the Carolina Wedding Design Blog

Many and Eric were married at the Charlotte City Club last year.  When we first met with Mandy & Eric, we knew that we needed to design a wedding full of fun, modern decor and her favorite colors – turquoise, magenta along with some bling.  The Charlotte City Club was a perfect, convenient location for their guests coming from all over.  Although the venue is a bit more traditional, we knew we needed to do some modern twists that would fit along in that venue.  We created decor boards to get it perfect for them… especially Mandy to ensure it would be the wedding of her dreams.  We created an elegant atmosphere with pops of color and modern twists.

Mandy’s sash is one of my all time favorite sashes.  With the help from Laura at Hayden Olivia Bridal, we were able to customize this sash so it was EXACTLY how Mandy had envisioned.  It was absolutely gorgeous!

Since it was important to Mandy and Eric for their guests to have lots of fun; we added a few fun surprises for their guests.  We had their DJ, LeVar, of Split Second Sound out on the dance floor rapping with Mandy as their guests circled around them.  It was hysterical.  Mandy and the DJ danced impressing all of their guests.  As usual, the photobooth was packed all night.

You can see their engagement pictures here and Mandy’s bridal session here.

Thank you Lucy Parker for the FAB pictures!!

Enjoy the pictures!  Cortenay

Vendors ::

Ceremony & Reception Venue :: Charlotte City Club

Wedding gown, Sash and Veil :: Hayden Olivia Bridal

Bridesmaids Dresses :: J Major’s Bridal

Photography :: Lucy Parker Photography… now Smitten and Hooked

Videography :: Carolina Video Productions

Ceremony Music (Harpist) :: Mike Willis via East Coast Entertainment

Reception Music (DJ) :: Split Second Sound (LeVar)

Photobooth :: Shutterbooth

Officiant :: Reverend Bill Jeffries

Hair and Make-up :: Who’s the Fairest

Florist :: The Place for Flowers

Linen, Dance Floor, Chairs :: Classic Party Rentals

Pin Spotting/ Gobo :: Eye Dialogue

Draping, Candelabras, Uplighting :: Carolina Wedding Design

Cake Pops :: WOW Factor Cakes

Thank you to the team of vendors involved to create Courtney & Rich’s beautiful wedding this past Saturday!

We can’t wait to post pictures from the incredible photographers, The Schultzes.  However, until then … here are a few pictures so you can see Courtney’s gorgeous blush gown!!

Much love and happiness to the sweet, sweet couple!  xoxo, Cortenay

Photographer :: The Schultzes

Ceremony + Reception Venue :: The Mint Museum Uptown

Caterer :: Best Impressions Caterers

Dessert Station :: Cake Lady Jill

Linen/Draping/ Ceiling Shades/ Lampshades/ Pillows :: Party Tables (the superb Sanders and team)

Chiavari Chairs :: Classic Party Rentals

Lounge Furniture :: AFR Events

Ceremony Musicians :: Carolina Chamber Players

DJ :: Split Second Sound (Vinny) (packed, packed dance floor!!)

Flowers :: The Place for Flowers

Videographer :: David Whitlow

Officiant :: Pastor Jim Lytle

Suits :: New York Bride

Wedding Gown :: Nitsa’s

Hair and Make-up :: Who’s the Fairest

Bride/Bridesmaid’s jewelry :: Murphy Jewelry

Uplighting :: Carolina Wedding Design

Naz and Vinh were married a few short months ago at the Ritz Carlton Urban Garden and honeymooned for what seemed like a month in Bora Bora.  I still can’t believe they didn’t take me with them…rude.  ;-)

Naz and Vinh had great taste, yet stayed somewhat removed from the planning and designing process, as their uptown banking jobs kept them beyond busy.  I pitched an inspiration board to them using all white, with just dabbles of purple, since Naz really wanted her girls to wear purple.  They approved, I ran with it.  This soon transformed into a white, modern muti-cultural affair.  I found ways to implement pieces of  Naz and Vinh’s personality and culture through food and design. The chef and kitchen at the Ritz Carlton Charlotte exemplified great insight in customizing the Asian fused menu.  Naz is known for her sweet tooth…(and is known to secretly stash candy in her desk drawer at work)….hence the massive mini cupcake display and candy bar.

Having a 3 day Pakistani wedding in Texas two weeks prior to this Charlotte based one, Naz was probably the most cool, calm, and collected bride I’ve had.  I soon learned her response of “seriously, honestly, I don’t care” was innocent and sincere, only meaning that she trusted me and just wanted to show up and be surprised. Loved it!

