An Asheville Wedding-The Video Montage

Check out this video montage of a local wedding from the blog of Verge Events. Verge Events is a local Asheville event planning company that consists of a team of seasoned planners and designers.

A Fine Line

If you are looking for special and unique wedding stationary, check out Asheville's own full service stationery studio, A Fine Line on Biltmore Ave. Invitations selections range from vintage hand-lettering to stylish scripts, hand-painted motifs and embellishments. The owner, Dana Cochran as studied with the Chief White House Calligrapher and continues her calligraphic studies with Master Penmen across the country.

Besides wedding invitations, Dana can also do calligraph seating cards and dessert signs. Her seating cards were featured in Martha Stewart Weddings Summer 2011 issue.



Check out this watercolor map of Asheville that Dana created for a bride and read about the whole process on her blog The Ginger Parasol. The maps (or just a collage of favorite places) would make great wedding or holiday gifts as you can make each as unique as you like. They also make great Save the Date cards.

DIY Save the Date Cards--Word Clouds

Check out this video post from Hindsight Bride.

Potter's Mark Wedding Registry

Looking to add some creative flare to your wedding registry? How about dinnerware from Asheville's own artists?

The Potter’s Mark studio does a limited number of wedding registrations for dinnerware sets, featuring hand crafted stoneware pottery.
A couple who registers, can select from a large variety of dinnerware and serving pieces made especially for them. They also receive an exclusively designed web page so they can show their pottery choices.
Check out the website; Pottersmark.com or visit them at their studio in Asheville’s River Arts District (122 Riverside Dr.)

To register for dinnerware, please call Eileen at:828 252 9122

Alternative and More Affordable Wedding Venues in Western North Carolina

Great post from Asheville Indie Weddings blog on some affordable and unique wedding venues that you may not have thought of.

Kiersa Holy, of Events by Kiersa, gave lot’s of advice, which Asheville Indie Weddings shares on their blog:

1.A new, historically renovated, green certified theatre, The Altamont, located in the heart of downtown Asheville, is available to rent for weddings with a few added extras (professional lighting and sound) that you won't find at many other venues, which helps bring your cost down.

2. WNC summer camps can be more affordable and they also have dining halls (so you cut the cost of needing a tent).

3. City parks and county parks. For example, UNCA Botanical Gardens is available for ceremonies and receptions at a great rate.

4. Restaurants, on their closed day, often rent their space for a flat fee. Local places to check: Avenue M, Fiores and Limones.

5. Local wine bars are a great option for wedding receptions.

6. Rent a private home for an event. Kiersa passed along two websites where you can research a broad range of mountain rental properties: www.homeaway.com or www.vrbo.com

7. Private homes, or your own home, are options for elegant and simple affairs. Start your life where you’ll live! But one thing to keep in mind is that you don’t want to turn into a host, working at your own wedding! With that in mind, it’s a good idea to hire a wedding planner for homespun weddings. Keep in mind, private homes aren’t set up for weddings, so a coordinator can help you understand surprising costs if you choose this route.

8. Check out local Bed and Breakfast options. Here are a few to begin with: Hawk and Ivy and Bella Luna Inn (connected to Black Eyed Susan Catering).

Kiersa also said that when planning a wedding, the first thing to do is to define your budget, number of guests and the ideal venue. Once these three elements are in harmony your have the best foundation to move forward.

New Asheville Wedding Venue: Yesterday Spaces

Yesterday Spaces is a 70 acre family farm located in Leicester, just minutes from downtown Asheville N.C. They have just completed a beautiful, very rustic, and yet very comfortable barn with a large conditioned loft space for year round use.

This space is available for social, business, and educational events including:

* Weddings
* Receptions
* Rehearsal dinners
* Reunions
* Retreats
* Meetings and Seminars

"Our farm is deeply rooted in history and we feel blessed to be able to preserve another important piece of productive farmland here in Western North Carolina. We are farming with sustainable agricultural techniques and maintain a reverence for the land…” - Owners Mike & Chris Grier

Wedding Decor from The Drygoods Shop

Looking for someone to style your event? Check out these unique wedding decor ideas from a recent WNC wedding styled by Leigh of The Drygoods Shop in west Asheville.









Get in touch with Leigh at The Drygoods shop in west Asheville, 474 Haywood Road. Or give her a ring: (828) 505-8595. You can also check out her blog.

