DIY Wedding at the Bald Head Island Club, NC - Steve & Laura

Over the course of a wedding season, the Bald Head Island Club will be transformed in countless ways. We are fortunate to be able to work with some of the top wedding vendors in the state, perhaps the country, so it's always a joy for me to see what each couple has decided will represent their relationship, their interests and their style for their wedidng day. 

Salt Harbor Designs and Kim Fisher Designs, out of Wilmington, NC, both frequent Bald Head Island and it's always a sight to see. It's always different, but always, ALWAYS beautiful. Every once in a while, I'll have a couple or a family who decide to handle all of the flowers, decor and design decision themselves. And I have to tell you, I get a little nervous when someone says they're going to have a home-made wedding. I don't know why, I guess just because everytime I try to get creative, somehow I wind up with a room full of popsicle sticks and way, way, way too much glue.

   

But when Laura & Steve's families decided to take on the task of designing the couple's dream wedding, they really, truly took it on. They left no stone unturned, no table untouched, no bouquet lacking anything. Of course they did have a little lighting help from my dear friend Steve Peterson of High Performance Lighting. Steve is THE go-to guy in Wilmington for specialty lighting.

Laura & Steve were married on the beach at Bald Head Island in early October and then made their way to the club for their reception on our Ocean Terrace.

One of my favortie moments of the day was when Laura turned to me after finally arriving and sitting down with her new husband and said "we need to go dance." So dance they did, alone on our back terrace. Away from the hustle and bustle of the wedding, away from their family and friends. It was just him and her. Mr. & Mrs. Husband and Wife.

Laura & Steve's families took care of all the wedding planning and design, but they did have some wonderful vendors in tow when it came to entertainment, photography and their beautiful, beautiful cake! Flower & Flour provided this stunning wedding cake along with some tasty, tasty miniature treats. Flower & Flour cakes are always so beautiful... but it's almost painful when it comes time to cut into them. Sure I know they are going to be deliciously delectable, but once you cut, there is no going back! But it's always worth it once you take that first bite! Yum!

For entertainment, the couple hired Jane Tierney the violinist, to perform during the ceremony and cocktail hour and the Rick Ottaway band to get their family & friends dancing for the remainder of the reception. Both Jane and the Rick Ottaway band were great to work with and the families seemed to enjoy them immensely.

Last but not least, their brilliant photographer, Justin Cook, is the man to thank for capturing their entire day like a true professional. There were so many great moments that I know Laura & Steve are beyond thankful he caught them all. You can see more of his work here.

Congratulations to the happy newlyweds! xoxo

What is my favorite part of the wedding day?

Oh, well I'm glad you asked!

As you can imagine, I've seen my fair share of weddings. And to be honest, there are a hundred things I love about a wedding... especially when it's between two people who really, truly, madly, deeply, inexplicably - love each other.


I love the things that everyone loves - the first time the groom sees his bride, the exhange of vows and first kiss, the nervous excitement on each of their faces just before the ceremony is to begin. But the thing that always gets me, the thing that brings me to tears - ALWAYS - is the first dance. It's true... I'm a sucker for a love song. But the way he looks at his wife, and the way she looks back at her husband, there's something so perfectly romantic and lovely about the first dance.

Anna & Chris - courtesy Kellie Kano

 Cameron & Eric - courtesy Ed Shenkmen Photography

 Carey & Austin - courtey Rachel Barker of Millie Holloman

 Chelsea & Art - courtesy Matt McGraw Photography

 Georgiana & Thad - courtesy Scott Piner Photography

 Julie & Blake - courtesy Sposa Bella Photography

 Lauren & Mike - courtesy Courtney Aliah Photography

 Sean & Karen - courtesy Kristopher Gerner 

Of course it helps to pick out a really good song, one you can move to together, one that everyone can sing along or sway to, one that expresses how you're feeling, right at that moment. The thing that amazes me, the first dance song selection seems to be the hardest decision for couples to make. It's the last bit of information they send to me - so that I can make sure their DJ or band has that song on their playlist and scheduled for the right time. For some reason, in the weeks leading up to the wedding, this is the detail that eludes me and the soon to be newlyweds.

And so in an effort to help you out, I've compiled a list of all the "first dance" songs I can remember hearing over the last year or so. Hope this makes the decision a little easier on you all:

"Grow Old with Me" by Mary Chapin Carpenter
"By My Side" by Ben Harper
"Just you and Me"
"Someone like you" by Van Morrison
"Boogie Shoes" by KC & The Sunshine Band
"You're All I Need" by Marvin Gaye
"Endless Love" Dianna Ross & Lionel Richie
"At Last" by Etta James
"In my life" by the Beetles
"What a wonderful world" by Louis Armstrong
"You are so beautiful" by Joe Cocker
"Marry Me" by Train
"Then" by Brad Paisley
"Crazy Love" by Van Morrison
"Feels like Home" by Chantal Kreviazuk
"Tupelo Honey" by Van Morrison
"We've got tonight" by Bob Seger
"Brazilian Wedding Song Setembro"
"The Song for You" Ray Charles
"Jackie Wilson Said" by Van Morrison

There were many, many more... but unfortunately, this is what I can remember at the end of a long wedding season. You can always contact me here at the Bald Head Island Club if you need some suggestions for your Father/Daughter dance, Mother/Son dance or anything else!

