A big weekend event is not for everyone. Sometimes a quiet get-away with all the trimmings is a wonderful alternative.  For Stephanie and Sam this was a great choice and today I’m happy to share a selection of Rob Garland’s beautiful photos of their “elopement plus one”… the “one” being Stephanie’s beautiful daughter, Mackenzie.

Stephanie & Sam booked their Boar’s Head Inn wedding through my Weekday Wedding Company and we had a wonderful time planning all the details together: wedding cake, hair & makeup, ceremony choices, video, flowers and more.  After the ceremony Stephanie & Sam’s sweet friend, Angie, swept MacKenzie off to a fun sleep-over and they enjoyed their quiet dinner celebration together at the Boars Head Inn’s Old Mill Room.

It was a lovely autumn day and, as always the Boar’s Head Inn was a beautiful venue with every detail handled perfectly.  Congratulations to the new family: Stephanie, Sam & Mackenzie!

If a high quality, no-fuss wedding for you and up to 25 of your friends and family sounds good please give me a call anytime: 434-296-9885. Also be sure to check out the Weekday Wedding Company website to see all the wonderful packages that are available. ~ Claire

Last week I attended a wonderful meeting of local Charlottesville women bloggers and was happy to discover that Elisa Bricker of Elisa B Photography was one of the talented She-Bloggers in attendance.  At my request Elisa kindly sent me a selection of photos from this recent wedding at DelFosse Vineyards and Winery that she photographed recently … isn’t it a spectacular venue?  I’ve done weddings there and the views from the hillside where they held their ceremony are truly magnificent.  Kara’s color palette of plum, lavendar and orangy yellow is just lovely with the green backdrop.  Thanks for sharing, Elisa!

Contact Information for Elisa B. Photography:
~ website: www.elisabphotography.com
~blog: http://elisabphotography.wordpress.com/
~ phone: 434-249-3524
~ e-mail: elisabricker@gmail.com
Other vendors:
Venue: DelFosse Vineyards & Winery
Cake: Cakes of Art
Planner: Barb Wired Events
Caterer: Harvest Moon

If you’re planning a wedding for 2010, or even 2011 you might like to check out some of these upcoming local shows:

Charlottesville Wedding Classic
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Charlottesville Omni Hotel
235 West Main St., Charlottesville  22902

7th Elegance In Bridal Show
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Doubletree Hotel
990 Hilton Heights Rd., Charlottesville 22901

A Greater Virginia Bridal Show
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Keswick Hall
701 Club Dr., Keswick 22947

In Part 2 I’m happy to share lots more of Jack Looney’s wonderful images from Whitney & Daniels 4th of July wedding.  My favorites are of Whitney peeking around the corner to make sure the coast was clear before lining up for her wedding processional and the one of her saving her bouquet from a nibbling Polo Pony in the King Family stables.  Whitney and Daniel both just sparkled on their wedding day!

Contact Info. for Jack Looney Photography
~ website: www.jacklooney.com
~ e-mail: jack@jacklooney.com
~ phone: 434-249-6266

Today I’m happy to share with you Whitney & Daniel’s Independence Day wedding at King Family Vineyards as photographed by Jack Looney of Jack Looney Photography. It’s no secret that turquoise is my absolute favorite color so Whitney’s color palette was one of my favorites of the year! Whitney & Daniel included lots of sweet touches to their day like parasols to keep their guests comfortable in the potentially blazing hot Virginia summer heat (although it wasn’t really too bad that day) and their ceremony program was created as a fan, again with their guests’ comfort in mind. Be sure to check out the last 2 photos of Albemarle Vintage Limousine’s classy 1946 Jaguar Mark IV that Daniel & Whitney rode in at the end of their day!  Tomorrow I’ll share more of Jack Looney’s fantastic photos of Whitney & Daniel’s day… so be sure to check back!

Contact Info. for Jack Looney Photography
~ website: www.jacklooney.com
~ e-mail: jack@jacklooney.com
~ phone: 434-249-6266

If you’re planning a wedding in the Charlottesville area, the Charlottesville Wedding Directory will make your life so much easier… check it out… and happy wedding planning!

