North Carolina Weddings

A Pretty in Pink Elegant Spring Wedding

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From Caroline Lima… When I met Brooke and Brad for their engagement session back in February, I knew their wedding was going to be something special! These two are so much fun to spend time with, so very much in love… they can make one another laugh with just a glance! When we parted ways that day I immediately began to look forward to their wedding, knowing that their celebration would be as joyous and sweet as they are… and I wasn’t wrong!

The ceremony took place at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, with the following reception moving to the Charlotte Country Club. Brooke was such a dream to work with; getting ready, she was ahead of time and completely calm. And she looked absolutely stunning!! Her dress was so beautiful and unique, with spaghetti straps, and white flowers cascading down the bodice onto the skirt. It fit her perfectly, and when Brad dipped her at the altar it was magical! As much fun as I was having (I kept laughing behind my camera during the amazing toasts!) I also found myself swept into the emotion of the day. If you read my blog, you know I love emotional weddings… and I have to confess that I teared up during the first dances. Before long, the bride and groom were completely rocking the dance floor, and all of their guests joined in with such excitement and happiness! What a crazy dance floor and I love it!

Finally, I have to mention that Brooke shared something very meaningful with me. She told me that her father worked for National Geographic for several years. If you are familiar with National Geographic, you know that he might have seen truly incredible photography, so when Brooke was vetting wedding photographers, she asked for her dad’s opinion. He looked over some of the options, and then told Brooke she should book me because I knew how to capture emotions the best. This is such a huge compliment! When I fell in love with photography, it was because of the ability a photograph has to show people’s feelings. Hearing that Brooke’s dad saw the emotion in my work was huge validation that I’m on the right path, and I was so grateful to have been part of their big day. Very special to watch Brooke and Brad tie the knot in a swirl of so much love and support!

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It’s a well know fact that we here at the SMP offices LOVE (and I mean, L-O-V-E) ourselves a good pink moment, so it should come as no surprise that Kathryn & Hayes’ wedding is our cup of tea. Add in the massively talented Michelle Boyd Photography behind the lens and you’ve got yourself on gorgeous gallery. See it all in The Vault!

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From the Bride… We wanted it to be a big celebration for all of the people that helped to raise us and befriended us throughout our lives. We wanted to have a great party that felt timeless & felt like us. While I absolutely love Pinterest, it is easy to get wrapped up in a lot of trendy extras that just are not necessary & become easily dated. Our focus was to make sure we did all of the “biggies” right. The biggies included a great band, the best photographer on the planet, garden-inspired florals, a modern southern cuisine, unbeatable service & beautiful planning & styling by Jessica Rourke. Our wedding planner later coined our day as “timeless elegance,” which perfectly captures the southern affair we had always dreamed of.

I always, always dreamed of a beautiful Spring wedding. The season radiates joy through its’ beautiful new blooms & longer days of light. I sent Jessica some inspirational images that I loved and she took that & came up with a palette I had hoped for! The palette was spring-inspired with neutrals, natural greens, hues of peachy pink & a pop of a charcoal gray. In terms of styling, we wanted to enhance the already beautiful club with garden-inspired florals to give it a more relaxed feel. We wanted everyone to feel at ease, so they could let loose and have fun. The floral design played a huge role in that. We steered away from the usual BIG floral arrangements and opted for lots of greenery & natural garland swag instead.

Also, I love the look of long tables in a ballroom. However, because we had a big wedding & more of a cocktail/heavy hor d’oeuvres style reception, it didn’t make sense to have them. Since it was a big party, we wanted people to be milling throughout the club/club’s balcony and not be seated for too long. So, we decided to have elevated long tables and tall chiavari chairs instead, which allowed guests to sit if they wanted to, but kept the flow of the party we were hoping for. I think the combination of the elevated long tables, natural greenery, rented bar with florals, the mantel floral design, custom monogramed napkins & printed linen bar signs were truly show-stopping. Jessica and Fern studio exceeded our expectations and it was breathtaking!

We wanted to include as many family elements as we could. We incorporated elements from both of our families throughout the day that made it all feel so loving and special. I wore my Mom’s diamond earrings and an Ashcraft family ring (my something blue!) given to me while we were engaged. My mother-in-law has a beautiful rose garden, so we incorporated some of the roses in my bouquet as well as on some of the cocktail tables. In my husband’s family, there is a family brooch that every bride since the 1800s has worn. Since my dress didn’t call for any jewelry, we decided to put the brooch on the bouquet and it was stunning. Also, my parents gave us the two crystal champagne glasses that we drank out of after the cake cutting as a wedding gift. I think one of my favorite details are the gifts that we gave our parents. I thought about this for a long, long time. They have given up so much to raise us into the people we are today & their gift couldn’t be less than. We got one set of parents a silver compote and the other a small silver platter with the words, “O give thanks unto the Lord” with our initials and wedding date on the back. This small piece of scripture says so much, without saying much at all. We asked Michelle, our photographer to photograph these details in some of the styled shots and I absolutely love them!

