Occasions by Emily

Leah and TJ - Intimate Wedding

2012-01-09T09:19:00.000-08:00

Every once in awhile, I get to experience the magic of an elopement wedding celebration--and I love it! Let me tell you why. An elopement wedding is the most intimate, bare bones celebration of what a wedding is really about. An elopement, or otherwise very small wedding, celebrates the fact that a man and woman are committing the rest of their lives to each other and that's it. I've found in the last several years that we (well, mostly we girls :) can get so distracted by all of the beautiful, fun and fabulous wedding accessories, that the main point of a wedding can slip right through the cracks.

Today, I am sharing photos from an intimate January celebration at the Bed and Breakfast on Tiffany Hill. Leah and TJ's wedding took place in the Sitting Room with just a few family members there to witness. I LOVE that family was able to share the moment because every marriage needs some backup!


Ceremony in the Sitting Room.

Leah's Mom and TJ's Dad signed the marriage license as witnesses--can it be any more perfect?

One of my favorite "back" doors in all the world belongs to Tiffany Hill.

Thank you to...
Selena Einwechter, Innkeeper at Tiffany Hill.
Rev Fred Werhan who customized the perfect ceremony.
Camilla Calnan of Camilla Calnan Photography for being there (because ALL weddings should have great photos).
Michelle Fountain of Icing on the Cake for the lovely red velvet.

Planning and florals by Occasions by Emily.

2011-12-30T19:06:00.000-08:00

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A wedding should be bliss and happiness, but all too often it turns into tense family drama as people become unsure of their place in this important event.

Many of my clients are faced with their parents' difficult divorce and remarriage situations that can create two or three immediate families per side. This requires caution, and more than a little finesse, in the seating process. It can be helpful for couples to follow outside guidelines instead of trying to determine seating arrangements on their own. I have described here the standard way wedding planners organize and seat families in such situations:

Front Row, Left Side: Mother of the BRIDE (biological) has earned this chair by the simple fact of giving birth (trust me, it is not an easy accomplishment). She should be seated last of the family members in the processional and just before the minister enters. If she is remarried, her husband should escort her, or follow behind her and the usher who is escorting her. If she has a serious date, it may be appropriate for him to have a chair beside her, but his actual seating should be done pre-ceremony. If the Mother of the Bride's parents are in attendance, it is also nice to seat them with Mom on the front row to make it feel/look a little less lonely.

Front Row, Left Side: Mother of the GROOM. She will be seated before the Mother of the Bride in the processional. All other Mother of the Bride guidelines also apply to the Mother of the Groom.

Second row, both sides: This is for the Dads. If they are remarried, they should walk the aisle as part of the processional with their new spouses, or the spouse should be escorted by an usher with dad following behind. If they are seriously dating someone, that person should be seated pre-ceremony in a chair next to Dad's. If a Dad's parents are in attendance, they may be seated on the same row. Father of the Groom should be seated in the processional before the Mother of the Groom. Father of the Bride normally walks the bride down the aisle and should be seated after doing this.

It is important to mention that there are many, many exceptions to everything I have just written. Please do not hesitate to email me at emily@occasionsbyemily.com with your specific situation for guidance. A little bit of etiquette can go a long way in calming nerves and soothing tempers on your wedding day.

Thanks Wedding Woman for sending me this question!

Emily

Darcy and Cortney

2011-11-17T07:47:00.001-08:00

So many truly amazing, kind-hearted brides and grooms have chosen Occasions by Emily to help with their weddings over the years. Darcy and Cortney will always be at the front of my memory, though, due to their kindness to all, love for each other, exceptional sense of humor and genuine gratitude they showed to all. Watching their slideshow by Aaron Imaging makes me want to do their wedding all over again. Here's to more parties with Darcy and Cortney over the years!

Jen and Wes

2011-09-08T05:23:00.000-07:00

There is no order at all to the weddings I'm sharing, but I am BLOGGING!

Jen and Wes married in May at Castle Ladyhawke. One of our first weddings in the year, they reminded us of what a privilege it is to serve at weddings. They and their families were so kind and appreciative of the work each of the vendors gave them. More than that, they were sweet to each other...something I'm pretty sure is key to a happy marriage! Here are the photos to prove it by the just as wonderful photographer duo, James and Jenny of Visio!

Josie and Andrew

2011-09-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

This day is feeling so autumn-like. There are even fallen yellow leaves on my back deck--beautiful. I love the sense of peace this season brings. Oh yes, and excitement! Fall is our BUSIEST time of the year because so many people want to get married with God's hand-painted mountain majesty as their backdrop.

To get you in the mood for fall... here are some AMAZING photos by Caroline Ghetes of Josie and Andrew's wedding at Castle Ladyhawke last October. For many, many more photos (that I know you'll want to see), look up Caroline's blog here.

Beautiful Video Footage from ZoMei:

Josie and Andrew Sanctis : Charlotte Wedding 10.23.2010 from ZoMei Video Production on Vimeo.

AND...you can see it in the Knot online...

AND...you can see it in the current edition of the Knot NC (sadly with no credit given to us...sniff, sniff)

Yes, Caroline Ghetes is just that awesome of a photographer and this wedding was just that gorgeous! Thank you, Josie and Andrew, for allowing us the privilege of being part of a most important day!

Coordination by Occasions by Emily
Florals by Flowers from the Cellar
Catering by Colorful Palate
Linens by First Impressions
Rentals by Classic Event Rental
Cake by Tiffany's Baking Co
Hair and Makeup by Jackie Green

Happy Labor Day!

2011-09-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

Florals by Occasions by Emily

For the first time since March, I realized that I have not posted anything at all since March! I promise, the Occasions by Emily team has not been on holiday! We have had a blast in 2011 with amazing clients, fabulous design jobs, new venues, continuing education, writing articles for online and print and of course, everything else we do in life! But I just can't keep all the beautiful things we've seen to myself anymore. I'll be working hard over the next few weeks to bring you up to date... For this holiday weekend, here are a few of our favorite photos featuring sunflower weddings!

