Click Magazine February 2018

Real Weddings

2018 February

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Contents Out and About

Wedding Venues

28 Crystal Ball

54 Carahills

30 New Years Eve, Eve

55 One Memphis Street

32 Art After Dark

56 Spitfire Acres

34 B2B PM

57 Cedar Ridge

36 Chamber 101

58 Hedge Farm 59 River Inn

Cover image courtesy of Tindall Farmer

Up Front 14 Interview

20 People

The Gown Whisperer

A Mississippi Delta Delicacy

Barefoot Bride Joelle Scholl shares her personal hunt for the perfect dress

16 Art Crafted Colors Memphis artist Martha Kelly finds inspiration in nature & religion

18 Food Taking the Cake Tips for choosing a delectable dessert

Delta Blues Rice owner David Arant, Jr., shares just what makes his Mississippi-made blend so special

22 Culture Finding Florals From the humble hydrangea to a ravishing array or red roses, nothing makes a statement at a wedding quite like a good floral display

24 Places Holly Springs Your resource guide to the South’s burgeoning destination wedding capital

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February 2018

Real Weddings 42 Evans & Taylor

43 DeLozier & Torres

44 Dupont & Edrington

45 Townsend & McElyea

46 Gentry & Howard

47 Scott & Aker

48 Mickens & Musgrove

49 James & Worsham

50 Watson & LaCroix

51 McCabe & Schuler

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A Letter From Our Editor

A Fresh Face For many of us, February is the true start of the new year. The post-holiday grogginess and scattered snow days are (mostly) a thing of the past and everyone is, for the most part, back at work. But just because the seasons are changing doesn’t mean the magic is gone. Far from it, in fact, as this month marks the return of our muchanticipated annual wedding issue, featuring a bevy of wedding experts and 10 unique instances of Mid-South marital bliss.

This wedding issue is one for anyone who has ever considered marriage, which I’m assuming is a lot of you guys out there. Each page of carefully cultivated content is loaded with inspirational material to plan your perfect wedding.

For starters, we’ve got Joelle Scholl, owner of The Barefoot Bride and one of the area’s foremost experts on choosing the perfect wedding dress. I sat down with the very affable Mrs. Scholl to document her personal quest for the perfect fit, as well as share a few pointers on making the whole thing go smoothly. See her interview on page 14.

In addition, we’ve got a pair of fun features on putting together a custom bridal bouquet with Kacie Cooper Floral Designs and a few quick tips on what’s hot in the world of wedding cakes with Byhalia’s own Polka Dot Bakery.

For those of you just looking for a fun night about town, take a look at our Crystal Ball coverage on page 28.

The Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi’s annual bash was the biggest ever this year, and we’ve got the pictures to prove it!

Finally, you might have noticed something different when you picked up this month’s issue of Click magazine.

Our sleek new look is the product of months of heavy planning and hard work from our publishers and fantastic new art director, Hannah Lovell. While the face is a bit different, we’re still every bit as committed to bringing compelling features on local personalities and party coverage.

Enjoy,

Casey Hilder Editor@myclickmag.com

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February 2018

Write to us Editor @myclickmag.com Click Magazine P.O. Box 100 Hernando, MS 38632

CORRECTIONS:

The event featured on page 52 of last month’s issue was the Grand Opening Open House and Ribbon cutting with the Southaven Chamber of Commerce, not the Community Mortgage Realtor Tailgate. We apologize for this error.

Co-Presidents Jonathan Pittman & Angie Pittman Editor Casey Hilder editor@myclickmag.com Art Director Hannah Lovell Ad Design Nick Howard Copy Editor Tonya Thompson Contributing Writers Tess Catlett Mary Eckersley Casey Hilder Sarah Vaughan Contributing Photographers Brian Anderson Frank Chin Casey Hilder Mike Lee Sales Director Lyla McAlexander lyla@dttclick.com Account Representatives Sheri Floyd sheri@dttclick.com Diana Linville diana@dttclick.com

We make every effort to correct factual mistakes and omissions in a timely and candid manner.

Information can be forwarded to Casey Hilder at address listed above.

Submit Your Event Interested in having your next party featured in Click?

Submit your event by going to myclickmag.com or email us at events@myclickmag.com. Š2016 P.H. Publishing. Click Magazine must give permission for any material contained herein to be reproduced in any manner. Any advertisements published in Click Magazine do not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser's services or products.

Click Magazine is published monthly by P.H. Publishing, LLC.

Click Contributors

Tonya Thompson With focus on the arts and history that have shaped the South's unique character, Thompson, a Middle Tennessee native, now lives and writes in Mississippi while running Delta Creatives (deltacreatives. com), a content editing, marketing and ghostwriting service. When not writing or editing for clients, she enjoys painting, traveling, and finding scenic mountain roads for motorcycling.

Tess Catlett A Southaven native and recent graduate of University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, Catlett is a former intern for Click. An avid and tenacious writer, Catlett has been featured in various publications including Vox Mag a zine, The Columbia Missourian and The DeSoto Times-Tr ibu ne. W hen not writing, Catlett enjoys binge watching underrated TV dramas.

Mike Lee Event photos in this issue were captured by Click photographer Mike Lee. Mike started in news in 1971 as a TV writer, photographer, and art director. For 20 years, his work appeared on national and international television broadcasts, and was published in print media worldwide.

Mary Eckersley Mar y Eckersley is a Memphisbased writer and photographer and recent journalism graduate from The University of Memphis. She has been a member of the Memphis music community since 2010, and has interned with companies such as The Recording Academy and Ardent Studios.

Meet a few of our friends at Click

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February 2018

Brian Anderson Various events were shot by local photog r apher Br ia n A nderson, a Memphis-based artist that started shooting professionally about six years ago and has been featured in Southern Living Magazine, Oxford American, MBQ and the St. Jude Gallery Collection, to name a few. He primarily focuses on concerts, with a focus on blues and oldfashioned Southern music, as well as the Mississippi delta and cityscapes.

Michelle Hope & Jaime Newsom Owners and lead designers of Social Butterf lies, LLC, Hope and Newsom have a combined 20 years of experience in the wedding and special events industry. Together, Hope and Newsom have planned numerous notable events, including celebrity weddings, charity galas and Super Sweet 16 parties for the hit MTV show.

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People, Places, and Parties

Up Front

14 Interview

18 Food

22 Culture

The Gown Whisperer

Taking the Cake

Finding Florals

16 Art

20 People

24 Places

Crafted Colors

A Mississippi Delta Delicacy

Holly Springs

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The Gown Whisperer

Barefoot Bride Joelle Scholl shares her personal hunt for the perfect dress Interview by Casey Hilder

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February 2018

Choosing the perfect wedding dress for the big day can be an arduous process. Few know the trials and tribulations associated with finding the ideal fit like Joelle Scholl, owner of The Barefoot Bride. Since 2011, Scholl and hew crew of “gown whisperers� have offered full-service assistance in the selection and fitting process in a casual environment.

Click Magazine: What is the Barefoot Bride?

CM: How did your wedding day lead to a new career?

Joelle Scholl: We’re one of about 50 wedding gown brokers in the country.

We take in gowns from designers and bridal salons that might be overstocked or discontinued and sell them from 30 to 8 percent off. Think TJ Maxx, but with wedding dresses. However, we also offer a full-service experience here in the store, which is a big deal for our customers.

JS: I made enough money to cover the reception by reselling all the wedding dresses I had bought. It worked out pretty well for me and a friend of mine allowed me to set up shop in the upstairs of a house in Cooper-Young and we blew up from there.

CM: Why wedding dresses?

JS: I got married late and absolutely hated shopping for my dress. My background is in quality management.

My job was always to fix the process, so I kind of took that idea and put it all into this.

CM: Describe your own dress buying experience.

JS: I won’t mention any names, but I went to stores in Memphis, Miami, Tampa, San Francisco and Atlanta. I even looked a few places in Italy, though not too seriously. I ended up buying 26 dresses from various vendors.

