A Color Filled Garden-Inspired Wedding With Fun And Unique Details

Annie + John’s wedding will always hold a special place in my heart because it was the second time I had the pleasure of working with this sweet family! I had helped Annies older sister, Maggie, with her wedding back in 2017. So it was just a true joy to have the chance to work with this amazing family again!

And what a thrill to see Annie + John’s wedding featured on the front page of Style Me Pretty today!

Our couple wanted to have a wedding day that felt blissful, yet silly. "Our wedding style was to keep things simple and make things easy for our guests, since all but 2 guests were from out of town," says Annie. "We wanted to keep it fun and focused on what the day was about: celebrating our love." The wedding ceremony took place at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Uptown Charlotte, followed by a reception at the Mint Museum Uptown, a modern art museum with breathtaking views of the city.

The inspiration behind the design was to bring the outdoors indoors. Annie notes, “We would have loved to have an outside wedding, but didn't want to be dependent on weather, so hoped for a design that would bring the outside inside." With the talented of New Creations Flower Company, we installed a canopy of greenery, which followed twinkle lights, along the ceiling of the Mint Museum's Grand Room. The color palette was bright and cheerful, with tones of pink and lavender accented with greenery. We also included ivy into the floral recipe as a nod to the couple's former home of Chicago, and their mutual love of Wrigley Field and their favorite baseball team, the Cubs.

One of Annie's favorite details was a piece of lace from her mom's wedding dress, which was used as a wrap around the bridal bouquet. When asked about her favorite moment from her wedding day, Annie said, "My favorite moment was the first look!" She adds, "After getting ready all morning, I was just really excited to see John and get to give him a big hug. It was so nice to get to see him before the ceremony and connect." 

Fun was the name of the game! And our couple wanted to do something different than what their friends and family might have seen at past weddings. They decided to do a floor plan that was predominantly lounge furniture, to create an atmosphere that felt more casual and encouraged guests to mingle. Annie + John also decided to forego a traditional wedding cake, and decided to offer guests cookies as a sweet treat to cap off the night. We displayed the cookie varieties on two gold shelves, among candles and votives. Lastly, Annie + John choose to get married in June in Charlotte, when the weather can be quite warm. So, they decided to greet guests at the reception with strawberry margarita push-pops - another way to infuse fun into their celebration and offer guests something a bit different.

Annie + John were both very family oriented and come from large families. So of course we had to include the couple's black lab, Finny, in the wedding day. "My dress had pockets and the one item I had with me during the wedding was Finny's bowtie - he looked so handsome in the pictures wearing his bow tie!," said Annie.

Oh how I love this family and this couple! Everything about this wedding day was a dream come true, and I’m so excited to share their wedding day with you!

Many thanks to our talented vendor team:

Planning + Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Rach Loves Troy
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Hair + Makeup: Be Pretty
Videography: Shamus Coneys Films
Ceremony Venue: St Peter’s Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Mint Museum Uptown
Catering: Something Classic
Bride’s Dress: J Majors
Paper Goods: Girl Tribe Creative
Lounge Rentals: Old South Vintage Rentals
Rentals: Party Reflections and Party Tables
Lighting: Wink Lighting
Cookies: SugarBomb Sweets
DJ: Split Second Sound

Thank you, Annie + John, for trusting us to be a part of your celebration!

XO,
A.

A Bold Color Palette That Will Blow You Away in Charlotte, NC

It’s not very often we meet a couple who really wants to step out of the box. But this couple was all about unique and bold details that were a reflection of their personal style.

This wedding was definitely one for the books, in more ways than one. First, we started working with Jennifer + John just 4 months prior to their wedding date. And second, their wedding was almost derailed by Hurricane Florence, who tried really hard to crash the party! The whole executing a wedding during a hurricane thing was quite a challenge. Oh, and did I mention that I was 37 weeks pregnant at the time?! Like I said, a challenge that was one for the books. But I LOVE a challenge, y’all!