I came across this excellent article in the NY Times’ Saturday “Money Matters” section recently and thought I’d share it with you. The author offers, “4 financial issues that ought to be near the top of the discussion list before getting married.” They are: ancestry, credit, control and affluence. It’s not a very long article so rather than trying to recap it for you here I invite you to hop over and read it here.

No matter how difficult it is to start the money conversation it’s most definitely something you’ll want to look at together before the big day.  There’s no better time than right now!

Check out more of the wonderful vendors at the yesterday’s show:

One more from Festive Fare... beautiful!

Delicious samples from Harvest Moon Catering!

Jeff Greenough Photography

The incredibly talented Jennifer Carroll of Jennifer Carroll Designs and Jennifer Carroll Events shared many of her creative offerings.

A couple of beautiful gowns from Kimberla's Bridal

Delicious and beautiful creations from Anita Gupta of Maliha Creations

Pat's Floral Designs, as always, had a fantastic display of their beautiful work.

More beautiful flowers from Jenn Pineau of Sugar Magnolias

I know that there were a number of vendors that I either didn’t get a photo of, or the photo I got is simply not good enough to post:
• The talented Jen Fariello of Jen Fariello Photography was taking bridal portraits all afternoon for the lucky brides that had signed up;
• Lucinda of Face Value Studio did makeup makeovers for lots of beautiful brides-to-be;
• DJ Rick Haggard;
• Gibson Rental and
• FDS Tents.

Thanks again everyone!

Thanks to Jennifer Hamlin of Events With Panache, all the wonderful sponsors, vendors and brides the first Sweeley Estate Winery Bridal Showcase was a great success. I had a wonderful time walking around visiting everyone and taking photos for the blog. I hope you’ll enjoy them!

Here's an overview of part of yesterday's show. Check out the wonderful projected logo on the brick wall by Blue Ridge Light Forms

A Goff Transportation (left) and Andy from Sam Hill Entertainment (right)

Albemarle Vingate Limousine's beautiful 1949 Fleetwood Cadillac Limousine

Allegra's Studio

Teri Edwards of Cakes Unlimited showed off some of her tasty creations

I enjoyed my delicious donut from Carpe Donut on my way home... yum!

Beautiful place settings from Festive Fare

Another beautiful table designed by our friends at Festive Fare Rentals

Happy Halloween everyone!  I thought that today would be a great day to share this fun resource with you.  As you will see at Wedding Dress Fantasy there are really no limits at all to the possibilities for a bride who wants something a little out of the ordinary for her wedding dress.   Blue?  Black?  Purple?  Pink?  Wedding Dress Fantasy has ‘em all… and lots of ‘em!  They list hundreds of dresses in every imaginable color (with photos) and, although I’m no wedding gown expert, their prices seem really reasonable to me.  I think I’d choose the turquoise one… how ’bout you?

Reminder about Sunday’s First Annual Sweely Estate Bridal Showcase

November 1, 2009
1:00 – 4:00PM

Sweely Estate Winery
6109 Wolftown-Hood Rd.
Madison, VA 22727
Driving directions here

I am looking forward to being at the show for a little while on Sunday and hope to see you there! Here’s a list of some of the wonderful vendors that you will meet:
A Goff Limo
Albemarle Vintage Limousine
Allegra’s Studio
Blue Ridge Light Forms
DJ Rick Haggard
Cakes Unlimited
Cville Cakes
Carpe Donut
Events With Panache
Festive Fare
FDS Tents
Gentry’s Catering Service
Gibson Rental
Harvest Moon Catering
Jeff Greenough Photo
Jen Fariello Photography
Jennifer Carroll Designs
Kimberla’s Bridal
Maliha Creations
Pat’s Floral Designs
Sam Hill Entertainment
Sugar Magnolias
Sweely Estate Winery

To register call Events With Panache at 434-973-7185. The cost is $10 if you pre-register and $12 at the door.

Also be sure to visit the Sweely Estate Winery Bridal Showcase site to check out the vendor spotlights and more information about the Show.

See you at the Show!