Mary (who is finishing medical school) and Terrance (who is an IT guy) first met when a mutual family member was born 14 years ago. Mary had a huge crush on Terrance, but he didnt know it. To her surprise he asked Mary on a date 4 years ago. She still doesn't know what prompted it or how long he had been thinking about it, but she quickly said yes. They were engaged on
Nov 29, 2009. Mary was thrilled to wake up to breakfast cooking since sone of her favorite things is eating. She came downstairs to flowers on the table and card. Mary said she knew there was something was going on, but Terrance played it cool at first and told her it was all in appreciation of her. They ate the wonderful breakfast Terrance had cooked, they talked about nothing in particular and then Terrance asked Mary to read the card he had laid out for her. While Mary was reading the card, Terrance got on one knee, had the ring in his hand and was asking her for her hand in marriage. Mary was so hysterical she can't remember anything he said. The rest is history and will be so fun to watch it play out in Oct. when they are married! Their ceremony will be held at Terrance's church, The Church of St. John and their reception will follow for family and friends at the beautiful Noah Liff Opera Center.

Mary and Terrance chose the fabulous Divine Images for the wedding photography company and Leslie was kind enough to share their engagement photos with us. This gives a beautiful glimpse into Mary and Terrance's personalities and I can't wait to see the wedding pictures! Congratulations to this sweet couple!

Wedding favors are often an after thought for a lot of wedding couples. You can be overwhelmed with ideas or blocked of thoughts of how to incorporate your wedding into such a small item! Cost is another major factor keeping couples from providing that extra treat for their guests. Here are some new ideas for 2011, cost efficient options, and also some of my favorite favors no matter the theme! Keep in mind that all favors should be personable, useful, and/or tasteful. If this can't be accomplished in a way that you are satisfied then don't offer them. There is nothing worse than a tacky favor! As fond of your new initial as you may be, no one really cares to drink out of one wine glass at home that has your initial on it, or a coffee mug for that matter! I have also seen homemade muffins get turned away because of their packaging alone! If you go to the trouble of making something, make sure your guests will want to accept them. If they can't tell what is under the purple cellophane and they got squished by family members who piled them into a basket, most people will decline to take one no matter how delicious they may taste. Presentation is everything!

Make them yourself- A common trend these days is DIY. Either option is very personable and rewarding, but it can also be time consuming. Brides today are working full time, some have children from a previous marriage or some are trying to wrap up school so the idea of spending several nights a week on favors isn't realistic. That's where Etsy comes in handy! This site is fabulous for all items hand made! Also consider if you don't make the favors by hand you can certainly package them by hand!

You said your nuptials, ate your wedding cake, toasted your glasses and partied all night with your friends and family. Now it's time to get away and relax. If you're looking to do nothing but sit on the beach and watch the waves, then there are plenty of places to go. The Hawaiian islands are a popular destination and according to Conde Nast Traveler, Ko'a Kea Hotel & Resort on the island of Kauai is a must-visit.
If you are looking for a destination that requires a passport, Europe is home to several hip hotels. La Reserve Ramatuelle in France is a few minutes from the legendary village of Saint-Tropez and overlooks the Mediterranean.

If you have a tighter budget than what France may afford you, London has several hip hotels if your wallet has already been stretched by your wedding.


But if you're short on time and need to stay close to home, take a trip to Louisville and stay at the 21c Museum Hotel. Rated the No. 1 hotel in America in 2009, the 90-room boutique hotel has a contemporary art museum nestled in its lobby and an award-winning restaurant that features modern American food with Tuscan influences.


If you want to head up to the northeast, you must stay at Boston's hottest new boutique hotel located in the heart of the city. Ames, A Morgans Original Hotel, is a contemporary hotel with character and a little funkiness.

How about a little Jazz...Loft 523 in New Orleans is a urban oasis in the Big Easy. The boutique hotel doesn't even have a street sign and it opened with out the usual Fan Fare of the city. The lobby is small in comparison to the enormous rooms. The Penthouse One has it's own private terrace and small pool. Very urban and clean in design, I have personally stayed at this property and loved that it was atop one of the hippest local watering holes and is the first hotel in New Orleans to offer wireless internet access. For those traveling with their beloved....pet, that is, it is welcoming to your furry friends! Looking for a particularly romantic place? Head to the majestic hills of Jade Mountain in St. Lucia. Voted as one of the world's top 5 hotels by Travel & Leisure, the island's most exclusive resort has 28 open-air suites with either infinity pools or private Jacuzzis.

If you want to go on a wild safari, then Bushmans Kloof/Wilderness Reserve & Wellness Retreat in South Africa is the place for you. Rated No. 1 hotel in the world by Travel & Leisure in 2009, the full service hideaway focuses on wellness.

I am excited to have Jennifer and Flint's wedding coming up in Oct. I am late in posting their engagement session photos and sharing their story but it's a cute one! Worth the wait! Enjoy...

Jennifer Courtney Devine is the daughter of Bill and Cynthia Berkley and Michael and Susan Devine of Brentwood, Tennessee. She is a 1998 graduate of Father Ryan High School in Nashville; and a graduate in Public Relations / Spanish at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. She is employed by SimplexGrinnell in Nashville as a sales representative.



Flint Casey Mac Adam is the son of Fritz and Colleen Adam of Fayetteville, Georgia. He is a 1998 graduate of Fayette County High School in Fayetteville; a 2002 graduate in Broadcast Journalism at Georgia State University in Atlanta. He is employed by WZTV-FOX 17 News in Nashville as a weekend weathercaster and weekday reporter.
Flint has several older siblings: Steve, Mike, Ingrid, Chris, Kirsten, and Greta.

How they met:

On a cold and snowy morning in March 2008, Jennifer woke up and flipped on the TV. Tennessee Mornings on FOX 17 was airing, and on the tube was a cold and sick Flint... reporting in the ice and snow. Even with the harsh weather, Flint kept his report light-hearted and animated, and Jennifer thought this young reporter was "funny and cute."
She remembered his name and decided she'd look him up. Later in the day she logged on to MySpace and found Flint's profile. He was her age... and single! So, she added him as a "buddy" on her friend's list.
Flint got the buddy-request and checked out her profile... thinking "this chick is pretty hot." He accepted the request and e-mailed his new friend... and the two hit it off!
After a few phone conversations, Jennifer and Flint went on their first date at wine bar Rumours East in Nashville on Thursday, March 13, 2008.
The two had a great time drinking wine and chatting... a real connection was made.

At the end of the evening, Flint walked Jennifer to her car and asked if he could kiss her good night. She said "yes"...