North Carolina Weddings

A chic color palette of metallics and black and white makes for a guaranteed stylish soiree; add in one athletic and glamorous couple and the whole bash becomes even more beautiful. Planned and designed by The Graceful Host, this Southern wedding takes sophistication to a whole new level, and Lauren Rosenau snapped every second of it for us to crush on in this gorgeous gallery right here!

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From The Graceful Host… Emily Breeze and Montell are both athletes from Virginia who knew of one another growing up, but never formally met. They were introduced by a mutual friend, but were completely uninterested in each other originally. In fact, neither of them were attracted to each other in the beginning! But after developing a strong friendship and talking daily, their friendship turned into a sweet romance. Then during a trip to Chicago, which is one of their favorite cities to visit, Montell proposed to Breeze. And shortly after their dream proposal, Breeze and Montell jumped right into planning for their October wedding!

When planning for their wedding our bride knew that she wanted something different – something that stood out from the rest. This bride wanted a wedding style that was all her own, with a color palette that was timeless. With an ivory, gold, and black color palette we created a design centered around a mix of traditional Southern elegance with modern sophistication. The bride and groom choose the venue, the Duke Mansion, for it’s elegance and historical roots. For the decor, we used lush textures with the floral and linens, and then mixed in pops of geometric prints giving a nod to modern style among the more classic designs. All-white, elaborate floral centerpieces and floral chandeliers by New Creations Flower Company filled the dinner tent beautifully. In addition to the metallic elements throughout the design, we included many mirrored accents throughout the tablescapes, like the oversized mirror seating chart and mirror place cards. The 8 foot mirrored tables from Nuage Designs were simply breathtaking and spoke to our bride’s style perfectly!

Even with our bride’s desire to stand out from the traditional in her decor, she still wanted to have a wedding that would stand the test of time in other ways. Breeze choose a Modern Trousseau gown from Hayden Olivia that had a classic shape with some major flare. As a professional athlete, the wedding dress was an important and personal purchase for Breeze. And she added heirlooms to her bouquet from the her paternal grandparents as a way to honor their memory on the wedding day; just as the color palette was rooted in tradition, but executed in a new and unique way.

The guest experience was of utmost importance to Breeze and Montell. We had jazz singers serenading guests during dinner, and then to get the party started, Split Second Sound was on hand to entertain all night long! A cigar roller was present during cocktail hour to pass out freshly rolled cigars and teach guests about cigars – which was actually a surprise from the bride to her groom! And then as another surprise, local mixologist Bob Peters was available to serve a few specialty drinks chosen by the bride and groom especially for their wedding.

One of the bride’s most emotional moments of the day was walking down the aisle with her dad. Just before the wedding ceremony the skies opened and it started to pour down rain! We were fearing the worst thinking we might have to pull the intended outdoor ceremony indoors. As the wedding planner, deciding to keep the outdoor wedding outside rather than pull everything indoors as it’s raining and guests are arriving is not an easy decision. But my gut was telling me that everything was going to be okay – even when the radar was impossible to predict! It was the right decision in the end, and the bride got to have her dream ceremony outdoors in the beautiful garden at the Duke Mansion. The moment I sent Breeze down the aisle to greet her groom was one of the best of my career – and I love seeing the emotion on her face as she’s walking with her dad! Our beautiful bride is an only child, so this day was special just as special for him, too. For this daddy’s girl, this amazing moment is priceless. The two of them cried a lot – and it was perfect!

Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography | Event Design And Planning: The Graceful Host | Floral Design: New Creations Flower Company | Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau | Wedding Cake: Kathy Allen Cakes | Shoes: Valentino | Wedding Bands: Diamonds Direct | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Duke Mansion | Makeup Artist: Erin Ashley - Makeup Artis | Hair : Mirror Bomb Studios | Calligraphy: The Graceful Host | Groom's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Wedding Venue: Duke Mansion | Tent: Party Reflections | Bridal Boutique: Hayden Olivia Bridal | Invitations And Paper Goods: Pink Toast Ink | Mixologist: Bob Peters | Reception DJ: Split Second Sound | Rentals: Party Reflections | Rentals: Nuage Designs

My sister and I are deep in the throes of planning her baby nursery and we’ve settled upon the idea of adventure. A wondrous, adventurous nursery land and then I saw this. Bingo! It’s exactly as you would imagine a super chic, totally fun adventure nursery to be. Faux lions, teepees and a cute little Callahan too. Get lost in this magical spot captured by Allison Kuhn Photography.

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Katrina of Come+Together Events in Charlotte, North Carolina was expecting her first baby, and got to work styling his nursery right away. As a wedding planner, she was familiar with the details and making sure this nursery would be unique. The nursery was furnished with mostly blue, gray and orange accents. Katrina and her husband have traveled the world, and in doing so, Katrina included objects from their travels into the nursery. Her son, Callahan will hopefully enjoy these accents for years to come.

Photography: Allison Kuhn Photography | "Hi" Blanket: Yarning Made | Be Yourself Hoop Art: Free Spirit Jenny | Bedding: RH Baby & Child | Bookshelf: Restoration Hardware | British Flag Frame: Anthropologie | Callahan Pillow: Habitationboyheme | Chandelier: RH Baby & Child | Changing Pad Cover: Little Oasis Nurseries | Client: Come + Together Events | Crib: RH Baby & Child | Dream Big Little One: Loving Leigh Yours | Dresser: RH Baby & Child | Elephant Canvas Storage Bin: RH Baby & Child | Elephant Head: Land Of Nod | Fox Pillow: Miles & Tate | Fur Rug: FurAccents | Giraffe Head: Anthropologie | Glider: RH Baby & Child | Greatest Adventure Sign: Elisabeth Rose | Hermes Pillows: Hermes | Lion Head: Mahzerandvee | Lion Rug: Roxy Marj | Month/Number Blocks: Pretty In Polka Dot Sky | Orange Canvas Bins: Land Of Nod | Orange Wall Shelf: Land Of Nod | Ottoman: Hello Homebody | Raccoon Doll: Bla Bla Kids | Ragamuffin Flag: Roxy Marj | Teepee: Land Of Nod | Window Treatments: Sarah Catherine Collective

You know it’s going to be a good day when you get word that incredibly talented bridal designer Winnie ChlominLee is opening a brand-new flagship location in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Beverly Hills-based Winnie Couture crafts stunning, feminine gowns for Hollywood A-listers, as well as brides across the country. And the showroom? Well it’s pure pink perfection. Just take a look!

