How to have the perfect wedding

The forecast in Knoxville today was dark and rainy. We woke up to cloudy skies, which aren't that unusual for a Saturday in late April. The fourth Saturday in April is significant for me because two years ago on a Saturday just like today, my southern beau and I said our wedding vows in front of a crowd of our nearest and dearest people.

Weddings are special no matter who it is, but for us, after dating as long as we did (eleven years!), it felt like something we'd been waiting to happen for so long.

Just like today, on that fourth Saturday in April two years ago, we also woke up to cloudy skies and even some serious storm warnings. I know you can't control the weather, but nobody dreams of a dreary, stormy day for her wedding. I was already feeling those wedding day jitters. It wasn't cold feet, just a bit of anxiety because there were so many unknowns. It's not like we could really anticipate every little thing and even though we'd rehearsed the night before, there were still so many moving parts to the event.

I haven't written much about our wedding here on the blog, which was kind of a surprise I guess, even to me. I figured that the wedding festivities would give me lots of good material. Perhaps I just got caught up in all of it and wasn't able to process everything that was happening at the time. Two years later, I'm more able to look back on it.

I know it sounds trite and is the worst of all cliches, but my wedding was perfect. Seriously. I mean sure there are a few small things I wish had been different. But not many.

I wish my closest college friend Christina had been able to attend, but she was unable to travel because of complications with her pregnancy. Thankfully she's now the mom of a beautiful little boy so it all worked out, but she was so missed. I wish my paternal grandparents had been there. Health issues and some other complicated things kept them from attending, but ultimately I understood the situation. And I wish my husband and I had taken one good photo with the gorgeous 1958 Rolls Royce my parents got for us to leave the church in, but alas that was not meant to be.

I'm sure there were other tiny hiccups I can't remember. But there were so many wonderful things about it, it was sort of like a dream. I don't know what I did to deserve such a truly special, incredible day.

So maybe you're planning a wedding of your own. Or helping someone you love plan theirs. I can't make any promises, but here are my best tips to make it practically perfect.

Choose a venue that has significance for you, not because it's the fanciest or the most popular. Our ceremony was held at a beautiful old church, rich with history and nestled into the countryside. Our reception took place at an amazing venue nearby and it just so happens to be operated by dear friends. They took care of every detail, down to the absolutely perfect flowers and made from scratch tomato sandwiches.

Don't make your bridesmaids/groomsmen wear ridiculous clothing. We've all been in a wedding where we were forced to wear something that was just awful. Don't be that person. Nobody really cares what those people are wearing. Let them be comfortable in a style that flatters them.

When it comes to cake, buttercream is the name of the game. I know, I know, fondant is beautiful. But don't you want your guests to enjoy the cake too? I'm something of a cake snob and I am convinced that not only is buttercream more delicious but it's actually prettier too. My cake was perfect. Beautiful and delicious. My design inspiration? This cake. I mean, go big or go home, right?

Don't waste time and money on wedding favors that people will end up throwing away. When my maternal grandparents got married in 1957, they didn't have a reception but ended up stopping on the way to their honeymoon for a dinner of Dr. Pepper and fried pies. In honor of them, we gave our guests homemade fried pies as favors. They went fast and I didn't hear anything except rave reviews.

Surround yourself with people you love, who love you. I think part of what made my wedding feel so wonderful is that it was truly a celebration of all the people who have loved me in my life. Who have supported me and cheered me on through so many stages. And my husband too. Don't feel compelled to invite a bunch of people because you feel like you should. 

Spring for the wedding video. Yes, if you get a fancy videographer, it's expensive. This isn't an option for everybody. I get that. But no matter what your budget is, find some way to document your day on video. You will love your photos forever, but there's just something about having footage of the day that I promise you will treasure. I wasn't going to do it until I saw a wedding video for a friend of mine from elementary school. In just a few short minutes, her video captured the essence of the day and was a beautiful memento, especially for those folks who weren't able to attend.

Marry the right person. As I type these words, it's storming in Knoxville. Unlike my perfect day two years, the sky today has not turned blue, sunny and cloudless. But tucked safely in our little house, while I sit here typing on the computer, my husband and our two dogs are napping nearby.

Unlike our wedding day, these past two years have been far from perfect. I don't even think we've had one perfect day out of these past 730, although the second year of marriage has been better than the first. Hopefully each year after will be better than the last. It helps me enjoy the present and look forward to the future.

But we're in it to win it. True blue, stuck like glue. Better than enything (I know it's misspelled...it's an inside joke). This is a decision we both made and that's that. It has nothing to do with our wedding. That was just the buttercream icing on the giant cake.

