St. Patrick's Day Wedding Inspiration

Today is St. Patrick's day, which means for many means shamrocks galore, green beer, corned beef, and teeny tiny little leprechauns. (Well, maybe just regular beer!) But did you know that green wasn't the original color associated with St. Patty's day? It was actually a lighter shade of blue that was tied to St. Patrick, but eventually the color green became associated with Ireland through its gorgeous landscape - i.e. the Emerald Isle - and the green shamrock that St. Patrick used to teach the Holy Trinity. The tradition of wearing green on St. Patrick's day, though, came from people picking shamrocks and placing them in their lapel's in the late 1800's. Here in the United States, wearing green has been a way for people to identify with Irish culture.

Now that you've had a little St. Patty's Day color story history lesson - how will you incorporate green into your wedding day? Maybe you're looking to celebrate your Irish roots, or maybe you just want to bring a little luck of the Irish to your special day! I've gathered a bunch of green wedding inspiration from past weddings, like this one featured on Style Me Pretty and this one featured in The Knot magazine, with everything from green wedding shoes to favors to bouquets and centerpieces to bagpipers to welcome bags.

Photography Credits: 1. Lauren Rosenau Photography / 2. Lauren Rosenau Photography /3. Rachel Fesko Photography / 4.Lauren Rosenau Photography / 5. Rachel Fesko Photography / 6. Lauren Rosenau Photography / 7. Lauren Rosenau Photography / 8. Lauren Rosenau Photography (to see more from this wedding, click here) / 9. Rachel Fesko Photography /10. Rachel Fesko Photography / 11. Rachel Fesko Photography / 12. The Beautiful Mess / 13. Lauren Rosenau Photography / 14. Rachel Fesko Photography / 15. Crystal Stokes Photography (to see more from this shoot, click here) / 16. Lauren Rosenau Photography 

Hope you remember to wear your green today! :)

XO,
A.

Wedding Inspiration: Valentine's Day

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I put together a wedding inspiration board in honor of this love-filled holiday. We've had many brides over the years embrace pinks and reds, so all photos in todays inspiration are from past TGH events!

Photo Credit: Richard Israel Photography, Lauren Friday Photography, Jeremy Igo Photography, Smitten and Hooked Photography, & Lauren Rosenau Photography.

Check out a few of the weddings featured in todays inspiration board to see more:

Whitley and Darian

Mia and Alex

Jackie and Daniel

Keely and Hill

Adriana and Terrell

Veronica and Chip

Wishing each of you a day full of love and happiness!

XO,
A.

Wedding Inspiration: Marsala

One of my favorite things about the new year is looking at emerging trends in wedding and bridal fashion. It's always so interesting to see how different designers interpret the color of year - which for 2015 is Marsala - and to see how fashion and decor trends influence one another. Bride's love to embrace the latest trends in weddings to help make their day standout, and with so many beautiful and fun elements trending for 2015, who could blame them?! I've created a Marsala wedding inspiration board ... and even included one of our past bouquets that has been very popular across Pintrest!

I think that marsala will make a big splash in 2015! Looking at past and future weddings, I've had many brides over 2014 (and those planning for 2015 weddings) wanting to incorporate red into their color palettes before marsala was announced. It's definitely a departure from trending colors in the past, which is really exciting! Here are a few more details from our 2014 weddings that could be used for marsala inspiration.

Photo credit: Crystal Stokes Photography, Lauren Rosenau Photography, Lauren Friday Photography, Love Shutter Photography

XO,
A.

Thursday Tips: How to Jump Start Your Wedding Planning

There's a reason why the word "wedding planning" has become synonymous with words like "stressful" or "headache". An engagement is full of joy and anticipation! But the journey to the alter can be a difficult path to navigate. I love sharing planning advice with brides! Which is why each month, I'll be sharing different tips related to wedding planning, logistics, & design.

