Wedding Dress:

A bow can make a wedding dress look especially feminine and distinctive. I love all of these looks from Vera Wang to Simone Carvalli. A bow can transform your dress into a fashion forward piece of art or into a romantic princess gown.

Bow ties:

I think one of the best looks on a guy is a bowtie… but that could just be me ☺. Bow ties can range from the classic black and white penguin suit to crazy and colorful. Any theme you have for your wedding can be matched with a bow tie. And you can’t forget the most adorable bowtie of all, the ring bearer!

Animals:

Whether your animal is a central part of your wedding party or it is simply one of your guests, dog and cat wedding fashion is super adorable. I might have to make one of these pictures my computer background! Your animals can sport the bow trend just as well as anyone else, and they look cuter doing it.

All in all I love every single thing about the bow-craze. It’s flirty and fun, classic, edgy… its whatever you want it to be! It can make a look be one of a kind.

What is the best bow look you have seen lately?

Carly

But fear not my State friends, the groom (a NCSU graduate) definitely got his splash of State Red.  Love this shot of the groomsmen… and their socks

You may also remember my snapshots of the really fun dye cut place cards we designed specifically for this wedding. Well, this picture from Walters and Walters make them look way cooler.

We also had Calligraphy by Carrie hand paint table numbers that we placed in silver frames that the bride plans to re-use throughout her new home!

The reception took place in the Old Well Ballroom, which is by far one of my most favorite ballrooms in the Triangle area (check out the gorgeous Walters and Walters photos of the ballroom below!).  I love the classic black and white checkered floor and the vintage crystal chandeliers!  We added amber uplighting to really make the room glow and highlight the existing beauty of the space.  Simple lighting makes such a difference!

Aren’t those photos gorgeous?

xo

Katie

Additional Vendors:

Cake – Cinda’s Creative Cakes

Flowers – Fresh Affairs

Photobooth – Shutterbooth

Linens – CE Rental

Lighting and DJ Services – SPIN

So, on to the wedding… Terri and Jake chose a color scheme of crisp navy and white with pops of yellow.  We had a custom table runner made for the head table with a navy and white fabric and then used the same navy and white fabric to make her table number frames.  Even though Terri was a Duke grad, they chose the lovely Carolina Inn to host their ceremony and reception.  I think the biggest hit of the night (in terms of food) was the mini burgers served on waffle fries with a shot of milkshake to wash it down! YUM! Gentlemen and Their Lady kept the dance floor packed all night, Fresh Affairs illuminated the ballroom with hundreds of floating candles and french tulips, Cinda’s Creative Cakes satisfied everyone’s sweet tooth and Christobal with Azul Photography captured every perfect moment.

I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoyed meeting and working with Terri and Jake!

xo

Katie

Making some of your own decorations and details only brings benefits, ladies. While it may be a little time consuming, the results are very rewarding. You can save money and add a special handmade touch to your wedding that you can be proud of! Remember, you will still need your wedding planner to help install these items on the day of your wedding!

Here are a few beautiful elements to incorporate in your crafting:

Ribbons & Streamers:

Ribbons always add a nice whimsical touch with tons of color! You could accomplish this look with different ribbons or even tissue-paper streamers.  Your local rental company can provide pipe and drape stands (in any length) and the streamers can be hung vertically from the pipe and drape cross bar (at the top) if you aren’t using a tent. Would be beautiful as a backdrop to your head table or ceremony space!  I can also picture mini versions of these ribbon chandeliers as centerpieces!

(Picture courtesy of Style Me Pretty)

Lanterns – Upgraded:

By looking at the picture, it seems daunting to consider make these lanterns. However, Martha Stewart offers a great tutorial on her website. You only need four materials to make them too. The bonus? You can keep the lanterns and incorporate them into your home after!

(Picture courtesy of Martha Stewart)

Spicing up your votives:

These votives are very simple, and they help set a natural, rustic tone. Simply grab glass votives (which you can get from your local dollar store), cut the sticks to the appropriate size and apply with craft adhesive. You can use other objects besides twigs that may be more conducive to your design and theme (ribbon, lace, leaves, crayons, glow sticks, etc!).  Sky’s the limit!

(Picture courtesy of Momtastic)

Now that your DIY wheels are turning, do you have a craft that will be perfect for your wedding? Share it with us!

