North Carolina Weddings

Never ever will I tire of soft pink and cream neutrals, paint-chipped chairs turned beautiful, and old wedding photographs clipped on a clothesline. Every image captured by Oh! Darling Photography and Sarah Der Photography portrays loving nods to the past while the happy couple have candid excited moments about their future. Bravo to Christine Andrews, who put this splendid day together so very perfectly. And you have to view the film by Heart to Heart Media, whose camera rolled as the bride and groom had their first look in an Alpaca field! And the fun doesn’t stop there. Head on over to the gallery complete with sparklers and some furry friends!

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From the Bride… One particularly rainy morning the week before law school finals, I dragged myself out of bed and prepared myself for another long day at the library. As I made my way to my car, I saw a piece of paper on my window and quickly grabbed it as I jumped in to hide from the rain. It was a piece of folded notebook paper and, for some reason, only after I started reading did it occur to me that this was abnormal. But before I could think too long about the oddness of its appearance, the impossible happened. Well, the impossible for that study-filled, migraine-inducing, and rainy period of my life. I laughed. A boy had written me a note. A note saying that he had been meaning to say hi but hadn’t had the chance. A note saying that he would like to get to know me if I was willing. A note that changed my life because that boy is now my husband.

The biggest challenge I had in wedding planning was parsing through traditions. Decisiveness is not my strong suit, but I did know that I didn’t want to get caught up with certain wedding hoopla just because it’s expected. I wanted that period of our lives to mean something to us rather than feel contrived. We chose Claxton Farm as our wedding venue, opted for a dessert table instead of a wedding cake, and skipped the flower throwing and garter performance. We hired venders we loved and let them do their thing with only slight guidance. The day flowed seamlessly (largely due to the skills of Christine Andrews) and was filled with love, laughter and happy moments.

The Christine Andrews… The wedding took place at an enchanting barn called Claxton Farms. It is perfectly nestled in the hills of Asheville, NC, “halfway” between the two’s families- New York and Miami. When you are on the property, there are no signs of outside civilization- no rootfops, no roads, nothing but the hills of North Carolina and a couple of llamas that live on the property. It truly sets the tone for an intimate venue. Everyone that manages this facility (M7 Solutions) was a pleasure to work with.

The ceremony took place outside in the meadow. After the wedding party and groom proceeded to the altar, the bride exited from a draped barn door to meet her love to the sounds of a violin and viola. The altar was simple and exquisite, consisting of two wooden urns filled with flowers and green accents that complemented the landscape. The bride, groom and officient stood on a circle of white flower petals. The breathtaking views became the backdrop for the two’s vows as the wedding parties casually stood to their sides. After the ceremony, guests were invited to have cocktails and appetizers on the barn patio while the wedding party took photos on the meadow. Guests sat on vintage patio furniture provided by the Darling Bee or stood around wine barrels used as cocktail tables as they caught up with friends and enjoyed the scenery. Guests grabbed their handmade table card amongst wedding photos of family members clothes-pinned to close-lines. They could sign the guest book, which actually consisted of three jars sitting on a vintage table. Each bottle had a tag tied to it with twine that read “1 year”, “5 years”, or “10 years”, and each was accompanied by a notepad on a clipboard. Guests were encouraged to write notes and put them in these jars that the bride and groom will break open on the anniversary noted on the bottle. These bottles are on their bookshelf in Manhattan.

After dinner and first dances, guests were invited out to the patio for a series of other activities. They could either roast s’mores over a campfire, enjoy scotch and cigars, or eat dessert from the dessert table. Instead of doing a traditional wedding cake, the couple decided on a dessert table, which was designed and catered by Ruth & Ranshaw. It was beautiful. Using an old mattress spring, a picnic table from the property, antique inspired plates and trays, and books, it offered guests a smörgåsbord of options, including milk and cookies. One of the bridesmaids even brought treats from her company out of New York to add a little more love to the dessert table- No Bake Makery. As the night neared a close, guests were handed a handmade sparkler set that included a custom matchbook to use for the couples exit. Guests lined the path as the two ran down to their vintage 1948 Windsor Limousine provided by Elite- Limos and drove away. Truly a romantic end to a perfect evening.

Wedding Photography: Oh! Darling Photography with Sarah Der Photography / Wedding Venue: Claxton Farms in Asheville, North Carolina / Wedding Planning + Design: Christine Andrews / Floral Design: The Bloom Room / Wedding Cinematography: Hart to Heart Media / Wedding Catering + Desserts: Ruth & Ranshaw + M7 Event Solutions & Catering / Bridesmaid’s Treats: No Bake Makery / Rentals + Design: The Darling Bee / Transportation: The Elite Line / Wedding Dress: Lazaro / Hair: Beth Benischek / Makeup: Aimee Crepeau 

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. We may gush over flowers, and we may get giddy over tablescapes. We may swoon at the sight of a bride in a ball gown and reach for a tissue when we spot the perfect pair of shoes. But the most special ingredient in every wedding… the ingredient we adore from the very beginning… is the love. It’s the most important element, and the element that makes the whole wedding just be. And with talented folks like Almond Leaf Studios capturing it all, it’s the element that makes me the happiest to have such a wonderful job. Click here to see ALL the love – and the amazing details that came out of that love!

Soon after Jody proposed in Asheville, NC in February 2011, we knew that we wanted to get married there as well. We love the unique, friendly atmosphere and the beauty surrounding the city and wanted our wedding to be a fun destination for our friends and family. Besides a few tough decisions on vendors, the wedding planning process couldn’t have been easier. We chose The Venue because of its vintage feel, delicious food and magnificent owner/operator. There were a few DIY projects involved in the preparation as well, and I have to thank my bridesmaids and now husband for their assistance with the guest book, favor boxes, framed table numbers and photos of our parents, grandparents and bridal party on their wedding day. Our vision for our wedding was a sophisticated yet warm environment and I feel grateful that we were able to work with such imaginative minds to create our perfect day.

Our wedding day was everything that we had hoped and planned for, from the first look and nontraditional ceremony to the amazing band and dancing throughout the night. There were even a few unforeseen moments- the last thing that I expected was to be serenaded by our fabulous officiant! We have so many great memories from this experience and I am so thankful to Almond Leaf Studios for the beautiful photos that will allow us to relive our wedding day forever!