CM: What was keeping you from finding the

CM: What sets The Barefoot Bride apart from other bridal salons?

JS: One of the big things is that we don’t have a six-month lead time. If a girl comes in and wants to get married next week, we’re on it.

CM: What are some common requests you get from customers?

JS: A lot of brides come in with a preconceived notion of what they want. Kind of like with my own dress: I thought I had to be this glamour girl, but it’s not what I wanted. Until I forced myself to try on a few different styles, I never would have known. The Pinterest dress isn’t always the perfect dress and sometimes it’s more about thinking outside the box and going with what just feels right, rather than what you think looks right.

perfect dress?

JS: I’m super frugal and I felt like if I was going to spend that much money on something, it should be special. The experience wasn’t special. It just felt like “Here are the dresses, this is what you get.” Customer service was terrible and I had no guidance. Nobody ever told me when something looked terrible, and sometimes you need that.

CM: What was it like finding the perfect dress?

JS: When I finally put it on, it was totally utilitarian: A short dress with an overskirt. Perfect, two dresses in one, I was getting a good deal. It was like nothing else I had tried on, so I went with it. However, if I had a little more guidance, I would have saved six months and 26 dresses and found out exactly what I wanted to wear much sooner.

CM: How does your team work to personalize the dress-buying experience?

JS: It stems from our service-based philosophy. Think of all the places you go that offer great service and a mediocre product. People want to go places where the staff is nice to them.

I felt like all they saw was dollar signs walking through the door during my dress buying experience. We’ll look for dresses in other places besides our store for customers. It’s not always about the sale. The Barefoot Bride is more about kicking your shoes off and feeling at home.

Wedding Gown 101 Courtesy of Joelle Sholl Be open minded Try on different styles, shapes, textures and find out what works for your body type, personality and wedding.

Be prepared & punctual You will be spending a lot of time with a stranger who will be helping you in and out of gowns. Be honest with your consultant - if you hate a gown, move on.

Don't try to cram shopping into one day Visiting multiple bridal salons in a day can be so exhausting that by the time you've gotten to shop three you will likely have forgotten where you even started your day.

Keep your entourage to a minimum This is for the bride's sanity more than anything else! Any more than four additional cheerleaders can become extremely overwhelming for a bride. Too many times we've seen brides melt under the pressure of everyone else's opinion.

Be comfy Keep in mind the theme of your wedding, time of day, and season. Try not to choose a full-satin ballgown for a summer wedding.

Wedding gowns are made to be altered Alteration specialists can be our best friends when it comes to fit and comfort. Have you seen the brides with the strapless gowns that are forever tugging to keep the thing up? They didn't have a good alterations person.

Ordering a wedding gown takes time Four to six months, to be exact. And that doesn't include alteration time.

Be sure to find out if you are buying "off the rack", meaning the gown you try on is the one you take home or if you will be ordering your gown. If you order your gown, your consultant will measure you for sizing. Be sure to get a written copy of the gown designer, style number and your measurements to ensure you get exactly what you wanted in the size you need.

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Crafted Colors

Memphis artist Martha Kelly finds inspiration in nature & religion

by Sarah Vaughan photos by Martha Kelly

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February 2018

If you’ve ever strolled through the galleries at Dixon Gallery and Gardens, chances are you’ve seen artist Martha Kelly’s work.

A painter, printmaker and illustrator from Memphis, Tennessee, Martha’s work has been featured in exhibits and galleries throughout the South for nearly two decades. Her work has been featured in gallery shows in Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina and Alabama. From illustrations for magazines and books to posters, brochures and websites, she’s done a little bit of everything. She also enjoys working with watercolors, oils, letterpress prints and more.

“I have become the proud caretaker of a

1909 Chandler and Price treadle-operated printing press,” she says. “The press was originally used to print bulletins for a church in Missouri, was subsequently used by a school in West Virginia (the students printed a community newspaper) and was in the hands of an artist before coming to me. It won't handle my biggest prints, but I'm able to do smaller prints on it much more easily than I can print with a wooden spoon. I still do each one individually, feeding the press while I operate it with a treadle and wheel, but the press does the inking automatically and prints with more force, saving me lots of work.”

For Martha, creativity and art have been her calling from an early age. “I had always

loved to draw,” she says. “I remember going downtown with my dad when he was a lawyer and drawing on legal pads. I wanted to be a lawyer until I found out being a lawyer meant more than drawing on legal pads. But there was a moment when I was 14, when I was taking a class at the Memphis College of Art, and I was doing a watercolor piece, and the colors were swirling off the page in a way that was just beautiful. It was just magic, and I knew immediately that it was what I wanted to do and that I wanted to prepare myself to be an artist.”

After taking several art classes in high school, Martha went on to study art and religion at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Many of her works focus on nature or city scenes, and while not overtly obvious, many have a that speaks to a deeper spiritual nature.

“All of my work springs from a real appreciation of creation and a call to the stewardship I believe we are challenged to do,” she says. “It’s not often overt in my landscapes and work; you don’t always see that on the surface, but I hope it inspires people to take care of the beautiful place we’ve been given.”

Martha was also the Varnell Artistin-Residence at Memphis Theological Seminary for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 terms. “I had an art show at Memphis

Theological Seminary, and they asked me to speak and do a lunchtime lecture on my art. I was also a religion major in college, so, while I was speaking about art and how our thoughts on God have changed through the years, I was also able to talk about the spiritual nature of my work. Sometimes artists can’t speak to how their work fits into the whole spectrum, but I could talk about how my art and theology were directly influenced, and they asked me to be the artist in residence.”

Martha’s first book illustrations were featured in a study guide to Revelation published by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in Louisville, Kentucky. She’s currently working on illustrations for a new Book of Common Worship for the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., due out in March 2018.

“It’s an enormous project for me,” she says. “I have done many projects for the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. over the years.

Years ago, the minister I grew up with at Idlewild Presbyterian told me they were looking for revelation artwork and couldn’t find anything that didn’t look like gory video game art, so they asked me to do illustrations for their study guide. I’ve done several print journals and other things with them as well, and I was delighted to work on this project with them. They said

they’d never had art before in their Book of Common Worship, and they tend to only do these every so often and really wanted to feature art this time, so I was so honored they called.”

In addition to her spiritual nature, Martha also finds inspiration in her natural surroundings. Each day, she walks through the forests of Overton Park and finds inspiration in the sky and the trees.

Her family farm near Arlington was also a source of inspiration in the early days of learning her craft. Today, she occasionally has the opportunity to visit a farm in the Smokies, where she has completed some of her most beautiful works of art. “Tower Grove Park in St. Louis is another place I love to go back to. There are just places I’ve bonded with that call me back, and I’ve continued to go back to them.”

Ma ny of Ma r t ha’s works have documented a specific visit to a particular place, or a particular time. “There are several pieces that reflect a certain period of time or mark a particular moment for me,” she says. “My sketch journal is my other favorite thing that I do. I love sketching and having an ongoing record of all these things that are important to me in my life, and when they work, I make prints and paintings from them, so they are kind of the raw material for my work.”

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Taking the Cake

Tips for choosing a delectable dessert for the big day Interview by Casey Hilder

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February 2018

Stacked to skyscraper height and frosted to the Nth degree, the typical wedding cake has grown in both complexity and size over the years. From rich flavors like hazelnut to the simplicity of a good old spiced sheet cake, Ellen Gehrke brings a touch of small-town simplicity to her wedding cake designs. Gehrke, a former school teacher with 20 years of cake crafting experience, is the current owner of Polka Dot Bakery; Byhalia, Mississippi’s only full-service wedding cake bakery.

“I have been obsessed with cakes and cake decorating since I was a little girl,” says Gehrke. “Growing up, I would always make birthday cake for everyone in the family. It’s a wonderful creative outlet.”

Gehrke says she’s had the name in mind since she was 18 years old.

“I’ve always been into fun, cute,

whimsical things,” she says. “I always said my favorite color is polka dot.”

A typical meeting with Gehrke involves a tasting of several different styles of cake and determining the overall “look” of the dessert.

