The minute I met Martha and her mom, I know we were going to have so much fun planning this wedding.  Martha knew what she wanted, and she wanted it to be extravagant, elegant, sparkly, spectacular…with a smoky, sexy touch.    She chose the Lioncrest at the Biltmore Estate for the ceremony and reception…the perfect location.  The ceremony was held out on the veranda, and when the guests went upstairs for dinner, we transformed the veranda into the cocktail, dancing and lounge area.  We teamed up with Beth at Studio Flora Diva to create the flowers of Martha’s dreams (and she wanted lots of them!), and Beth did just that.  When Martha saw her reception and ceremony site, she literally gasped and yelled out how perfect everything was.  I love that kind of reaction!  Thank you to Martha and her sweet family for taking me a long this amazing ‘planning’ journey.  I am honored to know you all!

Once again, Parker Pfister, amazed us all with his brilliant photography.  Thank you, Parker, for getting all these photos to me so I can share them with the world!

Martha LOVES shoes, so she had three different pairs to get her through the entire day…two pairs of Jimmy Choos, and a pair of gorgeous Manolo Blahniks.  What every bride needs!

Wendy Arthur Ballance, makeup artist, enhanced Martha’s beauty for her ‘big’ day…

Linda…Martha’s mama…isn’t she gorgeous?  And she is so, so sweet.

All the stationary and calligraphy was by Dana with A Fine Line Studio.

Martha dancing with A Social Function, a fantastic band!

What a fun and exciting couple Lorie and Leslie are!  He is a magician and entertainer, and she is a bartender/dancer at Coyote Ugly.  They were so nice, and so thrilled to be getting married.  They had a very intimate wedding with only 17 guests, and it was perfect.  They were married inside the sitting room of the Conservatory at the Biltmore Estate.  Then their guests enjoyed a plated meal in the Champagne Cellar.  The Champagne Cellar is one of my favorite locations on the Estate because it is so unique and romantic.  Stacey, with The Bloom Room, created the gorgeous floral arrangements and bouquets.  Everything was so pretty!  Thank you to Audrey Goforth for all the photographs….enjoy!

I just adore the hat!

Yes, he is pointing at my pregnant belly! 

Tim Lolley married Leslie and Lorie…love him to death!

The ringbearer got emotional during the toasts…it was precious!

Erin and Adam tied the knot on the front lawn of the Biltmore House on a beautiful September evening, followed by a reception on the South Terrace.  Paul and Holley, with Four Seasons Films, captured this dream wedding on film, and I wanted to share this short vignette with you!  Thank you, Four Seasons Films, for sharing!  Pictures by Corey McNabb Photography to come soon…

Click on the picture below:

Natalie and Jeff were married at the Grove Park Inn in August, and the day was beautiful.   They were so full of joy, and it was so much fun to be part of this perfect union.  Natalie is originally from the Asheville area, and her parents still live here in the mountains.   Natalie’s parents were married at the Grove Park Inn, so this was the perfect spot for their dream wedding!  The Purple Iris, did awesome work with the floral design, and that was no surprise!  Thank you, Liz.  And to capture it all, was the infamous Corey McNabb…fabulous job as always, Corey!  First of all, I want you to take a glimpse at Natalie and Jeff’s rehearsal dinner at the Riverbend Barn on the Biltmore Estate.  I love this venue!

Natalie’s sweet mama…

Jeff sang a song to Natalie, and it was so precious!  Below is Natalie watching as she gets serenaded… 

And now for the wedding day!

Natalie and Jeff named each table after places they have traveled together

So let me explain…Jeff and Natalie wanted to make their introductions just like a Chicago Bulls lineup, and it was great.  We had the spotlight, the announcer, the music, and the jerseys!  The groomsmen jerseys said G-Men, and the bridemaids said B-Maids.  I loved it!

Natalie and Jeff wanted the Smoochbooth at their wedding, and it was a hit!  As guests had their picture taken, they would put them in a book and write notes to the bride and groom.

I wanted to feature some of my couples that have been married for at least a year to see what they are up to!  Leigh-Ervin and Will were married last October at the Central United Methodist Church, and their reception was held on the South Terrace of the Biltmore House.  I just love this couple and their families.  Please read below to learn more about these sweet newlyweds…

How did you meet each other?
We met after my senior year of high school and Will’s freshman year of college. He came to Asheville with some of our mutual friends and we all celebrated the fourth of July together. Little did we know that less than two years later we would start dating!

How long were you engaged before getting married?
16 months- we got married after I finished graduate school.

When did you get engaged, and how did he ask?
We got engaged in May 2007 at Ocean Isle Beach. Will took me on his golf cart to the furthest point on the island, and we walked out to the edge of the sand where we could see nothing but the ocean and the sunset and he got down on one knee and proposed!! It was perfect!!

What do you two do for a living?
I am a speech-language pathologist and Will works in finance.

What are some of the activities that you like to do together as a couple now that you are married?
We love to travel, go to Appalachian football games, walk our dog and visit our families.

Why did you choose Asheville as your wedding location?
I grew up in Asheville and couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else!

