NYC Engagement Shoot Giveaway!

Win a free engagement shoot in New York City! A Bryan Photo and one of our favorite blogs, Snippet & Ink, have partnered with several other sponsors for an amazing giveaway. The prize includes an engagement/lifestyle shoot in NYC with A Bryan Photo, a gorgeous hand bound album of the shoot from Cypress Albums, an 8mm film of the shoot from A Bryan Photo and $500 travel credit from the honeymoon registry site, Traveler's Joy. Don't miss out on the opportunity to win these incredible prizes! The contest ends at midnight this Friday October 2nd. Visit the Snippet & Ink website to enter for your chance to win. For more details on the photoshoot check out A Bryan Photo's contest site. Best of luck to all of you!!

Real Wedding ~ Kristin and Carter

Kristin and Carter found inspiration in their location and we're "hooked" on their details! Forgive us for the pun -- we just couldn't help it! Needless to say, Boca Bay in Florida is a popular fishing spot and this wedding features lots of seafaring elements. We especially love the handmade fish species placecards created by Kristin's parents and the unique centerpieces of fish netting, blue glass vases and island greenery. For a sweet dessert with Floridian flavor, check out their amazing key lime pie wedding cake, topped with limes and sugar sand. Delicious!

Credits:
Photography: Melissa Schollaert Photography. Gown: Amsale. Shoes: Delman. Groom's Tie: Tarpon Tie from Vineyard Vines. Groom's Pants: Brooks Brothers. Florist: The Red Monkey Florist. Ceremony Venue: St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Reception Venue: Boca Bay Pass Club. Hotel: Historic Gasparilla Inn & Club. Band: Pocket Change.

Charlotte Ritz-Carlton Grand Opening!

Ritz-Carlton is opening their first LEED built hotel in Charlotte on October 1st. The environmentally focused Ritz-Carlton Charlotte will be the first and only green hotel in the Greater Charlotte area as well as first within the The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. The new 146-room, 18-story hotel is located in the heart of Charlotte's thriving Uptown at College and Trade streets. In addition to dramatic skyline views and the luxury you would expect of a Ritz Carlton, it features over 12,000 square feet of function space, a bi-level penthouse spa and Wellness Center and a streetside BLT Steak restaurant.

We love the uptown locale and chic, sophisticated atmosphere. For reservations or more information regarding meetings and special events, visit The Ritz-Carlton or call 800.241.3333. Located at 201 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202.

Images from the Ritz Carlton Charlotte website.

Real Wedding ~ Micki and Jason

Our good friends Cristen and Scott from W. Scott Chester Photography sent us this phenomenal wedding last week via Twitter and we couldn't resist sharing it with you. Micki and Jason's fun waterside event at Lake Rabun in Georgia has so much stuff we love. The amazing scenery made for spectacular portraits and the relaxed, homespun florals and decor created by Gertie Mae's, includes Mason jars and burlap table runners. Everyone had a great time singing and dancing the night away with Bobby + The Aristocrats, including the bevy of beautiful bridemaids in their super-cute, bright green retro dresses. The florals made us take a second look at Baby's Breath, generally used as a filler flower, but used in this wedding to create airy, cotton-candy-like bouquets for Micki's maids. From the groomsmen's suits and the moss and twig ring pillow to the cake made by Epting Events and the ringbearer's fedora, there are so many fantastic details.

For more incredible images of Micki and Jason's wedding, check out the W. Scott Chester Photography Blog. Enjoy!

Credits:
Photographer: W. Scott Chester Photography. Gown: Marisa. Veil: Handmade. Caterer and Cake: Epting Events. Florist: Gertie Mae's. Band: Bobby + The Aristocrats.

Real Wedding ~ Angela and Rob

Jenna Walker's spectacular images of Angela and Rob's amazing destination wedding has us all pining for a tropical getaway. The two married on the beautiful beaches of St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands and hosted an exquisite event planned by our longtime friends at WED, based in Charleston, SC. We love the citrusy palette of yellow and green, seen in everything from the event stationery and cake to the florals and tabletop decor. We especially loved the bright parasols given to arriving guests to shade them from the tropical sun and the glittering pailette-embellished linens.

Credits:
Photographer: Jenna Walker Photographers. Event Planner: Weddings Elegantly Designed. Ceremony Venue: Hawksnest Beach. Reception Venue: Villa South Palm.