With 33% of engagements happening between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, January is full of hustle and bustle for those in the wedding industry! It's an exciting time for newly engaged couples who are looking to lock in a wedding date as the fun of planning for their big day begins. The most common planning challenge that I hear from couples is that they just don't know how to start. Well, why would you? It's not like you've ever planned a wedding before - and even if you have, then you know that it's a big undertaking! So take the added pressure off yourself and know that this is going to be a learning process for you and your fiancé. After you say "yes", here are the top three things you should do next! (Hint, hint: Besides hiring a wedding planner, of course! ;))

It's so important to set boundaries before you can even begin planning for your wedding. Be sure to start a conversation with your fiancé and families about the budget. Yes, money is an uncomfortable topic for everyone, but you will need to know your spending limits before you book a venue or any vendors. It will lead to less heartache, trust me! And while you're all sitting down together, it would be a great opportunity to brainstorm the guest list. I mean, how can you know what size venue to consider if you don't know how many guests you'll be expecting? Or how can you get an estimate from the caterer if you don't know how many meals to plan for? Lastly, have at least three potential wedding dates in mind as you start to search for vendors and venues. Securing a venue and/or wedding planner first will help you lock in your wedding date and jump start your planning process. It seems small, I know, but having these core details figured out prior to booking any vendors will help you save lots of time! 

Of course every couple's planning timeframe and desired engagement length is different - and there are no two weddings that are alike! (Fun Fact: Brides generally reserve our planning services an average of 12-14 months in advance.) It's still helpful to have a general idea of when you can expect to cross off certain items from your to-do list. A wedding planner will help you with all of the big decisions, little details and everything in between. They will also help you create a timeline that is personalized to you and your fiancé, and help you stick to it. From experience as both a planner and a bride, I can tell you that 99% of your anxiety and stress will come from the "unknown". Things like not knowing what you're supposed to do and when; or being unsure as to what's most important or necessary are all common feelings among brides. I don't want you to feel that way! There's no need to feel anxious or stressed - you just need the right tools. (My brides receive a welcome package full of goodies to help them plan for their wedding, all aimed to help manage their anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed) So, I wanted to provide you with a very important tool - a planning wedding planning timeline and checklist! You can download the free printable, here. I hope you find it helpful to jump start your planning!

XO,
A.

2015 Bridal Boutique Sales and Trunk Shows

It's no secret that many brides get engaged during the holiday season. It's also no secret that towards the end of the year you'll find lots of great sales and opportunities to find the perfect wedding dress. We are so lucky to have lots of amazing bridal boutiques in the Charlotte, North Carolina area that offer brides a wide range of gorgeous designer gowns! If you haven't found your dream dress just yet, be sure to take advantage of the upcoming events and make an appointment to find your dream gown. At each of these boutiques, you'll be met with an incredible selection of dresses and expert customer service! Don't miss any of these fabulous events!

J. Major's Bridal Boutique

Don't miss the huge winter sample sale going on at J.Major's located in the heart of Dilworth on Saturday, December 27 from 10am to 2pm! You'll find designer wedding dresses from Alvina Valenta, Augusta Jones, Aria, and Amy Kuschel to name a few. You won't need to make an appointment, but it's best to come early because it's first come, first serve ... and select designer gowns are marked off between 30%-90%! This is a great chance to get a beautiful gown that you've no doubt been eyeing on Pintrest at an amazing price! During this event, you'll also be able to find bridesmaid dresses on discount, too.

Another great event at J. Major's Bridal Boutique that brides-to-be cannot miss is the Carolina Bride Book Pop-up Shop and Fashion Show on January 8 beginning at 6pm! You might have seen the Carolina Bride Book, which is the latest bridal inspiration coffee table book that was recently published. Well, at this event, you'll have the chance to meet the authors of the Carolina Bride Book, as well as attend a runway show featuring wedding gowns by Erin Grey Couture. Oh, and did I mention that there will be yummy sweets and plenty of champagne on hand? Because thats a fact. Space is limited so you'll want to RSVP for this one. And the first 50 brides to RSVP will receive a special swag bag with goodies from Erin Grey Couture, Carolina Bride, and Aubree's Bridal. To RSVP call, (704) 372-0082.

