The Brides of Oklahoma

It’s the moment every little girl dreams of, a far off wish that could come true and be the happiest day of their life. Her first karate black belt.

Okay, I’m joking. Of course I’m talking about their wedding day. The day that Prince Charming finally comes and sweeps her off her feet. And although most women would lose that fantasy later on in life, it’s fun to relive those feelings for one more day. Kami Huddleston and Ashley Bowen Murphy, the creators of The Brides of Oklahoma, have made it possible for thousands of women to plan the perfect wedding in Oklahoma, and plan to pay it forward. These women, both relative newcomers to Oklahoma, decided that a bridal magazine was needed in the state to help women plan their weddings.


“We were both from different states, and decided to get married in Oklahoma. There weren’t a lot of options and help to find a good venue and catering, so we created a magazine that lets brides see what kind of options they have.”
These women have created a popular magazine throughout Oklahoma in just over two years. The inaugural issue of The Brides of Oklahoma came in January 2008, and has done so well that Kami and Ashley opened The Brides of North Texas in 2009, and the magazine has already outsold D weddings and other popular bridal magazines in the Dallas area. Kami, who worked as a graphic designer before starting the magazine, is the publisher and designer, and Ashley, a lawyer, takes care of all of the legal work.
The Brides of Oklahoma and The Brides of North Texas come out biannually, allowing the staff to really stuff the magazine full of advertisers for weddings. They pick out the best places in the area to get married, options if you are on a tighter budget, and best of all, the magazine features real brides and wedding stories from ordinary people.
“One of the things I love about the magazine is that we always feature a real bride from the area on the cover.”
These stories provide inspiration and excitement to brides, and their mail is full of submissions to be a part of the glossy wedding section. Each bride chooses their own wedding photos to turn in, letting them pick their favorite shots from their special day.
Before starting the magazine, Kami and Ashley did their research, figuring out how to bring in advertisers and circulate the magazine, selling their product to big companies like Wal-Mart and Barnes and Noble. They send new copies of the issues to retailers and college campuses, and get their name out in every bridal show. Although the newspapers and television programs say there is a recession, their magazine has only reached new heights as the years go on.
While Kami and Ashley’s wedding days have passed, they love helping others plan their special day, and enjoy creating a magazine that provides so much help to brides.
I had the privilege to go see the office that they create the magazine in, and have chronicled the magazine process, from writing down new ideas on the board, to creating inspiration boards to plan the magazine design.

Step back in time with Classic 50s in Norman

One of the first things that incoming freshman see coming to the University of Oklahoma is Classic 50s, a brightly colored drive-in on Lindsey Street. Known by its first name, Classics is a residental hot spot for college students and families living in Norman when they want a greasy hamburger and slushie to drink. Classics is commonly known for it's drink specials, offering varities of specialty drinks like a sprittle, a sprite mixed with a bag of skittles.
This popular fast food joint is a defining mark in Norman, Oklahoma, and provides students with a place to hang out with friends, while enjoying some hot pickle-os (fried pickles). Classics also is a great place to get a job near campus, with employees earning tips when delivering food to the consumer's car. When asked about the job atmosphere, employee Candace Hewitt said it was a favorable place to work.

"There are some rude people, but I think you get that anywhere. It's a good place to work, and I make more money here than anywhere else that I've worked."
While Classics is a fun place to grab a bite to eat, there are a few things that consumers should know. While the drinks are fun and the food is good, the employees there can be a little unfriendly, oftentimes not even saying hello. The wait time on your drinks and food can take up to 7 minutes, and there are more affordable places to eat if you are on a budget. The rising number of feral cats sitting at the back door of the kitchen is a little alarming, but Candace said they are working on getting rid of them.
"I generally like it here," Candace ended the interview with a smile on her face. "It's always busy, but that's okay."