*All photos courtesy Zach & Sarah Photography - an awesome couple who helped capture our day. *

Southern Celebrations: How to Host a Mardi Gras Party

Mardi Gras is such a festive time, but not all of us can traipse to New Orleans (or anywhere) to take part in the official celebrations. It's still possible to enjoy the festivities, by throwing your own Mardi Gras party for family and friends.

I shared some tips for a DIY Mardi Gras party on Knoxville's WTNZ Fox43 and I wanted to share them with you as well!

The central focus of any good party is always the food, right? My idea for a DIY Mardi Gras celebration is to set up a make-your-own grits bar. It's sort of like a hot fudge sundae bar, except with grits. The best thing about grits (besides their being tasty) is they are affordable. You can make up a whole mess of grits without spending much money.

Then, gather a variety of different toppings and let your guests go to town!

Possible topping options for a Mardi Gras grits bar include:

• Shrimp
• corn
• feta cheese
• roasted red peppers
• sun-dried tomatoes
• sauteed spinach
• chives or chopped onions
• creme fraiche 
• andouille sausauge
• jalapeno peppers  
• chow chow, relish, etc.

Other food to serve for a Mardi Gras party might be anything and everything that is local to New Orleans or Louisiana. Zapp's chips, Abita beer (or root beer), Tobasco, pralines, etc. Whatever you can find and think your guests might enjoy! It's your party after all. 

You might also want to put together some fun Mardi Gras party favors for your guests to take home. I found these adorable yellow polka-dot take-out containers at World Market. Combined with green and purple tissue paper, they made adorable favors! I filled them with pralines (prah-leens, y'all!), tiny bottles of tobasco and traditional Mardi Gras chocolate coin candy. All of this was from World Market too...but you could probably find similar items at a party supply store or craft store. 

Finally, whip up a batch of beignets from the world famous Cafe du Monde! Don't forget the powdered sugar! Enjoy them with a cup of Cafe du Monde coffee for the complete experience. You could serve this as a late-night snack to give your Mardi Gras guests a boost or even just send them home with a gift basket as a souvenir to help them remember your festive gathering! (source for Cafe du Monde items - World Market). 

Happy Friday folks and Laissez les bons temps rouler, y'all! 

Southern Storytellers

Earlier today I was typing an email and spelled the word possible "possobile" before catching my mistake. This might not seem like big of a deal and it isn't so much...but in another way it is because I'm not a careless speller. I think the problem is that I'm always rushing, always multi-tasking, always thinking of the next thing.

And there's a time and a place for that, but there's also a time and place to slow down and enjoy the moment. I took a few minutes for a break and instead of vegging out in front of 10 minutes of mindless Netflix, I picked up a book I've been meaning to read. Stories of the Modern South: A Rich Collection of Southern Fiction by Some of the Great Storytellers of Our Time. 

The first story I flipped to was "Pantaloon in Black" by William Faulkner.

This is the first sentence:

He stood in the worn, faded clean overalls which Mannie herself had washed only a week ago, and heard the first clod strike the pine box. 

I had to stop after that one because I'm just in awe of Mr. Faulkner's ability to tell an entire story in so few words. This is the kind of writer I want to be. I know it's kind of a long-shot, but I'm not giving up. Read his sentence again if you need to.

Whenever I think about Faulkner, I always think about Mr. Shelby Foote. Another incredible southern wordsmith who had a way of telling stories unlike anyone else.

Speaking of southern storytellers, we lost a great one today with the passing of Mr. John Egerton. I was fortunate to meet him at Knoxville's Southern Food Writing Conference and I was also able to witness his beaten biscuit demonstration.

I'm grateful for these and all the other writers and storytellers who've help shape our region's narrative. Now, it's up to us to keep the stories coming. I'll leave you with these words, more from Mr. Faulkner, about gratitude.

"Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: It must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all." 

Spend the Night at Daylight

Of all the spots I love in Knoxville, I think the Daylight Building is near the top of the list. When I worked downtown, I got to pass by it every day. I'd stop in at Just Ripe for a vegan breakfast burrito. I'd wave to the folks at John Black Photography. On my lunch break (back to Just Ripe), I might pop into Reruns Boutique for a quick fashion fix or some gab time with my dear friend Bri. On the way home, I'd often drop into Union Avenue Books for some browsing.

The Daylight Building houses a wonderful collection of locally-owned Knoxville shops and I truly miss being in the area now that I work from home.

However, tomorrow I get to visit all my friends for a new event in a series called Daylight Nights. The Daylight Merchants are shutting down the street (Union Ave.) to celebrate the block and you're invited too!

