Mackenzie + Paul | Ocean Isle Beach Wedding | The Winds Resort Beach Club

bride and groom stopping traffic

bride and groom stopping traffic

 

As the sounds of the steel drum wafted through the air of Mackenzie and Paul’s matrimonial celebration, guests took in the feel of the Caribbean on the ocean front of The Winds Resort Beach Club in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Continue reading

Ishtar + Jean | Charlotte Wedding | St. Mary’s Chapel + Metropolitan Ballroom

bride and groom first dance

Ishtar and Jean – Bride and Groom First Dance

Ishtar originates from Jamaica and Jean is from Benin in Africa, so their goal was to create a luxurious wedding to wow their guests from all over the world. They brought their vision to life by showcasing Charlotte, and the event was a hit, just like Ishtar and Jean’s moves on the dance floor :)

Ish and Jean met at a nightclub in Uptown Charlotte. After successfully obtaining her number that night, Jean took Ishtar to Flying Saucer for their first date, and from there the relationship blossomed. Then one night Jean surprised Ish by taking her to Maggiano’s, a restaurant she had always wanted to try. Jean had another surprise in store that night, and during dinner he presented her with a ring, got down on one knee and popped the question. Continue reading

Kellie + Matt | Newton NC Wedding | Trinity Baptist Church + Catawba Country Club

Kellie and Matt at the Catawba Country Club

Mr. and Mrs. Terry

I recently posted to Facebook a sneak peek of Kellie and Matt’s gorgeous Catawba Country Club wedding reception.  The entire wedding was a very classy and formal affair.  The ceremony was conducted at Trinity Baptist Church in Newton North Carolina – which also happens to be Kellie’s hometown church.  Kellie was a stunning bride and of course Matt was equally handsome :) . Continue reading

Brianna + Sam | Furman University Engagement | Greenville SC + Charlotte NC

Brianna and Sam at Furman U!When Brianna and Sam originally booked with us many months ago – I was already double booked, and was miffed about the missed opportunity to photograph them on their special day.  A few weeks later my double booking changed their date and I was freed up to shoot them.  I was ecstatic.  For their engagement session, we decided to visit the gorgeous campus of Furman University in Greenville SC.  What a treat!  Love this place and am already planning my return visit.  Check out some of their images and let us know what you think in the comments tab below.  Ciao! Continue reading

Juline + Jesse | Peninsula Club Wedding | Cornelius NC + Charlotte NC

We posted a magical photo a few weeks ago on Facebook about Juline and Jesse’s wedding at the Peninsula Club in Cornelius North Carolina and now we are excited to post the remainder of their wedding.  The wedding ceremony and reception were both held at the gorgeous Peninsula Club on the banquet green overlooking the lake – which made for a  magical setting. Continue reading

Charlotte Engagement | Uptown Charlotte | Raven + D’Andre

I love shooting in Uptown Charlotte.  There is so much variety, I literally could spend countless hours here – thankfully all of our clients also appreciate this fact and humor me as we while away the hours shooting.  Raven and D’Andre were looking for an urban downtown stylized shoot that characterized their personalities.  I think we did a great job capturing that.  You guys were really fun to shoot with!  I can’t wait for the wedding. Continue reading

Bride on a Budget

For the bride on a budget.

Brides and Grooms on a budget

fairytalehairandmakeup.com

First of all, know your budget. You can’t get anything accomplished without knowing how much money you have to spend. The hardest part after knowing your budget is sticking to it! Make a list of what’s really important to you; this will come in handy when allocating your money.  Ask us for a copy of our budget planning worksheet.

If food and drink is important to you, make that a priority. Go on tastings and choose a caterer that suits your needs and excites your palette. If the venue is the most important aspect, due your homework and scope out locations. Keep in mind all the additional costs that will come into play and affect your budget. What does the location include? Chairs, tables, linens, décor? If all of these are included in the price, great. If not, make sure to include that expense. Also consider food and drink. Many venues only allow their catering. Country clubs are a great option, but can be costly when it comes to the menu. Your dream location may come with a high priced menu.

Is having beautiful, quality images what you are looking for? Conduct your due diligence  There are many photographers out there who produce amazing, life lasting products that you’ll be able to share and enjoy for the rest of your life, but there are also individuals who claim to be professional photographers because they purchased a nice, expensive camera and downloaded photoshop. Be sure to look at their work (a lot of it) and get references (not only get references, but get in touch with those references.) You will get what you pay for.

Is the way you look a top priority? Every woman want to feel and look beautiful on one of the most important day of their life. However, if your budget is limited there’s no shame in looking for cheaper alternatives when purchasing your gown. Many bridal shops have sample sales, cutting their prices significantly. There are also gown consignment shops that house last year’s styles or overstock that has trickled from bridal stores. Another option worth looking into is individuals privately selling their gowns.

However you envision your day, keep in mind what’s most important. Sharing your vows with your loved one in front of family and friends is what the day is all about. So whether your budget is five-thousand dollars for fifty-thousand dollars, the love, commitment and promise for the future is what it’s all about.

If you like this post, comment below and be sure to follow us for more posts to help you plan an amazing wedding.

Pre-Wedding Body Treatments before your wedding

Chemical Peel Gone Wrong

Chemical Peel Gone Wrong

Be careful what you wish for.

Want a body wrap, laser hair removal, smoother skin? While all these wants are realistic, take the time to plan ahead and schedule a trial run with plenty of time before you say’ I do’.

You never know what kind of reaction your body will have to treatments. Hair removal can be painful and has the possibility of leaving you red, bumpy and sore. You’ll want to know what the results will be beforehand. Facials, chemicals peels and other skin rejuvenation  procedures can be amazing, leaving your skin glowing, however, if you have sensitive skin and are prone to breakouts you’ll want to see the aftermath before your big day. You may remember Samantha’s chemical peel on Sex and the City? You certainly don’t want to take the walk down the aisle, have your groom lift your veil and hear him gasp when you reveal your raw, puffy red skin.

I think most brides have a goal of losing a few pounds or tightening up in certain areas. Pills may seem like an easy option, but they can have damaging side affects.  Research the products and know what you’re putting into your system.  If the side effects seem to   weigh heavy on the con side you may want to steer clear.  Weight loss body wraps are becoming increasingly popular but they can be a double-edge sword. On one end, it may be really effective and you end up losing too much weight, affecting the fit of your dress. Make sure you allow yourself enough time for a final fitting in case you lose the desired weight. On the other hand if that’s solely what you are relying on to lose weight and it’s not successful you may run the risk of not fitting into your dream dress.

Do your homework and plan accordingly.  Don’t start married life looking more scary than sexy!