Wedding Inspiration: Valentine's Day

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I put together a wedding inspiration board in honor of this love-filled holiday. We've had many brides over the years embrace pinks and reds, so all photos in todays inspiration are from past TGH events!

Photo Credit: Richard Israel Photography, Lauren Friday Photography, Jeremy Igo Photography, Smitten and Hooked Photography, & Lauren Rosenau Photography.

Check out a few of the weddings featured in todays inspiration board to see more:

Whitley and Darian

Mia and Alex

Jackie and Daniel

Keely and Hill

Adriana and Terrell

Veronica and Chip

Wishing each of you a day full of love and happiness!

XO,
A.

Just Married: City Chic Wedding at the Foundation For The Carolinas

Jackie and Daniel are one of the most FUN couples I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Their huge smiles say it all! Working with this fabulous couple to design a modern and sweet wedding full of chic elements was such a blast! We combined soft, romantic details with a structured, clean aesthetic to create a playful mix of both feminine and masculine to reflect Jackie and Daniel's individual styles. I fell in love with their color palette of raspberry, blush, gunmetal grey, and ivory right away! Seeing all the details come together for this sweet bride and groom was such a treat. These two couldn't be more smitten with each other - I loved watching them celebrate all night! 

Huge thanks to an all-star team of vendors that helped make Jackie and Daniel's wedding day so incredible! Working with talented, high quality professionals like this group is seriously the key to a flawless wedding! Thank y'all for all your hard work!

Ceremony/Reception: Foundation For The Carolinas
Planning/Design: The Graceful Host
Photography: Smitten and Hooked
Flowers: New Creations Flower Company
Videography: Indigo Photography and Video (formerly Isabel's Corner)
Catering: Queen City Catering
Cake and Sweets: Wow Factor Cakes
Entertainment: Split Second Sound
Lounge Furniture: Sterling Events Group
Linens: Party Tables
Rentals: Party Reflections
Hair and Makeup: Sara Egri
Wedding Dress: Vera Wang
Wedding Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Officiant: Reverend Diana Collins
Paper Goods: The Graceful Host
Invitation: Letter Box Ink
Favors: Vinksters Popcorn

I love seeing my couples just after they've said "I Do"! One of my biggest highlights of the wedding day! From this point on, we switch into party mode and celebrate all night long! Nothing better than that, right?! :) Thanks for snapping this moment, Lucy & Steven!!

Rather than tossing the bouquet, the bride and groom gave a bouquet to the groom's grandmother and the two shared a dance before the dance floor officially opened. It was such a sweet moment!

It's always a great night when the bride takes over the mic and raps.... the guests went wild! Jackie and Daniel's reception was one of the best parties of the year! Huge thanks to Split Second Sound for always being so amazing!

Before the grand exit, Jackie and Daniel snuck away with the photographers to fit in some great portraits!

Congratulations, you two - and thank you so much for trusting me with your big day! Cheers to happily ever after! 

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.

Wedding Inspiration: Marsala

One of my favorite things about the new year is looking at emerging trends in wedding and bridal fashion. It's always so interesting to see how different designers interpret the color of year - which for 2015 is Marsala - and to see how fashion and decor trends influence one another. Bride's love to embrace the latest trends in weddings to help make their day standout, and with so many beautiful and fun elements trending for 2015, who could blame them?! I've created a Marsala wedding inspiration board ... and even included one of our past bouquets that has been very popular across Pintrest!

I think that marsala will make a big splash in 2015! Looking at past and future weddings, I've had many brides over 2014 (and those planning for 2015 weddings) wanting to incorporate red into their color palettes before marsala was announced. It's definitely a departure from trending colors in the past, which is really exciting! Here are a few more details from our 2014 weddings that could be used for marsala inspiration.

Photo credit: Crystal Stokes Photography, Lauren Rosenau Photography, Lauren Friday Photography, Love Shutter Photography

XO,
A.