Bringing an entirely new shopping experience to brides in Charlotte, Winnie Couture has created a boutique unlike any other in the area! Brides will not only fall in love with the gorgeous showroom, but they’ll also get to shop with a personal stylist and have access to exclusive Winnie veils, shoes and accessories! Add a glass of bubbly (complimentary, of course!) and finding your dream dress just may be the best day ever.

That space! Oh my — so pretty. To set up your time to check it out — and try on dresses! — head over here.  And just for our SMP readers, Winnie Couture is offering a 15% discount to brides who book their appointment by March 31, 2015! To redeem, simply mention this post when booking your appointment. 

This bride loves black so she added a sash to her gown. The groom is Irish, so they incorporated Celtic dancers at their reception. These personal touches are what I love most as I dive into each and every wedding-filled day here at SMP. Smitten & Hooked captured every unique detail and if these hydrangeas aren’t enough of a tease, you have my promise that there is plenty more where that came from.

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From Smitten & Hooked…This couple wanted fun and different and boy they got it!

Andrew is from Ireland and a huge part of the wedding was Irish, including the Irish Celtic dancers that performed during the reception and the bagpiper who led them to their favorite Irish bar as their exit.

Britt loves black but knew her mother would kill her if she wore a black dress so she picked out the most fabulous Amsale gown and had a small black sash added, custom black jewelry, and killer Badgley Mischka black pumps! At the reception she had a short sassy black dress she danced the night away in!

Their details at the reception were amazing. The head table top was covered with a mirror top and just drenched in hydrangeas and they were everywhere. The flowers were probably one of our favorite aspect of the gorgeous reception! They also had ghost chairs and lots of gorgeous linens and candles everywhere.

Photography: Smitten & Hooked | Videographer: Crown Alley Films | Event Planning: Come + Together Events | Floral Design: the bloom room | Wedding Gown: Amsale | Ceremony Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte | Reception Venue: The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte | Jewelry: Kristin Hayes Jewelry | Hair And Makeup: Who's The Fairest | DJ: Split Second Sound | String Quartet: Carolina Chamber Players | Bridal Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Rentals: Party Reflections

Angela here from Saffron Avenue bringing you my next blogger bride adventure! Some girls are crazy excited to try on dresses for the first time, and I thought I always would be…until the time actually came. I’m not big into shopping, trying on clothes, and definitely not in front of family and friends while literally on a pedestal. The idea actually stressed me out because I had no clue what to expect. But I’m passing on what I learned, and tips to make this important shopping excursion one to remember.

A few things I was told by my friends and family was to try on all different styles, and that dresses always look better on you than the hanger. Also, to keep an open mind the whole time. And while that info was great, it wasn’t quite enough. The first time I tried on dresses didn’t turn out the best. I didn’t eat much before, I was so tired and exhausted, and the bridal salon didn’t have any music and weren’t enthusiastic. It just wasn’t the experience I’d imagined. 

I decided the next place I would choose to go to would be 10x better and that’s when I ended up at Hayden Olivia Bridal in Charlotte, NC. It was one of the best decisions I had made because it was such a great experience, and one I’ll never forget. I spent the day with my sister and very close friend trying on so many beautiful dresses in an absolutely beautiful loft style boutique. We had music, dresses lined up, mimosa, and best of all we laughed…a lot. To top it off I had a great photographer, Lauren Rosenau snapping pictures of the process to share with you!

I definitely had an open mind too, I tried on big ball gowns by Hayley Paige, an amazing trumpet dress by Monique Lhuillier, a dress with crazy feathers, and another with a sparkly plunging neckline. And just in case you wanted to know…none of these shown are the dress I chose. (That’s top secret! ) But I do want to share a handy list of tips Hayden Olivia Bridal and I pulled together to make wedding dresses shopping a little bit smoother!

Until next time! xoxo, Angela

Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography | Wedding Dress: Hayden Olivia Bridal | Hair & Makeup: Michelle Dula - The Paintbox | Venue: Hayden Olivia Bridal | Branding: Saffron Avenue

Darlings, I cannot wait to share today’s recipe for pretty. Take two Irish Catholic cuties, pair them up with the planning genius that is The Graceful Host, add a dash of whimsy and a dash of elegance and the result is one ridiculously beautiful, classic wedding day. Dressed in kelly green and a turquoise navy, the hues will make your eyes dance in every capture from Lauren Rosenau Photography. See more in here!

