Archive for May 2012
NC Eco Wedding
Shereen & John Tie the Knot at Elodie Farms
Shereen Katrak and John Mills met almost ten years ago while studying abroad in the same program at Oxford University. Over candlelit dinners at their college, walks around the gardens and deer park, and hours of reading, they fell in love.
After nine years together – although much of it was spent on different coasts while they each attended graduate school – they knew they were headed for marriage. John proposed to Shereen at the end of a full day in Asheville, full of hiking, a spa treatment, and dinner at the Admiral. The betrothed couple then selected rings to have custom-created. When the rings arrived, John surprised Shereen on the night of the super moon. He made an elaborate meal, picked her up from work, and drove to the top of a parking garage, where he presented the ring over a romantic moonlit picnic.
The couple selected the pastoral setting of Elodie Farms, a local goat farm, for their wedding. They say that they “tried to have the weekend and ceremony reflect our values.” They chose locally grown food and flowers for the meals and decorations. The ceremony reflected John’s Baptist background and Shereen’s Hindu and Zorastrian, by having a reading from the Bible, a traditional exchange of vows, and then walking three times around a fire.
Shereen and John say they “used Southern Bride & Groom for ideas about who to use, and how to decorate.” For example, Shereen’s beautiful Nicole Miller gown was from Lana Addison Bridal , they used Floral Dimensions for flowers, American Party Rentals for rentals, and their beautiful engagement and wedding photos were by Riley MacLean Photography .
Shereen and John live in Durham. They moved to NC because it is a place where Shereen can get world class medical training in preparation for a career in infectious disease, and John can litigate appeals on the behalf of death row prisoners.
Wedding & Reception Location: Elodie Farms
Minister: Rev. Don Musser
Rerhearsal Dinner: Dos Perros
Wedding Planner: Cherished Celebrations
Caterer: Watts Grocery
Bridal Gown: Lana Addison Bridal
Bridal Jewelry: the bride’s mother and grandmother
Formalwear: J. Crew
Hair: Paper Rock Scissors, Durham
Photographer: Riley Maclean Photography
Florist: Floral Dimensions & Dan Vogel’s flowers by the bucket
Cake: Scratch (pies)
Ceremony Musicians: Joshua Starmer (cello)
Reception Music: Joe Bunn DJ Company
Rentals: American Party Rentals
Guest Accommodations: Marriott Hotel Durham
Transportation: Greenway Transit
Raleigh Bridal Open House at Cardinal Club
Cardinal Club Bridal Open House
Friday, June 1 ~ 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
“Say I Do to the Best Downtown View”
Experience the Cardinal Club, one of Downtown Raleigh’s favorite venues, in event mode. The beautiful city club will be set up as it would be for a wedding event.
Enjoy complimentary food and drinks while overlooking Fayetteville Street, and meet expert wedding vendors. Enter to win various door prizes, which will be given out at 7:30pm.
Photo of the Cardinal Club provided by Luster Studios.
MacGregor Downs Country Club Wedding Venue News
MacGregor Downs Country Club is one of the prestigious clubs of the Triangle Area, with over 40 years of history.
Located in Cary on one of the area’s most beautiful golf courses, MacGregor boasts beautiful event facilities and is a wonderful option for any of your wedding events – from a lakeside rehearsal dinner, to a terrace wedding ceremony or an old world romantic reception in The Original Main Dining Room of MacGregor Downs.
The club’s exquisite culinary team will create a menu to your taste, and the event staff, will guide you to your special day.
The club is happy to announce an entirely new Food and Beverage team, led by Food and Beverage Director, Joseph Nowell, Private Events Manager, Elizabeth Winfield, and Executive Chef Lionel Hughes. The new team comes to MacGregor with a combined 50 years experience in the Food and Beverage Industry. These three individuals have worked throughout the hospitality industry in clubs, hotels/resorts and restaurants all over the country from Atlanta, Georgia, to New Orleans, LA and Illinois. They are enthusiastic about MacGregor, and are on a mission to continue to improve its services and amenities while preserving the high-class reputation on which the club is built.
Call Elizabeth Winfield to tour the venue for your wedding event, 919-467-0146 ext. 206.
Our most recent real wedding feature was the wedding of Ashley and Colby which took place at MacGregor Downs last fall. Read the full story and view Dara Blakeley’s beautiful photography by clicking HERE!
June Triangle Bridal Giveaways
We just looked into our stash of bridal giveaways and we have sooo many amazing prizes left for the year, that we decided to make June a big month of some of our favorite prizes! You don’t want to miss being in the pool for these prizes!
Register with Southern Bride & Groom by June 1, and you’ll be in the running for the following prizes:
- $100 to Primp Salonbar
Treat yourself to a new ‘doo and possibly a cocktail.
- $100 to Silverland Jewelry & Gifts
Get a head start on your bridal or bridesmaid jewelry.
- $100 dinner for two at Il Palio at The Siena Hotel
Il Palio is The Siena’s 4 star restaurant, serving high end Italian fare.
- $100 dinner for two at Café Parizade in Durham
Experience fine Mediterranean cuisine at one of Durham’s favorite restaurants.
