That Perfect Wedding—Southern Style!
By Lynnette Austin
In the South, we take our weddings seriously—which
doesn’t mean we don’t have fun with them. While writing theMagnolia Brides series,
I’ve immersed myself in all things wedding and called it work. Honestly
now, could anything be more enjoyable?
So. A Southern wedding. Those three words conjure up
elegance and grace, live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, magnolias and
camellias. Even more, though, those words imply tradition. Sometimes, however,
its tradition with an edge. Whimsical boutonnieres and bouquets made of cotton
bolls.
If you’re a Southern bride, remember that this is your wedding.
It’s not your mama’s (although her input is invaluable) or your
future mother-in-law’s (but do consider how many years you’ll sit with her at
Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas brunch before you nix her every suggestion).
It’s not Meemaw Birdie’s or Aunt Tilda’s wedding. It’s…ahem…barely the groom’s.
The wedding can take two very different paths, formal
or informal. It’s so much more fun and memorable, though, when elements of both
are included. Regardless of which the bride chooses—and, again, let’s
acknowledge right up front, it’s the bride, not the groom who steers the
wedding ship—there are essentials that have to be included.
The venue is the wedding’s foundation. In my Magnolia
Brides books, Magnolia House, a beautiful and painstakingly restored
antebellum home, is the perfect site for formal indoor weddings, while its rose
garden and sweeping lawn host the informal ceremonies. There’s even a rustic
barn for those who want to go that route.
Yes, I know, outdoor weddings in the South means hot,
hot, hot and humid along with the possibility of torrential summer rain. But
aren’t those live oaks dripping with Spanish moss worth it? If you do decide on
an outside affair, tents large enough to accommodate that dance floor are an
absolute necessity…along with a backup plan.
Here are a few more
quickies to remember for that perfect Southern wedding:
1. Problematic
relatives. Put someone in charge of Uncle Harry if you know he’ll drink too
much and start pinching butts.
2. Beverages.
You have wonderful choices to fit every taste. In fact, it should be
downright illegal not to include sweet tea, lemonade, and Coca-cola. Mint
juleps and bourbon. And speaking of bourbon… Don’t forget the tradition of
burying a full bottle of it upside down exactly one month before your big day.
Where? At your wedding venue. Why? To ward off that rain we talked about earlier.
3. Mason jars
(unless you’ve chosen to go formal). Use them for centerpieces, candle holders,
mini-dessert dishes, and beverage cups. In the South, Mason jars are a must.
4. Attendants.
The only thing you need to remember here is that the more, the better!
5. Did I
mention pearls? A woman simply cannot get married without her pearls.
Or her meemaw’s pearls. Often they’ll be your something old or maybe
that’s your engagement ring, the one that’s been passed down over generations.
Again, traditions. For your something blue? Why not try blue polish on your
toenails? Remember, this day should be fun!
6. Food. I
can’t even go there today because, in the South, food is revered. I’ll need to
come back another day to talk with you about that. Let’s just say
that besides the cake, you must have cheese straws. Period. If you’ve never
tasted them, you’re in for a real treat.
I could go on and on. A Southern wedding is a thing of
beauty. While paying homage to the past, it shepherds in the future,
celebrating it and promising years of happiness. Most of all, a wedding, when
done right, is personal and reflects who the bride and groom are,
both individually and as a couple.
P.S. In case you’re curious about those cheese straws,
here’s a very simple recipe so you can make your own. Cheers!
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 pound block cheese, shredded—use sharp Cheddar (If
you’re feeling lazy or just short on time, go ahead and use the pre-shredded in
a package. I won’t tell.)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 to 2 teaspoons ground red pepper or ¼ teaspoon
cayenne pepper (Don’t use both, though.)
1/2 teaspoon paprika
4 cups all-purpose flour
Preparation:
Beat the first five ingredients at medium speed until
blended. Gradually add flour, beating just until combined.
You have two ways to go from here, depending on how
fancy you want them to look.
You want pretty? Then use a cookie press with a
star-shaped disk to shape mixture into long ribbons on parchment paper-lined
baking sheets. Cut the ribbons into 2-inch pieces.
Plain is okay? Turn the dough onto a lightly floured
surface. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough into a rectangle about ½ inch
thick. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the dough into strips, then cut
those into 2-inch pieces.
Bake at 350° for 12 minutes or until lightly browned.
Remove to wire racks to cool.
Every Bride Has Her Day by Lynnette Austin
Magnolia
Brides, Book 2
ISBN:
9781492618003
Release
Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher:
Sourcebooks Casablanca
About
the Book
CAN
LOVE REVIVE A WILTING HEART?
Cricket
O’Malley can’t wait to plant roots back home in Georgia, where she’s returned
to restore an abandoned flower shop to its former glory. The only blemish? Her neighbor’s
house is even more neglected than her old flower shop, and its
occupant seems as surly as he is darkly handsome.
Devastated
body and soul after a tough case went south, New York City detective Sam DeLuca
thought he’d have no trouble finding solitude in the quiet Georgia town of
Misty Bottoms, but his bubbly neighbor seems determined to shine happiness into
Sam’s life. Sam is equally determined to close himself off, but his heart says
otherwise…
Buy the
Book
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1ZS3QsB
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& Noble: http://bit.ly/21XD0yF
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Books
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Bound: http://bit.ly/1RS7LWk
About the Author
The
luxury of staying home when the weather turns nasty, of working in PJs and bare
feet, and the fact that daydreaming is not only permissible but encouraged, are
a few of the reasons middle school teacher Lynnette Austin gave
up the classroom to write full-time. Lynnette grew up in
Pennsylvania’s Alleghany Mountains, moved to Upstate New York, then to the
Rockies in Wyoming. Presently she and her husband divide their time
between Southwest Florida’s beaches and Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
A
finalist in RWA's Golden Heart Contest, PASIC's Book of Your Heart Contest, and
Georgia Romance Writers' Maggie Contest, she’s published five books as Lynnette Hallberg.
She’s currently writing as Lynnette Austin. Having grown up in a
small town, that’s where her heart takes her—to those quirky
small towns where everybody knows everybody...and all their business, for
better or worse. Visit Lynnette atwww.authorlynnetteaustin.com.
Connect with Lynnette
Website: http://www.authorlynnetteaustin.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynnettAustin
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/romwriter/
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