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From The Graceful Host…Hard to believe that just a few months ago this sweet couple, Katelyn and Phillip, were married in a beautiful ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina. I’ll never forget my first phone call from Katelyn. This busy bride-to-be knew that she needed a planner, and she’d do whatever it would take to get one – even changing her wedding date so that she could book me! Honored and humbled just skims the surface of how I felt when this amazing bride said that she couldn’t imagine getting married without my help.Working with these two was such a blast! There was no shortage of laughter at each meeting. Katelyn came to me with a vision of a vintage romance meets artistic whimsy meets elegance wedding inspiration that had no shortage of personal touches and was big on family traditions. I mean, we’ve got two Irish Catholic families here! Katelyn had gotten her dream dress from Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City. It was a beautiful and timeless lace gown with a cathedral length lace trimmed veil and a jeweled champagne sash for a pop of sparkle. Her dress became a source of inspiration for a number of wedding details. I worked with Katelyn to create something unique and beautiful in a color palette of navy, cream and kelly green keeping accents of vintage charm and whimsical elegance throughout each detail. The centerpieces included unique flowers like green trick, kale, anemone, hostas and bells of Ireland for a bit of an artistic touch. Along the head table we had three tall candelabras with smilax, hanging amaranths, umbrella fern, white stock, and bells of Ireland wrapped and draped around for an ultra romantic look. As with most brides, Katelyn also wanted to create an intimate atmosphere using a lot of candle light. Personal touches were important to this couple, so we included as many as possible: the bagpiper that greeted guests upon arrival to the Catholic Church and lead the couple out of the ceremony was a nod to their Irish heritage, the fire helmet sitting on the front pew of the church with a family rosary was in honor of the brides late grandfather, & the lace detailing on the wedding cake which was inspired by the brides wedding dress – to name a few. The bride and groom danced the night away at the Mint Museum in Uptown Charlotte, NC, and left the reception to a ribbon wand exit on the front staircase. As they got into a pedicab, they waved good night to family and friends and headed off to start their honeymoon.

Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography | Videography: Brian Bunn Films | Floral Design: New Creations Flower Company | Cake: The Wow Factor Cakes | Ceremony Venue: St. Peter's Catholic Church | Reception Venue: Mint Museum Uptown | Brides Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Catering: Something Classic | Hair + Makeup: Who's The Fairest | DJ: All The Right Grooves | Bagpipes: Carolina Bagpipes | Chair Rental: Chiavari Chairs Of North Carolina | Wedding Dress, Veil + Belt: Kleinfeld Bridal | Wedding Planner + Designer: The Graceful Host

This couples’ story will warm your heart right up this Monday morning. With the help of a talented team of vendors including Taken By Sarah Photography, Willow Floral Boutique, and Ella’s Celestial Cakes (just to name a few), they were able to create the dream wedding day they never got to have, to the same person they will always love. See the entire shoot here.

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From The Bride…Some say young love won’t last, that you need to find yourself before you can truly love someone else. But for us, we found love at a young age, and that love grew up together. We met in middle school, and on that day at a mere 13 years old, CR told his best friend that he’d found the girl he was going to marry. At the ripe age of 20 he proposed, and though we had no money for a big fancy wedding, we had more love than one could dream of. My grandparents were our inspiration, they had married at 16 and 19, and were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. They gave us their original rings from 50 years ago, and we all celebrated the lifetime of love they shared, and our wedding on the same beautiful day at a small plantation in Georgia.

We are approaching a decade of marriage, 4 beautiful children, and a hope for the same lasting love my grandparents found. It was wonderful to have a second chance wedding that we could have only dreamed of, and knowing that we would marry each other all over again, with an even stronger love and commitment than we did so many years ago…

Photography: Taken By Sarah Photography | Florist: Willow Floral Boutique | Dress: Fabulous Frocks Bridal- Charlotte | Cakes: Ella's Celestial Cakes | Stationery: Sweetest Beginnings | Shoes: Kate Spade | Bracelet: Chloe & Isabel | Makeup: Blush Beauty And Makeup | Hair: Glammed And Groomed | Chandeliers: Charlotte Chandeliers | Earrings: Saks Fifth Avenue | Florist/Planner: Lily Bee's Events And Floral | Menswear: Revolve Upscale Menswear Consignment | Private Estate: Van Landingham Estate | Vintage Plates And Flatware: Heirloom

What do you get when you combine a stylish bride and a very dapper Baltimore Ravens football player? One absolutely jaw-dropping glamorous wedding, overflowing with lush florals and sparkling chandeliers, all brought to life by The Graceful Host.  Lauren Rosenau Photography and Brian Bunn Films captured it all and you can soak up every stunning moment right this way.

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From The Graceful Host… On a gorgeous spring afternoon, Whitley Saxton married Baltimore Ravens safety, Darian Stewart, in a beautiful, riverside ceremony in Rock Hill, South Carolina. This sweet couple met one night out in Charlotte, NC a few years ago, while both were out on the town with friends. Whitley is from the Rock Hill, South Carolina area, and although she didn’t envision an outdoor ceremony, she fell in love with the peace and tranquility of the venue Brakefield at Riverwalk. With visions of grandeur in mind, I helped Whitley design and plan for a wedding that would leave guests saying, “wow!”

When Whitley approached me to help her plan and design her spring wedding, she had a specific vision in mind – over the top elegance. And with the help of an amazing vendor team, we achieved her goal and exceeded her expectations! Our bride and groom were all about glamorous style. With centerpieces dripping in crystal, lush floral, and textured custom linens, their vision came to reality.

Melanie Edwards with New Creations Flower Company created gorgeous, ornate centerpieces dripping in crystal. The color palette was ultra-romantic with a base of ivories and pops of pale pinks against soft grey tones. We sourced highly textured linens in the grey color palette to add to the feeling of luxury, elegance, sophistication and romance. I loved the silver and grey rosette linen from Party Tables… it fit the design perfectly! Thanks to Sterling Events Group, the entire venue was draped in ivory panels and accented with blush uplighting, which transformed the reception space … and it left our bride speechless during the reveal. When I spoke to the bride and groom about the most important part of the wedding, she said (without hesitation) the party! So, we went to the number one DJ in town – Split Second Sound – to help us keep the dance party going all night long. Guests had so much fun dancing from everything from old school hip hop and R&B. With Olive Paper, we were able to design custom paper goods – from wedding invitations to place cards to a seating chart to menu cards. Everything was custom made for Whitley and Darian’s special day with their unique vision in mind. Something Classic Cafe and Catering provide an incredible meal and service to guests. Wow Factor Cakes created one of the most gorgeous wedding cakes I’ve ever seen – a beautiful ivory cake with a huge ivory sugar flower cascading down. It tasted just as delicious as it looked! The bride surprised her groom with a South Carolina Game Cocks helmet cake – the team the groom played for in College. He couldn’t wait to dive into the cake! Whitley’s wedding dress came from Nitsa’s Apparel of Charlotte and was from Victor Harper Couture. Her dress could not have been more perfect for her elegant and over the top wedding. It was such a gorgeous and timeless gown – perfect for the bride who wants the fairytale wedding day!

