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The Happy Brides
Issue 9 | May '08 | Triangle Bridal Association
Wedding Wisdom 3

Whether you are a unique WHIMSY gal, a flashy SASSY chick, or a darling DEMURE bride, our girls have you covered. Ask any wedding question, and you shall receive wisdom. Cubed. One question. Three answers.

WHIMSY: playful, independent, uses personal touches

SASSY: glamorous, trendy, center of attention

DEMURE: modest, classy, relishes tradition

Q: I'm having a beach wedding in June of 2009. I want my invitations to set the tone for a casual, beautiful wedding. Any ideas for unique stationery for the Outer Banks?

W: To me, the unspoiled beauty of the Outer Banks could be reflected in an earthy green design with dunes and reeds. I would stick with less frilly fonts since you want the flavor to be casual.

S: I would spend the extra money for the understated elegance of letterpress. Choose a simple graphic design, like the silhouette of a lighthouse near where you’ll get married, and a good stationer will pull it all together.

D: Try using a color palette of either sand and ocean blue, or the beautiful melon tones of beach sunrises. Choose a type of seashell you love, or a marsh bird, and use that as inspiration for your final design.

Save the Date

AUGUST 17

Southern Bridal Show & Expo ::
Jim Graham Building -
NC State Fairgrounds
12-5pm
Register and purchase tickets

GROOM'S CORNER ::

It's time to sort out your thoughts and help your bride-to-be decide who will be invited to the wedding. If her folks are footing the bill, you might be unsure how many guests you can invite. Talk things over with your fiancée, and be sure to let her know your A-list...people you definitely want to be at the wedding. With regard to B-list possibilities, try to be considerate of the budget (particularly if you are not contributing), and be willing to follow suit...If your girl has to whittle out great aunts and others and send them a wedding announcement in lieu of an invitation, do the same with your side. If she gets to invite everyone and their mother, you should have that option, too!

We Are Here to Help

HAPPY NEWS OF THE MONTH

Congratulations on your engagement! Don't let your planning time slip away as you enjoy the long spring and summer days. Mark your calendar for the Southern Bridal Show and Expo on Sunday, August 17th at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. You'll find the area's top wedding professionals under one roof, plus you'll receive the all new Dream It - Plan It - Live It wedding organizer complimentary from Forever Bridal Productions while supplies last. By coming to the show, you'll get a 1 year subscription to Modern Bride, and you will have the chance to win some great prizes, get ideas, and most importantly, meet excellent professionals who want to make your wedding unforgettable! Register in advance and receive a discount on tickets you purchase online.

The following members of the Triangle Bridal Association have been recognized as top wedding vendors for North Carolina in The Knot magazine's "Best of Weddings 2008" edition: Joe Bunn DJ Company, Edible Art Bakery, Complete Music of Carolina, Neil Boyd Photography, One Eleven Place, Capital Style Luxury Transportation, Ron K. Smith Productions, Photography by Walters & Walters, and Carolina Productions & Entertainment. Congratulations to all of these fabulous businesses!

Brides-to-be, give us your feedback and let us know what you'd like to see in future issues of The Happy Brides.

SO HOT RIGHT NOW ::
[TBA Member of the Month]

ess. Lounge in downtown Raleigh is the hottest thing since the end of Hollywood's writers strike. You probably already know ess. as a swanky place to grab some late night drinks with the in crowd. So, it makes sense that plenty of Triangle brides-to-be are going wild for their bachelorette parties there. But did you know ess. is also the perfect spot for a reception? With NO BOOKING FEE (you do have to guarantee a liquor tab, but you'd be paying for that elsewhere), this might be the best wedding deal in the Triangle. ess. has a beautiful outdoor terrace with tables, so your guests can enjoy being inside or out. With comfy couches, bar seating, ample dancing space, and a posh look that really doesn't need a lot of extra decorating, you're on your way to a gorgeous reception at a unique venue for less money than elsewhere. What's not to love? You are also free to bring in outside catering, which means you can shop around for exactly what you want. Carrie Campbell will happily assist you with coordinating every detail so your evening is picture perfect!

TIPS :: TRICKS :: TRENDS

If you've been paying attention to the explosion of couture wedding fashions - and we're not just talking gowns - you know that today's bride is looking for ways to make her wedding truly one-of-a-kind. Custom made cakes, gowns, decorations, favors and invitations make it easy to put your personality into your big day. But what about after the big day is over, when you and your new hubby want to relive all the romance and fun of your wedding? That's where Katie Hamister of Katie Hamister Photography comes in. Katie combines her fine art skills and documentary photography style to capture your wedding day moments. Then, she puts your photographs together in a personal couture album made with exquisite handmade, marbled, and Japanese silk papers. After all, you don't just want great pictures from your wedding...you want them to be displayed in a fresh, artistic way so your newlywed coffee table will have a unique keepsake that will never go out of style. Another great display option is a slideshow. Your family will love to receive a copy of your digital album, complete with the images and music you'll always cherish from your wedding. Check out Katie's couture album line and slideshows here.

REAL WEDDINGS :: Amber & Joey

Joey and I met at Lynnwood Grill in Raleigh in April of 2005. Joey was playing in a band called Traces of Morrow at the time. He played the electric guitar and caught my eye immediately. Although I was in no mood for men, I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. My girlfriends and I sat at the table closest to the band since it was the only one open. When Joey's band played the song "Total Eclipse of the Heart" done the way it was done in the movie Old School, I knew I was in love. Read more

. . . . .

Do you have a creative engagement story or hilarious wedding day tale? We want to hear about it! Each month we will feature a unique, funny, or romantic story to capture all of our hearts and keep us all connected. Our winner will receive a $50 TBA gift certificate to be redeemed with the TBA member of her choice.Submit your story

Get Busy | RECEPTION MUSIC |

You want your reception to be full of songs you'll be partying to all night long...but how do you keep three or even four generations of guests out on the dance floor? Island Sound DJs and Videography is here to help. Peter Krumenacker, the owner, has some excellent advice. First, jot down songs you may already have in mind as a must play list. If you need some ideas, ask your DJ for a "Top 200" list that will jog your memory. "It is usually better to choose enough music for about 1/3 of the total reception time and leave the rest open. This will allow both your guests and the performer you've hired to fill in the remaining gaps," says Peter. You'll need to save some time for formalities like toasts and cake-cutting. Your guests will love requesting songs to keep the party going, and you should hire someone you trust enough to make some song choices for you based on your style and how the flow and mood of your reception is going. Of course, you should specify a "Do Not Play" list so you won't be stuck listening to the Macarena or Meatloaf's "I Would Do Anything for Love" if that's not your thing.

More to do's at My Bridal Suite.