Ok, so back to the details! The color palette just blows me away - I’m in love with these moody tones! Jennifer’s vision was very clear. She wanted to create a lounge-inspired setting for her guests, where conversation and good food can be enjoyed. Our floor plan was very lounge dominant, which I just loved! Working with color isn’t something I always get to do, so it was really fun designing this wedding with Jennifer + John.

Our vendor team was really amazing for this wedding. Everyone came together to make sure that Jennifer + John had the best day, despite the forecast putting us all to the test!
Planning + design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Morning Wild Photography
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Venue: Mint Museum Uptown
Paper Goods: Elisabeth Rose
Catering: Something Classic
Dress: Theia Couture
Dress Boutique: Ladies Of Lineage
Hair and Makeup: Makeup by Jenny Le
Cake: The Wow Factor Cakes
Furniture + Lounge Rentals: Crush Event Rentals
Chair Rentals + Draping: Carolinas Luxury Event Rentals
Lighting: Wink Lighting
Linens: Nuage Designs
Linens: Party Reflections

Enjoy some of my favorite photos from Jennifer + John’s wedding!

Turns out that a wedding during a hurricane can be pretty magical. I’m super grateful to the team of professionals that executed everything so beautifully for our couple. And a huge thanks to Jennifer + John for allowing The Graceful Host to be a part of your special day!

XOXO,
A.

A Colorful and Whimsical Wedding at the Mint Museum Uptown in Charlotte

Jessie + Austin met in high school, but never dated. It took a few years of persistence from Austin, with Jessie "brutally shutting him down" as she says, for her to agree to a date with Austin. It was after that first date the summer of their freshman year of college that Jessie fell head over heels for Austin! And after several months of flirting and long distance (don't worry - Austin made her sweat a bit. Unknowingly, of course!), they made their relationship official.

You'll never meet a couple more madly in love or incredibly down to Earth as Jessie + Austin. They are the life of the party and love to have fun in every situation. Their connection is unmistakeable! Just wait until you see their gorgeous images from Anchor & Veil Photography. They never shy away from adventure and new experiences. Trying new restaurants and recipes and exploring new places is one of their favorite things to do together. But as much fun as going out can be, they also love lay low by make a pallet on the floor and watch moves with some wine in tow.

Jessie came to me wanting to create a unique experience for her loved ones. She said she wanted it to feel like one big party, with an amazing atmosphere, great food and lots of dancing - not stuffy or stiff, or too formal. Our sweet bride had a vision, and she was drawing inspiration from many different color palettes and styles - from whimsical and classic to sweet and modern. She didn't quite know where to begin and how to sort through everything. As we when through my design process, we were able to get to the heart of her vision and create a cohesive design that captured our bride's gorgeous style. The end result felt fun, eclectic and most importantly, different - and that is exactly what Jessie wanted! We infused a vibrant color palette into our design, using a range of purples, burgundy, pinks, creams, and pale yellow with abundant amounts of greenery for an ultra-romantic touch. It is traditional with a twist, as we mixed aesthetics to create a detailed and color-filled day for this sweet-as-can-be couple!

Huge thanks to our talented team of vendors who made this day so perfect for Jessie + Austin!
Planning + Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Anchor & Veil Photography
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Paper Goods: Elisabeth Rose Social Stationery
Videography: Brian Bunn Films
Cake: The Wow Factor Cakes
Rentals: Party Reflections
Catering: Something Classic Catering
Venue: The Mint Museum Uptown
Officiant: Rev Rebecca Nagy
Hair: Mirror Bomb Studios
Makeup: Erin Ashley Makeup
Dress: Romona Keveža
Dress Boutique: Ladies Of Lineage
Bridesmaid Dresses: Brideside
Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux
Entertainment: Split Second Sound

Jessie + Austin, you two are such a joy to know! I loved every second of our time planning together and your perfect wedding day. Thank you for trusting myself and my team to execute your vision! Love you both!