My favorite moment was during our ceremony at Myers Park Presbyterian Church. My mom carries a CD in her car that our church in Lexington, SC made years ago. On the CD, our church choir director sings the duet, “The Prayer.” Every time we heard it in the car, my mom, sister and I would all get teary-eyed. We had the choir director recreate the duet with the same guy during the ceremony on the piano. When she sang (she truly has the voice of an angel), it was like my whole life flashed before my eyes and all the tears came streaming down. It was something we had dreamed and thought of for so long and there we were in that moment. It was actually happening.. I was marrying the absolute love of my life. It was indescribable the amount of joy and love that I felt in those few minutes. It is something I will never forget. The next day, on the flight to our honeymoon, I wept tears of pure joy replaying that moment over and over, hoping that I never forget it.

The gown… oh man, that is a biggie. I had a vision for what that would look like. We went to Charleston, SC over labor day weekend last year. It took us three days to find the exact one. I would find dresses that were beautiful, but then would try to piece things together to make them exactly what I wanted. You know the phrase.. “Your Mom is always right.” Welp, in this case, that couldn’t have been truer. I was in-between two dresses and could not make up my mind. My Mom said, well Kathryn, the perfect one has to be out there that has everything you are looking for. So, we went back to White on Daniel Island to try on one of those dresses again and in the meantime, found the “ONE” that had everything I had been looking for. And, to top it all off, my grandmother went with us on the last day, so that made it really special. I think if you really wait on the perfect one, you have no doubts or second-thoughts. I would have chosen that dress a thousand times over.

The cake.. I LOVE wedding cake. Due to the space of the club, we wanted to make sure the scale of the cake was right. Jessica found a picture that inspired our cake. It has two soft blush layers with white hydrangeas that added a modern, yet soft touch.

Late night snack.. it is totally key to a fun party. Hayes has a mad love for anything from his home state of North Carolina. Bojangles, a local fast-food chain, makes a mean (& greasy) chicken biscuit. Around 10pm, we passed around Bojangles chicken biscuits and hummers on silver platters. The hummers are basically like adult milkshakes and delish! We had them at the club’s Christmas party and both said we had to serve them at the wedding.

Petal bags.. Since the club did not allow sparklers, we decided to use rose petals for the grand exit. Jessica designed these beautiful petal bags for the guests to grab on their way out. They said “Au Revoir!” on them, which I loved, since we took a trip to France while dating & went to St. Barths on our honeymoon that my husband planned & surprised me with.

Getaway car.. One of our family friends has a bentley (we were really lucky!), so he and another friend were our drivers for the night. It was so nice to have some “us” time right after the ceremony. I would suggest riding separate from the wedding party just to really enjoy each other and to get some peace and quiet!

Bridesmaids gifts.. In addition to robes and anthro earrings, I found these super fun, glitter T. Swift Keds. I ended up getting them for all of the girls to wear while we were getting ready, as well as to change into for some late-night dancing. My mom, mother-in-law and myself (I opted for the white glitter Kate Spade Keds which are adorable!) ended up getting a pair too! It was just fun to have some party shoes to get the night going.

If you decide to get a wedding planner or coordinator, really observer his/her demeanor. Jessica was cool as a cucumber and it honestly changed the whole dynamic of the day. Because she was so calm, we were just loving life & enjoying time with friends while getting ready. We were ahead of schedule (which almost never happens!), so I got to look in every room at every detail that we had planned for months and months! I even remembered looking at every linen that we had picked out, which I was even surprised by.

When choosing a photographer, Michelle said to me, if you look at a photographer’s work and really envision yourself in those photographs, then that’s your girl/guy! That was the case with Michelle’s work. I kept telling Jessica I wanted a photographer that had a light and airy feeling to his or her work. She picked up on the fact that I wanted a film photographer. Film gives the photos a timeless look that adds so much life & natural beauty. I talked on the phone with Michelle and immediately felt a connection. We are not used to getting photographed, so it can be a very awkward thing. She gave us enough direction and confidence to feel at ease & we will cherish the photos she captured for the rest of our lives.

What do you get when you yourself are a fun loving florist and after saying “YES” to that sparkler, decide to plan your wedding in three months? One super colorful, super creative, super cheerful celebration! With The Graceful Host helping orchestrate it all and Lauren Rosenau snapping away, our Vault is bursting with beautiful colors and we couldn’t be any happier – see it all this way!

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Peek Inside a Blogger Turned Bride’s Classic Southern Wedding

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From The Graceful Host… What do you get when a florist gets married? The answer is a beautiful, intimate, colorful celebration! Melanie and Scott met through Melanie’s brother, a pastor at their church. Melanie’s brother actually set them up after meeting Scott – he knew they would be great for each other. Months passed and then Scott and Melanie finally got a chance to meet. He fell for her creative heart, captivating smile and easy going personality. She fell for his sense of humor, generous spirit, and practical nature. They say opposites attract and that is exactly what happened – a florist married a lawyer.

