Simply Southern

Hopefully, you attended the 2nd annual Pew Decorating Competition which was at Vulcan Park this year. Vulcan Park is an amazing setting for any event and this one, put on by P.E.W.S., was no exception! We participated in the inaugural competition last year and couldn't wait to see what was in store for 2013.

Several of Birmingham's prestigious wedding professionals showed up with their A-game to embellish a pew in one of four categories: Organics Only, Luxe, Patterns & Pantones and Simply Southern.

This year, CeCe Designs partnered with us to create a 1920s-inspired vignette in the Simply Southern category. We wanted to focus on pastel pinks and greens, pearls (a Southern staple) and silver. We accomplished our winning design with gorgeous metallic vintage suitcases, silver plated tiered trays and candelabras and dainty details like rhinestone buckles and vintage gloves and hand mirrors. We decided to go with champagne, ivory and silver for the fabric palate and we're just thrilled with how it turned out.

One of the most exciting parts of the competition is that we won! We were awarded the top spot in our category, as well as the Brides Choice award, which is just such a blessing and an honor to us. 

The online voting competition is still going on, and we'd love to be the winner of this one. Please click here and vote for our decorated pew. Christy and I appreciate your support.

If you like what you see, email us and we can work with you to create your dream wedding, from a casual, family-only event to a polished affair!

Let Them Eat Cake

Ahh, the baby trends these days! My parents were pretty good at documenting my life...considering it started in 1981 and things were much different then. I'm fairly certain there aren't any pictures of my first birthday, which was likely a family lunch with a homemade cake and a balloon or two. Quite the low-key affair compared to today's elaborate themed parties! I'm certainly not saying one way is better than the other. I see merits in a quiet and stress-free family gathering, as well as a blow-out celebration to reward yourself for making it through what I hear is an extremely challenging 12 months. Most of my friends have gone the blow-out route and I have loved seeing their creativity in action and celebrating the lives of their little ones and the joy they've brought us all in just one short year. 

Another common trend these days is the cake smash photo shoot, and I think it's such a fun idea to have a professional photographer document this event in baby's life. This post was inspired by the recent use of our natural oak high chair for a cake smash shoot and, of course, I couldn't resist adding some other beautiful shots from 

Our natural oak high chair, captured by DanielleJade Photography for little baby A's first birthday.

A precious orange Jenny Lind high chair from Darci at The Good Life Blog.

This little guy is too cute! Just lounging around in a high chair and snacking. :) Courtesy of Amy Straka Photography.

And look at this happy girl! Great job capturing those gorgeous blue eyes, Laura Sanderson. 

I'm considering painting ours a bright color, or maybe something neutral. What do you think? Should I leave it natural wood, or paint it? And if so, what color? I'd love your suggestions!