{Bride}  Alice Li
{Groom} Spencer Barrett
{Hometowns} Madison, MS
{Wedding Site} The South Warehouse in Jackson, MS
{Reception Site} The South Warehouse in Jackson, MS
{Bride’s Bouquet} peach, ivory, and pink garden roses, standard roses, and spray roses
{Bridesmaid Bouquets} Smaller versions of mine

{How did the two of you meet?}
We were high school sweethearts.  I never had a car of my own in high school, so I would get a ride from Spencer to different meetings and events for school groups that we were both involved in.  We got to know each other during these car rides, and we’ve been in love ever since.

{What is your proposal story?}
So my real name is Yang but I go by Alice, which is an English name that I picked for myself when my family moved from China to the US.  My favorite movie at the time was Alice in Wonderland, the animated Disney version, and it still holds a special place in my heart.  Spencer found out about this really amazing and intricate Alice in Wonderland pop-up book which he found at Lemuria Books in Jackson.  He pretended to be giving me the book as my birthday present while snuggling around a fire in the backyard on a chilly fall evening.  When I got to the last page, a pop-up Alice was holding up the ring.  Spencer then got down on one knee and proposed, and, of course, I said yes!  Luckily we have beautiful photographs of the proposal because the moment was secretly being captured by Spencer’s mom who is an incredible photographer.

{What inspired your wedding and reception locations?}
I had always wanted an outdoor wedding, but a summer wedding in Mississippi is most comfortable indoors with air conditioning.  Therefore, we went for a space that could be transformed into my enchanted garden vision.  We also wanted a separate space where the Chinese ceremony could take place.  Therefore, the South Warehouse with its two spaces and versatility was the perfect place for us.

{What inspired your color scheme/theme/flowers?}
The enchanted garden theme came about mostly because I had wanted an outdoor wedding so much.  Both Spencer and I are outdoorsy people, and we enjoy doing things like hiking, rock climbing, and fishing.  The natural beauty and romance of the outdoors is something I really wanted to incorporate into the feel of the wedding. 

{How did you pick “the dress?”}
I looked for dresses in both Mississippi and Nashville, TN (where I went to college) because I wanted to share the experience with both my family and my friends.  On one of my trips in Nashville, my friend Victoria picked out this dress and said, “Isn’t this what you’ve been describing?”  It was kind of love at first sight.  However, it wasn’t until I tried it on a second time that I could actually commit to it.  I just couldn’t stop thinking about it and kept comparing all the dresses I tried on to it.

{What’s your favorite unique accessory? Is there a story behind it?}
I’m not really much of a jewelry girl, but I do love shoes.  So my favorite accessory was my shoes.  I had been dreaming about a specific pair of Jimmy Choos but was sure that I could never justify paying so much for shoes I’d only wear for one day.  However, due to some luck, I actually found a great deal on the exact shoes I wanted.  They were absolutely perfect, and I’m still trying to find excuses to wear them!

{What was your favorite part of the wedding planning process?}
This is a really tough question.  I honestly think my favorite part was just knowing that I was planning the day I would finally be married to my best friend.  Knowing that was sometimes the only that kept me going because wedding planning can get complicated!

{Besides the actual wedding, what was your favorite moment of the wedding day?}
Spencer and I got our groomsmen and bridesmaids all together on the morning of the wedding for a delicious brunch.  Since a lot of our groomsmen and bridesmaids were coming from out of town, they weren’t able to get to Jackson until the day of the wedding.  It was really great to be able to sit down with all of the wedding party and get to relax and eat a delicious brunch before the hectic wedding day ahead.

{What was your favorite surprise detail/moment about your wedding day?}
My bridesmaids of honor (I had 2) had prepared a speech for me, but couldn’t work up the nerve to give it in front of all the guests.  They ended up pulling me aside into the dressing room to give me their speech that they had prepared, which I think turned out even better than giving it in front of everyone because it was such a sweet moment. 

{Your favorite picture from the big day?}
I have a ton of favorite pictures! Michael and Dianne Barrett, my photographers, did such a great job.  I would have to say that my favorite photos are from the first look photos, which we actually weren’t going to do, but ended up being a fantastic decision.

{The picture that represents the two of you best?}
There is a picture of the two of us with our hands up in the air right after the ceremony that captured our happiness and relief perfectly.  It was probably the most candid shot of the day.

Photographer: Barrett Photography
Event Planner: Kendall Poole Event Planning 
Dress: Maggie Sottero  
Bride’s Jewelry: Glitz Bridal in Nashville, TN
Hair and Make up: Molly Gee
Bridesmaid Dresses: Etsy
Tuxes: Tuxes Too 
Videographer: Thomas Wallace
Venue: The South Warehouse 
Lighting: Fresh Cut Catering & Floral 
Rentals: Fresh Cut Catering & Floral 
Florist: Fresh Cut Catering & Floral 
Catering: Fresh Cut Catering & Floral
Bar: World of Wines
Band: Crowd Pleasers/DJ Old School 
Bride’s Cake: Cakes by Iris 
Groom’s Cake: Missy Pierce
Print Material: Fresh Ink

Did you know that Saturday, April 4, is International Pillow Fight Day? 

