VeraWangGang) and drooling over her new line, we love her even more! If thats possible. And she loves chocolate, cake andd donuts.

Vera’s Spring 2012 line is so amazingly gorgeous (don’t forget you can your own Vera dress right here in Charleston at Maddison Row!). Our favorites are the Gemma ( strapless sweetheart mermaid gown with asymmetrically beaded bodice and cut organza blossom hem with blizzard beading ), the Genevieve ( modified mermaid strapless sweetheart gown with asymmetrically draped peplum bodice and multi-tiered back over-skirt with horse hair bias trim ), the Georgina ( Strapless mermaid gown with fusions of shadow and chantilly lace and multi-tiered tulle skirt with cascading bias horsehair trim ) and the Ghillian ( Strapless sweetheart full a-line gown with asymmetrically draped drop–waist bodice and chrysanthemum organza blossom skirt ). We actually absolutely love all of them and it took forever to narrow it down to only these four!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous week so far

So February is just around the corner, can you believe that?! I feel like it was just yesterday that we were all drinking our bubbly at the fabulous end-of-the-year sweets and champagne party. And with February a week away, we are getting so close to our 2012 weddings to begin and one of the first holidays of the year…. Valentine’s Day! So to prepare for this loooovely holiday (hehe), and the fact it’s a Tuesday morning in the office, I have found some delectable drinks to share with you.

Ok so maybe I didn’t find these… Pinterest may have helped a little… but here we go:

Pink Champagne Cocktails

One bottle pink champagne

200 ml bottle Limoncello (suggested 120ml all up)

2 tblspns pink sugar

Place pink sugar on small plate.  Wet edges of champagne glasses under tap then dip in pink sugar.

Fill champagne flutes with 1/4 Limoncello then fill the rest with champagne.  Serves around 10.

White Sangria with Pomegranate

1 bottle white wine

3 cans 7up or sprite

Grand Marnier (just a few ounces)

Seeds of 1 pomegranate

Slices of 2 limes

Ice

Pour all the ingredients into a punch bowl and wait for the seeds to float- then enjoy!

I know its already the fifth (?!) but, Happy New Year to everyone! Thank you, everyone, so much for such a wonderful year, we truly could not have done it without you. We had such a blast at the Bubbles and Sweets party (filled with champagne, lemon bars, chocolate truffles, red velvet cupcakes, cheesecake bites and mini molten chocolate cakes – YUM!) and having all of you there only reminded us of how lucky we are to work with you all.

Things are already super busy here in the Southern Protocol office and we are so ready to make 2012 the best yet! We wish everyone a happy, healthy and fun 2012

So, I, (Alexa) am only a new addition here at Southern Protocol, but I am already well-aware of how busy Lizz and Sara are with working on their beautiful weddings!  As a result, I was put to work on the Southern Protocol Facebook page, only to find myself day dreaming about each and every wedding I was given to look through!  After only a few hours, I am in love with all of the venues, cakes, lighting, dresses, flowers, delicious, saliva-inducing food, and of course,  the lovely brides.   This cake by WildFlour Pastry is one of my absolute favorites, isn’t it just to-die-for?  I  think so too You will have to check out some more of Lizz and Sara’s fabulous weddings on the Southern Protocol Facebook page, yes it is updated, and I assure you, with all of the wonderful photographers Southern Protocol has to work with, combined with the luscious tastes of the brides Lizz and Sara get to work with, you will not be disappointed!

We love R. Nichols here at Southern Protocol. Starting his tiny collection of stationary in his parent’s windowless basement and taking it to Barney’s, Neiman’s, and Gump’s only makes him someone to admire. And how adorable are these Holiday Bridge Note Cards from R. Nichols? They are blank inside but, not only will R. Nichols print a personalized greeting on the inside, but you can also have the cards personalized with your name or initials–very holiday-preppy might I add. Love the traveling cars topped with Christmas trees (you can picture it as a Griswold-esque National Lampoon’s Vacation or a picturesque White Christmas) and how perfect would it be to say the bridge being traveled is the one right here in Charleston? The Cooper River Bridge is,of course, what R. Nichols was trying to depict

Meet our fabulous new intern Alexa Wyatt, she is a graduate of Furman, and chose us over law school… we couldn’t be more thrilled to have her in the office…she’s already been busy updating our facebook page (we know, we know…it really needed it!) So, say “Hi” to Alexa when you see her out and about, and check out the facebook page- lots of great new pictures.

Check out Sara’s bride Katie and this classic Southern stunner at Summerall Chapel and The Old Exchange featured on EAD today!

http://www.elizabethannedesigns.com/blog/2011/12/02/classic-navy-pink-charleston-wedding/

I’m sure you all are familiar with 27 Dresses, where Katherine Heigel was a long-time bridesmaid left with 27 dresses she did not want. For those of you who fit this category and you have been a bridesmaid 20 times, and are left with 20 dresses you only wore once, there is a new service for you! NewlyMaid, an online store, will take your old bridesmaid, mother of the bride, special occassion, and prom dresses and let you exchange them for a new little black dress! And ladies, as a stylish, southern woman,  you can never have too many little black dresses. It’s so easy to do, just create a NewlyMaid account, apply for a pre-paid shipping label to send in your old dress, and then they give you a credit for the online store to buy a new little black dress. The dresses sent in to NewlyMaid are repurposed to make the little black dresses they offer or they are donated to charity. Go get yourself a new black dress; you don’t have any excuses not to!

