Featured: Glamorous Spring Wedding

I am so excited to see Whitley and Darian's beautiful wedding featured on Style Me Pretty today! I had so much fun working with this sweet bride - I LOVED her chic and glamorous style. The vendors that helped bring this couple's amazing vision to life were some of the best around. So grateful to have worked with such incredible professionals! Thank you, Style Me Pretty, for featuring this wedding! What an honor! Be sure to check out the full feature and gallery on Style Me Pretty today!

For more photos from Whitley and Darian's big day, click here.

XO, 
A.

Featured: Accept With Attitude

Many thanks to Charlotte Wedding magazine for interviewing me on the latest trends in wedding RSVPs. I am all for adding unique and creative twists in wedding details that will catch guests off guard, making them extra excited for the big day! As a lover of paper goods, it was so much fun talking about fun and quirky ways couples could make their wedding invitations more lively and interesting. The latest issue of Charlotte Wedding magazine is on newsstands now, but you can also check out the full article online by clicking here.

XO,
A.

Featured: Hope and Faith

I've been an admirer of Inspire Weddings & Marriage magazine for a while. I'm a huge fan of any publication that showcases marriage and real couples rather than just pretty things without substance and meaning. So when they reached out to ask me to design a shoot based on a real couple's love story, I didn't hesitate to accept! Once I heard Emily and Scott's incredible story, my heart immediately sank - how could you hold back tears after hearing about this couple's journey?! Their inspiring and unwavering devotion aside, I felt such a personal connection to this couple and their story.

On May 3, one of my dear friends was in a tragic car accident while serving in the U.S. Army in Venice, Italy. She's been in a coma ever since and has been fighting for her life every single day since that terrible night to regain consciousness and return to her husband, 3 year old daughter, family, and friends. So, when I heard that Scott had a terrible accident that left him unconscious and the doctors had told Emily to give up hope - so eerily similar to my friend, Captain Kimmy Fix - I just had to be a part of this project! Emily never gave up. The words she shares inside the pages of Inspire are absolutely beautiful. Scott is the definition of a fighter and his future is still so bright, with sweet Emily by his side.

I love to share background details on inspiration shoots because I feel like everyone has this perception that it's all glamour. Hate to burst your bubble friends, but styled shoots are really anything but glamorous. I mean, everything always turns out amazing - just look at the incredible images Julie Staley with Old South Studios captured! But, it took a lot of hard work to get there. Oh and always bear in mind that life is not perfect and things don't always go as planned. (I think Emily and Scott can attest to this!) Even though we had this date set for weeks to do a styled shoot, naturally Mother Nature stepped in with a different plan. She decided to let it monsoon - I'm not being dramatic here, y'all. Picture this: Outdoor shoot in a sunflower field. All the furniture and rentals are delivered. Hair and makeup has arrived to get our lovely models ready. Outfits have been coordinated. Cakes were en-route. Flowers were arranged. The photographer and I had just arrived when the sky opens up and it begins to pour. Absolutely pour. Don't even get me started on the lighting! I hadn't been that scared in so long. So, it took some scrambling. What do you do next?! With Emily looking so gorgeous and Scott so handsome, we couldn't afford to postpone until the next day. Thankfully our lucky started to turn around and the rain gave us a little reprieve. We rushed back out to the sunflower field and started snapping away. In all honesty, I think this is exactly what God had intended - everything happens for a reason, right? The sky that appeared as we started shooting was pure magic! We made the decision to break up the shoot into two parts - the couple was shoot that evening and then we did the details at 7:00am the following morning. You better believe I'm still cleaning mud off my shoes from this shoot. But, you probably couldn't tell any of that from these gorgeous photos. That's the amazing part of styled shoots. All the chaos and things that didn't go quite as planned are completely masked by the stunning images that are the result of a hardworking team.