Real Wedding ~ Cynthia and Steve

Cynthia and Steve chose a classic and ultra-chic palette of black and white for their destination nuptials in Cancun, Mexico at the Moon Palace Golf and Spa Resort. The classic combination made for an elegant event, photographed by our talented friend Katie Hamister. We love the choice of black wedding papers, inked in crisp white, the thin black ribbon accenting the cake and the creamy bouquets with glossy greenery collars.

Credits:
Photography: Katie Hamister Photography. Ceremony and Reception Venue: Moon Palace Golf and Spa Resort.

Real Wedding ~ Lindsay and Brad

We absolutely adored Lindsay and Brad's down home Southern wedding when we saw it on Kelly Moore's blog. The wedding was held at the Dixie Gin, and old cotton gin in Shreveport, Louisiana. The venue, along with all the vintage elements throughout the decor, made this wedding truly charming. We fell in love with this the bride's gown, the colors and especially the amazing sweets table complete with homemade garland. To see more of their wedding be sure to check out Kelly Moore's blog post!

Credits:
Photography: Kelly Moore Photography. Ceremony and Reception Venue: Dixie Gin.

Blue Moon Events Blog

Calder Clark from Blue Moon Events in Charleston, SC recently e-mailed us to let us know that she launched her brand new blog and even included a little love for Weddings Unveiled. We were thrilled and thought we'd share the news. Calder is an amazing event designer and planner, whose work has appeared in Weddings Unveiled real wedding features. Be sure to check out her Blue Moon Events blog for new features and wonderful inspiration!

Tie One On Event

Twobirds Bridesmaid is launching at The Wedding Library this weekend! These one-of-a-kind bridesmaid dresses are a girl's dream and your maids are guaranteed to love you for choosing them. The Twobirds bridesmaid dress is actually one dress that can be tied over 15 different ways, comes in 4 hem lengths and 18 gorgeous hues for endless versatility. Every bride attending the event this weekend will receive a 10% discount on their Twobirds order at the trunk show. Untamed Petals will also be introducing their newest line of custom vintage-inspired silk bloom accessories and Gerard Yosca will be showcasing a vibrant collection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and brooches. This is one event you don't want to miss!

Tie One On! @ The Wedding Library
Friday, September 25th (11am-8pm) and Saturday, September 26th (11am-6pm)
43 East 78th Street
New York City

Please call 212.327.0100 or e-mail kristen@theweddinglibrary.com to schedule and appointment.

Aiken's Premiere Wedding Celebration

Get ready for Aiken, South Carolina's first bridal show of the new year. The Wedding Celebration will feature a huge fashion show, a party at a mock reception with a "Groove Lounge" theme and tons of wonderful wedding vendors. In addition, one lucky couple will win a Free Wedding! Attending brides will also receive a complimentary copy of the Winter 2009 issue of Weddings Unveiled. We'll see you there!

Aiken's Premiere Wedding Celebration

Saturday, January 16th (10am-3pm)
USC Aiken Convocation Center
Aiken, South Carolina
803.643.6901
Tickets $8.00

Ghosts of the Coast Alive in Historic Crystal Coast

Dangling like a delicate strand of pearls off the coast of North Carolina, the southern Outer Banks are a favored Atlantic beach destination of generations. Also called the Crystal Coast, they represent one of the only remaining natural barrier island systems in the world. The islands boast 85 miles of silken coastline, 56 miles of which are in the protected Cape Lookout National Seashore. Miles of shimmering water reflect countless tiny suns during the day and shatter the moon into a thousand pieces at night.

This fall, the Crystal Coast provides a glimpse into its mysterious past and with its "Ghosts of the Coast" feature. The Crystal Coast's romantic history is wrought with swashbuckling pirate tales, intriguing mysteries, a rich maritime heritage and wartime triumphs and tragedies, lending substance to a slew of ghost stories.

The Crystal Coast invites guests to experience the haunted sites of Beaufort, which was founded in 1709 and celebrates its 300th birthday this year. The historic town was the setting for Nicholas Sparks' A Walk to Remember and is dotted with Victorian mansions from the 1700s. Most notably, the haunted Hammock House is home to a variety of ghostly activity, some courtesy of the notorious pirate, Blackbeard. It is said that the ghost of a young woman, hung by Blackbeard from a live oak tree, has been seen there, along with the spirits of three soldiers found buried under the porch and a mistress who was pushed down the stairs.