- $75 dinner for two at Solas
Enjoy a meal in one this urban-chic restaurant that overlooks Glenwood
- 50 thank you notes from Maria Scheel Invitations & More
Get started on your thank you notes with this custom creator of stationery.
- 2 room nights/weekend stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh-Cary
Perfect for you or a family friend to use during your wedding weekend, or just for a couple nights away from home!
We are also doing a FACEBOOK CONTEST to win a free specialty keepsake hanger from Posh Hangers this month! This is a separate contest- to enter, just tag Posh Hangers in a post on SB&G’s facebook wall.
Prizes will be announced June 4 on Facebook!
We also have a special prize coming up in July – a 2 night stay at The Meadowbrook Inn in Blowing Rock, NC! (All registrations this month will be in the contest for that prize as well).
Posh Hangers Facebook Contest
Southern Bride & Groom is happy to feature a new fabulous business, Posh Hangers.
Margaux Luen created her first specialty hanger when a family friend was getting married, and she wanted to give the bride a unique gift. She realized she had stumbled across something special, and decided to launch a business. We met Margaux recently and just fell in love when we saw her product.
As a wedding publication and website, we see a lot of wedding photos. One of the all-time favorite wedding photographs is that classic shot of the bridal gown hanging on the door frame or closet, looking beautiful and pristine, before the bride slips into it and meets her groom. Believe us when we say, nothing ruins that shot quicker than an ugly hanger!
Margaux’s beautifully elegant, hand-crafted hangers solve this problem. And, not only does Posh Hangers carry “Mr.” and “Mrs.” Hangers, but there are various other designs- such as “Bridesmaid,” or even names, so that the hangers can be used as a keepsake gift for your entire wedding party, parents, etc.
To
welcome Posh Hangers to SB&G, we are running a Facebook contest for engaged
women, for a chance to win a FREE hanger (you choose the style), until June 4th.
Like Southern Bride & Groom on Facebook and tag Posh Hangers in a post on our wall. All of the names will go into a pool, and a winner will be drawn on Monday June 4th. Good Luck!
Bella Bridesmaid Represented in Survivor Win
A bridal shop owner is the most recent winner of CBS Reality Competition, “Survivor: One World,” the show’s 24th season. Kimberly Spradlin, owner of San Antonio Bella Bridesmaid, won both the $1 million grand prize this past Sunday as well as the fan favorite prize of $100,000. She must have deserved it!
Attention of this caliber is fabulous for girl power, the bridal industry, and of course, for the Bella Bridesmaid franchise.
I spoke with the local owner of Bella Bridesmaid, Christy Carver, about Kim’s win. Christy met Kim in New York City at Bridal Week 2011, where the Bella Bridesmaid owners all visited the NYC store to view several designers and potential exclusive lines. She says that Kim was “delightful to be around” and offered help and advice to the new Triangle store owner.
She went on to explain that there is a community feeling between the Bella Bridesmaid owners. Christy just took over the Raleigh store and relocated it to Cary in late 2011, so she is newer to the “BB Sorority,” but says that in this short amount of time, “they have become a second family, and that she has made some incredible friends for life.”
I personally feel the love between the Triangle wedding community as well, and it is always wonderful to hear about wedding businesses supporting one another. This is the best way to learn and grow, after all!
Christy welcomes any bride to visit the Cary Bella Bridemaid at the Lochmere Pavilion Shopping Center. Her goal and the goal of Bella Bridesmaid is to give the bridal party one-on-one personal attention that they deserve. Dresses range from $175-$400, some of the designers in the Cary location include Amsale, LulaKate, Coren Moore, twobirds, and more.
Wedding Trend Report: Photo Booths
It is undeniable that today’s wedding is shaped by the ever-evolving world of technology. One of the coolest and still relatively new trends that modern technology has brought us is the use of photo booths at weddings, which has taken off in the past few years. They are all the rage, and you have most likely experienced one at a wedding. But, you probably don’t realize how much the field has changed just recently, and how many new features are available with photo booth rental.
We spoke to Neal Zipser, who launched ShutterBooth’s Triangle/ Central/ Eastern NC division in 2008, about the future of photo booths in weddings.
“We brainstormed, we researched, we identified gaps in services and, of course, we spoke to brides,” Neal says, “We decided that being a trend setter is better than being a trend follower.” Neal told us about a few ways ShutterBooth has predicted the needs of brides and incorporated technology to do stay fresh.
ShutterBooth identified a gap in spontaneous video, as well as personalized footage of guests other than the wedding party. They added ShutterVideo (still behind the curtain of the booth), where guests have the option to leave a taped message to the newlyweds.
Then, they looked at the affordability issue. Neal says, “While I believe a ShutterBooth is a ‘must have,’ the reality is that it typically is something that brides want badly but sometimes can’t afford.” So, they created the revolutionary ShutterRegistry, which allows brides to register for a ShutterBooth, so their guests help pay for the service.
In our TMZ/celebrity world, they also found a desire for a “red carpet” experience. So, ShutterBooth now offers the option of the booth without the curtain, so that spontaneous photos can be taken against branded backdrops. The creative possibilities here are endless.
