Courtney & Justin – The ideal end to 2008

Courtney and Justin were the perfect way to close out 2008.  A beautiful wedding, great couple, fun theme and the dress. THE dress. Courtney’s Vera Wang stunner took our breath away.  She looked so beautiful, we nearly fell over.  We can only imagine how Justin felt when he saw her!

3 months.  That’s how long we had to plan Courtney & Justin’s wedding. Not a long time, but that’s why we do this for a living. This wedding had an incredible number of moving parts that came together like a symphony, from grand pianos and full lighting set ups to full transportation for guests and bringing the outdoors inside. We designed a “Secret Garden” theme in purple, silver and green and used all sorts of vintage garden accents. With the letterpressed invitations, matching paper products and topiaries covered in gardenias to create the amazing aroma, the result was stunning.  The focal point, though, was the iron garden arbor covered in flowers for the cake.   Guests flipped out when they saw it.

Kellie Kano brought her magic to the photos – as usual!

Here’s a sneak peek until we get the full portfolio!

A preview of the details. More to come soon!

Ginny & Ben – Modern, traditional and whimsical

We met Ginny in January of 2008 and started the planning right away with her and her ridiculously stylish mom, Ruth. (This woman had the best clothes ever and won the award for the best dressed MOB, handsdown.)  Since Ginny grew up in Durham, everything was planned for her hometown.  The ceremony was at the Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church off of Ninth Street and the reception at the Washington Duke Inn.  It was a great blend of modern, traditional and whimsical elements (The B&B signature trio.)  A homemade cookie buffet, a cool lounge area outside with white leather furniture and stunning lace-like cake were just some of the details.  Oh, and that 20+ person wedding party!

Take a look at the stunning photos by Rachel Garrison for Tamara Lackey photography.

Ginny looked so incredibly beautiful - like actress Julianne Moore!

One of our favourite wedding images of 2008.

Ginny & Ben had a great sense of humour - and fun!

We had the tux elements made in Ginny's family tartans for a personal - and stylish - touch.

Floral Dimensions in Durham did all the outstanding florals.

These colours influenced all the flowers, from the door wreath to the bouquets

Ring "pillow."

Custom Designed programs with a gold print cover

The ballroom was opulent and formal, yet comfortable

Custom-designed table numbers

More custom-design -- menu cards

The favour was a homemade cookie buffet - the moms, bride and sister in law all baked!

We custom designed and made all the signage to reflect a cohesive style

Cinda from Cinda’s Creative Cakes impressed again with a fondant cake designed with eyelets.  Simply Amazing.

Hello, gorgeous cake

This shows why you don't always need a topper

We brought in all white leather furniture for outdoor lounge seating

The Mother of the Bride!

Karen & Wes – High Style brought to life

This wedding will be featured in the July 2009 issue of The Knot Magazine.

Karen truly proved the high-style in our tagline.  Starting from her Kate Spade invitations and ending with her gold Manolo Blahnik heels– we knew Karen’s wedding would be uniquely stylish.  She was so incredibly fun to work with and we planned many evenings over wine and Mac & Cheese at the Umstead!  She had her ceremony at the bed and breakfast in Brevard that her sister-in-law owns and then had a killer reception two weeks later at The Umstead.   We infused the modern look of the Umstead ballroom with natural details – like the succulents on the cake by Sweet Memories Bakery and in the flowers by Fresh Affairs– and classic touches – the hand calligraphy placecards and menu cards.  We also made things personal with favours of specially roasted coffee beans from the local roaster that supplies the bed and breakfast!

Kathleen and Christobal Perez from Azul Photography captured the events.  And, you’ll have to excuse us for not narrowing down the photos more. Quite frankly, we couldn’t.  There were too many good ones!

We’ll start at the B&B  in Brevard for the private family ceremony.

The Kate Spade letterpressed invitations

Getting ready for the ceremony

The Red House Inn -- Brevard, North Carolina

Vintage caketoppers from Karen's parents cake

To the Umstead for the reception!

On their way to the reception

Karen's Bouquet - so unique

Wes' cactus boutonnière

This tree anchored the placecard and favour table

Personalized coffee beans for each guest

Hand-calligraphied placecards by Yellow House Calligraphy

Hand Calligraphied menus matched the placecards

Karen & Wes' sweetheart table

The table arrangements mirrored the natural themes

Guests had inside lounge seating inside (thanks to rain.)

Personalized Bar Menus -- something B&B does for every bride

The sparkler send-off

Karen & Wes - Stylish, even in photos!

Nikki & Terrence – What a party!

We’ve never seen guests have so much fun at a wedding.  Nikki & Terrence had a short window in which to be married, because Terrence and his brother/Best Man, Torry,  both play in the NFL (For the New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams, respectively). They wanted something indoors and stylish, so they chose the Umstead Hotel.  We had an indoor, but candlelit ceremony for them in the Salon, which even featured their beloved dog, Chico, as a member of the bridal party.  Then the party moved to the ballroom for a grand dinner and tons of dancing.  Guests had a blast and the party went long into the night.  Nikki looked so beautiful and Terrence looked amazing and Torry’s Best Man speech was a hilarious hit.

James Walters from Walters & Walters and his brilliance are below.

The wedding party included some NFL and NBA players! Most athletic groomsmen ever!

Chico!

The head table was dramatic and abundant with candlelight

Florals by Fresh Affairs

A monogrammed crystal cake topper added sparkle to the cake by Sweet Memories

Menu cards echoed the design of the program and invitations

The candy buffet was a success

The dance floor was packed all night

The bride and groom share a laugh at their reception - photos like these make us so happy!

Lizzie & Matt – Elegant, yet simple. Simple, yet stunning.

It really does describe Lizzie and Matt’s wedding at the Umstead Hotel in November.  Whites, greens and brown were the palette for this reception and the resulting look was impactful in its simplicity.  One thing we did here was the pinspotting – which we urge for all of our brides – on the tables.  Look how it makes the arrangements pop.  It ups the wow factor and the dramatic look of the reception space.  You really get bang for your buck with lighting.

Lizzie and Matt are such a great couple and their families came from all over for the wedding.   The outdoor ceremony overlooked the lake at sunset and was a gorgeous backdrop for the chuppah.  A meaningful touch were Lizzie and Matt’s bouquet and boutonnière of Lily of the Valley flowers – flowers she used to pick in her grandmother’s backyard.  The reception was a party and a half, thanks to DJ Joe Bunn.  The hora brought the house down, as well as the groom – as Matt was bounced from his chair in all the excitement.

Check out Kevin Milz’s shots!

Lizzie looked amazing in her Carolina Herrera. Amazing.

Florals by Fresh Affairs

The Umstead Hotel's ceremony lawn

Breaking the Glass!

Pinspotting strikes again.

The head table

Cake by Sweet Memories

Fun with the Hora!