“Back in the day, we would have a big binder set up with pictures they can look through,” she says. “Brides don’t do that anymore. Most of them come in knowing exactly what they want and have pictures to prove it.”

The cake selection process almost always starts with establishing how many servings are needed. This determines how tall or wide a cake should be and how many layers it will contain. The cake design process, according to Gehrke, offers an extra creative avenue to add a little bit of personal flair to a wedding. However,

the flavor is often the most contested aspect.

“It’s always important to keep your theme in mind,” she says. “Do you want something whimsical?

Traditional? Elegant? Do you want it to match your dress? It’s one of those ‘total package’ things that goes along with the rest of your wedding décor.”

Flavor selection is often the toughest part for Polka Dot Bakery customers. Do you choose the bride’s favorite? An all-purpose flavor like vanilla to suite any palate? Gehrke suggests using tiers to separate different flavors of cake for different tastes.

“That’s when I encourage a little bit of everything,” she says. “The top tier of the cake is usually reserved for the bride and groom. That’s the one they take home. Next, I ask which flavor they want the most of. That’s the bottom tier with the most servings and the one you’re going to want as the most traditional flavor. With the other tiers, I recommend trying at least one that’s something new, exciting or different. For example, you might want to try a white chocolate with a butter pecan ganache in between vanilla at the bottom and strawberry at the top.”

Gehrke says pioneering unexpected flavor combinations is among the most exiting parts of her job.

“Recently, I did a spice cake with a caramel swirl in it,” she says. “It was part of a cake that was filled with fall flavors. Think pumpkin spice or apple cake.”

Another hotly contested area of cake decoration involved the age-old debate of fondant versus buttercream icing. While the former can offer an elegant, smooth look; the latter offers a more complex taste and wider selection of flavoring. Gehrke often uses both for good measure, offering a sheet on fondant covering draped over a layer of buttercream, offering the best of both worlds.

“Most people want buttercream because they have in their head that fondant won’t taste as good or they don’t like the texture,” Gehrke says.

“But I make my own fondant from scratch here, so you won’t have any of that chemical taste with mine.”

A Mississippi Delta Delicacy

Delta Blues Rice owner David Arant, Jr., shares just what makes his Mississippi-made blend so special Interview by Casey Hilder

While the farm-to-table trend might seem like a recent development for some, the family behind Delta Blues Rice has been living it for more than 90 years.

Ruleville, Mississippi, native and owner of Delta Blues Rice, David Arant, Jr., established his fast-growing company in fall of 2013. His product, the titular Delta-grown grain, has garnered praise in the Mid-South and abroad for its consistent flavor and homegrown style. A third generation farmer, Arant has taken his family tradition and crafted something palpable to the masses. “That was always interesting to us,” he says.” Growing up, it was always important knowing who our farmer was.” This month, Arant shares the story behind Delta Blues Rice, as well as a few choice applications of the family’s annual harvest.

Click Magazine: Why rice?

David Arant, Jr.: We’ve always had a connection down here. I remember giving away bags of rice to neighbors when I was little. We’ve always had the equipment needed, though with the Delta Blues Rice operation, we’ve upgraded our old equipment to something a little more modern. In our particular area, rice is one of the only things that farmers can bring to the table. Of course you have your soybeans and corn, but those tend to need some heavy processing in some way.

CM: What’s it like growing crops in the soil of the Mississippi Delta?

DAJ: It all depends on what you’re trying to grow. Of course, produce is something that would be very difficult in the Mississippi region just because of the required root space and chemical treatments that many

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February 2018

farmers want to employ. Our soil is a lot heavier down here and tends to hold water easily, which is perfect for growing rice.

CM: What are some of the finer differences between brown rice and long grain white rice?

DAJ: The big difference is that the rice bran is on the brown rice. They both come from the same plant, but they are processed a little bit different. The very first step of the milling process is removing the outside husk, the yellow exterior. Once the husk is removed, you have your brown rice. That’s all you have to do. White rice requires a little bit of polishing sheen, which removes the bran that you start out with. The bran is often used in things like cereal or cow feed.

There’s ONE near you!

CM: Delta Blues Rice has received numerous awards and accolades from publications like Garden & Gun and Southern Living. Where do you credit this surprising following?

DAJ: The biggest thing, I think, is our rice grits. It’s just our long grain white rice broken down in a machine. It comes out a lot creamier than regular rice and it’s been a big hit. White rice grits have put us on the map because they’re not found everywhere and they’re unique to us. It’s something that stands out in the local section of the grocery store.

CM: What makes your rice stand out from the stuff you can buy in bulk at the supermarket?

DAJ: Believe it or not, every single kind of rice looks, feels and tastes slightly different. They cook differently, too.

When you buy a big bag of rice from the grocery store, you don’t necessarily know what you’re getting. You could have up to 20 different kinds of rice in there. Our biggest secret is consistency. We sell one single variety of rice and customers know exactly what they can expect from us.

CM: What are some surprising places your rice has popped up?

DAJ: As far as restaurants, we’ve had orders from places in New York and Seattle. I was a little surprised by that, but they wanted something different from the norm. I’m not sure how they found out about us, but it’s been a blessing working with them.

CM: What are some surprising or unusual uses of rice that you’ve heard from customers?

DAJ: One lady from Japan placed a bulk order for some unmilled, unprocessed rice to cook in the husk. I don’t recall exactly what she was doing with it, but that order really stuck out to me.

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215560

Finding Florals

From the humble hydrangea to a ravishing array or red roses, nothing makes a statement at a wedding quite like a good floral display Story by Casey Hilder Photos by Snap Happy Photography

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February 2018

Kacie Cooper, owner of Kacie Cooper Floral Designs, helps hundreds of new brides achieve their vision each year through her custom flower arrangements.

With 21 years of floral design experience, Cooper’s lush portfolio includes custom bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages and centerpieces. Cooper styles by appointment at her East Memphis studio right next door to The Barefoot Bride.

“We sit down at the table and basically I take down lots of information,” she says. “We share pictures, find out what their wedding dress looks like, what their bridesmaids will be wearing and so on to see what’s a good match.”

The conversation always begins with the dress.

“That always gives me a good idea of the bride’s personality and set the theme,” Cooper says.

Roses and hydrangea are available all year, which means they’re usually featured prominently in most bridal bouquets alongside season flowers like peonies and tulips.

“Technically, almost all f lowers are available year-round if you’re willing to pay for them,” Cooper says. “However, if you’re getting something like tulips in July, they won’t be the best tulips.”

Hydrangea are among the most popular flowers in Cooper’s store and among her personal favorites.

“I try not to rely on hydrangea for everything, but it’s very pretty and fluffy,” she says.

Many brides are incorporating greenery, berries, sunflowers, and other bits and pieces into their bouquets to reflect the season. For a more stark look, Cooper says some brides opt to add a splash of jewelry against a bouquet of ivory roses.

The Garden Rose is often the variety of choice for many brides, favored for its tender, ruff led look and deep, blended colors.

“Those are really pretty with lots and lots of layered petals,” she says. “They look like the old fashioned roses that you might see in grandma’s garden. Some people call them cabbage roses.”

Kacie Cooper

Floral Design Check List Coordinate. Elements from the bride’s bouquet are typically incorporated into the larger display.

Have an Idea. Come into the flower shop with a vision. Even something as simple as a favorite color can go a long way toward finding your perfect bouquet.

Plan for the Place. Keep the location of your wedding in mind at all times. The look and layout of the venue will determine the floral design, not the other way around..

Give Yourself Time. The entire process, from selection to receiving, takes about one week.

Destination: Holly Springs

by Casey Hilder

Your resource guide to the South’s burgeoning destination wedding capital

Flower Power Regel & Company This quaint wedding and event planning service offers event rentals for the MidSouth area in addition to flowers, bridal registry, linens, napkins, tables, cakes, tents and more. 150 East College Ave The Village Market With an array of floral pieces ranging from beautiful bouquets to boutonnieres, corsages and a selection of stunningly stylish Vera Wang wedding flowers, owner Bobbie LeSure and the rest of the Village Market crew offer a plethora of all things floral. 127 North Memphis Street

Where to Wed Rich in culture and history and less than an hour away from the DeSoto County area, Holly Springs, Mississippi, offers a bevy of options for couples looking for the kind of attention to detail and personalized experience that only a small Southern town can offer.

