Just Married: Classic Glamour at the Mint Museum Uptown

I absolutely adore this couple! Everything about them is #couplegoals. It was a rainy and windy Saturday when Brittani and Taylor said "I Do", and Charlotte, North Carolina was feeling the effects of Hurricane Joaquin. But our beautiful bride and dashing groom didn't let the unwelcome storm dampen their wedding day one bit! In fact, you can see how gusty the winds were in one of the photos where Brittani's veil flew right off! Just wait for it!

With classic and elegant style in mind, we used a neutral color palette of navy blue, cream and gold, with a few sparkly touches. The soft details and clean lines were perfect for their modern venue, The Mint Museum Uptown. Brittani's style is effortless, and she wanted to create a day that reflected her personal style. So we focused our design around the fun party atmosphere by adding in lounge furniture for alternative guest seating, where they could enjoy the heavy hors d'oeuvres menu and fabulous live band. The caterer passed around late night snacks like grill cheese - a favorite of the bride and groom - and chicken fingers with fries as the guests partied into the night at one of Charlotte's premier venues. And with a grand streamer exit, the happy couple hopped into a pedicab at the end of the night.

I'm so lucky to get the chance to work with such amazing couples! Brittani and Taylor were such a joy to work with, and it was an honor to be a part of their celebration. I wish we could do it all over again - but maybe with a tiny bit less weather drama! ;)

Huge thanks to our talented vendor team who went above and beyond for our sweet bride and groom:

Wedding planning + design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography
Florist: New Creations Flower Company
Catering: Something Classic Catering and Cafe
Wedding dress: Martina Liana from J. Majors Bridal Boutique
Hair and Makeup: Be Pretty by Lindsey Regan Thorne
Rentals: AFR
Rentals: Party Reflections - Charlotte
Rentals: Nuage Designs, Inc
Cake: Wow Factor Cakes
Paper Goods: Salt and Paperie
Calligraphy: The Graceful Host
Venue: The Mint Museum Uptown

Thank you Borrowed & Blue for featuring Brittani and Taylor's wedding! See the full feature, here.

Brittani and Taylor's portraits are some of my favorite in my 5 years of weddings. Wedding days are unpredictable. You never know what is going to happen, despite the hours and hours of careful planning. On this day, weather was not our friend. Hurricane Joaquin was showing affects in Charlotte, and it interrupted our plans for photography. But you'd never be able to tell because Brittani and Taylor look absolutely incredible and so madly in love! The way they look at each other is magnetic. And the photo of Brittani's veil flying away is just priceless! Don't worry - I ran after it! :)

Brittani and Taylor, thanks for letting The Graceful Host be a part of your beautiful celebration! We absolutely loved working with you to plan for your wedding! Lots of love to you both! 

XO,
A.

Featured + Real Wedding: A Colorful Wedding at the Mint Museum Uptown

We are so excited and fortunate to see not one, but TWO of our clients featured in the recent issue of Carolina Bride! Melinda + Scott's colorful, artful wedding at the beautiful Mint Museum Uptown was one of my absolute favorites from 2015. The gorgeous four page spread is what dreams are made of!

Our color palette was inspired by the beautiful painting in the ceremony location by California artist Sam Francis, Untitled (Seafirst) 1979. Melinda fell in love with the vibrancy of the colors and wanted to incorporate those tones throughout the design. The overall concept was modern structure meets delicate femininity. Melinda and Scott have such a beautiful love story, so we really wanted to embrace it and intertwine those details throughout their day. Starting with their romantic engagement on the iconic Love Lock Bridge - we used the actual key that Scott + Melinda used to "lock in their love" in Paris throughout their paper goods design by Pink Toast Ink. Photos by Capture Me Candid show both Melinda and Scott holding the key on their big day, too! Melinda's dress was one of her favorite details. The intricate bead work of her Monique Lhuillier gown from Nitsa's Apparel was absolutely stunning, and served as inspiration for their wedding cake by the always delicious Wow Factor Cakes. Besides a menu full of delicious food from Best Impressions Caterers, they provided a few late night snacks to surprise guests. Nothing like sliders and maple bacon doughnuts to keep you dancing all night long to Sol Fusion, one of the hottest bands in the Southeast! If your wedding is going to take place in a museum surrounded by gorgeous art - why not have an artist paint on site! Their first dance was captured by very talented live artist, Ben Keys of Wed On Canvas based out of Charleston. Scott + Melinda invited everyone to join in their first dance, and Ben beautifully captured the scene.  Guests loved watching his progress throughout the night, too - he was a huge hit!

