Bio

Brandon and I are getting married on May 31, 2008 in Southport, NC. We can't wait for the big day! We will be joined by friends and family from all over the US for a weekend of celebrating! Brandon and my Dad are hosting a golf tournament the day before. Our enagament story is so romantic, it even made the Washington Post! Click here to read the story. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/04/AR2006120401714_2.html

My e-ring! Love it!

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Planning Photos
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Trinity United Methodist Church in Southport, where we will be getting married. The church is on the historical registrar and has the orignial bell in the steeple which will ring on the big day. The church is also across the street from the Community Building, so everyone can jsut walk over.

General Idea of a color scheme. I want a look that is clean, simple, fresh and goes with our oceanfront view!

My monogram. Thanks JillAly

The deck of our reception hall, the Southport Community Building. It looks out over the Atlantic Ocean. My sister, the MOH on deck

The view from the deck. I want to bring bistro tables and some smaller regular tables and chairs out here for the cocktail hour. I want lots of candle light out here on the tables , and maybe luminaries for the walkways? Passed hors d'oevres and one bar will be set up out here, and waiters will also be serving spiked arnold palmers!

Our band will play to the right against the wall with the dancefloor in the middle. I love all the windows and high ceilings.

Another view from the deck where the bar will be set up.

Love these centerpieces! I want flowers and branches that are very tall with hanging votives. The ceilings are really high and the lighting is terrible! I want to avoid having to use the centers yellowy recess lighting if I can.

I like this look too, from Oct142006bride

I want to do two wreaths similar to this only in more blues and greens, for the doors of the Church and for the fireplace at the reception hall.

This is pretty too, very simple

Let them eat cake! I love this cake and our super sweet, super delicious baker, Mary Norwood, will replicate it for our wedding! I love the blue rock candy sprinkled around the bottom. Very simple yet interesting. I love how the swirly blue icing gets darker as you go down the cake.

Signiture Drink! We are serving Arnold Palmers (non-alcoholic) and John Daly's (arnold palmers with citrus vodka and triple sec)

Emgagement Pics!

Shelby Leigh took these amazing photos on a secluded beach in Chesapeke Beach, MD. She is really a great photogfrapher and has a great eye for detail. And her prices are really reasonable. Check out her website or page me for a reference.
www.shelbyleigh.com

Guest Book
I plan on making my own photo guest book from www.blurb.com with the CD that Shelby sent me from our session. I'll post photos when it comes in the mail.

Save the Dates

I ordered the cardstock direct from Neenah papers (www.neenahpaper.com)and designed them myself using Microsoft Publisher. Pretty easy and I'm inspired to give it a go at doing my own invites!

I ordered the envelopes from www.envelopemall.com

Inside is the info on travel and accomodations and the golf tournament my dad and DH are hosting the day before.

I made the magnets myself and designed them in publisher. The magnets are business cards size printable from www.magnetvalley.com. They are held on by Glue Dots removables.

Invitations

I sort of designed my own invites. I found Reaves Engraving to have the best prices and best quality. They are a little old school and do things over the phone and fax, but the end result is really beautiful. I'll be making my own pocketfolds and a couple inserts. I chose thermography typeset with Liberty Blue ink. They also do beautiful letterpress but i went this way instead.

Bridesmaids Dresses

I like this one from Bill Levkoff, 311 in Bali Blue

It also comes in Bali for this dress too. I think I might let my bridesmaids pick the one they prefer

Hair Ideas

I like this look...

MY DRESS!!!!!

Henry Roth, Abela

I got this dress at Betsy Robinson's in Baltimore. A beautiful store with beautiful dresses. The sales woman sat me down and asked me about my wedding, my style, my price range. She then went right to their back rack and asked me to please try on this one dress. It was different than many others I was looking at, but I agreed. As soon as it zipped up perfectly I knew it was THE ONE. So beautiful and romantic yet simple and me. Not to frilly or big. The bonus is that Henry Roth is going out of business and you can't order the dresses anymore, so the samples in the store are almost new and half price! I would highly recommend Betsy Robinsons if you want a great shopping experience and good customer service.

Vendor Information
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Trinity United Methodist Church. Southport, NC--This is my dad's church, and we really like the pastor and location. It was built in 1815 by a shipbuilder and is beautiful insdie and out.
Southport Community Building, Southport, NC--Betsey is the coordinator here and is great to work with. This building overlooks Bald Head Island, and the Atlantic Ocean. I'm really excited we booked this place.
Jill Critchfield, Wilmington, NC--We decided to hire Jill as our coordinator for the wedding. She's really knows the business and will help out greatly with design and logistics. With so many vendors and all the guests coming from out of town, we are really gonna need the help! She's friendly and has great ideas on how to save us money too!
Creative Cuisine Catering, Wilmington, NC--Jackie, the owner, and head chef has been catering for over 20 years. She really made us feel comfortable, and every question we had was answered either we can do it or I've done that before. She strives to make the entire experience a good one, and had the best prices in town. The food was good and she knows how to run a bar, important as my family are big drinkers.
Cakes by the Norwoods, Southport, NC--My mom and I met Mary and were really impressed. Not only are her prices fantastic, but she has been baking cakes for over 20 years and man are they tasty. She bakes everyhthing the day before or day of, no 2 week old frozen cake here! I showed her the picture and she had lots of ideas. As for cake flavors and fillings, she has done it all. Whatever you want she has done or can find a recipe for. I think we are going for at least one layer of black and white marble with oreo buttercream filling!
SUGAR the band, Raleigh, NC--We booked this totally rockin band, and can't wait to see them live this summer. They are well known around Raleigh, and are reasonably priced, as far as bands go. I think having a live band will add to the excitment and really make our reception a party never to forgot. Bryan is the drummer and manager and will do just about anything we want, his personality and attitude sealed the deal for us.

This is SUGAR! Obviously, they will be wearing wedding attire when they play for us. They played at the Stanley Cup last year for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Mille Holloman Photography, Wilmington, NC--Millie is the best! I love her photojournalistic style and fun, creative ways. She really plays to your personalities and has a beautiful portfolio. Brandon and I will be doing the ever trendy, day after shoot. Millie will go around Southport and the Beach with Brandon and I. I'm ready to trash the dress!~

another great shot from Millie

Shelby Leigh, Annapolis, MD--Awesome engagement photographer with a real eye for detail, and someone who thinks outside of the box.
Betsy Robinson's Bridal, Baltimore, MD--Beautiful store and nice sales people. The dresses are gorgeous and you really feel special and like a bride when you walk in the door. They have dresses of every price range, and great sample sales. I highyl recommend, and be sure to make an appointment.
Kim Fisher Designs, Wilmington, NC--Kim was the floral designer at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC before relocating to WIlmington. She is a true artist and very creative. If you want something different and not the same old flowers that everyone else does, give her a call.
Reaves Engraving, Laurinburg, NC--You can work with them to design your own and their prices are fantastic! There was a slight problem with the invites, not trimmed enough by only a tiny bit, I called them up and they sent UPS right away to pick them up and are fixing the problem.
Margaret Rudd Rentals, Oak Island, NC--Beach rentals are actually easier to find in town than hotels. We are working with a rep from this rental agency so that our guests can find whatever accomodations suit their needs, whether a house or a condo.
St. James Plantation, Southport, NC--The community where my paretns live also boasts 4 golf courses. My dad and Brandon are hosting a golf tournamant on the morning of the rehersal.

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Honeymoon Photos
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