And finally, while a photo booth provides instant gratification with on-the-spot photos, guests still want the availability to access their photos online as soon as possible. With the new Shutter and Share, guests sign up on a laptop at the wedding to have an email notification sent to them when the photos go live.
There is no question that the photo booth experience is one that guests are sure to enjoy and make a wedding event memorable. The photo strips are a wonderful keepsake for the guests and newlyweds alike. And now there are extra user-friendly options from organized help to acquire the booth in the first place, to fun new features and options once you book it. I’m sure the world of photo booths will only continue to grow to fit brides’ needs, and we will be sure to report it!
Photos Above Left to Right- Dara Blakely Photography; Luster Studios
Downtown Raleigh Wedding Venues
Weddings in the heart of the city are popular these days, and one good reason is that with the downtown revival, restorations and growth, everything is close by or within easy walking. Restaurants, parks, museums, churches and late night bars are plentiful for the weekend entertainment.
Tie the knot at All Saints Chapel before moving on to a fabulous downtown reception. This is a beautiful, nondenominational chapel for the modern bride who wants to walk down the aisle.
The venue choices range from grand hotels like the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel, and the Marriott Raleigh City Center, that offer a choice of luxurious banquet spaces along with the convenience of room accommodations with special rates for all wedding guests. It’s so nice for both the host and the guests to have their “room away from home” central to the weekend events.
Unique event spaces have opened in downtown that appeal to the bride who is looking for lots of personal choices to display distinct style. Cobblestone Hall, stands out in historic Moore Square at City Market. The all-red brick building has 20-foot high ceilings and an Old World look. Another new favorite is The Stockroom, an urban venue with big city “loft” flair situated on the second floor at 230 Fayetteville Street.
Although the name implies the past, sophisticated or avant-garde might well describe the grand three-story lobby and curved staircase, soaring granite columns, cathedral ceiling and glass walled entrance of The North Carolina Museum of History. Views encompass the State Capitol and other downtown landmarks. The Museum of History should also go on your recommended lists of activities for guests no matter which downtown venue you choose.
Elegance abounds in downtown Raleigh with the distinguished sister clubs, Cardinal Club and Capital City Club, each designated as “downtown’s best views to say I do”. Our newest “old” club is the just opened Grand Ballroom on 16 Martin Street, a 1930’s historic men’s club newly refurbished and ready for wedding affairs on the penthouse floor.
Caffe Luna creates great Italian wedding menus and offers top-notch service in their three art-filled private event rooms as well as specializing in off-site catering.
These many beautiful event choices above, paired with the excitement of the downtown capital city gives any couple the chance to enjoy their own unique day.
Top photo by Neil Boyd Photography; Other two by Brian Mullins Photography
ISS Experience NC Recap
ISS is an event industry resource, including a magazine, mentoring programs, and the “Experience” seminars that travel the nation. The event is framed to inspire, educate and connect wedding business professionals. The event kicked off with a cocktail party in which The Cotton Room was decorated beautifully by a team of Triangle wedding vendors, led by Erin McLean Events. Throughout the event, attendees were fed delicious food by Triangle Catering. Other local sponsors & contributors included The English Garden, Heart Stone Films, MakeUpForYourDay, Joe Bunn DJ, Tesh Parekh Live Painting, Ice Occassions, Vesic Photography, The Green Kangaroo, CE Rental, and Party N’ Post.
The nontraditional seminar consisted of presentations and live interviews/group discussions with prominent national event professionals, including ISS Founder Stacie Francombe, Design Superstar Preston Bailey, Weddings Unveiled Editor Brooke Thomas, and Celebrity Cake Designer Jay Qualls.
Although we at SB&G focus on the local event business, we follow national trends so that we can share them with our family of vendors and brides. This was a unique look into the mind’s of some of the national wedding business’ forefront movers and shakers.
One thing that stood out was something that Preston Bailey said on his success, “I surround myself with people who teach me things, and who inspire me.”
This is a fabulous way both to live life and approach your career. At SB&G, we live by that principle; we are very lucky to work with such amazing event professionals, and are always continuing to be amazed and inspired by our fabulous group of wedding associates!
Durham Magazine “Best of” List
This month’s magazine edition announced the 2nd annual “Best of Durham” winners. We wanted to give a shout-out to all of the SB&G clients who were honored with a gold, silver or bronze award, which are voted on by the local patrons. We are so proud to work with so many amazing Durham businesses!
Congrats to all of the “Best of Durham” Winners! Here are the SB&G winners:
Best Greek/Mediterranean Food
Gold- Parizade
Best Museum
Silver- Nasher Museum of Art
Best Florist
Gold- Ninth Street Flowers
Silver- Floral Dimensions
Best Event Space
Gold- Bay 7
Silver- Duke Gardens
Bronze- Washington Duke Inn
Best Event Planner
Gold- A Swanky Affair
Best Hotel
Gold- Washington Duke Inn
Silver- Durham Marriott
Best B&B
Gold- The King’s Daughters Inn
Best Event Photographer
Silver- Scott Faber Photography
Best Salon
Silver- Bella Trio Day Spa
Best Spa
Gold- Bella Trio Day Spa