We've been waiting for quite a long time for this blog post and could not be more thrilled to share our news with all of you today!
For the past {almost} year, we have been busy working with Southern Living + Oxmoor House writing a book, "The Southern Living Wedding Planner and Keepsake: What to do before saying 'I do' " which will be officially available in a few weeks on January 3, 2012 at bookstores and on Amazon.
The planner is a guide to planning your wedding...no matter how big or small in size or budget...and is a fresh approach on how to stay organized, what to expect at each step and hopefully (mostly) stress free through the process! We were also incredibly excited to include our talented colleague, Kate Headley, as the exclusive photographer of the book with hundreds of Kate's beautiful images as inspiration.
A few sneak peeks...
...and of course we want to share in our excitement...so we'll be giving away several copies when the book is available to ship! Leave us a comment below {and a working email} and we'll announce 5 winners on December 3rd....
Thanks so much for letting us share our news...it's been an incredible experience and we are VERY grateful to everyone we worked with on the project and all of our fellow wedding vendors, clients and families for their support! We also have the utmost regard for all authors out there with a new appreciation for the discipline, focus and pots of coffee a project like this takes! xo, m + k
Congratulations Maria and Kelly! Can't wait to get a copy! xoxo
Posted by: Courtney | November 18, 2011 at 06:24 AM
Wow! Congratulations! This sounds like it was such a fun project :)
Xo and Congratulations again!!!!!!
Posted by: Amy W | November 18, 2011 at 07:19 AM
GIANT congratulations!!! This is incredible and I'm so happy for you both! xoxo
Posted by: Kristen Nichols | November 18, 2011 at 07:30 AM
Congrats ladies!! What a stellar accomplishment!
jsnow@westintysonscorner.com
Posted by: Jackie Snow | November 18, 2011 at 07:32 AM
Many, many congratulations!! Sharing in your excitement!
Posted by: Adambarnesphoto | November 18, 2011 at 07:45 AM
Congrats! The book looks fantastic!!
Posted by: Audrey | November 18, 2011 at 08:15 AM
Congratulations!! This is so exciting for you both!! I have already ordered my copy!!
Posted by: Holly Chapple | November 18, 2011 at 08:19 AM
How exciting! Congrats!
Posted by: Leslie Elsaifi | November 18, 2011 at 08:24 AM
I would like to win this book.
Posted by: Zelda | November 18, 2011 at 08:31 AM
It's an amazing accomplishment, as one of the few people who has seen it, you should be very very proud. Congratulations!!!
Posted by: kate | November 18, 2011 at 08:32 AM
HUGE congrats ladies!!! So happy for you! I can't imagine two better people to write this book. I know I'm already married, but will definitely still be getting my copy when it comes out:) Can't wait! xoxo
Posted by: Emily | November 18, 2011 at 08:36 AM
Awesome! Looks like a really helpful planning tool!
Posted by: Margaret | November 18, 2011 at 08:53 AM
Congratulations, ladies!! I'm sure it will be wonderful!
Posted by: Emily @ Southern Weddings | November 18, 2011 at 09:15 AM
Kelly and Maria,
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Wow, so excited for you two Ritzy ladies. That is really wonderful news:)! Can't wait to read the book and share with our "southern" Florida girls:) Congratulations! xoxo~Rebecca
Posted by: Rebecca D'Amato | November 18, 2011 at 09:20 AM
It looks amazing! I missed the Southern Living Weddings issues when they went out of print!!! I used to work in consumer marketing at SPC and I would go in our closet and look at back issues of SLW! Ah the good old days!!:) This also will be so helpful! Can't wait to win (ha) or buy a copy and give one to a best friend of mine who is getting married next April!
Paige Prince
paige.prince@gmail.com
Posted by: Paige Prince | November 18, 2011 at 09:30 AM
How exciting! I just found you through a tweet from Kiss the Groom - and I'm thrilled for you!
And as a wedding vendor, you know I can't afford to miss out on what my brides will be reading, so I'm totally in for a copy of this one!
Posted by: kelly | November 18, 2011 at 09:52 AM
so exciting!! congratulations!!
Posted by: jacin {lovely little details} | November 18, 2011 at 09:54 AM
Love this! Even if I don't win it, I'll certainly be buying my copy come January to work on my 2012 Georgia wedding!
rebekah.henry@gmail.com
Posted by: Rebekah | November 18, 2011 at 10:07 AM
oh wow, that is terrific! i just got married, but would still love to have a copy of what it sure to be total eye-candy! congrats, ladies :)
Posted by: sarah k | November 18, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Congrats! Looking amazing! Can't wait to see it live and in person!