Hayden Olivia Bridal

After the New Year, a number of trunk shows will be visiting Hayden Olivia's beautiful boutique. The Marisa Trunk Show will be January 15 through 17 and feature their beautiful Spring 2015 collection. The Blush by Hayley Paige Trunk Show will also feature their stunning Spring 2015 collection and will be in the salon the following weekend, January 22 through 24. Then, Hayden Olivia will round out the month with a Monique Lhuillier Bliss Trunk Show January 29 through 31. Appointments for trunk shows are always limited, so it's best to call in advance to reserve your spot! Trunk shows are a great time to try on those designer gowns you've been eying, and many times you'll find custom change options, price incentives, or even a trunk show/event discount. From time to time, you'll also find the gown designers will join in on the fun and attend the trunk show to offer their expertise. Be sure to call to schedule your appointment, (704) 333-0377.

Bellissima Of Salisbury

This amazing bridal boutique is worth the drive outside of the Charlotte metro-area. Belissima of Salisbury will have a huge sample sale just after the New Year, on January 3, 2015 from 10am to 2pm. You'll find countless gorgeous designer gowns at deep discounts - up to 75% off the sticker price. Again, another incredible opportunity to get a designer wedding gown at a price that won't blow your wedding budget. You'll definitely want to reserve your spot well in advance for this sample sale. To do so, you can send an email to Info@bellissimaofsalisbury.com, or call them at (704) 754-5330.

Brides definitely won't want to miss all of the trunk shows coming to the boutique in the New Year! The very popular Robert Bullock Bride Trunk Show will be at Bellissima January 17 through 24. Their entire 2015 Spring Collection will be on hand for the whole week. Another great trunk show event happening at Bellissima of Salisbury will be the Kelly Faetanini Trunk Show, February 6 through 14. And Bellissima is actually the only bridal boutique in North Carolina to carry this designer! Schedule an appointment for either trunk show event to reserve your spot by calling (704) 754-5330. 

Nitsa's Apparel 

You definitely won't want to miss any of the fantastic trunk shows making their way to Nitsa's Apparel, located in South Park at the Phillips Place shopping center. The Amsale Trunk Show will be at the Charlotte salon December 31, 2104 through January 3, 2015. Then Erin Cole Trunk Show will be visiting the following weekend, January 9 through 10. The Alyne Trunk Show will be at the boutique January 30 through 31. And then the Victor Harper Trunk Show will be in town February 6 through 7. Nitsa's Apparel also has a bridal salon at their Winston Salem retail location, and you can find more information about upcoming trunk shows and events for that location by clicking here. Space for each of these amazing events will be limited, so you'll want to call Nitsa's in advance to schedule an appointment for any of these amazing designer trunk shows by calling (704) 940-1999.

I hope each of you beautiful brides looking to find your dream wedding dress can find success at one of these incredible bridal boutiques. I can't recommend these four bridal boutiques enough!

XO,
A.

Wedding Inspiration: Modern Romance

Lucky for us, our first wedding of 2015 will be K & R's lovely wedding at  The Ritz Carlton Urban Garden. Our inspiration board has me eager for spring with this gorgeous color palette of blush, ivory and pale grey. We've definitely got a few tricks up our sleeve that I am just so excited to see unfold! This sweet bride wanted the feeling of over the top romance meets chic, modern flair. I absolutely can't wait to celebrate these two in a few short months with an amazing vendor team! In the meantime, we'll be hard at work finalizing some fun details, but I couldn't resist sharing a peek into this beautiful wedding design.

XO,
A.

The Perfect Bridesmaid Gifts

Much like your beau, your girl friends are with you through thick and thin, better and worse.  After you've asked your bestie to stand by your side for the big day, treat them with a special thank you gift. Since I have many brides who ask for advice on what to get their bridal party, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite gift ideas for your bridesmaids.

Buying Guide: 1. Gift them professional hair and/or makeup services | 2. Jewelry to go with their dress, like these adorable earrings | 3. A robe or t-shirt for getting ready in the suite before the ceremony | 4. Bridesmaid tote bag to keep all their belongings together as you go throughout the day | 5. Travel or cosmetic bag, because can you ever have too many?! | 6. A monogram clutch to take to the reception | 7. Stylish flip flops for dancing all night long | 8. Cute personalized koozies perfect for the bachelorette party and wedding weekend festivities

XO,
A.

