September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.  Childhood cancer affects a staggering number of families each year.  Approximately 15,780 children will be diagnosed in 2015, and a quarter of those precious little ones will not survive this horrific and confusing disease. September aims to raise funds for research and ground-breaking treatments to better fight childhood cancer.

Many Mississippians know a family battling childhood cancer. Often, it is hard to know how to support, love and pray for these families.   Emily Ruff Witcher, founder of Ruff Draft Papers, has created a beautifully sweet prayer card, stating “For this child I have prayed.”  It is the perfect card to send to a friend or loved one with a sick child.

Emily started her business in 2010 and specializes in custom stationary and beautiful invitations.  She creates "Custom Papers for Pretty Occasions."  Emily says, “I love to take themes for parties and customize the invitation in a way that can’t be found at your every day retail store.  The invitation is the first glimpse people get into an event, so it should always set the stage and be fabulous and fun!”

Emily is a dear friend of a family whose child recently lost a long, brave fight with cancer.  During his treatment, his family inspired her to create the lovely prayer cards.  “I always love getting notes in the mail on pretty stationery and knew that a pretty prayer card would be a small way the family would feel loved by those whose lives they have touched by their faith and strength in the middle of this storm,” says Emily.

We have no doubt Emily's prayer cards will bring tears of joy and gratitude to anyone who receives them.  Thank you, Emily, for sharing your pretty papers! If you are interested in purchasing some of Emily’s sweet cards or custom invitations, please email her at [email protected]

You can also visit her website here!

"The Mississippi Delta is not always dark with rain.  Some autumn mornings, the sun rises over Moon Lake, or Eagle, or Choctaw, or Blue, or Roebuck, all the wide, deep waters of the state, and when it does, its dawn is as rosy with promise and hope as any other."  Lewis Nordan, Wolf Whistle

Mississippi is simply stunning in the fall, and we are excited to unveil our gorgeous autumn magazine cover today!  We truly hope you love it as much as we do. 

Also, we are thrilled to share our Modern Dress Inspiration photo shoot with you!  With beautiful beading, shiny silks, exquisite pleating and structured fabrics, these gowns all create a perfectly modern silhouette. 

Location at The South Warehouse
Photography by Adam + Alli Photography
Dresses by The Bridal Path
Hair & Makeup by Barnette's Salon
Rentals by Modern Revival Rentals
Dance Floor by Mississippi Tent
Lighting by Davaine Lighting

Music Garden is Mississippi’s ultimate booking agency for musical entertainment.  If you are in search of a great band for your wedding reception or event, Music Garden will guide you through the process.  They will help you choose the perfect entertainment for your event!  Founder Martin Brasfield says, “We have enjoyed perfecting methods of bringing brides and wedding planners the best entertainment for their receptions and providing as much support as we can throughout the process.”

What a fascinating and fun agency!  We are thrilled to tell you more about Music Garden through Martin’s eyes:

Tell us the history behind Music Garden.  When and why was the company started?
“I had a band management company back in the late 1980's.  In my role as manager, part of my job description was to make sure my artists worked every week.  I constantly had independent bands asking me to book them as well, so I started finding them work.  In 1992, I started the booking agency Music Garden - catering to college fraternities and sororities.  A lot of my party/dance bands became extremely popular with the students, so when they (the students) graduated and got ready to ‘tie the knot,’ they would call me for a reception band.  Through the years, Music Garden has grown into a wedding reception band agency with well over 60% of our business being wedding related."

How does Music Garden choose the exclusive bands on your roster? 
“Through the years, Music Garden's agents have learned what brides and planners want in a reception band.  We are very careful about which bands we bring to our exclusive roster.  Before accepting a band as exclusive, we see a show, meet with the band, consider their entertainment level and professionalism as well as their musical ability and appearance.  Again, we are very selective. So, unfortunately, we often have to turn down bands that want to be on our roster if they don't score high enough in any of those areas. When we do bring in a new band to the roster, we prepare the right marketing material that best represents the band including a professional video (which most people insist on these days while looking for an act for their event).”  

What advantages do clients have booking a band through Music Garden?
"At Music Garden, we can have up to fifty receptions taking place in a week, so we have a lot of experience. We offer the best selection of professional, fun, and talented wedding bands.  Our selection process (described above) narrows down the list, which saves our clients from having to go through that arduous task themselves. We then monitor each performance by sending wedding questionnaires to the customers, following each event, for feedback and any constructive criticism, which is discussed with the band so that each band is constantly improving in every area. This helps ensure that when you book a Music Garden band, you are getting a quality service.”

 Tell us the process for booking a band and working with a Music Garden Agent!
“You can email or call our office with your date, city and band choice, or we can offer some selections for your genre preference that we know are available for your date.  We then send a quote and video link (if you would like to see that) and references are always available upon request if you would like to hear from a previous customer about their experience.  Once you have made your choice, we finalized the booking with a deposit and a contract, locking in that band for your special day. Our agents can get the answers for any questions you may have about what it takes to prepare for a live band at your reception.  Music Garden will be here to remind you about some details the band will need to know as your date approaches and will help in any way to make your band a success.”