Posted by: Sara | November 18, 2011 at 10:26 AM
The book looks great! I'll have to get a copy for my friend whose wedding is in June!!
Posted by: Ashley | November 18, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Congratulations Kelly and Maria! Even though you already helped me plan my wedding, I may not be able to resist the book!
Posted by: Kristen | November 18, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Congratulations, it looks like a beauty! Keeping my fingers crossed and hope I win! :)
Posted by: Regina | November 18, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Book looks great! I hope I win one. :-)
Posted by: Erica | November 18, 2011 at 10:55 AM
how lovely! *give yourselves a pat on the back* i'd love to add this to my library!
Posted by: Ashley | November 18, 2011 at 11:01 AM
That's great news. Congrats. I would love to get my hands on a copy.
dagmaral(at)gmail(dot)com
Posted by: dagmara | November 18, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Congrats! I'm so excited to see it!!
Posted by: Lisa Marie of Sweet Tea Photography | November 18, 2011 at 11:25 AM
I cannot wait to see it!
xosidra
Posted by: sidraforman | November 18, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Even though you did the hard work for us already ;) I feel like I still need this book! xo
Posted by: Allison S. | November 18, 2011 at 12:20 PM
You guys rock! So happy for all three of you!
Posted by: Amber Rodland | November 18, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Congrats!!
Posted by: Tamara | November 18, 2011 at 12:43 PM
Congratulations! I'm so happy that Virginia is represented so well in Southern Living's Wedding publications!
Posted by: Jeannine @ Small & Chic | November 18, 2011 at 12:44 PM
Congrats!
Posted by: Sarah B | November 18, 2011 at 12:45 PM
This looks like exactly what I've been looking for! I would love to win this book!!
I found you guys through weddingbee and I will definitely be adding this site to my list to look at every day!
samandjack91512@gmail.com
Posted by: Samantha Ingmanson | November 18, 2011 at 12:47 PM
Congrats on the book! I would love to win a copy! prettymindy at gmail dot com
Posted by: Mindy | November 18, 2011 at 01:13 PM
Congratulations! The book looks beautiful and will be very usefull to all that get a copy of it (hope I can get one). :) irishlizebeth@yahoo.com
Posted by: Joni Elizebeth | November 18, 2011 at 01:14 PM
I'd LOOOVE to get a cop! Congrats on your book!
Posted by: Nicole | November 18, 2011 at 01:37 PM
Congratulations! Can't wait to see the book in person!
Posted by: Brittany P. | November 18, 2011 at 01:55 PM
Congrats to the Ritzy Bee team! You worked very hard on the book and it looks beautiful. Great Work!
Congrats to the Southern Living brand as well. It seems like a great match between Ritzy Bee and Southern Living.
Posted by: Paul | November 18, 2011 at 01:59 PM
amazing! Congrats :)
Posted by: The Perfect Palette | November 18, 2011 at 02:02 PM
It's beautiful! I know I'll have to pick one up!
Posted by: Heather | November 18, 2011 at 02:35 PM
Wow! Congrats to both of you!
Posted by: Lesley | November 18, 2011 at 02:41 PM
Congratulations Maria and Kelly - you are a true inspiration to us all. Wishing you much success and happiness. Emilie Hilsenrath (Bliss)
Posted by: Emilie | November 18, 2011 at 03:05 PM
Amazing! congratulations! and the book is great...
Posted by: Marcela | Wholesale Roses Co | November 18, 2011 at 03:20 PM
How Exciting!! Just found your site through Ruffled and I'm in love. You ladies are so inspiring. Would love to have this book!
marthalynn16 (at) gmail (dot) com
Posted by: Marthalynn | November 18, 2011 at 04:34 PM
Congratulations Ladies!!
Posted by: Alyson L. | November 18, 2011 at 04:41 PM
What exciting news! Congratulations! I read your blog daily and would LOVE to have the book to help in my wedding planning over the coming months :)
Posted by: Cameron | November 18, 2011 at 04:45 PM
It looks BEAUTIFUL. Well done girls!
Posted by: Belathee | November 18, 2011 at 04:50 PM
Congrats, the book looks amazing!!
Posted by: Elizabeth Ann | November 18, 2011 at 05:10 PM
This book looks so nice! Even though there are so many wedding resources out there- they can be overwhelming. It will be nice to have this book as an all-in-one guide to help me through the planning process. Congratulations on your achievement! Thanks for the sneak peek - I can't wait to flip through every page.
Posted by: Alyssa | November 18, 2011 at 05:13 PM