With the incredibly talented Lauren Rosenau Photography and amazing Brian Bunn Films along to capture the day, everything was absolutely perfect! Lauren Rosenau and team captured the incredible personalities of the bride and groom. Her photos evoke the emotion of the wedding day, and tell the story of the day. I can feel this sweet bride laughing and loving life through each photo.

Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography | Videography: Brian Bunn Films | Event Coordination: The Graceful Host | Event Design: The Graceful Host | Floral Design: New Creations Flower Company | Wedding Dress: Nitsa's | Cake: The Wow Factor Cakes | Catering: Something Classic | Transportation: The Royal Rides | Ceremony And Reception Venue: Brakefield At Riverwalk | Ceremony Musicians: Charlotte Strings For Events | Linens: Party Tables | Paper Goods: Olive Paper | Pipe And Drape: Sterling By Design | Reception Entertainment: Split Second Sound | Wedding Dress Designer: Victor Harper

Backyard weddings have always been my cup of tea. Super intimate and always lovely, they never fail to charm my socks off. Well, Red White And Green Photography gave me yet another reason to love those sweet backyard soirées thanks to this pretty below, and I can’t say that I am surprised that I love every single image sitting in this gallery. 

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They were married in Kathryn’s sisters’ back yard on Lake Norman surrounded by simple and elegant beauty created by Hall and Webb Events. Accompanied by live music and a view of the lake, guests enjoyed cocktails while Kathryn and Jon spent a few sacred moments on the dock being madly in love and recently wed. An incredible dinner party on the lawn gave way to dancing under twinkling lights and Kathryn and Jon were sent off on their next adventure. Two of the kindest souls…joined together on a magical day.

Photography: Red White And Green Photography | Wedding Planner: Hall And Webb | Florist: A Place For Flowers | Wedding Dress: Dar-Lynn's | Cake: Cake Expressions by Lisa | Catering: Best Impressions | Lighting: Eye Dialogue | Suits: Belk | Ceremony Music: Key Signature Entertainment | Transportation: T J Transportation | Venue: Private Residence | Hair And Make-up: Who's The Fairest | Invitation And Program: Seal Design Studio | Reception Music: The Adrian Duke Project | Rentals: Party Reflections

Soft. Pretty. Delicate. It’s a design inspiration we’ve heard time and time again from brides all over, yet it never seems to get old. And, judging by these beautifully arranged florals, it’s a look Lily Greenthumbs is definitely no stranger to. With The Vanlandingham Estate as the perfect backdrop, this fairy tale wedding is a fresh take on a timeless combination for pretty. Get a glimpse of the gorgeousness (thanks to Jim Trice Photography!) in the gallery here.

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The VanLandingham Estate was the perfect backdrop. There is something so special about being in an old home that dates back to the 1800’s. The elegant details and nostalgia added a vintage element to my wedding inspiration and the gardens spoke for themselves. I knew the venue would then help with pulling together the other pieces. I focused my attention next on the bridesmaids’ dresses. I knew I wanted to have each girl in their own, unique dress. It was important to me that they be comfortable and feel beautiful. I cringe at spending money on something I will never wear again (aside from my wedding gown!) so I hated the thought of each of them buying a dress and shoes that they would donate or toss shortly after. I told them the color scheme and sent a few examples from the Internet and then left the rest up to them! I wanted them to have different textures and colors so that each one would stand out. And they did– each girl looked so gorgeous.

One of the main resources that I used for inspiration and for purchasing decor items came from Anthropologie’s bridal site, BLHDN. I fell in love with all the sweet, vintage-y decor and accessories. As many of their items can seem outlandishly pricey, I just kept checking their sale page on a weekly basis to see if my favorite things were listed. And many times they were! The first thing I bought from them were my shoes. I was able to get them on sale and they were perfect! From then on I gathered up other items here and there: a birdcage for the cards, a mix of pennants (lace, floral and gold) to use throughout the reception, mini antique cake stands for my bridesmaids, the table number cards, and a chalkboard sign to name a few.

The dress. I’ll never forget how it happened. As I was walking back to the room to try on one of the other five or six I had selected, there it was, hanging all by itself on a random peg- as if someone just hung it there until they had time to figure out where it really belonged. I pointed at it and said, “I think I want to try this one.” I came out, steped on the block, turned around a few times and started to cry. I knew this was the one. I didn’t think that feeling really existed, but for me it did– and it felt really good!

The flowers literally took my breath away. This is the one area of the planning that you really don’t get to see until the day of your wedding, and to me, one of the best parts! I knew I wanted a mix of blush and ivory flowers with soft greenery accents. From the start, Karen Grennoe, owner of Lily Greenthumbs, was able to see my vision come to life– soft, vintage, candle-lit mercury glass, and low profile flowing centerpieces. When I walked into the reception I felt like I was in my own fairy tale.

As my vision was starting to become much more clear, I couldn’t have pulled it all together without the help of my wedding planner, Ginger Hussey, owner of HeyLove Events. Not only did she seemlessly coordinate and execute all the events of the day, I was able to rent several items of hers to complete my look. I rented her beautiful farm tables, vintage china, market street lighting and chandelier, and the old door for the polaroid guest book. The menus, name cards, and invitations were designed by her talented daughter, Lauren Calnin. I was so impressed how perfectly the menus matched my flowers, without having seen them together first. The lace table runners were made by Marilyn, my step mother, and the cork table number holders were made by my mother-in-law, Linda.

