So Yesterday

Check out my hero and mentor Marcy Blum's fabulous and hilarious new blog posting about wedding trends that are uncool, not classy, and just so yesterday. I'll say it again: I learned from the best!

XOXO

http://adventuresofwedhead.com

Loving Laura James

I have a new jewelry obsession, and it's all things Laura James. Laura James is a fabulous jewelry designer based in Charlotte, NC and happens to be the cousin of a good friend of mine. She creates absolutely perfect pieces for spicing up a LBD (see over sized Vintage Cocktail Rings, also seen on Gossip Girl!) or for giving to your bridesmaids as a gift for being a part of your special day.

Check out the Stamped Initial Necklace in the Personalized section of her site. These necklaces are lovely, simple, personal, and the right price. I am currently lobbying for a double stamped necklace for my 4th wedding anniversary on August 6th. Matthew, are you reading this?

www.laurajamesjewelry.com

XOXO,

grace

Style Me Pretty

You've probably already discovered the fabulous blog, Style Me Pretty, but just in case you are new to it, take a look: www.stylemepretty.com

Abby Larson has created one of the most coveted and complete go-to spots online for brides that is stylish, sophisticated, fresh, fun and always beautiful - all things we LOVE! We are fortunate and grateful to be a part of SMP's "Little Black Book" of preferred wedding vendors. Check out our listing here and go spend some time perusing Style Me Pretty...you'll learn a lot and leave inspired.

http://www.stylemepretty.com/little-black-book/north-carolina/raleigh-durham/event-planning/

One of my favorite ceremony readings

I was just reminded of one of my very favorite ceremony readings. I love e.e. cummings.

What do you think is a great poem or reading for a wedding ceremony?

i carry your heart - e.e. cummings

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear no fate (for you are my fate,my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Watch Grace on the CW's "Hitched or Ditched"!

Hello Friends,

Here is a link to the CW Network's site where you can watch full episodes of their shows. The new wedding reality show that I was a part of, "Hitched or Ditched", aired on June 30th and you can now view it here! The title of the episode in which I appear is "The White Devil". Enjoy...and let me know what you think!

XOXO

http://www.cwtv.com

Andrea & Casey Go To "The Chapel"

I am officially a self-diagnosed lazy blogger. I did take some time in June to go back to Colorado to see my family, but not an entire month! I'm sorry for the delay in getting some new content on here. Better late than never, right? Here are some photos from the wedding of Andrea Taylor and Casey Tuttle (not The Tuttles) in Durham on June 12th. Let me tell you something: I heart New York, I heart Local Yogurt, I heart my husband and dog, and I heart Andrea and Casey. They are so cute! And besides being cute and desperately in love and now married after 10 long years together, they are stylish, hip, fun, and spontaneous. I thought college frat parties were wild...you should have been at their wedding!

A photo of their elegant cake from Sweet Memories, covered in a lace design mimicking the lace on Andrea's Vera Wang Chantilly lace gown.
Catering and decor by The Catering Company of Chapel Hill. This was a really different look for the Doris Duke Center at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham; a briht chartreuse curtain hung from the ceiling covering one of the entry doors, and created an inspired private nook for the bride and groom's table, replete with its own chandelier.
A view of the terrace and some of the other sexy and chic chandeliers provided by The Catering Company. Fabulous linens by Party Tables Linens in Durham included Bertani Key Lime, Bertani Noir, Cranberry, and Kali Mah.
What do we love...a lounge area!!!

Beautiful flowers by the ladies of Tre Bella. I absolutely adore the pomander of "Kermit" button mums for the flower girl. So fresh and adorable! (And let me also just mention the fantastic DJ Ken from Joe Bunn DJ Company and the wonderful cars and drivers from Capital Style Limousine...)

Casey and Andrea expressed their personal and wedding style to me and many other vendors over the year+ during which they planned their wedding, then put their fate in the hands of the professionals. Andrea is full of grace and has a distinct personal style, but also has great trust in her friends, family and those she hired to create her unforgettable wedding. What I heard the most out of her was "I trust you to do what's best". What this did for me was make me want to work even harder for Andrea, to make her wedding something that would make her proud and happy. I think that we succeeded and hope that she and Casey do, too!

I'll try and post a link to their wedding from the photographer, Tom Edwards of New Image Studio, so you can see some more of the wedding as well as of Andrea's gorgeous gown and late night vintage-inspired party dress. I will not forget this wedding any time soon! I'll miss working with you, but hope we'll be friends for a long time to come. Thanks for spicing up my summer, you two. XOXO