XO,
A.

Real Wedding: Elegance in Uptown Charlotte at the Mint Museum

I had the pleasure of working with the best couple ever last summer! Jana + Jordan are so much fun to be around - it made wedding planning an absolute blast! When I first met with Jana + Jordan, we talked about their wedding being centered around a really great party. And that's exactly what they got! Their wedding day was full of joy and laughter, as they were surrounded by all their friends and family on a beautiful summer North Carolina day. Jana's vision for her wedding was simple elegance with an air of sophistication, in a neutral color palette of champagne, blush, and ivory, with pops of greenery. I love the hanging lampshades over some of the long tables, with a lush garland along the center of the table! It was such a statement piece, and looked incredible in the Grand Room at the Mint Museum Uptown. The cake was absolute perfection, and the definition of simple elegance with textured icing and sweet little flowers clusters on the cake tiers. We had custom monograms created for Jana + Jordan that was incorporated into all their paper goods and details. I really love using monograms (or some sort of symbol) with my clients because it's a fun, memorable keepsake to have after your wedding is over. Plus, it's a great way to really brand your event! We placed their gorgeous monogram on wedding day details like the ceremony program, wedding koozies and cocktail napkins, which is another great way to personalize your special day.

I'm pretty obsessed with theses photos by Crystal Stokes Photography from Jana + Jordan's wedding day, and I'm excited to share with you some of my favorites from this gorgeous summer wedding at the Mint Museum Uptown.

These portraits in a little tucked away courtyard in Uptown Charlotte are my favorites!! How gorgeous are these two?!

Choreographed first dance for the win! This spin is everything, too!

Jana + Jordan, being a part of your wedding was such an honor! Seriously, can we do it again? I'm grateful to have had the chance to get to know you both and help you plan for your special day. So much love to you two!

And a huge thanks to the talented vendor team that made this wedding dreamy day so special
Planning + Design: The Graceful Host 
Photography: Crystal Stokes Photography
Floral Design: New Creations Flower Company
Paper Goods: Pink Toast Ink
Cake: Wow Factor Cakes
Videography: Crown Alley Films
Catering: Something Classic
Entertaining: The Retreat via Sam Hill Entertainment
Venue: Mint Museum Uptown
Hair: Mirror Bomb Studios
Makeup: Erin Ashley Makeup
Chair Rentals: Carolinas Luxury Rentals
Linens: Party Reflections  & Party Tables
Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier Bridal from Nitsa's Apparel
Bridesmaid Dresses: J Crew
Brides Shoes: Kate Spade

XO,
A.

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: A Modern Affair at The Mint Museum Uptown

We are honored to see Lauren and Andrew's modern & elegant Mint Museum Uptown wedding in the recent issue of Carolina Bride magazine. Lauren and Andrew met through mutual friends at Appalachian State University. If you're with either of them for even just a moment, you can tell that they are truly in love - as well as two of the most amazing human beings you'll ever meet. Being around them was like being in a Nicholas Sparks novel - two ridiculously good looking people, madly in love and sweet as pie!

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I first met Lauren and Andrew over brunch to talk about their big day. From the get go, I knew it would be a very good day! Lauren talked about her love of sparkle and that she wanted a day that was elegant and simple, yet luxurious feeling. We settled on a color palette of cream, black, champagne and gold. Lauren chose a gorgeous wedding dress that became a big source of inspiration for the detailing on the cake. Man, oh man did she take our breath away in this gown! Our bride carried a beautiful cascading calla lily bouquet created by New Creations Flower Company, and the ladies carried calla lilies as well. We intertwined sparkly elements throughout their design with the linens and centerpieces. The kings table was one of my favorites in our design, with a series of spray-like tulips cascading in the tall centerpieces with mirrored pillar candles and crystal votives going along the 24' table. It was stunning!