Our wedding day wouldn’t be complete without a solid rave party… and so we made sure to throw one! Corey and I love Electronic Dance Music and so we sought out our amazing DJ, Brandon Willett, who tailored the dancing to match our favorite tracks and mash ups. All our guests raved with us adorned in neon glow, head to toe. We wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Photography: Jim Trice | Videographer: Timm Young Films | Wedding Planner: Hey Love Events | Floral Design: Lily Greenthumb's Wedding & Event Design | Wedding Dress: Vanessa By Watters Wtoo | Cake: For Goodness Cakes | Ceremony Venue: Myers Park United Methodist Church | Reception Venue: Van Landingham Estate | Catering: Van Landingham Estate | Make Up: Lovely By Lindsey | DJ: Brandon Willett | Transportation: Ballantyne Limo | Rentals: Party Reflections

I’m not sure who came up with our modern reception convention, but I’m glad they did. Weddings are full of so much joy and happiness, it’s preposterous to think you could do anything but dance. And as you can see from We Are Caravan‘s video, this couple knows how to throw one heck of a party. This video is so good, it’ll make you want to jump on in with them by the end. So let the toe-tapping begin!

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Photography: Charles Bordner | Videography: Caravan | Ceremony Venue: Old Edwards Inn And Spa | Reception Venue: Byrons South End | Reception Music: Mr. Potato Head | Reception Photography: Jim Trice

The perfect way to start your Tuesday?  With a little romantic inspiration from a group of talented NC vendors… that’s how.  Think blush, coral and gold hues mix and mingling with lush blooms from Chelish Moore Flowers, fab paper goods from Sweetest Beginnings and a breathtaking setting also known as the Separk Mansion.  It’s basically a wedding lovers dream and you can see it all captured by Casey Hendrickson right here.

From Casey Hendrickson Photography… On March 9th 2014, we gathered at the gorgeous new venue of the Separk Mansion. This session was styled using coral, peach, pink, and cream with touches of gold to create both a romantic and elegant theme. We used watercolor as inspiration for the stationary, cake, and sweets. With its timeless elegance and architecture, the Separk Mansion was the perfect venue for our session. Our blushing bride was dressed in both a stunning beaded Gianna by Maggie Sottero and the glamorous Brandy by Maggie Sottero while the handsome groom was dressed in a classic Allure tuxedo. Not only did we have a hand painted watercolor cake with a pearl finish and hand-rolled flowers with jeweled centers, there were also meringue kisses hand painted with edible watercolors as well as shortbread cookies painted gold with a watercolor finish on top. The exquisite floral arrangements completed the look along with the gorgeous table chandeliers, candles, and beaded gems.

Photography: Casey Hendrickson Photography | Floral Design: Chelish Moore Flowers | Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero | Cake: Sky's The Limit Bridal Sweets | Invitations: Sweetest Beginnings | Jewelry: BluEyed Horse Designs | Hair And Makeup: Makeup Cupcake | Wedding Venue: Separk Mansion | Assistance: RoShel Events | Wedding Dress Boutique: The Bride's Choice

After just one little peek at this Charlotte wedding at the Mint Museum, it’s safe to say this Bride has style for miles (and miles). It’s reflected in each and every gorgeous detail she helped plan with Ashley Baber Weddings, making for one gorgeous, personality-packed party. Thankfully Aura Marzouk snapped up every picture perfect moment, and you can see them all right here.

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From Aura Marzouk Photography…This wedding was so much fun! Jessica and Chad are two very fun loving people and everytime I’ve met up with Jessica, she always has a smile on her face and everyone knows when she’s arrived because of her lively presence! I remember her bridal session when she first looked in the mirror and said “I look good y’all!” She has such a beautiful powerful voice, and took the opportunity to show off her amazing talent by serenading her husband during the reception to “signed sealed delivered’. Jessica is a hair dresser by trade, but her amazing voice even took her as far as The Voice, and she still sings for a local cover band on the weekends.

These two met through friends and family, and had an instant connection. It was Christmas-time when Chad decided to propose to Jessica and what an adorable proposal it was! Just before heading to their annual Christmas party, he tricked her into changing into a cute little black dress, and while she searched for the perfect accessories, he surprised her with a brand new one – a stunning diamond ring! Then he looked deep into her eyes and said…. “Do you think this will match?” A funny and simple proposal that totally matches this fun-loving couple!

The wedding day was unique in so many ways. The ceremony itself was kept small and private at St Mary’s chapel in Downtown Charlotte. Only close family and friends were in attendance. Only 25 were invited. They brought in the very talented Crown Alley Films to capture it all for viewing at the start of the more public reception. Their reception took place at Mint Museum in downtown Charlotte, and it was truly a public affair for one very big reason. There was a festival downtown that day. It was Pride weekend. And little did we know, a stage would be set up directly in front of the venue! You would think this would put a damper on any wedding, but not for these folks! As soon as we arrived and made it out on the balcony, Jessica looked out and saw the crowd below, and to our surprise, they all began to cheer and wave! And Jessica, being the fun loving girl she is, was thrilled! Their party was lively and everyone danced, and of course, Jessica sang, and they exited to sparklers and rode away in a pedi cab! It was a night to remember!

Photography: Aura Marzouk Photography | Cinematography: Crown Alley Films | Event Planning: Ashley Baber Weddings | Florist: Flowers From The Cellar | Wedding Dress: Nitsa's | Ceremony Venue: St Mary's Chapel | Reception Venue: Mint Museum Uptown | Catering: La Tea Das | Makeup Artist: Beuty By Bryn | Band: EastCoast Entertainment | Bridal Portrait Venue: Bella Collina Mansion Stokesdale NC

My heart always feels a little fuller whenever I get my hands on a classic Southern wedding. But this, my darlings, is classic with a twist. A DIY twist that personalizes this Charlotte affair from the inside out. It’s everything I adore about handcrafted weddings wrapped up in one seamless day. See it all from inContrast Images’ captures right here.