Florals by Occasions by Emily

Cake by Michelle Fountain of Icing on the Cake, Florals by Occasions by Emily

Published by Hindsight Bride

2011-03-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

We are so excited and honored that Emily and John's wedding from last October was featured by Christie O. of the Hindsight Bride today. Of course Emily herself is a wonderful blogger at Vita Nostra and does a marvelous job of sharing the details. Please take a few minutes to visit Hindsight Bride for this truly beautiful, truly unique wedding day story. Photos by Visio Photography.

Rachel and Charlie

2011-02-03T10:03:00.000-08:00

Rachel and Charlie's November wedding closed the 2011 season for us. It was the perfect happy ending. Rachel looked like a princess and Charlie was every bit the prince as he spent the evening adoring his new bride (a key ingredient for a happy marriage!). It was fun getting to know their family and friends a bit as almost all of Rachel and Charlie's family and friends are into racing of some sort whether it's motorcycles, BMX or Nascar. In fact, Charlie is a very winning racer, for more fun information about him, click here. Rachel is ultra-organized and even more creative. I hope you'll enjoy these exceptional images by Sposa Bella of the beautiful couple and all the storybook sweet details.

This is a picture of my staff working... Joann saved the bride from blowing off the top of the mountain on this very windy day! Reason #697 to hire a wedding planner.

Oliver and his adorable flower girl. Oh, and Dan from the Cliffs and I are about to open the door for the bride and her father to enter. Reason #698 for why it's in your best interests to hire a planner--you do NOT want to get stuck outside on a windy day!

While the ladies were getting ready, this debonair pooch jumped off a bed and into my arms. Oh my, I melted! No wonder Rachel and Charlie consider him a member of the family.

Lavender is so pretty and smells so good and does not hurt at all when someone throws it at you. All helpful things when considering a grand exit.

Cliffs at Glassy Chapel -- Breathtaking!

The team at Blossoms at Biltmore Park perfectly captured Rachel's decor vision and brought it to life with shades of purple, log chargers, curly willow and hanging candles.

One of my favorite DIY projects of 2011 was these hand-wrapped chocolate bars used as place cards. Rachel printed each guest's name, then wrapped the paper around a candy bar from her hometown. Who wouldn't be excited to find one of these on a napkin?

Beautiful Cake from Kathy and Company

Late night cookies and milk. A sweet touch for the end of a perfect day.

And then there was the pool...

Now that was a perfect ending!

Cooperative Creativity

2011-01-31T18:36:00.000-08:00

This Christmas, I wanted to create something for some friends that really caught the eye, hand-made preferably. So, I called my friend Tiffany Good, of Tiffany's Baking Co and explained what I was looking for with high hopes that her hands would do it for me. Lucky me, she said yes! Tiffany created amazing individual-sized cakes that were shaped, frosted and painted to look like vintage glass ornaments. She made each one a different flavor such as cookies and creme, vanilla and coconut passion and then I got to package each cake. I thought the jute twine with sparkly beads on the ends was the perfect wrap for a vintage style cake.

I felt terrible because I accidentally smashed the "hanging" loop on top of this one... It still tasted fabulous!

Wedding Wire Award

2011-01-25T20:21:00.000-08:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Occasions by Emily has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Wedding Planners!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Occasions by Emily stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Occasions by Emily for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Occasions by Emily is among the very best wedding planners within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at Occasions by Emily.

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

Kathryn and Will's Sweet Summer Wedding

2011-01-19T19:15:00.000-08:00

Kathryn and Will are used to life in the big city--they call DC home! But for their wedding, they wanted to give guests a different sense of home. Family and friends pitched in to host the event on private property in Franklin, North Carolina. They poured their heart and tons of time into very personal, very lovely DIY projects. These beautiful photos are by Julie Veon Lane of Elizabeth K Photography. Personal flowers by Ray's Florist. Reception flowers cut from J.W. Mitchell Farms and arranged by family.

I love the sunny yellows Kathryn and Will chose!

The kids--they're just so cute!

A family friend played dulcimer for the ceremony and the Frogtown Four did their thing for a fun, family-style reception on the lawn.

This is a wonderful take on the traditional guest book.

Honey favors from the family's farm.

This banquet-style seating provided a perfect sense of family dinner at home. Comfortable, vintage, timeless.

Photos of loved ones hanging from cables over the reception area set the scene for building memories.

So everyone knows I love wedding cake... But this might even be better than cake, because there are tons of dessert on this table! Several friends and family members of Kathryn brought these amazing, gorgeous desserts for a stylish dessert buffet. Who doesn't love Grandma's cherry pie?

Staff Parties

2011-01-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

As a planning and design team, it comes naturally that we love to party. This year we had our first all-out staff party for Christmas. I loved planning an event to celebrate the amazing women who give their heart and soul to serving our clients all year long.

This fabulous cake is from Michelle Fountain of Icing on the Cake. It was even bigger than it looks in the picture. I gained at least three pounds from the leftovers...

Completely delicious food from Black Eyed Susan.

There are no pictures of the peanut butter cups from Colorful Palate. They're just gone and that's all I can really say about that...

The beautiful tree my little girls decorated. They are event designers in the making!

We were so fortunate to have LIVE music provided by Keith and Todd of Todd Holder Music. It's a secret, but Keith just happens to be my dad (and best piano technician in the world!) and Todd is one of his dear friends. Wow, do I have connections, or what?

And one more photo of my sweet, sweet girls who joined us at the end of the evening

for a bite of cake!