Thursday Tips: How to Jump Start Your Wedding Planning

There's a reason why the word "wedding planning" has become synonymous with words like "stressful" or "headache". An engagement is full of joy and anticipation! But the journey to the alter can be a difficult path to navigate. I love sharing planning advice with brides! Which is why each month, I'll be sharing different tips related to wedding planning, logistics, & design.

With 33% of engagements happening between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, January is full of hustle and bustle for those in the wedding industry! It's an exciting time for newly engaged couples who are looking to lock in a wedding date as the fun of planning for their big day begins. The most common planning challenge that I hear from couples is that they just don't know how to start. Well, why would you? It's not like you've ever planned a wedding before - and even if you have, then you know that it's a big undertaking! So take the added pressure off yourself and know that this is going to be a learning process for you and your fiancé. After you say "yes", here are the top three things you should do next! (Hint, hint: Besides hiring a wedding planner, of course! ;))

It's so important to set boundaries before you can even begin planning for your wedding. Be sure to start a conversation with your fiancé and families about the budget. Yes, money is an uncomfortable topic for everyone, but you will need to know your spending limits before you book a venue or any vendors. It will lead to less heartache, trust me! And while you're all sitting down together, it would be a great opportunity to brainstorm the guest list. I mean, how can you know what size venue to consider if you don't know how many guests you'll be expecting? Or how can you get an estimate from the caterer if you don't know how many meals to plan for? Lastly, have at least three potential wedding dates in mind as you start to search for vendors and venues. Securing a venue and/or wedding planner first will help you lock in your wedding date and jump start your planning process. It seems small, I know, but having these core details figured out prior to booking any vendors will help you save lots of time! 

Of course every couple's planning timeframe and desired engagement length is different - and there are no two weddings that are alike! (Fun Fact: Brides generally reserve our planning services an average of 12-14 months in advance.) It's still helpful to have a general idea of when you can expect to cross off certain items from your to-do list. A wedding planner will help you with all of the big decisions, little details and everything in between. They will also help you create a timeline that is personalized to you and your fiancé, and help you stick to it. From experience as both a planner and a bride, I can tell you that 99% of your anxiety and stress will come from the "unknown". Things like not knowing what you're supposed to do and when; or being unsure as to what's most important or necessary are all common feelings among brides. I don't want you to feel that way! There's no need to feel anxious or stressed - you just need the right tools. (My brides receive a welcome package full of goodies to help them plan for their wedding, all aimed to help manage their anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed) So, I wanted to provide you with a very important tool - a planning wedding planning timeline and checklist! You can download the free printable, here. I hope you find it helpful to jump start your planning!

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.

The Best of 2014, Part 2

Can you believe today is New Years Eve already?! 2014 has been so good to The Graceful Host, and we've seen some really beautiful brides, handsome grooms, and absolutely stunning weddings! So, we're continuing our countdown of the "Best of 2014" by sharing a few of our favorite photos from this last year. If you missed yesterdays post, check it out here!

Couple Portraits

One of the first things I do when I get photos back from a photographer is to look for the portraits of the bride and groom! And oh my gosh have we had some seriously gorgeous brides and dapper grooms over the past year! // 1. Keely and Hill; 2. Adriana and Terrell; 3. Veronica and Chip; 4. Katie and Eric; 5. Mia and Alex; 6. Christi and PJ; 7. Lauren and Will; 8. Lauren and Chris.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Lauren Friday Photography; 2. Richard Israel Photography; 3. Jeremy Igo Photography; 4. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 5. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 6. Lauren Friday Photography; 7. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 8. Love Shutter Photography.