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From the Bride…We aren’t sure if we truly believe in “love at first sight,” but Jon says he had the closest thing to it, at least, when we met! We met in college, at a dinner party he and a group of his NC State friends hosted for a group of Carolina girls. Despite the huge rivalry between us, my friends and I were really excited about a group of guy friends, a rare find at Carolina. I noticed Jon seemed to be following me around that night, but I didn’t read into it. He had other plans, though, which I became aware of only a few days later when he began intentionally pursuing me. I was resistant at first, not sure how someone who barely knew me could be so sure he wanted to date me. A year-and-a-half later, a few months before our wedding, Jon’s mom told me that she and his dad had prayed since Jon was little that he would very clearly recognize the girl he was supposed to marry when he met her – and then I understood how he had been so sure!

We chose Alexander Homestead for our reception venue because it was a unique combination of settings I envisioned for our event – a charming historical home with a beautiful outdoor area and a barn fit for a formal, sit-down dinner. I considered several other places first, but the formal venues were too formal for my DIY ideas, yet I also wanted a full-course, sit-down dinner. We knew about Alexander Homestead because our family friend Steve Onxley, of Onxley Architecture, designed its dairy barn. I immediately loved it more than other barns I had seen because it had a fresh, dressed-up atmosphere inside. There were twinkle lights hanging from the rafters, light wood-planked walls and doors, and an adorable brick-floor atrium on the other side. One of the things we loved most was that we could slide the barn doors open when it cooled off at night to open the party up to the outdoors and give us a pretty view of the backyard. The sprawling lawn was a beautiful area for the guests to mingle during the cocktail area while we took pictures with the bridal party in front of the house. And the space in the barn was large enough to seat all of our guests together, rather than splitting them up into separate rooms, something we were trying hard not to do.

We were married in a nearby church that allowed us to bring in our own pastor, the pastor of Jon’s church during college, who also did our pre-marital counseling. My younger sister sang one of my favorite songs, “Thy Mercy, My God” by Caedmon’s Call, with one of Jon’s friends playing guitar and one of my bridesmaids playing violin. That was one of the most meaningful moments of the day for me. The flowers were my favorite detail of among the décor. I went with a pale pink, peach and ivory color palette, dainty accents, and soft edges in full, tight bouquets. My florist selected ivory garden roses that looked so similar to blooming peonies, which weren’t available the week of my wedding. White ranunculus and succulents were two of my other must-haves. Peachy pink garden roses filled out the arrangement, dusty miller leaves created a softening effect, and seeded eucalyptus added touches of greenery. Queen Anne’s lace, silver brunia berries and white freesia were the accents that tied it all together. My bridesmaids’ bouquets included the same accents, but in place of the peony-look-a-likes and succulents were white dahlias and ivory spray roses. My two sisters were my matron and maid of honor, and their bouquets stood out with vibrant peach dahlias. Rather than blooms on the guys, we did cotton boutonnieres accented with brunia berries.

What we wanted most for our guests was simply a beautiful evening where they could relax and be served dinner, and then dance the night away! We hand-selected all the songs from the cocktail hour through the last dance to make sure all the music was a reflection of us and what our guests would enjoy. My heart was so full at the end of the night, as so many people told us over and over how fun it had been and how perfectly everything turned out!

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Photography: inContrast Images |  Ceremony Location: Amity Presbyterian Church | Reception Location: Alexander Homestead | Floral Design: Bouquet Floral Design | DJ: Agape DJ | Cateting: Smart Choice Catering | Linens: Party Reflections  | Cake: Cakes by Mary Ann | Cinematography: Peyton Lea Productions | Hair + Makeup: Jennifer Ericksen | Wedding Dress: Lula Kate via J. Major’s Bridal Boutique | Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung via J. Major’s Bridal Boutique

Piece together the perfect moments of this Ritz Carlton wedding, and you’ll find a day that will stand the test of time — a classic romance and thoughtfully designed celebration. Planned in the hands of Weddings and the City, it’s the kind of affair that glamorizes the black-and-white basics and oozes with elegance from head to toe. Kristin Vining captured every last bit, and there’s much more to love right here.

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From the Bride…It is so hard to choose just one “best thing” about our wedding day, so I won’t!  A few specific events or aspects of our wedding stands out to Drew and me.  Our favorite moment of the wedding was oddly enough the 15 minutes we had to ourselves in between the ceremony and cocktail hour.  Our fabulous coordinator at The Ritz-Carlton, Rebecca Cochran, stole us from the madness of transporting our guests from the church to the cocktail hour and brought us to a private room in the hotel where she had hors d’oeuvres waiting for us.  We were able to breathe, have a little bite to eat, and really take a step back to absorb what had just happened.  We both cherish this moment because it allowed us the private time together to relish in the fact that we were married before embarking on the rest of the evening.

One of my favorite parts about our wedding day was having all of our loved ones and friends from over the years in one place.  It was so cool to be able to look around and be surrounded by people from all different stages of your life at one time.  It was an overwhelming feeling of love and support that just made the day so amazing and fun!  

Finally, I cannot conclude without talking about our band.  My father, who grew up with and has an education in music, researched for months before finding our perfect band.  While he is very open-minded, he has extremely high standards when it comes to music, so I felt totally comfortable leaving this job to him.  And thank goodness I did, because he sure did deliver!  Simply Irresistible came from Atlanta, GA and literally brought the house down.  They were flawless and never let the energy lag.  From the moment they started playing until their set was complete (they took no breaks!), our whole wedding was up dancing and having a great time.  To this day, our friends still talk about how awesome Simply Irresistible was, so it makes us feel good to know that everyone had a great time.

