Charlotte Wedding Venues: The Duke Mansion

If you are a Charlotte area bride you will be very happy to hear this news, if you have not heard it already. The Duke Mansion now allows wedding receptions!! If you're asking what is the big deal, you have never had the pleasure of visiting The Duke Mansion. Still undecided about your wedding venue, do yourself a favor and give them a call and take a tour. It is guaranteed to be at the top of your list.

Image from Christopher Record Photography

Southern Weddings Magazine: beautiful, inspiring, a-must-read

Have you picked up your copy of Southern Weddings Magazine? You haven't? What are you waiting on? I bought four bridal magazines on Monday to try to catch up on my wedding magazine reading and Southern Weddings Magazine was by far my favorite read. Not only is the magazine full of amazing wedding photography it also is dripping with inspiration from the Watercolor Palette section (my favorite) to the Real Weddings section. If you are planning your upcoming nuptials, this is a must read!

Top Charlotte Wedding Venues: Fleming's

If you are having less than 50 guests at your wedding reception and you are looking for a private dining room experience. Please, run, don't walk over to Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar to take a tour of their space. With delicious food and wonderful service you are sure to enjoy this warm venue for your wedidng reception.

Currently, they have this fabulous offer: Book your event by December 15 and hold itanytime through next year. You'll receive a$50 Fleming's Card for every $500 you spend,plus a $25 Card for each of your guests! View all of the details here. Please tell Allison, the Private Dining Room Director, that Shanika sent you over!!

Below is an image ( I took it, so don't judge me) of an event we did there this past summer.

Custom Accessories by MegMichelle:: I'm in love

This week I will be blogging about accessories for your wedding day. I have had the pleasure of meeting Megan Cobb of MegMichelle and have fallen in love with her custom designed accessories. From headbands to fabulous bracelets she can design a custom made item for your wedding day that I know you will love. Here are some of my favorites.

Favorite Wedding Shot Friday

If your photographer can capture this shot for you, then you know you've got a good one!



Photo by the talented Tim Hines Photography

WilGrant Photography comes to Charlotte: Complimentary Post Wedding Mini- Session

I had the wonderful pleasure to meet the talented Jeff Wilson from WilGrant Weddings, a company named from both his last name and his wife's maiden name. How sweet! But anyway, he's a fabulous photographer and boy do I love great photographers. He has relocated his DC company now to Charlotte and he comes bearing gifts.

WilGrant Weddings, is offering post wedding mini-shoots to Charlotte area brides who are interested in taking some creative photos in their wedding gowns (trashed or not). Oh did I mention that these sessions are complimentary for a limited time. So if you're interested you need to contact him now before this niceness wears off! :)

Email him at info(at)wilgrantweddings(dot)com and phone him at 1.877.641.2120.

Here is the talented Jeff in action. Enjoy.

Not-So-Ordinary Wedding Shoes

Vouelle, an exclusive french luxury brand, have given brides another reason to ask their photographer to take that cute shoe shot. I love, love, love these!

Thanks Kim for the french wedding magazine. You see I'm making good use of it!


1. dana-wedding-shoe, 2. Rania_Ivory, 3. Juliette, 4. Clara_Ivory

More Pretty Paper:: The Bee Paperie

I think I have become a tad obsessed with paper these days, especially pretty paper. The super talented ladies of The Bee Paperie, I love that name, is offering the readers of this blog a 15% discount on all of their amazing custom designs. Please take a look at their website to see their beautiful portfolio of wedding and party stationery, all of which can be customized to fit your individual style. Here a few of my favorites.

What Your Bridal Portrait Session Look Like {in my opinion}

Happy Friday! We interrupt the Real Wedding of the Week to bring you a Beautiful Bridal Portrait Session of the Week.

The amazing photographers at Cheyenne Schultz Photography, show us what a bridal portrait looks like when you put a past dancer back on the same stage she used to perform on. You get an a stunning bridal session. This, in my opinion, is what a bridal session should look like. It should be personal and absolutely beautiful.

Brides, talk to your photographers about capturing you in an environment where you are most comfortable. Leave that studio and go on location to YOUR favorite place. Take a look at Cheyenne's blog to see more from this session.







I love all of them, but this is my favorite image......

A New Handbag Anyone?

I so need a new handbag and why not a cute, sassy clutch? I found these gorgeous bags while checking out what was new on Etsy. Each of these bags made by Fiaz Co. is made with high quality fabrics and 100% Duponi silk.

Brides, this is an amazing way to say thank you to your bridesmaids (and your wedding planner :) ). You can get you clutch custom made with your fabric and a personalized note to your girls. Take a look at the entire collection here.

Here are a couple of my favorites.

Gumdrop Cookie Shop:: Edible Favors {the best kind}

I have simple rule when considering wedding favors, they must be edible or useful. If not, your cute little favor will it will end up in the trash faster than you say I do. So with that in mind I am delighted to introduce you to Gumdrop Cookie Shop, custom cookie designers that give you couture decorated cookies for your couture event. I was so excited when I saw these beauties because you can design your cookies anyway you like. Yet another way to add a cute personal touch to your event. Here are a some of my favorites, but visit their site for more designs.