My inspiration for this shoot was this incredible couple. These photos have captured this couple to the letter. Scott is so handsome, he's funny and sharp as a tack. He had us laughing so hard during this shoot! Emily is beautiful inside and out, so loving and attentive, and just the most kind-hearted person. Together they are so sweet. I used a color palette of yellow (a symbol of hope), dusty blue, blush, and green. For me, this color palette is sweet, romantic, and a bit playful. Just like Emily and Scott's story. I had this vision of Americana in my head - moving from industrial error to the modern 21st century. I loved the idea of mixing elements. Industrial metal and rustic wood with modern china and gold flatware for the table top. Soft, bohemian style lace Claire Pettibone gown (from J Majors Bridal Boutique) next to a preppy, modern Brooks Brothers navy suit.

The way this vision came together was really beautiful. I'm so proud to be a part of this team of talented vendors, who poured their love into this shoot. The magazine hits news stands this week! You can pick up a copy at your local Barnes & Nobel, or you can order a copy online. You have to read Emily and Scott's beautiful love story. Here are a few of my favorite images from our inspiration shoot.

Lindsey Regan Thorne of Be Pretty made this beautiful wife feel like a glamorous model. And I'm pretty sure Scott agreed with the rest of us that Emily's the most gorgeous woman in the world!

I created the vow runner backdrop using words of hope, faith, love, devotion, honor, and respect - all words that describe the commitment that is marriage. Creating this was so cathartic for me, personally. I felt like I was renewing my own vows by just writing the words and creating each statement! Couldn't be more excited with how this turned out!

I love the textures of this arrangement by Karisa of Nectar Floral Designs!

Carrie of Pink Toast Ink absolutely nailed the paper goods. How stunning is this suite she designed?

These cakes exceeded my every expectation. Ines of Sky's The Limit! Custom Cakes & More is such an artist!

So, if you know me then you know that I have to incorporate a signature drink into my designs! They're so fun - so why not! I opted for a fun champagne cocktail. Huge thanks to King of Pops for supplying us with these delicious popsicles. A fun and easy drink to make... how can you resist?!

I cannot thank Inspire Weddings & Marriage enough for allowing me to be a part of this shoot and to tell this sweet couple's story. And I have to brag on this amazing team of vendors that helped me create something really remarkable. I love working with creatives who are just as passionate about telling stories as I am. I'm so grateful for all your flexibility and team work!

Photography: Julie and Andrew Staley of Old South Studios
Styling and Design: Ashley Culicchia Cash of The Graceful Host
Floral Design: Karisa Pennell of Nectar Floral Designs
Cake Design: Ines Aranguren of Sky's The Limit! Custom Cakes & More
Paper Goods: Carrie Barker of Pink Toast Ink
Rentals: Party Reflections and AFR Events Furnishings
Hair and Makeup: Lindsey Regan Thorne of Be Pretty
Popsicles: King of Pops
Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone from J. Majors Bridal Boutique
Bride's earrings: Scout and Molly's of Charlotte
Groom's attire: Brooks Brothers and Mens Warehouse

And a big thanks to our sweet models, Emily and Scott Agnew, for being so fabulous! We loved working with you! Cheers to your beautiful love!

XO,
A.

Featured: Adriana + Terrell

Unbelievably excited and honored to see Adriana & Terrell's beautiful secret garden themed wedding at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens featured on Ruffled Blog today! I cannot even begin to explain how much it means to see this design featured - this wedding was one for the books, y'all. Adriana and I worked for a little over a year designing each detail and poured hours into creating custom linens and plenty of other extra special touches that would make her vision come to life in such a unique and beautiful way. I loved every single bit of this wedding - including this seriously awesome couple!  This sweet bride had her wedding dress custom made by Asheville-based designer Brooke with Ship to Shore. Y'all, it was beyond stunning! Hands down one of my favorite wedding dresses, and it was so incredibly perfect for the style of this wedding. The entire day was unforgettable - the rain chances were scaring all of us to pieces but mother nature stayed back and allowed for guests to enjoy every inch of the gardens as they were lead through cocktail hour by a mariachi band and served a traditional Mexican cocktail - a paloma - served in adorable red clay pots straight from Mexico. After a delicious meal by Best Impressions Caterers, guests danced well into the night - I'm talking 2am! - with the amazing band Sol Fusion & awesome DJs from Split Second Sound. The details of the wedding were some of my all-time favorite and thanks to the unbelievable talents of Chelish Moore Flowers it was out of this world! Everything came together so perfectly because of all of these vendors - plus the gorgeous and delicious cake by Wow Factor Cakes and fabulously beautiful paper goods by Elisabeth Rose - so that Richard Israel and Timm Young could capture it all with perfection! Be sure to hop over to Ruffled Blog to see the full feature! 

