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: Blush and Silver Wedding at the Ritz Carlton Urban Garden

I couldn't be more excited to see Kendra + Randy's beautiful Urban Garden wedding on Inside Weddings today! The whole day was a dream come true, and as our beautiful bride says, "It was the merging of not just two hearts, but two families." 

Working with this couple and their families was such an honor! We wish we could do it all over again! You can see the full feature and read more about Kendra + Randy's wedding day here on Inside Weddings. (And to see some of our favorite photos from this gorgeous wedding, click here.) 

Thank you, Inside Weddings, for the beautiful feature and for sharing Kendra + Randy's story!

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 + 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.

Featured: Keely + Hill's Southern Wedding at Boxwood Estate

We are thrilled to be kicking of this Friday with a feature on one of our favorite blogs, Carats & Cake!

Keely + Hill's southern, elegant wedding was one of our all time favorites. From the gorgeous decor, which was inspired by our brides classic style to one of the most fun wedding receptions we've ever seen. We're serious - the band Loose Chains had everyone dancing and partying all night long! And it was all in the name of celebrating one of the most incredible couples! Check out the full feature, here, on Carats & Cake. 

See a few of our favorite photos and more detail from Keely + Hill's special day in this blog post.

All this wouldn't have been possible without the help of our talented vendor team:
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: 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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

We Won The Knot's 2015 Best of Weddings

I am doing a big happy dance over here!!! The Graceful Host is honored to receive the coveted 2015 Best of Weddings by The Knot!!!!

I couldn't be more grateful to all our incredible brides & grooms for helping us earn this prestigious award. It's because of YOUR reviews and constant support that The Graceful Host is able to achieve this honor! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of our couples - past and present - for allowing us to be a part of so many memorable celebrations! I've had the honor of serving 44 amazing couples over the past 4 years. And each one has made a lasting impression on this little company and will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you so much to all our sweet newlyweds for making this dream come true... This one is for you!!

Want to see the full list of North Carolina Best of Weddings for 2015? Click here!

XO,
A.

Featured: Bohemian Beauty

I don't even know if I can actually form the right words to say how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to be a part of the Carolina Bride: Inspired Design For A Bespoke Affair. A styled shoot that I designed especially for the book, as well as one of our 2014 weddings, was chosen to be in this gorgeous hardcover coffee table book.

I've been dying to share a few of my favorite images for this incredible experience, and now that the book has been officially released (and available for purchase, by the way!), I am so excited to share more with you today!

My inspiration for this design was "bohemian elegance" in the high country.  Which for me, means a simple and effortless feeling with artistic and unconventional styling. I wanted to really bring out the idea of community and the free-spirited, gypsy traveller side of the bohemian lifestyle. Our color palette was organic and natural with gorgeous jewel tone pops of burgundy and deep purple. Here is a peek at my inspiration board.

The shoot took place on the property of the stunning Eseeola Lodge in Linville, North Carolina. Shoot days are always a lot of fun and full of organized chaos. It's a great time to collaborate with talented creatives you might not have the chance to work with on a real wedding or event. We had an amazing team assembled: Crystal Stokes Photography, New Creations Flower Company, Pink Toast Ink, Something Classic, Erin Ashley Makeup, Mirror Bomb Studios, Wow Factor Cakes, Upper Barn Rentals, & Party Reflections. I pulled a number of dresses and accessories from J. Majors Bridal Boutique as well as some great bold pieces of jewelry from Scout and Molly's Boutique. And I had the chance to style a gorgeous Zuhair Murad gown straight from the runway during Bridal Fashion week. Styling this shoot had to be different. I mean, it was meant for a book! The look of the brides was meant to be a more natural and earthy looking, with some edgy style. We kept the makeup more subdued and romantic, with long tussled hair. And I wanted to kept the detailing of the dresses minimal and throw in some unexpected elements.

This tablescape has to be one of my absolute favorites of all the styled shoots I've had the chance to design over the past year. I love the layering of textures and the rich colors against the gorgeous wood table. From the flowers to the place settings, everything came together so perfectly! The gorgeous backdrop, next to the lake didn't hurt things either. :) I found a little hidden field close to where we were shooting and it was the prefect backdrop for our lounge setting. I sourced tons of pillows, puffs and blankets from all over bringing in different patterns, colors and textures to create a cozy seating area. For the ceremony, I had this vision of a very simple and small teepee-like backdrop with pillows and blankets for guest seating and rose petals marking the aisle. Just for the record, building a teepee isn't exactly easy! But I think our minimalistic ceremony design fit this organic and bohemian styled shoot.

