Busy Being Fabulous

Yes...the guests of Courtney and Stephen's wedding celebration were totally busy being fabulous this weekend beginning with a bridesmaid luncheon on Friday...

What's on the menu...

Chilled Cucumber Soup, The Carolina Inn's chicken salad with dried cranberries, red grapes, and candied pecans on toasted sour dough and served with hand cut potato chips, fresh fruit kabobs and caramel cream cheese dip...topped off with Key Lime Pie and Mimosas!

What a beautiful group of ladies!

(from left: Becca, Courtney, Diana, Lynn)

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So what makes a wedding fabulous?   Most would say that its pretty flowers or great music (I do love these things)...I say... its the people.  Courtney Page and Stephen Whilden were surrounded by fabulous friends and family who made their wedding day a wonderful celebration.
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From the moment that I met Courtney, her mom, Diana, her sister, Becca, and her dad, Guy I knew that this was going to be one of those weddings that I would always remember. These people were the real deal..truly a group of endearing individuals who were completely sincere in their devotion to the journey of creating a perfect day for their daughter and sister... and her future husband.

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FUN...yes we had fun!  We had great conversations, delightful tastings, lots of linen choices, and most importantly, somewhere along the way I am sure that all of us have made a new friend. 

Getting Ready....

Bryan Courtyard

Waiting.....

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First Game of the Season-Go Heels!

The little girl in the middle was hilarious! She kept asking me if this was a "real wedding" and when I told her "yes" she literally jumped up and down...She stated
"this is way better than the football game". 

 Sweetheart...I couldn't agree more.

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The Celebration

Matron of Honor-Becca Forrest

 Loved this thumbprint guestbook....completely useful!

Beautiful Bride.....

Cinda's Creative Cakes....this cake looked amazing and tasted awesome!

The Reality Show Band....boy they can really put on a show....

The Cutest Rickshaw...for the send off.

The Carolina Inn....it's not just about the place....it's about the people!
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Happy Ending Continues....
Stephen and Courtney Welcome
Olivia Page Whilden

So beautiful..just like her Mama!

We Come by "Southern" Naturally

I love The Carolina Inn...I work here so I guess technically I am supposed to...but I really love it.  Maybe its because from the moment that I walked in the front doors it just felt like home or maybe its because I get to see so many "happy days" here. Whatever my reasons are there is no doubt that The Carolina Inn is a lovely place where one can gather with friends and family....and most certainly the perfect location for a wedding.  All weddings are special to us..We take a personal interest in the experience and the people involved.  Our brides become our friends for life...they come back for anniversaries, birthdays, holiday festivities, and often for the weddings of their children.  Yes...The Carolina Inn is a treasure...but only because our very special guests have made it that way. Thank you for always keeping the Inn close to your hearts. 

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  Follow me over the next few days to see one of my favorite wedding couples tie the knot...in true Carolina Inn fashion...with sweet tea, colorful martinis, beautiful flowers, and the sounds of guests in celebration.

Until then....

Here are a few pictures of others with whom we have enjoyed the journey!

Thank You Becca!

http://melissatuckblog.com/?p=6805

Just Another Manic Monday.....

Uggghhh...I don't love Mondays...  If the week started on Wednesday...life would be so much better.  As planners...we do a lot of our work over the weekend...the part of the week that I love. I thrive on the moments of time when all of the planning finally comes to life.  Whether it s a wedding or a gala or a birthday celebration...our planners have a few pieces of advice to keep your event manageable and unique!

Devon says...

Create a realistic timeline to plan your event.  You will enjoy the planning much more when you don't feel as stressed to get everything checked off of your list

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Erin McLean Events



Elizabeth says....

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life and while there are lots of choices of where to spend your money...believe me when I tell you that one of the best investments that you can make would be to hire an experienced wedding planner. The amount of money that you will save on flowers, invitations, and linens simply by using thier resources and contacts will far offset the price that you pay for their services.  A professional wedding planner will help keep you organized, on schedule-and give unique design ideas to bring your wedding day dreams to life...



Brides..one additional note....and its an important one (my thirty years on planning has proven it to be true)....If you pick a friend to be your "wedding coordinator" make sure that they really know what they are doing...it's harder than it looks..and you may end up with a disaster...and one less friend....




Meredith Purdue Photography
Old Well Ballroom

 Tracey says...
Don't sacrifice quality for quantity...make up a list of "must haves" and then put everything else out to the curb. With all of the choices available to you it is easy to become overwhelmed.  You don't have to have everything!  Never put yourself in a situation where you have hired your 12 year old cousin twice removed to be your DJ...just so that you could afford a PhotoBooth...with the mayhem that will occur from not having an experienced master of ceremonies you may not want to remember that night in photos!!!

JJ says....

Listen to the people who know what they are doing...if your facility planner says that you can only fit 10 tables in your space don't tell her that you need 14...you may be surprised that your guests will actually have to hang from the chandaliers.

Dustin says...

Guys...the bar at The Carolina Inn is located near Crossroads restaurant..sometimes its best to just smile and nod...

Heidi says:

Make sure you know what is available to you...Check out our take on "Hot Trends"

http://www.destinationhotels.com/blog/properties/carolina-inn

Meredith Purdue Photography
http://www.stylemepretty.com/2011/06/17/chapel-hill-wedding-by-inkspot-crow-films-meredith-perdue/





Take Time to Smell the Roses....