It was such an honor to work with this amazing couple. Melinda + Scott are two of the nicest, most down to Earth - not to mention FUN! - people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. Being a part of their wedding day was so wonderful! And our vendor team knocked it out of the park! The details from this wedding will leave your head spinning - I'm so excited to share some of my favorite photos from their beautiful wedding day!

Planning + Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Capture Me Candid
Flower: New Creations Flower Company
Catering: Best Impressions Caterers
Band: Sol Fusion
Live Artist: Wed On Canvas
Paper Goods: Pink Toast Ink
Rentals: Nuage Designs
Rentals: Party Reflections
Rentals: AFR
Cake: Wow Factor Cakes
Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Wedding Dress Boutique: Nitsa's Apparel
Hair and Makeup: Zara Millian
Brides Jewelry: Alexis Bittar
Venues: The Mint Museum Uptown

Melinda + Scott were engaged on the famed love lock bridge in Paris, France. This is the actual key that they used to "lock in their love". And the key played a role in our inspiration for a good deal of our paper goods design. These cufflinks were a gift from Melinda to her groom and are a symbol of the key.

Did you know that we design and curate welcome boxes for our couples? I love it! Nothing says "guest experience" like an amazing welcome box/bag waiting for your guests, in their hotel room, upon arrival. We help our couples fill their boxes with their favorites goodies - which was the case of Melinda + Scott - order/assemble everything AND deliver on your behalf. Melinda is our champagne girl, and Scott was our Jameson lover. The sweets were favorites of our couple that they wanted to share with their guests. A welcome box is an easy way to welcome your loved ones to your wedding weekend! We loved this one!

Being that this was a second wedding for both Melinda + Scott, they wanted to do something a little more non-traditional when it came to the ceremony procession. Melinda entered the ceremony space alone, and Scott walked to the end of the aisle and met her and escorted her up to the front. They wanted to walk down the aisle together, towards their future. The symbolism of this just gets me every time! I loved that they wanted to do something different!

Melinda + Scott's first look was the best! 

Do your napkins tell a story? A great way (and inexpensive way!) to personalize your wedding to focus on the little details. These napkins were a great example of how we told Melinda + Scott's story through the details. These napkins represent aspects of their relationship - the key and the monogram from their invitation suite; the place they met and fell in love; and the place where they got engaged.

Melinda + Scott had Ben Keyes of Wed On Canvas do a live painting of their reception. This was something I had done at my own wedding back in 2012 and I can't tell you how much I treasure that painting!! When Melinda + Scott mentioned the idea, I was on board 110%! Once I introduced them to Ben, the search for the perfect artist to capture the moment was over. It was important to Melinda + Scott to have their first dance painted, and they wanted all their guests to join them! It was a beautiful moment, and guests LOVED watching Ben's progress throughout the night! Oh, and having a live artist paint at your wedding reception.... in an art museum?! Talk about an incredible detail!

Okay, and for the record - wedding days are really FUN! And sometimes if you have an awesome photographer, you'll get to see those fun moments! ;) Thanks for the outtakes, Lori! 

And I love when we get to reveal the space to our couples before any of the guest see it! We had that opportunity with Melinda - and it was the best thing ever to see her response! THIS is why I love my job so, so much!!

This wedding was seriously a dream come true - from dream clients to a dream vendor team! It was an amazing celebration and I'm so honored that we could play a role in Melinda + Scott's happily every after. Thank you for letting us in on your celebration! Reliving this day was so much fun! Hope you enjoyed it, too!

XO,
A.

Featured + Real Wedding: Garden Elegance at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

We are over the moon and so thrilled to see Christina + Zach's Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden wedding featured in the pages of The Knot Carolinas!

