Goals for October!

So I’m totally stealing this idea from my fellow Charlotte wedding pros, Cheyenne Schultz & Alyse Woodward and starting my own monthly “goal list” on my blog. Just for fun reference, you can check out Cheyenne & Alyse’s goals for October as well as the results from their September posts. I think they got the idea from fab photographer Nancy Ray , but as someone who loves to make lists, I thought this would be a good idea! Plus it will help me be more accountable in actually accomplishing some of these goals! Some are business related and some are more personal. There are big goals & small goals on my list, but nonetheless, here’s my list for October (and yes, I know it’s late, but I had a big, fabulous wedding this past weekend so better late than never!)

{} Finalize my contract & have the attorney review it
{} Do the paperwork to become an LLC (changing from a sole proprietorship)
{} Meet with 3 new vendors
{} Have dinner with a friend I haven’t seen in a while
{} Catch up on thank you notes to vendors
{} Organize my business expenses/receipts
{} Schedule someone to deep clean our house & carpets
{} Catch up on “Mad Men” & “Glee” episodes
{} Start working on my business plan
{} Clean out my closet & switch out the seasonal clothes
(check out my inspiration from Julianne Smith here)
{} Take Norm to the dog bar in NoDa
{} Make something with my KitchenAid mixer (I am not a cook & it’s starting to get dusty!)
{} Plant fall flowers in my front yard & get out the Halloween decorations
{} Update/clean out my Google reader

And here is my inspiration board for my goals (disclaimer: that is not actually my closet, nor would my closet EVER be that organized!)

What are some of your goals for this month? Any fun suggestions for what to make with my mixer or any good blogs I should be sure to read on a regular basis (wedding or non-wedding related)?

New owner for The Bridal House!

I am so excited for my friend and fellow planner, Shanika Butts of SJB Weddings & Events. Shanika is a fabulous wedding planner in Charlotte, NC and is the new owner of The Bridal House in Charlotte! Shanika was presented with a great opportunity to take over this business and I have absolutely no doubt she will be super successful with her new venture!

Here is some info on the store as well as some of my faves from the collections Shanika carries.
Be sure to check the blog for future updates on The Bridal House as she adds new lines!


As a wedding planner, what made you want to get into the wedding dress side of the industry?
I love planning weddings. I mean love it. It’s something about the excitement of the wedding day, running around getting things together and fixing things that the bride doesn’t know about. So, when I was presented the opportunity to purchase The Bridal House I thought it would be a wonderful addition to our company. I have always loved assisting brides with their wedding dress and bridesmaids dress selections, now I’ll actually have a true hand in it.

Are you making any major changes or improvements from what the former owner was doing with the Bridal House?
We are not making any major changes to talk about. Although we will definitely be bringing in a couple more popular collections that I think brides in this area will be excited about. After we have the opportunity to attend The Bridal Market in Chicago in October we will then announce our new collections.

What makes the Bridal House different from other bridal boutiques in Charlotte?
Where else can you get wedding planning advice from an actual wedding planner, buy your wedding gown and wedding party attire, select your invitations and purchase accessories? I think that makes us pretty unique for this area. On top of all of that we are overly obsessed with wonderful customer service and that alone will hopefully help differentiate us from other establishments. Our goal is to exceed your expectations every time.
What lines of bridal gowns do you carry?
Currently we carry Mori Lee, Jasmine and Bonny

What lines of bridesmaid dresses and/or mother of the bride dresses do you carry?
Mori Lee, Bari Jay and After Six

Do you carry any other wedding day accessories?
Yes we carry veils, bridal jewelry and wedding party jewelry.
We will also be adding birdcage veils in the very near future.

What is the address & hours for the store?
Our boutique located in north Charlotte at 8432 Old Statesville Road
and is open Tuesday –Saturday 10am-5pm



Love these for bridesmaids! I especially like the Bari Jay short & long option in the same style.
{Clockwise from top left: Mori Lee, After Six, Bari Jay, Bari Jay}


Apparently I favor the sweetheart neckline and sheath/mermaid silhouette! Didn't realize how similar these two gowns were when I first chose them!
{Left: Mori Lee Right: Jasmine}

Let them eat cupcakes!