Featured: Easy Entertaining

Thank you to Lake Norman Magazine for asking some advice for easy entertaining this holiday season! Hosting a party is without a doubt one of my favorite things to do! The party planning process can be very overwhelming and the day of the party is usually full of organized chaos, but why not try some of these great tips this year so that you can a Graceful Host!

xo,
A.

Featured: Accept With Attitude

Many thanks to Charlotte Wedding magazine for interviewing me on the latest trends in wedding RSVPs. I am all for adding unique and creative twists in wedding details that will catch guests off guard, making them extra excited for the big day! As a lover of paper goods, it was so much fun talking about fun and quirky ways couples could make their wedding invitations more lively and interesting. The latest issue of Charlotte Wedding magazine is on newsstands now, but you can also check out the full article online by clicking here.

XO,
A.

How To Plan A Wedding Menu

Brides and grooms always have dozens and dozens of questions around catering! I can't blame them, really, when there are a lot of choices and so many different ways you can go about planning a wedding reception menu. I think one of the most daunting tasks of wedding planning for brides and grooms is creating the perfect menu. Many of my couples aren't sure how to wrap their minds around catering and menu planning. So, where do you begin? How do you choose a caterer? What style of menu is right for your wedding? How in the world do I keep the food budget under control? There are so many questions to be answered! I've asked Catherine Luckadoo with Something Classic Catering & Cafes to give some expert advice on how to plan a wedding menu and to provide some insight into choosing the right caterer for your wedding.

--

Q: When first starting to plan for your wedding reception menu/food, what is the best piece of advice you can give to a bride and groom? What should they know going into this part of wedding planning so that they don't get overwhelmed and frustrated, or make too many costly mistakes? A: It's your day so make it a menu YOU like!  Choose items that reflect your personalities, cultures, and relationship with each other.  If you are from very different regions, select items that represent both areas.  If you love to eat pizza together, choose a small mini pizza as one of your butlered hors d'oeuvres for cocktail hour.  If you got engaged over cheesecake, incorporate cheesecake into your desserts.  Use food tags to identify why you chose some of the selections.  The more your menu reflects the two of you, the better.  Have fun with picking your menu and trust your caterer to help guide you with quantities and balancing the menu selections.

Q: Are there any specific food items, food genres, and/or serving styles that you would recommend to couples looking to plan a menu on a budget? A: Steer clear of a plated dinner if you are on a tight budget.  The food itself is not necessarily the most expensive option but the service required to execute a seated dinner - to get your guests served quickly and efficiently - is about 5% higher. A simple buffet is generally the most cost effective.  And a pasta buffet is typically the most economical way to really fill up your guests and keep them happy.

HudsonWed-100

Q: The big debate: station style menu vs. a plated meal. From a catering perspective, can you give one or two pro(s) and con(s) of each menu style? A: Variety is the spice of life as they say, so the more variety, the better chance you have of pleasing all of your guests with varying tastes.  A stations menu allows you more selection.  Keep in mind it is also a little less structured so there is a slightly less formal feel to how it is presented and served.  A seated menu can be more time effective if you want to get your guests fed quickly and get on with the party!  It is also a little more formal in the fact that your guests are being served directly to their tables.  The major con, I would say, is that it is a lot more work for you.  Unless you plan to serve all of your guests the same meal, you have to keep track and organize everyone's meal selections from their RSVP cards to turn in to your caterer.

View More: http://laurenrosenauphoto.pass.us/whitleyanddarian

Q: What are some of your favorite wedding menu/food trends that you’ve seen lately?
A: It’s all about “small plates” right now. Guests love the cute and clever presentation of their own petite dish full of fun and unique flavors. The small plates we are using at Something Classic these days are everything from an actual small plate, a mini cast iron skillet, a ceramic Asian spoon, a shot glass, a bamboo steamer pot, an espresso cup, and a petite mason jar, to name just a few.  You can take what would ordinarily be a rather uninteresting raw vegetable display, for example, and turn it into something fun and enticing by placing those same vegetables and dips in a little personal mason jar.