Working with Christina + Zach last year was such a joy! I loved everything about our time together. This bride is just as sweet as she looks (x's a million!), and the love that they have for each other is so inspiring. Christina + Zach live in Raleigh, but wanted to plan a wedding in the Charlotte area since it was a half way point between their two families. Once they saw Daniel Stowe, they were sold! It was the perfect venue for their elegant garden wedding. When we met, Christina + Zach painted a beautiful picture of a garden wedding where they could bring the outdoors indoors and fill the room with full, lush centerpieces. They also stressed how important it was that they incorporate her Lao and Vietnamese culture into their day. With a color palette of blush, pink, green, and champagne we created a truly magical day for this amazing couple. (By the way, have you seen their inspiration board?)

I can't thank all the amazing vendors involved in Christina + Zach's beautiful wedding enough. It takes a village to pull off a killer wedding y'all, and I'm grateful for the chance to work with this wonderful team of talented vendors!
Planning + Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Lauren Friday Photography
Floral Design: New Creations Flower Company
Venue: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
Catering: Best Impressions Caterers
Videography: Crown Alley Films
Entertainment: Split Second Sound
Rentals + Draping: Party Reflections
Hair + Makeup: William Henry Salon
Cake: Wow Factor Cakes
Wedding Dress: David Tutera from Savvi Formalwear in Raleigh, NC
Bridesmaid Dresses: Bill Levkoff from Savvi Formalwear in Raleigh, NC
Stationary + Paper Goods: Elisabeth Rose
Calligraphy for the Invitations: Delighted Calligraphy
Magnolia Leaf Calligraphy: The Graceful Host
Escort Card Calligraphy: Family member of the Bride and Groom

Here are some of my favorite photos from Zach + Christina's big day, thanks to the talented Lauren Friday Photography!

The boutonniere (photo on the right) was made of sweet peas, which is a nickname for Zach from Christina. And the turtle pin is a family heirloom from the grooms family. It's the sweet and special touches that make this wedding so unique and beautiful!

This family Bible has been passed down for generations in the grooms family and is traditionally part of the wedding day. 

 I love that their pup Amos was able to be a part of the ceremony! Mom + Dad are married!

I love all the heirloom pieces - and here's another one! The coop champagne glasses that the bride and groom toasted with are from the grooms parent's wedding day. 

Part of Christina's Vietnamese culture is to welcome each guest with a shot of cognac. Dressed in traditional Laos attire Christina welcomed her family, then changed to welcome into a traditional Vietnamese dress to welcome the other side her family with Zach by her side.

Christina + Zach it was an honor to be a part of your special day! Love you both! 

XO,
A.

Valentines Day Inspiration: Blush and Bashful

Valentines day is drawing near - if you didn't already know by the absurd amount of chocolates every where you go! I'll admit, I used to fight my love of the color pink for a long, long time. But I've accepted that I'm a girl who loves the color pink - and it feels great! All jokes aside, pink is a really beautiful color to add into your wedding color palette. In fact, it's one of the two Pantone colors of the year! Lets face it, nothing says fairytale love full of floating hearts and romance like a little infusion of pink into your wedding day. It's a versatile color that can easily take center stage in a design, or serve in more of a supporting role letting other colors shine. Here are a few examples of how our sweet brides have embraced the color pink and incorporated it into their wedding day!

Sophisticated Luxury at Ritz Carlton Urban Garden

Kendra and Randy, April 2015
Lauren Rosenau Photography
New Creations Flower Company

English Garden Party at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Danielle + Sam, June 2013
Rachel Fesko Photography
New Creations Flower Company

Secret Garden at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Adrianna + Terrell, August 2014
Richard Israel Photography
Chelish Moore Flowers

Elegance in Nature at Morning Glory Farm

Megan and Tyler, August 2015
Alicia White Photography
New Creations Flower Company

Chic and Modern at Foundation For The Carolinas

Jackie + Daniel, August 2014
Smitten and Hooked Photography
New Creations Flower Company

Sweet Southern Love at Boxwood Estate

Keely + Hill, May 2014
Lauren Friday Photography
New Creations Flower Company

Playful Vintage Elegance at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Mia + Alex, April 2014
Lauren Rosenau Photography
New Creations Flower Company

Sweet and Glamorous at Mint Museum Uptown

Rachel and Mike, October 2014
Lauren Rosenau Photography
New Creations Flower Company

Lush Garden Romance at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Christina and Zach, June 2015
Lauren Friday Photography
New Creations Flower Company

Let us know what you think! How will you incorporate pink tones into your color palette?

xo,
A.