Our incredible vendor team - there are not enough ways I can say thank you to this group of talented vendors!

Photographer: Richard Israel
Wedding Design and Planning: The Graceful Host
Flowers: Church: St. Patrick's Cathedral
Venue: Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens
Wedding Dress:Ship To Shore
Hair and Makeup: Sara Egri
Caterer: Best Impressions
Wedding Cake: The Wow Factor Cakes
Band: Sol Fusion
DJ: Split Second Sound
Stationery: Elisabeth-Rose
Videographer:Timm Young Films

Here are a few of my favorite images from Adriana + Terrell's big day!

XO,
A.

Featured: Bridal Guide, Tip Of The Day

Huge thanks to Bridal Guide magazine for featuring my advice on how to have a fun reception! I tell all of my couples that if you're not dancing, no one else is going to be dancing either. It's pretty simple, yet effective advice. Guests always follow the lead of the bride and groom - both literally in whatever their doing - dancing, chatting, sitting, etc - and in attitude - smiling and laughing vs. upset and removed. I have so many brides and grooms that come to me saying their priority for the wedding day is that all their guests have fun at their reception. I mean who doesn't want to throw the celebration of the year?! So, you of course invest money in the best band or DJ in town. It's a important step to ensure a killer party, but really the most important piece of the puzzle is the bride and groom! YOU are the glue that literally holds the party together and the entire day will revolve around you, with all eyes watching your every move. No pressure, right? Well, it's not as daunting as it seems... all you have to do is enjoy the day, and dance the night away with your new spouse and all your loved ones! So, don't be afraid to party and get your dancing shoes ready.

Check out the full feature by clicking here.

XO, A.

Featured: Carolina Bride

I am so thrilled to see so many TGH brides featured in the summer issue of Carolina Bride!! I am so excited that these sweet brides have had the opportunity to share their stories with the readers and to see their gorgeous faces in print.... with one pretty bride on the COVER! I mean, wow!! What an honor, y'all!! Love all three of these sweet brides, and I'm excited to share their features with you!

For more from Whitley and Darian's glamorous and elegant Brakefield at Riverwalk wedding, click here.

For more from Veronica and Chip's chic and romantic Mint Museum Uptown wedding, click here. And be sure to check out the full feature online! So excited to see Veronica on the COVER of the magazine!

I loved seeing an adorable photo from Hannah and Billy's wedding featured with a sweet interview from this lovely bride about her wedding day exits. We did two - one from Dilworth United Methodist Church following the ceremony and a second from Bonterra Dining and Wine Room after the reception!

Congratulations to all three of these stunning newlyweds!

XO,
A.

Featured: Huffington Post, Boho Inspiration

I am so excited to see one of Mia + Alex's beautiful wedding portraits featured yesterday on the Huffington Post as part of 14 Boho Desert Wedding Ideas! We absolutely agree that this gorgeous portraits by Lauren Rosenau Photography at the Conservatory at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden would be perfect for any desert-inspired wedding. Beautiful succulents and neutral colors... I just love it! Check out the full feature, here.

Thanks so much to Inspired By This for the sharing!

XO,
A.

Just Married + Featured: Keely + Hill

This couple just puts a huge smile on my face! And to see their gorgeous wedding and beautiful story featured on Southern Weddings, which is one of my absolute favorite blogs, makes me SO happy!! Working with these two was such a blast, and it was a very rewarding experience because I gained a wonderful friend throughout planning for this wonderful day.

I know I say it all the time but getting to know my brides and grooms in order to give them the wedding of their dreams is so important to me. Keely and Hill were every bit a dream couple - and it really starts with their absolute 110% love and devotion for each other. Y'all, these two are smitten! And, their love story is probably one of my favorites. We worked hand-in-hand to plan for each detail of their wedding... and there were a lot of details, which is just the way I like it! Starting with the stunning wedding location - which was the ultimate Southern venue called Boxwood Estate in Mocksville, North Carolina - we planned each detail of the wedding day with the inspiration of "southern charm" in a gorgeous color palette of blush, ivory, gold and a hint of black.