A fun idea that has become popular with many couples is serving cupcakes instead of the traditional wedding cake. This was once thought to be more appropriate for casual outdoor weddings, but it has definitely found its way into more traditional, formal affairs.
Cupcakes can be a lot of fun and can be just as elaborately decorated and displayed as a traditional cake. The cost will vary based on detail and your location. Some traditional cake bakers will do cupcakes and there are also shops & bakeries that specialize in cupcakes. If you’re in Charlotte, I highly recommend Polka Dot Bake Shop. When you’re meeting with potential bakers for your wedding, ask if they do cupcakes! You could also do cupcakes instead of a traditional groom’s cake as well.
If you’re concerned about the “cake cutting” tradition you can always have a small cake made to coordinate with the cupcakes for you & your sweetie to cut into at the reception. Have fun with it! Have different flavor combos for your guests to choose from or make the design interesting with a monogram or other design that is incorporated into your wedding décor.


Super cute example of cupcakes as well as a smaller cake for the bride & groom to cut.
{photo credit: Luster Studios}




Edible toppers featuring the bride & groom's last initial.
{photo credit: Jennifer Angeloro}

Absolutely LOVE this one! Fall weddings are my fave and this is such a cute display!

{photo credit: Baking Up Chaos}


Adorable for a vineyard wedding

Cupcakes by: Hansel & Gretel's Bakery
{photo credit: Tiona Fuller Photography}

Super cute toppers incorporating monograms and the wedding date.

{photo credit: Live Love Photography}


Aren't these beautiful?! Almost makes me want to learn to bake!
Cupcakes by: Polka Dot Bake Shop
{photo credit: Cheyenne Schultz Photography}

Vera Bradley Weddings!

As a fan of all things Vera Bradley, I loved that when I opened the fall catalog to check out the new styles & colors there was a double page spread on weddings!

I love all of the fun color combinations and functional handbags, tote bags, luggage & accessories that Vera offers. There are several ways you can incorporate Vera Bradley into your wedding. From color palette inspiration to the ties & cufflinks for your guys to gifts for your maids, moms & flower girls there’s so much to be found! There's even a bakery that makes custom cookies decorated to match Vera patterns! Fun for a bridal shower or favors! (Photo credit: Love at First Bite)

Vera Bradley has also announced a contest to win a Bridesmaids’ Reunion! Check out the website for more info and to vote on your favorite “memorable” bridesmaid dress. One winner & five guests will receive a three day, two night getaway to Vera Bradley’s guest house in Seaside, FL!

Below is some inspiration to get you started! The first image contains some of my favorite ideas for gifts for your gals (or yourself!). You can choose a pattern that coordinates with the theme of your wedding or choose a pattern & gift for each of your attendants based on their favorite colors. The second image is a sampling of some of the colors & patterns for the men’s line. All of these patterns are available in a tie and some of them also have coordinating cufflinks and pocket squares!

Top row (left to right): Photo album (Calypso); Large Cosmetic (Yellow Bird); Small Duffel (Purple Punch)
Middle row (left to right): Ribbon Board (Blue Rhapsody); Gabby (Cupcakes Green); Mail Box Stationery Desk Set (Calypso)
Bottom row (left to right): All in one Wristlet (Blue Rhapsody); Audrey (Puccini); Tote (Caffe Latte); Hanging Organizer (Puccini)

Top row (left to right): Cupcakes Green Stripe; Puccini Diamond; Puccini Stripe; Calypso Blue
Bottom row (left to right): Cupcakes Pink Confetti; Bali Gold Stripe; Caffe Latte; Daisy Stripe

Noble Brides in Charlotte closes its doors…

For the second time in a little over a year, a bridal salon in Charlotte has closed its doors leaving brides with a mess to deal with. Noble Brides is now closed and leaving many Charlotte area brides unsure of the status of their wedding gowns & bridesmaid dresses.

This is similar to the situation La Bella Sposa put many Charlotte brides in last summer.
If you were working with Noble Brides and have any issues you need to resolve with your dress, please contact The Bridal House as they are graciously helping out brides that have been affected by the store closing.