Wedding Cakes

I'm head over heels for cake, I will be totally honest. It's like torture sometimes going to cake consults because I can't really eat cake - and lets face it, I'd be a house if I had cake with every single consult! These are just a few of the yummy and beautiful cakes we've had over the year! And I have to spot light the gorgeous cakes created by talented bakers for various styled shoots over the past year. // 1. Beautiful sugar flower work by The Wow Factor Cakes from this wedding; 2. Lace detailing was inspired by the brides dress by The Wow Factor Cakes from this wedding; 3. Romantic blush cake with gorgeous peonies by The Wow Factor Cakes from this wedding; 4. You should always have equal ratio cake to flowers like this beautiful cake by For Goodness Cakes from this wedding; 5. A custom monogram on this incredible cake was recreated by The Wow Factor Cakes for this wedding; 6. A fabulous trio of cakes by Got What It Cakes; 7. Beautiful Mardi Gras-inspired cake by Got What It Cakes for this styled shoot; 8. Naked cake by Sky's The Limit Custom Cakes & More from this styled shoot; 9. Incredible sugar flower work by Sky's The Limit Custom Cakes & More from this styled shoot; 10. Amazing little trio of cakes with lots of textures by The Wow Factor Cakes from this styled shoot.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 2. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 3. Lauren Friday Photography; 4. Jeremy Igo Photography; 5. Richard Israel Photography; 6. Love Shutter Photography; 7.  Old South Studios; 8. Crystal Stokes Photography; 9.  Old South Studios; 10. Crystal Stokes Photography.

Invitations and Paper Goods

I absolutely love paper products! We've had some truly stunning paper goods walk out the door and into guests mailboxes over the past year. // 1. Classic formal suite by Elisabeth Rose for this wedding; 2. Fun and fabulous save the date by Pink Toast Ink for this wedding; 3. Stunning suite for this inspiration shoot by Pink Toast Ink; 4. Beautiful menu for this inspiration shoot by Elisabeth Rose; 5. Unique and gorgeous save the date for this garden wedding by Elisabeth Rose; 6. Southern romantic invitation for this wedding by Olive Paper.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 2. Courtesy of Pink Toast Ink; 3. Crystal Stokes Photography; 4.  Old South Studios; 5. Richard Israel Photography; 6. Lauren Friday Photography.

Bridal Shoes

We've had some truly fabulous shoes go walking down the aisle over the past year! Here are just a few of my favorites. // 1. Gorgeous Valentino pumps for this bride; 2. Fun pop of color with these Christian Dior heels for this bride; 3. A little Kate Spade glitter and bows for this bride; 4. A touch of sparkle with these Kate Spade heels for this bride. 

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Lauren Friday Photography; 2. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 3. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 4. Beauty for Ashes. 

Flower Girls

Over the past year, we have had some truly adorable flower girls! Here's my thoughts on flower girls - the more tulle and sparkle, the better! How cute are these little dolls?! // 1. This little sweetheart stole the show at this wedding; 2. Loved this adorable flower girl's flower crown from this wedding; 3. Flower girls in ballerina-inspired dresses passing out roses to guests as they walk down the aisle during this wedding; 4. Can't get enough of this adorable navy dress with a pink pomander ball from this wedding; 5. This little angel was so cute walking down the aisle with her beautiful dress from this wedding; 6. The brides sister was the most adorable flower girl and love standing by her big sister at this wedding.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 2. Lauren Friday Photography; 3. Richard Israel Photography; 4. Beauty for Ashes; 5. Jeremy Igo Photography; 6. Lauren Rosenau Photography.