"The thing about getting married in Holly Springs is that you can really do it all down here. When you look at the resources we have on hand, it really is a one-stop show.

"

- Lisa Childers, Wedding planner

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February 2018

Kirkwood National Golf Club & Cottages Rolling hills and fantastic lakeside scenery are just a few of the highlights of this venue situated on Kirkwood golf course. Receptions at Kirkwood are hosted in a banquet room that seats around 150 with a spacious nearby dance floor.

277 Palmer Lane Montrose This Antebellum mansion was built in 1858 as a wedding gift from Albert Brooks to his daughter, making it a fitting venue for any modern-day romance. Beautiful inside and out, this historic home captures the spirit of the Southern wedding.  335 East Salem Avenue The Davis Home at Strawberry Plains Audubon Center Originally built on a cotton plantation in 1851 by Ebenezer Nelms Davis, this Antebellum home just recently began hosting weddings. Experience old-world style abound with surroundings that include a flour mill, blacksmith shop, carriage house, and cotton gin. 285 Plains Road The Depot This big red building once hosted the headquarters of the Mississippi Central Railroad. Today, the building has been recently renovated and now offers an iconic, one-of-a-kind backdrop for the big day. 540 East Van Dorn Avenue

Kate Freeman Clark Art Gallery This gallery-turned-wedding venue offers a slightly smaller, more intimate experience for bride, groom and guests. Lauded for its simple elegance, hospitable ambiance and beautiful artwork, this venue plays host to more than 1,2oo pieces of art.

300 East College Avenue Wall Doxey This picturesque state park offers an unexpected and outdoorsy take on the traditional Southern wedding. With a reputation for beautiful sunsets across a rolling 60 acres, a Wall Doxey wedding makes for a memorable experience.

3946 Hwy-7 South

Memorable Meals Southern Eatery Catering This local buffet-style restaurant, as its name suggest, deals in Southern standbys like pot pies, sweet potatoes and chicken tenders.

130 East College Avenue JB’s on the Square JB’s offers a selection of sandwiches, salads, desserts and seafood dishes.

111 East Van Dorn Avenue Kings Restaurant & BBQ In addition to barbecue, King’s offers locally renowned steak and spaghetti dishes.

1598 Mary Vance Loop Clancy’s Owner Tyler cooks up a wide variety of upscale Southern dishes including flash-fried oysters, shrimp and grits, and duck gumbo.

4078 Hwy 178 East

Just Like Home Court Square Inn Bed & Breakfast This second floor of this inn offers a trio of distinctive luxury suites right in the heart of Holly Springs Courthouse Square. We recommend Suite #1’s spacious and cozy “room with a view” overlooking the Marshall County Courthouse.

132 East College Avenue The Wynne House Inn This historic home-turned-bed and breakfast was built in 1872 and offers a variety of locally sourced dishes. In addition, the Wynne House also offers its Hummingbird Cottage for short term lodging, a quaint two-bedroom cottage within walking distance of historic Holly Springs Square.

195 North Randolph The Hummingbird Cottage: Colonsay Cottage, The East Room in Holly Springs This trio of popular Airbnb rentals offers an authentic, rustic experience in the heart of Holly Springs.

Hummingbird Cottage is a charmingly decorated 2 bedroom/2 bath guest house with a country-cottage feel, perfect for sipping sweet tea on a nearby porch swing. Colonday Cottage is a with a common breakfast area that is part of a renovated antebellum home, circa 1839, in the museum district of downtown Holly Springs. The East Room in Holly Springs is an Antebellum planters townhouse featuring 1 bedroom/1 bath and boasting wonderful old-world style.

18th Annual Crystal Ball

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Around Town One Party at a Time

Out and About Angela & Jason Acuff

28 Crystal Ball

30 New Years Eve, Eve

32 Art After Dark

Event Photos by Mike Lee myclickmag.com

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18th Annual

Crystal Ball January 20th, 2018 Christened "Once Upon A Time" the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi's 18th annual Crystal Ball enchanted and inspired. Proceeds from the whirlwind fairytale will help further the Foundation's mission of connecting people with causes that matter and benefit over 400 local nonprofits.

Kaitln Hadley & Abigail Hoffman 28

February 2018

Amanda & Wilson Horrell

Jon & Angelique Pittman

Danny & Jane Williams

Cooper Greene & Nicole Stanish

Kevin & Sue Klein

Rachel & Jeffrey Park

18th Annual

Crystal Ball January 20th, 2018

Dawn & Todd Pierce

Palmer House Awards Check

Sela Ward signs autograph

William & Lynda Austin 30

February 2018

Cindy Gordon "Business of the Year"

Chip Johnson & Christy Savage

Bob & Shirley Seymour

18th Annual

Crystal Ball January 20th, 2018

Laura & Ben Boren

Lynda Austin Maddox Foundation "Woman of the Year"

Senator Robert & Gloria Jackson 32

February 2018

December 29th, 2017

New Years Eve, Eve Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson in Southaven said "so long" to 2017 the only way they know how — with a party under the water tower! It truly was a weekend of farewells, with rock -n- roll cover band, Third Stone, playing one of their final shows.

Kim Moore & Chip Johnson

Albert & Hope Ruiz, Kenny Pierce

Dillon Tracker & Mitchell Beene 34

February 2018

Doug Worley & Tracey Lowe

Abigail Brady & Leigh Anne Estes

Candice Duncan

Kathryn Hall & Ed Lewis

Misty Mann, Phillip Paul, & Aubry Depew

December 21st, 2017

Art After Dark The Dixon Collects: Amaryllis Exhibition The Dixon Gallery & Gardens invited art aficionados and anthophiles alike to come out and celebrate the winter solstice. The official onset of winter also marked the longest night of 2017, allowing patrons to take their time as they explored the Canale Conservatory. The exhibition opening showcased the Dixon's amaryllis, as well as some of the gallery's newest additions.

Suzie Askew & Doris Wimberly

Sandy Stacks & Rosemary Southwell

John and Marina Bogan 36

February 2018

Dawn Vincent & Eddie Chapman

Verity Goodell & Jason Lee

Laura Greek & Helen Davis

Debrah Mason, Suzie Askew, & Kim Rucker

Matt & Lindsay Cullum

Discover Holly Springs

“ O CE U LE R IN 32 BR BU ND AT SI Y ING N E ES AR S” Michael Austin Broker/Owner

Call Us Today!

Becky Austin 901-283-6084

Megan Cole 662-291-0044

Sheri Paul 662-306-3820

Tanette S. Allen 901-626-3845

Bobby Boland 901-216-0474

Pam Boland 901-378-9564

Ginger Britt 901-277-0587

Bobbie Espitia 901-317-0971

Bill Hill 901-359-4403

Kay Hodge 901-497-1867

Audrey Jacobi 901-652-8884

Taylor Phillips 901-413-5911

Jim Reeves 901-212-7400

Patrice Reistroffer 901-930-8797

Kristin Russell 901-603-8940

Todd Campbell 901-674-7355

Mara Cathey 901-568-6272

Carolyn McMullen 901-409-6530

Dolly Skelton 901-484-6563

901-826-7473

Memphis, TN

Eads, TN

Coldwater, MS

Gulfport, MS

Collierville, TN

Southaven, MS

I Do. Mid-South Weddings 2018 One bride locked eyes across the table with her groom-to-be at a flirty trivia night, and another fell hard for her opponent while arguing about who has the best barbecue in town. In conversation with 10 MidSouth newlyweds, Click’s annual wedding issue recalls their unexpected first dates, tender proposals, and breathtaking ceremonies.