An amazing team of vendors came together to bring this bride's dream wedding to life. These photos by the incredibly talented Lauren Friday Photography are beyond amazing! I could seriously stare at them all day - and narrowing down which photos to post was so difficult! Melanie with New Creations Flower Company took my designs to a whole new level with her creativity and endless talents. I am so obsessed with all of the gorgeous bouquets and amazing centerpieces! Deb Hall with Olive Paper designed some gorgeous paper goods and created two lovely custom monograms for this sweet couple, which we added to pillows, cocktail napkins, signs, and even late night snacks! And to each of the other vendors that bent over backwards to give our bride and groom best day ever - thank you so much! Catherine with Something Classic Catering & Cafe, Shamus Coney Films, Loose Chains via East Coast Entertainment, Wow Factor Cakes, Lynsey Party Reflections, Party Tables, Bellissima of Salisbury, & Salisbury Trolley Tours.

I am seriously over the moon with excitement to see Keely and Hill's big day featured on Southern Weddings! Thank you so much for featuring this amazing couple! Be sure to hop on over to see the full feature and read about all the special touches these two planned. Here are a few of my favorite images that I've been so anxious to share with you!

Aren't these bouquets amazing?! They were so fragrant and absolutely perfect.

Isn't this bride stunning?! I am in love with each of these portraits... Keely looks so incredible!

This was one of the most fun weddings we've ever planned, as I'm sure you can see from some of the reception photos! With a fun loving couple like this, I could expect nothing less. The bride and groom partied with guests all night until their big sparkler send off... It was an unforgettable night for these two! I'm so excited to be able to share it with y'all and the readers of SW Magazine!

I cannot even begin to say enough about this couple, y'all. Keely, you are without a doubt one of the most selfless, sweet, genuine, and amazing people I've ever met! Not to mention so beautiful, both inside and out. I am so honored to have been a part of your wedding day, and to have had the chance to get to know you and Hill (and your families!) like I did. Thank you for letting me into your lives and hearts, and for allowing me to design and plan your special day. I'll hold you both close to my heart always! I am SO happy for you  - Cheers to a lifetime of wedded bliss, Mr. & Mrs. Hudson!

Wedding Planning and Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Lauren Friday Photography
Floral Design: New Creations Flower Company
Ceremony and Reception: Boxwood Estate
Catering: Something Classic Catering & Cafe
Cake: Wow Factor Cakes
Entertainment: Loose Chains via East Coast Entertainment
Ceremony Musicians: Elegant Ensembles
Tent and Lighting: Party Reflections
Linens: Party Tables
Hair and Makeup: Lisa Freeze
Wedding Dress: Bellissima of Salisbury
Bride's Shoes: Valentino
Videography: Shamus Coney Films
Transportation: Salisbury Trolley Tours
Paper Goods: Olive Paper
Pillow, Koozie and Napkin Printing: Mom N Pop's Print Shop

XO,
A.

Featured: Glamour Magazine Weddings

I am simply over the moon to see this image from Whitley and Darian's gorgeous wedding featured on Glamour Magazine's "Old Hollywood" wedding inspiration for style icon Scarlett Johansson!! This wedding will always be one of my favorites - mainly because this couple is so absolutely amazing - but I'm honored to see this design featured for Glamour readers to enjoy! Many thanks to New Creations Flower Company for this gorgeous centerpiece and Lauren Rosenau Photography for being so amazing at capturing all the beauty. Be sure to check out the full feature, here.

Happy Friday, y'all! Cheers to the weekend!

XO,
A.

Featured: Fiesta Wedding Inspiration

I absolutely LOVED this shoot, and I was so honored to see it featured on Inspired by This on Cinco de Mayo!! Last summer, Charlotte Wedding magazine asked me to design a fiesta-inspired wedding for the summer issue. (And, brides even voted the design to win a 2013 BOW Award!) To now have one of my all-time favorite blogs feature it, is so exciting! Be sure to check out the full feature here, and scroll through some of my favorite photos - all captured  perfectly by one of my favorite photographers in Charlotte, Smitten and Hooked. These two are amazing!