Centerpieces and Decor

My favorite part of wedding planning is working with the bride to bring her dreams to life in a way that reflects her personality. 2014 brought us some truly beautiful weddings - and just think, this isn't even all of them! I'll never be able to say thank you enough to all the couples we've had the opportunity to work with over the past year for allowing me to be a part of their weddings! // 1. Secret garden inspired centerpieces by Chelish Moore Flowers for this wedding; 2. Whimsical and elegant centerpieces by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 3. Vibrant pop of color for this Uptown wedding with flowers by New Creations Flower Company; 4. Pure luxury for these tall centerpieces by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 5. Southern-inspired vignettes by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 6. Southern-inspired vignettes by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 7. Classic centerpieces by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 8. Romantic candelabras by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 9. Sweet vignettes by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 10. Chic lounge furniture from Sterling Events Group surrounds the dance floor at this wedding; 11. Layer texture upon texture with 7 different centerpiece designs by Chelish Moore Flowers for this wedding; 12. Kennedy-inspired centerpieces by New Creations Flower Company along the kings table for this wedding; 13. Kate Spade-inspired centerpieces by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 14. Whimsical and elegant centerpieces by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 15. Creative and colorful for this wedding with flowers by New Creations Flower Company and wooden block runner created by The Graceful Host.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Richard Israel Photography; 2. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 3. Smitten and Hooked; 4. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 5. Lauren Friday Photography; 6. Lauren Friday Photography; 7. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 8. Jeremy Igo Photography; 9. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 10. Smitten and Hooked; 11. Richard Israel Photography; 12. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 13. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 14. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 15. Beauty For Ashes.

Ceremonies

The whole purpose for the celebration of a wedding is the actual ceremony! I love seeing my couples exchange vows and take their first steps together as husband and wife. It's a really special moment to witness! // 1. A museum was the perfect place for these I do's; 2. Exchanging vows with a breathtaking view of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville for this wedding; 3. To honor the bride and groom's heritage a bagpiper lead the recessional at this wedding; 4. A formal Catholic ceremony for this wedding; 5. An outdoor ceremony was just beautiful for this wedding; 6. This historic Uptown church was the perfect location for these I do's. 

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 2. Lauren Friday Photography; 3. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 4. Richard Israel Photography; 5. Lauren Friday Photography; 6. Lauren Rosenau Photography.

I'll be eternally grateful for all the opportunity to work with each one of our 2014 couples! I have had so much fun reliving 2014 through all these gorgeous photos in part 1 and part 2 - and I hope you've enjoyed looking through just a few of my favorites. I can't thank you enough for stopping by to celebrate with us!  Cheers to life, love, health and the New Year of endless possibilities!

XO,
A.

The Best of 2014, Part 1

Let's keep the countdown to 2015 going strong, shall we?! I know I've said it many, many times already - but 2014 was an amazing year for The Graceful Host! We had the honor of celebrating so many gorgeous couples with sweet ceremonies and fabulous receptions! As we prepare for 2015, I wanted to highlight a few of my favorites from 2014. Today we celebrate some beautiful bouquets, stunning bridal looks, gorgeous bridesmaid & dapper groomsmen attire, creative seating displays and escort cards, sweet details, and fabulous exits. Tomorrow, I'll share part two with my favorite stylish bridal shoes, adorable flower girls, beautiful couple portraits, delicious cakes, pretty invitations, incredible centerpieces, and sweet wedding ceremonies

Just a tiny side note: I truly believe in crafting each wedding to fit the bride and groom we'll be celebrating - you won't find cookie cutter weddings at The Graceful Host, and I take great pride in that fact. We have a wide variety of styles throughout our wedding and design portfolio. Narrowing down to a few of my favorite photos to share with you was definitely not easy! I felt a personal connection to each of the weddings we had the pleasure to be a part of, and I love each one of our 2014 weddings for the sweet couples they represent. Please know that I am missing a handful of photos from our fall weddings because they're not ready to share yet. And while that definitely makes me sad (because I simply I cannot WAIT to share each of those with you!), we had so many amazing weddings from spring, summer early fall that I just couldn't put off this post til next year!

Without further adieu, here is part one of the best of 2014...

Bridal Bouquets

From organic garden to formal and structured, we've seen so many incredible bouquets all year long! These are just a few of my personal favorites. // 1. Created by Springvine Design for this styled shoot; 2. Created by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 3. Created by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 4. Created by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding; 5. Created by New Creations Flower Company for a styled shoot; 6. Created by New Creations Flower Company for this wedding.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Crystal Stokes Photography; 2. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 3. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 4. Lauren Friday Photography; 5. Crystal Stokes Photography; 6. Lauren Rosenau Photography.

