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

Go Giants!

http://products.berries.com/chocolatestrawberry/12-HandDipped-Football-Berries-40952?ref=SSSorganicgglbrand_sherry%27s+berries&prid=sbseogb&viewpos=14&trackingpgroup=SHM

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!

First of all, excuse my french, s’il vous plait.

Second of all, have you guys seen these YouTube videos? I assure you we have been working very diligently in the office. However, in between furiously typing on the computer, making phone calls and eating all of Lizz’s FUDGE covered Ritz crackers (ummmm, holy yum) that aren’t helping the future bathing suit bod (TLI?), we find ourselves taking “bathroom” breaks (more like watching-youtube-videos-breaks) from drinking too much tea, coffee and diet coke.

If you haven’t watched them, the links are below, they are a must. The videos started with Graydon Sheppard. He started a twitter, tweeted some funny things girls say and then coerced his boyfriend to make videos with him. Hes the best.

Sh*t Girls Say is a video making fun of the things us girls say all the time like, “I can’t believe I just ate all that”, “SHUT.UP.” and “First of all, ew.”. We didn’t think it could get funnier than that, then Sh*t Girls Don’t Say came along.  We’re pretty sure its even more hilarious. Our faves are, “Can I get a copy of your Nickelback CD?”, “I am SO glad I ate 6 chalupas” and “Does anyone know how to make Papyrus my default font?”.

p.s. we are so turning in our iphones for boost mobiles…

Enjoy : )

Happy Sunday! We hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather in Charleston this weekend; I dont think you can beat 70 degree weather in January!

Now that we are getting well into January, we figured we would do a blog on the top wedding trends for 2012. While every bride’s wedding is tailored to their own taste, the overall main trend for weddings in 2012 is a more formal, elegant and romantic wedding. Since the debut of the Royal Wedding, every bride has been dreaming of a romantic, elegant and feminine wedding filled with lace and sparkles. Here are a few that we think we will be seeing a lot of!

Gold. A white wedding gown will always be a symbol of tradition and elegance. However, in 2012, non-white dresses with hints of gold, nude, and champagne are going to be in. Vera Wang and Monique Lhuiller both have amazing Spring 2012 collections with golden-eque gowns that can be found at our very own local Bridal Chic Boutique, Maddison Row.

Sparkles. Okay, I know this sounds horribly tacky. But, the “sparkle” that I am talking about is far from that. It is, in fact, absolutely stunning. Adding sparkle to table accessories, flowers, cakes, invitations, dresses and even drink accessories is very “in” for 2012 and makes for a lavish, elegant wedding!

Lace. Another trend pulled from the Royal Wedding, Lace Wedding Gowns. Honestly, who didn’t love Kate’s Gown? Lace is also lovely atop table linens and any place where you want a simple, pretty detail.

Burlap. Burlap is a big trend for 2012, and for a southern, charming, rustic wedding it does wonders. It can be used as a table runner, tied around chairs, used on hors d’oeuvres trays, bouquets and even invitations.

Colors. Bright, charming colors are very in, especially for bridesmaids dresses. A simple, all white and neutral wedding can also be given a bit of southern, classy attitude with a small pop of color.

We can’t wait for all of the gracious, charming, stylish and southern weddings to come in 2012!

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

The cocktail party at Maddison Row last week could not have been anymore fabulous. The delicately decorated cupcakes by Sugar Bakeshop and the bubbly champagne went right along with the pretty, blue walls and beautiful gowns fluttering around the wedding boutique. Lindsey of Maddison Row and Allison of Bella Bridesmaid certainly have exquisite taste, and not just when it comes to throwing a party! The wedding gowns and bridesmaid dresses put on the magical runway before the cocktail party were absolutely to-die-for. Collections from Vera herself, Carolina Herrera, Monique Lhuillier, Romona Keveza and Lula Kate made me wish I was getting married. ten times over. so i could wear each dress at least once Lindsay and Allison updated everyone on the latest trends which were long draping backs, lots and lots of lace, full, very full-elegant trains, and a touch of champagne. Aside from Lindsey and Allison’s knowledge on fashion, they are beyond wonderful to work with and the atmosphere at Maddison Row cannot be anymore desirable for a bride-to-be. After stepping foot into Maddison Row, or even just peaking inside from the window, no bride would ever imagine exploring the scary, knock-off infested cyber world. There is nothing worse than 1. receiving a wedding gown in a cardboard box 2. receiving a wedding gown that is a fake 3. receiving a wedding gown that doesn’t fit and 4. missing out on the whole wedding boutique experience. More importantly, there is nothing more special than a warm, whimsical, fashionable and fun atmosphere to pick out the perfect dress for your special day. Be sure to check out the video on The Wedding Row of the Maddison Row Bella Bridesmaid fashion show!

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/

A pic from Richard Ellis that we just pinned from a wedding on 10/1/11

Our new obsession with Pinterest is getting out of hand! I can’t ignore my children during the Holidays so that I can “pin it” for hours….which I can see becoming an issue and FAST!