Lauren and Kevin

2011-01-12T18:17:00.000-08:00

Lauren and Kevin's wedding at the Venue was a beautiful celebration of Jewish American tradition. Lauren's color scheme of tiffany blue and rose red gave a feeling of timeless elegance. Photos by Ryan Bumgarner. By the way, we love working with Ryan--his laid back personality combined with a creative eye and ability to capture the perfect moment makes for an exceptional photo experience for all involved.

One of my favorite cakes in 2010... By Michelle Fountain with Icing on the Cake. Isn't it elegant?

Bobby Hill of BobbyMark's Designs listened to the Bride, then created exactly what she had in her head. I love the simplicity of the bold red, softened by slender curly willow.

A family member MADE this beautiful chuppah. She very patiently educated all of the wedding party members in how it would function for the ceremony. What a sweetheart!

Sweet ceremony music provided by Corine Brouwer of Allegro Music Events.

Because trolley photos are fun...

And what point is there to a wedding blog post if there are no inspiring photos of the bride and groom? Ryan captured Lauren and Kevin's heart for each other in these photos set in downtown Asheville.

And credit to a few more wonderful people:

Bride's Makeup by Scott Thompson of Makeup at the Grove Arcade

Bride's Hair by Hayley at L'eau de Vie

Ceremony officiated by Rabbi Meiri

Reception music by DJ Sean Lowman of Premier Sound and Light

Kristen and Dale featured on Style Me Pretty

2011-01-12T08:29:00.000-08:00

Kristen and Dale's wedding was the stuff of wedding dreams! Not only are they beautiful on the outside, but they are so kind, thoughtful and generous toward all around them. Their exquisite, creative, vintage-inspired, whimsical, beautiful, gorgeous, fabulous (and the adjectives go on, but I'll leave the rest to your imagination) wedding photographed by Caroline Ghetes was recently featured on the Style Me Pretty blog. You'll want to enjoy these photos with hot tea and a scone on your best antique china to get in the moment!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T20:05:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a very merry Christmas from my family to yours! I hope your holiday weekend is filled with peace and happy moments shared with family and friends.

Photo courtesy of Cami Photo.

Warm Things

2010-12-14T06:51:00.000-08:00

I love warm things such as fleece, fires in the fireplace, angora socks, hot french teas, the Caribbean. In the pursuit of cozy, I've been known to buy some funky things for myself and others. But this time, I struck gold. Lovin' the paddwax soy candle from the Baggie Goose in Biltmore Village with its fresh pine and clementine scent. It is SO worth a trip, even during this crazy holiday shopping season, to check out all the wonderful scents (wassail is a close runner up for my favorite). The Baggie Goose also happens to be one of my absolutely favorite stores for custom-designed invitations!

While we were there a couple of Saturdays ago, my girls had a picture with Santa. Cuteness!

Santa asked Katelyn what she wanted for Christmas and she came back with her much repeated reply of "A computer and a phone". When Santa asked Natalie what she would like, Katelyn quickly replied for her sister, "Whatever you bring her". Then they both proceeded to finish off the hot chocolate. Just not really sure what all this says about my children...

Stay warm!!

Suganya and Bobby

2010-12-07T21:29:00.000-08:00

Doesn't Suganya look so gorgeous and exotic?

I'm so excited to share Suganya and Bobby's wedding photos! Their destination wedding at Rumbling Bald Resort will be a treasured memory for everyone there. Their wedding festivities began with a rehearsal lunch boat ride on Lake Lure and the fun continued through ceremony preparations, dinner, dancing and then on down to the beach for late night relaxing. The photos are by Wander and Scrawl--really cool photographers from the Raleigh area.

We are talking some SERIOUS NC State fans!

Groom's Cake by Tiffany's Baking Co

One cool thing about Suganya and Bobby? Everybody loves them! I very quickly found out why during the planning process. They're thoughtful, they have a great sense of humor, they do all kinds of fun things and they know all sorts of interesting stuff. Here are some fun pictures of friends and family in the wedding party.

These guys are the cutest! And they could dance!

Suganya planned tons of fun details, then chose wonderful vendors to make those details happen!

Cake by Tiffany and Co honored Suganya's Indian heritage.

Veggie sushi! Just think it's a cool picture...

These gorgeous flowers are from Steve at Merrimon Florist. The lantern is from India--Suganya picked up several items for decor when she took Bobby to meet her parents

and visit India for the first time!

The guests had a blast modeling with this photo frame for pictures.

I just love this photo. Suganya and Bobby changed into traditional Indian dress for their first dance. I can't wait to show the video by Chris Bolm of WNC Video Productions. All of the great music for both ceremony and reception was provided by Sean Lowman of Premier Sound and Light.

A few other notes:

The very sweet ceremony was officiated by Reverend Sherman Marshall, family of the Groom, with lots of meaningful, witty and sentimental readings by friends, family and even the Bride and Groom!

Rehearsal lunch was provided by Saffron Fine Foods. Check out their new restaurant location, HomeGrown, at 171 Merrimon Avenue.

Distant Friends

2010-11-29T19:56:00.000-08:00

Google stats completely fascinate me. The computer elves keep really cool information including how many times a page is viewed per day/week/month, where people linked over from and even where their computer lives. Ah, the wonders of the internet.

My very sweet child hanging out while I explore the complexities of the world of Google or some equally important endeavor.

What's even more amazing? There are people in Tunisia (2) and Russia (1) who read my blog--how cool is that?!?! I am so ready to start planning weddings in these countries.

According to Wikipedia, Tunisia has particularly good relations with France--maybe a Parisian desert oasis theme for my fabulous readers there? This is a picture of an amazingly non-wilty floral piece we did for an outdoor wedding in Greenville, South Carolina in late July (104 degrees). After that success, I say bring on the heat! However, I must admit that I personally did not attend this wedding since I was home in the AC waiting to have a baby, so my staff may have input on the desert heat concept...