Honored and humbled is how I'd describe my feelings to not only have had the opportunity to be a part of this book, but to also have my work listed among so many designers and photographers that I love and admire! I owe a huge THANK YOU to authors Cristina Wilson and Drew Humphries for allowing me to be a part of this amazing publication. You both did such an amazing job creating this book! I am really, really proud to share all the behind the scenes details of this shoot, and I am SO excited to show you a few of my favorite photos captured by the incredibly talented Crystal Stokes Photography! 

The team:
Design and Styling: The Graceful Host | Photography: Crystal Stokes Photography | Floral Design: New Creations Flower Company | Food and Cocktail: Something Classic Catering and Cafe | Paper Goods: Pink Toast Ink | Calligraphy: The Graceful Host | Cake and Sweets: The Wow Factor Cakes | Location: Eseeola Lodge | Furniture and Wooden Table Rentals: Upper Barn Rentals | Woven Chargers and Gold Flatware: Party Reflections | Gowns: Zuhair Murad and J. Majors Bridal Boutique | Veil: J. Majors Bridal Boutique | Jewelry: Scout and Molly's | Makeup: Erin Ashley Makeup | Hair Styling: Mirror Bomb Studios | Producers: Cristina Wilson and Drew Humphries

Be sure to go pick up a copy of the Carolina Bride Book today to see so many other absolutely gorgeous real weddings and wedding design inspiration! It makes a great gift for anyone who might have gotten engaged over the holidays ... hint, hint! :)

XO,
A.

Cheers to 2014!

What a year, what a year! Never in a million years would I have imagined that I'd experience all the incredible things I have over the past 365 days. No doubt that this past year has been an exciting whirlwind! I feel so lucky that I can even write a post full of amazing milestones for The Graceful Host.  At this time last year, I had just finished my first full year of weddings as the official owner of TGH. I was feeling so anxious about the path of this little business. Even though the 2014 calendar was completely booked before the year even started, I really wanted to make sure I was doing this whole “creative small business owner” thing right. Obviously there is no manual on how to run a successful business, but I felt like I didn’t have a firm grasp on how to take my business to the next level. I had an idea and vision for what I wanted The Graceful Host to become – I just didn’t know how on Earth I was actually supposed to do it!

Like many type-A individuals, I started making a plan of action for 2014. It felt so good to map out goals and get ideas out of my head and on to paper – it made them so real! I started brainstorming the easier, more light-hearted points such as the ideal TGH client and my favorite aspects of the job. Then I moved into the more difficult questions, really digging deep asking myself questions like where are the gaps in my service offerings, what are my challenges in this career, and what can I do to make planning an experience that brides walk away from cherishing rather than thanking God that it’s finally over. I’m the type of person that loves to reflect and to receive outside critiques. It probably comes from my music background, but I truly believe that you cannot begin to move forward until you fully understand where you’re coming from. How can I expect to improve my business when I have no idea what I’m doing right or wrong? So, I went straight to the source looking for feedback from my lovely and supportive former brides, as well as to fellow wedding industry vendors and my mighty little team. I can’t recommend this exercise to other business owners who are feeling stuck, are looking to move to the next level, or if you just want to have a better understanding of your business in general.

Armed with feedback and some of my own brainstorming ideas, I got to work! I looked at the 2014 calendar first. I was so grateful to have 22 amazing couples booked for the next year! Then, I realized something. Of all these bookings, 77% was for full service, 14% was partial service, and 9% was month-of coordination. (And of my partial service clients, 75% of these contracts upgraded to full service!) This told me something huge: my value to brides is within full service. Realizing this strength in The Graceful Host and seeing what clients were overwhelming asking for over the last year, lead me to focus and hone in on full service planning and event design, and to drop all other service offerings. These statistics, coupled with the fact that one of my absolute favorite parts of this job was developing a relationship with the couple and their families made the decision pretty easy. I couldn’t put time and energy into things that didn’t fire me up if I was going to take this business to the next level. It was definitely a scary decision, don’t get me wrong, but one that I really think benefits my brides because my time and expertise would be fully devoted to those that need it the most. Another thing I realized is that, I wanted to stay small. When I first started, I used to think that growth meant getting bigger. And for some people, I think that just makes sense. But for me, it doesn’t. One of the things my brides noted that they loved was my attention to detail and my excitement about their big day… and I realized how important it was to me that each one of my couples always feel that way! I would never want to compromise that experience, so I knew it was beneficial for not only myself (since this is a one-woman business, after all!), but also for my couples that I limit the number of weddings I take a year to 10 or fewer. 