Photography: Almond Leaf Studios / Flowers: Stacey Brown, The Bloom Room / Event Design: Marta Bodenhorst, The Venue / Venue: The Venue / Shoes: Bakers / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Dress: Bella Rosa Bridal / Hair & Makeup: Lola Salon & Gallery / Favors: French Broad Chocolates / Cake: Tiffany Good, Tiffany’s Baking Co / Officiant: Howard Hanger / Ceremony Music: Michelle Bonn & Steve Jamesson, Asheville Harp & Bass / Band: Sweetwater Junction, EastCoast Entertainment / Decor: Marta Bodenhorst, Stacy Brown & bride, groom, and bridesmaids

We’re spicing things up a bit today and kicking off the very first Wedding Wednesday of 2013 on, well… Thursday.  That’s how we roll here at SMP.  And even though we may have temporarily switched up the days on you, we’re still delivering the same lineup of lovely – starting with this classic North Carolina wedding from Graham Terhune Photography.  A dream come true for the beautiful bride who always imagined a Biltmore Estate wedding; it’s traditional in the most beautiful of ways all while maintaining an air of cozy intimacy. It’s the kind of wedding little girls dream about (and maybe big girls too) and you can see even more right here.

From Samantha + Graham of Graham Terhune Photography… This past weekend we photographed an unforgettable wedding at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The Bride (Paige) and the Groom (Stephen) were absolutely wonderful to work with because they poured so much love into their intimate wedding. Paige and Stephen are the special type of people who make everyone their friend; however, they had to make the difficult choice to keep their wedding number small in order to be able to afford the wedding of their dreams. Paige is a native of Asheville and always dreamt of marrying her best friend somewhere on the beautiful Biltmore Estate.

Paige’s dream came true on September 15th when she and Stephen exchanged their vows at the Lioncrest at Biltmore. Their ceremony and reception was made exquisite by a handful of lovely local vendors. Paige and Stephen added so many personal touches to their wedding day including a homemade cross (by the groom) on their altar. Paige’s vision for the day was inspired by her love for the outdoors and all things natural. She chose all natural, antique colors and a neutral champagne hue for her bridal party.

One of our favorite moments of Paige and Stephen’s wedding day was their First Look. We wanted to avoid numerous witnesses, which proved a bit difficult during the Biltmore Estate’s busiest season. Luckily, we were able to find a perfect spot overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains with a view of the side of the house. We loved that Paige and Stephen had a total guest count of 80. It made for such a special and intimate evening. Their guests enjoyed a delicious meal catered by the Lioncrest and took home jars of local honey to remember the special evening.

Wedding Photography: Graham Terhune Photography / Wedding Venue: Lioncrest at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC / Wedding Planning: Two Sweet Sparrows / Floral Design: the bloom room / Music: ATL Groove Factory / Stationery: Designed by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Alexandra by Watters / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bridesmaid’s Dresses: J.Crew / Ring Bearer Bowl: Paloma’s Nest

Sometimes people assume I must become jaded after seeing perfect wedding after gorgeous soiree every day. But I honestly can say that every morning I wake up excited to go to work. Because every wedding that comes across my desk is beautiful, this is true. But every wedding is also very different from the last. There is always something special. And today it’s Olivia Griffin Photography‘s account of the bride “just needing to see her groom” (and it goes without mention, her gorgeous images of the day). The day has put goosebumps on my arms that aren’t likely to leave anytime soon – especially with this gallery!

From Olivia Griffin Photography … I’ve found that for most brides the build up of getting ready for the ceremony the day of the wedding can be totally stressful, when all they really want to do is say “I do” and squeeze their groom.  Lindsey, was no different, but most brides just hold that in like a bubble about to burst. Not Lindsey, she said very frankly, “I just need to see him right now” so she did and then everything was perfect.  I loved that…who needs the build up when you know what will make you relax.  

The rest of the day just seemed to flow with an overwhelming laidback mountain vibe.  The guests arrived in a school bus, everyone wore cowboy boots, and there was BBQ to eat.  The ceremony was so sweet with a gathering of guests under an oak tree with the drizzling rain… no chairs, just flowers to line the isle.  The groom sang a song for his bride that left no dry eye in sight.  After the ceremony, the guests enjoyed some bluegrass music and a bone fire.  It doesn’t get any more southern and intimate than this mountain wedding.

From the lovely bride … We love the outdoors and knew we wanted our wedding to be centered in the mountains that we call home and love so much.  The wedding venue was a perfect blend of mountains with all the rustic details I had envisioned for a DIY wedding.  Blaise and I wanted our wedding to reflect our personalities, laid back style, love for one another, and our love for all our family and friends.  Our wedding could not have happened without the immense help from our all our family and friends.  

One of my favorite and most memorable moments from the wedding was the ceremony.  It was raining off and on all afternoon and it was suggested we get married in an alternative indoor room the venue had. I was beside myself.  We decided if the rain had let up come time for the ceremony then Blaise and I, along with our friends and family, would walk down to the field and get married. Right when the ceremony was scheduled to begin the rain had stopped to faint drizzle. It ended up more amazing and beautiful than I could of imagined.  I can still hear the sound of light rain as Blaise played his song for me while looking out over the sea of family and friends (with umbrellas) supporting and loving us as we took the next step to promise and love each other forever.  It was a lovely wedding and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Photography: Olivia Griffin Photography / Flowers: hand picked by the bride and stylist at Flying Cloud Farm / Event Stylist: Abigail Wyatt / Dress: Watters / Ceremony Location: Fields of Blackberry Cove / Bridesmaids: J.Crew / Band: Woody Pines / Caterer: Luella’s BBQ / Dessert Table: Ruth & Ranshaw

Eight gorgeous weddings, one heartwarming moment after another and a morning, noon and night of HAPPY… yep, it’s Wedding Wednesday, SMPers – and we just can’t wait to get this party started!  So, cozy on up and prepare yourselves for an entire day of sweet, sweet inspiration.  It’s going to be sooo good.

Up first is a beyond stunning Blowing Rock soiree captured by Emily Lapish Photography.  A DIY extravaganza set against the breathtaking mountains of North Carolina, this rustic meets whimsical fête is just how we like to start our lineup of lovely – with a whole lot of glamour, a whole lot of love and a whole lot of pretty.  Care to join me for a swoon-fest in the gallery?  See so much more right here.

From the Bride… Since we fell in love with Blowing Rock and the area, obviously we wanted to use vendors from around there. We were also working with a very limited budget. Our florist, Peggy Mendel of Pearl’s Garden, did an amazing job on rather short notice (three weeks … eeek!) during one of the busiest weekends (Mother’s Day + AU graduation + Arts in the Park + wedding). Our cake and cupcakes were from Oh La La Cupcakes on Sunset Drive in Blowing Rock. Cake pops and macaroons were ordered from off Etsy from The Sweet Source and Sparkles Macaron, respectively. We definitely wanted to have great food and we wanted to do a BBQ, so when we had lunch at The Woodlands Restaurant we were sold! We also served local beer to our guests.

