Here are a few behing-the-scenes preview shots from our latest photo shoot. SB&G teamed up with Chapel Hill's Governor's Club last month to create a real bridal luncheon for one of GC's staff members, Catherine, which will be featured in the next edition of the magazine. The soiree was set up on the beautiful balcony overlooking the lake and golf course. Katie Cathey of La Fete styled the event with a Caribbean theme. Lovely Katie is pictured below with the beautiful floral arrangements provided by University Florist. In the other photo is me setting out the gorgeous cake by Sugarland. The linens and tableware rentals were donated by Classic Party Rental. Lisa Brown of Bella Rose Photography was onsite to shoot the entire event. We can't show you the final shots that will be in the magazine just yet, but I can tell you the final spread in the 2011 magazine will be beautiful and timeless.

Photos below are courtesy of Bella Rose Photography:

One of the most challenging elements of wedding planning is picking colors- at least for me! Its so hard to make that commitment, because as we all know, those 2, 3, or even 4 colors you select can make a huge impact on the mood of your big day.

In an effort to stay on top of the wedding trends, Donna and I hit up as many wedding events and seminars as we can fit in. Two of these recent events that I've attended have included presentations by award-winning and nationally-acclaimed wedding/event planners, and of COURSE they both touched on the topic of colors!

At the April NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) event, the guest speaker was CEO and Managing Director of The Special Event Company, Sally Webb. She said that the hottest new color combination that she's seeing right now is yellow, combined with any shade of blue. Yellow is a fabulous choice for any season- it is perfect for the main color during spring or summer events, with navy, royal, aqua or carolina blue as Sally suggested, but also with the blooming colors of these seasons such as corals & greens. And in the fall it works well with deeper oranges or browns. Even in winter it could serve as an accent color with blue, black or white.

Last week I attended Forever Bridal's event featuring The Wedding Guys - Matthew Trettel and Bruce Vassar - who are Minneapolis-based wedding industry visionaries and trend-spotting specialists who put on fashion shows and plan major weddings.  These two spoke about the concept of color palates versus the older tradition of one theme color. Now we are seeing brides pick palates of 3-4 colors, which is a more challenging thing to accomplish, but can bring more life and personality into the event. Matt and Bruce examine the colors that appear on the runway to predict what will be hot in approximately 18 months in weddings. They say that the upcoming year's hot colors will be muted tones, pastels, blushes, and even teal. (And for men's suits, charcoal gray- which makes me happy because that is what I had envisioned putting MY groom in next April :)

Now what's interesting is that while the planners had different ideas about what the current "hot colors" are, the message is clear- your colors can be whatever you want!  The hot colors come and go in an ongoing cycle, so pick anything that makes you happy and feels like it is YOU. If you need help, talk to your wedding planner- give her one favorite color and let her help you select the accents. Or refer to magazines and websites for combinations that appeal to you. Last year's color combos will still be cool next year- if it looks good, it looks good!

Cake Photo by Bella Rose Photography. All other photos by Walters & Walters.

Bel Canto Designs creates necklaces, earrings, headpieces, and more out of vintage jewelry items. This week they have a special sale going on- a couple of their necklace & earring sets are on sale for $75 off their normal price. This sale is only for 3 more days so act quickly! Information about the sale can be found HERE.

Visit Bel Canto's Website to learn about what they do and other items they carry. For unique wedding jewelry they are a hot find!

Tre Bella Inc & the North Carolina Museum of Art are presenting:
The 3rd Annual Altar Ego, An Event All About You
Thursday, May 6, 6:30pm-10:00pm

This special evening will include a fashion show, raffle prizes, table top designs, food, music & art. The event is presented in partership with Dress for Success Triangle in an effort to raise funds and awareness for this amazing charity.

Carol Hannah Whitfield of Project Runway will be attending the event to debut her new bridal line, which Tre Bella Bridal will carry. She will also available for appointments this week, on May 7th & 8th.

Some of the exciting raffle prizes include including a Manuel Mota Salisbury bridal gown valued at $2,300 from Tre Bella Bridal, an overnight package at the O. Henry Hotel in Greensboro, and several gift certificates to Triangle restaurants. Raffle tickets are $5 and must be purchased before the event!

For tickets and more information please visit: http://trebellabridal.com/altarego.htm

Now that I'm back from a quick vacay in New Mexico, I finally have a minute to post some photos from SB&G's vendor appreciation event, which was held on April 8 at the Chatham Hill Winery in Morrisville. SB&G holds an event each year to thank all of our advertisers and also to provide a chance to all the amazing wedding specialists to mix & mingle. We had a great time at this year's locally-themed wine & food tasting event, and hope everyone who attended did as well! Thank you to the Chatham Hill Winery, Triangle Catering, Tre Bella Inc, Edible Art, East Coast Entertainment, American Party Rentals and Purple Puddle for helping to bring the soiree together!

