Real Wedding / J.H. Adams Inn / North Carolina Wedding Planner

    The stately J.H. Adams Inn provided the perfect setting for a vintage glam wedding reception bursting with elegant flowers, antique mirrors, delicious food, tons of dancing, and personal touches everywhere. 

   Hilary, our bride, is a friend of ours from way back. She was involved and eager to help gather special trinkets to incorporate into the reception like her parents' and grandparents' wedding photos, the groom's inherited antique watch, special chair signs, and a special cake topper made just for the two of them. We loved that our friend was so involved that that we got to put so much of her and her groom's personality into the wedding. 

  The reception was truly the most fun we've ever attended, the cake one of the best we've ever tasted, the dancing some of the most entertaining we've seen, and it was all captured by the talented Brittany and Nick Boles of Just a Dream Photography. 

Vendors
Church: Our Lady of Grace

Reception venue: J.H. Adams Inn
Photography: Just a Dream Photography
Design and coordination: Blissful Whimsy Events

Reception florals: Blissful Whimsy Events

Ceremony Florals: Just Priceless
Caterer: Hampton's 

Cakes: Cake and All Things Yummy

DJ: Anything Music
Bridal Gown: David's Bridal

Bride's hair and make-up: Updo's

Groom's Attire / North Carolina Wedding Planner

     Instead of a plain black tux with matching tie and vest, why not let your groom express himself a little?
 

   A colored tie, and vest with different buttons is cool and unique. 

Colored socks let the groom and his men wear their favorite colors and set them each apart a bit. 

Mixing patterns adds interesting layers if the grooms a bit more daring. 

The classic skinny black tie is just so hip. 

Suspenders are a fun alternative to the classic belt and and mixing it with a  floral shirt? Absolutely charming. 

And the bow tie evokes the suave look of James Bond.

Trend we love / Bicycles! / North Carolina Wedding Planner

   Being a fairly new bike owner, I have a growing love for bicycles. They're pretty, and useful, and just so adorable. If you're a bike enthusiast as well, why not incorporate them into your special day?

   Hop on your bike for a ride with your groom...and why not have all your guest join you?

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   Hang signs and banners on them or fill their baskets to bursting with fresh flowers.

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   Add a bike to the top of your cake. 

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   Bicycles on wedding invitations...so fun!

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Wedding Do's and Don't's / North Carolina Wedding Planner

   We love that couples these days have the freedom to embrace their individuality and personal style. No longer are brides confined to wearing only long, white gowns, being married in a church with the reception in the fellowship hall, and eating vanilla cake. 

   There are a few do's and don't's to keep in mind, however, so we've put together a little list. Some are are things we've learned along the way and others are pure etiquette. 

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Don't: Ask for cash only gifts. One word, tacky.
Do: Register for gifts.

Don't: Feel like you have to buy all new things for your wedding day. If you already have a pair of shoes or earrings you love, why not wear them?
Do: Splurge on a few things that make you feel special and beautiful.

Don't: Force the groom to be involved in every aspect. Most men just aren't that concerned with all the little details.
Do: Involve the groom in big decisions like the venue, food, and cake.

Don't: Buy a dress in a size or two smaller than you are in hopes of fitting into by the "big day."
Do: Buy a dress that flatters your figure, whatever size, and that's true to your own style.

Don't: Completely change your makeup look for the day. If you normally wear little to no make-up, don't go all smoky-eyed and red-lipped.
Do: Wear the amount of make-up that you feel comfortable in so you look more special, but still like yourself.

Don't: Stress about going around to every table at your reception.
Do: Thank every guest you do get to talk to for coming and take a few minutes from dancing to talk to who you can.

Don't: Spend your reception rushing from the first dance, to the cake cutting, to the bouquet toss, to the toasts, etc.
Do: Take time at your reception to just enjoy the moment with your new husband and soak it all up.

Don't: Feel obligated to tip your vendors if you've been unhappy with your service.
Do: Tip vendors that do a great job and go above and beyond for you.

Trend We Love / Cookies! / North Carolina Wedding planner

   Cookies, cookies, cookies. This is a delightful new trend we've been seeing a lot of that would make the Cookie Monster proud. We love that cookies can be so versatile....

   Oreos, or any other cookies (frosted sugar cookies would be delightful), are an affordable option to replace a wedding cake.

   After your guests have been dancing for a while and the sun has been long gone, cookies and milk are the perfect last night snack, especially when they're served like this.

   Cookie bars with lots of options satisfy everyone's sweet tooth.

    Individually wrapped cookies make sweet place cards.

   Cookies for guests to nibble on their way home make for thoughtful and delicious favors.

   Anyone else dying for a big ol' cookie and cold glass of milk now?

Real Wedding / At home wedding / North Carolina Wedding planner

   I have been longing to share this wedding since April 21st, the day it took place. When we first started planning this wedding with the bride about a year ago, the plan was to have the reception in a field near her parents out-in-the-country home. As the wedding got closer plans changed and her dad made the decision to add on an entire new wrap around porch to their house and build a dance floor in the front yard so the reception could be right in their beautiful log-cabin-esq home. As we arranged the flowers the day before the wedding, we listened to the hammering of the last nails in the new porch built by the bride's father and helped the family finish up the yard work. We love at-home weddings. They are so personal and such a sweet labor of love.
 

Vendors
Venue: Bride's parents' home
Photography: Dano Keeney Photography
Design and coordination: Blissful Whimsy Events

Floral: Blissful Whimsy Events
Caterer: Visions Catering 
Bridal Gown: Bridal Mart