Let’s celebrate this silly holiday by turning it into something extraordinary. 

Inspiration Mississippi is honored to partner with The Salvation Army and Babalu Tacos & Tapas in Jackson for International Pillow Fight Day.  On Saturday, April 4, from 11am until 11pm, Babalu will be accepting pillows that will be donated to The Salvation Army of Jackson!  We are so inspired by The Salvation Army's belief in "Caring for the poor. Feeding the hungry. Sheltering the homeless. Clothing the naked. Loving the unlovable. Befriending the friendless."

As an added bonus, Babalu will be gifting a FREE APPETIZER card good for the next visit to everyone who donates a pillow.  Giving someone in need a comfortable pillow – and free food?  It sounds like a holiday worth celebrating to us.

We hope to see all of you on Saturday, April 4, at Babalu Tacos & Tapas in Fondren!

A huge thank you to Mary Moment Photography for the adorable photos!

Thank you to Babalu Tacos & Tapas for partnering with us on this fun event!  And to The Salvation Army for transforming the lives of so many Mississippians.

“We have the worst hunger problem in America. Almost 1 in 4 Mississippians — about 690,000 people — don’t have enough to eat. More than 1 in 4 children go to bed hungry most every night.”  The Mississippi Food Network

There is a staggering number of Mississippians facing hunger each and every day, leaving countless children and adults wondering where they will find their next meal.

Thankfully, Mississippi Food Network provides nourishing food to hungry Mississippians.  “Like all food banks, Mississippi Food Network relies on lots of people, places, and systems to get food to hungry people around the state. We partner with 415 agencies — including food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, churches, and other charities — to make that happen,” says Mississippi Food Network.  Remarkably, Mississippi Food Network provides meals for over 150,000 people every month.  For every dollar raised, they can provide seven meals. 

March is National Nutrition Month, bringing awareness to nutritional foods and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.  You have an incredible opportunity to learn more about fresh foods grown in our state, and help provide meals for hungry Mississippians as well!

On Thursday, March 26, Mississippi Food Network will be hosting an extraordinary event, Moonlight Market, at the Jackson Farmer’s Market on High Street.  This will surely be an unforgettable evening.

Marilyn Blackledge, Director of External Affairs, says, “This is our first time to have Moonlight Market.  It came about because everyone is interested in healthier living and healthier food options.  Everyone loves the farmer’s market, so we wanted to tie that in with a local chef and delicious dinner.”

Guests will be treated with a tasty supper while sipping on a signature cocktail from Mississippi’s beloved Cathead Vodka.  During the meal, local Executive Chef Labron Alexander will dazzle everyone with a wonderful demonstration.  He will prepare three signature dishes – all with a nourishing twist.

Following dinner and the demonstration, guests will peruse the Farmer’s Market, and visit with local vendors selling fresh produce, local honey, coffee, shrimp and more. 

To purchase tickets for Moonlight Market, please click here.  Tickets are $40 for individuals or $75 per couple. 

For more information on Mississippi Food Network, visit their website here.  Thank you to the Mississippi Food Network for all of your fantastic work. 

Today is officially the first day of spring, and we think it is cause for celebration!   We are thrilled to unveil our spectacular new Inspiration Mississippi Magazine cover:

A special thank you to the talented team at Adam + Alli Photography for capturing this incredible shot. 

As an additional treat, we are excited to give you a peek at our Bohemian Wedding Dress shoot from the Magazine.  We hope you are as in love with these breathtaking looks as we are!

Thank you to the following vendors who came together to make this gorgeous shoot possible:

Adam + Alli Photography for the stunning shots

The Bridal Path for the beautifully detailed gowns

Molly Gee Designs for the lovely hair and makeup

Modern Revival Rentals for the perfectly bohemian rental pieces

Are you looking to buy a home? We are proud to host an incredibly insightful event with Metropolitan Bank on Thursday, March 26!  Whether you're becoming a homeowner for the first time or you're a repeat buyer, buying a home requires thoughtful planning and decision making. Working with an experienced team is your most important step!

Join us on March 26, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for a complimentary event at Metropolitan Bank [1069 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland] to learn the 10 Steps to Buying a Home from the reliable, experienced Realtors of Polles Properties, LLC and the accomplished mortgage lending team of Metropolitan Bank.

Catering and spirits will be provided by Georgia Blue Catering!

Click here to register for this wonderful event! 

Our February Get Inspired event at SKIN the Spa at the Runnels Center was a great success.  Thank you to all of our gracious vendors who treated guests to makeup and skin consultations and delicious fare.  Also, a special thank you to Christina Foto for capturing these lovely photographs at the event!

We look forward to seeing you at our March Get Inspired event!