And Russia...hmmmm...maybe we could capitalize on the snowy images in my head and make centerpieces out of ice sculptures with candles and sparkle everywhere. This photo of the very gorgeous Mandy and Michael at the Crest Pavilion by Katy Cook shows tons of glamor and sparkle. While it wasn't Siberia, it was below 70 degrees and we totally rocked it.

There are so many wonderful people in this world--I'm glad every time I get to meet one of you. Thanks to all for following this blog. Please take a minute to introduce yourself. Planning events is all about relationships and sharing special moments with other people. Celebrating life's occasions with you is what makes my job one of the best in the world!

Jessica and Alan

2010-11-27T06:32:00.000-08:00

Jessica and Alan enjoyed perfect mountain top weather at Castle Ladyhawke for their October 9th wedding. Guests drove in from Charlotte and beyond to celebrate with them and their families. Classic Event Rental built a tent structure for their plated dinner and dancing that was larger than the footprint of my house (seriously, amazing work by Scott and team). Janet Frye of the Enchanted Florist proved just how enchanting her staff can be by creating one of the most beautiful and comprehensive floral designs that I saw all year. There were flowers everywhere! My staff and I oversaw all of the logistics and went home with happy, tired feet. Enjoy the great photography from Nick Breedlove who tirelessly shot stunning images for about ten hours!

Other Credits (in order of appearance):

Makeup and Hair by the wonderful ladies of Adorabella Salon in Waynesville.

Bagpiper Ken Swinton provided Scottish sounds at the parking area to greet guests. How cool is that for a destination wedding at a Scottish castle?

Transportation by the always professional and reliable, Elite Limousine.

Ceremony and Reception Music by Nathan of Mr. C's Mobile DJ -- We love working with Nathan because he is an expert at reading the crowd to keep the party going!

Video by Stellar Media, based out of Asheville (hope to share their teaser with you soon).

Ceremony by Pastor Bill Knight of Image Church, Jessica and Alan's place of worship.

Catering and wedding cake by Harvey and David's -- what a great staff of servers. The guests enjoyed fast service and delicious food!

Photo booth by RentPhotoBooth.com. Everyone loves this activity!

The Big Goodbye

2010-11-22T07:19:00.000-08:00

My friend and fabulous wedding & event planner,
Lisa G. McMillan, owner of Exquisite Events & Consulting
and I have collaborated on many events and love to share our expertise with brides regarding tips, trends and ideas to help them create the weddings they envisioned. Today we joined brains for ideas on the topic, “Reception Send-Offs”. Please take a minute to read our take on alternatives to make your grand exit memorable.

Every party has to end and a wedding's final goodbye offers the most dramatic of parting notes. Couples regularly leave to a shower of bubbles, rose petals, bird seed, lavender, or even more exciting, sparklers. This tradition of a grand exit is a fun climax to your wedding reception, but should be as uniquely yours as any other aspect you plan.

photography by Shutter Shack

First of all, you must somehow depart the reception at some point. While it's certainly ok for you to slip out the back without anyone noticing, it will be very disappointing for your guests, some of whom have likely spent a great deal of time and money on your wedding and would like to have the pleasure of hugging you goodbye. Other guests (like your mom) want to kiss you one final time on the cheek and finalize the farewell in her heart to her baby who is now a married adult. You also might want to take the time to call out one final goodbye and thank you to all who have supported you thus far on your journey of life as an individual and now as a couple. If people are at your wedding, they're likely very important to you and should be shown the respect and love that you feel for them.

Photography by Shutter Shack

How to make this exit comfortable for you? Remember that there are no absolute rules of society about how one must leave. There may be a few practical rules and considerations (my colleague Lisa McMillan of Exquisite Events and Consulting covers these today on her blog), but there is nothing that you absolutely must do to make the goodbye official. If you're just going upstairs to your room from the ballroom, no need to make people stand outside blowing bubbles while you exit one door of the venue to run in the next. You may exit from your ballroom, waving after your last dance a la Sound of Music. If you are not in the mood to be pelted with small objects, consider having your guests wave white handkerchiefs as you walk toward your car. If fireworks make you nervous, what about the more fun, and way more child-friendly glow sticks? OK, so it's a crazy idea, but still, the exit is about you and your personality just as much as any other part of the wedding.

In closing, have fun with your exit. Think outside the box. Ask your planner (or me :) for unique ideas that would be fitting with your overall vision and design concept. Ask your photographer what will be best captured on film. Consider how best to stage the exit so guests are safe and everyone can catch a glimpse of you.

For more great ideas and tips for your final exit, please visit my friend, Lisa McMillan 's blog!

photography by Shutter Shack

Sara and Matt's Engagement Session

2010-11-15T18:48:00.000-08:00

A fun option offered in many photographers' packages is the engagement photo session. This is such a practical idea because it offers the bride and groom an opportunity to "practice" with the camera in locations that are comfortable or natural to them. As the bride and groom become more at ease in front of the camera, the photographer gets to know their personalities, what gets a giggle, which side is better (oh come on, everyone has a "better" side) and overall what is going to be best for relaxed photos of the bride and groom on wedding day.

The preparation provided by an engagement session is important because the only real things a bride and groom will keep from their wedding are each other and the photographs. It just makes sense that photography has priority within the budget, as well as practice time to be sure bride and groom are ready to smile and pose as naturally as possible on their big day. After all, everyone's favorite photos are images that capture genuine happiness, love and other fleeting, but oh, so precious moments.

The following photos of Matt and Sara, a gorgeous couple that may actually have been born for the camera, are by Regina Holder. I love the almost-European feel that comes from Sara's elegance and the backdrop of downtown Asheville. You can see how much fun they're having from their smiles. Great work, Regina!