But seriously, being in our field and  being able to create design boards that can so easily be accessed and added to by our clients is amazing! So after sending a million emails this morning I told Sara I was going to start adding to my Southern Protocol board on my Pinterest… go follow me & check out some of our favorite work from the past few years.

We were excited to receive an email from talented Southern humor writer Lucy Adams a few weeks back, asking us to help spread the word about her newest snarky vignette-centered book. We were more than happy to help promote a fellow Southern writer! Read below for an inside peek at Lucy’s impressive resume (wahoo, another Georgia grad!) and a brief synopsis of her newest book!

“Mother of four, wife of one, teacher of many, writer of sorts, some days self-critical to the point of paralysis, bossy since birth, Lucy Adams trudges through life wanting a pool in her backyard so badly she can see the chlorine rainbows around the streetlights. Sometimes she wakes up in the morning thinking only of getting back in bed at night.

Her home is well organized. Everything has a place on the floor where she can easily find it, or die tripping over it.

She’s played taps for hundreds of withered houseplants.

Lucy Adams earned a B.S.Ed. in education from the University of Georgia, an M.S. in experimental psychology from Augusta State University, a graduate certificate of gerontology from UGA, and completed all of the classes, but none of the dissertation (ironically), toward a Ph.D in developmental psychology (also at UGA).

Lucy began writing professionally in 2033, when she talked her way into a weekly newspaper column in a local paper. From that, Lucy’s first book, If Mama Don’t Laugh, It Ain’t Funny, spun off in 2007. The publication of If Mama resulted in gaining her freelance work for magazines. In January 2011, her second book, Tuck Your Skirt in Your Panties and Run, was released. Both books were published by Palm Tree Press.

Ever laughed when you knew you shouldn’t? Battled with Satan over chocolate? Forgotten to wear lipstick to the Garden Club meeting? Tried to define variorium? At times like these, what else can you do but Tuck Your Skirt in Your Panties and Run?

In her much awaited second book, Lucy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride through life’s most embarrasing moments and delivers them safely on the other side. In her usual form, Adams gives readers an eye-watering, nose-snorting, giggling gift of a good time.

Join a 40 year-old bridesmaid on her journey to walk down the aisle, delve into a magnolia massacre, attend a hawg killin’ with the communists, do some island living country style, and inflict vicarious revenge on the inventor of the balloon. Adams’s wit will make you turn around and check your own underwear. Best of all we each can relax in the realization that we’re not the only ones running with our skirts tucked into our panties.”

I think we definitely all need a lighthearted, relatable read every now and then – especially during this busy time of year! Definitely check out the Southern treat asap.

Today marks the final day of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week up in New York – amidst the beginnings of a busy wedding season fall here in Charleston, we’ve been doing our best to keep up with our favorite designers’ shows that have been rocking Lincoln Center all week. How ah-mazing is it that you can watch half of these shows live now?! I’ll be the first to admit that I’d obviously rather be sitting front row in between editors and Rachel Zoes, but to be able to see the collections simultaneously with all the fashion industry bigwigs is pretty fabulous. Thank you, technology!

Of course the show i was most anxiously anticipating was Milly, who took to the tents yesterday afternoon. Michelle Smith’s twists on preppy-chic and lovely patterns never disappoint… so imagine how thrilled I was to see that the first looks down the runway had colors that perfectly match some of our spring weddings! While whites, champagnes, pale pinks and greens will forever be wedding staples, we’re seeing a lot of bright spots next year – browns with deep and pale blues, bright pinks with oranges and yellows.. so how wonderful to see it all in a wardrobe, along with some great geometric patterns that are sure to be used as inspiration for many a-table runner.

Just like we always say – a bride’s color pallet should take a cue from her wardrobe; it’s what you’re most comfortable with, and what looks best with you and your personality! Needless to say we have a lot of Milly-esque brides for the coming year.. lucky us! Check out the full collection on Style.com!

Nothing is better than having an easy dinner recipe that you can go to again and again – one that looks impressive, and tastes even better! That’s what I’ve found in this DELICIOUS Linguine with Avocado and Arugula Pesto. What’s even better, is that the recipe makes so much of the pesto – meaning you can use it as a dip, a sandwich spread, or even on a toasted crostini (which we did for a girls’ night the other week. Just add some diced tomatoes on top! Festive!)

The fresh, creamy avocado paired with the spicy bite of arugula is amazing, and good for you, too!

Linguine with Avocado and Arugula Pesto (courtesy of Giada diLaurentiis, serves 4)

1 pound linguine pasta
2 medium avocados, halved, peeled and seeded
3 cups baby arugula (you can always use baby spinach, too!)
1 packed cup fresh basil leaves
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
Big drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

To toast the almonds: arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and toast for 6-8 minutes or until lightly toasted. Let cool before using.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water. Place in a serving bowl.

Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh of the avocados and place in a food processor. Add the arugula,basil, lime juice, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.

Pour the pesto over the pasta and toss together. Add the cheese and almonds and toss together until coated, adding pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.

Enjoy!