Friday, September 3, 2010

Long Distance Bridal Recipe Shower

Posted in Entertaining Tips, Tip of the Week

Long Distance Bridal Recipe Shower

The Recipe Shower is a terrific idea for the bride who lives far away from her friends and loved ones. The hostess can either have a combination
Invitation/Recipe Card designed and printed by a professional printer or can Do It Herself (DIY). The DIY Invitation/Recipe Card is easy and fun to make and can be designed in a particular theme to suit the bride’s tastes!

Start preparing the invitations early! You’ll be thankful for the extra time needed for the mail service. In the invitation, each guest is asked to write her favorite recipe for the bride and mail it back to the hostess.  At the “shower” all of the recipes are compiled by the hostess into a
beautiful Recipe Book.  Be sure to include a “Recipe for a Happy Home” :

4 cups of LOVE
2 cups of LOYALTY
3 cups of FORGIVENESS
5 spoonfuls of HOPE
2 spoonfuls of TENDERNESS
4 quarts of FAITH
1 Barrel of LAUGHTER

Take love and loyalty, mix thoroughly with Faith. Blend it with Tenderness, Kindness and Understanding. Add Friendship and Hope.  Sprinkle abundantly with Laughter. Bake it with Sunshine. Serve daily with generous helpings.

Prep time: a Lifetime
Serves: 1 Happy Family

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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Elegance at the Empire Room

Posted in Elegance, Vendor Spotlight

Mark and Angela chose downtown Greensboro and the Empire Room for their grand celebration. Stunning by itself, this majestic ballroom is surrounded by massive pillars lined with mirrors to accent the beautiful architecture. Accentuated with uplighting and the grand elegance of sage green and champagne coming together for a romantic setting.  Mark and Angela described the event as a place they wanted even their guests to fall in love! 

Enjoy the pictures from BG Photography!

 


This six tier cake made my Cakes by Manfred was amazing!  It served as a centerpiece for the room because it was so georgous and majestic.


Angela and Mark gave each guest a wine bottle as a favor that also served as their escort card. 


Each chair was adorned with a hydrangea on the back for an elegant touch.

Photography by BG Photography
Cake by Cakes by Manfred
Venue Empire Room
Uplighting K2 Productions

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Saturday, August 14, 2010

Planning Your Wedding & Event Menu

Posted in Entertaining Tips, Tip of the Week

Planning Your Wedding & Event Menu
by Kelly Parker

The food at a wedding is often what guests look forward to the most at the reception. When choosing your menu, it is an opportunity to reflect yourselves and the ambiance you are choosing for your event. Choosing a menu can be one of the most fun and creative aspects of the planning process.

Here are some helpful hints to create the perfect menu for your affair:

Time of your wedding can really change what you serve to your guests. Are you serving a meal earlier in the day or will you be having an evening sit down meal? Your menu should reflect what best suits the time of day you choose.

Reflect Yourselves, but Remember Your Guests. Remember not everyone may love to eat what you do. Choose items on the menu that different palettes will enjoy (including those picky eaters!) You may want to consider including a vegetarian meal on your menu for those with a restrictive diet.

Be seasonal & regional. Going green is not just beneficial to the environment. It will help your food stand out at your reception! We urge all our clients to choose seasonally appropriate fare and buy locally grown items whenever possible. The difference in taste will wow your guests!

Chef attended stations can be a fun alternative to a sit down dinner. Think about what you and your guests will enjoy the most within the venue you have chosen. Layout and seating design can make the difference on what will work best for you.

Signature drinks can be a fun and affordable spin on a traditional open bar for your event! Consider putting a twist on a classic. We recently served Mo-tea-tos at a wedding, a southern twist on a mojito. Yum!

Enjoy creating your perfect menu!

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

What Should I Register For?

Posted in Tip of the Week

Pick out the Perfect Registry for you!
by Sue McCain

It’s not unusual for a couple to want to avoid registering for gifts. That
feeling of “asking” for certain items on a wish list takes over. But guests
really do need to have an idea of what types of things you need and like as a
couple.