Congrats to Della for birthing what is the equivalent of a big giant baby….”Smitten, The Look Book of Wedding Fancy” is finally here….There are some amazing features inside…and we are proud to have been a part of the premier issue- please check out the Chelsea & Ryan feature….I think you will recognize the talented people who put that shindig together!

Kayce Hughes, a working mom of seven, was most rcently featured in Southern Living, for her precious clothing lines for children and women. This line has the cutest fashions for fall; perfect for that first day of school! Kayce’s business began shortly after she fell in love with making dresses for her own girls out of vintage fabrics. She thought the little girls dresses were so cute she began to make them in womens’ sizes for herself! Her initial line for children, Pears and Bears, was widely successful, but in 2007 she decided to expand the business to include women’s apparel and accessories, a flower girl line, and gifts and layette collection. She hopes in the future to add a home and mens’ line. The dress below was in featured in Southern Living as the perfect fall dress! Pair it with a pair of boots and go run errands or pick up the kids from school! Check out the Kayce Hughes site for more fall styles like this.!

Oh my sweet satisfaction! With every bite of Ashley’s YesUmay cookies, you taste the perfect combination of sweet and salty. It’s impossible to have just one! Not only does she bake mouth watering sugar cookies but she can make anything from buzz lightyear cookies to cookies shaped and decorated like your wedding cake. It is the perfect gift to take home after a wedding or as a dessert bar along with your cake. Next time you are in Mount Pleasant, do not pass her cute shop without going in and tasting a few of her creations.

Attention all Fashionistas! Check out the fabulous fashion happenings!

Hampden Clothing is hosting a Current/Elliott Trunk Show this Thursday and Friday, July 28 and 29! Stop by to check out the coveted fall styles, including colored denim skinny jeans and cut-off shorts, high-waisted and bell bottom denim styles, but most desired of all…the Leopard Stiletto featured on Style.com. Julia from Current/Elliott will be at Hampden Clothing to offer style advice and denim expertise, so drop by, grab a drink, and try on some jeans!

After you stop by Hampden Clothing, shoot on over to the Third Semiannual Sale Soiree! Its July 28 from 7 to 10pm at the Memminger Auditorium. Tickets are $10 in advance, and all proceeds go to People Against Rape. The Groove Junkies and the Thunder Kings are providing hoppin’ shoppin’ tunes. Many local retailers are participating…including Finicky Filly, Sally Bettes Resort Shop, Stella Nova and Stella Dot (see website for more!) This event is a great way to shop for a cause and see what’s new and trendy in the Charleston fashion scene!

And…what you all have been waiting for…a J Crew Outlet at the Tanger Outlet center in Charleston! It opens tomorrow, July 26! Be sure to check it out!

Football season is quickly approaching! Tired of the same old game day outfits from the same old collegiate stores? Check out this REALLY cute new line from Dress For the Game! Finally a boutique that has exactly what you are looking for- and for a great price! As soon as we heard about this website the office turned into a warzone with Lizz chanting “War Eagle!” and Sara chanting ” GO Dogs!”

Happy shopping!!

Southern Protocol has gotten oodles of love today in the blog world, and we’re just over the moon about it! We are so lucky to have the best brides (and grooms!) in the world, so whenever one of our weddings is featured there’s happy campers all around.

Which is why our day got off to a fabulous start in the office when Katie and Nathan’s May 1st backyard garden wedding was front and center on the Southern Weddings blog! Katie and Nate are the perfect example of why we love what we do: fun to be around, great taste, wonderful family, and so beyond in love with each other.

Katie was actually featured on Southern Weddings’ blog a few months back, as their “Bride of the Month”, after her engagement shoot. After seeing all the vintage and heartfelt details that were poured into her actual wedding (and so marvelously captured by Jessica and Joey at Veil and Bow), it’s a no brainer that they wanted to feature the finished product!

Katie and Nate tied the knot at a private house on Montagu Street in downtown Charleston, adding intimacy and Holy City beauty to the evening. There’s something so special about small weddings; everyone right up front for their ceremony on the grass, mingling on the three-story wrap around porch during cocktail hour, and chatting all through dinner over antique mirrors, lace pillar candles, and gorgeous, fluffy flowers in pale pinks and ivories. Oh – and that all happened under picture-perfect bulb lights; a must for any garden party!

Click here to see Part I of their feature, and here for Part II. Congratulations again to one of our favorite couples ever – we hope your first two months (can you believe it??) of marriage have been pure bliss!

And because we couldn’t have done this without all of our fabulous vendors, a quick shout out to them, too!:
Catering: Crazy Dutchman
Pie Bar: Wild Flour Pastry
Cake: The Cake Stand
Flowers: Stems
DJ: Silverman Sound
Photography: Veil and Bow
Videography: Life Stage Films

Makeup: Pamela Lesch
Hair: Affair Hair by Tanesha
Invitations: Studio-R

Lighting: AV Connections