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Kathryn “Katie” Louise Evans & John Zachary “Zach” Taylor

Katie Evans and Zach Tayor were united in marriage on October 14, 2017. The bride is the daughter of Joe and Cindy Evans, who reside in Birmingham, Alabama. The groom is the son of Jeff and Mary Taylor, who reside in Memphis, Tennessee.

Zach and Katie met at Alfred’s on Beale, due in no small part to their mutual friend Clark’s persistence. To this day, Zach will insist that they met at Paula & Raiford’s Disco, but don’t fall for that line. It was definitely Alfred’s.

Two years later, the couple took a trip to Portland, Oregon, to celebrate their anniversary. Little did Katie know, Zach packed a little black box in his suitcase. He decided to pop the question while they were out on an early-morning hike. When they reached a lookout point, Zach got down on one knee and asked Katie for her hand in marriage.

The ceremony was held on October 14, 2017, at Memphis Botanic Garden. Father Ken Zelten officiated the alfresco ceremony. A floral arch framed the aisle, offering the perfect backdrop for the garden nuptials.

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The bride walked down the aisle just before sunset, to the tune of a classical string trio. She wore a silk dupioni gown with a sweetheart bodice, mermaid skirt, and a dramatic sweep train.

A reception followed at Hardin Hall at the Garden.

A greenery chandelier hung above the dance floor, and white pumpkins were sprinkled throughout as a nod to the season. Wade & Company catered a delightful dinner, and ice cream sandwiches were served in lieu of a traditional wedding cake.

Kevin and Bethany Paige kept guests out on the dance floor all night long. The evening ended with a confetti send-off for the bride and groom.

The newlyweds are at home in Memphis. After graduating from the University of Alabama, the bride is an accountant for Universal Scaffold and Equipment.

After graduating from Mississippi State University, the groom is the vice president at Ralph Taylor Lumber Company.

October 14, 2017 Memphis, Tennessee

CATERING: WADE & COMPANY DRESS: THE WHITE ROOM FLORIST: KEVIN GRIFFIN MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT: KEVIN AND BETHANY PAIGE PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER CONREY AT CREATION STUDIOS VENUE: THE MEMPHIS BOTANICAL GARDENS WEDDING PLANNER: SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES, LLC

May 20, 2017 Memphis, Tennessee

BAKERY: CHELSEA ZIMMERMAN AT MEMPHIS COUNTRY CLUB CATERING: MEMPHIS COUNTRY CLUB DRESS: MAGGIE LOUISE BRIDAL FLORIST: ASHLEY MCCORMICK DESIGN MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT: PAT REGISTER PHOTOGRAPHY: TINDALL FARMER PHOTOGRAPHY VENUE: MEMPHIS COUNTRY CLUB WEDDING PLANNER: SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES, LLC

Olivia Mallery DeLozier & Victor Hugo Torres

Olivia DeLozier and Victor Torres were united in marriage on May 20, 2017. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Metcalf Crump, Jr., who reside in Memphis, Tennessee. The groom is the son of Dionisio Torres and Lilia De la Miyar.

Olivia and Victor lived next door to each other for three years — but they didn’t meet until the week Victor was packing up to move out. Their connection was too strong to ignore and the newfound distance couldn’t keep them apart.

Fast-forward a few years, and their relationship was as strong as ever. Olivia and Victor were planning to build a house together, and Victor had just finished pulling the proposal together with their architect. When he brought the plans over to show Olivia, she found a surprise taped onto page 3: a note asking, “Will you marry me?”

The ceremony was held on May 20, 2017, at the Church of Holy Communion in Memphis. Reverend Sandy Webb officiated the traditional Episcopal service.

The bride wore a silk crepe Rivini Adalyn gown with a sweetheart neckline and Chantilly lace applique. She completed her look with a finger-length corded veil and her mother’s pearl and diamond jewelry.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds were chauffeured to their reception at Memphis Country Club in a vintage white Rolls Royce.

Cocktails and hors d’ouervers were served as guests arrived, and a classical pianist provided live entertainment until seating began for the five-course dinner. Afterward, Pat Register kept guests on their feet and dancing into the wee morning hours.

Following a honeymoon in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico, the newlyweds are at home in Memphis.

After graduating from Rhodes College, the bride is a 3rd-year general surgery resident at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. After graduating from the University of Texas at San Antonio, the groom is President of Idea Development Group LLC.

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Doriane Andrée Dupont & Clint Hoyt Edrington

Doriane Dupont and Clint Edrington were united in marriage on August 26, 2017. The bride is the daughter of Michel Dupont and Yvelise Mariot, who reside in Compiègne, France. The groom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Max Edrington, who reside in Long Beach, Mississippi.

The pair first met in Edinburgh, Scotland. Doriane was living there at the time, and Clint had made his way across the pond for some much needed rest and relaxation. After making eyes at an Elvis-themed comedy show, Doriane and Clint were smitten. When summer came to a close and Clint packed his bags to return home to Houston, Texas, the couple committed to an international romance for the ages.

Airfare can be expensive, but it’s hard to put a price on love. Clint had barely unpacked his suitcase before he booked his flight back to Edinburgh. By his third trip, Clint was ready to ask Doriane for her hand in marriage.

He proposed on December 24, 2016, at the Lighthouse at Newhaven Harbour.

The ceremony was held on August 26, 2017, at the Chimneys Restaurant in Gulfport. The groom’s uncle, Mark White, officiated the intimate ceremony overlooking the Mississippi Sound.

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August 26, 2017 Gulfport, Mississippi

Doriane’s bridesmaids helped showcase the couple’s bond by reading love poems chosen especially for the bride and groom. Clint’s groomsmen read select scriptures, and love songs served as the soundtrack for the rest of the evening.

The bride wore a satin Rosetta Nicolini gown with a plunging neckline, beaded bust and pleated waist. The “Justine” dress also featured applique detailing on the straps, waist, and skirt.

A reception followed at Chimneys, allowing the bride and groom to celebrate with their family and friends.

All of Doriane’s immediate family members were able to make the trip from France, and the newlyweds couldn’t wait to show them around.

After a honeymoon in Seaside, Florida, the newlyweds are at home in Long Beach, Mississippi.

After graduating from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, the bride is committed to volunteer efforts within the community. After graduating from the University of New Orleans and Louisiana State University, the groom is employed by the Northern Gulf Institute at Mississippi State University.

BAKERY: NITA LEE CATERING: THE CHIMNEY'S DRESS: BERKETEX BRIDE FLORIST: LOIS FLOWERS PHOTOGRAPHY: SHARPE EYE IMAGES VENUE: CHIMNEYS RESTAURANT WEDDING PLANNER: MICHELLE HOPE AT SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES, LLC

Holly Elizabeth Townsend & Paul William McElyea

October 7, 2017 Memphis, Tennessee

BAKERY: LUCY J’S BAKERY CATERING: THE GUEST HOUSE AT GRACELAND DRESS: THE BAREFOOT BRIDE FLORIST: THE FLOWER GIRL HAIR: ANDREA GREENHILL MAKEUP: ANDREA GREENHILL MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT: THE CHRIS HILL BAND PHOTOGRAPHY: MADISON YEN AND MADDIE MOREE VENUE: THE GUEST HOUSE AT GRACELAND

Holly Townsend and Paul McElyea were united in marriage on October 7, 2017. The bride is the daughter of Greg Townsend, who resides in, Tunica, Mississippi, and Jean Townsend, who resides in Hernando, Mississippi. The groom is the son of Lonnie and Judy McElyea, who reside in Eudora, Mississippi.

Paul proposed to Holly in February 2017 during their annual trip to Mexico. Holly thought they were heading down to see two of their friends renew their wedding vows, but it turned out to be a surprise celebration with about a dozen of their closest friends.

They were all out to dinner when Paul began his toast — and the speech Holly thought would be about their mutual friends turned out to a proposal for her.

The ceremony was held on October 7, 2017, at the Guest House at Graceland in Memphis. The bride wore a strapless blush gown flush with tulle and lace detailing.

Keeping with the glitz and glam theme,

she walked the red carpet into the venue alongside family and friends.