XO,

Liz

The “Pearl” dress by Lula Kate… I adore this dress. It classic and chic but the color, Icing, gives the dress and flirty and fun feel!  The Nile green and Persimmon are beautiful colors as well, and very in tune with Spring 2012 fashion trends.  The simplicity of this dress screams over the top bouquet to me and maybe even a large bow instead of the traditional ribbon banding on the handle.  It comes in silk, satin and even seersucker!  In Raleigh, NC you can find Lula Kate dresses at Traditions by Anna or in Cary, NC at Bella Bridesmaid.

The lemon color of this knee length A-line dress makes it a perfect for an outdoor ceremony or reception! The dress is a Watters bridesmaid dress from their spring 2012 line. It is made of dupioni silk and wonderfully classy and sophisticated.

http://watters.com/Product/WattersWatters/4417

This dress is another one from the Lula Kate spring 2012 collection. Can’t get enough! The color of this dress, Berry, is a bit darker than the other two, but it will look perfect for a more formal outdoor reception under the stars.  I can see this dress paired with a beautiful ivory bouquet and patterned ribbon for a punch of playfulness!  The dress is also available in a floor-length style for a dressier feel!

http://lulakate.com/collections/bridesmaids/christy-dress/

So happy about the wonderful weather and cannot wait to see some fun spring trends on brides and bridesmaids!

Carly

This past weekend we were at the Fearrington for Lauren and Darin’s wedding.  Here, we used quilling paper so that we could curl the ends.  We hooked the place cards on the wine glass (see attached pic) at each setting.  I was so excited for this unexpected use of paper!

I can’t wait to share the legit pics from each of these weddings, my iPhone does them no justice!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

xo

Katie

It hits on some great points, which I will highlight below, but be sure to check out the full article here.

1. Go with your theme. Make sure the signature drink that you are offering meshes well with the overall theme of your big day.
2. Go with your colors – the options are endless for matching your cocktail with your design and décor.
3. Choose your drink based on your favorite liquors and flavors.
4. The garnish – choose it wisely.  Choose a color that works well with the drink and also something that adds the right flavor to your cocktail.
5. Save some money!  You can offer just one or two signature cocktails at your cocktail hour,  thereby limiting their consumption.
6. Make sure it’s relatively simple to make.  Your caterers may not have experience in preparing and serving complicated mixed drinks.   So try to keep the ingredients and the recipe simple.
7. Always have a non-alcoholic version to offer your guests as well.
8. Hire a professional! You can always hire bartenders or mixologists, and there are also many catering companies who can offer this service as well.

Hope you find these ideas helpful!  Cheers!

Pretty, no?

Check out the full receipe with more pictures here.

Ingredients:

- 1 ounce ciroc vodka
- splash pomegranate juice
- 1 teaspoon elderflower liqueur
- 1 splash champagne
- orchid for garnish

Directions:

1. Stir all the ingredients over ice to chill and strain into a prechilled cocktail glass.

2. Top with splash of champagne and garnish with a Sonya orchid or, if unavailable, another food-grade edible flower.

Cheers!

Food is a powerful thing. It can bring a group of people together. Try to think of foods that define you and your groom.  Maybe you have a certain type of food you love to eat together (like delicious tapas); or perhaps you are going somewhere foreign for your honeymoon (Italian gelato, anyone?).

The food you choose to have at your wedding is filled with endless possibilities.  Never feel like you have to choose from one of the pre-set menus from your venue, more often than not, your venue or caterer will welcome the idea of creating something new and different!

So, rather than spouting on and on about one particular food, I’m going to just describe a few creative ideas. You may love them and want to use them on your special day, but, if not, hopefully it will spark the creative genius in you to make the food at your wedding something to remember.

The “Do-It-Yourself Bar”

For those of you on Pinterest, I am sure that you have seen the many different kinds of bars people have had at their weddings. These DIY bars allow guests to assemble a particular food any way they like it, thus ensuring you are happy, and most importantly, your guests are happy.

The ideas for these bars are endless. Here are a few DIY bars that would be great at any wedding:

• S’Mores
• Fruit & Cake
• Hot Chocolate, Coffee or Lemonade Bar
• Waffles
• Sundae (With the healthy option of Frozen Yogurt)
• Fancy Grilled Cheese
• Candy Bar (With you and your grooms favorite goodies!)
• Bubbly Drink (Champagne & Fruits for the adults, substitute sparkling juice for the kiddies)

The His & Hers Buffet

As a foodie myself, I love to watch Top Chef. One season, the chefs had the challenge of catering a wedding reception where one team took care of the bride’s favorite foods and the other team tackled the groom’s favorite foods.