My dress was from David’s Bridal. The head piece I wore at the church was made for me by my dear and very crafty friend Ashley. I have to say that my friends and I are a very crafty bunch. All the stationery design as well as all the decorations were of my doing. A big part of the area is the Blue Ridge Parkway which was an inspiration for the wedding. Our save-the-date cards were designed in all different hues of blue and white, and with the invitation set I introduced gold and natural wood tones. I also used a lot of ivory since my dress was ivory. So over all we had a mix of white, ivory, taupe, beige, blues and gold! I love my gold stuff….

Since I was making all the decorations home in NYC, I needed them to be as compact and easy to transport as possible. I’m obsessed with Confetti System. I was inspired by their tassel garland, so I made my own tassels and strung them. I made around 100 of them, packed them up in a box and had my cousin who was driving down from NJ transport them for me. So all I had to do was to shake them out, and boom, they were looking like new. The plan for the reception was to move all the furniture out of the main space to the adjacent room. So we had to cover the glass door leading to that room with something. I made the string curtains in white, off-white, taupe, and gold and placed them between the door and its frame and closed the door to hold it in place. The house is so big that I was a little bit afraid that it would feel empty with small decorations. I love Geronimo Balloons, so i decided to fill the space with 7 or 8 giant balloons. I added the tassels to the balloon string and I think those came out pretty neat as well. Since I really love gold, I decided to decorate blue striped paper straws with gold tape flags and make a couple of gold heart cupcake toppers. Also, since we are not too traditional, instead of the a traditional wedding cake topper I went with fun gold tinsel skewer sticks that took about a minute to make.

The church had a rule about throwing flower petals, confetti or rice, so I decided to do ribbon wands in ivory, beige, blue and gold. And they photographed amazingly. We also decided against floral pew decorations, so I made these tissue paper flags that gave a little movement and helped brighten the aisle a little bit. I’m a huge sap, so I decided to include a tissue in our programs, and it turned out that they were absolutely needed. The first reading, done by my mom in Polish, was printed inside of the programs in English. I also added gold stripes to otherwise quite ordinary unity candle. I keep saying “I,” but John actually had a lot of input, especially when I couldn’t decide on something. It was definitely a collaboration. All of the day was filled with happiness and love, and we loved every minute of it.

Wedding Photography: Emily Lapish Photography / Ceremony: Church of the Epiphany in Blowing Rock, North Carolina / Reception: The Home of the Groom’s Parents in Blowing Rock, North Carolina / Floral Design: Peggy Mendel of Pearl’s Garden / Event Design, Decor + Planning: The Bride & Groom / Catering: The Woodlands Restaurant / Wedding Cake + Cupcakes: Oh La La Cupcakes / Cake Pops: The Sweet Source / Macaroons: Sparkles Macaron / Wedding Invitations: DIY by the Bride / Balloons: Geronimo Balloons / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Head Piece: Handmade by a Friend

When the bride and groom can playfully don zebra and giraffe masks for their wedding portraits, count me in. As in, count me in as one of their (wannabe) best friends. They are just that cool. They enlisted Asheville Event Co. to plan a super gorgeous wedding, grabbed whitebox weddings to fill their albums with gold, and had a total blast. It doesn’t get better than that, especially when the gallery is sitting right here!

Being a graphic designer, I knew what I wanted when planning the wedding. The trick was finding the right wedding planners who would let me design everything how I wanted, and then help me to create that vision and ensure everything went smoothly. I found that in Asheville Event Company. They let me do my thing, but also guided me when I needed it. They were great.

Photographer: whitebox weddings / Event Planning: Asheville Event Co. / Florist: Oakleaf Flower & Garden / Guest Transportation: Elite Limo / Officiant: Carl Sutherland / Ceremony & Cocktail Hour Musicians: High Windy Band / Photobooth: Smilebooth / Reception Music: Split Second Sound / Venue: Old Edwards Inn and Spa / Invitations + Welcome Book: Amber Aultman, Copal Design

A wedding at The Biltmore Estate, planned and perfected by Asheville Event Co. all wrapping up with a fireworks display could ONLY captured one way – absolutely beautifully. And who better than Life Stage Films to capture said soiree? I’d venture to say no one. It’s a magical highlight film for your weekend; one that you will adore!

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The exact details of Katie & Jimmy’s first official meeting is still  up for debate between them, but it’s generally agreed that they met at  a party at Katie’s house in 2002. They attended Appalachian State and  both loved living in Boone, NC. So six years later when all the twists  and turns of their relationship landed them ready to make the  commitment of marriage, there was no doubt the mountains would be  involved.

It was so sweet when Jimmy popped the question on a  beautiful summer night, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, at sunset. And it
was just as magical over a year later when they said their vows on a  perfect autumn evening, overlooking the Blue Ridge mountains, at  sunset.

The theme for the whole wedding parallels the values of our  lives, and was inspired by a simple throw pillow at Katie’s  grandmother’s house. The pillow (which made a cameo on the sweetheart  table at the wedding) reads “All Things Grow With Love”. So we wanted  the wedding to reflect the fulfillment that comes with embracing a  loving attitude toward all things – both the greenery, ferns,  hydrangeas and roses on the table and the community of great family  and friends that will carry us through all the phases of life.

There were antique touches, inspired by Katie’s 1920 engagement ring and the  backdrop of the Biltmore Estate, that were expressed by lanterns, old  books, vintage furniture, and a “gypsy jazz” band for cocktail hour.  Her dress by Liancarlo was alancelon lace embroidered with pearls from  her grandmothers dress, and perfectly accented with her mothers  cathedral veil. The overall vision was absolutely brought to life by  Asheville Event Company – a little bit of “secret garden meets  midsummer nights dream” – classy yet magical, intimate yet grand,  unique and full of love.

Cinematography: Life Stage Films / Photographer: Parker J Photography / Venue: The Biltmore Estate / Event Coordinator: Becca Knuth, Asheville Event Co. / Band: Groovetown / Florist: Stacey Brown, The Bloom Room / Caterer: Diana at The Biltmore Estate

Happy Wedding Wednesday, SMPers!  Are you ready for a day of pretty, pretty inspiration and a whole lot of L-O-V-E?  We sure hope so, because we have quite the lineup in store for you lovelies and it’s bringing the HAPPY like you’ve never seen.  So, silence those phones, clear those calendars and prepare for a day of sweet, sweet gallery gazing.  It’s going to amazing.

Up first in our pretty parade is a downright gorgeous Asheville affair boasting soft pink hues, fab DIY details and a bride and groom who are the epitome of stunning.  I’m talking a crazy gorgeous White by Vera Wang gown and love-filled smiles that will seriously brighten your computer screen.  The oh-so-wonderful Floataway Studios captured every last magical moment… and those warm-your-heart shots of that dapper puppy?  LOVELY.  See so much more right here.

