Monday, January 30, 2012

Your Asheville Wedding: Ideas and Free Services


Free Destination Wedding Planning Advice

Did you know that there are free wedding services available through the local tourism office? Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau offers area insight and advice to help brides find the perfect venue, local vendors and guest accommodations that fit the wedding budget.

Some say it’s the mountain air that draws people here or the blend of art, culture, history and Southern charm…some even claim it’s cosmic energy. Whatever the reason, Asheville’s Blue Ridge Mountain backdrop has inspired brides from modern bohemians to real American princess Cornelia Vanderbilt, daughter of George W. Vanderbilt.

What Kind of Bride Are You?

Find out at MyWeddinginAsheville.com:
Classic Princess Bride;; Urban Artsy Bride; Adventure Bride
Farm-to-Table Foodie Bride; Eco-Chic Green Bride

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Best of Asheville Wedding Photos

Check out these wedding photos from some of Asheville's most popular wedding sites, taken this past summer by Blue Bend Photography of Asheville, NC.






Thursday, October 13, 2011

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.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

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.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

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.