The Old Burying Grounds are shrouded by ancient live oaks stretching their arms over weathered tombstones, some dating back to 1731. This famously haunted cemetery is the final resting place of Revolutionary War soldiers, famous privateers and even a young girl buried in a keg of rum. Visitors to Fort Macon, a five-sided fort that served during the Civil War and World War II, search for soldiers haunting its grounds. Perhaps you might also find Blackbeard's crew from the legendary Queen Anne's Revenge, sunken and abandoned in the perilous waters off the shore of the Crystal Coast, now known as the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" where more than 2,000 ships have perished, witnessed by the 150-year-old Cape Lookout Lighthouse.

Visit Shackleford Banks, a nine-mile long island where mysterious wild Spanish Mustangs are the only permanent residents and the assumed descendants of horses that survived the shipwrecks of Spanish galleons more than 300 years ago.

A variety of lodging options on the Crystal Coast suit every lifestyle and budget from seaside cottages and massive beach mansions to oceanfront hotel accomodations and coastal bed and breakfast inns. A sampling of accomodation rates for the fall include the Inlet Inn: $85/night and Pecan Tree Inn Bed & Breakfast: $110/night both in Beaufort, Holiday Inn Morehead City: $105/night, Sheraton Atlantic Beach: $154/night and Bluewater MAC's eight-bedroom oceanfront rental, Sand Dollar: $3,595.





For more information, visit the Crystal Coast website.

Smilebooth Your Wedding!

Have you ever been to a wedding with a smilebooth? If not, take it from us (and the images below) that smilebooths are a must-have. They add a whole new element to any event and as you can see, a bit of playful fun. They're a fantastic way to involve your guests in the evening's festivities and create great memories for everyone.

Make your smilebooth truly unique with a custom backdrop from drop it Modern or Dolci Odille. You can also make your own backdrop with a cool piece of patterned fabric. Props also add to the fun and can ensure some amazing, creative photos. You can get mustaches like the ones below on Etsy or Party City has an endless supply of dress-up options. However you outfit your smilebooth, you'll be sure to get lots of laughs and priceless images of your family and friends.

credits: {clockwise from top left} drop it Modern, Our Labor of Love, Millie Holloman Photography, drop it Modern, Our Labor of Love, Our Labor of Love {pink background created by Dolci Odille}.

Mojuba

We have all seen it happen. The bride has a sip of wine to calm her nerves and spills a drop on her gown. Or how about when its time to take pictures in that summer heat and the bridesmaids makeup has started to glisten. And God-forbid the moment you realize there is a button hanging by a string on the back of your gown. There always seems to be something when it comes to the big day, but thanks to Mojuba - you can be ready for anything!

“Mojuba,” which in some African cultures refers to a bag of magical items that bring joy and happiness, and a prayer of praise and tribute, has become the life business of Jackie James. After countless experiences like the ones above, not to mention inspiration from her 20 years of work as a wedding planner, Jackie realized it was time to go on a new adventure. Enter Mojuba.

Mojuba began with a simple mission: to help brides and grooms experience a magnificent, memorable, stress-free wedding. Bride and Groom Mojuba Wedding emergency kits are luxurious bags that contain a collection of stylish, must-have items that brides and grooms need to feel confident that the wedding day is absolutely perfect for everyone involved. The bags are customized for brides and grooms respectively and contain all the items needed to avoid or fix any of the stressful moments that can take place on your wedding day. As an added bonus, each bag can be used again and again for travel and serve as a keepsake of your wedding day.

Bride Mojuba is a sophisticated, chic bag that unfolds to reveal one exquisite item after another, from essential everyday items to indulgent necessities for the bride and her bridal party. It has a built-in mirror and is easy to throw over a shoulder or carry on the arm. Also tucked inside each Bride Mojuba bag is a little something to make you smile: a thoughtful, unique gift from Jackie herself. The items are distinct and ever-changing, but always reflect the idea of Mojuba-of praise, tribute, and a beautiful journey beginning on the wedding day and continuing long thereafter.

Groom Mojuba is a handsome, sleek, messenger-style bag containing necessities for the groom and groomsmen. The Groom Mojuba Wedding Emergency Kit comes lined in either lime green or tangerine, can easily convert into a handsome briefcase by tucking the strap inside, and includes a dopp kit for organization and travel. Again, Jackie includes a little something special just for the groom inside each Groom Mojuba.