The bride and groom exchanged their vows on a stage created for none other than the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll, and Michael Mavromatis officiated. Elvis glasses and gold pom-poms were aplenty, especially as the ceremony gave way to the reception.

The Guest House served up some of the King’s favorites — banana and peanut butter cake and cupcakes. In between bites to eat, the crew laced up their dancing shoes and cut loose to the Chris Hill Band.

The couple is at home in Memphis with plans to honeymoon in Napa Valley, California, this April. After graduating from the University of Memphis, the bride works at the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau. After graduating from Christian Brothers University, the groom works at StyleCraft.

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Diana Donyell Gentry & Nicholas Jeremiah Howard

Diana Gentry and Nicholas Howard were united in marriage on June 10, 2017. The bride is the daughter of Henry and Deatric Sanders, who reside in Memphis, Tennessee, and Donald and Vivian Houston, who reside in Memphis, Tennessee. The groom is the son of Leslie and Gloria Howard, who reside in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Although Diana and Nick initially met in April 2011, life took them into two different directions and they fell out of touch. When the pair reunited in summer 2015, it became clear that they couldn’t be without each other again.

Diana and Nick spent that fortuitous summer reconnecting, often talking for hours on end over dessert at TCBY and Baskin Robbins.

Much to Diana’s surprise, Nick proposed on August 7, 2016. What Diana thought would be a typical family dinner at The Butcher Shop turned out to be the first day of the rest of her life with Nick. When she walked into the restaurant to meet her family, she found Nick waiting for her. As his family began to file in, she started to realize what was happening: This was it. This was “the day.”

Shortly after everyone was seated, Nick got down on one knee and asked her for her hand in marriage.

The ceremony was held on June 10, 2017, at the Carahills I, “The Estate,” in Eads. The wedding party walked down the aisle to Major’s “Why I Love You,” and 46

February 2018

the bride walked in to Maurette Brown Clark’s “The One He Kept for Me.” She wore an ivory, strapless mermaid-style gown.

She also added her grandmother Charlean Brown’s pins, which featured the initials C.B., to the ribbon wrapped around her bouquet.

Elder E.P. Reynolds of Greater Community Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee, officiated the ceremony. Keeping with Ecclesiastes 4:12 — which says “a cord of three strands is not easily broken” — the bride and groom each braided a cord to signify their commitment to Christ and to each other.

After the ceremony was over, the newlyweds jumped the broom and walked out to Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.”

A reception followed at the Estate, where “Forever Mine” by The O’Jays served as the soundtrack to Diana and Nick’s first dance as a married couple. Afterward, the newlyweds cut their three-tiered strawberry and vanilla wedding cake and prepared to cut loose on the dance floor.

Following a honeymoon in Miami Beach, Florida, the newlyweds are at home in Walls, Mississippi.

After graduating from the University of Memphis and Christian Brothers University, the bride is a teacher for Shelby County Schools.

June 10, 2017 Eads, Tennessee

BAKERY: CARAHILLS CATERING: CARAHILLS DRESS: DAVIDS BRIDAL FLORISTS: CARAHILLS AND AL'DECORATE MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT: SINCE 5 THE BAND PHOTOGRAPHY: CM NEAL PHOTOGRAPHY VENUE: CARAHILLS VIDEOGRAPHY: BRIAN SKIPPER WEDDING PLANNER: WENDY CAEN AT CARAHILLS

September 30, 2017 Coldwater, Mississippi

BAKERY: THE CAKE LADY BAKERY CATERING: CEDAR RIDGE EVENTS DRESS: THE BAREFOOT BRIDE FLORIST: CEDAR RIDGE EVENTS MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT: DJ CHRIS LOTT PHOTOGRAPHY: MID-SOUTH HOUSE OF WEDDINGS VENUE: CEDAR RIDGE EVENTS WEDDING PLANNER: BECKY NANCE AND DEBBIE SMITH AT CEDAR RIDGE EVENTS

Mindy Christine Scott & Samuel Eugene “S.J.” Aker, Jr.

Mindy Scott and the late S.J. Aker were united in marriage on September 30, 2017.

The bride is the daughter of Kenny and Lou Scott, who reside in Horn Lake, Mississippi.

The groom is the son of Sam and Jennifer Aker, who reside in Senatobia, Mississippi.

Although Mindy and S.J. ran in similar circles, the two didn’t officially meet until Springfest 2012 in Southaven. Their paths finally crossed at a mutual friend’s barbecue tent, and the sparks flew.

The ceremony was held on September 30, 2017, at Cedar Ridge in Coldwater. Bro. Scott Bryant officiated.

The bride wore a lace couture gown with a plunging neckline and a romantic silhouette.

The decadent gown also served as something new. She wore her grandmother’s broach for something old and something blue, and she borrowed earrings from her sister, Jamie.

A rustic reception followed out in the gardens. After a hearty Italian entrée, the

guests were invited to take a bite of the duo’s rich wedding cakes. Each cake took a unique visual spin, with tiers dedicated to chocolate, strawb erry and vanilla. The bride’s cake resembled the bark of a tree with the newlyweds’ initials “engraved” inside a heart.

The groom’s cake was shaped like a Mississippi State University-themed duck call.

The newlyweds went on to honeymoon at Sandals South Coast Resort in Jamaica before returning home to Horn Lake. The pair settled into married life, cherishing their time together and planning for the future.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck on November 23, 2017. Although Mindy and S.J. were only married for seven weeks, Mindy says that their love felt like a lifetime. “S.J. was my soul mate, and I wish I could have had more time with him.”

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Jamie Lasondra Mickens & Edward Dontay Musgrove

Jamie Mickens and Edward Musgrove were united in marriage on September 24, 2016. The bride is the daughter of Debbie Jones and Joseph Mickens, who reside in Memphis, Tennessee. The groom is the son of Troylynn Brown and Edward Musgrove, who reside in Los Angeles, California.

Jamie and Edward met back in 2010 when Jamie was a bartender at The Peabody Hotel.

She was working nights while attending school at the University of Memphis, and he was in town on business. He happened to stop in for a drink at The Peabody, and the two hit it off so well that a long-distance relationship seemed like a small price to pay for a shot at true love.

In 2013 — after three years of long phone calls and weekend trips — Edward relocated to Memphis. Two years later, Edward was ready to take the plunge and pop the big question.

He proposed on December 25, 2015.

Edward and Jamie were staying at a cabin with their families in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where they decided to indulge in a spirited round of guys versus girls karaoke. Edward sang Jamie’s favorite song, R. Kelly’s 48

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“Forever.” As he sang the final words — “marry me” — he got down on one knee and asked for Jamie’s hand in marriage.

The ceremony was held on September 24, 2016, in the Venetian room at The Peabody.

Pastor Reggie White of Emerge Church Memphis officiated.

Jamie walked down the aisle to “Fall for You” by Leela James. She wore a stunning ruffled organza dress with intricate beading on the bodice. The champagne gown served as something new, she borrowed a bracelet from her mother, and her garter featured blue detailing.

A reception followed, with guests floating between the Sky way room and famous Peabody rooftop. The newlyweds cut into a four-tiered gold and crème vanilla cake, and the groom shared bites of his Rolex-shaped German chocolate cake.

After a honeymoon in Grenada in the Caribbean, the newlyweds are at home in Germantown, Tennessee.

After graduating from the University of Memphis and Prairie View A&M University in Texas, respectively, the bride and groom are co-owners of Elite Financial.