Bridal Fashion

Each one of our brides is so beautiful! I'm always in awe as brides put on the finishing touches before they see their sweet grooms. I loved how every single one of our bride's had a unique wedding day style, that was truly all their own. // 1. Lauren in a gorgeous Hayley Page gown from Hayden Olivia Bridal; 2. Whitley in a stunning Victor Harper Couture gown from Nitsa's Bridal from this wedding; 3. Adriana in an incredible custom designed gown by Brooke of Ship to Shore from this wedding; 4. Veronica in a beautiful Vera Wang gown from Nitsa's Bridal from this wedding.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 2. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 3. Richard Israel Photography; 4. Jeremy Igo Photography.

Bridesmaids Attire

Let's hear it for the bridesmaids! These ladies are the brides closest friends and family, security blankets and best dance partners. We had the pleasure of meeting some amazing groups of women over the past year.... these are just a few of our favorite bridesmaids looks. I loved the variety we saw in bridal party attire! // 1. Mixed and matched bridesmaids dresses in blush pink for this wedding; 2. Mint J.Crew dresses for this summer wedding; 3. Classic navy blue for this spring wedding; 4. Elegant navy blue for this summer wedding; 5. Formal charcoal for this spring wedding; 6. Beautiful blush pink dresses for this summer wedding; 7. Gorgeous black lace dresses for this fall wedding; 8. Rich cranberry red for this fall wedding; 9. Elegant lavender dresses for this summer wedding.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Richard Israel Photography; 2. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 3. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 4. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 5. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 6. Lauren Friday Photography; 7. Indigo Photography; 8. Lauren Friday Photography; 9. Rachel Fesko Photography.

Grooms and Groomsmen

This was the year of the fashionable groom, y'all! We had many custom tuxedos created for some handsome grooms. Can't get enough of these stylish guys! // 1. Special cufflinks given to the groom from the bride for this wedding; 2. Classic tuxedo for the groom from this wedding; 3. Elegant and southern white dinner coat tuxedo for this styled shoot; 4. Custom charcoal and black tuxedo for this groom from this wedding; 5. Custom navy and black tuxedo for this groom from this wedding.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 2. Richard Israel Photography; 3. Old South Studios; 4. Smitten and Hooked; 5. Jeremy Igo Photography.

Seating Displays and Escort Cards

I really, really love creating things for my brides! I'm pretty lucky that so many of my brides let me handle the displays however I see fit and give me creative license. It's always a highlight for me to create something truly special for my couples - and here are a few of my favorite seating displays and escort cards from this year. // 1. Vintage keys attached to tags for this seating chart from this wedding; 2. Travel themed seating display with luggage tags with the airport code from where the guest had traveled from for this wedding; 3. A magnolia leaf escort card for this styled shoot; 4. Citrus color-inspired wedding with citrus escort cards for this wedding.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Richard Israel Photography; 2. Jeremy Igo Photography; 3. Crystal Stokes Photography; 4. Lauren Rosenau Photography.

Details, Details, Details

I love to place extra emphasis on the little details. From sentimental touches to fun accents that feed into the design story, there was no shortage of details with our 2014 weddings! Here are just a few of the details that were captured over the past year. // 1. Given to the bride from her mother-in-law from this summer wedding; 2. Table numbers made just for this summer wedding; 3. A memorial to the bride's grandfather that sat in the front pew, saving his place, for this summer wedding; 4. Gold frames and a pattern drum lamp shades that scream Kate Spade for this spring wedding; 5. New initial ring dish that held the rings before the ceremony for this wedding; 6. Traditional Chinese tea set for this spring wedding; 7. Custom made directional signs for this summer wedding; 8. A piece of the brides father's tie sewn into her dress to honor his memory at this summer wedding; 9. A custom monogram created for this wedding that we applied to a number of details including pillows from this wedding.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 2. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 3. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 4. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 5. Beauty For Ashes; 6. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 7. Lauren Friday Photography; 8. Lauren Friday Photography; 9. Lauren Friday Photography.

