***This is an Evite® Paid Post***
My wedding was on Valentine’s Day and I recently celebrated my 4-year anniversary. It was one of my original inspirations for starting Black Southern Belle – to showcase African American culture in the South, especially weddings. I always have a special place in my heart for the newly engaged as my now-husband and I got engaged and bought our first home in the same summer. So much of our relationship revolves around enjoying our home and making it an oasis for our family (which now includes a busy baby boy), and we took the same approach to our wedding planning.
With the insight I have from 4 years of marriage and helping brides over the years through my blog, I have partnered with Evite to give inspiration for couples who are planning their engagement shoot or wedding to create photos and memories that will last a lifetime. Evite is all about celebrating love and wants to help you do just that. Evite is hosting a photo contest and inviting newly engaged couples to share a photo of themselves for a chance to win custom digital invitations for your wedding events, from save the dates to rehearsals, and up to $1000 of Visa® Gift Cards. The custom-designed invitations (grand prize) will let you work with one of our lead designers to create your very own invitation suite for all those other wedding events you’ll have to host, like bridal showers, thank yous, etc.
To enter and submit your engagement photos click the link here. With engagments and weddings photos in mind, I created a romantic dinner party themed Weddings, Wings and Wine to give you all the inspiration you need for your engagement and wedding photos. Check out my tips below and be sure to enter the contest by March 18, 2019.
Weddings, Wings and Wine: How to Celebrate Your Love with Evite
Pick Your Favorite Pictures for Inspiration
Whether you are recently engaged or renewing your vows, it is important to have images of your love. These pictures can serve as inspiration for how you want to set up your engagement shoot by seeing your favorite places to hang out and favorite looks to wear.
Pull out the Books
I am always inspired by books and collect them. Throughout the 4 years of my marriage, my husband and I have made collecting books one of the hobbies we do together at least once a month. Check out books related to your own relationship and personal hobbies for ideas on how to take your engagement photos.
Like this invitation, ? click Click here to create and customize your own Art Deco Gasby Invite from the Premium Wedding Collection here.
Find Your Favorite Art
In addition to books, my other obsession is art. From traditional, modern and even folk art, I adore adding art to my home and have been known to bring/drag my husband to as many museums and art galleries as I can throughout the South Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry. Art also serves as a perfect starting point for creating idea boards for your engagement shoot including colors, style and even time of day.
Set the Table
Tables are meant to be used and definitely meant to be set. No matter how simple the meal, you can always go all out to celebrate your love. I used classic blue and white chinoiserie paired with rustic neutral pieces and accents of gold trimmed glassware for a traditional yet rustic style. Setting a table together is a great way to figure out your style as a couple and provides inspiration for your engagement shoot, wedding, and registry.
Have Fun with Food
My husband always says he married me because I made delicious wings which I find hilarious. To pay homage to that fact, I decided to with the theme of wings and wine. No matter what we are eating, I have to use a great table setting and I had a lot of fun playing with this casual dish for a formal table. Don’t be afraid to incorporate your personality into whatever you do for your celebration. Food is also a great way to get the man in your life to willfully participate in planning the various stages of your wedding planning. No one has more questions at a food tasting than a future husband and a father of the bride. You should be sure to include some time for snacks during your engagement shoot especially if you are shooting at multiple locations. Always remember hungry people don’t take happy pictures so bring a few snacks or even a picnic meal along.
Wine is a Must
What’s a celebration without great wine? Try a few new ones with a connection to your love including local wine from where you met or where you plan to get married. Wine can also help you relax during your engagement session especially if it one of your first times taking professional pictures together.
You have all the inspiration you need now so be sure to sign up for the contest with Evite for a chance to win custom-designed wedding invitations as well an up to $1000 VISA® Gift Card to start your wedding planning on the right foot. Upload your favorite photos of you and your fiance for a chance to win at this link here.
**Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Evite™
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Michiel is a Black Southern Belle living a lowcountry life. I love all things fashion, home decor and southern! When I am not running around doing fun stuff for Black Southern Belle, I live in antique stores and have a minor obsession with historic homes :)