Clarke and Hardy's Wedding

2010-11-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Image from the Pretty Place website

Clarke and Hardy married in the Spring at Pretty Place with reception following at the Robin Hood Barn in Sherwood Forest. It only made sense that they celebrated in the southern mountains as many of the family and guests came from deep South cities such as Memphis and Atlanta. I loved their accents and southern class! Guests enjoyed perfect weather and a weekend full of fun events. Many of the friends and family stayed at local bed and breakfasts Tiffany Hill in Mills River and Red House Inn in Brevard. Delicious meals for the weekend came from the Hob Knob in Brevard

and 12 Bones in Asheville.

Photography by Marc Newton.

The Occasions by Emily design team had the remarkable fortune of listening to Clarke's design ideas and making them happen, just as she pictured! We were so excited to see the look of satisfaction on her face when she entered the room.

Clarke was too sweet when she asked for a photo with her VERY pregnant wedding planner! We had such a great time working together. As usual, I miss her now that her wedding's over...Clarke, if you're reading, please write to me. :)

A few more credits:

Kind and wonderful officiant: Rev. Jean Rowe

Ceremony music: Sons of Ralph (love these easy going, great sounding guys!)

Reception music: the Patrick Smith Band (you gotta hear them to believe how fun they are)

Gorgeous wedding cake: Anne Somich of Wild Indigo Catering

Rentals and Linens provided by the ever helpful and excellent: Classic Event Rental

Bobby and Suganya Engagement Session

2010-09-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

Hi! Thanks for checking out the blog today. I am thrilled to present Bobby and Suganya's engagement session with Heather from Wander and Scrawl photography. As you'll see in the pictures, this couple has such a positive approach to life and a dear love for each other. I have enjoyed every minute spent with them in the wedding planning process. Their wedding is next weekend at Rumbling Bald and promises to be full of happy moments. Watch for the wedding photos in the next few weeks!

Sarah and Drew

2010-07-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

We love being at the Grove Park Inn, particularly when the weather is gorgeous and the wedding is outside! For Sarah and Drew's wedding, we spent hours watching the sky and counting every rain drop, in hopes that there wouldn't be one too many that would send us indoors. Everything turned out perfectly as you can see in these beautiful photos by Yasmine of Berkson Photography.

Guests were greeted on the Sammons Porch with glasses of champagne, white wine or perrier. A classic, welcoming touch on a hot June day.

Julie, in-house florist at the Grove Park Inn designed these stunning orchid bouquets and centerpieces.

I love place cards...

The lit globe floating above the guest tables is from Asheville Event Services. The guests loved having a personal "moon"!

Sarah and her mom, Karen, are planners extraordinaire themselves! We loved working with them and were thrilled to help them make all of their plans come together so perfectly.

Other great professionals involved:

Lola Salon (hair)

Scott Thompson (makeup)

Lou Berkson and Donna Germano (ceremony music)

Orange Krush Band (reception music)

Cami Photo (videography)

Candy Bars

2010-07-06T16:36:00.000-07:00

The jury is still out on whether candy bars at a reception are a hot trend, or a little passe. However, we all know that people love them! After all, who wouldn't want a box of sugary sweets to munch on after a fabulous party? So in our opinion, as long as people like candy, brides can't go wrong with giving it out in one form or another.

Here are a few photos of a candy bar we were asked to create for the Association of Bridal Consultants state meeting in Asheville. The candy was provided by Sweets from Heaven, based out of Concord Mills, NC.

This is celebrity wedding planner Mark Kingsdorf (seen on Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?) owner of the Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants in Pennsylvania.

Celebrity planner Samantha Goldberg (middle) and my Associate Planner, Kay. By the way, Kay was the creative designer for the candy bar. She rocked it!

Indian Invitation Made in India!

2010-06-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

We're so excited to be working with an Indian bride this fall! Suganya has collected amazing centerpieces, decor, favors and more from India when she visits family and Uganda where she travels often for work. I can't wait to share images of all these colorful elements from her wedding. In the meantime, I wanted to show the beautiful invitations she has that were made in India on gorgeous paper--wish you could feel them! The sparkles are tiny rhinestones. The first photo is the front of the invitation and the second is a matching envelope. I love the rich feeling from the gold and red.

Dana and Paul's Wedding

2010-05-17T14:54:00.000-07:00

As the days get warmer and we see summer sun--I'm reminded of this beautiful wedding we did at the Biltmore Estate last summer. Paul and Dana had the perfect destination wedding at the Biltmore Estate. Many of their guests were from the mid-west and got to enjoy local mountain activities such as mountain biking. I was VERY concerned about the groom flying over his handlebars the day before the wedding. Of course, mountain riding was a piece of cake for him and there were no scrapes and bruises present at the wedding. Enjoy these beautiful photos by Tuesday's Frog. The amazing florals by Blossoms at Biltmore Park.

Such a sweet couple!

They all looked like models to me! These women were so thoughtful and kind, too.

Loved Mom's bouquet of callas contrasted with the leopard print.

Great invitation by custom designer in Chicago.

A great place for a party!

And one last kiss to end the night. This couple is truly in love!

Reception music by Premier Sound and Light. Minister Susie Wright. Hair and make-up by Natural Impressions in Biltmore Park.

Engagement Photos

2010-05-01T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hooray for spring-time engagement sessions! Paul and Betty's session was in March so there wasn't too much blooming, but they were fortunate that the frigid weather had passed. They are one of the sweetest couples with whom I have ever worked. When I mentioned this to Paul and Betty, they jokingly explained that it's because they're Canadian. Now we're looking forward to meeting the rest of their Canadian family and friends at their wedding--it's going to be a great one! Thanks to Alisha Silver for these great photos.

Save the Dates - Erika and Lee

2010-03-25T06:04:00.000-07:00

Brides are having so much fun with save the dates this year. Here is a sample that a bride actually created herself. Erika's computer skills far exceed mine--I was so impressed that I had to share. If you want to create your own save the date, just give me a call and I'll connect you with people who have mad skills!