Original Photos for Asheville Indie Weddings by Jennifer Callahan

How to take engagement photos

How to take engagement photos

Devin + Chris’ Beautiful Eco-Southern Wedding near Asheville

This rustic, charming wedding was held at The Farm in Candler, North Carolina, just a short drive from downtown Asheville and planned by Asheville Event Co. These photos by Two Ring Studios were published last week on Eco-Beautiful Weddings.

Devin’s s bridal bouquet was created by Aria Floral, who specialize in sustainable floral designs, while the centerpieces were made with reclaimed vintage barn wood with local wildflowers, calla lilies and succulents. At the end of the night – the flowers were repotted for the guests to take them home to enjoy.

Asheville Courthouse Wedding

In the midst of wedding planning, Chelsea and Nate had a change of heart and decided to elope to their local county courthouse, bringing along Kat Braman to photograph the results.

The bride shared some of her insights and advice for an Intimate Asheville Wedding in this Hindsight Bride interview.



Things you’re glad you did:

1. Hired a photographer that understood my vision. I can’t stress this one enough. I think I spent the most time researching this aspect and in the end it really paid off. There’s nothing better than getting your photographs back and feeling like they completely captured the energy of your wedding day.
2. Kept it small and intimate. We went back and forth on this issue a lot. Looking back we both agree that keeping it small was the right decision for us. It really kept the day feeling comfortable and casual which was a priority for us. For those of you who aren’t keen on being the center of attention – 25 guests is perfect!
3. Wore something old. I’m not much for wedding traditions but wearing something old was something I’m glad I did. It was a way for me to honor my family and my past, while creating a new branch on the family tree. I used my grandmother’s handkerchief to wrap my bouquet and also wore a piece of jewelry from my mom, grandmother, and great grandmothers.

Things you wish you had done:

1. Prioritize. The blog world can be an amazing yet scary place, with so many options you can easily veer away from your original intent. Make a plan and stick to it throughout the entire planning process.
2. Trust my first instincts. If I had a quarter for every time I changed my mind in the planning process we’d be taking 3 honeymoons this year! In the end our wedding consisted of details thought of in the first few weeks of being engaged…and we were engaged for almost 2 years.
3. Bring a guest book. This wasn’t something that I thought much about and, in focusing so much on all the other details, I forgot to bring the guest book. Now that the day is over I’m really sad that I didn’t document all the well wishes.

Things you wish you hadn’t done:

* Let the groom cut his own hair. Nate attempted to shave his head 2 days before the wedding and forgot to put the guard on, resulting in a 3 inch bald spot on the side of his head. Pre wedding jitters? Perhaps. Grooms, if there is ever a time to splurge on a professional haircut it’s your wedding day.

Things you wish you hadn’t worried about:

* Other people’s opinion of what our wedding should be. So many times throughout the planning process we heard “Just do what makes you happy BUT you have to have a *fill in wedding tradition here*.” And of course we tried to fulfill every request made. It seemed like everyone had some tradition that had to be included and next thing we knew it had spiraled into the wedding we never wanted. Sure, we want everyone to be happy but, trust me when I tell you, nothing will make them happier than seeing you happy on your wedding day…even if you don’t walk down a proper aisle.

Your very best hindsight advice:

Plan the wedding as if you and your partner are the only ones attending. Throw convention out the window and make the day be a reflection of the two of you!






* Ceremony venue: Buncombe County Courthouse
* Reception venue: The Market Place
* Wedding Photographer: Kat Braman Photography
* Wedding invitations: e.m. papers
* Wedding cupcakes: The Sisters McMullen Cupcake Corner

A Blooming Wedding Favor!

Sow True Seed, Western Carolina’s open-pollinated seed company, offers fully customizable wedding favors for your guests! This environmentally responsible wedding favor highlights your wedding celebration as the seeds of your marriage, and offers your guests the chance to plant and grow flowers, herbs, or vegetables in honor of your special day. There is a $35 set-up fee and discounting on packets begins after 75 packets are ordered. The high-quality seed from a local source is truly a memorable offering versus something basic grabbed off the internet with no real connection to the Carolinas. Sow True Seed also works closely with you to ensure you are happy – you even get to approve your layout before the packets to go print – a benefit of going local. Popular seeds for weddings include the Autumn Beauty Sunflower and the Annual Cut Flower Mix.

Brandon & Jen's eclectic Asheville wedding

Check out these great photos by Cade Bowman of a wedding that took place at the Venue, courtesy of La Belle Bride blog.