Its another Monday in the office after a big weekend of the spring bridal show extravaganza. Forever Bridal's April Event, the Southern Bridal Show & Expo, was at the NC State Fairgrounds yesterday. Donna and I were both there representing Southern Bride & Groom, handing out hundreds of magazines & chatting with the happy brides-to-be. We debuted the new cover, which is a photograph of a real wedding taken by Kristine Dittmer. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon and the crowd of engaged couples & their entourages were in cheery spirits, which makes the day fun for all. Highlights of the day included an appearance by the American Idol contestant Anoop Desai, and a former SB&G intern winning a kissing contest with her fiance! 

The event was double the fun for me, as a member of the SB&G team and a newly-engaged chica! I've been to dozens of bridal shows with Southern Bride & Groom, but being there while in the beginning stages of actually planning a wedding made things relevant and fun on a whole new level. Even though I work in the wedding industry (and for the Triangle's wedding GURU), wedding planning is inevitably an overwhelming task. There are so many amazing venue & talented wedding professionals in this area - its hard to know who to pick. Then as you choose, dozens of new decisions arise, as you have to figure out your "wedding vision," color scheme, menu items and songlists! The bridal show is a great way to preview the array of options out there and speak directly with vendors. Using SB&G's magazine and Website is another great resource to guide the bride (and her helpers) throughout the process. I'm going to share some of my planning experiences, and planning tips as I go through this blog, so keep checking in for my updates! In the meantime, continue to visit SB&G's website for the Triangle's best vendors, and friend us on facebook for updates on SB&G and wedding industry happenings!

TODAY (April 15)-

The North Carolina Museum of History in downtown Raleigh is hosting a bridal event from 6-9pm. There will be food tastings from local caterers, hair stylists on-site to work with brides, music and a fashion show. Tickets are just $5 at the door. www.ncmuseumofhistory.org

THIS SUNDAY (April 18)-

Forever Bridal's big spring bridal show is this Sunday at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. At the Southern Bridal Show & Expo you will meet dozens of the best Triangle professionals, taste cakes, watch fashion shows, and hopefully book some wedding vendors! http://www.foreverbridal.net

Congrats to our prize winners for April:

Christie Range won a $50 gift certificate to Tosca Ristorante Italiano.

Kristen Lloyd won a $100 gift certificate to Bella Trio Day Spa.

Emily Faircloth won at $350 package of on-location makeup services from Make-Up for Your Day. She is photographed below with her fiance, John Sweitzer.

If you are a Triangle bride, register to win one of next month's prizes HERE. In May we will draw for a Sands Resort Myrtle Beach trip, and dinners at Caffe Luna and Tosca.

The newlyweds’ first ride as husband and wife should be celebratory, memorable and out of the ordinary. This special ride usually takes place as the couple arrives at the reception, or leaves the reception together after the reception is over. Either way, it is a monumental, yet fleeting moment, when the couple is out of the public eye for the first time all day and can relish in the excitement that the knot is officially tied!

Johnny Smith, of Gold Leaf Carriage, has provided this moment for brides & grooms on the East Coast for over 20 years, and he has definitely achieved “pro” status. His white, patent-leather carriage is pulled by two stunning black Percheron draft horses. Johnny (the driver) and his footman are decked out in authentic coachmen attire- top hat, gloves and coat-tailed jackets. The carriage even has an optional top, to ensure that your ride is perfectly romantic, even the weather is less than so.  http://www.goldleafcarriage.com

The photo below, taken by Scott Faber Photography, shows Gold Leaf Carriage in action. For more transportation ideas, visit:  http://www.southernbrideandgroom.com/Limos.shtml

On Tuesday night, SB&G attended a very special event. The Triangle chapter of NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) donated a wedding to a very deserving Garner couple. Shortly after the couple got engaged last summer, the bride was diagnosed with cancer, and she has now been given 3-5 months to live. Their original wedding venue fell through, so NACE, along with the help of several generous vendors, stepped in to help them have a memorable wedding day. Read more about their story here.

Several local wedding businesses donated different aspects of the wedding. The event took place at The Sutherland in Wake Forest. A dress was donated by Alexia's Bridal Boutique and a tux from Savvi Formalwear, the cake was provided by Sweet Memories Bakery, rentals & linens were from Classic Party Rentals, and both Katie Hamister and Brian Mullins were onsite to photograph the occasion. 

A few of the other local vendors who donated their services include Grace Leisure Events, Joe Bunn DJ Company, Mitchell's Catering & Events, Fleurtations Floral, Ed & Becky Sansbury, the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, On Lokation Make-Up Artistry, Sea Sound Studio, Focused Videography, Raleigh Wedding Cars, and A Step To Gold International Ballroom.

This photograph of the couple being wed by Ed & Becky Sansbury was taken by Dara Blakeley (with my handheld camera!). 

And here are a few photos taken by Katie Hamister: