Southern Bride and Groom

SB&G Launches Sortable Venue Guide on Website

Jenna — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:30:27 +0000

We are excited to announce that we have launched a project we’ve been working on for awhile now! For 2 decades, brides searching for their perfect Raleigh, Durham, Cary or Chapel Hill wedding reception venue have relied on Southern Bride & Groom Magazine’s Venue Guide. This guide clearly lists all of SB&G’s venues and tabs important information such as how many guests can be seated, whether or not there are overnight accommodations, whether or not catering is provided, and if there is outdoor space.

Always trying to improve our offerings for our brides, SB&G has just launched a digital version of this chart on our website, which is sortable by category. Even better, once you sort to your preferences (say: Durham area, over 200 seated, outside catering allowed, and has outdoor space), you can click directly on the websites of the venues that match your desires!

Brides will still be able to browse through all of the SB&G venues as well, but hopefully, this option will allow for even simpler and more effective planning!

Altar Ego: Get in the Loop!

Jenna — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:22:25 +0000

The fashion event of the season is fast approaching!

Altar Ego is an evening of food, fashion and fun in Durham’s Washington Duke Inn, on Saturday March 31st from 6-11PM. Tre Bella Inc has planned an evening to remember and will be showcasing some of the latest bridal trends at the culmination of the fashion show. This 1940s themed event will include a performance by a swing band, delectable fare by the WaDu culinary team, inspirational event tabletops set up by some of the Triangle’s leading event professionals, and of course a fashion show with some of the area’s trendiest boutiques, and bridal salons. The PERFECT date night or ladies night out!

Tickets are available now, but in the meantime, FOLLOW Altar Ego Fashion on Twitter and LIKE Altar Ego Fashion on Facebook, to stay abreast of the latest news, and learn about the participating vendors!

Alexia’s Bridal Boutique ~ Raleigh Opening

Jenna — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:40:26 +0000

Congratulations to Alexia and Michael Joyce and their team! They recently opened their exquisite new bridal salon location, Alexia’s Bridal Boutique, which relocated to Raleigh, at 400-100 North West Street, a block off of Glenwood.

We had the privilege of attending their opening cocktail soiree and just like everything that Alexia’s is part of, this was done right! Cocktails (Sip…A Wine Store) and hors d’oeuvres (Crave catering) were served while guests enjoyed light jazz by John Brown Entertainment Group‘s Trio. Floral design was provided by Watered Garden Florist, and event rentals from Themeworks and Classic Party Rentals. Party planning was arranged by Chic Details Weddings & Events, and invitations/programs by Paperwhites.

The peak of the evening was a Vera Wang runway show. Primp Salonbar, which is located right across the street from Alexia’s new location, was responsible for the stylish hair & makeup of the models. Joe Bunn DJ Company served as the DJ for the runway show, and lighting was provided by Get Lit Special Event Lighting.

Neil Boyd Photography documented the beautiful occasion, and we are happy to share some of his beautiful photos below.

Visit Alexia’s new location to find your dream wedding gown or bridesmaid dresses. Alexia and Michael Joyce also own Lana Addison Bridal in Cary.

Valentine’s Day Feature: Rose Hill Romance

Jenna — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:54:21 +0000

Happy Valentine’s Day to all the loving couples who follow Southern Bride & Groom, and to our fabulous family of wedding professionals!

Today we are happy to feature a beautiful love story and wedding that took place last year at one of the most romantic wedding venues in North Carolina – Rose Hill Plantation. Angie Wright of Chic Details planned this beautiful wedding to the tee, with a whole team of SB&G pros! Read the full story of Catie and Josh, and see fabulous detail photos HERE!

photo by nancy thomas photography

Belk Engagement Parties

Jenna — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:45:01 +0000

Thursday, February 16
5:30-8:30PM

On Thursday, all of the Triangle Belks are hosting an Engagement Party! Just stop by the Bridal Registry Area for all kinds of fun. If you have not registered for your wedding yet, you are in luck – register during this event to be in the drawing for some amazing prizes! There will also be music, refreshments.