We had an amazing team of vendors who helped Lauren and Andrew have the best day ever. Thank you to everyone for all your hard work and for making this day as beautiful as it was!
Planning + Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Julia Laible Photography
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Venues: Mint Museum Uptown
Wedding Cake: The Wow Factor Cakes
Entertainment: Split Second Sound
Hairstylist: Lindsey Pizzuti of Mirror Bomb Studios
Makeup artist: Erin Ashley Makeup
Wedding Dress Boutique: Belle Vogue Boutique in Kansas City
Gown designer: Martina Liana Bridal
Bride’s shoes: Jimmy Choo Ivory Shimmer Flats
Bridesmaid dresses: David’s Bridal
Tuxedos: Calvin Klein from Men’s Wearhouse
Invitations: Minted.com
Transportation provider: R&R Pedicab
Clergy: Pastor Reggie Hunt of Cornerstone Summit (Lauren and Andrew’s church during college)

Here are a few of our favorite photos from Lauren and Andrew's special day!

We were so honored to be a part of your celebration, Lauren and Andrew! Thanks for letting us in on all the fun! And don't forget to get your copy of the latest issue of Carolina Bride to see Lauren and Andrew's full feature on bookshelves now.

XO,
A.

Featured: Modern Museum Wedding in Navy and White

I am so, so excited to see one of our most memorable weddings from 2014 featured on one of my favorite wedding blogs - Wedding Chicks! Working with Katie & Eric to create this modern and chic wedding at The Mint Museum Uptown was so much fun. These two will always hold a special place in my heart!

Y'all know how much I LOVE wedding details. Well, the details of this wedding were truly endless, and I love how the design was cohesive from start to finish. We're talking creating custom ring bearer pillows to match the custom table runners and sashes - definitely an all-time favorite! The overall look and feel was preppy, clean and modern. Our sweet bride loves Kate Spade - I mean, who doesn't?! - so we added in these playful pops of bold geometric prints that Kate is so known for.

Be sure to check out the full feature on Wedding Chicks! And to see more from Katie + Eric's big day, check out this blog post: here and here. I can't resist sharing some of my favorite detail shots from this beautiful day!

XO,
A.

Featured: A Whimsical and Romantic Wedding at the Mint Museum Uptown

I am over the moon to see Katelyn and Phillip's summer wedding at the Mint Museum Uptown featured on Style Me Pretty! Honored and humbled just skims the surface of how I felt when this amazing bride changed her wedding date to hire me as her planner after finding out that I was already booked for her original intended date. Working with these two was a breeze and so much fun! There was definitely no shortage of laughter at each meeting. Katelyn came to me with a vision of a vintage romance and elegance, and we married her style (Ha! Pun intended, of course!) with Phillip's artistic and minimalistic aesthetic. It's always a fun challenge when a bride and groom have different styles to create a wedding design that fits both their needs. The outcome is without a doubt one of my all-time favorites!

Be sure to head over to Style Me Pretty to see the full feature by clicking here. And check out this blog post for more behind the scenes and photos from Katelyn and Phillip's big day! K + P, thank you so much, again for allowing me to be a part of your big day! It was such an honor!

XO,
A.

Just Married: A Whimsical Navy and Green Uptown Wedding at the Mint Museum Uptown

It is so hard to believe that just a few months ago this sweet couple, Katelyn and Phillip, were married. 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 meets whimsical meets elegance wedding inspiration that had no shortage of personal touches and was big on family traditions. (We've got two Italian-Irish Catholic families here, y'all!) So with this inspiration in mind, I worked with her to create something unique and beautiful in a color palette of navy, cream and kelly green. The end result was seriously so beyond my wildest imagination - and the bride and groom were equally as wowed! Their reaction to seeing the reception space for the first time was one of my favorite moments of the year! I just love these two to pieces and I was so happy that they chose me to help them design and plan their perfect wedding day. Take a peek at some of my favorite photos from their beautiful summer wedding by the incredibly talented Lauren Rosenau Photography.