Like a woman's neck desires to be adorned with beautiful jewels a bride longs for her wedding day to be adorned with beautiful flowers. A wedding without flowers is kind of like putting up a Christmas tree without twinkle lights...completely disappointing.   Those of you who have labored through countless hours of magazines spreads to find your perfect tapestry of blooms know what I mean when I say that next to the dress the journey to find your palette of petals is a process that most of time leaves you simply overwhelmed.  Here are a few simple tips to get you through the mayhem:

(1) Remember Where You Are: The time of year you get married and your geographical location will decide what types of flowers that are available to you.

· Roses are available year-around
· Calla lilies and tulips bloom during winter and spring
· Hydrangea are in season during the summer and fall
· Peonies peak in the spring
..... Plan Your Wedding around your Favorite Flowers? Well I probably wouldn't go that far but flowers are certainly less expensive when they are more abundant. I guess that is why the summer months are usually considered wedding season.

(2) Remember Who You Are: Your flowers should always should fit you....if you prefer sandals don't wear high heels...if you like color don't pick a bouquet of white roses...you get the idea.

(3) Think Outside the Box-These days it's all about picking flowers that accent the wedding party instead of matching it....my friend always tells me..."it doesn't have to match...it just has to go".

(4) Don't go Overboard-A little beauty goes a long way. Make the biggest bang during the reception when your guests are sitting up close and personal to the centerpieces and are in one place long enough to enjoy them.

(5) The OOhhh Ahhhh Factor- Always pick flowers that make you happy! Just an observation though....don't get so carried away with the flowers that your bouquet weighs 16lbs...I have never seen a happy bride carrying a heavy bouquet (unless she has really worked out before the wedding)
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My favorite moments of wedding preparation can be summarized when I am watching the flowers transform not only a ballroom but the entire mood of the day. It's as if somehow the arrival of the bouquet to a bride's room signals the beginning of her wedding celebration. It's the colors, the smells, and the feelings that those blooms emote the somehow captures quite literally the essence of a wedding story.
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Please enjoy some of my favorites!
Compliments of Tre Bella Flowers

Hot High Heels

 I knew that as soon as Prince Charming put the glass slipper on Cinderella's foot that shoes would indeed be a key element to the bridal ensemble.  For ages, the bridal shoe has made a statement. For example...did you know that brides used to toss their shoes at the end of a wedding instead of a bouquet to hopeful maidens in search of their mate or that English brides tucked coins into their shoes for good luck?  Personally,  I love shoes but have often found wedding shoes...boring. That is until stylish heels with color and posh recently returned to the wedding marketplace.  These days a bride's shoe is making a real fashion statement...going much farther than the traditional satin pump.  I encourage you to find your perfect pair of shoes that communicate your own style...something that you could perhaps wear again...or a pair of vintage shoes that continue to tell their story.  No matter which shoes you choose to make your wedding day journey in remember the golden rule for happy feet...never sacrifice comfort for style! I'm giggling a little...because I think that this rule is probably pretty good for finding a mate as well!  

Cinderella is proof that a pair of shoes can change your life.

Go Away Irene...

With the impending doom of a category 3 hurricane headed for the North Carolina coast, we are working hard today to calm nerves and make preparations for moving an outdoor wedding indoors.

I know brides have the romantic idea of communing with nature…the beautiful flowers, the tweeting birds, the fresh air, but really even Chapel Hill, known as “the southern part of heaven” is not that great in August.  Of course, I am also the kind of girl who doesn’t like camping out, so I would always go for the air conditioned banquet room.

So, the tent is cancelled, the florist is contacted to make alterations in his décor, and now the guests can enjoy not wilting under the heat and humidity that is normally prevalent at this time of year.

A bit more of a worry is whether guests will be able to make it or not, and if they do make it can they get back home.  One advantage to being a hotel venue, is that we have a built-in solution to the problem…guest rooms.

  

One final thought about this predicament…Rain on a wedding day is supposed to be lucky, because a wet knot is harder to untie.  I hope that is the case, and our bride and groom getting married on this rainy weekend will have many years of happiness together.

All The Single Ladies....

Did you know that there are single women out there who are are actively planning their weddings?  The only glitch is that they are not even engaged yet.  Now...this did not come as a HUGE surprise to me since at thirty eight I've been planning my wedding since about five years of age..adorned with beautiful pink roses, stunning table linens, and lots of candlelight.  I do have my grip on reality and realize that all that planning may be just that...a simple dream.  One afternoon I was getting my hair done and my stylist brought out a beautiful Vera Wang wedding dress, matching shoes, earrings, and wide variety of magazines to highlight the rest of her wedding choices.  I was at first shocked and then so happy for her...she finally found the man of her dreams....(which quite honestly I didn't even know she was dating anyone).  When I asked her when the big day was she said that she "wasn't quite sure yet...they hadn't set the date"...and after a few of her giggles at her own internal monologue she said that "she had no idea who she was going to marry but that she was planning just the same".  I thought that she had lost her mind...I mean really...come on...Wang is not cheap!  However, she did have her happy ending and exactly one year later  walked down the aisle in her Wang gown with her matching shoes and earrings.  So for all of you out there waiting for your prince to come...Be Encouraged....and start planning the wedding of your dreams!