This whole shoot makes me want to throw a BIG party! Absolutely love how everything turned out… I couldn't have asked for more.  All the amazing vendors and talented wedding pros that participated in this shoot are nothing short of incredible! I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many amazing vendors to produce this shoot for Charlotte Wedding magazine. They helped me bring this vision to life!

Photography by Smitten and Hooked | Wedding design and styling by Ashley Culicchia Cash, The Graceful Host | Fashion styling by Laurel Bendum of Charlotte Wedding magazine | Produced by Aleigh Acerni and Kellie Duff of Charlotte Wedding magazine | Shot on location at Brakefield at Riverwalk | Floral design by Lily Greenthumb’s | Catering and cocktails by Something Classic Catering & Cafés | Cakes by Wow Factor Cakes | Mexican cookies by Suarez Bakery | Rentals and linens from Party Reflections of Charlotte | Paper goods by Three Little Birds | Makeup by Casey Lombardi, Dollface Skin & Makeup Lounge | Hair by Lindsay Pizzuti, Mirror Bomb Studios | Gowns worn by the bride: Marisa - style 898 from Hayden Olivia Bridal, Intuzuri Augustine from Poffie Girls, Watters Blanca gown from J Major’s Bridal Boutique, Modern Trousseau Marena gown from Hayden Olivia Bridal, & Tadashi Shoji dress from Neiman Marcus.

XO, A.

Featured: Southern Simplicity Wedding Ideas

Oh my goodness! I am SO excited and honored to see my "beauty in simplicity" wedding inspired design was featured on the amazing Ruffled Blog! Y'all, I had way too much fun designing this wedding inspiration. And, the incredible photographer capturing all the details was the oh so talented Crystal Stokes of Crystal Stokes Photography  - what an eye this gal has!  For a long time now, I wanted to plan a shoot that celebrated simplicity because I am a firm believer that less is more.  It's easy to get caught up in the tiny details when planning for a wedding, and often times brides get lost along the way, loosing the bigger picture and feeling like they need to keep adding and piling on detail. But, there is so much beauty in simplicity, and I think this is an idea that is often forgotten and overlooked. So, we wanted to take a chance to really celebrate simplicity and show brides how beautiful, sophisticated and elegant simplicity can be.

I am so excited to share with you some of my favorite detail shots. But, hop on over to Ruffled Blog to see more of the feature!

Absolutely LOVE colored glassware! And how perfect are these ruffled plates?! I want to steal them so badly!

Have you ever seen a more perfect cake?! I am in love with naked cakes, y'all. This is so stunning! And, how adorable are the little tarts? Sweets tables are my favorite.

The bridal bouquet was out of this world gorgeous! I love the "wild flower" look and the gorgeous jewel tone colors that popped perfectly against the natural decor and landscape.  Such a beauty - I absolutely LOVE this look!

You guys - this is an actual a real couple!  Our models were such troopers… and, talk about good lookin'!! Ow! Ow! Gorgeous hair and makeup by Erin Ashley Makeup and Mirror Bomb Studios - perfectly captures the look and feel of the design.

The paper goods were out of this world beautiful! I love the addition of lavender - such a treat for the senses and it works perfectly for our natural and simplistic design. Even the response card envelope was made of seeds and could potentially be replanted! How cool is that?!

This ceremony arch made of garland and driftwood is one of my favorite details! SpringVine Design did an incredible job crafting this on-site for the photo shoot. I wish I could have one of these at every wedding! It's really stunning!

One of my favorite photos from the day. Oh … be still my heart! So gorgeous!

Oh man, I could go on and on and on! I'm a total sucker for these details, y'all. And, our entire vendor team was absolutely incredible - I'm so honored to have had the opportunity to work with each of these talented wedding pros: Crystal Stokes Photography, SpringVine Design, Elisabeth Rose, Sky's The Limit Custom Cakes and More, Erin Ashley Makeup, Mirror Bomb Studio, Party Reflections, J Majors Bridal Boutique, & The Laboratory Mill. A big, big thank you for donating your time and talent to this shoot! And a huge thanks to RuffledBlog for featuring my design!