And don't miss Katelyn and Phillip's wedding featured on Style Me Pretty!

Huge thanks to all the talented vendors that helped make Katelyn & Phillips day so incredible!

Wedding Planner and Designer: The Graceful Host Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography Florist: New Creations Flower Company Ceremony: St. Peter's Catholic Church Reception: Mint Museum Uptown Videography: Brian Bunn Films Catering: Something Classic Cafes & Catering Cake: Wow Factor Cakes Bagpiper: Carolina Bagpipes Entertainment: All The Right Grooves Ceremony Programs, Table Numbers & Seating Chart: The Graceful Host Hair and Makeup: Who's The Fairest Wedding Dress, Veil, & Belt: Kleinfeld Bridal Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka Transportation: R&R Pedicab

I absolutely can't get over how adorable these two are! Congratulations, Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert! Cheers to your happily ever after!

XO,
A.

Just Married: Katie + Eric, Part 2

I'm beyond excited to finally share all the gorgeous reception details from Katie + Eric's wedding. Last week I shared part one, with all the beautiful details of getting ready, the first look, and of course, their sweet wedding ceremony. But today, it's time to party and roll out all the fabulous details of their Mint Museum Uptown reception! From the moment we met, I fell head over heels for Katie's amazing style. I love the chic and modern twist we created on such a fresh and preppy color palette of navy blue, ivory, and kelley green. Katie is a lover of Kate Spade, so we incorporated some geometric patterns to give this design that extra pizazz. I'm absolutely obsessed with the end result of this wedding design! From the draping to the hanging lampshades to the custom made runners to the fabulous centerpieces, the whole look was totally Katie and totally perfect. What more could you ask for? And this incredible bunch danced all night long - it was definitely one of the most fun receptions we've ever seen. Take a peek at my favorite details!

Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Mint Museum Uptown
Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography
Videography: Timm Young Films
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Catering: Best Impressions Caterers
Cake: Wow Factor Cakes
Entertainment: Split Second Sound
Hair and Makeup: Who’s The Fairest
Trolley: Sunway Charters
PediCab: R&R PediCab
Ceremony Musicians: Elegant Enesembles
Draping: Sterling Events Group
Table runners: The Graceful Host
Late Night Snack: King Of Pops

XO,
A.

Just Married: Katie + Eric, Part 1

When I think of Katie and Eric, this lyric comes to mind: "I've heard it said, that people come into our lives for a reason". These two are so special to me. We've become such great friends since we started planning for their wedding back in 2012, and I honestly can't imagine my life without these two. (Oh man - that sounds so heavy for a blog post.... But, it's the truth.) This beautiful bride and handsome groom have become part of my family and I absolutely adore them. I've been holding on to their stunning wedding photos because I wanted to be able to find the right words to introduce this wedding. You know how you meet a couple you just think, oh yeah - they're perfect for each other! That's Katie and Eric. Two peas in a pod - or to use a food reference that Eric would approve of, "they go together like eggs and bacon". Katie describe her favorite things as clean lines, Kate Spade-inspired, effortless simplicity, & patterns. So with these ideas and a beautiful color palette of navy, green and ivory, we designed one of my favorite weddings to date. I'm truly in love with the unique spin we created on such a classic color palette, and how this wedding can be described as many things - preppy, modern, classic... you name it! Working with Katie to plan for her big day was more than a joy. I'm so lucky to have incredible clients like these two that I now call friends.

Without further adieu, I'm just itching to share this gorgeous wedding with you today! There are just so many wonderful details that we created, I've had to split this wedding into two posts. A huge thanks to an amazing team of talented vendors that gave this amazing couple the wedding day of their dreams:
Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Mint Museum Uptown
Photography: Lauren Rosenau Photography
Videography: Timm Young Films
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Catering: Best Impressions Caterers
Cake: Wow Factor Cakes
Entertainment: Split Second Sound
Hair and Makeup: Who's The Fairest
Trolley: Sunway Charters
PediCab: R&R PediCab
Ceremony Musicians: Elegant Enesembles
Draping: Sterling Events Group
Table runners: The Graceful Host
Late Night Snack: King Of Pops

For part two of Katie & Eric's beautiful wedding day, click here!