From the Bride… Our wedding was a surreal and magical day for us. Surrounded by candlelight and our closest family and friends, we exchanged our hand-written vows in a romantic stone manor built in the ’20s. We first met in college in graphic design class, and following a five-year friendship, both ended up in New York City, where we found an unexpected spark and decided to take a chance on love. Since we originally bonded over art and music, it was only fitting that we were married in the room where one of our favorite jazz musicians, Nina Simone, learned to play the piano. During our ceremony, our string quartet played modern selections, such as “Here Comes Your Man” by The Pixies, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”.

Because I’m a photographer and graphic designer, it was inevitable that I would style and design our wedding from a visual perspective. I’m fairly certain I drove a few people crazy saying, “But how will it look in a picture?!” I also love details! So from the stationery to the napkins to the cake, I wanted everything to tie together and make our wedding memorable. A loose theme of modern-vintage romance was inspired by our venue choices and our love of literature and theatre. We wanted to create an event that was aesthetically gorgeous, but also stay true to our personalities. We knew we wanted our wedding to be personalized, to be fun, to exude warmth and romance, and to celebrate love — our love as well as the love of our parents (both have been married for 40 years or more). We received our greatest compliment when one of our guests told us our wedding made her and her husband happy to be married. In order to make our wedding “ours” and stay within budget, we designed and crafted as many of the details as time would possibly allow. This was truly an experience I will never forget. At times it was stressful, wondering how it would all get done, but it was definitely worth it. It was such fun brainstorming ideas, sourcing, thrifting and then working with our parents and friends to pull it all together. I couldn’t have done it all without them! Some of our favorite details were our handmade vows book, the wooden cross my fiancé carved for our ceremony, our wedding date pillow that guests stuffed with heart-shaped messages for us to read on our first anniversary, our Costa Rican coffee favors (Costa Rica was our first international trip together) and our table assignments, which were named after streets that were meaningful to us in Manhattan (we recently moved from NYC to NC). The table assignments hung from the mantle of our old fireplace beneath a grouping of family wedding photos.

My advice for other brides: Follow your heart throughout the planning process and have fun! Prioritize your projects, give yourself deadlines, and let people help you! Align yourself with vendors who get your vision … and trust them. They’ll bring your ideas to life and take your wedding to a new level. I was blown away when I walked into our reception and saw how it had all come together! That was the moment I knew I could relax and enjoy the night, and I was so thankful. Also, keep in mind that no matter how prepared you are, not everything will go exactly as planned or imagined. During these times, try to stay focused on what’s going right and what’s most important — marrying the love of your life. Time has a way of ensuring that you forget about the mishaps and look back on your big day with great joy, laughter and admiration.

Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Floataway Studios / Ceremony: Homewood in Asheville, North Carolina / Reception: The Venue in Asheville, North Carolina / Floral Design: The Bloom Room / Wedding Day Coordination: Verge Events / Officiant: Rev. Jack Hinson / Wedding Cake: City Bakery / String Quartet: Cafe String Quartet / Band: Bueller / Accommodations: The Grove Park Inn / Wedding Dress: White by Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Kelsi Dagger / Hair: Suraj Spa and Salon / Makeup: Wendy Ballance of Blush

North Carolina, you are officially on my radar. The natural beauty your state possesses is quite possibly the perfect compliment to the classic bride. You have coastlines dotted with lighthouses, mountains covered in enchanting natural forests, and beautiful, big cities in between. AND you have Asheville Event Co. who can put together an event to die for, and Two Ring Studios who can capture said event and the adorable couple in it. I’m hoping all my LBBers will join me in gushing just a little more over this North Carolina wedding in the full image gallery!

Click here for the full image gallery!

We are from Greensboro, North Carolina and both agreed that we wanted to do something a little different and not have it in our home town.  We both love the outdoors, I have a love for the mountains and Phillip the sea.  I’ve spent a lot of time up near Asheville since moving back and it had become my favorite North Carolina town. I knew what I was looking for, somewhere to have an outdoor ceremony, a place for a tent to have dinner outside,  a dance floor because I love live music and knew we were going to have a band.  I also wanted somewhere close to downtown Asheville where our guest could enjoy a weekend of what Asheville has to offer while being close to the wedding site.  We arrived at the Homewood, instantly I knew this was going to be the place, it had everything we were looking for and we enjoyed our meeting with the owner Monroe, we just had a good feeling about this place instantly.  He suggested a wedding planner for me and I couldn’t have picked a better match, Becca from Asheville Event Co., she was the person who helped me put my vision into fruition. 

I’m a simple girl who loves the outdoors & nature.  I wanted the natural beauty of the outdoors combined with a simple but elegant garden style type of wedding.  I spent a lot of time online; Style Me Pretty was a site that I went to constantly along with some others to find bits & pieces of what I was looking for.  I wanted a sit down dinner under the tent so our family and friends could enjoy spending time with each other.  

I would send Becca & my florist pictures of what I was thinking and they seemed to understand what I wanted it to look like.  Jessica of Aria Floral did an unbelievable job of bringing my vision to life. My parents have an antique store which I borrowed some of their pieces along with some old finds that I took and refinished.  My mom made all the cushions & pillows.  I found a bunch of things on Etsy like the wishing tree tags, the J&P pillow, the “Just Married” sign to hang on the trolley, the paper straws for the drinks and then there were DIY things like the wedding sign, cupcake tags, pinwheels for the kids tables, the kids bags & favor boxes. My family was a huge help in getting everything together & all the furniture up to Asheville, I couldn’t have pulled it off without them. 

I started off the day with a bridal brunch at a local restaurant that my aunts, sisters-in-law & friend of the family gave me.   All my bridesmaids and my closest friends were there; it was such a wonderful way to start off the day getting to spend time with all the important women in my life.  When we arrived at the Homewood I was able to take a quick look at the set up of the tent and just couldn’t believe it was everything that I wanted it to be.  I couldn’t believe how amazing all the floral arrangements were, I just loved all the flowers.

The long walk down the aisle with my dad was something I will always remember; we just talked the whole way down, then I looked up and saw Phillip standing there and felt so lucky that I was about to marry this man! We danced the whole night, the band was incredible and everyone just had a great time. After we got back to the loft, we took my dog Gus for a walk,  came back & ate a huge piece of cake & talked about what an amazing time we had just had with our family & friends!  It truly was everything that we had wanted. 

Photography: Two Ring Studios / Flowers: Aria Floral / Event Planning: Asheville Event Co. / Ceremony + Reception Location: Homewood / Hair: Lola / Makeup: Makeup at Grove Arcade / Cake: Tiffany’s Baking Co. / Caterer: Colorful Palate / Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Reception Band: The Business / Linens and Coverings: Classic Event Rental

I’m about to share with you the most amazing Fairy Tale wedding. It’s set at the ultimate of all very tale locales, Biltmore, and is the definition of utter romance. But I’m going to make you do one thing first. I know you’re ready to gush over a pretty wedding – I’m assuming that’s why you are here. But clear your mind, think back to when you were young, and all you dreamed of was a fairy tale wedding. NOW you are ready to ready to see this amazing affair as Two Ring Studios saw it. And you are ready to laugh, cry, swoon, and twirl like your eight year old self all afternoon in the full gallery!