September 24, 2016 Memphis, Tennessee

BAKERY: THE PEABODY HOTEL CATERING: THE PEABODY HOTEL DRESS: GLORIA'S BRIDAL & FORMAL FLORIST: STUDIO 1524 INVITATIONS: DIXON PRINTING PHOTOGRAPHY: JUSTINVISION VENUE: THE PEABODY HOTEL VIDEOGRAPHY: JP FILMZ WEDDING PLANNER: JAIME HENSON AT SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES, LLC

October 7, 2017 Southaven, Mississippi

BAKERY: MISS MUFF-N BAKERY CATERING: SCOTTY’S SMOKEHOUSE CATERING DRESS: LOW’S BRIDAL & FORMAL MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT: DJ CLAY JONES PHOTOGRAPHY: MIKE LEE VENUE: SPITFIRE ACRES

Carrie Lynne James & Charles Scott Worsham

Carrie James and Scott Worsham were united in marriage on October 7, 2017. The bride is the daughter of Ken and Esther James, who reside in Southaven, Mississippi. The groom is the son of the late Donna Woodyard, of Saulsbury, Tennessee, and Bobby Worsham, who resides in Hernando, Mississippi.

The pair met after two mutual friends decided they’d be a good match, and things took off f rom there. Texting for hours on end gave way to long phone calls, with Scott ultimately asking Carrie to spend an afternoon with him out on the lake. Carrie says they’ve been best friends ever since.

On April 14, 2017, Scott asked Carrie for her hand in marriage. They were out in Hernando at their lot of land in Gray’s Creek. One minute they were talking about their plans for home design, and the next Scott was down on one knee.

The outdoor wedding was held on October 7, 2017, at Spitfire A cres i n S outhaven. Tony M alnar prepared vows unique to the couple and officiated the ceremony.

Carrie’s daughter, Addison Rowe Dye, served as the maid of honor, and Carrie’s son, Leland “Trace” Dye lll, was a groomsman. He also walked Carrie down the aisle.

Scott’s daughter, Madison Makay Worsham, was

a bridesmaid, and Scott’s father, Bobby Worsham, was the best man.

The bride wore a strapless gown featuring flowing layers of tulle and fitted with a beaded rhinestone belt. Keeping with tradition, she wore something old — a pair of Givenchy crystal drop statement earrings — and something new — a pair of rhinestone-embellished Antonio Melani heels.

She borrowed a small decorative pin from Jennifer Hitt, her best friend of 10 years, and donned a blue ribbon from Desi Spellings, her best friend of 4 years.

A reception followed at the main house on the property, which featured a spacious outdoor patio overlooking the lake. Scotty’s Smokehouse catered a decadent spread and Miss Muff’n Bakery prepared a three-tiered yellow cake with strawberry cream cheese filling and buttercream icing.

Following a honeymoon at a Sandals beach resort in Jamaica, the newlyweds are at home in Hernando.

After graduating from Delta State University, the bride works as a family nurse practitioner at RedMed Urgent Clinic. After graduating from the Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Academy and the FBI National Academy, the groom serves as the Chief of Police in Hernando

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Jordan Nicole Watson & Kyle Wayne LaCroix

BAKERY: OH MY GANACHE BAKERY CATERING: GERMANTOWN COMMISSARY CEREMONY MUSIC: RYAN LACROIX DRESS: MODCLOTH FLORIST: ARLINGTON FLORIST & GIFT SHOPPE PHOTOGRAPHY: ASHLEY DOS VENUE: THE QUONSET

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Jordan Watson and Kyle LaCroix were united in marriage on October 14, 2017. The bride is the daughter of James and Peggy Watson, who reside in Memphis, Tennessee.

The groom is the son of Donald and Donna LaCroix, who reside in Memphis, Tennessee.

W hen Jordan joined her fr iend’s Dungeons and Dragons campaign, she didn’t know that she was going to meet the love of her life. It wasn’t long before the pair began to hang out outside of the group’s weekly meetups, tabletop fantasy spilling over into real life as their relationship deepened.

Before Jordan knew what was happening, Kyle was asking for her hand in marriage.

What started as an ordinary day at the Memphis Zoo took a celebratory turn when Kyle suggested they follow up with a picnic at Overton Park. When they arrived, Kyle popped the trunk to grab the picnic basket, revealing balloons that asked, “Will you marry me?”

October 14, 2017 Collierville, Tennessee

The outdoor ceremony was held on October 14, 2017, at the Historic Town Square in Collierville. The bride’s grandfather, Pastor Dan Elkins of Trinity Lutheran Church, officiated.

The bride wore a vintage-inspired tea length dress and a handmade Juliet cap-style veil. She mixed new and old pearl earrings and borrowed stockings to complete her look. To round out the tradition, she added blue roses to her bouquet.

A reception followed at The Quonset in Collierville. After chowing down on some Memphis barbeque, guests grabbed a glow stick or two and danced the night away underneath vibrant décor.

After a honeymoon at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the newlyweds are at home in Memphis. The groom graduated from University of Memphis and works at Titan Fitness, and the bride works at Starbucks.

September 30, 2017 Memphis, Tennessee

Anna McCabe and Ryan Schuler were united in marriage on September 30, 2017. The bride is the daughter of Jesse and Debbie McCabe, who reside in Lakeland, Tennessee. The groom is the son of Don and Martha Schuler, who reside in Louisville, Kentucky.

The couple met in August 2013 when a mutual friend introduced them at the Slider Inn’s weekly trivia night.

But it wasn’t until January 2014 that they decided to take their friendship to the next level. Anna and Ryan were joined by five of their closest friends on that fateful first date, and it couldn’t have gone any smoother. The crew went ice skating in DeSoto before making their way to a bar downtown where Anna and Ryan shared their first kiss.

Two years later, the pair was engaged. Anna’s favorite holiday is Halloween, so Ryan decided to pop in the question in the most spirited way possible: in costume and surrounded by family and friends at a spooky celebration. Anna, the mermaid to Ryan’s Aquaman, said yes on October 29, 2016.

The ceremony was held at the Lichterman Nature Center Pavilion in Memphis on September 30, 2017.

Todd Price, a family friend, officiated. Two members of the wedding party, Lisa Babb and Pat Gordon, offered a few words about the bride and groom before the couple exchanged traditional vows. After saying “I do” and sharing their first kiss as a married couple, Anna and

Anna Clair McCabe & Ryan Christopher Schuler

Ryan exited the ceremony to Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling.”

The bride wore a one-of-a-kind dress designed by her close friend Ashley Whitten-Kopera. The duo used modern materials to create a backless halter gown inspired by the mother of the bride’s 1970s style.

For something old, she wrapped lace from her grandmother-in-law’s wedding dress around her bouquet. Much of the ceremony and reception décor served as something borrowed, and several members of the wedding party wore blue.

A reception followed at the Pavilion, affording many out-of-state guests the opportunity to catch up with the bride and groom. Their friend Jimmy Hoxie prepared a beautiful two-tiered chocolate and vanilla cake with buttercream frosting. DJ Jeff with DeepBlu Entertainment kept the party going throughout the night, even briefly foraying into karaoke at the groom’s request.

The newlyweds went on to honeymoon along the California coast and in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, before returning home to Memphis.

After graduating from the University of Memphis and Christian Brothers University, the bride works at the Pink Palace Family of Museums. The groom graduated from Murray State University in Kentucky and works at Bausch + Lomb.

BAKERY: JIMMY HOXIE CATERING: FASCINATING CATERING DRESS: ASHLEY WHITTEN KOPERA MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT: DJ JEFF AT DEEPBLU ENTERTAINMENT PHOTOGRAPHY: RAINEY SEGARS VENUE: LICHTERMAN NATURE CENTER VIDEOGRAPHY: RYAN SCHULER WEDDING PLANNER: SHANNON JEFFREY

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Carahills

Spitfire Acres

River Inn

Eads, TN

Southaven, MS

Memphis, TN

1 Memphis St

Cedar Ridge

Hedge Farm

Hernando, MS

Coldwater, MS

Byhalia, MS

Venerable Venues Highlighting the best places to get married in the Mid-South Location. Location. Location. Much like real estate, when it comes to weddings location is everything. A couple’s choice of venue can impact every aspect of their big day. Pictures last a lifetime and anniversary dates last a marriage the venue affects both of these, not to mention the bride’s dress. In the MidSouth, six particular venues specialize in making wedding dreams come true, Southern-style.

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Carahills

With roughly 20 years of experience in the wedding business under their belts, it is safe to say couples are in good hands when choosing Carahills for their big days.

