Thursday, February 25

WNOK Bridal Expo



High Cotton had the pleasure of participating in the WNOK Bridal Expo on February 21st at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. We were so excited to bring our ideas to our hometown and meet some darling brides in the process. A special thanks to Courtney J. Garrett for booth inspiration and Chocolate Butterbean {who deserves a post to themselves} for the gorgeous sign!

As a side note, the custom favors were created for the bridal show by our sister company {and soon to be formally introduced} fig and pheasant. Please e-mail carlee@figandpheasant.com with any with any questions.

Tuesday, February 23

Courtney {and} Beau



I recently styled this fabulous tablescape with inspiration from my dear friends, the amazingly talented artist Courtney J. Garrett and her equally amazing husband, author Beau Garrett . The concept behind the project was an intimate dinner party at home. At each placesetting sits a book selected by the hosts specifically for each guest with the menu card quaintly tucked into the pages. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the evening:










{p.s: the painting hanging in the background will be featured in an upcoming issue of Southern Living.}

Saturday, February 20

In High Cotton



I just received my sign from Chocolate Butterbean and couldn't be more thrilled! She will be making her debut {along with Doretha the dress form} at the Bridal Expo in Columbia this weekend!

Friday, February 12

Nice Day for a White Wedding

click to enlarge


via Style Me Pretty {and} James Christenson

Hey little sister, here's a little eye candy for your snow day: Katherine & Grant's wedding {at} Beaver Creek Chapel in Avon, Colorado. Love, love the vintage stole and the covered bridge shot...gorgeous! Now it's time to snuggle in by the fire with the husband and hot chocolate {don't forget the marshmallows!}.

Thursday, February 11

My Old Kentucky Home...


all images via Kentucky Bourbon Trail

Bourbon, bluegrass and his boys...doesn't get much better than that. Forget your pre-conceived notions of the bachelor party; this here is a man's trip. I first read about the Kentucky Bourbon Trail from this article in Southern Living and was totally inspired.



The KBT rolls along the Kentucky hills for around 60 miles and includes stops at Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve. Considering bourbon is about as Southern as bowties and banjos, so what gentlemen worth his salt wouldn't want to travel this trail? Just remember that designated driver, hear?

Monday, February 8

Let them eat cake {or a bleedin' armadillo}


via debbie does cakes

The groom's cake is oh so southern and a fabulous way to add some humor to your wedding day. Legend has it that if an unmarried lady takes a slice of this cake home and sleeps with it under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband. These cakes are the perfect way for a bride {with the help of eggs, butter, flour and sugar} to bestow upon her darling husband a yummy baked good to reflect his tastes, hobbies or sports team. Here are some of the good, bad and downright hilarious:


via auburn magazine cake by confections on the coast

Parker is so jealous of this cake {as any Auburn grad would be}...he actually demanded a groom's cake redo! Above is an edible likeness of Samford Hall on the campus of the aforementioned Auburn University. It's definitely a great way to say "War Eagle" and is quite the piece of {art}work.



via matty cakes

Why, yes, sugar that is an enormous can of PBR at your wedding reception. Not for the faint of heart bride, any good ol' boy would be proud to call this tall boy his own. I'm a big fan of over-the-top cakes and love finding bakers with sense of humor. Check out matty cakes for more fun groom's cake options.



via cake wrecks

Cake Wrecks deserves a post all to itself, however, this groom's cake, well...takes the cake. A groom obsessed with the Golden Girls {if that isn't a clue, honey...}. Where do I begin? The obvious look of anger on the bride's face as her groom canoodles on the couch with Sofia? The random "tuxedo" dipped strawberries? I, however, love the decorative cotton in the vase by the couch. If you have time to waste {and want to laugh until you tee your pants} check out the rest of what the site has to offer.

Of all the options out there, I have to say that the armadillo cake {made with red velvet, of course} is my favorite. After all, It's got gray icing, I can't even begin to think how you'd make gray icing {Steel Magnolias}.