Click here for the full image gallery!

As a little girl, I always had the fairytale dream of being married in a castle. After getting engaged to the man of my dreams in Egypt on a cruise ship on the Nile river in November of 2010, I immediately revisited those childhood dreams. By choosing the Biltmore Estate, I got the castle, but my choosing the right vendors and designers, I got the fairytale too.

In January of 2011, Tom and I put our English Springer Spaniel, Caesar, in the car and we all visited Asheville, North Carolina for the first time. This trip changed our lives. We met Mark Arrington and Robert Hill of BobbyMarks Designs who would become our wedding planners and who ultimately would make our dream wedding a reality at Lioncrest on the Biltmore Estate. Never have I met two individuals with such talent, heart, and compassion for their careers and clients. On this trip, we also met with Asheville Wedding Photographers Derek Olson and Galen McGee of Two Ring Studios who were our only choice to capture the pictures on our special day. It was the work on their website at the Biltmore Estate, which initially drew us there in the first place.

After setting a date of July 30, 2011 to marry, we immediately began working with Mark and Bobby as we planned the details of our Lioncrest wedding. In the next sixth months leading up to our big day, we chose the vendors that helped to complete our dream.

I wore a strapless organza gown designed by Fydor Atelier of Beachwood, Ohio. I wore satin peep-toe heels designed by Stuart Weitzman and carried a bouquet of garden roses, sweet peas, and hydrangeas designed by Robert of BobbyMarks Designs.

Asheville Wedding Photographers: Two Ring Studios / Flowers: BobbyMark’s Designs / Event Planning: Bobby Mark’s Designs / Ceremony Location: Biltmore Estate / Reception Location: Biltmore Estate / Makeup: Blush by Wendy / Hair stylist: Lola Salon / Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Dress: Fyodor Atelier / Ceremony musicians: Touch of Rose / DJ: Premiere Sound and Light / Lighting: It’s a Wonderful Light / Japanese Lanterns + Lounge Furniture Rental: Classic Event Rental / Ice Ceremony Altar Pieces + Ice Bar: Gary Ross, Ice Sensations / Rolls Royce: Elite Limousine / Silver Acrylic Chairs: Classic Party Rental

They say that geniuses pick green and after looking through all these gorgeous images from Caroline Ghetes, I can’t help but agree with whoever they are. This DIY bride mixed the perfect amount of natural and elegant elements to create a truly unique feel for her wedding day. And I must say, I’m totally obsessed with all the green accents from the moss covered tables to the bridesmaids dresses, it’s all about the green, baby. Click here for even more.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… There are a few things Kyle and I love most in the world: good friends, family, food, North Carolina and the mountains. We wanted our wedding to be an event that celebrated our love for one another while sharing the things we love best with our closest friends and families. When we drove up the long gravel driveway to the event barn and field at Claxton Farm, the venue search was over before it really began. Hugged by the mountains and secluded from everyday life, this venue was the perfect place to share our wedding with those most important to us.

Our vendors took care of all the big stuff, but we wanted to have a hand in the wedding as well, so we got to work buying, borrowing, and making all the small details for the wedding. The charger plates were purchased second-hand, and I painted them a charcoal gray to match our color scheme. I made all the table numbers, and we printed and stamped the place cards. The favors were home-brewed beer by Kyle and a friend, and we also had fig, peach, and pear preserves that my grandmother made. We also designed and printed all the labels for the beer bottles and jars of preserves. We used the cake knife Kyle’s grandmother offered for us to use that has been used at her family’s weddings for well over 100 years. All the signs were either handmade, borrowed, or written on old windows we found on Craigslist. The guest book was bought from Etsy and we made luminaries to line the pathways with. I even cut all the lace off the bottom of my mother’s wedding dress and had it sewn onto my veil. When Claxton Farm put all our details together with the hard work of our vendors, it was exactly what we had hoped it would be. A combination of old and new, natural and elegant, and we felt it was a step away from the traditionally elegant weddings we had recently been to.

Despite a little rain, the day was perfect. There were no nerves, no worries, just complete and total bliss.  I couldn’t wait to walk down the aisle and see Kyle. Our ceremony was written/assembled 100% by us. The readings were selected to represent our feelings on love and marriage, the overall tone was what we wanted to share with our guests, and we wrote our own vows. There were a few raindrops during the ceremony, but right before the end, the sun peeked out from the clouds. It was one of those perfect moments, the kind of thing you won’t forget. The evening proceeded with dinner, socializing, and finished up with lots of dancing. The team at Claxton Farm stoked up the fire and before we knew it, the night was over and we were off. It’s true what they say about your wedding flying by.

Photographer: Chicago wedding photographer Caroline Ghetes / Venue: Claxton Farm / Makeup: DIY by the bride / Hair: L’eau de Vie / Cake + Dessert: Cakes by Jane / Caterer: M7 Events / Florist: Jessica Gregory of Aria Floral /Officiant: Susie Greene / Ceremony Musician: Blue Ridge Tradition / DJ: Brian O’Toole (919-740-6260) / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely via Victorian Rose Bridal / Veil: Lace from mother’s wedding gown added to a veil from Victorian Rose Bridal / Shoes: Nordstrom / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Priscilla of Boston / Groom + Groomsmen Suits: Men’s Wearhouse / Groom’s shoes: Zappos / Stationery: Wedding Paper Divas / Save the Dates: NattyMichelle / Transportation: Elite Limousine / Bride’s DIY Resources: Michaels, A.C. Moore, Lowes, Etsy + eBay

I hope you are in the mood for some romance this lovely Friday morning (And really, who isn’t?), because this Biltmore soiree from the ah.mazing Asheville Event Co. is all about the amour and then some.  And with some seriously stunning North Carolina views, a plethora of beautiful blooms by The Flower Gallery and an oh-so-awesome horse-drawn carriage, it’s literally one fairy tale-esque detail after another in this fabulous affair.  Thankfully, Realities Photography was on hand to capture every breathtaking moment, so we have an entire weekend to spend with all of this pretty.  Sounds like a plan to me.  Join me in the gallery for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride… I envisioned the day of my wedding surrounded by the people we love, sharing in our joy! We both knew we wanted a “destination wedding” that would provide our guests with opportunity to partake in multiple celebratory events during our wedding weekend.  We selected Asheville as the setting, although it meant that all of our guests would have to travel a great distance to attend.  The “Walled Garden” of the elegant and historic Biltmore Estate, framed by the backdrop of the dramatic Blue Ridge Mountains, provided a magical setting for our special day and fulfilled every expectation for an enchanting wedding venue.