The Result? A “His & Hers Buffet.” One side is consists of the bride’s favorite foods, and the other side is some of your hubby’s favorite foods.   Genius!

Family-Style Dining

Rather than having everyone be served their own plate, family style is when the wait staff brings large dishes to the table and everyone shares a variety of dishes. This style of service unites the table and brings everything together as they pass and share food. Granted, it does make the meal seem a bit more casual, but it also makes the meal much more intimate. It is perfect for weddings where people might not know everyone sitting at their table.

Food Truck Mania

As a huge advocate of food trucks (and their delicious food), I think the idea of having one, or maybe even multiple, food trucks at your wedding is genius. It also works great for outdoor venues and places that don’t already have their own catering staff.

For those of you that live in North Carolina’s Triangle area, there are plenty of food trucks options to pick from. (See Carpe Durham’s awesome food blog for a complete list)

Thanks for checking us out!

xo

Liz

Cheers!

This month we adore the Jenny Packham 2012 bridal collection, and in particular the Peony dress (which also happens to be my favorite flower!). All of the dresses in this collection are simple, but so unique and absolutely ethereal! I love how romantic and soft this dress is! You can shop for Jenny Packham dresses locally in Durham, NC at Tre Bella Bridal.

Part 1 = The Guestbook!

Weddings are special days that celebrate the unique relationship of a bride and groom.  (Everyone knows this, right?) Yet, as we go to wedding after wedding, it seems like the whole charade is done over and over again.

As much as we love spending the night dancing and celebrating (and of course indulging in the food and flowers), we remember the weddings that are different.  The weddings that have an out of the box surprise.

The idea of doing this at your wedding can seem overwhelming. I mean after all, how do we think of things that haven’t been done at a wedding before?

Well ladies, let’s take this one step at a time. Today, let’s conquer the issue of the Guestbook.

At some weddings, the guestbook is that cute scrapbook that was purchased at Michael’s, and unfortunately forgotten about by many guests. Then, it ends up on the newlyweds’ bookshelf, quickly collecting dust. But let’s remember that this guestbook is something that the newly married couple will have for years to come. Ultimately, it summarizes every guest that was there to celebrate the start of your new life together. That’s right, they travelled to one place specifically for the happy couple. It’s not something that should be forgotten.

So, here are few ideas on to revamp the guestbook tradition. Take these ideas, and make it yours. Make it something that you and your new hubby can look through and laugh about, or even hang on the wall and remember that awesome day you got married.

The Fingerprint Portrait

The Finger print portrait can really be done however you want, you’ve probably seen it on a tree using the prints as the leaves.  However, it can be created around something that the couple has in common (like the bicycle and balloons). Have fun with it, but when people come over to your home in the years to come, it will always be a fun conversation piece!

Picture Signing

There are so many different routes you can go with this. For instance, put your favorite picture of you and your new hubby with a large matte around the picture in a nice frame. Then, there’s this option below. Get a little creative, friends, and embrace the chalkboard picture trend.

The Wishing Tree

I’m not going to lie, I may have squealed a little bit when I saw this on The Wedding Chicks Blog. Each guest writes a wish or happy note for the couple and hangs it from this tree and ultimately, the newlyweds have something decorative in their home for years to come!  Perhaps reading a note a night for the first few months could also be a fun newlywed ritual

Since it’s February, I thought it might be fun to explore some Valentine’s Day themed cocktails.  Didn’t know they existed? Neither did I.  But who doesn’t love red velvet?  And cupcakes? And anything with a cream cheese frosting, for that matter!?  I think The Daily Beast said it best when they said “Why bake a cupcake when you can drink one?”

2 oz. vanilla vodka
1 oz. creme de cacao
1 oz. buttermilk
1 tbsp. chocolate sauce
3 drops red food coloring
8 drops of vanilla extract
Cream cheese frosting for rim

Add vodka, creme de cacao, buttermilk, three drops of red food coloring, and vanilla extract to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake vigorously and pour into a glass rimmed with frosting.

Cheers!

This year, the Carolina Inn changed things up a bit and introduced a fashion show by Alexia’s Bridal.  Those gowns were gorgeous and the fashion show was so glam!