Consider setting up your Gift Registry with at least one retailer, preferably
one that also has an online registry. Guests who don’t live nearby may find
it a lot easier to order something that they can have delivered to your home
rather than bringing it to the wedding. Additionally, when you register
online, you can monitor the activity on your registry and make additions
online. Two Gift Registry’s is even more ideal and allow your guests ample
selection.

Register for gifts in a variety of price ranges.

Check the return policies.

Register not only for things for the house but for some fun things too!

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tips for Better Wedding Photography

Posted in Tip of the Week

Tips for Better Wedding Photography
by Sue McCain

Good photography can allow you to remember your day for many years to come. Here are some tips to enjoy the day and get those perfect shots that you are hoping for.

  • Interview a few photographers and find someone that you like. You will be spending a very important day with them. Make sure you feel good about the decision.
  • Review the work of the photographers you choose to interview. Do they specialize in a certain type of lighting that you like?
  • Hang your dress on a hanger worthy of your wedding gown
  • Invest in professional makeup and hair
  • Try to avoid fluorescent lighting
  • Keep the dressing room neat; keep the clutter hidden
  • If possible, plan a time before the wedding to meet with your photographer at the ceremony and reception sites
  • Walk down the aisle slowly; that means everybody in your party!
  • Practice the 5 second kiss. This is your moment as husband and wife –
    don’t rush it!
  • Pause before heading back down the aisle!
  • Have a list of formal shots wanted and keep it short and simple
  • Allot time for each other
  • Show public displays of affection
  • Look at each other during the first dance
  • Don’t sweat the small stuff; no matter what might go less than perfect,
    you will accomplish your goal – to marry the one you love.
  • Hire a wedding planner – let them deal with any problems that may
    arise. In the long run, they will save you a lot of time, money and
    headaches and take the pressure off of you and your family
  • Hire a professional DJ. They make sure everybody is where they
    should be at the right time. They keep the party going.
  • People tend to leave after the cake cutting – plan accordingly
  • Use sparklers! Splurge on the long wedding sparklers; they burn for
    up to 4 minutes
  • Most of all, remember to have fun and enjoy the day! Your
    professional vendors have the experience to guide you along the way!
Posted in Tip of the Week

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Sunday, July 18, 2010

Ministers Tie the Knot in Style

Posted in Colors, Real Weddings

If you love color combined with classic style, you are going to love this wedding!  The bride arrived in a London Taxi Cab and wore a whimsical dress with a 50′s netted veil.   The men wore long tailed tuxedos with lime green vests and bright pink boutonnieres.  This dreamy combination vintage flair accented vibrant aesthetics was held at the O’Henry Hotel. 

These two ministers planned a beautiful ceremony!  Their family member, Patricia, sang an emotional solo of “Center of My Joy” during the ceremony, and the couple walked/danced down the aisle to an upbeat rhythm.

More photos to come!

Design and Planning: Bella Wedding and Event Planning/ Cake: Deweys Bakery/ Venue: O’Henry Hotel/ Bouquet: Clemmons Florist/ Photography: Still Shot Photography

Posted in Colors, Real Weddings Tags: , , , , , , ,

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Sunday, July 4, 2010

DIY Wedding with Rustic Charm

Posted in Budget Beautiful, Colors, Real Weddings, Rustic Chic
Bella Wedding and Event Planning was recently involved in a fun, romantic wedding for Micheala and Dean.   The idea was rustic chic meets fun and charming.  The ceremony and reception personified their light hearted nature with romantic quality.  Butterflies added a touch of whimsy to ceremony, the programs, the cake, and beyond. 
 
Sternberger Park served as the perfect backdrop for this neighborhood affair.  The bride’s sister sang as she walked down the aisle, and butterflies were let loose after the vows. 
Photography by VanderVeen Photography

Photography by VanderVeen Photography

Photography by VanderVeen Photography

Photography by VanderVeen Photography

The reception reflected the bride and groom with perfection.   Studio B served as a magnificent venue.  A wonderful menu served by Maria’s Catering reflected the groom’s English heritage.
Photography by VanderVeen Photography

Photography by VanderVeen Photography

Photography by VanderVeen Photography

Photography by VanderVeen Photography

 

This beautiful cake was inspired by the whimsicle butterflied theme and executed by the mother of the bride!

