Raleigh Bridal Fair Sponsored by Your Special Day at The Stockroom!

On Sunday January 23rd, the Raleigh Bridal Fair was held at a new venue in downtown Raleigh called The Stockroom. Shawn Schindler of Your Special Day invited me to come and I was so glad to finally see The Stockroom for myself. It is a wonderful space for ceremonies and receptions in a restored historic building at 230 Fayetteville Street. It has that popular urban industrial feel to it and is a nice open space that can be fashioned into many configurations. It was fun to visit with other vendors I knew and meet new ones.  I invited my friend Diane McDaniels to come with me. Diane is the Event Coordinator for Unity at Long View Center, an elegant church setting wedding venue in downtown Raleigh that has recently reopened. They are hosting an open house for wedding vendors on February 17th. 

After greeting Sarah Morris, the events coordinator for both The Stockroom and All Saint's Chapel, at the door, the first vendor was Priscilla of Boston displaying their gorgeous wedding gowns. Here are two of my favorites: 

This beautiful wedding gown is so soft and flowing and looks a bit retro with the gathered skirt and sash which can be many different colors, depending on what the bride wants.

This dress is covered with beading and is most elegant. Although it looks like it might be heavy, I was told that it was not. It is so pretty. 

Randy Pulley was the DJ for the event. Randy and I worked together at Highgrove this past summer.  I like him a lot and he was most helpful plugging my microphone into his system for the wedding. Good to see you again, Randy! 

Simpsound was also there although this is not Jeff Simpson, the owner. Simpsound is a DJ and Lighting service for weddings and other events. Believe me, he is great in both areas!  I have done many weddings and admire Jeff's abilities in both music and spectacular lighting. I remember one (it is on this blog) where the bride and groom's theme was 1001 Arabian Nights. With uplighting behind the sheer drapes, it really did look like the interior of a large tent.

This is a display for Alter Ego, a salon for hair and make-up. Dana Hunter, owner /stylist was there along with Belle Trachtenberg, make-up artist, and Alecks Blades, stylist and make-up artist.

Quintessentials was displaying their beautiful table setting. They have a retail store in North Hills that I love to peruse. 

 

Shawn Schindler, a wedding planner who owns Your Special Day, was our hostess. I have worked several weddings through the years with Shawn and she is really good at what she does. She had a wonderful display of her company complete with the video display which it seemed everyone at the show had. That is the state of the art these days.

I also met Shawn's daughter who has joined her mother and was on hand to learn the business.

This beautiful arrangement was by Greg Warren Flowers. It was spectacular! I don't believe I have met Greg before. He was fun to talk to and told me that I was "famous" and known by everyone in the wedding business in our area! What a compliment. Thanks, Greg!

Diane from Long View Center is speaking with Danny who is with Barbour & Hinton who provide music for wedding ceremonies and receptions. 

Ladyfingers Caterers were providing all the guests with delicious food! I had a heart of romaine inner leaf with a dollop of bleu cheese sprinkled with candied pecans. It was soooo good! Tudi Marin is their event coordinator. They are located on Whitaker Mill Road in Raleigh and cater for all occasions.

Amy Ruchte, the owner of Emory Lane Photography, actually organized this bridal show. I met her for the first time there. She had some great photos. The one in the upper right was from a wedding that was shot in Switzerland.

Ashley Cakes provided cupcakes for everyone. You can see that people were picking them off the tiered display and enjoying them.

Ashley does such beautiful cakes. Here are three she had on display. I am sorry that I did not think to get her to get into the picture!

Lindsay and Lisa from The Paper Company showed us their invitations and other paper treats. They are in Holly Springs and have quite a wonderful design talent for brides to have their own unique invitations, save the date cards, place tags, and wedding programs.

Yours truly posing in front of Greg Warren's pretty floral display. You can see The Stockroom from the other end of the room here looking toward the entrance.

 

Our final stop as we circled around the room was Red Light Chocolates. That was a popular booth as everyone loves chocolate!  Red Light Chocolates is a family owned business specializing in handmade artisan chocolates. They use only fresh, natural ingredients and no preservatives. They can provide their goodies for wedding favors, bridal party gifts, wine and chocolate parties, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers and engagement parties.

Wonderful Wedding for Erin and Tom at Highgrove!