Adam and Mim's Wedding

2010-03-06T16:21:00.000-08:00

Adam and Mim's wedding ceremony took place at Lake Junaluska Chapel on a very frigid January 2nd this year. We all absolutely froze, but no one minded (seriously, I'm telling the truth!) because everyone in attendance showed such genuine warmth and regard for Adam and Mim, their families and the other guests. It was beautiful to me to watch so many people in one place who were truly kind and thoughtful. I will however admit that we were all very happy to move to the very warm Maggie Valley Club for the reception!

Here are a few of the wonderful images captured by Aaron Morrell and Josh Meduri of Grae Sky Studio.

Because a picture is worth a thousand words...

The gray box is a space heater.

The six inches in front of the heater were actually warm!

So beautiful...

Painting of the couple by the groom's brother!

First Dance

Gorgeous (and really yummy) cake by Danielle at Maggie Valley Club.

Flowers from Four Seasons Florist

This is actually a shot from Mim's bridal portraits. I love it because it shows her zest, passion and excitement she displays toward all of life.

Best wishes to a wonderful couple!

Style Me Pretty

2010-02-24T12:54:00.000-08:00

Occasions by Emily was recently honored by an invitation to be part of a refreshingly couture wedding resource: Style Me Pretty's, The Little Black Book

Vendors are chosen to be part of this elite resource based upon the high quality of services provided and expertise in the following areas:

--exceptional customer care

--superior design style

--the continual honing of one’s craft

--a genuine interest in fostering a relationship with the client

--highly recommended by colleagues and clients

In Style Me Pretty's own words... (The Little Black Book is a) "thoughtfully edited resource (that) showcases only the most innovative and chic, top quality wedding professionals on the planet."

It is such a privilege to be listed in the Little Black Book. I hope you will take a minute to read the wonderful blog posts by Style Me Pretty editors and to find other amazing Little Black Book vendors. You'll be inspired and amazed!

New Website

2010-02-17T17:28:00.000-08:00

I am happy to announce that the new Occasions by Emily website has finally gone live! I was suprised to find that it took me longer to create a new website than it does to plan most weddings. Thankfully, Jen Fraser of Point Multimedia Design was there to walk me through the process. She is an amazingly talented website designer who once again proved that working with a pro is always a good idea! She took my ideas and design concepts, put them all into web language and created an online version of the pictures in my head. Hmmm. Now that I think of it, that's what we do as wedding planners...take the ideas in our clients' heads and turn them into a wedding day!

I also want to give a big thanks to the fantastic photographers who shared their work for the new site.
Angela Stott
Audrey Goforth
Brian Tropiano
Jeff Blake
Joanna and Mark Bolick
Joshua and Natasha Meduri
Leigh Webber

It is a privilege to work with such amazing professionals. If you have a moment, let me know what you think of the new site by leaving a comment here, or emailing me at emily@occasionsbyemily.com. Your feedback is always appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you!

From my family to yours

2009-12-23T11:08:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! May your holiday events be joyous, peaceful and fun!

Special thanks to Cami Calnan Photography

Em and Will's Wedding

2009-12-02T07:40:00.000-08:00

Emily and Will's wedding was a beautiful celebration of two wonderful, intelligent, thoughtful, kind, gentle(need I go on?) people being joined together. Their attention to detail shows in every aspect of this destination wedding. First, I have to give credit to Brian Tropiano, the photographer. His photos are beautiful and his manner sets everyone at ease. Please take a minute to look up his portfolio online or on facebook--you'll enjoy!

The ceremony took place at the stately First Presbyterian Church of Asheville. Ambiance, ambiance, ambiance--look at these beautiful light fixtures!

The bridesmaids' rosy dresses were the perfect compliment to Stacey Brown's (the Bloom Room) warm, autumn-y floral arrangements (or maybe the flowers complimented the dresses...can't tell because they're both stunning). The antique gold bow tied on Emily's bouquet is so simple yet so sophisticated!

Emily is gorgeous! She is the poster child for "blushing bride" in this photo.

And another fabulous detail shot.

Asheville Historic Trolley tour is FUN transportation and makes for great photographs!

And the Grove Park Inn ... Always beautiful, but I especially love these shots with the lights.

Etiquette for Real Brides

2009-11-23T14:47:00.000-08:00

At the ABC Business of Brides conference, I had the tremendous opportunity to hear Peggy Post (great, great granddaughter in law of Emily Post) speak. She was great! Her relaxed approach makes the guidelines of etiquette completely doable. I have to repeat this fabulous quote Peggy shared:

“It really doesn’t matter what fork you use. What really matters is being interested in the people you’re having a meal with.” --Emily Post

As all my clients know, I am a huge promoter of this concept of etiquette. One of the first things I often tell my clients is that etiquette exists to make us feel comfortable and to resolve awkward situations in a non-offensive way.

Peggy says etiquette is the fuel that helps us build relationships. Here are her three principles:

*Consideration--thinking before acting

*Respect--interest in others as they are (empathy)

*Honesty: being sincere, truthful, tactful

Peggy believes that those who follow etiquette, in essence, abide by the Golden Rule which transcends culture, tradition, race, education, or marital status.

How does this apply to your wedding? Your wedding is about you and the groom, but it also involves your family and guests. You are building the relationships for your future from your past and present. Each of these relationships can only be made stronger when you treat others with consideration, respect and honesty at all times--even on your own special day.

On a note about the future, Cindy Post Senning (great, great granddaughter of Emily Post) writes books for children and parents about manners based on the principles of etiquette and different developmental abilities. I can’t wait to get the illustrated books for three year olds based on a little girl named, what else but, Emily! Peggy and Cindy's books are available online of course, but I also recently saw one of Cindy's at the Baggie Goose in Biltmore Village.