Grand Exits

The reception exit can be so much fun! There's all sorts of excitement and anticipation that surrounds the final send off for the bride and groom as they truly begin their lives together. We've had a lot of different types of send-offs this year - from sparklers to bubbles to streamers to confetti. These are are few of my favorite parting shots! // 1. Classic sparkler exit for this wedding; 2. Love the face of the bride from this wedding during her bubble exit; 3. Nothing like a kiss among the sparklers for this fall wedding; 4. This sweet pair from this wedding left in style with popsicles in hand from King of Pops.

Photo credit (starting top L): 1. Lauren Rosenau Photography; 2. Jeremy Igo Photography; 3. Lauren Friday Photography; 4. Lauren Rosenau Photography.

Be sure to come back tomorrow morning as we recap our favorite beautiful portraits, delicious cakes, pretty invitations, stylish bridal shoes, adorable flower girls, incredible centerpieces, and sweet wedding ceremonies from 2014!

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.

2015 Bridal Boutique Sales and Trunk Shows

It's no secret that many brides get engaged during the holiday season. It's also no secret that towards the end of the year you'll find lots of great sales and opportunities to find the perfect wedding dress. We are so lucky to have lots of amazing bridal boutiques in the Charlotte, North Carolina area that offer brides a wide range of gorgeous designer gowns! If you haven't found your dream dress just yet, be sure to take advantage of the upcoming events and make an appointment to find your dream gown. At each of these boutiques, you'll be met with an incredible selection of dresses and expert customer service! Don't miss any of these fabulous events!

J. Major's Bridal Boutique

Don't miss the huge winter sample sale going on at J.Major's located in the heart of Dilworth on Saturday, December 27 from 10am to 2pm! You'll find designer wedding dresses from Alvina Valenta, Augusta Jones, Aria, and Amy Kuschel to name a few. You won't need to make an appointment, but it's best to come early because it's first come, first serve ... and select designer gowns are marked off between 30%-90%! This is a great chance to get a beautiful gown that you've no doubt been eyeing on Pintrest at an amazing price! During this event, you'll also be able to find bridesmaid dresses on discount, too.

Another great event at J. Major's Bridal Boutique that brides-to-be cannot miss is the Carolina Bride Book Pop-up Shop and Fashion Show on January 8 beginning at 6pm! You might have seen the Carolina Bride Book, which is the latest bridal inspiration coffee table book that was recently published. Well, at this event, you'll have the chance to meet the authors of the Carolina Bride Book, as well as attend a runway show featuring wedding gowns by Erin Grey Couture. Oh, and did I mention that there will be yummy sweets and plenty of champagne on hand? Because thats a fact. Space is limited so you'll want to RSVP for this one. And the first 50 brides to RSVP will receive a special swag bag with goodies from Erin Grey Couture, Carolina Bride, and Aubree's Bridal. To RSVP call, (704) 372-0082.

Hayden Olivia Bridal

After the New Year, a number of trunk shows will be visiting Hayden Olivia's beautiful boutique. The Marisa Trunk Show will be January 15 through 17 and feature their beautiful Spring 2015 collection. The Blush by Hayley Paige Trunk Show will also feature their stunning Spring 2015 collection and will be in the salon the following weekend, January 22 through 24. Then, Hayden Olivia will round out the month with a Monique Lhuillier Bliss Trunk Show January 29 through 31. Appointments for trunk shows are always limited, so it's best to call in advance to reserve your spot! Trunk shows are a great time to try on those designer gowns you've been eying, and many times you'll find custom change options, price incentives, or even a trunk show/event discount. From time to time, you'll also find the gown designers will join in on the fun and attend the trunk show to offer their expertise. Be sure to call to schedule your appointment, (704) 333-0377.