Featured: Elegant Southern Irish-Inspired Wedding

Get ready to meet the most adorable couple ever! Megan and Tom were married in a sweet celebration in July of 2015 at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Dilworth, followed by a reception at Charlotte Country Club. We infused so many details inspired by their lives and love story - read all about it here, on Style Me Pretty!

Here are a few of our favorite photos from Megan + Tom's wedding day!

Check out this amazing highlight video from videographer, Shamus Coneys Film!

Aren't they the cutest?! I am so, so, so thrilled to be able to share Megan + Tom's wedding day with the readers of Style Me Pretty and of course, you! This day was just as magical as it looked, and we have a team of talented vendors to thank for giving their all for Megan + Tom's big day!

Event Planning + Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Lauren Friday Photography
Cinematography: Shamus Coneys Film
Floral Design: New Creations Flower Company
Stationery: Elisabeth Rose Stationary
Ceremony Venue: Cathedral Of Saint Patrick
Reception Venue: Charlotte Country Club
Makeup: Makeup By Jenny Le
Hair: Sara Egri
Band: East Coast Entertainment
Bridal Boutique: Bellissima Of Salisbury
Catering + Cake: Charlotte Country Club

Megan + Tom it was an absolute honor to be a part of your wedding day. I truly enjoyed getting to know you both and being a part of your celebration! 

XO,
A.

Featured: Simple and Chic Foundation For The Carolinas Wedding

We are over the moon to see Shelby + Jordan's beautiful wedding at Foundation For The Carolinas featured on Carats and Cake! Our lovely bride, Shelby, dreamed of a clean and elegant wedding in a color palette of neutral cream, white and grey. With modern and feminine touches, we created a timeless design with endless details inspired by Shelby + Jordan. Check out the full feature, here.

Here are a few of our favorite images from Shelby + Jordan's beautiful wedding day!

We absolutely LOVED working with Shelby and Jordan (and their families!) to help them celebrate their amazing wedding! These two danced well into the night and enjoyed a little late night pizza delivery from Fuel... it was such a fun party with Split Second Sound keeping the energy going strong all night. Shelby, thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your special day - it was an absolute pleasure getting to see you two say I do! 

Huge thanks to all the vendors who made Shelby + Jordan's day so fantastic!
Planning/Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Smitten and Hooked Photography
Floral Design: New Creations Flower Company
Catering: Best Impressions Caterers
Venue: Foundation For The Carolinas
Entertainment: Split Second Sound
Paper Goods: Pink Toast Ink
Cake: Sky's The Limit Custom Cakes
Makeup/Hair: Makeup by Jenny Le
Wedding Dress: Alvina Valenta from J. Majors Boutique
Grooms Attire: Vera Wang from Mens Wearhouse
Shoes: Badgley Mischka

Oh, and this just might be my favorite room reveal of all time... Shelby you're the best!

xo,
A.

Recap of 2015

It's been a wild and exciting year for The Graceful Host! We feel so honored and lucky to have worked with so many amazing couples over the past few months. With styles ranging from glamorous to organic, we've loved helping out brides + grooms bring their dream wedding to life! To celebrate a fabulous year - and our 3rd anniversary! - lets recap this gorgeous year!

Kendra + Randy
Ritz Carlton, Urban Garden
April 18, 2015
Photos by: Lauren Rosenau Photography

Melinda + Scott
Mint Museum Uptown
May 30, 2015
Photos by: CaptureMe Candid

Christina + Zach
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden
June 6, 2015
Photos by: Lauren Friday Photography

Shelby + Jordan
Foundation For The Carolinas
June 13, 2015
Photos by: Smitten and Hooked

Megan + Tom
Charlotte Country Club
July 11, 2015
Photos by: Lauren Friday Photography

Cassie + Hunter
Mint Museum Uptown
August 8, 2015
Photos by: Lauren Friday Photography

Megan + Tyler
Morning Glory Farm
August 15, 2015
Professional photos by Alicia White Photography to come! iPhone snap shots by yours truly for now.