As I regally arrived into the Walled Garden in a horse-drawn carriage on this magnificent sunny day, I met the gazes of our delighted guests.  As I was escorted down the long aisle to meet my “husband to be” in front of the wedding Chuppa (canopy), everything was exactly as I had envisioned it! The flowers bedecking the Chuppa  were beautiful and everyone in our wedding party looked amazing! Brett looked handsome in his tuxedo, as he walked towards me grinning broadly, grasped my hand and whispered how beautiful I looked!!

My wedding colors were my favorite colors -orange and yellow accented with green.  Mary from Flower Gallery was a tremendous asset in creating my decor. When we first met, I wasn’t sure of what I really wanted although I knew I preferred the elegance of  cally lilies and orchids.  As this wedding was planned long distance, Mary sent me sketches of designs for my approval.  We collaborated to create a unique and dramatic style, which utilized a combination of contemporary flowers with a traditional look. Mary was able to fulfill my vision with her spectacular floral creations!

The wedding canopy looked stunning – a simple wrought iron structure, draped with coppery colored calla lilies – totally in keeping with the simplicity of the Walled Garden. The wedding centerpieces were absolutely gorgeous and masterful! Every other centerpiece was composed of a towering centralized vase, filled with orchids floating in water and decorative branches, expanding over the vase with tea candles hanging from the branches. Small vases, filled with flowers, surrounded the larger vase, creating a stunning impact of different floral levels on each table.

As we arrived at the Deerpark for our reception and entered the courtyard, which was adorned with lanterns hanging down imbuing the ambiance with a magical feel, we were introduced for the first time as Valerie and Brett Evenson. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the environment that had been created and by the joyous welcome we received from our guests.  We were ready to join the party and celebrate!

Wedding Ceremony Venue: Walled Garden at Biltmore / Wedding Reception Venue: Deerpark at Biltmore / Wedding Photography: Realities Photography / Wedding Planning: Asheville Event Co. / Florist: The Flower Gallery / Wedding Cake + Horse-drawn Carriage: Biltmore / Entertainment: Allergo Music + Split Second Sound / Make-up: Make-up at the Grove Arcade / Other Transportation: Asheville Historic Trolley + Blue Ridge Limo

Is it just me or does it look like this wedding was a rocking good time? Huge smiles, fresh mint mojitos and a grit bar are also major indicators that this was an affair not to be missed. J & J Photography captured all of the Southern festivities that were comprised of a ton of fabulous DIY details and ended with horse-drawn carriage riding off into the night. You know we love a great exit around these parts and there is more, more, oh so much more in the gallery so hightail it on over there stat.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…He was right under my nose! Traxler and I met multiple times growing up.  Our parent’s were friends and every once in a while we crossed paths. The last time we saw each other, it was apparent that fate had something much stronger in mind for the two of us.  After one year of long distance, and two more years in Charleston, SC, Traxler asked me to marry him.  And I said, “Yes!”

Traxler and I collaborated, and with our North Carolina upbringing, our new home in Charleston, and our love for the mountains, we figured it out.  A southern wedding in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina all with a rustic/elegance theme.  That’s right, tuxes and horses!  Although we had a strict budget to stick to, I remained optimistic.  For I am a bargain hunter!  My ultimate goal was to obtain all the extravagant details for a third of the cost…or something close to it.

After checking the big items off the list, the event site, the church, the photographer…it came down to fitting in all the details.  I scoured magazines, books, and blogs (thanks SMP!), to find the perfect final pieces to our matrimonial puzzle. Etsy became my new best friend, where I found all of my jewelry, gifts, and accessories.  My aunt was the florist, the cinematographer was my theatre teacher from high school. The gorgeous cake was made by a very close family friend, who also DIY’d the table numbers, and helped me with my DMOIY “Do Most of It Yourself” invitations, from Lani Blue Stationary.  My sister’s talented artistry was seen on many of our DIY projects as well, like the mirror which she transformed into the dinner menu, and the river rock table numbers.  We were truly amazed at everyone’s phenomenal talent, and are beyond thankful for their love and hard work!

Some of my favorite touches of the day included:  Mason jars, mojito’s (worth every effort for bulk fresh mint), grit bar complete with shrimp and andouille gravy, church ceremony, a “grooms-lady” live mountain music , LED hoola hoops, and a horse-drawn carriage exit under the stars.  We had hope and perseverance, and yes there were quiet a few bumps along the road, but to our delight, it truly was the best night of our lives.  Everything we wished for, tied together with music, dancing, and our favorite people.  What a great time!

Wedding Photography: J & J Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Dreamlight Films / Event Planning + Design: The Bride + Groom / Flowers: Beverly’s of Midway (Brides Aunt) / Event Day Coordinator: Hidden River Events / Ceremony Location: All Souls Cathedral / Reception Location: Hidden River / Invitations: Lani Blue Stationary + Etsy / Bride’s Shoes: Benjamin Adams / Wedding Dress: Watters via White on Daniel Island / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Hair: Adorn Salon and Boutique / Make-up: Makeup at the Grove Arcade / Catering: Caroline Allured / Wedding Cake: Family Friend / Jewelry, Gifts, Guestbook + More: Etsy / LED Hoola Hoops: Cosmic Hooper’s Emporium of Bliss (Family Friend) / Music: Dr. Robert Gant (Organ), Jay Brown (Cocktail Hour), + DJ Ozzie

When we first review a wedding, adjectives begin bubbling about in our minds. This wedding ~ Catherine and Andrew’s Biltmore Estate wedding, just felt magical. How ironic, was it that during their vows, Catherine said, “You brought magic to my life … we will live lives full of love and laughter that will make people stare!”

From the artists who are Woodward and Rick Photographers and Elysium Productions, we share a little piece of this magic with you today!

Our thanks to Woodward and Rick for a peek into Catherine & Andrew’s dreamy wedding! And our sincere congratulations to this lovely couple!

You can see their whole wedding gallery here in the SMP Photo Gallery and here on Woodward and Rick’s blog!

And now ~ the pièce de résistance from the ever-amazing Elysium Productions … Catherine and Andrew’s wedding film …

Catherine & Andrew from Elysium Productions on Vimeo.

From the beautiful bride, Catherine …
We’re not quite sure when we first met. Maybe 1994, maybe 1995, somewhere within the walls of Biltmore United Methodist Church in Asheville, North Carolina. Although we were casual friends growing up, we made it official in 2003. Within a few weeks, we both knew it was a perfect fit. Our relationship strengthened throughout college as we dealt with new opportunities and challenges, namely the intense rivalry of our alma maters. We’re still working on that. We explored Europe together during our 2007 semester abroad in Florence, Italy. Although there wasn’t a question that we’d spend our lives together, our time abroad really sealed the deal. Italy is pretty romantic, you know. As we graduated and moved to different states, we learned the value of communication, unlimited wireless plans and Delta SkyMiles! Andrew proposed at Veritas winery in Virginia, a thoughtful combination of the Blue Ridge mountains we grew up around and the wine culture we’d grown to adore in Italy.

