Southern weddings are always fun. ‘Grace’ and ‘elegance’ are the two words that describe these weddings so well. Southern weddings are known for being rich in grace, style, and tradition. Rustic Southern weddings are sure shot blasts, and you cannot deny it! If you’re planning to host a unique wedding, then trust that Southern Wedding is the type you should give a shot to.
Whether you’re planning to host a Southern wedding or want to incorporate some elements of Southern wedding traditions into your wedding, this is the post for you.
In this post, we are sharing 16 gorgeous Southern wedding ideas to get some inspiration from. Incorporating these time-honoured customs into your wedding ceremony will help you create a one-of-a-kind experience for all.
Here is our list of 15+ wedding ideas to host a mesmerizing Southern wedding. Take a look…
1. Go by rules
Southern weddings are all about customs and traditions. If you really want to give your wedding a real Southern feel, then try to follow the traditions that make them special and unique. Whether it’s about burying bourbon a few days before the wedding or arranging for a groom’s cake, everything matters. Even your guests would love to be part of a Southern-style wedding. Make sure to gather some information about the wedding traditions of South in advance. You have the option to host a proper Southern wedding or incorporate some of its elements into your wedding. It’s totally up to you how you want your wedding to be!
2. Select a spectacular outdoor venue
It has been a time-honoured custom for brides and grooms who are tying the knot in the South to hold the entire wedding event, including the reception the ceremony, and the party, outside. And it makes absolute sense because the Southern cities are known for their picture-perfect outdoor settings. You get everything from mesmerizing moss-draped trees to beautiful vistas to host a memorable wedding.
You can host your outdoor wedding anywhere, from a garden to a floral-filled field. You need not break the bank in order to host a gorgeous Southern wedding. Choose a venue with a dignified appearance and elements that appeal to your styles, such as the colours, the scenery, and the architecture.
Selecting the appropriate time of year is also crucial in order to have a successful wedding celebration in the South. Usually, spring, summer, and early fall is considered the best month for hosting an outdoor Southern wedding. It is because flowers and leaves are at their most vibrant and colourful during these seasons, making them the best time for hosting a breathtaking outdoor wedding.
3. Create enchanting wedding invites
The idea of hosting a Southern wedding itself brings a smile to people’s faces. As said earlier, these weddings are elegant and graceful. Even your wedding invite should reflect your elegant style. Make sure to add some fun elements, appealing images, and romantic tones to make your invite enchanting. You can create a mesmerizing wedding invite online. There are numerous online tools that let you create stunning wedding invites. They provide you with multiple templates to choose from. Make sure to choose the one that fits your style and reflects your wedding theme perfectly.
4. Style with parasols
Parasols are light umbrellas that are used in Southern weddings. More often than not, these umbrellas are used to get protection from the scorching heat of the sun in the South. However, you can have ultra-feminine parasols for yourself and your bridesmaids to carry down the aisle during the wedding ceremony to add a Southern flair to your wedding. In addition, this Southern wedding element serves as a great prop for amazing wedding pictures.
5. Luncheon for the Bride-to-Be
Luncheon for the bride-to-be is a MUST-DO Southern wedding tradition when it comes to the wedding preparations of Southern brides. Usually, the luncheon is organized the day before the wedding and is attended by the bride, bridesmaids, close friends, and family members. Usually, the luncheon is organized by the mother of the bride or the maid of honour. In some cases, even the bride can also organize this pre-wedding ceremony. This takes place in the afternoon before the wedding day. It includes a brunch or lunch menu, along with some desserts and light beverages. This pre-wedding ritual is a great way to unwind before the D-Day. Also, the bride-to-be can use this ritual to express gratitude to those people who have assisted her in her wedding preparations.
Image Source: L Hong To Rtai
6. Bury the Bourbon
If you want to host a Southern wedding, then it is one of the most popular customs of the South. It is said that burying a bottle of Bourbon upside down exactly a month before the wedding to make sure it doesn’t rain on the big day. A bottle of bourbon is buried in an inverted position at the reception location before the wedding begins by the happy couple. Make sure it is a bourbon bottle, and you bury it exactly one month before the date of the wedding. You’ll surely cherish the whole thing for sure.
Image Source: Pursell Farms
7. Pulls on the cake
In this tradition, some ribbon-attached symbolic charms are baked into the bottom layer of the wedding cake, leaving some ribbon hanging out.
Bridesmaids and single women can choose one ribbon and pull it out at the reception. The charm attached to it is a message for that bridesmaid. You can choose to hang charms of any kind, from heart to four-leaf clover. All of these charms represent a special message. For instance, the heart charm signifies love. Incorporating this into your wedding will help you keep your guests engaged and entertained.
8. Go with oversized bouquets
Bridal bouquets play a crucial role in a Southern wedding. Southern-inspired wedding florals are lush, colourful, and never fail to create a statement. You can select statement-making florals, from peonies to big roses, hydrangeas to gardenias, for bridal bouquets and centerpieces.
