Congratulations! :: {Karen & Kurt's Wedding Day!}

On this amazingly beautiful October Saturday, Kurt & Karen will tie the knot! I am so incredibly excited for these two and to see all of the amazing personal details and hard work that Karen has put into the planning come to life!

They are getting married at the Orchid Conservatory at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden and have already practiced running through this fountain...which they will also do this evening after their ceremony- and likely just as the sun sets!
And I absolutely cannot wait to show y'all Karen's dress...for real. It's so unique and so completely perfect for her! I also love that my last bride under the Green Shoes Weddings & Events name is wearing green shoes. Lovely coincidence, don't you think?

Here are a few of Karen & Kurt's engagement photos taken by Chuck Eaton.

So much love & congratulations to Kurt & Karen! I wish you tons of love, happiness, and enough crossword puzzles and games of Scrabble to last you a lifetime!

Cheers!
{erica}

Charlotte Wedding Planner :: {Beth + Danny: Engagement Session}

Beth & Danny are headed for the aisle in October- meanwhile, they had an AMAZING engagement session with the fabulous Nancy Ray! I'm super excited for their cute fall wedding at Owl's Eye Vineyard + Winery and am also thrilled to get the chance to work with Nancy! As it turned out, it rained right before their session but they certainly didn't let the weather get them down!
Since they were having their engagement pictures taken, Beth & Danny also included Danny's son, Chandler for a few family shots. I love that they affectionately call Chandler "the kid."
Totally love these images & cannot wait for their big day in October!

Cheers!
{erica}

{Note: all images copyright: Nancy Ray. Please do not use any images without her permission.}

Venue Spotlight: The Duke Mansion

One of the most charming & unique venues in Charlotte is The Duke Mansion. One of my best friends held her rehearsal dinner there, and my husband and I frequently walked past it when we lived in the neighborhood. It is a beautiful historic mansion in the leafy upscale Myers Park area of Charlotte that now serves as a bed & breakfast. For years, The Duke Mansion was a hot spot for rehearsal dinners & bridesmaids' luncheons, but due to neighborhood restrictions and some other red tape I'm not overly familiar with, they were never permitted to hold weddings or receptions. I was ecstatic to find out that this is no longer the case! The Duke Mansion is now available for weddings & receptions and I absolutely cannot wait to plan {or attend!} a wedding at this beautiful historic venue! The options for decor are endless and will be extra fabulous with the existing details of the mansion itself.
I was unable to attend their big celebration in late January to celebrate the addition of weddings to their service menu {which got rave reviews!} so I set up a lunch meeting with Aundrea, the sales manager. We enjoyed a fabulous lunch in the library and then she gave me a tour of the entire property- which is amazing! I especially loved the sleeping rooms on the third floor whose ceilings rise & fall with the original architecture of the house.
It is truly a charming place and I am so excited to see the amazing celebrations that will get to be held at such an amazing and historic part of Charlotte!

{All photo credit + copyright: Tommy McCart Photography}