Posted in Budget Beautiful, Colors, Real Weddings, Rustic Chic Tags: , , , , , , ,

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Vendor Spotlight: Sweet Basils Catering

Posted in Vendor Spotlight

We had the pleasure to work with the very hard-working, efficient staff at Sweet Basils Restaurant for the Sams/Mauney Wedding hosted at Revolution Mills Studio. The equisite menu perfectly complimented the taste and style of the bride and groom, combining groom’s Pennsylvania upbringing with the bride’s southern style.

The menu featured crab cakes, shrimp and grits, roast beef, and much more. They also gave inspiration for the bride and groom’s signature drink, the Mo-Tea-To, a combination of sweet tea and a much more common mojito.

Renee, owner of Sweet Basils, has expanded her very popular restaurant into two branches, Sweet Basils and Basils & Co. After starting her restaurants in the catering business, Renee has gone back to her roots bringing style and great taste through the food she makes. We highly recommend using Sweet Basils to cater your wedding!

To contact Sweet Basils, call them at 336.632.3070.

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Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Most Common Wedding Attendant Questions Answered

Posted in Tip of the Week

What is the appropriate number of bridesmaids to have at my wedding?
Traditionally the formula for weddings in one bridesmaid for every 35 to 50 guests. If you have a lot of sisters, cousins or close friends, feel free to include them all! It is important to get all of them together at first to go over all of the details and the events.

How do I choose the dresses for the bridesmaids?
When choosing dresses for your bridesmaids, use the same guidelines you used when choosing your dress: formality, time of year, personal taste, etc. If you want a cohesive look, stick with one color or one silhouette. As an alternative to having all of the bridesmaids wearing the same dress, think about having them all wear a classic black dress and accessorizing with a colorful shawl or cardigan. You can also choose to have your bridesmaids wear different cut dresses in the same color.

Do I have to have the same number of attendants on each side?
Regarding symmetry, this is your personal choice. Whether you want to have the same number of attendants on each side is completely based on your own personal taste. If there are going to be an uneven number of attendants, during the recessional have them leave one by one. Also, if there are going to be an uneven number of attendants, let the photographer know before hand so he can come up with creative ways to shoot the group photos.

How do I deal with out-of-town bridesmaids?
If you are going to want your out-of-town bridesmaids to travel for a shower, a bachelorette weekend, or any other event, it is important that you give them all of the information when you initially ask them to be one of your bridesmaids. After agreeing to be a bridesmaid, keep them in the loop by using email to make them feel like they are a part of the group. Give them duties such as collecting addresses or finding sheet music for the band. If these tasks cannot be handled from a distance, give them important jobs on the day of the wedding so they can feel like they have contributed to your wedding.

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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Save on Your Wedding Flowers

Posted in Tip of the Week

Beautiful flowers can make a wedding what it is, but also break the couple’s budget. Flowers are often times something that the bride does not want to take lightly. There are a variety of ways to make your big day beautiful with flowers without going bankrupt in the process.

One of the best ways to save on flowers for your big day is to chose flowers that are in season. These flowers are more accessible and will have a much higher availability. Flowers that are in season for summer include: Dahlias, Delphiniums, Gardenias, Gerber Daisies, Gladiolus, Hydrangeas, Iris’, Lilies, Orchids, Pholxes, Poppies, Roses, Sun-Flowers, and Zinnias. Try using these this summer to cut back on floral costs!

Another easy way to keep your floral costs down without missing out on your favorite flowers is to keep the number of flowers you use to about 2. Limiting the number of floral choices will be beneficial in the budget planning process of your wedding. Remember: more types of flowers = more expensive!

To ensure that you can have live florals at your wedding without spending too much, try using a lot of greenery. Greenery is less expensive than flowers and it still is able to add the beautiful essence that flowers bring to your wedding.

If you are trying to limit your budget and go minimal on flowers, try using other things such as candles of lanterns to bring your ceremony or reception to life!

Tip by Rebecca Dooley

Posted in Tip of the Week Tags: , , , , ,

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