Q: Let's break down a wedding menu. How do you recommend brides and grooms plan a wedding menu so that it's balanced and appealing to all their guests? 
A: Let your caterer and wedding planner help guide you - and don't be afraid to ask for help.  No one expects you to know how to plan a perfect wedding menu.  Start by making a list of your dream selections and then your caterer can help ensure that it is balanced, well rounded, and cost effective.

Q: There are so many dietary restrictions these days, and all brides want their guests to be well-fed and comfortable. So, when planning a menu for your reception, how many options is enough and what suggestions do you have for accommodating guests dietary restrictions, while keeping costs in mind?
A: Don't get too bogged down in this one but it is, in fact, very considerate to try to accommodate the dietary restrictions of your guests as much as possible.  It is probably the easiest to do when you are planning a seated dinner and guests have the option of notating their restrictions on the response cards.  On the other hand, as I mentioned previously, the more variety you offer, the more chance you have of providing something for everyone. At Something Classic, we like to provide attractive menu cards to place by all of the food so that guests know what they are eating and can avoid anything that is not preferable (or not safe) for them to eat.  Ask if your caterer will provide those and if not, you may want to consider printing your own.

HudsonWed-44

Q: What are the top three things you should be on the look out for/consider when going into a menu tasting?
A: So in all honesty, this is a bit of a hot button topic for me and probably for many caterers.  Every company does tastings differently and many do not offer them at all. Let me start by saying, I totally get it.  I was a bride once too and I wanted a tasting to be sure we had made great selections.  But I was told that they didn't offer tastings and that I could visit their restaurant instead.  I was disappointed, but I had lunch there and was relieved to find the quality was excellent and I could rest assured my guests would be happy with anything we chose.  And they were! There is a misconception out there that every couple should get a five course tasting just for considering a catering company.  If we offered that to all interested couples, it is all would spend our days doing. Tastings are expensive and incredibly time consuming and labor intensive for chefs, and so we reserve them for our clients who have booked our services.  For those who are not comfortable booking without a tasting, we offer three options: excellent references, several restaurants owned by our company to give our clients an idea of the quality of our food, and we do offer a tasting at a fee to clients who have not signed a contract (which is waived if they move forward with our team).

All of this being said, if you are having a tasting, these are the things you will want to keep in mind:

1.) Accept trying any food offered even if it is not what is specifically on your menu.  It will at least give you a good feel for the quality coming out of the catering kitchen. 2.) Understand that unless you are working with a restaurant, tasting hours may be very limited.  Catering chefs work very long hours and weekends so they typically have small windows during the work week to produce tastings on a smaller scale.  You may need to take time off of work to attend. 3.) Keep in mind that caterers serve the masses.  While our food quality is excellent no matter how many guests we are serving, I have found that what is being prepared for the two of you to try at your tasting may not translate exactly the same on your wedding day when it has been prepared for 150 guests. 4.) Have fun with it!  The best part of your tasting is getting to experience the excitement and anticipation of your wedding day together. Don't take it too seriously and get bogged down too much in the details.

I leave you with this: Food is important and with it being a huge portion of the cost on your wedding day and a very big part of entertaining your guests, I completely understand why it can feel like a stressful decision.  But it doesn't have to be and it shouldn't be!  Find a caterer who loves what they do - it should be evident from the start.  If your coordinator is excited about your wedding, that will go a long way in the service your receive from the whole catering team throughout the planning process and on your wedding day.  Our head chef, David Clarke, tells us all the time upon receiving complements on his food, "We just put a little love in it".  If you find a caterer who will do just that, you will be in great shape.

Eat, drink, and be MARRIED!

XO, Catherine

--

Huge thanks to Catherine at Something Classic for giving such great advice and insight into planning a great wedding menu that will please your guests - and your budget! I know wedding planning can seem overwhelming for couples - and planning a menu can feel nearly impossible. But, if you hire a professional and licensed caterer, you cannot go wrong! Trust them and their experience, and you'll have a delicious night your guests will enjoy. Happy planning, y'all!