XO, A.

Featured: Mardi Gras Wedding Inspiration

I'm so ecstatic to share our big, big, big news! Our Mardi Gras Wedding Inspiration shoot is featured on Southern Weddings - and on Mardi Gras Day, Fat Tuesday!  Oh, be still my heart.  It is an absolute dream come true to see my work featured by a publication that I admire and love so dearly! I'm humbled to think that brides from the Carolinas to the great state of Louisiana will be inspired by the unique and fabulous culture of New Orleans.  Really, I feel like someone should just pinch me! You never know why certain people are placed in your life.  And, I do truly believe that God does place people in our paths.  Julie Staley of Old South Studios and I met at a wedding earlier this year - and it was our first time working together, too.  At the end of the night Julie says, hey do you want to design a Mardi Gras wedding for an inspiration shoot? The rest is history, of course, and I just can't help but believe that we were meant to work on this project together. In that moment, I was thinking YES!, YES!, YES!, and later told Julie that I was actually born and raised in New Orleans.  I had a million ideas to share for the shoot!

First and foremost, the most important aspect of the design was to infuse the energy of Mardi Gras and unique characteristics of traditional New Orleans weddings.  I wanted this wedding inspiration to be as authentic as possible, so we incorporated real New Orleans wedding traditions - a second line complete with boa-lined umbrellas and a jazz band, and cake pulls to name a few.  To me, New Orleans is full of life in every way. It's people full of personality and passion; It's architecture full of character and poise; It's landscapes expressing charm and a rich history; It's food full of flavor; It's creativity expressing the unique voice of its' artist; and it's celebrations full of energy - Each element is beautiful in it's own way.  So with that inspiration in mind, I started to pull together a design plan. With the idea of Southern elegance, we choose to have the shoot at the stunning Separk Mansion - a renovated venue full of natural light, gorgeous chandeliers, and rich wood floors.  Chelish Moore of Chelish Moore Flowers took my vision and ran with it, incorporating gold candelabras, vibrant flowers and candles upon candles.  I love the sophistication and luxury of the floral design! Best Impressions Caterers provided a delicious menu, influenced by the incredible food and unique flavor palette of New Orleans.  The chef had all of starving by the end!  And, of course they provided us with a creative signature drink that was naturally N'awlins.  Elisabeth Connolly of Elisabeth Rose created all of the amazing paper goods, and incorporated the grace of New Orleans weddings.  The incredible cake was crafted by Mandie Miller of Got What It Cakes.  I love how she captured the grandeur of Mardi Gras through her design.  I just had to include a welcome box designed to greet guests upon arrival full of Louisiana goodies - Abita Root Beer, Tabasco chocolates, and Mardi Gras-inspired chocolate doubloons - tucked within a glittery gold box from Paper Source.  Stephanie and John, our bride and groom for the day, are actually a real married couple - which I just thought was so perfect!  The gorgeous bridal gowns were both by Modern Trousseau from their Fall 2014 collection ("Tate" and "Teacup") and came from Hayden Olivia Bridal. I am absolutely obsessed with these ultra glam dresses!  They couldn't have been more perfect for the shoot.  And our bride and groom looked picture perfect thanks to Erin Ashley Makeup and Adrian D. Howe Esthetics & Beauty.  All of the rentals came from Party Reflections of Charlotte - Sara Shelor you are amazing!  It is always a team effort to pull together a shoot like this, and I'm so grateful to each of the talented vendors that helped make my dream a reality.  Especially Julie Staley of Old South Studios who allowed me to design every detail.  Julie is so insanely talented, and her eye for capturing emotion and storytelling is incredible!  I can feel her passion for the art of photography and the love of her job with each photo - I am so lucky she asked me to work with her on this project!

I hope you grab a big slice of King Cake and stay a while - come celebrate New Orleans on the Southern Weddings blog! Happy Mardi Gras, y'all and laissez les bon temps rouler!