If you are near Southpoint, the event there is being treated to delicious fare provided by The Siena Hotel.

For a full list of the local Belk, visit our Bridal Registry Page.

Engagement Sessions

Jenna — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:56:55 +0000

The E-Session is SO hot right now… And with good reason!

The engagement photo shoot commemorates the most special time between a couple! For most, this is the first time a couple has ever had a series of photographs taken of them, and surely its the first go-round with a professional photographer. This is a time for the happy hubby and wife-to-be to get comfortable both with their photographer, and in front of the camera. And the results? Several framers of you and your fiance that can be used on your Save-The-Dates, in your Wedding Guest Book, as gifts to the in-laws, or just for your own enjoyment (FB Profile Pic!).

This photo-shoot is all about the couple. Yes, the wedding day is about the couple too, but no matter how hard you try to schedule those newlywed shots on your wedding day, there will be less time to focus, and way more adrenaline rushing through you and driving you to get into that reception! If you have had an E-session, not only do you have to stress about getting as many shots together, but you will make more efficient use of the time you do have, because your photographer already understands how to work with you as a couple! So throw that E-session into your photography package – it will definitely be worth it!

Below is a collage of engagement photos by Dara Blakeley Photography ~ this gives an idea of how fun, and rewarding, the E-Session can be!

Franklin Hotel Bridal Boutique 2012

Jenna — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:30:39 +0000

The Franklin Hotel Bridal Boutique
Sunday, February 19
1:00-4:00pm
$5 per person

Wedding Show Season continues with The Franklin Hotel‘s annual Bridal Boutique, which is coming up soon! This is an intimate showcase of some of the Triangle Area’s leading wedding professionals. Enjoy getting to know these vendors, while soaking in the romantic ambiance of The Franklin Hotel, a perfect wedding and reception site. Pre-register to be a contender for fabulous prizes, including a Honeymoon Night at The Franklin! Call Joann Sullivan at 919-442-4094 to register.

Celebrity Event Designer Matthew Robbins on My Carolina Today

Jenna — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:03:13 +0000

A very exciting guest appearance on NBC-17′s My Carolina Today is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7th.

Top celebrity event designer Matthew Robbins will be on the 11AM show, promoting his new book, “Inspired Weddings.” He will also be teaching Sharon and Valonda how to create a tabletop design based on various budgets!

Robbins has worked with Martha Stewart, Tina Fey, Vera Wang, Whitney Houston, Sade and more, so he is an event expert. If any SB&G readers have a question for Matthew, email it to us at info@southernbridandgroom.com by Friday, Feb 3 and we’ll submit it to My Carolina Today!

SB&G February Winners!

Jenna — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:03:47 +0000

Three of our monthly prizes were given out for the first of the month. Congrats to our February winners!

Blair McDonald and Spencer Welborn won a $75 gift certificate to Parizade. Blair and Spencer are getting married in Chapel Hill in August.

Jocelyn Mohr won a $100 gift certificate to Primp Salonbar. She is pictured below with her fiance, Abe Kline, below.

Elizabeth Latta and Nate Westmoreland won a $250 event production package from Showtime Events. Their wedding reception will be at Cobblestone Hall in July.

To register for our monthly prizes, visit http://www.southernbrideandgroom.com/giveaways.

SB&G on UNC TV’s NC Now

Jenna — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:36:27 +0000

The SB&G team was on TV again this week!

Publisher Donna Parks and Production Manager Jenna Olender, the mother-daughter duo that operate Southern Bride & Groom, appeared on UNC TV’s NC Now, to talk about the magazine’s 25th Anniversary.

We weren’t able to get the video clip of just our segment, but we did get the entire 30 minute show! We are “Chapter 3″- the last 1/3 of the show, and if you’d like to skip forward to our part, you can! Enjoy!

Watch Tuesday, January 31, 2012 on PBS. See more from NC Now.