XO,
A.

Signature Drink: The Paloma

Happy Friday, y'all! Who doesn't love a good cocktail recipe as we head into the weekend?! I fell in love with this unique signature drink from Adriana + Terrell's Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden wedding. Throughout our planning, it was so important to tie in aspects of Adriana's Mexican culture. What better way to include our sweet brides heritage than through a traditional cocktail signature drink that would greet guests upon arrival! Within beautiful clay pots (straight from Mexico!), we served a very yummy Paloma!

(Photo by Richard Israel Photography // Catering by Best Impressions Caterers // Wedding Planning and Design by The Graceful Host // Wedding Venue is Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden)

The recipe:

-One oz of tequila
-Three oz grapefruit soda
-Splash of lime juice
-Splash of club soda

Serve over the rocks with a lime garnish. Don't have these adorable vessels to serve in? No worries - You can use a high ball glass as a substitute. Cheers to the weekend, friends!

XO,
A.

Wedding Inspiration: Purple + Pink

I've been in love with this design since the moment this sweet bride approached me with these gorgeous colors - hello Pantone color of the year, radiant orchid! The design that we've created for Rachel + Mike's October wedding at the Mint Museum Uptown is without a doubt full of romance and chic style. I love every single detail we have planned, from the vibrant color palette of pinks and purples to the mixing of metallics to the floor plan! This couple is so great and we're having a blast planning for their big day, which will be here so soon and I cannot wait! Here is a little peek at our inspiration!

XO,
​A.

Wedding Inspiration: The Colors of Sunset

I'm so excited to share a little inspiration for Lindsay & Ben's October wedding at Vesuvius Vineyards with y'all today! This adorable couple fell in love with the natural Southern charm of Vesuvius Vineyards and knew immediately that this was the place where they'd exchange I Do's. We are putting the final touches on some really amazing plans for this sweet couple's wedding - I can't wait to see everything come together! When we first sat down to talk about design, Lindsay mentioned being inspired by the colors of sunset. What could be better inspiration?! Drawing from the colors of a gorgeous cotton candy sky, we've created a vibrant organic inspired wedding incorporating elements like birch wood, natural wood, full color textured floral arrangements, pumpkins, and kale. Take a peek!

It's going to be a gorgeous fall wedding, that is for sure! I can't wait to celebrate this sweet couple!

XO,
A.

It's All in the Little Details

I'll admit that I have a special appreciation and love of the little details.  After all, it's the little details that make life special, and the special moments in life personal.  With each new wedding design, my goal (always) is to make those little details, that are so important to brides and grooms, come to life! I've had the opportunity to create a lot of things over the years for brides and grooms. And, after finishing some watercolor creations for a wedding at Daniel Stowe, a Chuppah for two spring weddings, and lots and lots of escort cards, programs, and favor tags, I thought "I really need to gather up all these little projects and share them!" So, without further adieu - here are some of the things I've created for weddings so far in 2014 that I wanted to share! A few have been complete surprises, and revealing those surprises to my sweet clients brings me so much joy!  Just a warning: the photo quality is not that great - actually it's down right awful! - and is courtesy of my trusty iPhone. (Thank God for real photographers!) So, please excuse my photos... I'll just stick with wedding planning and leave the photography to the pro's! 

Custom table runners for Katie & Eric's Mint Museum Uptown wedding

Prop pillows and ring bearer pillows for Katie & Eric's Mint Museum Uptown wedding

Sashes for the draping to match the runners and pillows for Katie & Eric's Mint Museum Uptown wedding

Floating frame display for Katie & Eric's Mint Museum Uptown wedding

Watercolor table numbers for Mia & Alex's Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden wedding

Watercolor seating chart for Mia & Alex's Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden wedding

Chuppah and organza draping for Mindy & Brett's Biltmore wedding (Okay, confession: I can't take all the credit for this one. My amazing husband actually built this chuppah for two weddings this year, and has come to both weddings to help me assemble it on-site. So grateful to have such a supportive and super crafty husband!!) 