Brittany + Taylor
Mint Museum Uptown
October 3, 2015
Professional photos by Lauren Rosenau Photography to come! iPhone snap shots by yours truly for now.

There will never be the right words to express my gratitude to each of the families who allowed us to be a part of their special celebrations, to all our hardworking and talented vendors who went the extra mile to make our clients happy, and to my amazing team - whom without none of this would be possible!

I am going into 2016 with a very full and thankful heart for the year that was. Thank you for your support and love of my business... it's what drives me every single day! No doubt there will be some amazing things to look forward to in 2016 - like 7 incredible weddings, an all-new rebrand project to be revealed soon, oh and a new baby! ;) Take a bow 2015, you were a good one!

XO,
A.

12 Entertaining Tips from The Graceful Host

Huge thanks to The Venue Report for using some of my planning tips + advice in their recent article about entertaining! From words of wisdom & helpful tips to the perfect party play list & a few of my go-to recipes, I'm talking about ways you can make your life easier as you prepare to be the hostess with the mostest this fall and into the holiday season! Check out the full article, here.

Featured: Romantic Southern Wedding Inspiration at Graylyn Estate

I am over the moon to have our romantic wedding inspiration featured on Weddings Unveiled today! I have to extend a big huge thanks to Allison Kuhn Photography for all the gorgeous images! We were presented with many challenges in executing the shoot - the monsoon of a rain storm being the biggest of all. But thanks to Allison and Lindsey Regan Thorne of Be Pretty we moved on to plan B, and I think the end result is still absolutely stunning! Working with a talented team of vendors makes the biggest difference in the world, and I am so honored to have had the chance to work with an incredible team!

Creative Director, Styling and Calligraphy: The Graceful Host
Photography: Allison Kuhn Photography
Venue: Graylyn
Florals: Amy Lynne Originals 
Farm Table: Classic Party Rentals 
Chairs, China, Glassware Rentals: Party Reflections 
Linens: Nuage Designs 
Wedding Cake: Wow Factor Cakes 
Invitation Suite: Amanda Day Rose 
Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier from Nitsa’s 
Earrings: Nordstrom 
Hair & Makeup: Lindsey Regan Thorne 
Groom’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank 
Models: Bethany and Scott Grotz

Our inspiration came from the effortless elegance of Southern brides. Since lace, vintage touches, and a crisp white tuxedo are some hallmarks of Southern weddings, I took those elements and gave them a unique twist. The brides stunning Monique Lhuillier gown from Nitsa’s is a perfect example of a classic silhouette that has been modernized with a fun and flirty high low-esque skirt. I fell in love with the addition of the beautiful lace linen from Nuage Designs to our tablescape - it was the perfect way to add lace to our dining table! I brought in vintage china from Party Reflections for just an extra pop of color at each placesetting and added a flower with calligraphy place cards by yours truly. The color palette was one of my favorite aspects of this shoot! I am in love with the combination of pale yellow, blush, peach and green! The design is a mixture of classic and traditional Southern elements done in an elegant and sophisticated style. Be sure to check out the full feature on Weddings Unveiled! Here are a few of my favorite photos from the shoot.

XO,
A.

Featured: Jackie O Inspired Wedding in Uptown Charlotte

I am incredibly proud to see Lauren & Will's beautiful wedding featured on Weddings Unveiled today!! Working with this sweet couple was an absolute dream, and their wedding day is still one of the most fun we've ever had! This group knows how to party! I loved each and every detail we planned. When I first met Lauren, she mentioned wanting a wedding at was inspired by Jackie-O: timeless, classic and full of style. I fell in love with these two the moment we met, and we had such a blast planning for their August 9, 2015 wedding at St. Peter's Catholic Church, followed by the Charlotte City Club. Just wait until you see their stunning portraits by the talented Lauren Rosenau Photography around uptown Charlotte - these two are absolutely breathtaking!