Happy Song Hunting!

A Sunny, September Wedding at the BHI Club - Kate & Jeremy!

September was a busy month at the Bald Head Island Club, but no week compared to the week of September 12th through the 18th. For starters, it began with my birthday! That's right, Monday September 12th I turned the ripe old age of 24... ok 27. Er... 29? Well, let's just say I am now a little bit older but much, much wiser.

The rest of the week consisted of a surprise birthday party on Thursday, a Croquet & BBQ themed rehearsal dinner as well on Thursday, a Welcome Party on Friday, a wedding on Saturday and another wedding on Sunday. It was a long week but I can't think of a better way to have ended it all, than with the picturesque wedding of Kate & Jeremy.

This was one of the more formal wedding receptions we've hosted here at the Bald Head Island Club. A lot of weddings on the island tend to have a beachy theme and sometimes more casual atmoshphere with the guys typically wearing tan suits and on occassion, flip flops. But Kate & Jeremy went all out with black tuxedos on the groom and groomsmen and a very royal, princess look for the bride. Who, by the way, could not be any sweeter if she really was made from sugar and spice.

Kate was the very definition of elegant, always cool, calm and appreciative, from day one. I immediately fell in love with her, and for many, many, many reasons, I can completely understand why Jeremy was so head over heels in love with her too. Together they will accomplish so many things and their beautifully planned wedding was just the beginning.

Kate & Jeremy selected an amazing list of vendors to help pull off their dream day - from the phenomenal Anne McGowan, photographer extraordinaire, the always lovely Roxanne from Island Florals, the keep-you-on-your-toes-even-when-it-hurts magnificent Craig Woolard Band and lastly, a close friend who designed her very first wedding cake just for Kate & Jeremy. There were oohs and ahhs all night coming from the newlyweds guests and I couldn't agree more.

 Congratulations to the happy newlyweds! Kate, I miss you already! xoxo

Alyson & Michael, A Beautiful September Wedding, At BHI!

This past September, the Bald Head Island Club had the honor of hosting a rehearsal dinner, ceremony and wedding reception for a couple that truly bring new meaning to the word, beautiful.

 Now, everyone always talks about the bride on her wedding day, how beautiful she is, the "glow" that surrounds her, how calm or peaceful or content she looks. But I always look to the groom. Because the look on the groom's face really lets you in on their little secrets. Their behind the scenes moments, their intimate embraces, their memories built and ideas for their future.

When the groom first sees his bride, that's a moment worth taking notice of. And when he vocalizes his vows, that's a time to pay attention. But also, when it's all said and done, when the ceremony is over and the reception is in full gear, the way he looks at her for the rest of the evening and for the rest of their lives, that's what really pulls at my heart strings. That's when you really see the glow. Because he knows, he's looking at the woman who agreed to spend the rest of her life with him, the woman who became, his wife...

Michael Strickland was one of the most sincere, kind and awesomly in love grooms I've ever had the pleasure to work with. He just really wanted to marry Alyson and make her happy, for the rest of her life. He was a catch, my friends, and I can tell you without a moment's hesitation, Alyson agreed.

But I can't talk about the Strickland's without talking about Alyson - she is one half of this beautiful couple and I'm going to let something slip here that I probably shouldn't. On the day of their wedding, when Alyson arrived with her bridesmaids in tow, I was quite litterally, blown away. And speechless.

She was effervescent. She was flawless. She was an angel in Vera Wang. But above all of this, she is sweet, she is inteligent, she is kind. She is a woman who will conquer any obstacle in front of her and surprise the world with what she is capable of. She is someone you are better off for knowing, and that is why Michael was aglow the day he married Alyson.

It was such a pleasure working with Michael & Alyson and their dear families to plan this wedding with them. Everything about the day turned out magically, and a lot of that is due to the amazing vendors they selected to help them create their vision. Salt Harbor always blows my mind with their original designs and they did not dissapoint this time.

 The couple's photographer, Courtney Aliah, captured all of it with a true artist's eye. And their DJ Jay Tatum of Active Entertainment kept their friends and family dancing. All. Night. Long.

I can't say enough good things about this couple, this wedding, this experience. Except, congratulations! xoxo