The theme for our display was definitely mirrors and more mirrors!  I love how mirrors reflect light and lighten a space.  We used a large mirror on an easel for the “seating chart,” tiny mirror discs for the place cards and a tabletop mirror for the table number.  All were hand painted by Carrie Shuping with Calligraphy by Carrie.  The custom petal linen was provided by CE rental, the sexy ghost chairs were provided by Themeworks and the vintage china, glassware and flatware were provided by Party Reflections.  I really wanted the display to feel feminine and romantic and Fresh Affairs (as always) delivered perfectly with the airy arrangement of French Tulips!

I’ve attached some amazing pics from Azul Photography for you to enjoy!

Claire’s bouquet, designed by Fresh Affairs, had a piece of her mother’s veil wrapped around the ribbon that was holding the stems together and her father’s wedding band was attached to the veil.  It was absolutely breathtaking, but most importantly, was a sentimental nod to Claire’s mother and late father.

Claire’s favorite flowers are ivory roses, so we carried that theme throughout.  The bouquets, centerpieces and cake were all overflowing with ivory roses!

The Craig Woolard Band kept the party going from the moment they took the stage. They have such amazing energy and the dance floor was packed all night!

Special thanks to Azul Photography for capturing these gorgeous images!  My favorite is the bride and groom recessing down the aisle with the chapel doors perfectly framing them!

Reception Vendors: Cinda’s Creative Cakes, Fresh Affairs, Azul Photography, The Craig Woolard Band, Capital City Club, Classic Party Rentals and pianist Al Bethune.

If you are on Pinterest, you have probably seen some of these pictures.  In addition to food, I’m also obsessed with Pinterest.  If you haven’t joined, its the most fun place on the web, but don’t plan on getting much else done….

I don’t see how it can get much better than mini tacos served with mini shots of patron!  And such a perfect presentation for a crisp green and white wedding.

Next, mini shepherds pie served with shots of guiness.  I think all the gentlemen at your party would get a kick out of this!

And we can’t forget those with a sweet tooth… Donut holes with coffee (maybe spiked with Baileys!?)

These were my favorite, so I had to share.  My friend Michelle at Triangle Catering also does a mini hushpuppy filled with BBQ and served with a shot of BBQ sauce, how cute it that?  And as I’m typing I’m thinking of all the endless options… mini pancake skewers with mimosas! or gnocchi skewers with shots of chianti!  There are so many more fun ideas and  I hope these ideas will help get your creative juices flowing!

Cheers!

The recipe can be found here:

Ingredients:

Cheers! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year’s!

This is a truly amazing couple that had a truly amazing wedding day.  The two were married at the Duke Chapel in Durham, North Carolina this past May.  The reception followed at the Grand Marquis Ballroom.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.  First, here is the article which came out in the Winter 2012 issue of Inside Weddings.

The article pretty much sums up the story of Despina and Simon, but I have to highlight some of my favorite parts of their wedding!  First, Despina is all about the glam, so she carried that theme throughout the wedding, starting with her Vera Wang gown from Alexia’s Bridal.  The stunningly unique invitations (from Maria Scheel Invitations and More) were custom made for Despina and adorned with a small lavender swarovski crystal.  We mimicked the clear invitations with hand painted lucite squares (bought from lowes!) for the table numbers and clear glass chargers which held the menu cards.  We used tons of glass vases with flickering floating candles and mirrors throughout the centerpieces so everything sparkled (thanks to Fresh Affairs!).

The cake (from Cinda’s Creative Cakes) was one of my most favorite design elements.  Because Despina loves sparkle, the cake stand we chose was adorned in thousands of swarovski crystals.  Despina’s favorite flower is the phalaenopsis orchid so to really make the cake stand out, Cinda submerged stems of the orchid in glass containers that separated each tier of the cake!  Each layer of the cake was also adorned with hanging swarovski chandelier crystal elements.  It was truly a work of art and of course the cake was as yummy in your mouth as it was on your eyes!

Rocky Top hospitality did an amazing job with the 3 course surf and turf dinner and to top it off, they brought in cones of chocolate that were (…drumroll please!) filled with champagne and garnished with a strawberry for the toast!   As chocolate is my most favorite thing on earth, this was clearly a highlight for me and I’m quite sure everyone at the wedding thought so as well!

Lastly, and what makes my job so wonderful and so fulfilling, was the look on Despina’s face when she entered the ballroom.  She twirled around on the dance floor and exclaimed that this was all she had dreamed of and more!  Music to my ears!

Here are a few more images from the always amazing and fabulous Walters + Walters (in case you didn’t get enough!)