04/10/2025
𝐀 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
After years of saying “I do” to helping others plan one of the most meaningful days of their lives, it’s time for me to turn the page to a new chapter. With a full heart and deep gratitude, I’m officially retiring from Simply Southern Weddings and Events.
This business has been more than a job—it’s been a calling. I’ve had the honor of walking alongside hundreds of couples, praying over their marriages, calming nerves, fluffing dresses, fixing boutonnières, and holding hands with mothers-of-the-bride and mother-in-laws alike. I’ve celebrated in barns, ballrooms, backyards, and beaches—and every moment has been a blessing.
To my dear clients—thank you. Thank you for inviting me into your stories, for trusting me with your most sacred celebrations, and for letting me be your calm in the chaos. Whether it was helping your best man breathe before his speech or letting your maid of honor rehearse her toast to steady her nerves, I cherished every quiet moment behind the scenes just as much as the big ones under the lights.
Some of you started as brides and grooms—but became dear friends for life. That’s the kind of legacy I never expected but will always treasure.
To my team and vendor friends—you’ve been the heartbeat behind the scenes. Your hard work, dedication, and willingness to go above and beyond (even in heels, heat, or hurricanes!) helped make Simply Southern what it was. I couldn’t have done it without you, and I wouldn’t have wanted to.
And to all of you who supported me along the way—thank you for celebrating every award and milestone, including the incredible honor of being named Best of Coastal Virginia. It means the world to know I get to end this season on such a high note.
As I step into what’s next, I’ll be pouring my heart into encouraging women—especially mothers like me—as we prepare to welcome a daughter-in-love into our families. The first of these resources, The Future Mother-in-Law Guidebook, is now available as a digital download. It’s filled with the same heart, grace, and behind-the-scenes wisdom I’ve carried with me all these years.
So while Simply Southern Weddings is closing its planning books, my heart for serving others is still wide open.
𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐝𝐨𝐦 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐦𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥-𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬—𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬… 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞—𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧’ 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦, 𝐭𝐨𝐨.
With gratitude, grace, and all my Southern love,
Tara