Even with all that experience, Event Manager Wendy Caen explains that she is still always learning. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t look through magazines or look through Pinterest for ideas to improve the venue and follow trends. In the wedding industry, you’re always learning,” says Caen.

All that learning comes in extra handy for Carahills as a full-service venue offering a one-stop shop from catering to photography. Over the years they have seen themes from the classic fairytale weddings to the quirkier fantasy Star Wars and superhero themed weddings. For those who want to go the fairytale route, the venue can even accommodate a unicorn using their white Egyptian Arabian horse they have on the property. According to Caen their on-site planners even help brides with wording their invitations.

Offering full wedding coordination allows the venue to ease stress from the soon-to-be newlyweds minds so they can enjoy their engagement period. Should couples want to bring in vendors of their own though, the venue does offer credits for all but the catering.

For more information on Carahills, visit their website: carahills.com.

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February 2018

Eads, Tennessee

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There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t look through magazines or look through Pinterest for ideas to improve the venue and follow trends.

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Hernando, Mississippi

1 Memphis Street

Located in the heart of Hernando’s historic square, 1 Memphis Street is an optimal venue for those looking to a la carte their weddings. For every bit of convenience offered by a full-service venue, 1 Memphis offers the freedom of complete customization by couples bringing in the vendors of their personal choice. “Instead of using the same vendor for every event, it makes everyone different being your vendors, your way,” says 1 Memphis owner Gina.

From its exposed brick walls to its location on the square, 1 Memphis is a Southern Glam option with all the small town charm one expects from the Magnolia State.

The space was started by Gina and her husband Pieter in 2015 as the realization of a dream of theirs to purchase and restore the 1930’s cotton seed warehouse. Having fallen in love with the history and charm of the building, they decided to utilize the space best by bringing a sophisticated event space to Hernando’s back door.

Together they run the event space as a passion on top of their day jobs to fulfill a need and give back to their community.

For more information on 1 Memphis, visit their website: 1memphisstreet.com.

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Spitfire Acres

Southaven, Mississippi

Named for the movie, The Spitfire Grill, produced by Southaven resident, Roger Courts, Spitfire Acres is a botanical garden hidden gem located in Southaven, MS. The property covers over 5 acres with sprawling courtyards, trees, pond and lagoon-style pool.

When renovations were made in 2011, owner Barbara Murray explained that everyone wanted to stick around and party at the end of the day and on weekends, taking in the property. “I really had no choice because the property itself had decided what it was going to be: a meeting and gathering place for friends and families all over DeSoto County,” says Murray.

According to Murray, weddings are considered the penultimate party and Spitfire’s aim is for couples to enjoy their parties when the day comes. Although Spitfire is only a venue and not full-service wedding planning, Murray and manager Jan Chapman work to accommodate every bride’s request even agreeing once to allow a bride to have a flock of peacocks though the idea was thwarted by the mother of the bride. Peacocks or not, the lush greenery of Spitfire Acres knows how to party and holds its own.

For more information on Spitfire Acres, visit spitfireacres.com.

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February 2018

Cedar Ridge

Coldwater, Mississippi

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I do not do cookie cutter weddings; they are designed for one bride at a time

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Nestled on 160 acres of Mississippi countryside, Cedar Ridge offers the beauty of a wedding in nature with the convenience of a maintained property equipped with a wedding director on site. Offering both outdoor and pool house options, the venue comes with its own built-in rain back-up, so no tent required.

Now in its tenth year of operation as a venue, Cedar Ridge began offering weddings after family friends kept asking to use the property for their own weddings and popularity spread.

Through the years owners Debbie Smith and her husband Jimmy have maintained the family feeling even opening up their own home on the property to couples to take pictures on their grand stairs and in the chapel.

As a full-service venue, couples are offered the convenience of Cedar Ridge’s smooth operations, or welcome to bring in their own vendors. As with most full-service venues, owner Debbie Smith says that most couples do take advantage of the full package, which includes extensive catering options from Polynesian to BBQ. “I like to say I do boutique weddings. I do not do cookie cutter weddings; they are designed for one bride at a time,” says Smith. Thanks to the personalization and extensive access to Smith as a resource, especially the week of weddings, Cedar Ridge weddings are the closest you can get to your grandmother planning your wedding without actually having to have your grandma be busy planning your wedding.

For more information on Cedar Ridge, cedarridgeevents.net. myclickmag.com

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Hedge Farm

With a property dating back to the 1800’s, Hedge Farm is a venue fit for any Southern Belle brides. After successfully planning and hosting daughter Anna Cate’s wedding, Hedge Farms owner Layne Popernik and her husband decided to turn their love for hosting events and entertaining guests into a wedding business. “After doing my daughter’s wedding, I learned that venue is everything and that it can really make or break a wedding. We like to think of our venue as Southern elegance,” say Popernik.

Since opening in 2016, Hedge Farms has hosted over 20 weddings with 13 already planned for the year ahead. One of the special things about Hedge Farms as a venue, besides the property itself, is that they only book one wedding a weekend and brides have access to the venue all weekend - Friday, Saturday and Sunday. While the venue does offer full-service weddings, the extended access feature is particularly beneficial for the DIY brides who can take advantage of the extra setup and take down time and not have to do it all on their special day.

In addition to added decorating time offered to couples, the property has an Airbnb on it and guesthouse that is provided to the newlyweds for their wedding night at no extra charge. “We do not want brides to feel rushed on the morning of their wedding or after everything is over. I think the full weekend access is really what sets us apart,” says Popernik.

For more information on Hedge Farm, visit hedgefarmevents.com.

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February 2018

Byhalia, Mississippi

Memphis, Tennessee

River Inn

From Elvis impersonators to the Royal Guard, Memphis’ River Inn is no stranger to unique wedding requests. For brides looking for a quintessential Memphis wedding, the hotel is second to none. “Elvis was definitely a fun one - they made the request for an impersonator and my assistant and I found one and made it happen,” says River Inn’s director of marketing and events, Jennifer Rorie.

Located on Harbor Town in downtown Memphis, the inn’s location not only offers sunset views of the Mississippi, but also convenience for out of town guests and wedding party alike. The downtown location is easily accessible from the highway and a destination for those wanting to take advantage of the tourism the city has to offer. Couples have the option of booking bridal and honeymoon suite offers from the hotel, plus packages for guests to stay at the inn meaning no excuses for anyone to show up late.

The convenience of River Inn is not just limited to its location since the venue is full-service. From food catered from Memphis-staple Paulette’s to place settings, Rorie and River Inn are there to make your wedding dreams come true each step of the way. “The convenience, location and beauty of it all - it is definitely something to see,” says Rorie.

For more information on weddings at River Inn, visit their website: riverhallmemphis.net. myclickmag.com

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See & Do

Fellowship of Christian Athletes Breakfast with Dan Reeves Thursday, February 8, 2018, 7–8:30 a.m.

Landers Center, Southaven

Former NFL head coach Dan Reeves will speak at this year’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) breakfast extravaganza. Before he became a head coach for the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, he was as a running back for the Dallas Cowboys.

Proceeds from the event will help the FCA in its mission to educate student athletes, coaches, and leaders, and empower them to use their platform to spread the gospel.

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Experience Senatobia

ffb1.com 700 North Robinson | 662-562-7290

Drink

Mango Caipiroska Fight the winter blues with an instant tropical vacation for the taste buds Recipe & photo courtesy of Serena Wolf

Yield: 1 cocktail Ingredients 4 lime quarters ¼ cup diced mango 1 teaspoon turbinado sugar ¼ cup vodka

Instructions In a rocks glass, muddle the lime quarters, mango, and sugar.

(Don't go too crazy, people. If you over muddle the limes, your drink will taste bitter.)

Fill the glass with crushed ice, then stir in the vodka. Garnish with a lime round and extra diced mango if you like. Bottoms up.

If you have a sweet tooth, feel free to add an extra ½-1 teaspoon of sugar. myclickmag.com

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February 2018