Naz and Vinh you guys were a blast to work with…Naz I’m looking forward to more Champagne dates soon!

We’ll actually see Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen in just a few weeks at Courtney and Rich’s wedding, who were a bridesmaid and a groomsmen pictured below!  We love turning bridesmaids into clients =)

Hope you enjoy!  ~Heather

Special thanks to Kristin and Aaron of Kristin Byrum Photography for helping us tell the story via photos….

This Amsale gown is one of my all time favorites….the fabric was truly amazing.

This sweet collar wearing friend is Charlie, is their fur baby.  So adorable as she watches Vinh get dressed!

our handsome groom!

Naz and Vinh chose to do a first look – seeing each other in private right before the ceremony.  Their first look was filled with smiles, giggles, and sweet hugs.

To keep with the modern theme, instead of huge oversized arrangements we opted for a more sleek feel using different glass containers with more streamline florals…all white of course.  Chandeliers were suspended over many of the dinner tables, and the white draping added a classy contemporary feel.   White tile pieces were actually used for modern chargers and place cards, and white custom chopsticks were a must.  Plexy-glass escort cards were embedded into beds of carnations.

While wanting to keep this wedding different, I decided that I want to suspend florals upside down!  Yes, never seeing this done before, I had to devise my plan of design and then the team at The Place for Flowers helped me implement it perfectly.  Super sleek and quite interesting.

The photo on the right is of the altar….we submerged dark purple callas into tall cylinders of water, covered them with plexy-glass, then layered the top with approx 40 pieces of glassware and candles.

View of the head table with the draping and crystal chandeliers suspended over-head.

The display of mini cupcakes, cupcakes on a stick, and custom colored purple macaroons!

These crazies consumed the dance floor – and then went to Mez for MORE dancing.  Crazy kids =)

We wanted to say a HUGE thank you to all of the vendors involved for Megan & Corey’s wedding at the Ballantyne Hotel on March 17th.  We, CWD, had double weddings ironically enough at the same Hotel on this beautiful St. Patrick’s Day.  For Megan and Corey, our day was colored by bright salmon, watermelon and greens {of course} to commemorate true St. Pat’s fashion.   With elements of bagpipes, marine swordsmen, a cake drizzled with four leaf clovers, Bailey’s mini bottles as favors and dancing that sure blistered some feet, it was a blast had by all!  We can wait to share all the wedding pictures so here are a few sneak peaks below from the wonderful photographer, In His Image by Julie.  You will instantly fall in love with this group… just as I did!

xoxo, Cortenay

Vendors ::

Ceremony & Reception Venue :: The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge (special thank you to Carrie, Megan at the Lodge, Joe and staff)

Wedding gown, Veil, Jewelry :: J Major’s Bridal

Bridesmaids Dresses :: J Major’s Bridal

Groomsmen Suits :: The Tuxedo Lady

Hair and Make-up :: Who’s the Fairest

Photography :: In His Image by Julie

Videography :: Crown Alley Films

DJ :: Split Second Sound (LeVar)

Cake :: Cake Lady Jill

Florist :: The Place for Flowers

Ceremony Musicians :: Carolina Strings and Carolina Chamber Players

Bagpipes :: Max Abbott

Linen :: Connie Duglin Linen & Classic Party Rentals

Draping, Uplighting, Candelabras :: Carolina Wedding Design

We can never be successful at our job without a powerful team working beside us.  Vanessa and Chad’s outdoor wedding and ballroom reception was a feast of yellow and white.  We can’t wait to post pictures from our guy pal, Jeremy Igo.

In the meantime, here are a list of vendors we’d like to which we’d like to say THANKS!

Venue :: The Ballantyne Hotel

Catering :: The Ballantyne Hotel

Photography :: Jeremy Igo

Videography ::  Merigo Films

Florals :: The Place for Flowers

Cake :: Cake Lady Jill

Ceremony Music :: Elegant Ensembles

Pianist :: Steve Shoaf

DJ :: Split Second Sound (Vinny Esposito)

Officiant :: Rev. Tod Coles

Draping/Lighting :: us! Carolina Wedding Design

Wedding Gown :: Nitsa’s

Maid gowns :: J. Majors

Tenting and Rentals :: Classic Party Rentals

Here’s a quick iPhone snapshot of their ceremony….flowers anyone?