The Inside Scoop on Planning a Wedding at Biltmore

Check out this great article about Biltmore weddings from Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine. A great read for the bride looking for a majestic and timeless wedding event. The article features photography by Asheville's Two Ring Studios.

The Venue Video Tour

The Venue is an Event Facility located in the center of downtown Asheville. It offers a spacious floor plan of 13,000 + sq feet, with three unique sections. Each section has private entrances - The Market Street level, the Mezzanine and The Second floor with a beautiful balcony area overlooking the mountains of Asheville.

Rod and Ash – One Show Only: an Asheville Wedding

Rodney and Ashley got married in Asheville last month and put on a wedding that can best be described simply as “very Asheville.”
Their five children, their parents and families, their friends and the city of Asheville itself were embraced and entertained by the bride and groom in what they referred to simply as “the festivities.” Comedians, a clown, a gypsy jazz band and fire dancers made for an incredible day which photographer Luis Toledo was honored to chronicle.
To see all the amazing photos please see Luis Toledo's blog.

Desert Table Featuring Local Bakery, Crème Patisserie & Confectionery

This inspiration photo shoot from the Asheville Indie Weddings blog, showcases Crème Patisserie & Confectionery. Crème is located at 640 Merrimon Ave. in Asheville. It is a local pastry company specializing in artisan breads, chocolates, and a wide variety of petit desserts. They feature all natural, organic, and local ingredients on their seasonal menu. Each of their items is hand-made in small batches to enhance the true quality in each product. They offer low-fat, sugar-free, and vegan options for many of their menu items.





Photography: Jennifer Callahan

Candra & Matt's wedding at Sherrill's Inn in Fairview

Beautiful summer wedding at the history-filled Fairview Inn just near Hickory Nut Gap Farm. Event planning by Events by Kiersa.






The wedding cake was by Short Street Cakes and there was a variety of flavors offered for tasting.



In lieu of take home favors, the couple planted an apple tree in their guests' honor.





Photos by Ashley Felkel Photography

Bride raves about our Wedding Guide!

A great blog post from a Florida bride who found our Asheville wedding info through one of the magazine publications, ordered a wedding guide and she now has blogged about how wonderful she thinks we are! Here is the link to her blog and below is the actual post on her blog Luckiest Girl ever!
.....
Asheville Destination Wedding Planning - Free Stuff ROCKS!
This is why I'm seriously in love with Asheville, North Carolina.

In the very first wedding magazine I bought, I saw an ad for MyWeddinginAsheville.com. It was a two page spread all about Asheville weddings and all the reasons Vince and I fell inlove with the town. This ad spoke to me, hell, it might as well have been written FOR me.

And it was a vanity URL which re-directs to the wedding section of ExploreAsheville.com.

I'm super familiar with ExploreAsheville, since it was key to helping me plan our 5 year anniversary trip. So of course I went to the website, and saw the first free and most awesome item in helping plan an Asheville destination wedding: a big, red button to "Request a Free Wedding Planning Guide."

So, like any other woman who would like to plan her destination wedding in Asheville, I clicked the button and emailed a pretty, pretty please to whoever receives such requests. I figured one day I'd get something in the mail.
One week later, I got THIS:




Please excuse my "tired" look. I was really excited, I promise.

I was expecting a little brochure or maybe a small leaflet with the same information as the ExploreAsheville.com website, but this little book actually packs a punch and has LOTS of other venues and information that isn't included on the website.

It's 28 pages, full of quotes from other couples, photos of other weddings, and organized by B&B's, event facilities, hotels, beauty and spa, cakes, caterers, music, florists, and photographers. I dove in with an awesome precise V5 pen and went to town thinking I just got a big, FREE, leg-up with planning a destination wedding in Asheville.

And then, two days later, Kinsay from ExploreAsheville.com emailed me and asked if I needed any help finding hotel rates for our guests - a totally complimentary service if I just filled out a little form.

Again, I expected to get standard stuff from all the big chain hotels, nothing customized. But again, ExploreAsheville.com came through. The same afternoon Kinsay got my returned form (today, because I'm a slacker), I received two responses (holla!).

So if you're looking for information on planning a wedding in Asheville, North Carolina - get over to this site and send 'em an email. They make good on their promise and over deliver! Thank you, ExploreAsheville.com and Kinsay!

And to those of you who planned weddings elsewhere, did you get anything like this from, well, anyone? Or is this southern hospitality at its finest?

Either way - free stuff ROCKS! Especially free stuff that makes me less overwhelmed and less terrified of this whole process.