They were engaged after just over a year of dating, and knew they wanted to get married right away. So in the off-season for weddings and events, Melanie set out to plan her own wedding. She had always dreamed of eloping to Lake Como, since Italy is her favorite place to visit. But it was more important to be surrounded by their family, so they decided to host a small 63 person celebration in her backyard – in under three months! Melanie has a love of color. You can see her setting up weddings in a tea length floral A-line skirt or color blouse, always draped in flowers and always full of color! So it was only natural that Melanie wanted her wedding style to be as vivid as can be. With help from flower friends Deedie with Springvine Design and Pam with Flowers From The Cellar, as well as Melanie’s business partner Kate, the four of them worked together to create the centerpieces, ceremony arbor and beautiful garland that hung from the tent. We used floral linens from La Tavola that look exactly like one of the skirts Melanie loves to wear when she is working on events every Saturday for other brides. The decor was a direct reflection of Melanie and her love of flowers! The cake was made by a family friend, and placed donuts from Krispy Kreme (a North Carolina favorite!) all around because they are the groom’s favorite sweet treat.

The ceremony was intimate, lead by the bride’s brother who introduced the pair. They recited vows under the arbor that Melanie and friends created the day before. Before the ceremony, Melanie and Scott had a moment to themselves. Melanie had pinned on countless boutonnieres for grooms in the past – so she was very excited to be able to pin a boutonniere on her groom! With her sister-in-law singing as she walked down the aisle with her father, Scott had a look of pure joy seeing the girl of his dreams walking towards him. Guests enjoyed heavy hors d’ouerves and dinned under the beautiful tent created with such care. They even had a specialty beer created just for their event by Melanie’s brother-in-law. The wedding guests consisted of family from near and far, all who came out to celebrate this beautiful couple.

Melanie’s dress was one of her favorite details. It was created by a local wedding dress designer, CJ with Erin Grey Couture. It included flower applique detailing, which was a nod to Melanie’s love of flowers. The blue ribbon on her shoes was ribbon she purchased in Paris and was saving for a special occasion. Her bouquet was made with all lilies of the valley – her favorite flower!

You know her as blogger Taylor-Rae over at Style Souffle, and we’ve already peeked inside her girly-chic bridal shower. Today, we’re coming full circle because Kristin Byrum Photography is sharing the images from her wedding, which brought a sense of European charm to the South. Set at the Duke Mansion, it’s black-tie classic in every way and we’re thrilled beyond words to bring these pretties to The Vault.

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The Bride Wanted an Epic Dress, and this Gown Totally Delivered

When, after five years of dating, it came time to plan their wedding, there was no question that it would be a black-tie affair, and have the feel of another time. In fact, Taylor-Rae and Justin had just the place in mind: a historical mansion in their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. The property had the exuded the European charm they had in mind.

On July 4, 2016, the couple exchanged self-penned vows under an arbor adorned with topiaries, trailing ivy, camellia foliage, white hydrangeas and soft blush peonies. Set under a large oak tree, a string quartet filled the gardens with melodic, traditional tunes. The processional was, “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri, the bride entered to Pachelbel’s “Canon in D,” and the newlyweds recessed to Bruno Mars’ “Marry You.” They shared their first dance to “First Dance” by Corey Smith. Following the ceremony, guests gathered in the grand foyer where they enjoyed good conversation over specialty cocktails and butler passed hors d’oeuvres. With a nod to the Italian theme, the couple chose Peach Bellinis as the signature beverage that evening, along with an open bar serving an assort of wine, beer and liquors. Upon arrival, out of town guests were greeted by a wooden box filled with cheese and crackers, decadent chocolates, champagne, almonds and a pocket size cigar tin. A “wedding-recovery kit” containing mints, mouthwash, aspirin, and an Emergen-C pack were discretely hidden in a “happily ever after” satchel too.

Taylor-Rae showered her bridesmaids with hand-crafted robes from Piyama, an Australian boutique, and beautiful monogrammed pendant and pearl earrings to wear down the aisle. Her own getting ready robe matched her attendants’ but was all-white with delicate lace details befitting of a bride. Following cocktail hour, guests found their seats with the help of a hand-calligraphed lucite seating chart that was suspended in one of two archways that bookended the canopied courtyard where dinner was served.

At the plated dinner, each place was set with white Anthropologie china, gold flatware, and a calligraphed menu with the couple’s crest at the top. Centerpieces consisted of an array aged whitewashed terra-cotta vases in a range of sizes, filled with white and soft blush flowers including gardenias and sarah bernhardt peonies, Juliet garden roses, sweet peas, and hydrangeas. The arrangements were full of green ivy and camellia foliage for texture.

The three-course dinner began with “Watermelon Wedge and Arugula Salad”, followed by either Grilled Airline Chicken or Cold Water Salmon, Shiitake and Mushroom Risotto, and a dessert of delicious wedding cake & limoncello imported from Italy. The three-tiered almond cake was covered first in cream cheese frosting and then fondant, and topped ivy and minimal floral details based on the European elegant theme. Following dinner, and the cake cutting, guests gathered in the grand ballroom for bridal party introductions and an evening of dancing to the national live band, Sol Fusion.