Why is a good band such a vital part of a wedding reception or event?
“I am constantly being told that the band was the most important part of the reception.  The reception is the time of celebration when friends and family of the bride and groom are supposed to be having a fun time.  A great band can make the reception a lasting positive memory for the bride, groom and all of the guests.”

We totally agree. “Through the years, Music Garden has been able to build our roster with some of the top bands in the southeast.  We have people from all over the country that reach out to us to book Music Garden bands like Az-IzZ, Musical Fantasy, Compozitionz, Big Night Dynamite, Park Band, Main Attraction, 2nd Coming, Accent, Fountain City Players, Norris Dates and Power Surge, Creativity, Tim Tyler, Fly By Radio, Lucky Town, Blackberry Breeze, Black Jacket, 4 Barrel Funk , and Powerhouse,” says Martin.  “We are so fortunate to have great bands like these.  It definitely makes our jobs easier. ”

Thank you, Martin, for sharing more about your fantastic agency.  For more information on Music Garden, please visit their website here!

Calling all princesses!  Does your little one love playing dress up in beautiful gowns and glittering tiaras?  Is she dreaming of meeting her favorite Disney princess?  We have the perfect excuse to treat your sweet girl to a magical tea party.  Once Upon A Fairytale: A Mother Daughter Princess Tea, will take place in The South Warehouse in downtown Jackson on Sunday, October 18.  The precious event will help raise money for Eagle’s Nest Children’s Home in Guatemala, helping to send its young residents to school! 

Founder Jenny Blount says, “God used adoption to build our family and it has been one of the biggest blessings of my life.” After adopting her child, Jenny felt pulled to help children in countries where adoption is not an option.  Guatemala is not open for adoption, so most of the children at Eagle’s Nest Children’s Home live there until they turn 18.  Jenny says, “A solid education is incredibly valuable in preparing them for adulthood.  The goal of our event is to raise enough money to send every child at Eagle’s Nest to school for an entire year!”

At Once Upon A Fairytale, tiny guests will mingle with six live princesses (including Cinderella!), sip tea and lemonade, and enjoy a delicious three-course afternoon tea menu, provided by Fresh Cut Catering. 

Prior to the tea, a limited number of spots will be available for little girls to have their hair and makeup done by professionals from Tangles Salon!  A boutique appointment costs an additional $10 per child.

What a memorable experience for young girls and their mothers!  Tea times are at 1:00 p.m. and at 4:00 p.m. and remember, princess costumes are highly encouraged!!  

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.fairytaleprincesstea.com! 

Today celebrates the 90th birthday of a legend.  Riley "B.B." King was born in Mississippi on September 16, 1925.  Though he passed into eternity on May 14 of this year, his Blues and his warm spirit live on.  

David Rahaim of The Iron Horse Grill says, "We remember and honor B.B. King for his altruism, good cheer, wonderful work ethic, and most of all for his music, a wonderful gift we will treasure forever."

Mr. King's Blues continue to inspire musicians and music lovers throughout the world, and the Iron Horse Grill in downtown Jackson has opened an incredible new Mississippi Music Experience, dedicated to our state, the birthplace of America's music.

"Guests will make their way through decades of Mississippi music history while learning more about favorite artists like B.B. King, Jimmy Buffett, Bo Diddly, Robert Johnson, Honeyboy Edwards, Son House, Howlin' Wolf, and Tommy Johnson through informative placards, signed memorabilia, iconic instruments, & classic concert videos," says Rahaim.

The free museum is in the heart of downtown Jackson, and guests will surely be amazed by the extraordinary impact Mississippi has had on the world of music. 

"These exhibits are highlighted by life-size & life-like wax statues of the musicians hand-crafted by award-winning local master doll maker Anne Robin Luckett," says Rahaim.  "The stunning statues include 'The Singing Brakeman' Jimmie Rodgers, Jaimoe seated at his famous drum kit, Pinetop Perkins at his piano, & even an epic interaction between The King of Rock & Roll Elvis Presley and the Sith Lord Darth Vader."

The Iron Horse Grill is an iconic building in Jackson.  Rahaim says, "Once ravaged by time and the elements the 1906 Armour Smokehouse has been rebuilt with appreciation for its historic aesthetic and updated for 21st century sensibilities."  The Iron Horse Grill is a warm and cozy haunt, filled with wood, red brick and leather.  "The original Iron Horse chef, Pierre Pryer, is the heart of the wood-fire kitchen and has a commitment to consistently delicious food.  He still prepares his popular signature dishes just as he did during the restaurant's first incarnation." 

The Iron Horse Grill:  the perfect spot for a drink after work, a delicious meal, and a place to honor Mississippi's talented musicians.  Joseph Simpson adds, "We decided to create the Mississippi Music Experience in the Iron Horse Grill partnering with the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame to tell our State's story and hopefully be a jumping off point for tourism.  Fly into our Capital City, eat great food, listen to great music, learn about the history, and then travel and see it for yourself." 

For more information on The Iron Horse Grill, please visit their website here!