Since we met in Asheville, getting married anywhere else just wouldn’t do. We looked at several outdoor venues before settling on the Lioncrest on The Biltmore Estate. The beauty of the Estate grounds combined with the know-how and experience of their staff was enough to push us over the edge. Plus, we thought our out-of-town guests would enjoy an event at a location that is so quintessentially Asheville! It was a great decision.

I’m really into DIY everything, so I was excited to dive into the planning and creating. Organizing, dreaming and designing the visual experience of our wedding became a part-time job I was elated to have, and without a wedding planner or coordinator, it was quite the task! The Lioncrest provided great space to work with and we were really inspired by the gorgeous green trees that framed the veranda where the ceremony and reception were held. We wanted to amplify the natural beauty of the setting with amazing flowers and decor. Hiring Stacey Brown of The Bloom Room was a no-brainer. She is truly a visionary and such a joy to work with! Since we kept the palette pretty neutral with champagne bridesmaids dresses and ivory groomsmen accessories, I really wanted color to be introduced in the flowers. Poppy is my favorite color, so we started there and decided on a range of raspberries, pinks, reds and peach colors. Stacey transformed the space into a lush, ethereal garden. It was truly exquisite.

We also wanted to incorporate a lot of personal touches in our big day, starting with choosing the day itself! We were married on August 21st. August 20th is Andrew’s parents’ anniversary, the 21st is his grandmother’s birthday and the 22nd is my grandparents’ anniversary. Since the 21st was bookended by two other important wedding anniversaries, it seemed like the perfect day for us. Both my mother and her father are Methodist ministers, so we definitely had our choice of special officiants! We decided to let my mom be a mother-of-the-bride and we asked my grandfather to marry us. We were so honored that he agreed and he was elated as well, especially since he officiated at my parents’ wedding nearly thirty years ago. We both have an incredible respect for my grandparents’ marriage, and his homily will always be one of our favorite memories of our wedding.

Since we decided on an outdoor/indoor venue, we wanted to create an altar space like one you might find in a traditional church setting. My paternal grandfather, an architect, passed away two years ago, leaving his heart pine workbench to my dad. His affinity for art and design was always an inspiration to me, and using the workbench as our altar table was a great way to include him in our wedding celebration. Andrew tracked down recovered barn wood and made the gorgeous and rustic cross that topped the altar table. He did an amazing job! As for some of the other details and choices, we chose to write our own vows in addition to reading the traditional vows. This was a hit with our guests and we are so glad that we chose to communicate our love in this way. It was also smart to practice a few times earlier that week, as I would have been a complete mess if I’d heard his vows for the first time during the ceremony!

We selected Woodward + Rick Photographers and Elysium Productions to capture our day, and both did an incredible job. People always say that videography is a crucial component of a wedding celebration, and we could not be happier with what Elysium delivered. It is amazing to relive the special day through both the photography and videography!

For future brides, my advice is to enjoy the process. The planning might be stressful, but it’s so rewarding to see everything come together and have your guests enjoy the celebration. Also, remember the final result: being married to your best friend! It was pouring rain throughout our entire wedding day and reworking some of the details was a bit overwhelming. Although I was concerned that our guests would drown in the summer storm, I eventually came to terms with the wet weather. The rain stopped five minutes before I walked down the aisle, the mist lifted behind the altar and the space looked beautiful. It will all work out, so savor the moments and enjoy everything. We’ve never felt more surrounded by love and we are so grateful to everyone for making it perfect.

Venue, Catering and Cake: The Biltmore Estate / Flowers and Space Design / The Bloom Room; Chocolate Bar / Kilwin’s of Asheville / Photography: Woodward + Rick Photographers / Cinematography: Elysium Productions / Hair: Wink! Heads and Threads / Makeup: Scott Thompson / Band: Brass Tyme / Transportation for Guests: Asheville Trolley Company / Getaway Car: Dan McIntyre / Strings: Mary Daniels Music / Vocalists: Monica Villar, Travis and Stephanie Vernon / Officiant: Richard Crowder / Ceremony Coordinator: Jacque May / Wedding Gown: Vera Wang, Impressions Bridal in Atlanta, GA / Bridesmaids Dresses: Monique Lhullier

We’ve been waiting for awhile to share Erin & Corey’s beautiful wedding images with you. Sadly, right after we received the photos, Erin’s mom passed away. We want to express our deepest sympathy to Erin and her entire family.  We hope that re-living the wedding day and the beautiful moments captured by Michael Oppenheim, you will find an inner peace, knowing your mom will always be with you …

Although Erin and Corey lived in Nashville, they chose Asheville, North Carolina for their wedding. They wanted an outdoor, woodsy site for the ceremony and the Glen at Homewood turned out to be the perfect spot! You can read more about it and see lots more gorgeous images on Michael Oppenheim’s blog {here}.

from michael’s blog …

The ceremony details were simple, natural, and elegant. Beth Hohensee from Studio Flora Diva created beautiful wedding bouquets, boutonnieres, and other arrangements that brought to life exactly what Erin had envisioned for her wedding day.

Rachael Schendel designed their invitations and programs and is an art director at redpepper, the advertising agency where both she and Erin work in Nashville. You can find more of her invites and designs on Etsy at Raspberry Creations.

The beautiful ceremony music was provided by violinist Ruben Orengo and guitarist Robert Anders. And the minister was Tim Lolley of Blue Mountain Weddings.

Following the ceremony we headed downtown for a quick pint and then headed to Fiore’s for the reception. After speaking with owner Anthony Cerrato during one of their previous trips to Asheville and tasting the food, they knew it was the perfect place for their intimate wedding reception. Being included in the meal I can attest that the food was stellar!

The cake was made by Sarah Resnick, pastry chef at City Bakery, and she made all Corey’s chocolate dreams come true! Fiore’s provided the should-be-famous Tiramisu. And as a finishing touch Erin and Corey provided a little box of chocolate from French Broad Chocolate Lounge for each of their guests!

Congratulations, Erin & Corey … and best wishes for a bright and beautiful future together!

Photography: Michael Oppenheim
Flowers: Studio Flora Diva (Beth Hohensee)
Ceremony Location: My Beloved Homewood
Reception Location: Fiore’s
Invitations: Raspberry Creations (Rachael Schendel)

Earlier today we showed you a few photographs from Yvette and Lou’s stunning wedding at The Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina. The exquisite day was captured by two of our favorite LBB members, Woodward + Rick Photographers. And then, we were delighted to learn that Weddings with Tara coordinated the occasion!