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Don’t Miss Taylor-Rae’s Bridal Shower!

Growing up in rural Kenya, Jessica used her allowance money to buy copies of British Vogue and escape to a world of fashion and glamour. And when dreaming of her wedding day she said, “I always knew when I got married I wanted to have an epic dress.” Luckily her all lace, long sleeve, plunging neckline Berta gown completely fit the bill for the ultimate celebration with her love, Eric. Almond Leaf Studios captured the images and film you mustn’t dare miss.

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The Ultimate Anniversary Gift? Why a Puppy of Course!

From the Bride…Inspiration. For our wedding my biggest inspiration was timeless elegant glamour. I wanted things to be soft, romantic, clean, classic, grand and effortlessly gorgeous. When choosing different stylistic elements for the wedding I wanted to make sure everything I chose was timeless, chic, beautiful and not a fad or a trend. I love the way that you can still look at Grace Kelly’s wedding dress 60 years later and fall in love with it over and over. Stylistically I love things that are clean, elegant and timeless like Jackie Kennedy and Coco Chanel. There is something I have always loved about a bride wearing a classic white lace gown and a groom wearing a classic black tuxedo on their wedding day. It is timeless and never goes out of style.

I am very decisive when it comes to things I like or do not like. I only tried on two dresses. I only visited one venue. I do my research and go with my gut.

Color Palette. My color palette was clean and classic. I wanted everything to be neutrals. I chose black, white, charcoal, ivory, champagne and gold as my colors. All my stationery was in shades of grey, pearl ivory Crane Lettra, charcoal letterpress, gold foil and gold wax seals. I specifically told my florist I wanted white flowers and white flowers only – but to include lots of greenery too. The bridesmaids wore breezy, elegant champagne dresses with sparkly earrings and belts for that little bit of extra glam.

Dress. I wanted my dress to be dramatic, romantic and memorable, but not gaudy or over the top. I fell in love with the Berta dress when I saw it online. I knew it was the one. The details on it were exquisite. I loved the deep V neck with pearl beading almost down to my belly button, the dramatic lace train, the bare back, the pearl beading detail on the end of the sleeves, and the sentimental value of the fact that it was hand made in Israel.

I grew up in Africa. I went to school at an American boarding school in Kenya and every month I’d save up my allowance to buy a copy of British Vogue magazine and just pour over the pages – It was my little escape – A little bit of glamour to dream about while living in rural Kenya. I always knew when I got married I wanted to have an epic dress.

Venue. I had always wanted to get married in the south of France or a village in Italy but the minute I visited the Duke Mansion I instantly fell in love with it’s old world southern charm and glamorous feel. It was grand but it was also so warm, intimate, romantic and cozy. I loved the stately large white walls of this gorgeous historic site, the wrought iron fences and light fixtures, the stone fountains and terraces and the lush rose gardens. I was so excited to host both of our families in this classic Southern Charmed mansion in the heart of the city that we fell in love in – a city that is an integral part of our love story.

Personal Touches. Even though I wanted a big glamorous wedding, at the same time I wanted to make it very dear and personal. I wanted to make sure everybody had a blast and felt like they were there to celebrate our love. I worked hard over the course of 18 months to add a lot of personal touches to the wedding. I made and designed all the stationary myself; almost entirely by hand. (with the exception of the letterpress and gold foil stamping, done by the amazing people over at Crayton Heritage Letterpress) We wanted to make sure each guest felt contacted personally by us. I hand sketched our welcome sign, we hand-stamped coffee and tea favor bags. My mom and dad hand painted the table numbers and bride and groom chair signs. The antique silver candle sticks were used at my parent’s wedding, and the champagne glasses we used to toast the cake cutting were the same ones my parents used at their cake cutting 30 years earlier. We even had our whole family (fresh off the plane from California) hand paint gold accents on olive branches (a symbol of peace and love) for everyone’s plates the day before the wedding. It was such a fun group effort and made everyone feel included in some part of the wedding.

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Amsale

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Adrianna Papell

Spring 2015

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Alright newlyweds it’s time to take note, because the paper anniversary just got a lot more memorable. Just ask Philip and Shelby who celebrated their first year of wedded bliss with a golden surprise – a golden-doodle to be specific. It’s beyond adorable and thankfully Brittany Brock Photography has captured it all for us to ooh-and-awe over in The Vault!

From Brittany Brock Photography…Philip and Shelby were married last year in Nashville, TN. Because where else do you get hitched when you were the reigning Miss Tennessee 2013! There plans to celebrate their anniversary were originally just to lounge around with friends and family, but when the family arrived, including me, we met precious golden-doodle Amelia who had just joined the family that morning! Philip had picked her up in Atlanta that morning and everyone immediately agreed she was the perfect pup and as such we should throw together and impromptu picnic/photo session to celebrate. This shoot reminded my that not everything has to be a “styled” shoot that’s thought out to perfection. Sometimes the best memories are made, and captured, when you run to Trader Joe’s to buy flowers and make your own floral dog collar while your family laughs as you stab yourself with floral wire! Anniversary’s Matter! So whether you DIY a picnic or just capture the day with your iPhone make it a point to have something documented you can look back on!