XO,
A.

Wedding Inspiration: Purple + Pink

I've been in love with this design since the moment this sweet bride approached me with these gorgeous colors - hello Pantone color of the year, radiant orchid! The design that we've created for Rachel + Mike's October wedding at the Mint Museum Uptown is without a doubt full of romance and chic style. I love every single detail we have planned, from the vibrant color palette of pinks and purples to the mixing of metallics to the floor plan! This couple is so great and we're having a blast planning for their big day, which will be here so soon and I cannot wait! Here is a little peek at our inspiration!

XO,
​A.

Just Married: Veronica + Chip

On a beautiful April Saturday, a stunning bride and dashing groom said "I Do" among family and friends in a beautiful church ceremony where the groom's brother officiated and the bride's Filipino traditions were incorporated into the Lutheran service. I met Veronica at the beginning of 2013, and over the next several months we worked hand-in-hand to plan for her big day.  Talk about every wedding planners dream, y'all! Veronica might just be one of the sweetest and most genuine people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing! Not to mention she has amazing style. She and Chip are so adorable and absolutely perfect together - their passion for life and each other is breathtaking. (And, I have to brag on our groom because boy, oh boy can he cook! During our final meeting, Chip made lump crab eggs benedict for us to enjoy.... it was amazing!) Starting with an inspiration of "Sophisticated Romance", we designed one of my favorite weddings of the year. The Mint Museum Uptown was the perfect venue for this amazing celebration. A team of incredible vendors helped make Veronica and Chip's dream wedding became a reality! And, I'm THRILLED to see that not only is their gorgeous spring wedding published in the July-September issue of Carolina Bride, but Veronica is the cover bride! Thank you, Carolina Bride, for featuring this amazing couple and their story for your readers to enjoy! I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with this lovely bride and groom. Take a look at some of my favorite images from their big day - and don't forget to pick up the latest copy of Carolina Bride, on newsstands now!

Their first look was so sweet!

TGH - Veronica and Chip - Details 5

So, I mentioned earlier that our groom was a cook, right? Well, Veronica surprised him with a grooms cake in the shape of a pizza because it's their favorite thing to cook together. She even used the wooden pizza server from their kitchen and he was so surprised! For Goodness Cakes did an incredible job with both of these sweet confections - and they were both so delicious!

Veronica and Chip love to travel, but their guests travelled in from all over the world to celebrate their marriage. So, I came up with and created a travel-themed seating display and table numbers to tie it all together. I love the way it turned out! The biggest surprise of the weekend was when Veronica's best friend and bridesmaid, who is stationed in South Korea and was denied leave to attend and stand in the wedding, actually showed up at the rehearsal dinner. It was a moment that everyone couldn't get enough of... The best wedding present you could possibly give your best friend! And, our travel-themed seating display was even more fitting with bridesmaid Molly in attendance.

My favorite shot of the entire day! This is the bride's reaction to seeing the reception space for the first time. Seriously, love everything about this! It makes my heart so happy to see how happy they are!

Their first dance was quite a production! Veronica and Chip had been taking dancing lessons and surprised guests with a beautifully choreographed first dance that ended with this big dip. It was gorgeous!

Many, many thanks to our incredible team of wedding pro's!