So by now you may have guessed part of my inspiration behind a wedding planning career. Call (828.808.8888) or email me today to talk about how the three principles of etiquette can help you through the sensitive moments of your wedding. I look forward to hearing from you!

Emily and Cindy Post Senning

Camilla Calnan Photography

2009-11-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

Cami and I have worked at weddings together over the years--her sense of humor and calm is priceless. And of course her photography is beautiful! I had the chance to bring my girls to her for a portrait session at the Botanical Gardens. Of course I'm completely biased, but I think these are GREAT!

Give me a call (828.808.8888) if you'd like to know more about Cami's packages for your wedding or other special event.

ABC Business of Brides Conference

2009-11-11T20:47:00.000-08:00

I just returned from Indianapolis where I attended the annual Business of Brides conference sponsored by the international Association of Bridal Consultants. I met so many wonderful and talented people in the industry. There were gala events showcasing the latest trends in weddings (these photos are from my personal camera) and classes upon classes taught by industry leaders on how to provide more and better services to our clients. The Association of Bridal Consultants strives to take each member to the next step as a professional by providing and rewarding continuing education, community and industry participation so that when brides contract with an Association consultant or vendor, they know they can trust that company to be top in the field. I am so excited to be a member of an Association that sets the bar for excellence in wedding planning and design!

Yes, the chocolate really was as good as it looks!

This sign inspired me every morning

From the skywalk on the way

to the Circle City Mall.

Casey and Aaron's Wedding

2009-09-08T06:43:00.000-07:00

Casey and Aaron are two wonderful people and their wedding brought tears to my eyes. They adore each other and have so much fun together! Their love and happiness was so obvious in their wedding. One of my favorite elements was the entire color scheme based on their favorite sports teams: Duke and the Indianapolis Colts. Steve from Merrimon Florist did a great job making the deep blue center stage.

I told you the bride is fun!!!

Don't let the serious faces fool you. These guys were some of the most easygoing groomsmen I've ever met. And they can dance!

Casey and Aaron, along with their families, share a beautiful faith that was celebrated in the ceremony (Pastor Jimmy Dykes and North Asheville Baptist Church). I love the deep blue background that matched the colors all throughout the day.

Delicious cake by Callie's Confections. Don't you love the blown glass topper? Before college, Casey worked for a blown glass company in Indiana--they loved her (just like the rest of us) and gave her this amazing piece and the accompanying champagne glasses.

A beautiful photo of the bride and her father's dance.

The Crowne Plaza served a delicious Italian buffet. I loved the cannoli and the tiramisu. In fact, this picture is dangerous--makes me wish for more!

Is a wedding official without a getaway car? I think Casey and Aaron are covered!

Thanks to Jeff Blake of Columbia Wedding Photos for these great pictures!

Teresa and Phil

2009-09-01T12:15:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to post these pictures from Teresa and Phil's wedding on July 4th. They married at a private lodge next to a fresh, clear mountain river. They are a sweet, sweet couple with really fun family and friends! Color was one of the highlights of the day for me. Teresa incorporated vibrant shades into her florals, shoes, and of course the fabulous fuschia lipstick on all the women of the wedding party.

Fresh lemonade! Teresa and Phil had a lemonade welcome table for their guests. What could be better on a hot Fourth of July?

Gorgeous details in the cake by Asheville Cake Company. My first ever "log" cake stand and I'm LOVING it! Teresa and her girls put together all the centerpieces and other small arrangements like you see in this picture.
The hanging twine balls with twinkle lights from Classic Event Rental gave an elegant, yet outdoorsy ambiance to the tent. And I wish you could hear DJ Dylan Skidmore of Blazin Sounds who provided great entertainment for HOURS of dancing.
Excellent (and very attractive) food from 28806. Kudos to Stacey and crew.

This photo is beautiful, classic Angela Stott Photography. You don't even have to know these people to wish you could have a copy hanging in your living room!

Teresa asked for something creative from Steve at Merrimon Florist and he totally caught her vision. Long grasses, bells of ireland, a seed pod (!) and pops of fuschia and yellow.

Southern Weddings

2009-08-24T05:39:00.000-07:00

Southern Weddings is a super-chic blog that publishes beautiful, creative weddings from our very own region. Last week they published Brian and Marcy's Biltmore wedding complete with their story, peacock feather details and a great photo of Marcy's make-up being applied by the expert, Scott Thompson. Check the link for more fun details about this wedding and to admire more of Angela Stott's photography.
http://www.swsmag.net/blog/2009/8/18/real-north-carolina-wedding-marcy-brian.html

Emily and Josh

2009-08-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

This wedding was so beautiful! We started at the Blanton Family's home church--Latttimore Baptist in Lattimore, NC. Josh was the third generation of Blantons to be married there. The reception was at Lioncrest on the Biltmore Estate. The guests enjoyed a delicious buffet of shrimp and grits, quesadillas, roast beef, gourmet cheeses, and oh so much more! Floral design by Flower Gallery. Photography by the ever-talented Audrey Goforth. If you'd like to see more pictures from this wedding, look for 'Occasions by Emily' on facebook.

Emily Lamm's Bridal Portraits

2009-07-21T05:27:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my favorite bridal portraits of Emily at the Biltmore Estate. It was so hard to choose! Photographer Audrey Goforth perfectly captured Emily's natural elegance and serenity. I love her smile.

Risse

2009-07-16T18:47:00.000-07:00

What's a party without music??? I had the opportunity to work with an amazing band a couple of weeks ago. Jaisun and the members of Risse rocked the house at a Lioncrest reception. I loved the audience participation, wide range of music genres and high quality musicians. Thanks to East Coast Entertainment for hooking us up with these guys!

Wedding at the Conservatory on Biltmore Estate

2009-05-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

Here are the amazing photos from Marcy and Brian's wedding. Angela Stott is a truly gifted photographer. I had trouble picking my favorites--so here are several. Enjoy!