See Style Blogger Taylor-Rae’s Bridal Shower

Leave it to the ever-so-chic Style Souffle to have a bridal shower decked out in pretty. Beginning with a champagne-stocked bar cart and ending with a floral handpainted cake, it’s the kind of party that’ll perfectly kick off your own weekend festivities and we’re diving right in. More from Josh Deaton in The Vault!

From Style Souffle… First comes love, then comes marriage… but before that there are a few events along the way that every bride and groom-to-be look forward to experiencing. One of which is the bridal shower! Unlike Taylor-Rae’s soft-romantic, European countryside inspired wedding, this was the perfect opportunity to embrace her love for bright colors and beautiful florals in a Boho-Chic inspired bridal shower and luncheon. Her mom, a former corporate event planner, worked with a team of local vendors to bring the bride-to-be’s vision to life at the intimate party on May 15, 2016, at a family friend’s estate in Charlotte, North Carolina. Thirty guests celebrated the bride-to-be in a festive fête designed in pops of fuchsia, vibrant orange and mixed metallics.

Beautiful ombre watercolor invitations set the tone for the party and read, “Please join us to Celebrate Taylor-Rae with an Afternoon of Love and Laughter before the Happily Ever After.” The invitations matched the menu cards displayed that afternoon.

August Lily created arrangements of Tulips, Garden Roses, Carnations, Gerbera Daisies, Snap Dragons and Iris’ that were displayed on the mantle and throughout the house. A wide selection of foliage (including ferns, rose hips and ivy) were mixed in for texture to create a boho, natural vibe. Trademark of the theme, the bride adorned a beautiful flower crown that coordinated with the floral arrangements.

As guests’ arrived, they signed an adorable Minted “XOXO” print, which would later be displayed amongst the gallery wall in the brides office – who is Founding Editor of Lifestyle & Fashion blog, Style Souffle (@stylesouffle). Guests were also asked to leave a token of advice on slips of handmade paper infused with flower petals for the bride to read on her wedding day!

Rather than having a seated luncheon, guests helped themselves to a selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Dean & Deluca, which included: shrimp with lime dressing, tea sandwiches, tuscan bean dip, cajun crab cake bites, a variety of tossed salads and antipasto platers. A handpainted cake by WOW Factor Cakes was the centerpiece of the dessert table. Fresh fruit, macaroons and truffles were also offered.

The weather couldn’t have been better that afternoon, and everyone eventually found themselves setting by the pool for a fun guessing game with questions selected specifically for Taylor-Rae and her groom – who made a surprise appearance! All in all, it was a lovely shower and Josh Deaton was there to capture it all on film!

Even More Bridal Shower Ideas!

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Bridal Shower Details

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Purple, Gold, and Boho Glam. See the Wedding That Pulled it Off!

Ivy Robinson, you’ve done it again. This time around you’ve designed a wedding that puts a fresh spin on bohemian glamour, with details like a tassel chandelier, gemstone invites, and a tented reception space that’s the very definition of cool. Brides, do yourself a huge favor and head straight to the gallery by Allison Kuhn followed by a viewing of the beautiful clip from Heart Stone Films.

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Al Fresco Bohemian

From Allison Kuhn Photography…This wedding was a twist of bohemian glam and a fresh theme at The Ballantyne Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. The purples, whites and golds pulled together nicely among Jessica’s tassel chandelier, gemstone invites and abundance of florals styled by Ivy Robinson Events. Jessica and Michael shared exchanged vows that they wrote. Jessica designs, creates and sells jewelry, so incorporating gem stones was an element she really wanted to implement, including on her cake topper. Bohemian Ink collaborated with Ivy Robinson Events to create this bohemian glam theme come to life.

It’s All About the Dress, But This Groom Brought His Style A-Game

I love a pretty wedding dress, and this Bride’s lace gown definitely qualifies as pretty. But her handsome Groom ensured he was equally stylish with his unique bow tie made of feathers. And that’s just the start of this stylish day. From the custom family crest featuring the couple’s dogs to the bouquets full of dahlias, garden roses and pieris, this southern affair is as stylish and elegant as they come. See every pretty detail from Allison Kuhn Photography in The Vault!

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Al Fresco

From Allison Kuhn Photography… Leah Jane & Dustin were married September 19, 2015 at The Duke Mansion. Their elegant southern affair planned and designed by Katrina Hutchins of Come Together Events. Their wedding incorporated soft tones mixed with some bold colors to create a fresh color palette unique to Leah Jane and Dustin. The stationery included a custom family crest and includes images of Leah-Jane and Dustin’s dogs. The stationery suite designed by Elisabeth Rose was thoughtfully created to include elements of Leah Jane and Dustin’s life. The bouquets were filled with color florals and long, flowy silk ribbons. The bow ties that Dustin and his groomsmen wore are made of feathers. Leah Jane made and jarred her guests wedding favors of different jams which included the recipe and crest on a paper tag. The cake by The Wow Factor Cakes also included the crest and the details of their invitation suite.