The use of large flowers is pretty common in the South. Large flowers can make any event venue feel more dramatic and magnificent. Ask your florist to create a signature bridal bouquet using large flowers. You can select some unusual colour combinations and exotic accessories to add some pizzazz to your bridal bouquet. You can even make use of large flowers to create a focal point at the wedding reception that everyone at the party will adore.
9. Southern-themed food
Southern wedding without Southern cuisine is just incomplete. Make sure to add traditional dishes from the South to give your guests a more traditional experience. Fortunately for everyone, Southern cuisine makes for some of the tastiest and most crowd-pleasing food options for wedding receptions.
When it comes to Southern wedding menu, you can expect to see a variety of substantial Southern favourites, such as prawns, grits, barbecued ribs, roasted oysters, fried chicken, and macaroni and cheese. Make sure to choose the right catering companies that focus on providing classic Southern food. Also, don’t forget to add Southern-style cakes and desserts to the menu. Southern delicacies, especially cakes and desserts, are known for their opulence and richness. Your guests would definitely love to savour these sumptuous treats from the South.
Southern couples love to serve buffet-style dinners as they want their guests to mingle and keep the celebration going.
If you have ever attended a Southern-style wedding, you must have noticed the abundance of mason jars at the wedding. More often than not, Southern couples reuse and repurpose items for their wedding decorations, and a mason jar is one of those items. Southerners love using mason jars for a lot of things at the wedding. The use of mason jars is not just limited to serving drinks in the South. Southern couples love to make use the mason jars as centrepieces, vases, or as candle votive holders.
11. Impress your guests with sweet tea
It’s a MUST to serve beverages that are quintessentially Southern in nature for a proper Southern wedding. Sweet tea is an absolute necessity for a traditional Southern wedding. Give your wedding guests a warm welcome with a sweet tea. It is one of the most popular Southern beverages that will not only satisfy your guests’ thirst but will also add pizzazz to your wedding celebration. Other beverages that you can try incorporating at your Southern wedding including Coca-Cola, Milk Punch, Iced Tea, Hurricane, Mint Juleps, and Plain Bourbon. Some of the Southern beverages, such as sweet tea and Coca-Cola, are great options for your young guests.
12. Wedding favours
Party favours are probably the last thing on your mind if you’re in the midst of wedding planning. However, it is customary to provide guests with a token of appreciation. Wedding favours are a great way to say “thank you” to all your guests for making time for your Big Day. Also, wedding favours make for great keepsakes. Your guests will have something to keep in mind as they recall that fantastic day! Make sure to opt for a thoughtful wedding favour that your guests can use.
Image Source: Pinterest
When it comes to Southern wedding favours, you have a multitude of budget-friendly options that your guests will adore. You can have made-to-order chocolates in the wedding colours and have them wrapped. Your guests will appreciate having some chocolate to snack on as they travel.
Aside from that, Sweet Tea kit is a great option to consider. Sweet tea is a popular Southern beverage. You can DIY sweet tea kits at home and give them to your guests as wedding favours. All you have to do is to take a mason jar, place multiple tea bags in it, and close the lid. Decorate the jar with a jute rope or a ribbon. What else could be better than a sweet tea kit for your wedding guests? They will love to reminisce with a cup of sweet tea about how much fun they had at your wedding.
Aside from these, you can consider giving customized candles, customized candies, etc., as wedding favour so that your guests have something to talk about your wedding even after it is over.
13. Groom’s cake
The groom’s cake is a traditional part of a Southern wedding. Brides can take advantage of this tradition and can leave a lasting impression on their husbands by creating a unique cake for the reception that reflects their character, passions, and skills. You can get a groom’s cake made in any shape, from his favourite musical instrument to his favourite car.
14. Wedding attire
Southern wedding dresses are elegant and opulent. Choose a wedding attire that makes you feel YOU! You have the option to choose a ballgown or an A-line dress for your wedding. Choose the gown that flatters your body type and makes you feel as lovely as you are!
Image Source: salelesov.life
15. Wedding décor
You can make the best use of trees and nature when it comes to Southern wedding décor. Southern-style weddings are usually held outdoors. You can choose an outdoor with beautiful backdrops. You can even make use of large flowers; and magnolia leaves to create one-of-a-kind wedding décor.
16. Don’t miss the bridal session
A bridal portrait session is yet another time-honoured Southern wedding tradition. It takes place a month or two before the wedding. It focuses solely on taking pictures of the bride-to-be in her wedding gown. Traditionally, these photos were printed and displayed at the wedding reception. So, if you’re keen to add some of the best elements of a Southern wedding to your big day, then a bridal session is one of them. This will give you a clear picture of how you will look on your BIG DAY!
Wrapping it up…
So, these are the 16 Southern wedding ideas that you can try incorporating into your wedding. Southern weddings are full of traditions and customs. Adding elements from the southern wedding will make you create a truly remarkable wedding. You can choose to host a complete Southern-style wedding or add some of the elements from the South into your wedding. All you have to do is gather all the required information and plan ahead to obtain the unique supplies that will be required to give your wedding a perfect Southern touch!
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