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.}

Wish Upon A Wedding- The Carolinas

Wish Upon A Wedding is a new charity- and the first of its kind- whose purpose is to grant wedding wishes to terminally ill adults regardless of sexual orientation. I heard about this amazing new charity earlier this year and then got to meet one of the founders, Sasha Souza, when I attended Eventology back in April.

WUW has gotten some amazing national press lately! A few days ago celebrity blogger, Perez Hilton, wrote a post about WUW as one of his "worthwhile causes".
Yesterday the home page for TODAY featured a WUW wedding!


As soon as I found out there was a chapter being started in the Carolinas I knew it was something that I wanted to be involved in as a volunteer on a committee as well as a wish granter.

Wish Upon A Wedding- Carolinas held their launch party on June 24th and our first wedding wish couple was there to celebrate with everyone!

{Wish Upon A Wedding- Carolinas first couple Yolanda & Marcus with WUW- Carolinas Chapter President Ivy Robinson. Photo credit: Cunningham Photo Artists}

The party was a huge success and got great local media coverage thanks to the always swanky Melissa Lamkin and her awesome PR skills! The launch party was featured on 3 local news stations- NBC36, WBTV, and News 14. Be sure to check out Melissa's re-cap of the event on Bride + Groom

{Clockwise: Yummy appetizers from Nolen Kitchen, future DJs Tyler + Corey Esposito, the beautiful wish tree + martini glass display designed by the lovely ladies of Carolina Wedding Design, two of the most talented (and 2 of my favorite!) guys in the Charlotte wedding industry- Aaron Byrum from Kristin Byrum Photography and Vinny Esposito from Split Second Sound, WUW-Carolinas Founding Board Members. Photo Credit: Cunningham Photo Artists}

Want to get involved? You don't have to be in the wedding industry to volunteer or donate! Please feel free to contact me for more information on how you can help!

For more information or to find out about other chapters, please visit the organization's main website, Facebook & Twitter!

{Personal} Happy Birthday Mini-Me!

{A few pictures of her adventures over the past 4 years. How cute is she?!}

Today, my niece Lucy turns 4. Time flies when you're having fun...and fun she is! I cannot believe she is already 4 and will start pre-school this fall! She keeps us all on our toes with her many questions and sweet southern twang. Some days I think she's 4 going on 14! She loves to dance and shop at Target. Her favorite things are girly and fabulous and of course, the Charlotte 49ers and she's a great big sister to Kate-Linn. It's been said she's a bit like I was...but I'm not sure I see it :)
Leave her some sweet birthday comment love!

**HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOOSE!**
~xoxo~
Aunt Erica

{Kelly + Johnny's Engagement Pictures}

I am so excited about Kelly + Johnny's September wedding at Rumbling Bald in Lake Lure! I've had such a great time working with Kelly and their wedding is going to be amazing! I mean, what's not to love about a couple who includes a bride who wears green shoes, has their wedding at Lake Lure, books their favorite band for the reception, and includes their pug and boxer in the ceremony? Love it. Every last bit of it.

{And now for a little peek at Kelly + Johnny's engagement pictures captured by the talented Krista Faulkner!}

And I had to include a picture of the doggies!
Philly (the boxer) and Otis (the pug) will both have a
small role in the ceremony! I can't wait!

{Wedding Day} :: Logan + Jason

{Jason & Logan :: The lovely soon-to-be newlyweds!}

Left: At our 10 year high school reunion last fall. Me, Logan, &
our friend Haley (who is one of Logan's bridesmaids!)
Right: Me with Logan at a friend's baby shower last summer

Today, one of my oldest, dearest friends, Logan is getting hitched! Logan and I have been friends for over twenty years. When we were younger, people thought we were sisters! I have so many fun & fond memories that include her (and her amazing mom) and am so excited to see her as a bride!

Logan and I have been shared a lot together...dance competitions, many many sleepovers, cheerleading tryouts, passing notes in class, middle school boyfriend drama, graduating from high school, then college. We eventually sort of went our own ways and did our own things, but always kept in touch & remained friends. She's just one of those people that no matter how infrequently we talk or see each other nothing ever seems to change!
Little known secret about me: thanks to Logan, I was actually a Tar Heel fan for a few years {it was before I knew any better ;) }

I'm so excited for Logan & Jason's wedding this evening at the Victorian Villa Inn and am so thankful for everyone that the weather has cooled off just a smidge! I can't wait to see some old friends from high school and some of Logan's family that I haven't seen in years! Should be a fun reunion for all. Complete with "Carolina blue" bridesmaid dresses, of course!
Congratulations, Logan & Jason! I wish you many years of happiness!

xoxo,
erica