Here are some of my favorite shots from this fun shoot!

XO,
A.

Engaged: Breeze + Montell

These two … Oh, my heart just melts looking at these sweet photos by Lauren Rosenau Photography.  The bride, Emily "Breeze", is an amazing personal trainer and owns a great yoga studio in Charlotte, Moga Charlotte, and the groom, William "Montell", is a former college athlete.  When Breeze and I first met, I instantly knew we were a great match.  (Plus, this girl competes in Crossfit - she's like my idol!)  Every single meeting  is full of laughter and full of OMG moments - I can't get enough of her!  She's laid back, absolutely hysterical, and one of the most genuine brides I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.  I'm so excited about our plans for her and Montell's big day, but for now, I want to share with you their beautiful engagement session, which was featured in the latest issue of Charlotte Wedding magazine in "Love on Location"! These photos are without a doubt a perfect representation of their love.  I cannot get enough of these two!

Sorry y'all, but I had to point this out... holy moly!  Hello calves! Hard work and dedication gets you incredible legs! 

And these last few are my absolute favorite! I just love their love! 
 

XO,
A.

Featured: Vintage Southern Charm Wedding

I am jumping for joy with excitement because Brandy and Greg's romantic Southern wedding has been published in the Winter 2014 issue of Charlotte Wedding magazine!  I seriously love seeing our gorgeous brides and handsome grooms in PRINT - Oh, it just never gets old!  And, Ron and Briana with Love Shutter Photography are just insanely talented.  These two captured our bride and groom's personalities and told the story of their wedding so perfectly! Brandy was absolutely incredible to work with.  Like, every designers dream!  This girl knew what she wanted, and at our first meeting came prepared with inspiration photos and amazing design concepts.  And, you know I love a girl that isn't afraid to do something a little different and play with color.  Together, we collaborated to create a one-of-a-kind design that fit these two reconnected high school sweethearts to the letter!  The overall inspiration was Vintage Southern Romance.  A concept that incorporates a lot of different styles and details, right?  Well, that was the idea.  Brandy was all about the details, so we made sure to incorporate as many personalized details as possible.  The gorgeous venue, Vesuvius Vineyards, was the perfect setting for a romantic Southern plantation style wedding.  We added in vintage and whimsical touches throughout the design by using oversized framed chalkboards, garland lining the aisle, and market lights strung along the ceiling of the pavilion.  Brandy and Greg also wanted their guests to really have fun - like every bride and groom! So, we gave guests noise makers - tambourines, triangles, and kazoos - to use as the bride and groom said "I Do".  We provided bottles of Izze sparkling soda as escort cards to add in pops of colorful fun during cocktail hour.  Needless to say, our individual styles clicked instantly and I'm so thankful for the faith that Brandy put in me to create her dream wedding.  On the day of the wedding, I could not have been more happy with how everything came together after months of planning.  But, most of all I love how perfectly the evening represented Brandy and Greg.  From the twinkle lights to the bluegrass band, and from the organic floral design by New Creations Flower Company to the carnival inspired cupcake flavors by Just Baked.  Everything was absolutely magical!

Thank you, Brandy and Greg, for working with The Graceful Host! I am so thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of your wedding planning! I wish you and your hubby nothing but happiness as you take on the world together.  (And, enjoy being a model, Mrs. Honeycutt - you look stunning in every photo!)

My iPhone DOES NOT do this gorgeous print feature justice, so be sure to pick up a copy of Charlotte Wedding magazine today to see it in person! Want to see even more photos from Love Shutter? We thought so!  Check out a few of my favorites from Brandy and Greg's wedding.

 Huge thanks to all the talented vendors that made Brandy and Greg's wedding so amazing:

Photography: Love Shutter Photography
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Catering: Armin's Catering
Venue: Vesuvius Vineyards
Make-up: Dollface Skin and Makeup Lounge
Hair: Mirror Bomb Studios
Ceremony and cocktail hour musicians: Unspoken Traditions
Reception Entertainment: Split Second Sound
Cupcakes: Just Baked of Cornelius
Linens: Party Reflections and Connie Duglin

XO,
A.