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Photography: Kristin Vining Photography | Ceremony Location: First Presbyterian Church Charlotte, NC | Reception Location + Catering: The Ritz-Carlton | Event Planning: Weddings and the City | Floral Design: The Place for Flowers | Rentals: Party Reflections | Transportation: Sunway Charters & Tours | Hair + Makeup: Jami Svay | Invitations + Stationery: Salutations Fine Stationery & Gifts | Music: Simply Irresistible, East Coast Entertainment | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Veil: Family Heirloom | Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale | Tuxedos: New York Bride and Groom

A black and white wedding at the Ritz is like the mother of all timeless affairs. It’s just about as good as it gets. And whether you’re a bride-to-be or way past your days of “I do,” this modern ballroom beauty will stop you dead in your tracks, guaranteed. You must spend time in the gorgeous full gallery where every photo from Nathan Abplanalp somehow seems prettier the last, followed by a viewing of Life Stage Films’ video that’s equally as elegant.

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From Nathan Abplanalp Photography…This is a wedding I had been looking forward to for a long time. Scott and Tania are such a modern and classy couple with impeccable taste in venue and style as shows through with their wedding being held at the Urban Garden in Uptown Charlotte, NC. The soft light and modern lines of the venue gave the added kiss of elegance to put this wedding over the top, especially with the pink and silver accents. 

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Wedding Photography: Nathan Abplanalp Photography  | Wedding Venue + Cake: The Urban Garden at The Ritz-Carlton | Floral Design: Flowers by Lingky | Wedding Planning + Rentals: Hall & Webb Event Design | Paparazzi Stand: JMS Entertainment | Wedding Cinematography: Life Stage Films | Officiant: Patrick Maloy | DJ: Split Second Sound | Hair + Makeup: Lindsey Regan Thorne | Wedding Dress: New York Bride & Groom | Suits: Mens Warehouse

It may rhyme with another holiday but Ballantyne Hotel & Spa was made for a New Year’s Eve wedding. Or at least, this NYE wedding. The soft grays and sparkly silvers, the campy-chic hats and tiaras, the lush florals and the faux NYE ball… made for this fabulous venue. And of course, add Steve Michael of Kristin Vining Photography into the equation, and it’s all over. Over in a wave of total fab. There is no countdown to the gallery… it’s right here, right now.

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From the bride … Jeremy and I were next door neighbors in Charlotte, NC for over a year before we met, in May 2008. We would always offer a quick smile and wave, but never progressed to a full conversation. However, one spring day in 2008, my mother was visiting and walking my dog when Jeremy decided to introduce himself and boldly suggest that she set us up on a date. Surprisingly, she obliged, he and I finally met, and we have been together ever since. Life has taken us from Charlotte to Chicago for Jeremy to attend graduate school and now to life in the Big Apple, New York City.

While we were living in Chicago, I came on a snowy February Friday in 2012 after a long weeks work to Friday, find a stack of packages on the counter. This wasn’t uncharacteristic, considering my eBay business and love of online shopping. I ignored the packages, but after some prodding from Jeremy, I began to go through the boxes. The first one held my engagement ring, and Jeremy got down on one knee in our living room and proposed, to which I repeatedly screamed yes in response. I was so happy with the proposal – nice and quiet in our own home, just like I’d wished for.

We knew almost right away that we’d get married in North Carolina – my parents live there, it’s where we met, and the winter weather was much kinder than Chicago. I began planning right away, flying to Charlotte to meet my mother to begin searching for venues. We visited a wide range of venues all over North Carolina, from farms to hotels to high rise buildings, but we both knew when we arrived at The Ballantyne that it was the place! I’d always wanted an October wedding but didn’t think I would have enough time to plan, so we settled on New Year’s Eve – a decision that I’m so glad that we made. The planning process was stressful at times, but always lots of fun, and I got to rely heavily on my future mother in law and bridesmaids for their input and suggestions. We were so lucky to ring in the New Year surrounded by our closest friends and family!

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Photography: Steve Michael & an assiciate for Kristin Vining Photography | Cinematography: Isabel’s Corner | Flowers: New Creations Flower Company | Day of Wedding Coordination: The Graceful Host | Cake: Cake Lady Jill | Music: Split Second Sound | Venue: Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge | Invitations: Kate’s Paperie, NYC | Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Dress: San Patrick | Hair & Makeup: Lindsey Regan Thorne | Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale

Elegance and ease are two of my favorite buzz words when it comes to beautiful weddings. And it’s that sense of fabulous styling without any of the fuss that inspired this country club affair from Caroline Ghetes. It’s a timeless wedding with pretty tucked around every corner (plus one crazy awesome dance party!) and you can catch even more right here.

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From the Bride…After 8 years of dating this wedding was destined to happen. Obviously we are not ones to rush things so we set the date almost a year and a half after we got engaged in January 2011. I had always envisioned being married in May and being a planner by nature the time was well worth it.

The Amsale dress I chose was the perfect representation of my personal style. I gave it a bit of flair with a beautiful crystal beaded appliqué that I had sewn onto a silk ribbon and fastened into a belt. The color palette of nudes, peaches and corals were perfect for the absolutely beautiful day we were blessed with. Our florist used my favorite big bloom flowers, peonies and garden roses to create the bouquets and centerpieces and brilliant coral ranunculus for the boutonnieres. Getting ready with my bridal party at my family’s home which was so comfortable and sentimental, being surrounded by so many memories. Going the non-traditional route we chose to take pictures with the entire wedding party before the ceremony which meant Cameron and I would see each other beforehand. This allowed for more personal moments and extra reception time after the ceremony. I couldn’t have imagined it any other way. I probably stated that I wanted simple elegance a million times and that is exactly what was achieved. Nothing was over the top or seemed stuffy. It was so true of who Cameron and I are. Never ones to be too serious this wedding had to be light hearted and full of dancing. We wanted our guests to feel completely comfortable and let loose. My mom had spent months collecting different votives to make sure the room was lit with an abundance of candle light to create the ultimate romantic feeling.