Wedding Planning and Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Jeremy Igo Photography
Floral Design: New Creations Flower Company
Ceremony: Christ Lutheran Church
Reception: Mint Museum Uptown, Atrium
Hair and Makeup: Lindsey Regan Thorne Be Pretty
Wedding Gown: Vera Wang from Nitsa's Apparel
Videography: 5AHead Films
Cake: For Goodness Cakes
Linens: Wildflower Linen and Connie Duglin
Chair Rentals: Party Reflections
Draping and uplighting: Sterling Events Group
Entertainment: Split Second Sound
Catering: Something Classic Cafes & Catering
Photo Booth: Shoebox Photo Booth
Seating Display: The Graceful Host
PediCab: R&R PediCab

Cheers to you, Veronica and Chip! And thank you for letting me be a part of your special day! Lots of love and big hugs to you both!

XO,
A.

Anniversary: Stephanie + Bryce

I'll never forget the first time I met Steph and Bryce - I loved them from the moment we met. What an amazing couple these two are! Planning for their June 2013 wedding at St. Peter's Catholic Church and the Mint Museum Uptown was so much fun! The cherry on top was that half way through planning, as we're getting to know each other, Steph and I find out that we were both part of the same sorority. It is such a small world! I'm honored to have helped these two sweethearts plan a simply gorgeous wedding! Happy Anniversary you two! Time flies when you're having fun, right?!

XO,
A.

Inspiration: Navy, White + Green

You may remember this wonderful couple from their engagement session over the summer with Lauren Rosenau Photography. Katie & Eric are set to wed next April at the Mint Museum Uptown - and, I seriously cannot wait to see these two get married!  Our first consult was actually one year from today. (I swear I'm not a creepy stalker ... I'm just a good note taker! And I was reading some pervious notes last week, when I realized our "one year anniversary" is today!)  From that very first meeting, we just clicked.  This post is starting to sound like I'm in love with these two - and, you'd be totally right to make that assumption. This girl is just so amazing, and we've had an absolutely blast planning for her wedding.  I thought today would be just perfect for sharing their wedding design inspiration. Katie can only be described as a Kate Spade bride. She loves clean lines, effortless style and chic patterns in all the right places.  With a color palette of navy blue, ivory and kelly green, I think even Kate herself would love what we've come up with.  I love the use of elements like geometric patterns and architecturally-inspired flowers mixed with clean and simple lines.  Brides often ask about mixing themes - and I say why not?!  I encourage taking elements or inspiration from a theme and, in some cases, altering it a bit to fit into a design plan in a cohesive way.  For this wedding design, we've taken a pretty traditional color palette and classic ideas but we infused a little modern flare in the execution through pops of graphic patterns and fun textures.  I always appreciate brides that are willing to take a few steps outside the box, and stretch their design comfort level to reach a whole new level of "wow".  I cannot wait to see this wedding unfold!  Take a peek at our inspiration, and let me know you what you think.

NavyWhiteGreenWeddingInspiration_K&E

XO, A.

Just Married: Stephanie + Bryce

The Graceful Host kicked off summer wedding season with Stephanie and Bryce's romantic Mint Museum wedding.  I had such a BLAST working with this amazing couple!!  These two are the definition of FUN!  The little details were everything to Stephanie, and the outcome was more than either of us could ever imagine! Let's talk color palette: creams, ivories, blush pinks, with pops of lavender tones took over the beautiful Mint Museum Uptown 5th floor Grand Room.  With the help of Melanie of New Creations Flower Company, the room was transformed and draped in pure romance and elegance.  I'm in love with the beautiful milk glass centerpieces, pillar candles, and mercury glass!

Here are just a few of my favorite photos from Stephanie and Bryce's wedding day. Stephanie and Bryce, thank you for choosing The Graceful Host! It was such an honor to work with you. You were so much fun and so incredibly sweet! Enjoy married life!

Ceremony: St. Peter's Catholic Church Reception: Mint Museum Uptown Catering: Something Classic Cafe Flowers: New Creations Flower Company Entertainment: Split Second Sound Cake: Wow Factor Cakes Photobooth: ShutterBooth Photography: Brent Gulledge Photography Hotel: Hilton City Center Make-up and hair: Simply Beautiful Artistry Transportation: Sunway Trolley

XO,

A.