I hope you'll join me and lots of friends on Union Avenue from 5-8 p.m. for shopping, food and fun. Food trucks such as Hoof Knoxville, Tootsie Truck, Good Golly Tamale, and Bull's BBQ will be in attendance. Learn more here, and become a fan of the Daylight Building on Facebook! The Daylight Building has been a Knoxville landmark for many years and I hope this event is just the first in what will hopefully be a longstanding tradition of Daylight Nights to come!

SBS Spotlight: Authentic South

It's no secret I created this blog because I have a deep-rooted love of the south. Southern Belle Simple has given me a platform to examine all the interesting, wonderful, eclectic, bizarre things that I've encountered over the years. It's a place for stories...my own and the ones I've heard told by my loved ones.

I've always loved stories and I have a fondness for a good storyteller because in this day and age, they are getting harder to come by.

Tanner Latham is a wonderful storyteller who I was fortunate to meet at the Southern Food Writing Conference. He actually spoke at the conference, along with his main squeeze Jennifer Davick, a talented filmmaker & storyteller in her own right.

Latham is the creative mastermind behind the podcast "Authentic South." It explores our southern culture through all the things that make the south great: food, art, music, folks, travel, etc.

During the conference session, I was furiously scribbling notes about how to tell better stories, how to capture them using audio and video, and other practical advice when something struck me that caused me to stop my note taking and jot down thoughts of another kind.

This is what I wrote:

There are people who feel like they cause things to happen. And they love taking credit for the things they feel responsible for. But then there are people who are honored to be part of something they understand existed long before them and will continue long after. They are humbled to be part of something bigger than themselves and they realize they can be part of it in a way that enriches the lives of the rest of us. 

This is the impression I got from Tanner Latham. He seemed so appreciative of the opportunity he has been given to tell the stories of others. Same for Jennifer Davick. Here are these two mega talented individuals who have achieved a ton of success but they were so humble and gracious. It's like they recognize the great honor that comes with someone allowing you to tell his story.

Some people are impressed by who you know, where you've been or what you have. I'm impressed by people who pursue their passions and in doing so, make it okay for the rest of us to do the same.

Check out  the Authentic South podcast and learn more about Tanner here.
Check out Jennifer Davick's great work here.

Dinner at Blackberry Farm

Last week I had my first (and perhaps only) dining experience at Blackberry Farm. Dinner there was part of the Southern Food Writing Conference, which I attended in Knoxville.

Some folks actually admitted to signing up for the conference just for this dinner opportunity...since you can't just go eat there unless you are an overnight or event guest. 

I feel lucky to have been able to go...the whole thing was very memorable and I appreciate the opportunity. Now, on to the food! 

When our group arrived at the barn for dinner, each of us was shown to our respective seats. My table mates included two lovely ladies from Cincinnati and a gent from Alabama.

I love the Blackberry Farm china and was disappointed when it was taken away, never to be seen again for the duration of the meal. Our first course was an asparagus salad with Cruze Farm buttermilk, hazelnuts, Muscadine Vinaigrette, and salad greens. I found it delicious and wished the portion had been about 5 times as big. Sorry...I like a big salad.

 Next came shrimp and grits. This was more like a chowder than any grits I've ever had but it was tasty. According to the menu it also had preserved tomatoes and a pickled pepper emulsion...hmm.

This next course was a big hit with everyone. A "Hearth fried egg" with watercress, garlic confit, chili oil and "chicken cracklins."  I guess this is when I should remind y'all that I'm vegan. I pretty much knew that a dinner at Blackberry Farm would not be very vegan friendly so I had already resigned myself to the fact that I might have to stray from my eating plan.

I ate the egg. It was so good. So very good. Part of why I ate it is because I knew I wouldn't eat the meat courses (see below) so I didn't want to be hungry for the duration of the 3+ hour meal.

Oh yeah. This is where I want to mention that when I was growing up, we always enjoyed the tasty bits of fried chicken skin left in the bottom of the box from Mrs. Winners. Who knew that they were an actual delicacy...chicken cracklins (shaking my head).

This next course was where things got dicey. Pork ribs atop baked peanuts with grilled cabbage. It looked and smelled wonderful, but while I'll bend my vegan ways for an egg...I won't eat pork. This is also when my gentleman table mate realized his luck at being seated next to me. I carefully slid the pork rib over to his plate and enjoyed the peanuts very much. Who'd have thunk to cook peanuts in barbecue sauce?

Main course consisted of peas, lamb loin, carrots, lamb neck and mint pesto. The peas (all seven of them) were delicious as were the carrots. I can't speak to the taste of the meats but everyone around me seemed to enjoy it.