Ceremony programs for Mindy & Brett's Biltmore wedding

Calligraphy favor tags for Mindy & Brett's Biltmore wedding

Acrylic table numbers for Whitley & Darian's Brakefield at Riverwalk wedding

"Here Comes The Bride" sign for Veronica & Chip's Mint Museum Uptown wedding

Travel-themed escort card display for Veronica & Chip's Mint Museum Uptown wedding

Travel-themed table numbers for Veronica & Chip's Mint Museum Uptown wedding

Citrus-themed escort cards for Taylor & Kyle's Byron's South End wedding

I hate to even share all of these terrible iPhone quality photos, but I'm really proud of the little details that leave my office each weekend to make their way to the amazing brides and grooms wedding days. I'm honored to have the opportunity to be creative and give priority to the special touches of a wedding day!  And believe me when I say that each has been an absolute labor of love.  But it makes me so happy to see my brides and grooms smile with excitement over these details they never expected!

XO,
A.

Wedding Inspiration: City Chic

Foundation For the Carolinas Wedding, Wedding, Pink and Grey wedding, Fuchsia Wedding, Uptown Charlotte Wedding, Charlotte Wedding, Wedding Inspiration

I just love a good uptown Charlotte wedding! So, when Jacquelyn and Daniel approached me about a chic wedding design at an uptown Charlotte venue - my mind immediately went to Foundation For The Carolinas. Oh this place is beyond stunning!  We have wrapped up our design plans for their Labor Day weekend wedding, and y'all… I cannot wait to share this one with you!  Big, bold, fun pops of fuchsia mixed with sleek gun metal grey.  I love the playful mix of feminine and masculine details.  Beyond the design, we've infused creativity with each turn to keep guests entertained and guessing all night long.  But, I won't give it all away - I have to save some surprises for the big day, right!?  Take a peek at our inspiration.

August 30 can't come soon enough!

XO, A.

Everything You've Ever Wondered About a First Look

Oh the first look. Arguably one of the biggest debates among weddings today is this question of: to do a first look? Or, to not do a first look?  And, you can probably make a sound argument for either side.  As a wedding planner (and former bride!), I have a strong stance on this topic.  But, I wanted to bring in a pro to also weigh in with her professional opinion and view points.  I've asked Charlotte wedding photographer, Crystal Stokes of Crystal Stokes Photography to help me answer common questions and clear up some misconceptions about the first look.

1. Let's start with the basics.  What is a first look? It is a private moment between the bride and groom prior to the wedding ceremony.  The photographer and videographer are the only other individuals around to capture this intimate meeting when you get to see your soon-to-be spouse for the very first time.  It's usually a bit staged so that the photographer and videographers can have the chance to capture your reactions as you see each other.  Basically, my clients will trust me to seek out a beautiful location for this moment to happen, and I do my absolute best to get them away from the crowd so they can be alone in this moment together.  Typically, I will place the groom somewhere with his back to the bride, and she will approach him and either tap him on the shoulder, or ask him to turn around to see her.

 2. Why do a first look? What are the pros?  A first look is advantageous for brides and grooms who want to get formal photos taken care of quickly.  The first look is helpful in a couple of ways.  Not only does it give the couple the opportunity to join the cocktail hour or reception more quickly, in order to enjoy the reception longer and to spend time with their guests who all travelled in to celebrate with them.  But, most importantly, it can also ensure that a couple doesn't run out of day light so that they can take all the photos they want out of their day.  A first look also will typically give a photographer more time to do what I like to call the "romantic shots".  You know, the ones that when you finally get your wedding photos back you immediately search for while skipping the others because at the end of the day, your wedding is about your marriage and the person you are committing to spend forever with - and having extra time to create those beautiful photos is really incredible and valuable! Another big pro is that the first look helps couples remain calm on the wedding day.  Nerves can often get the best of people on their wedding day, and I've seen those nerves settle on multiple occasions when the bride and groom were able to hold each other before one of the biggest moments of their life.  It really is a beautiful thing!