The Second Gown

I am so in love with Jenny Packham's bridal collection. Her short gowns are perfect for that "second surprise gown" for the reception. These dresses definitely will add to the "wow" effect you're seeking for your event. If you have not checked out their website, please take a look at it. The entire collection is beautiful and their website is amazing.





My favorite!!

An absolutely stunning ceremony by Colin Cowie

Colin Cowie is of course one of the most sought after event producers in the world, just in case you've been living under a rock. He is now the host of Lifetime's show Get Married and is offering some great advice on Get Married's website. I ran across these ceremony photos on Colin's page on the Get Married site and I had to blog about them.

The beautiful venue and view only add to the majestic feeling of this event. Gorgeous!

I love these pew markers.

Covered chivari chairs? I beautiful added touch that I can honestly say I have never thought of because they are already pretty chairs. The beautiful roses match the stenciling on the aisle runner. Beautiful detail.

Marry Me Bracelet from Tiffany's

Don't you just love this bracelet??? I saw it in Southern Weddings Magazine. Hmmm...another piece of jewelry during the proposal wouldn't hurt, would it??

Photo Courtesy of Tiffany & Co.

Southern Weddings Magazine: Simply Stunning!

I blogged about Southern Weddings Blog last May because I simply loved the blog. It was so pretty and full of beautiful photos from real weddings. So I was excited to finally find the magazine today and I must say it is simply stunning!

The ladies of SW Magazine have truly produced a beautiful magazine that is sure to inspire any bride, whether they are from the south or not. What is so impressive about this magazine is the number of actual real weddings featured. Unlike any other wedding publication currently accessible, Southern Weddings Magazine is the ultimate wedding inspiration!

Today, I bought Southern Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings and Grace Ormonde Wedding Style Magazines. I have not been able to read the other mags yet, because I can not put Southern Weddings down!

So listen brides out there, if you are in the planning stages of your wedding and you can not find it in your local bookstore, please order it from the site it is well worth it. The internet is wonderful, but it still does not compare to a great magazine that you can flip and dog ear the pages!! :)

Finally the Project Runway Finale!

This is the second season of Project Runway that I have watched and I must say I am so excited to see the finale tonight! The final three designers, Leeann, Korto, and Kenley have definitely brought some creative designs and sometimes over the top designs. I was torn between Leeann and Korto, but I have decided I am pulling for Korto to win. Her style just speaks to me and it would love to see what type of collection she would design with the prize money. It really is interesting to see how the designers are able to create ready to wear garments in hours. Each of them has such amazing talent. I keep asking myself, how did I not learn to sew??

Here are some of my favorite designs from this season.




Images from Bravo TV

My Hometown..Tallahassee, FL: Dorothy Oven Park

Since I have been here I can't help but reminisce on where I spent time for my wedding. Dorothy Oven Park was the location of my bridal portraits and our engagement portraits. We just loved the park so much. It is full of so much color from the beautiful gardens. This location is always in high demand for weddings, receptions and bridal portraits, so plan early. I wish I had some of my own photos to post, but I got married when film was what the majority of photographers used in this area and if they used digital it would've put us over our "little" budget. So anyway, if you are trying to decide on a wedding location in Tallahassee, please consider Dorothy Oven Park, you will not be disappointed.

Here are some photos I stumbled upon from local photographer Lou Kellenberger Photography.

My Hometown...Tallahassee, FL

Well I will be spending this entire next week in Tallahassee visiting my mom and sister. It's been since Thanksgiving since I've been back and I needed a little getaway. So in honor of my semi-vacation I want to blog this upcoming week about the beautiful weddings, locations and photography of Tallahassee, FL. Hopefully, I can inspire some Tally brides this week.

So first, comes first... the photographer I wish I would've known when I was getting married years ago... The Susan Stripling. Here is a photo from a wedding she shot here in Tallahassee in 2007. Please see her beautiful blog for the rest of the pictures from this beautiful wedding.

Ooooo! Pretty Bridesmaids Dresses: Lynn Lugo

I am in love with vibrant colors and not so traditional bridal attire. This includes the bridesmaids. I ran across this designer today as I was catching up on my blog stalking. (Thanks Promised Hearts for keeping me in the know!) So I thought I would share my new fav bridesmaids designer. Lynn Lugo! I am totally in love with the colors and also the variety of designs. If you are a bride and want your bridesmaids to make a statement, you may want to take a look at what Lynn Lugo has to offer. Also, how could I leave this out, Lynn Lugo gives brides the capability of customizing the look of the individual dresses. So if you were interested in widening the sash or adding a different hem color, take a look at this site and the many other options available to you. Take a look at a few of my favorites.

Southern Wedding Style Magazine {the blog}

I was once a southern bride. I was married in my hometown of Tallahassee, Florida almost seven years ago, so I can say I know a little something about being married in the south. I'm always so excited when I stumble upon something GREAT! The Southern Wedding Style Magazine blog is just that! The blog lays out wedding after beautiful wedding done in some of the most beautiful locations in the south. The photography is beautiful. The content is great. I'll be placing my order for the magazine this week! Kudos to the Southern Wedding Style Magazine crew. You are doing a fantastic job! This blog makes me want to re-do my southern wedding! :)