In developing Mojuba, Jackie worked with major retailers and boutique manufacturers all around the world to find the best and most sophisticated products. Jackie’s bins of ideas and tattered papers have evolved into an incredible, fashionable, essential part of any wedding day.

Images courtesy of Mojuba

E Session ~ Blair and Ernest

We couldn't get enough of Blair and Ernest's whimsical engagement session captured in rural Perry, Georgia by Sarah Lipari. The golden hues from an early Fall sunset amidst brilliant South Georgia sunflowers created the perfect natural canvas for the two plaid-clad childhood sweethearts. Blair and Ernest have known (and loved!) each other since middle school days and both attended college at the University of Georgia. Congratulations and thanks for sharing!

Images courtesy of Sarah Lipari

Bridal Tweet's Red Carpet Contest

BridalTweet.com announced their Red Carpet Wedding Contest today, which awards one lucky bride a complimentary rental of dazzling diamond earrings to wear on her wedding day. Each bride who joins BridalTweet.com before October 30 will be entered to win, courtest of Adorn Brides. “The Red Carpet Wedding contest is our way of thanking brides for joining our wedding community,” said Christine Dyer, creator and founder of BridalTweet.com. “We’re seeing that brides will rent anything from visual props to floral arrangements, table linens, head-pieces and sometimes even dresses; why not rent diamonds for the special day?”

Each bride that joins BridalTweet.com will also gain access to the wedding community’s ongoing benefits such as free wedding advice, exclusive offers, giveaways, information about local events, a local vendor directory, and more. All BridalTweet.com members, including brides, wedding vendors, and wedding bloggers, can also share tips and information via chats, blogs, discussions, groups, photos, and videos.

Laura Carrintgon, co-founder and chief stylist for Adorn Brides shares our belief when she states “Every bride, regardless of her budget deserves to have access to the very best in bridal accessories. Now, brides can rent thousands of dollars of diamond jewelry for a fraction of what it would cost to purchase them thanks to Adorn Brides.”

Good Luck to all you gorgeous brides!

Coren Moore Fall Promotion

Coren Moore is having another amazing promotion - this time for Fall! The biggest promo of the year means that all bridesmaid dresses will receive 15% off when ordered between now and October 30th. All Fall Promo orders will ship on February 1, so this is ideal for weddings anytime after March 1, 2010. Please call the Coren Moore showroom to make an appointment or to ask any questions. The Open-Hour is every Wednesday between 12:00pm - 1:30pm.

Coren Moore Fall Promotion
Now - October 30th
250 West 39th Street, Suite 408
New York, NY
212-731-2017

Fall Beauty Bar

There is a beauty event in Atlanta next week that we just couldn't resist sharing with our gorgeous brides! The Fall Beauty Bar is happening next Thursday, September 24th at Paisley Umbrella!

Join beauty experts Kimberly Mack, named Lucky Magazine's Summer 2009 issue's Best Makeup Artist, and Susan Sexton, Master French Custom Parfumeur, and Emily Sennebogen of Mama Bath + Body as they share tips on how to create an updated image for fall. Enjoy fragrance, makeup and body product modeling. Savor light Mediterranean bites by by Chef Courtney. Sip Pomegranate Martinis courtesy of Ultimat Vodka. Shop and get new ideas for fall while enjoying the company!

Mark your calendar for this intimate, personal and stylish evening!

Fall Beauty Bar @ Paisley Umbrella
Thursday, September 24th 6pm - 9pm
2971 N. Fulton Drive Altanta, GA 30306
RSVP by September 17th: info@BLENDcustomparfum.com

Atlanta Bridal Show at the Westin Peachtree Plaza

Brides won't want to miss this fantastic bridal show in Atlanta this weekend! The theme for the Fall 2009 Atlanta Bridal Show is "Planning Your Wedding In Today's Economy". Unlike the traditional bridal show that only includes exhibits, door prizes and a fashion show, The Atlanta Bridal Show offers all this and more. Attendees are able to attend seminars on the wedding planning experience. All brides who pre-register will be entered in the drawing to win a 3-night honeymoon at the Cancun Grand Oasis Resort! Be sure to pre-register today!

Seminar Topics:
Selecting Bridesmaids Gowns That Are Affordable For Everyone
How To Save Money By Using A Wedding Planner
Your Questions Answered About Saving On Flowers For Your Wedding
Getting The Best Deals on Honeymoon Travel

Atlanta Bridal Show
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Westin Peachtree Plaza
210 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30303
1pm-5pm
Purchase Tickets