Next came the cheese course. I'm a big fan of cheese and since going vegan, have missed eating it very much. I ate this course, but the irony is I didn't realize it was cheese until after. I got confused about the courses and thought this was dessert. When I took a bite of what I thought was white chocolate, you can imagine my surprise to taste something like cheese with a very un-cheese-like consistency.

The menu described it as a Marcona almond sorbet and Verjus granita. Still not quite sure about that one.

 Final course...dessert. Cruze Farm chocolate milk panna cotta, dark chocolate sorbet and a maraschino cherry. Yum!

I have to say the experience was memorable, but the food was only a small part of that. I think the thing I enjoyed most was what an event the meal was...so rarely do I ever take the time to sit and enjoy a meal for hours and hours. Unless I'm with a friend and my schedule is wide open, it always feels like I'm rushing through to get to the next thing. If I took anything away from Blackberry Farm it was to spend more time enjoying the experience of eating. 

And because my mom is going to ask: No, I didn't steal the napkin. I put it halfway in my purse but thought better of it.

All through the experience, I kept thinking about my family, particularly my grandparents. They came from the country and lived and worked on land that is just as lush and fruitful as Blackberry Farm. I would love to know what they might have thought about a meal served in a barn at an Inn in East Tennessee where a night's stay is $1000. 

Blog BFFs: For the Love of the South

Since beginning my blog in 2009, many fabulous doors have opened up for me and I've been so blessed to have the opportunity to do some amazing things. But the best thing about blogging (in my humble opinion) is getting to meet and become friends with other blogging/writing folks! 

I met some really great people during my recent trip to Jekyll Island for the Southern Coterie Summit. One of them was Ms. Amber Ryder. Not surprisingly, her blog For the Love of the South was a finalist in Saveur Magazine's Best Food Blog Awards. It's a gorgeous site that perfectly reflects the sweet spirit of its creator. 

Amber was one of the first people I met at the Southern C Summit. I think we were both looking a tiny bit lost at the opening cocktail reception and I'm so glad she came over and said hello. We struck up a conversation about food, naturally ;) Girlfriend takes her food seriously...anyone who categorizes broccoli salad as "the best of her life" is good people in my book. 

It took us awhile to realize that we were familiar with each other's blogs already...have you ever met someone in real life that you already felt you knew online? It's kind of an interesting phenomenon. 

I hope you'll visit Amber's blog and tell her I sent you. You won't be sorry. Did I mention she's a newlywed? Check out her lovely southern wedding too! 

On this day: Gone with the Wind Premiere

On this day in 1939, Gone with the Wind premiered at Atlanta's Loew's Grand Theatre. Wouldn't you love to have been there? The stars of the film descended onto the city and caused quite a stir. From Clark Gable (seen below with his beautiful wife Carole Lombard) to Vivien Leigh and others, it was a night to see and be seen. 

New Hollywood has nothing on the glamour and opulence of old Hollywood...it was a different time and we'll probably never really know what it was like to be part of that world. But I love looking through the old images that I find...imagining how it must have felt to have all eyes on you, bringing Margaret Mitchell's masterpiece to life. There are so many awful things going on the the world right now, I guess I just wanted to look back with fondness to a simpler time. 

Here's a link to a wonderful blog with lots of great back story from my friend Denise, who I met a couple of years ago at the Margaret Mitchell House social media event. Enjoy! 

Goodflicks: Beasts of the Southern Wild

Pretty soon we'll be in the middle of Hollywood film awards season, and while I haven't seen many of the biggest blockbusters from the past year, there's one film I did see that is getting some attention. Beasts of the Southern Wild is a magical, yet heartbreaking story about a little girl named Hushpuppy who lives with her father in an area of the Louisiana bayou called 'the Bathtub.'

If you saw the film, I'd love to hear what you thought! I only saw it once in theaters but I am sure that it is one I will watch again and again, as some parts are so subtle, it's easy to miss them the first time. What was the best movie you saw this year? Do you think it deserves a Hollywood award?

Thanks for stopping by! 

xoxo 
- Kate Spears

Anthropologie is Coming to Knoxville!!!

It's a great time to live in Knoxville...all sorts of wonderful things are happening in my fair city and I just heard the latest news that we are getting an Anthropologie. I've lusted after this shop's offerings while traveling to bigger cities and now I'll be able to visit and peruse the loveliness in my very own neighborhood. The expected date for the store to open is April/May 2013...spring can't get here fast enough!