3. But, won't doing a first look ruin the big reveal? It won't feel as special when the ceremony time comes because we've already spoiled the surprise. I do not think that the first look ruins the big reveal.  There is something so beautiful and fresh and life altering that happens the moment a groom sees his bride walking down the aisle during the ceremony, among loved ones, for the first time. Perhaps he just saw her moments before the wedding, but that doesn't change the magical moment that happens when their eyes met moments before becoming man and wife.

 4. Any other advice you have to share with brides on the topic of a first look? Or anything you want to share with brides to help demystify the first look debate? A first look is a wonderful thing, and I believe that it really depends on what you want from your wedding day and the timeline you want to keep.  I know some couples want to remain very traditional - and I've noticed that the groom more often than the bride wants to wait until the walk down the aisle!  And, if tradition is a top priority, then I never push to change that. However, if a bride is on the fence about which direction to go, I absolutely let them know the benefits of a first look.

I wanted to add a little something, too!  Brides, I echo and want to further explain my personal and professional preference for the first look.  I have never met a photographer that did not prefer a couple to do first look. That is a fact!  I can tell you from experience being a bride that it does not in any way ruin that special moment at the church when you're walking towards your groom.  For me, I got to experience those butterflies and have a whole new rush of emotion all over again once the church doors opened!  I've seen brides visibly become calmer and more natural once they got to see and touch their groom.  The first look is meant to be an intimate time where you can take a deep breath together, and really take a moment to pause for just one little minute on one of the biggest days of your life to take the chance to soak it all in with your guy by your side.  Oh, it's such a special time - I really can't sing it's praises enough!  Brides always want to see their grooms reaction when they finally see them in their beautiful gown for the first time.  A lot of times you get a more genuine and natural reaction from grooms during the first look vs. waiting until the ceremony because they can let their guard down within that private moment and not feel like their whole family (and yours!) are staring at him waiting for him to react to his beautiful bride. Talk about pressure!  First look photos continue to be some of my favorite from the wedding day.  As a planner, I advocate for a first look because it helps with the timeline SO much! Like Crystal said, the photos you want to frame and hang on your wall, to send out as Christmas cards, to show your children one day, etc. are the photos of you and your groom! So, why not make that a priority by getting those coveted photos taken first so that you can be sure that you do not lose any time.  Things happen on a wedding day, and although we do our best as planners to control the schedule, I can't control family members that walk away before photos are complete, or unforeseen distractions that push the timeline back.  All of that being said, it's your day and no one will (or should!) ever force you to do something. However, your vendors are professionals that have done this a time or two, so they are giving you advice based on experience.

Thanks so much for bringing your viewpoint as a photographer to this fun debate, Crystal!  For more information about a first look, check out this helpful video explanation from Every Last Detail, this rather humorous explanation from The Knotty Bride, and this article about wedding day photography from The Knot - check out number 9, y'all.

But, I really want to hear from you! Brides - are you considering a first look? What's your hesitation and/or concerns? And, former brides - let's hear your experience! Did you do it? Did you skip it?

XO,
A.

Inspiration: Neutral Tones

There is something so peaceful and beautiful about a neutral color palette.  And, lately, I've been so inspired by these neutral colors and the elegance that they can bring to almost any wedding style!  I love the effortless feeling of this inspiration board - lush greens, soft peaches, beautiful ivories and earthy beige.  A perfect palette for an outdoor Southern wedding under the oak trees!  This inspiration board incorporates the one of the Pantone 2014 trending colors - sand.  What do you think of neutral tones for wedding colors?  

XO,
A.

Wedding Inspiration: Vivid Love

Y'all know how much I love a bright color palette. Well, can you image how excited I am for Taylor and Kyle's sunny, citrus-inspired wedding full of beautiful yellows, oranges, pinks, mints and greys?!  The vivid colors fit Taylor to a tee - this girl is about a sweet as honey and can light up any room. We've been having so much fun planning for her May wedding at Byron's South End, and I want to share a bit of our inspiration with you!  Our bride's style is clean and classic, but with a funky twist.  So, we're pulling in some unique and fun details to mimic their lighthearted personalities. I just love these two, and cannot wait to see everything come together in a few short months!

XO,
A.