Leah Jane and Dustin live in Charlotte, NC , but met in Raleigh. Dustin proposed in Charleston South Carolina while on vacation for the Fourth of July. He hired a horse carriage for a historic tour and they walked around the Waterfront Park, Dustin suggested they take a photo in front of a large pineapple fountain. He asked somebody to take the photo, but he wrote on the screen of his phone asking the man to record the proposal.

Dustin is also a former active-duty Marine.

Together this couple is kind, patient and leave headed and will have a beautiful life together.

The Perfect Accessory for This Southern Bride? A Family Heirloom Veil.

This wedding is “Southern classic” in every single way. Beginning with an heirloom veil worn by the bride (her grandfather first bought it for his daughter even before she was engaged!) and ending with a moonshine bar set-up at the reception, the entire affair was a celebration of this couple’s Southern roots. Pop over to The Vault for images by Anna Routh and don’t you dare miss the film below from Blueberry Creative.

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Elegant + Classic Summer Wedding

From Anna Routh Photography…. Alden and Kevin’s classic Charlotte wedding was one of the most spectacular events I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing. Alden’s style is spot on, so it’s no surprise her gown was a complete stunner with that amazing back detail. She pulled her look together with an antique veil (a family heirloom), shoes with just the right amount of bling and simple jewels. She was truly the picture of elegance.

Alden and Kevin’s family is incredibly important to then, so keeping the wedding party to family and including very special items from their parents’ marriages was an important decision for them. Alden and Kevin each walked down the aisle with small books that were presented to Alden’s parents on their wedding day in their hands, keeping the love of their families close at all times.

The reception that followed at the modern Mint Museum UPTOWN in Charlotte was nothing short of epic. Utilizing three areas of the museum, Alden’s goal (with the help of her creative and ambitious father’s vision) was to bring a ‘Southern’ scene to life. To say she accomplished that is an understatement. From the giant Magnolia brought in for cocktail hour, to the projections of moving magnolias on the walls and life size photos of iconic southern imagery, to the dining room dripping with neutral florals, and even down to the moonshine bar – it doesn’t get much more southern than that.

Alden and Kevin’s wedding was an absolute blast, and I’m so honored to have been a part of it. Congratulations, you two!

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Wedding Dresses

Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

2014 Bridesmaids

Spring 2014 Accessories

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When a wedding this pretty is shot by someone as talented as Caroline Lima, we stop and take notice. And trust us, it’s a stop worth taking. With classic charm and one seriously adorable couple (their proposal story is just the sweetest), it’s easy to see why we are head over heels in love with every single image sitting pretty in this gallery. See even more in the VAULT.

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Irish-Inspired Elegant Southern Wedding

From Caroline Lima Photography…Your family decides to take a trip to Ireland. In short order, you’re dreaming of the verdant countryside, the quaint cottages, the rich history. It’s sure to be an amazing experience! The only problem? Your honey can’t come along…he has to work. But you board the plane anyway, and soon you’re strolling over a bridge in Dublin. It’s picturesque. It’s incredible. The one thing missing is your main squeeze…until he shows up by surprise and asks you the question of a lifetime!That’s how I picture Jessie and Alston’s engagement (based on what I heard from the bride herself…oh how I love that story!). Jessie herself is just the best mix of fun and elegance. When she married Alston at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, she wore a stunning custom made Monique Lhuillier dress and veil…and Manolos! Yes! She was absolutely magnetic when she walked down the aisle! This wedding saw me working with Lily Greenthumb’s for the first time. Their florals are always exquisite, and the pieces they provided for Jessie and Alston’s celebration were no exception. The couple enjoyed their guests to the fullest at the Myers Park Country Club, and the dance floor was packed. Such a joy to be a part of this day! Jessie also mentioned to me that she and Alston are dog lovers (they grew up with golden retrievers and blue heelers, respectively) and plan to welcome a furry friend into their family soon. It always warms my heart to work with people who love pups as much as I do! I wish this beautiful couple all the best as they take on the new adventures life has to offer!

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Wedding Dresses

Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Bridesmaid Dresses

Joanna August

Babes of the Nile

Ceremony

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Abby Capalbo

Design, Styling, Parties

Abby Capalbo Styling

Two cuties, meet at college, fall in love, and end up traveling the world, but not before they say “I do” in one elegant Southern celebration crafted by The Graceful Host. Lauren Friday and Shamus Coneys Films captured every Irish-inspired detail and bright color of this summer wedding – and all the sweet kisses in between. More in our Vault right here!