Yvette’s stunning bouquet was designed by The Purple Iris.

This romantic old-world-style entrance warms my heart ~ a little girl’s dream come true …

Yvette and her mother own Mira Couture in Chicago.

The Biltmore Estate: George Vanderbilt officially opened his estate home to family and friends in 1895, on Christmas Eve. His desire to create a country retreat where he could enjoy his passion for literature, horticulture and art resulted in one of the largest American homes of the time. The house was designed by architect, Richard Morris Hunt. The grounds were designed and developed by Frederick Law Olmstead ~ creator of New York’s Central Park.

Splendid, spectacular, amazing … what an awesome venue for a wedding!

Our thanks to Woodward + Rick Photographers for sending these spectacular images our way!

It’s not really REAL until you have THE shoes! Right?

Yvette & Lou’s stunning summer wedding at the Biltmore was the epitome of elegance and grace.  We’ll be sharing more images from Woodward and Rick Photographers in just a bit …

In the meantime, I’m quite sure Brian & Gry {Woodward + Rick} wouldn’t mind a bit if you took a quick look at Yvette & Lou’s sneak peek and feature on their blog!!

Thank you so very much to Kendrick and David of Our Labor of Love for sending us today’s featured wedding. It was a reminder that romance is found in the smallest of details…from the big kiss at the altar to the homemade jam favors and perfect first dance song. I love, love, love everything that this wedding stands for and I know that our readers will use it as inspiration for years to come!

And for all of our readers, here is a little piece of advice from the bride…if you have a budget, give yourself some wiggle room (because it costs lots more than you think) then stick to it. A wedding can get way out of control. Pick your most important elements and go cheaper on the rest.

From the gorgeous bride…

Although we had wanted to keep photos to a minimum during the cocktail reception, we ended up loving the hour we spent with our photographers after the ceremony ended. It was just us and them (Kendrick and David make a fabulous team), goofing off and having fun. Kendrick and David were able to catch the pure happiness and joy of this unique moment in time while Bryan and I had time to steep ourselves in each other’s presence. I would highly recommend setting aside time for you and your new hubby to enjoy each other before you greet all your guests.

We hired a bluegrass band to play the ceremony and cocktail hour yet asked them to play our favorite Paul Simon song, “Hearts and Bones,” for the processional. They also played special songs for the recessional and our first dance. It was wonderful to hear twangy versions of our favorite tunes. To make the ceremony feel more personal, we asked our sisters to each do a reading and Bryan’s best friend to perform a favorite song. Incorporating certain traditions and loved ones and working with our officiant on the text ensured that the ceremony truly represented us.

Credits: Location Claxton Farms, Catering by M7 Events, Wedding Coordination by Asheville Event Co., Flowers by Bloom Room, Short Steet Cakes, Cocktail Napkins, Jar Labels, and Stirrers by Miss Pickles Press, Peach Butter from Ashevilles Finest, School Buses from Emma’s Busline, Cake Topper by Ann Wood Handmade, Make-up by E. Scott Thompson, Suraj, Wedding Dress, Veil, and Flower hairpiece by Melissa Sweet.

Whenever I talk about details on Style Me Pretty, this is essentially the wedding that I am envisioning. The picture perfect little details threaded through every element of today’s featured affair, shot by Kendrick and David for Our Labor of Love, are almost too much to bear. Everything was DIY…Program Fans, Lavender Seed Packets, China place settings, Napkins, Table Runners, and Haybale Covers, Seating Card and the Hanging Grass Baskets for the chairs at the ceremony. And it was all total perfection, with each and every touch fitting and completely appropriate for the style. Love that.

And if you can’t wait for our next post on this affair, head on over to Our Labor of Love for more pictures and details!

I mean seriously…the menu alone is enough to send me clear over the edge. Throw in those adorable jam favors and a couple of cute signs and you’ve pretty much got me. But what I love the most is that each and every detail, each and every little touch of pretty, seems like it was made especially for this space. The style is so cohesive, so effortlessly lovely. It’s kind of like when your mom tells you that make-up should look like you aren’t wearing any at all. Every detail of this wedding just looks like it was made for this day alone.

Credits: Location Claxton Farms, Catering by M7 Events, Wedding Coordination by Asheville Event Co., Flowers by Bloom Room, Short Steet Cakes, Cocktail Napkins, Jar Labels, and Stirrers by Miss Pickles Press, Peach Butter from Ashevilles Finest, School Buses from Emma’s Busline, Cake Topper by Ann Wood Handmade, Make-up by E. Scott Thompson, Suraj, Wedding Dress, Veil, and Flower hairpiece by Melissa Sweet.

We have lots more coming up from Our Labor of Love in just a bit! In the meantime, if you haven’t already checked out their RIDICULOUSLY gorgeous blog, you are in for such a treat!

I tend to fall head over heels for anything that Our Labor of Love sends me. And this wedding, shot by the hugely talented Kendrick Brinson and David Walter Banks for Our Labor of Love, is no exception. It’s one of those blissfully romantic weddings where the thought and planning that went into the day shines so brightly, so beautifully. Plus, the bride Jamie, used SMP as inspiration which generally makes me grin from ear to ear.

From the lovely, lovely bride…

Bryan and I spent almost a week looking all around the greater Asheville area for a wedding site. We originally envisioned a large house with a big tree but when we drove onto Claxton Farm and saw the tobacco barn and the field surrounded by the blue ridge, we knew we had found our spot. We just loved how the mountains surrounded us on all sides and how the large wood planks of the barn allowed the sunlight to stream in.

Bryan and I decided not to see each other the day of the wedding until I walked down the aisle. I went to the site early with my immediate family. I absolutely LOVED walking onto the site hours before any of the guests arrived. I was able to wander and enjoy every little detail, and be so grateful to all the wonderful people who made it happen. Then my sister and I got to hide in a little room, drink champagne, and peek through the window as the guests arrived. Walking through the field to my beloved B, with all our family and friends, and my parents at my side actually made me cry, the space was so beautiful and full of love. B gave me a big smooch and dipped me at the end. We had sort of planned it (there’s a history of dipping) but got a little excited and almost fell over! It was hilarious and so much fun. We read our vows from our Ketubah and B stomped on the glass. The kiddush cup was my grandfathers, which had been used in my parents and my sisters wedding.

Credits: Location Claxton Farms, Catering by M7 Events, Wedding Coordination by Asheville Event Co., Flowers by Bloom Room, Short Steet Cakes, Cocktail Napkins, Jar Labels, and Stirrers by Miss Pickles Press, Peach Butter from Ashevilles Finest, School Buses from Emma’s Busline, Cake Topper by Ann Wood Handmade, Make-up by E. Scott Thompson, Suraj, Wedding Dress, Veil, and Flower hairpiece by Melissa Sweet.

So much more to come!