Bellissima Of Salisbury

This amazing bridal boutique is worth the drive outside of the Charlotte metro-area. Belissima of Salisbury will have a huge sample sale just after the New Year, on January 3, 2015 from 10am to 2pm. You'll find countless gorgeous designer gowns at deep discounts - up to 75% off the sticker price. Again, another incredible opportunity to get a designer wedding gown at a price that won't blow your wedding budget. You'll definitely want to reserve your spot well in advance for this sample sale. To do so, you can send an email to Info@bellissimaofsalisbury.com, or call them at (704) 754-5330.

Brides definitely won't want to miss all of the trunk shows coming to the boutique in the New Year! The very popular Robert Bullock Bride Trunk Show will be at Bellissima January 17 through 24. Their entire 2015 Spring Collection will be on hand for the whole week. Another great trunk show event happening at Bellissima of Salisbury will be the Kelly Faetanini Trunk Show, February 6 through 14. And Bellissima is actually the only bridal boutique in North Carolina to carry this designer! Schedule an appointment for either trunk show event to reserve your spot by calling (704) 754-5330. 

Nitsa's Apparel 

You definitely won't want to miss any of the fantastic trunk shows making their way to Nitsa's Apparel, located in South Park at the Phillips Place shopping center. The Amsale Trunk Show will be at the Charlotte salon December 31, 2104 through January 3, 2015. Then Erin Cole Trunk Show will be visiting the following weekend, January 9 through 10. The Alyne Trunk Show will be at the boutique January 30 through 31. And then the Victor Harper Trunk Show will be in town February 6 through 7. Nitsa's Apparel also has a bridal salon at their Winston Salem retail location, and you can find more information about upcoming trunk shows and events for that location by clicking here. Space for each of these amazing events will be limited, so you'll want to call Nitsa's in advance to schedule an appointment for any of these amazing designer trunk shows by calling (704) 940-1999.

I hope each of you beautiful brides looking to find your dream wedding dress can find success at one of these incredible bridal boutiques. I can't recommend these four bridal boutiques enough!

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.

Wedding Inspiration: Modern Romance

Lucky for us, our first wedding of 2015 will be K & R's lovely wedding at  The Ritz Carlton Urban Garden. Our inspiration board has me eager for spring with this gorgeous color palette of blush, ivory and pale grey. We've definitely got a few tricks up our sleeve that I am just so excited to see unfold! This sweet bride wanted the feeling of over the top romance meets chic, modern flair. I absolutely can't wait to celebrate these two in a few short months with an amazing vendor team! In the meantime, we'll be hard at work finalizing some fun details, but I couldn't resist sharing a peek into this beautiful wedding design.

XO,
A.

Our 2014 Christmas Card

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love the feelings of joy and focus on family that surrounds the weeks leading up to Christmas Day. Every year I send out a card to share with family and friends. And while our cards in the past have done the trick, I was never as excited as I should be because I never had the right photo to send out. My husband and I have almost no photos of each other since our wedding back in 2012... and even so, there are very few portraits. So, I approached Lauren Rosenau Photography for a little anniversary shoot in October at one of my favorite spots in Charlotte - Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens.

This shoot was special to me for so many reasons. Most of all it was a chance for Todd and I to finally have a photo together that wasn't taken on a silly iPhone. I was also beyond excited to have the chance to be on the other side of Lauren Rosenau's camera. Lauren is one of my favorite photographers in Charlotte - I just love the way she views the world! But another reason why these photos are so important is because I finally feel like my authentic self. After losing close to 70 pounds over the past year, I can say without a doubt that I've never felt more like myself than I do now. It was hard looking at photos from my wedding day and staring into the eyes of a girl who I just didn't identify with. Shedding the weight was like shedding a second skin. After years of trying to achieve success with weight loss, I've finally done it and I finally feel like myself. So, I jumped at the chance to have Lauren take a photo of Todd and I that I could be proud of. I know it seems crazy to place so much meaning on a photo, but for me, these are nothing short of priceless.

So, now that the sappy personal post has come to an end, I'd like to share our 2014 Christmas card and a few of my favorites from our anniversary shoot with Lauren Rosenau Photography.