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Classic + Elegant North Carolina Country Club Wedding

From The Graceful Host… Megan and Tom met while at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. A mutual friend pointed Megan out in a dining hall during their sophomore year asking Tom, “Do you know Megan Gassaway? She’s Catholic and an Irish dancer. You would like her.” But Megan notes that it took awhile for Tom to finally make a move. As their mutual friend list grew, they started bumping into each other more. Eventually the two left to spend semesters abroad – Megan in Spain and Tom in Paris. But they were reunited at a New Year’s party that winter where they chatted about their experiences abroad. Still no moves were made as Tom left for the remainder of junior year to do research in Nicaragua. Once school started again in the fall, Megan and Tom were reunited at a back-to-school party where Tom approached Megan with a glass of wine in his hand and said, “Megan, come outside and chat with me!” Megan said she was intrigued and followed. “On the front porch, Tom and I drank our wine, shared our love of books (both of us were English Majors), and compared notes on our Irish ancestry,” said Megan. A few days later, Megan was riding her bike through campus. Tom, also on a bike, called out to Megan from afar. The two bike-chatted, which Megan notes is very difficult, especially since she’s a bit clumsy, as they rode to class. Both had plans to drive to Atlanta with friends for the first football game of the season to cheer on the Tar Heels. On the drive to Atlanta, Megan’s friends asked her about Tom, but she continued to deny feelings for him. Meanwhile, Tom was declaring his intentions to ask Megan out on his own separate drive to Atlanta. On the day of the big game, they attended the same tailgate. And once Megan and Tom started chatting, they didn’t stop – even once the game started. Megan says, ” I impressed him with my football knowledge, and later that weekend he asked me on a date.”

Megan knew she wanted to get married back in Charlotte, and reserved the Cathedral of St. Patrick in beautiful Dilworth. It was important to incorporate their love of family, Irish heritage and religion into the wedding day. Megan and Tom had so many special touches. Megan’s garter was her grandmother’s and the diamond in Megan’s engagement ring once belonged to Tom’s great grandmother, and the Irish Book of Celtic Verse – a book from Tom to Megan. The paper goods featured a shamrock and a map of Ireland as a way to honor their Irish heritage, love of travel and it served as a bit of foreshadowing – following the wedding both Megan and Tom had plans to move to Cork, Ireland where Tom will begin his residency and Megan start graduate school.

With a love of color, we focused on a vibrant jewel-toned palette. Megan was inspired by garden weddings but wanted to elevate the style so that it would fit into the formal ballroom of Charlotte Country Club. Throughout the design we included details that would tell their story and their love of travel and books. The guest book was a map that guest could sign with well-wishes and it was an easy way for Megan and Tom to take with them a small memory of loved ones from their wedding day when they made their big move to Ireland. We incorporated books within the centerpieces for these two English majors. The bar room was a tribute to the happy couples’ Alma Mater, UNC Chapel Hill. We filled the room with Tar Heel memorabilia and pictures from their time as college students. Even Megan and Tom’s favorite beer from the ever popular staple Top Of The Hill was on tap for guests to enjoy. The rustic bourbon bar, while not necessarily Irish, was a fun nod to Megan’s Southern roots – and Tom’s love of bourbon!

The entire wedding day was full of love and laughter. Their beautiful story was told just as Megan and Tom had always envisioned. They danced the night away with friends and family to the band The Business, and made a getaway in an old fashioned car after a streamer exit.

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If you’re wondering what a classic and timeless wedding looks like, this is it. With a country club setting, the couple’s monogram throughout, and a color palette of blush, gold, and cream, this wedding is as elegant as they come—and full of personal touches, including a small photo attached to the Bride’s bouquet to honor her recently deceased father. See all the pretty from Allison Kuhn Photography in The Vault!

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Romantic Sunny Hued Wedding with Touches of Gray in North Carolina

From Allison Kuhn Photography…Emily and Michael were a joy to work with. Their easy-going and fun personalities made photographing their wedding easy. Emily’s incredibly classic and elegant taste was clearly reflected in the stunning Modern Trousseau dress when chose. Everything being located at one of Charlotte, North Carolina’s most up-scale venues, Charlotte Country Club. Large crystal chandeliers and hardwood floors made her reception a beautiful site. With help from Anne Markey of Favor Me Events, these wedding details were beautiful. Emily chose a white ceramic tray with her initials etched in gold as a guestbook for guests to sign.

Emily lost her father earlier in the year, and so honored him with a small black and white photo attached to her bouquet.

Each bridesmaid wore a different dress…all 12 of them. Having so many friends in Emily and Michael’s wedding party was such a reflection of the love surrounding them in life. They are such good souls and I know they will have a great life together.

From The Bride…I envisioned an classic, and romantic feel to our wedding with a slight shabby chic vibe. When I walked into Charlotte Country club I knew it was the perfect place to host the reception as it is the oldest country club in Charlotte. It has beautiful vaulted ceilings, huge mirrors, and amazing chandeliers that set the stage for the night. We wanted this to be a special day for us but also a fun night for all of our guests. We had a formal sit down dinner for 250 guests and then the band started for a fun night of dancing.