Don't miss the full feature on Weddings Unveiled today by clicking here. And see a few of my favorite photos, as well as a full recap of Lauren & Will's big day in this post. Thank you so much, Weddings Unveiled for the gorgeous feature - it's an honor to share this special day with your readers!

Lauren & Will, thank you two so much for letting The Graceful Host be a part of your wedding day! You and your families will always hold a special place in my heart!

xo,
A.

Bringing Your Inspiration Board to Life

I'm excited to have had the chance to be a guest blogger for Kory Woodard today! We are talking all about creating inspiration boards and how you can bring your ideas into reality. Ever wonder how designers and planners start the design process?! It all begins with an inspiration board! I'm a big fan of using inspiration boards for all sorts of projects, but when it comes to planning an event, they're a big ol' must for organizing your thoughts and creating style boundaries. See some of my tips for creating your own inspiration board and see how you can bring your ideas to life!

Click here to view the full post, full of helpful tips and advice to get you started! And I want to extend a big thank you to Kory for asking me to be a part of her blog today! Check out her beautiful branding + design work, here!

XO,
A.

Wedding Inspiration: Garden Romance

It's no secret how much I love and adore garden weddings. Well, it's also no secret how much I love and adore this amazing couple! I am beyond excited for Christina & Zach's beautiful wedding in just a few short weeks at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. With nature as your inspiration, the sky's the limit! I love the different shades of pink and varieties of foliage we have planned for the centerpieces. And there are so many fabulous details planned for guests that incorporate our sweet couples' personal style and favorite hobbies together, as well as our bride's Laotian heritage. I am so excited about this design for Christina & Zach, and I can't wait for Lauren Friday Photography to capture it all. 

Take a peek at our inspiration board!

XO,
A.

Featured: Modern Sophisticated Southern Duke Mansion Wedding

I'm not even sure where to begin ... how do I even begin?! This is one wedding that will always hold a special place in my heart. It's not just because of the design, or the fabulous details involved. It is because of the incredible couple that is at the center of all this prettiness! Breeze and Montell have become more than just clients who were seeking guidance in creating their dream wedding - they've become dear, dear friends that I love so much! I could not be more thrilled to see Breeze and Montell's wedding featured on one of my absolute favorite blogs today, Style Me Pretty!

This gorgeous bride has impeccable style. She's a fashion-forward girl, and wanted a wedding that spoke to her forward thinking style, but also incorporated classic & timeless elements. With a crisp palette of cream, gold, and black, we achieved something so beautiful that mixed both contemporary and traditional design. The end result was nothing short of perfect for this amazing bride and groom! Creating this wedding was such an honor, and working with this bride was nothing short of wonderful. I'm truly grateful for all the trust Breeze put in me to bring her vision to life. I am so lucky to have such amazing brides & grooms that entrust me with one of the biggest, most important days of their lives.

With an all-start team assembled, we were able to achieve something so stunning and unique for this sweet couple. Fabulous photographer Lauren Rosenau of Lauren Rosenau Photography beautifully captured all the details that were oh so carefully planned. And Melanie Edwards with New Creations Flower Company exceeded all my expectations with her incredible interpretation of my design plan & amazing creativity. I don't have the words to say how much I love and adore Melanie - her talent never ceases to amaze me, and I just LOVE working with her! To have a partner like her that can seriously read my mind and know exactly what I'm envisioning is priceless! She seriously out-did herself with this one and I'm so, so proud of her! Carrie Barker with Pink Toast Ink blew it out of the park with the incredible paper goods. From unique invitation suites to a jaw-dropping mirrored seating chart, Carrie took my vision and ran with it! Don't even get me started with Sara Shelor from Party Reflections-Charlotte who has such amazing expertise, and not to mention incredible patience, that I just could not live without and love so much! I couldn't be more honored to work with some of the best wedding vendors in Charlotte on this amazing wedding.

Huge thanks to all the outstanding vendors involved in Breeze & Montell's wedding day!

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

I'm so excited to finally have the opportunity to share Breeze & Montell's story with y'alll! Be sure to hop on over to check out the full feature on Style Me Pretty! And I'm sharing some of my favorite photos from this beautiful day below. Believe me when I say that keeping these photos to myself has been so difficult!