Our pup Charlotte even joined in on the fun for some family photos!! I'll cherish these forever and ever! 8.5 years with this sweet guy.... and not a day goes by that I don't thank God that our paths crossed. Thank you to Lauren for capturing us. I am so grateful for your friendship and your endless, incredible talents! Huge thanks to Erin Ashley Makeup for making me feel so beautiful. I am so grateful for you! And to New Creations Flower Company for the gorgeous bouquet and sweet garland for Charlotte. Your talents and creativity are limitless, and I'm so thankful for you! I feel so blessed to know and work with so many creative and talented ladies! :) I also want to include a huge thanks to all those who continue to support me in passion for my business and in my pursuit for health and wellness.

From my family to yours, may your Christmas season be merry and bright! I hope each of you has a safe and healthy holiday, and that the new year brings all your dreams into reality! 

XOXO,
A.

Recap: Joy Thigpen Workshop

At the end of our wonderful 2014 wedding season, I had the opportunity to attend the Joy Thigpen Workshop in gorgeous Serenbe, Georgia. I've long admired Joy, and I jumped at the chance to learn from her! With topics ranging from aesthetics & styling, to branding & making a career out of your passion, the two-day workshop was chock-full of amazing information that I couldn't wait to apply to my own business and clients. And we ended the workshop with a fun flower arranging tutorial. I had never attempted to create a floral centerpiece - and between you and me, I'm not sure I will in the near future because it is so not as easy as it looks! I'll just leave that piece of creativity up to the professional florists. :) Attending workshops and continuing education sessions is so important to me because I'm constantly learning. I don't ever claim to "have it all together" or to know everything there is to know about business... plus it's always changing! I believe in constantly stretching my limits and seeking out every opportunity out there in order to be a better business owner for my brides and grooms.

Hands down, one of my favorite parts of attending educational workshops is all the incredible people I am able to meet! There were so many amazing, creative women with wonderful stories in attendance. I always walk away learning just as much from the other attendees as the speakers. And it's so great to have friends from all over the country who are going through exactly what I'm going through at any given point in their business. The network of support that is created after these intimate experiences are invaluable! I'm so grateful to have had this opportunity, and I wanted to share some photos from the workshop. Huge thanks to the very talented Rylee Hitchner for taking gorgeous photos throughout the workshop and of all our centerpieces!

So proud of my first floral creation! And the property at the Serenbe Inn is so beautiful, I couldn't resist sharing a few photos of the property.

XO,
A.

The Perfect Bridesmaid Gifts

Much like your beau, your girl friends are with you through thick and thin, better and worse.  After you've asked your bestie to stand by your side for the big day, treat them with a special thank you gift. Since I have many brides who ask for advice on what to get their bridal party, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite gift ideas for your bridesmaids.

Buying Guide: 1. Gift them professional hair and/or makeup services | 2. Jewelry to go with their dress, like these adorable earrings | 3. A robe or t-shirt for getting ready in the suite before the ceremony | 4. Bridesmaid tote bag to keep all their belongings together as you go throughout the day | 5. Travel or cosmetic bag, because can you ever have too many?! | 6. A monogram clutch to take to the reception | 7. Stylish flip flops for dancing all night long | 8. Cute personalized koozies perfect for the bachelorette party and wedding weekend festivities

XO,
A.

Engaged: Shelby and Jordan

This sweet couple just melts my heart! Shelby and Jordan's parents actually live across the street from each other. One day the cute boy across the way and the girl next door met, and the rest was history! 

I absolutely adore this bride and her family! We've been having a blast planning their June wedding at Foundations For The Carolinas. I can't wait to share the details of their design plan soon! But for now, look at this adorable engagement session from Smitten and Hooked. 

These two are huge panthers fans.... so, of course the had to include their love of football and Charlotte!

Aren't these just the sweetest engagement photos?! Congrats, Shelby and Jordan! Just 7 more months until the big day! 

XO,
A.

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.