At this time last year, I was looking at the year ahead of me and I knew I wanted to get The Graceful Host name out as far as it could go! So I targeted a few of my favorite blogs and publications, and made a goal for getting published over the next year. I really am not kidding when I say that if you put it out there into the universe, you’ll get a response…. All you have to do is ask. As I sit here reflecting on the past year, I’m overwhelmed and honored to see all of media exposure The Graceful Host has seen! From real weddings to styled shoots to planning advice, TGH has reached (and surpassed!) our original goal of just one press feature per quarter with a whopping: 9 real weddings featured on national blogs, regional magazines and a coffee table book; 5 styled shoot features; 5 contributions with planning and design tips; and 3 awards received within 2014. It's incredible to look back over this past year and think of all the beautiful couples, talented vendors, and the amazing people I've had the pleasure of connecting with!

Another big milestone for 2014 was adding calligraphy services to The Graceful Host name. I started doing calligraphy in December of 2013, and I am self taught. So if anyone is interested in learning calligraphy, I am proof that you CAN learn and you CAN teach yourself! You really have no idea how encouraging it has been to have so many friends, family members, brides, fellow vendors, strangers - you name it! - ask me where they can purchase some of my calligraphy pieces. I didn't have an answer at the time because I was really just doing it for me. But over the last year I've been working hard to really learn calligraphy in order to be able to offer it as a service. I felt like I couldn't accept a penny from anyone until I actually thought I knew what I was some what doing! It's a tricky craft and I'll admit I do not have all the answers because I'm learning something new every day. But through a lot of reading, studying, practice, question asking, and good ol' fashioned trial and error I've become a lot more confident in my abilities. Thanks to all the support and kind words I've received, I started an Etsy shop, and a whole new Instagram account  and a new Twitter account separate from my wedding accounts to share little snip bits of my calligraphy work. I really wish I could thank every single person who's supported me in my calligraphy - it means so much!! And it's been a lot of fun building a little side business that provides me with another creative outlet. I'm so excited to see what 2015 brings in this new calligraphy journey.

I decided to invest in attending a few educational workshops in 2014. With out a doubt, some of the best decisions I’ve ever made was attending workshops because I had the chance to meet experts in the wedding industry who have really challenged me to go further and have helped me identify the gaps in my business. And to my surprise, I had a number of brides tell me that they thought it was great I attended workshops and seminars to improve my business! They were just as excited for me to learn new things that I could take home and apply to their weddings. (The things you learn, right?!) It’s so encouraging to have my brides rooting for me and supporting me in my goals. These experiences have helped me reshape how I approach planning with my couples and I’ve refined a number of processes in order to make wedding planner easier to understand and more fun. I love learning and I'm always looking for ways to make my business better so that I can ultimately better serve my amazing couples.

All and all, 2014 was a year I'll never forget. I'm sad to wave goodbye to such an amazing year, full of memories that I'll treasure. But come January 1, a whole new set of goals will be on deck and 365 days of endless possibilities! Oh my gosh, I am so, so, so excited! We have some really incredible weddings coming up in 2015. I cannot wait to share all the beautiful details and photos from each of these sweet couples big days. I'm excited to fully embrace 2015 with an open mind and heart, and see what all is in store for The Graceful Host. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming along for the ride, and for all your love and support! Cheers to the new year! 

Special thanks to Lauren Rosenau Photography for taking a few headshot photos during our recent family session!

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.

Featured: Easy Entertaining

Thank you to Lake Norman Magazine for asking some advice for easy entertaining this holiday season! Hosting a party is without a doubt one of my favorite things to do! The party planning process can be very overwhelming and the day of the party is usually full of organized chaos, but why not try some of these great tips this year so that you can a Graceful Host!

xo,
A.