Brian and Marcy are so happy to be together--can you tell? They are a delight to everyone around them!

Beautiful arrangment by the Bloom Room. The pin belongs to the Bride and echoes the peacock and art nouveau theme.

Another fabulous arrangment by the Bloom Room.

The tulips are always beautiful at Biltmore. They make a great background for a gorgeous Bride.

I love this--to me it symbolizes Marcy and Brian's family circle.

A debonair young man in front of a classy car.

Isn't he handsome?

Marcy and Brian look like they just stepped out of the 1930's in the photograph. They couldn't be more "picture-perfect"!

Beautiful Gift Bags

2009-04-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Marcy and Brian were married at the Conservatory on the Biltmore Estate. They planned a wonderful weekend for their guests starting with fabulous gift bags in each room at the Cedar Crest Inn and finishing with an elegant dinner reception in the Conservatory on the Biltmore Estate. The couple tied everything together with an exquisite art deco/art nouveau theme. The groom himself designed the save the date cards and invitations.

I will post more wedding pictures later, but for now, here are some pictures of the gift bags. The bags are stuffed full of fun Asheville Chamber items, snacks, the Festival of Flowers Rose wine from Biltmore and chocolate from Van's Chocolates in Hendersonville. One guest told me the truffles were so delicious that she hid her box away in a drawer. The bags (and boxes for the children) were assembled and made beautiful by Carolina Party and Paper. Heather is so talented--I can't wait for our next project together.

2009-04-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that Occasions by Emily has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means Occasions by Emily is one of the very best wedding and event planning companies.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

Occasions by Emily would like to thank past clients for speaking on my behalf and helping me win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

Emily and Victor

2009-01-08T11:58:00.000-08:00

I so enjoyed working with Emily and Victor. Not only do the bride and I share a name and a passion for event planning--we love ice cream cake. What else is there?! Emily and her mom designed a beautiful winter ceremony and reception at On Broadway on a perfectly wintry afternoon. Celine and Company's food was fabulous as always and Emily's hand-made decor of candles, flowers and silver was gorgeous. The couple was fortunate to have California-based Taylor Abeel as their wedding photographer. Here are just a few of the beautiful moments he captured at Grove Park Inn and On Broadway.

The Beautiful Bride and Her Ladies

Such Handsome Men

Isn't she sweet?

A close friend sang a song for the bride and groom during the ceremony

Victor sang a love song to his new bride at the reception

The end of a day full of perfect moments!

Congratulations!

2008-12-31T11:01:00.000-08:00

So, you're engaged...now what? Choosing a wedding planner is an excellent next step. A professional planner can guide you in all areas: budget, decor, design, etiquette, day of coordination and more. Not sure how to go about choosing a planner? Check out my article online with Sophie Magazine for tips on choosing the best planner for you. Of course I would love to be your planner...so let's talk about how I can best help you.

828.808.8888 emily@occasionsbyemily.com

Merry Christmas from My Family to Yours

2008-12-23T18:59:00.000-08:00

May God's peace and love be yours this holiday season.

Thanks to a Portrait of You for the family picture.

Sheridan Cupp Photography

2008-11-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege of meeting Sheridan with Sheridan Cupp photography when she took pictures of my girls recently. She captured such beautiful smiles in a studio atmosphere--just imagine what she could do at a wedding!

Kathleen's Tea Room

2008-10-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

Have you been to Kathleen's Tea Room? It is a treasure find tucked away in Fletcher, just a few minutes from Hendersonville or Asheville, NC. The menu offers exquisite tea time, lunch and dinner choices--one of my favorites is the seafood quiche.

Kathleen's is located in a beautiful old house that is a great option for rehearsal dinners and bridal luncheons or showers. You might also order a catered tea sandwich tray for your bridal party on the wedding day for delicious treats that will get you through the festivity prep.

Reservations are recommended, so call soon to enjoy this treasure for yourself!

Wedding Resource

2008-09-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a one-stop online wedding resource? I love Wedding Wire! They offer customized vendor directories for your location, along with helpful reviews by past clients. You can easily connect to vendor websites and blogs. You can also post your own questions on discussion boards and get feedback from other brides and experts in the industry. An added bonus is that Martha Stewart Weddings online uses the Wedding Wire directories--so you know you're using a great resource!

Weather for the Big Day

2008-09-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

The Weather Channel online offers a personalized weather page for your big day! You can save the page for your own personal use and share it with guests. Just one more fun way to count down to your wedding.

Tuesday's Frog

2008-09-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

Joanna Bolick, fabulous photographer from Tuesday's Frog, was so kind to feature me on her blog! We had a great time together this summer at two very different weddings. Joanna and her husband, Mark, work together so well to capture every moment of your special event. One of my favorite pictures from a wedding in June was this one of a member of the Firecracker Jazz Band.

A Website is Born!

2008-09-11T10:23:00.000-07:00

The big day has finally arrived and Occasions by Emily has an official presence on the world wide web!

Logo art: Gina Cleminson

Photography:

Leigh Webber

Tuesday's Frog

A Portrait of You

Site design: Darian Carson

Text: Joann Freeburg

Thanks to all of you! The site is beautiful.

Welcome

2008-07-07T17:32:00.000-07:00

Planning an event, be it your own wedding or your grandparent's anniversary, can be a stressful and exciting time. With over fourteen years experience in event planning, I understand the process, design elements and work it takes to make your event come together to best represent you and be sure to please your guests. Whether you are planning an intimate tea party, a garden wedding, or an over-the-top gala reception, I am happy to help.

Please contact me at emily@occasionsbyemily.com or 828.808.8888 to discuss the planning package that best suits your needs. I look forward to working with you!

Emily McCollin
Owner, Occasions by Emily

Services include: Wedding planning and direction, destination weddings, banquet and meeting coordination, and a la carte options

Photo by Leigh Webber