Tupelo Honey Cafe Comes to Knoxville

Tupelo Honey Cafe, the beloved Asheville, North Carolina restaurant, has opened its doors in Knoxville and I paid a visit last night for a yummy dinner (and some wonderful company). I've been a fan of Tupelo Honey for some time after snagging a copy of the Tupelo Honey Cookbook (Tupelo Honey Cafe: Spirited Recipes from Asheville's New South Kitchen). It has some great recipes and tons of gorgeous images and would make a cool birthday or holiday gift for that southern foodie on your shopping list.

I had the Sunshot Vegetable Plate, which included a choice of 3 side dishes from the menu. They all sounded so good, it was hard for me to choose but I finally decided on New South Sauteed Greens, Honey Pickled Beet Salad, and Salsa Verde Black-Eyed Peas. Everything was delicious! I ended up mixing my beans and beets together just like they do at another downtown Knoxville eatery that happens to be a favorite of mine.

I'm sorry I can't regale you with stories of to-die-for pimento cheese or heavenly desserts, but I didn't have any this time. I'm definitely going to be back though. Breakfast (with the exception of poached eggs) is served all day so that added even more possible menu choices! Here's a peek at the banana pudding just to make your mouth water!

Old Times There, with Garden & Gun and The Old Try

I saw the above framed print at an antique shop recently and snapped a picture planning to share it on the blog. Then this morning, my friend shared the wonderful print project (below) from Garden & Gun and southern print shop The Old Try. I thought it fitting to post it today. You can order your own limited-edition hand-pressed Dixie print here.

I think William Faulkner, whose 115th birthday would have been today, would like it.

Nashville Adventures: Antique Archaeology

I spent the day with my mom recently and we decided to visit Nashville, a short 70 miles from my hometown. We mostly hit up some thrift shops and just enjoyed our time together but at the very end of the day, we accidentally stumbled upon a wonderful place.



You might be familiar with the popular television show “American Pickers” in which one man’s trash is truly another’s treasure. Picker Mike Wolfe has opened a second location of his retail shop in Nashville and my mom and I ran smack dab into it while heading to the Bang Candy Company for some homemade marshmallows.



Located in the old Marathon Automobile factory, Antique Archaeology is a fun stop for pickers, antique lovers and fans of the History Channel show.



Antique Archaeology features wall-to-wall memorabilia and oddities galore. Some items were ‘picked’ during episodes of the show. Most of the antiques in the store are just for display, but fans will be happy to know that lots of fun souvenirs are available, from t-shirts and caps to other collectible trinkets.



We were in a hurry but there was so much to explore. Leave yourself plenty of time if you decide to visit Antique Archaeology. Located a few blocks from downtown Nashville’s Gulch, you won’t run out of things to see, taste and enjoy!



Do you consider yourself a picker? My family has its fair share….my uncle even started his own site/group for pickers in and around Tennessee. You’re welcome to join the fun!

Happy weekend friends!

Southern Belle Simple at The Southern Coterie

 

Imagine my surprise and delight when the fabulous folks over at the Southern Coterie contacted me about being a regular contributor to their site. If you haven’t read this wonderful blog celebrating the southern experience, you must!

My first post for the Southern C, which went live on July 4th, features a favorite southern “C” of mine…the southern curiosity. Of rednecks and mud, that is! For more of my musings over at the Southern Coterie, tune in on the first Wednesday of each month.

Founders Cheri Harden Leavy and Whitney Wise Long have some exciting things in store and I’m so honored to be part of this wonderful community. My fellow contributors are some of the most talented bloggers and creative minds on the scene…I’m still pinching myself to have been included! I cordially invite you to check it out and tell ‘em Kate sent ya!

Happy Birthday America!

Freedom. Independence. Celebration. Summer. The 4th of July means so many things to so many people. We all have different customs and traditions for this day, but each is special because it is beloved by the people we love. Some of us are at the beach, soaking up the sun and eating all the fresh seafood we can get our hands on. Others might be at the lake, enjoying the slower pace of life. 

Small towns across America are wearing their July 4th finest today, draped in the red, white and blue. Daddies will fire up the barbecue, mommas will whip up their famous potato salad, kids will stir the lemonade. From block parties to community festivals to cross country road trips and parades down Main Street, there is something for everyone. 

Whether you are joining the rest of your community for a city-wide celebration or just gathered with friends around the kitchen table, seeking the breeze from a window air-conditioner, I hope you have a wonderful day. 

The 4th of July is special because it's a day when we can outwardly acknowledge what we feel in our hearts....pride for our nation, gratitude to the heroes who have gone before us and the ones who continue to give their lives for our freedom, compassion for our fellow man, and love for our creator. 

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Independence Day!