Erin and Tom met in high school and noticed each other at a graduation party but it was not until they met 4 years later in 2006 did they seriously consider each other. Erin sort of knew then that if she dated Tom, he would be the one she would marry. Tom was intoxicated with Erin from the beginning and felt a great connection! They began seeing each other and it was not long before they confessed their feelings and committed to their relationship. They planned a fabulous wedding at Highgrove on September 4, 2010, and came to see me last March to plan their wedding ceremony. They were most excited that they could make their ceremony theirs and that I would help them write the story of how they met and fell in love. Together we created a ceremony that they loved and we knew their families and friends would enjoy on their wedding day. 

And so the big day arrived. Marty took this photo of the beautiful reception area inside the big tent. The owner of Highgrove plans to make this area a permanent building over the winter months when there are not so many weddings. The basic construction will be brick walls going about 1/4 way up and the rest windows and a draped ceiling just like in the tent. It is so pretty and spacious.

The color scheme for this wedding was one of my very favorites: black and hot pink. Like red and black, hot pink and black make such beautiful weddings. The pink was carried out in beautiful pink roses everywhere. The florist was, of course, Fresh Affairs, who creates the most fabulous florals for weddings.

Providing the wonderful music for the ceremony was a string trio put together by Marta Partridge. They were great!

This beautiful cake with the couple's initials was made by Ambrosia Cake Creations in Fuquay Varina.

Randy Pulley was our DJ for the reception. He was called in by Joe Bunn DJ Company when the scheduled DJ was unable to be there for the wedding due to a death in the family. I had not met Randy before but we had a nice little chat and he admired by Countryman theater microphone I wear for weddings.

So, when it was time to begin, Angela, our wedding coordinator with Highgrove, got us all lined up and cued the musicians for the processional music. Tom and I were the first to enter.

This is the mother of the bride, Kathy, being escorted in by her son-in-law, Chris. What a pretty dress!

Then it was time for the music to change for the groomsmen and bridesmaids. Angela has just cued the musicians. Note the guy in the background as he takes care of his baby so his wife could watch the ceremony! I watched him before the ceremony started and he was very much a Mr. Mom! So sweet and I really love seeing the fathers taking care of the babies as much as the mothers!

Now that the attendants are all in place, it is time for the bride and her beaming father, Tim, to take that walk down the aisle! Erin is such a stunningly beautiful young woman. Tom is equally handsome and I know their children will be extraordinarily attractive people. In the background is their photographer, Eric Honeycutt of VegaBlue Photography.

And so we begin the ceremony. They had quite a large wedding party. Erin's two younger brothers were "bridesmen" and the younger one I think felt a little embarrassed about it all! They were such great young men and good sports. Erin's sister, Stefanie, was her matron of honor.

In the following photos you will see how the sun as it was setting behind the house, began to act like a spotlight on my face until it finally ducked down too low to be seen.

Erin's Aunt Meg presented a reading of a favorite poem by ee cummings often used in wedding ceremonies. "i carry your heart with me, i carry it in my heart"

Then Tom's grandmother, Joan, presented words from Romans chapter 12.

The sun has found my face so it is hard for me to look up at Tom without squinting! Funny how that sunbeam was so concentrated on one spot.

A better view of all the attendants. They filled up the portico wings.

Tom's brother, Matthew, was his best man and was carrying the rings. Note the beautiful pink roses on the pedestals and in the bouquets.

No, I am not mad, just squinting! I felt like someone had a spotlight trained right on my face! God?

Ah, and all of a sudden the spotlight was off! What a relief! Tom is saying his vows and putting the ring on Erin's finger.

Erin is so happy to say these wonderful vows to Tom.

"With this ring
I give you my heart.
I have no greater gift to give to you.
I promise I will honor you
With all that I am
And all that I will become
For my whole life.
I thee wed."  

You know the drill.......the big moment.........the pronouncement of marriage and then............

The kiss is about to happen!

And now, they are married!

While the guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and cocktails on the patio, Eric got the wedding party assembled for photos. Marty took these over his shoulder! What a large and handsome wedding party!

Erin's gown is so pretty and fits her so perfectly. Erin and Tom, I loved working with you and officiating your wedding. I hope to see you again either when you start a family or have a renewal of vows on one of your anniversaries. You are such a great couple!