When you think about your wedding, what did you love the most?
Our wedding was the most amazing, perfect and best day of our lives! We loved too many things to name, but will always remember our wedding as a time spent with our families and friends- the people that we love the most! One of the most memorable moments for me was walking into the church (my home church that I grew up in) for the first time- and later seeing Will at the end of the aisle, surrounded by family and friends- it was utterly breathtaking!

Any special moments at your wedding that you want to share with us?
The fireworks show on the South Terrace was unbelievable! Our band (The Company Band) was equally remarkable and we would recommend them to anybody!

Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Maui, Hawaii

After a year of marriage, do you have any advice for engaged couples out there?
You will absolutely LOVE being married!!

What do you love about each other?
Leigh-Ervin: What I love about Will is…that from the moment I first saw him I thought that he was the most handsome guy I had ever seen! He fills my life with laughter, happiness, support and love every single day!

Will: What I love about Leigh-Ervin is…she is the most upbeat and positive person I have ever met. She is beautiful and my best friend in the world (and is a great cook)!

Anything else you would want people to know?
Our wedding would not have been possible without the phenomenal vendors that made all of our dreams come to life. Many, many thanks to Tara Jordan (wedding planner), Corey McNabb (photographer), The Bloom Room (florist), A Fine Line (calligraphy), The Company Band, Four Seasons Films (videographer) and everybody else who came together to make our wedding the best day of our lives! We would highly recommend any and every person that helped bring our visions to life!

To see more pictures of their wedding, click here!

Kelly and Jason were married back in September on the Vista at the Inn on Biltmore Estate.  Fortunately, it was a gorgeous fall day, and the views of the Carolina mountains was perfectly clear.  After the ceremony, the guests were whisked over to the Lioncrest on the Estate for cocktail hour, a seated dinner, and dancing.  Kelly and Jason looked radiant together, and I am so happy for them!  Thank you to Two Ring Studios for their beautiful photography.

Thank you to Beth with Studio Flora Diva for her beautiful floral design!

They had wedding pictures of their parents and grandparents for their guests to enjoy…

In lieu of favors, Kelly and Jason donated money to the Fox Terrier Rescue Foundation.  Their dog, Stella, is in the picture.

As guests left for the evening, they had different kinds of popcorn for them to take home to snack on…Oreo cookie popcorn, white cheddar popcorn, kettle corn, and a few others.  Yummy!!

Yvette and Lou were married on a gorgeous summer day at the Biltmore Estate.  The whole weekend was filled with activities on the Estate for their guests…a Thursday night dinner at the Riverbend Barn, a Friday night dinner at the Conservatory, and then the wedding and reception on Saturday.  The ceremony was held on the front lawn of the Biltmore House, followed by a dinner reception in the Italian Gardens.  It was an amazing weekend for all!!  I absolutely adored this couple, as they were so genuinely sweet and tenderhearted.  You could see in their eyes and the way the cherished each other, that they were totally meant to be husband and wife.  You can read more about this couple at this link: Yvette and Lou

A huge thank you to Woodward + Rick for the exquisite photographs they captured of Yvette and Lou’s special day.   I just love working with Brian and Gry, and you can see their talent in the tons of photographs below!

Liz, with The Purple Iris, blew me away with the flowers!

Yvette and her mom (above) own Mira Couture in Chicago.  So they designed the bridesmaids dress, the mother-of-bride dress, and Yvette’s wedding dress…so stunning!

Dana, with A Fine Line, is truly the best calligrapher…look at her amazing work!  Flawless!

Yvette and Lou surprised their guests with a spectacular display of fireworks!

Carrie and Matt will be tying the knot in June of 2010 at the awe-inspiring Basilica St. Lawrence in Asheville, North Carolina.  After the ceremony, guests will be treated to a reception at the Deerpark, located on the Biltmore Estate.  Corey McNabb, of Corey McNabb Photography, took some incredible engagement pictures of this gorgeous couple around the Estate.  I wanted to share these with you!  Can’t wait until next June! 

Jane Erwin and Charlie were married in the Walled Gardens, followed by a reception in the Italian Gardens at the Biltmore Estate.  Jane Erwin loved the Biltmore Estate, and she wanted to bring in elements of the architecture of the house into her decor.  We found interesting facts about the Estate and the Vanderbilt history, and all the tables were named after a different fact.  Stacey, with The Bloom Room, mixed beautiful florals with the romance of candlelight.  The tent looked magical!  Fortunately, Parker Pfister was there to capture Jane Erwin and Charlie’s perfect day.  Okay, so there are lots of pictures, but goodness gracious, how could I decide?  Parker…thank you!!

Derek and Galen with Two Ring Studios (formally Peak Definition) just sent over these bridal portraits of Kelly Russell, and they are so gorgeous!  I love their unique style and their use of color in their photographs.  So beautiful!  Never hurts to have a beautiful bride to take pictures of either!    Kelly married Jason in September on the Vista at the Inn on Biltmore Estate, then they moved to Lioncrest for their reception.  It was a perfect day, and I can’t wait to show you the pictures of their entire wedding.  For now, please enjoy these portraits of Kelly!  Thank you, Derek and Galen!

I love, love, love this picture!  So neat how they did this…