My color palette was blush, gold, and cream. I had bridesmaids pick out any dress they wanted in blush and we worked the other colors into the flowers and other details. I wanted china incorporated so we brought in an assortment of china plates that our salad (fried green tomatoes) was served on. We brought in tons of candles to lighten the room, and had an assortment of flowers and lanterns on the guests tables

My favorite moment of the night was dancing to the band with my new husband and all of our friends and family. Michael and I had our first dance choreographed by First Dance Charlotte and it was so much fun to show it off after a few months of practice. Once the dance floor opened up to everyone, it was packed all night! We both love to dance as do our families so picking the band was a very important part of our planning. My dad passed away two months before the wedding, but before he did so he helped me pick out the band. We went through their entire play list and selected the songs we wanted played at our wedding. It was so much fun hearing the songs as they were played and remembering this fun moment with him. We also had sunglasses made that had the foundation that was started in my dad’s name on the side. Everyone loved putting these on and joining us on the dance floor!

My favorite crafted detail was having our monogram used throughout all of the details of our wedding. It first appeared on our invitation created by Pink Toast Inc. and we continued to use it on our programs, menu, napkins, and coasters. My favorite part was having it monogrammed on a big serving platter which we used as our guest book.

My Modern Troussea from Hayden Olivia Bridal: I love this designer because you can basically create your own custom dress. I was able to take the bottom of one dress, the top of another, and the back of another and put them all together. I had a full bottom with a high lace top and cap sleeves. The back came down low and had a satin bow where it met the bottom.

In lieu of favors we donated to the Russell C. Guerin Foundation for Melanoma Research. To go along with this, we passed out sunglasses once the party got started that everyone immediately put on and showed off on the dance floor.

Charlotte Country Club in House baker made the best wedding cake I’ve ever tasted and it was so beautiful too! I wanted a simple raked cake with flowers draped on it and it turned out perfect.

I found out that I was able to plan the wedding of my dreams in just 5 1/2 months. I give tons of credit to my amazing wedding planner but when I first started I thought this would be impossible. It actually made things much easier because I didn’t have too much time to think about things, I just made decisions quickly and that was that. I did have to make sure I knew what my non-negotiable were and be flexible on other things. For example, I knew I had to have the reception venue, so we had to have the wedding on a Friday instead of a Saturday. If you have a shortened time frame, it doesn’t mean you can’t have the wedding you’ve always dreamed of!

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Modern Trousseau

Spring & Fall Classics

Spring 2015

Fall 2015

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Anyone else in dire need a daily dose of sunshine? Don’t get us wrong we looove fall as much as the next gal, but that doesn’t mean we can’t scroll up some cheery hues. I’m talking the ultimate sunshine hued affair that’s romantic on so many levels. From the cool gray contrasts to the dreamed up details, this duo’s ultimate party is sure to lighten up your day. Faith Teasley has it for you in THE VAULT!

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Elegant Southern Wedding with a Playful Twist

From Faith Teasley…If there’s one word that sums up Andrea and Rob’s wedding day it would be: joy-filled. Andrea and Rob have such a sweet love for each other! One of my favorite moments of the day was when Rob saw his beautiful bride for the first time – she took his breath away. The gray and yellow inspired attire and decor reflected Andrea and Rob’s joyful personalities perfectly. The Ballantyne Hotel in Charlotte provided a gorgeous backdrop for the wedding ceremony, and the Myers Park Country Club was a wonderful place for the reception. All in all, it was an amazing day!

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A pretty pastel rose and peony bouquet, a ceremony at the church the Bride grew up attending, and a gorgeous couple—this North Carolina affair has all the makings of a perfect Southern wedding. And when you add the Bride’s sparkly pink shoes, trolley transportation and colorful ribbon wand exit, it’s the loveliest mix of traditional and fun. See it all from Robyn Van Dyke Photography in the gallery.

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Classic Weddings Whimsical

From Robyn Van Dyke Photography…Chris & David met when they were just 16 years old at summer camp and they’ve been together ever since! They planned a very classic, southern, and meaningful wedding and said “I do” at the very same church that Chris grew up in. The most beautiful garland adorned the church doors and there were garlands and candles in each of the big church windows. The bride wore a pearl-studded gown and ribbon sash while the bridesmaids wore a soft shade of full-length pink dresses, and all the men wore classic tuxes with suspenders and bow ties! Gorgeous southern blooms in shades of white and blush were used, and pops of gold at the reception tied everything together beautifully! We also loved the unexpected fun details the bride incorporated to bring out their personality from her sparkly confetti Kate Spade heels to the rainbow ribbon wands for their exit! They also made sure to leave time for some special moments with their family & friends that day, and the bride gave a handwritten note to her father to thank him for being such a godly, loving example of what a husband should be like before exchanging letters with the groom during their first look! What a perfectly sweet, classic southern wedding!

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Bridesmaid Dresses

Joanna August

Babes of the Nile

Ceremony

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Rustic Mint + Gold North Carolina Wedding

There’s something about ceremonies with church pews outside that make my wedding blogger brain burst with joy; I love it oh so much. The juxtaposition of a contemporary take on something so traditional makes me giddy and this special sight might be one of the best. With Marcie Meredith’s pics, we’re swept away to the lovely North Carolina lakeside, where this whole fairytale got it’s start – let’s go!

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