Our band, The Maxx, was so amazing. They literally kept everyone dancing the entire night, including Cameron and myself. Towards the end of the evening after executing all of my signature dance moves in my wedding dress, I changed into a more dancing appropriate Thread Social number. To keep with the light heartedness of the evening a totally random selection of hats were passed out at the end of the night. The room was filled with people tearing up the dance floor in sombreros, sparkly top hats, cowboy hats, straw bamboo hats and berets, which was absolutely hilarious.

Walking out to our get-a-way car at the end of the night under a shower of lavender was the last sweet touch to an amazing night. Now almost a year later we still have people tell us that they had such a great time at our wedding, which truly makes us so happy to know that they enjoyed themselves as much as we did.

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Wedding Photography: Caroline Ghetes Photography | Reception Venue: Carmel Country Club | Floral Design: The Place for Flowers | Band: The Maxx  | Wedding Dress: Amsale via Nitsa’s | Hair + Makeup: Colour By Candace  | Shoes: Badgely Mischka | Transportation: Sunway Charters | Tuxedo +  Mens Attire: Jos. A. Bank

This is what I call a stunning wedding. Complete with homemade doughnuts. It’s the kind of soiree wedding blogger dreams are made of… a beautiful couple, so sweetly in love. A stunning design, modern and chic, yet somehow warm and classic (courtesy of the lovely Carolina Event Design). And photographs so beautiful, I could kiss The Schultzes right on their talented cheeks for sending them our way. Click here to see every last one.

From Carolina Event Design … Courtney and Rich met in 2008 in Atlanta through a family friend, Robert, of Courtney’s who attended college with Rich. At the time Rich was working in Charlotte and Courtney was in her senior year of college in Atlanta. Little did they know but Courtney’s mom and Robert’s mom were hoping they would hit it off. Going their separate ways after the party but still running into one another off and on over the next few months they each developed a secret crush for the other. Texts led to phone calls which led to their first date soon after Courtney’s graduation when Rich drove down to Atlanta just for dinner. They dated long distance for a year after and took turns driving and flying between the two cities. Finally in the summer of 2010 Courtney moved to Charlotte and have not missed the 3 and a half hour drive.

Christmas has always been Courtney’s favorite holiday and Rich wanted the first one they shared together in their new apartment a memorable one. After moving in together a week earlier the apartment was pretty empty and sparse and decided to get a Christmas tree. Debating whether or not to go cut down a tree themselves (Courtney was against this option) they decided to go across town to a cute family owned farm to purchase their tree. With the tree in tow, Rich asked where Courtney wanted to eat dinner. Tired and hungry she replied that she wanted Outback take-out and he reluctantly agreed. Once they were home with the tree and take-out Rich asked Courtney if she could return a watch to a co-worker/friend who also lives in the building. She went on the condition that he will put their dinner on plates and set the table. After chatting with her friend for a while she returned to their apartment to find the tree set up, and no dinner on the table. Aggravated, she walked to the other room to find Rich on one knee with flowers everywhere! Being completely thrown off by the entire night she was beyond shocked. She of course said yes and have enjoyed the tradition of getting their Christmas tree (and Outback take-out) every year since.

Photographer: The Schultzes / Wedding Planning & Design: Carolina Event Design / Wedding Gown: Kandace by Christo’s / Jewelry for Bride and Bridesmaids: Kathleen Murphy / Bridesmaids Dresses: Vera Wang White / Groom and Groomsmen Suits: Jean Yves / Shoes: Rolando, Christian Louboutin / Hair & Make-up: Who’s the Fairest / Hotel: The Ritz-Carlton / Ceremony & Reception Venue: Mint Museum Uptown / Florist: The Place for Flowers / String Quartet: Carolina Chamber Players / Reception Music (DJ): Split Second Sound / Invitations, Programs: The Summerhouse / Wedding Cake & Mini Desserts: Cake Lady Jill / Linen: Party Tables / Lounge Furniture: AFR / Chairs & Rentals: Classic Party Rentals Charlotte / Lighting: Carolina Event Design / Videography: David Whitlow Photography / Rings: Diamonds Direct / Guestbook Puzzle: Memory Lane Puzzles

Election Day is almost upon us and to celebrate we have an Election Themed Shoot that totally gets our vote. Pun completely intended. Photographed by Theo Milo along with the cutest Political infused details by come+together events and The Bloom Room, this a theme that will completely convert you and possibly have you planning your very own  Election Themed affair. Whether that be a great excuse for a dinner party complete with I Voted stickers or a full blown wedding day extravaganza  there is loads to borrow from this shoot. See it all right here and then hunker down for even more inspiration with a film shot by David Whitlow below.

From come+together events… While sitting on a plane on the way from Charlotte to Boston, I was brainstorming this inspiration shoot and how to come up with something new and original–and TIMELY! I looked around at everyone’s iPads and newspapers, and the #1 story I saw spread across the headlines was about the presidential election. Bam! A presidential election wedding-themed shoot. From “First Lady” chair signs to campaign buttons with the couple’s last names on them, we thought of every detail to incorporate the political process into a wedding. Guests could choose to sit on the “left wing” or the “right wing” of the ceremony and sign their “John Hancock” for the guest book. The menus resembled the paper that the Constitution is written upon. The seating chart hung from a hand-made yarn map of the USA, and there was even a photo booth with all sorts of props reading things such as “no recounts.” The bride and groom looked fresh but traditional, and the Duke Mansion was the perfect set up for a president and his new first lady.

Photography: Theo Milo Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: Duke Mansion in Charlotte, North Carolina / Planning + Design: come+together events / Floral Design: The Bloom Room / Cinematography: David Whitlow / Wedding Cake: Wow Factor Cakes / Stationery + Favors: Melissa of Atheneum Creative / Table Rental: Party Reflections / Linens: La Tavola / Wedding Dress: Martina Liana “367” via J. Majors / Hair + Makeup: Kymm of Who’s the Fairest / Groom’s Tuxedo: New York Bride & Groom / Models: Lauren York + Brad Worch