I mean, could she be any more beautiful?! And I just have to say, I was so beyond honored that Breeze wore my earrings that I wore on my wedding day.

So here is where the miracle in this wedding day emerges. As the bride was finishing getting dressed the rain rolled in and it started to pour. We were all devastated! As a planner, I never want to go to plan B! I'm just as invested in my clients dream wedding day that we've all worked so hard to create! So moving the wedding indoors wasn't exactly something I was thrilled about. I made the very difficult (and ulcer-inducing) decision to delay the ceremony by 15 minutes because the forecast was looking like there could be chance for a break in the weather. Thankfully the decision paid off and the rain ceased just in time. We hustled to dry off chairs and seat guests as quickly as possible so that the ceremony could go on as planned! The smile on our sweet brides' face as she's walking towards the love of her life with her dad by her side were just absolutely priceless!

As a surprise to guests, Breeze & Montell brought in Bob Peters - mixologist extraordinaire! - to treat guests to a few signature cocktails that were inspired by the bride and groom! Needless to say, it was a huge hit with guests, and they tasted absolutely fabulous!

It was truly an honor to work so closely with this couple & their family! I love these two to pieces! Talk about two people who are madly in love - I just can't get enough of this bride & groom! I am so excited to share these amazing photos with you. The entire night was an absolute blast and everything was absolutely gorgeous! I was thrilled to be a part of Breeze & Montell's beautiful love story, and I wish them many, many more years of wedded bliss! Don't miss the full feature on Style Me Pretty! 

XO,
A.

By the way, our beautiful bride is an incredible athlete and trainer. So just a little side PSA: If you're looking to make serious changes to your life, go see this amazing woman at Moga Charlotte! She will seriously transform your world!

Anniversary: Veronica + Chip

This past weekend, we wished a very happy one year anniversary to one amazing couple - Veronica and Chip Getz! I absolutely LOVED having the opportunity to work with these two. Talk about two of the kindest, most genuine people I've ever met! Not to mention one seriously gorgeous couple, who are just a perfect match! Their romantic & sophisticated wedding at The Mint Museum was a highlight from our 2014 season. And in honor of their anniversary, I couldn't help but share their fabulous highlight reel from 5Ahead Films! 

Here are a few of my favorite photos by the talented Jeremy Igo Photography from their beautiful day!

One incredible year down, and just a lifetime to go! Cheers to you, Mr. & Mrs. Getz! Lots of love to you both!

XO,
A.

Anniversary: Mia + Alex

Just one short year ago, a beautiful bride with an infectious smile married a total gentleman in a sweet ceremony that combined both of their cultures and religions. Sadly our garden wedding plans were rained out - but a little (well, okay - a lot!) of rain didn't dampen this spirits of this amazing couple one bit! It's pretty ironic that it also rained on their anniversary, just one year later. But you know how the saying goes, rain on your wedding day brings good luck! :) I recently heard a new saying about rain on your wedding day that was so awesome - The wetter the knot the harder it is to untie. How's that for some perspective?! I have a feeling this amazing couples would agree.

I loved this beautiful garden wedding design, inspired by nature. We incorporated so many little details that were a reflection of Mia & Alex - like their hot air ballon guest book, which is where Alex proposed to Mia! If you haven't seen the full blog post, click here. Their wedding portraits in the Orchid Conservatory of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is one of my favorites from 2014. I loved seeing it pop up on Huffington Post blog last summer as part of their 14 Boho Desert Wedding Ideas! Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite highlights to from their big day to celebrate!

Isn't this bride so beautiful?! I love Mia's gorgeous tiered lace dress! And that smile - so infectious! I am so honored to have had the opportunity to be a part of this special day! Cheers to many, many more years of wedded bliss for this adorable couple!

XO,
A.

Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography | Flowers: New Creations Flower Company | Venue: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Anniversary: Katie + Eric

It is with such great joy that I wish a very happy one year wedding anniversary to two clients turned dear, dear friends! I can honestly say that I just don't know where I'd be with out Katie. She and her amazing husband - and her super sweet family - have become like a second family to me, and I am so, so grateful to have such amazing brides like her! This wedding was so much fun in so many ways - from the people to the design! Our sweet bride is a lover of Kate Spade style, which was at the core of our design. Effortless, fun, preppy, modern, & classic style were all words we kept in mind when pulling together Katie's wedding design. I love the mixture of clean lines and graphic patterns with use of unique floral textures in the centerpieces. The Mint Museum Uptown was the perfect location for this modern art loving couple! I absolutely loved seeing their wedding shared recently on Wedding Chicks - check out the full feature here in case you missed it!

I am sharing just a few of my favorite photos from Katie and Eric's wedding day, beautifully captured by Lauren Rosenau Photography. You can see more from my other post about Katie and Eric's wedding here and here.

I cannot believe it's already been one year since this sweet couple said "I Do"! Time really does fly when you're having fun with your best friend - Am I right you two?! I am so grateful that Katie sent me an email back almost 3 years ago. (It is still one of the nicest, sweetest inquiry emails I've ever received!) I hope you have a very happy one year anniversary and enjoy celebrating together! I wish you all best as you relive one of the best days ever - and I wish you many, many more years of wedded bliss! Love you both tons & tons! 

XO,
A.

Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography | Flowers: New Creations Flower Company | Venue: The Mint Museum Uptown | Cake: Wow Factor Cakes

Featured: Fashion-Forward Bridal Portraits in Charleston, SC

On a beautiful September day in Charleston, South Carolina, a little team of Charlotte wedding vendors traveled down to the low country to create a fashion-forward and non-traditional bridal portrait session. At the time, I was working with a sweet bride who was a lover of fashion-forward style, which served as inspiration throughout our time planning for her wedding. So for her bridal portraits she asked if she had to wear her wedding dress for her portrait session. And that got me inspired to style a few different bridal looks for the bride who wishes to be fearless & sassy on her wedding day, rather than go the traditional route with a wedding dress. We took to the streets of Charleston to get the historical charm & architectural contrast against the modern, black and white palette in the bridal looks. I wanted to embrace some of the more daring bridal trends making their way into the bridal market fashion for 2015  like crop tops, tulle skirts, & low-cut backs, just to name a few. I absolutely fell in love with the gorgeous sequin skirt she's wearing from Erin Grey Couture.... I've never seen anything else like it! Isn't it incredible?!

Huge thanks to our mighty little vendor team:
Creative Direction & Styling: The Graceful Host
Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Hair: Paper Dolls Wedding Hair & Makeup
Makeup: Michelle Lopez
Skirts: Erin Grey Couture found at J. Majors Bridal Boutique
Dress: J. Majors Bridal Boutique
Shoes: Valentino
Birdcage Veil: J. Majors Bridal Boutique

And to Emily Breeze Ross for being such a beautiful model and the source of inspiration for this fun and unique shoot!

What do you think of this fashion-forward bridal look? Are you going to be a fearless bride and embrace a non-traditional bridal style on your wedding day?

Be sure to check out the full feature from Trendy Bride magazine by clicking here.

XO,
A.

Anniversary: Whitley + Darian

Hard to believe it has been a one year since this dashing couple said I do in a beautiful riverside ceremony at Brakefield at Riverwalk and celebrated among family and friends in one of the most glamorous spaces we've every transformed! I absolutely loved every single second of working with Whitley and Darian to help them plan for their big day! And we were so honored to see this wedding be published on Style Me Pretty, in the Carolina Bride book and in the summer issue of Carolina Bride magazine! Style Me Pretty even named Whitley and Darian's wedding one of their favorite NFL weddings on SMP! We LOVE it! Take a peek at a few of my favorite photos from their wedding day captured by Lauren Rosenau Photography.

It is so great to take a look back ... this wedding was so much fun and simply stunning! Bringing our bride's vision to life was so rewarding! And I know it's been an exciting first year of marriage for this sweet couple! Wishing you many, many more years of bliss! Cheers to you, Mr. & Mrs. Stewart! xoxoxo!

xo,
A.

Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography | Flowers: New Creations Flower Company | Venue: Brakefield at Riverwalk | Cake: Wow Factor Cakes | Wedding dress: Victor Harper Couture from Nitsas Apparel