Distinctively Different Destination Wedding

There's nothing more beautiful or romantic than a wedding on the beach.  What more could you and your guests ask for?  Sounds of the waves, sand under your toes, soft sea breeze or exquisite sunsets? 

A beautiful beach wedding . . . because the weather is beautiful.

Sounds like perfection - but what if those waves are lapping up over the seawall, that wet sand feeling like mud between your toes, that soft sea breeze blowing so hard your veil goes flying down the beach, not being able to see the sunset because of the rain clouds hovering overhead?

This is when that dreamy beach wedding becomes the dreaded beach wedding. 

AAt JACKIE ROWELL EVENTS, we offer the perfect solution.  Why not consider something outside the box?  Offering rolling mountain tops, sunsets that display God's glorious rainbow of colors, leaves that provide your natural  décor palette in golds, oranges, reds and greens, or even a winter wonderland with real snow and shimmering icicles, the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Carolinas can be your distinctively different destination wedding site.  

 

 

The mill at High Hampton Inn and Cuntry Club

We have established relationships with some of North Carolina's most exclusive resorts and country clubs for you to choose from: High Hampton Inn and Country Club, The Grove Park Inn, and The Old Edwards Inn.  We also have available a horse farm on the outskirts of Asheville with a small chapel for your ceremony.  Each of these venues offers outdoor areas as well as indoor, for inclement weather.  Either way, your ceremony and reception are guaranteed to be different from anything your guests have experienced at other weddings.  At any of these venues, they will be bathed in luxury and nature simultaneously. 

The quaint chapel on the Oak Tree Farm property

The Blue Ridge Mountain range as a backdrop

Take advantage of the natural beauty for your ceremony.



Father/Daughter talk that scenic walk to the altar.

How joyous can a ceremony get?

  

Oak Tree Farm is a back-to-nature remote venue near Asheville, that is surrounded by the beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains.  The small chapel on the property is a storybook ceremony waiting just for you.  Enjoy the owners' picturesque  farmhouse for getting dressed and staying out of sight until ready for the ceremony, then after the ceremony, treat yourself and your guests to the fresh air and beauty that only Mother Nature can provide.

                                

 

 

If you are planning a 2015 wedding, why not give your guests the experience of a lifetime and plan a wedding where they will breathe and feel the luxuries that only the Blue Ridge Mountains can provide.  We will take care of all the arrangements for you.  The only thing you have to do is decide which beautiful venue provides the perfect setting for your distinctively different destination wedding.  

 
 

LOOK!! We're on the Jumbotron!

Not only was Heather and Stewart's wedding a fun, exciting time, but the setting was amazing!  How many couples can say that their wedding reception happened at a ballpark?  And, how many people can say they've seen their faces on a giant screen for hundreds of guests to enjoy?  That's exactly what this cute, fun-loving couple can tell their children one day.

Heather and Stewart's ceremony was short, but very sweet and special at Avondale United Methodist Church in a trendy,  historic section of Birmingham, Alabama.  They enjoyed doing their photo shoot at the neighborhood park across the street, were able to ride to their reception at Regions Field in a vintage trolley with their wedding party and depart in a vintage white Jaguar--quite a bit of history encompassed in the day.

Enjoy the images by Allison Crouch Lewis, www.allisonlewisphotography.com. 

www.barons.com

Coats Classic Cars  www.ridebackintime.com

photography by www.alllisonlewisphotography.com

trolley by www.raretransportation.com

 

 florals by www.Hothousedesignstudio.com

Men's attire by www.mrburchformalwear.com



www.bellabridesmaid.com       www.ivorywhiteboutique.com

cake and cheesecakes by www.dreamcakes-bakery.com

Brother 2 Brother via www.musicgardenbands.com

staff, l to r Hayden Slaughter, Emily Stuenkel, Jackie Rowell, Emily Redmon

Polka Dots and Pies

Holly and Rob's wedding this week-end was one of the sweetest, most original, nontraditional I've ever done.  Since I am a very nontraditional person who loves surprises, this was right down my alley.  The overall feel for the entire day was mid-century vintage.

Bride +holly blalock  with her groom @Rob Dominquez

Photo by +Mary Margaret Smith Photography

They chose as their venue the repurposed, refurbished  Kress Building in downtown Birmingham .  From about the nineteen thirties through the nineties, Kress was a five and dime store in downtown Birmingham.  The new century brought new life for the building as a local law firm saw its potential. The building's rooftop venue overlooks the arising theater district of the City, while a local theater group is housed in the basement where the store's soda fountain was, very popular during its heyday. (I could write a very lengthy post about the many Saturdays I spent there after attending matinees at the nearby historic +Alabama Theatre and +Lyric Theatre). The location produced many wonderful photo opps for the couple and their photographer, +Mary Margaret Smith during the day .

So, this wedding created many deja vu moments for me from the very beginning of the day, as I stood on that rooftop, soaking in all the memorable marquis and buildings which later served as the backdrop for our band, called Deja Blue, appropriately.

From Holly's sweet, blush pink chiffon gown and blue open-toe pumps to the bridesmaids' polka dot, fifties-styled dresses, the entire day portrayed that mid-century feel beautifully.  The building's lobby was draped  by +Alex Garmon and +Event Rentals Unlimited  to transform it into a dramatic wedding white ceremony space. The couple chose some of the Beatles famous love songs to use for their processional music -- "Blackbirds Singing," "Across the Universe," several others --  creating a few tears in my eyes along with those of many of their guests.  So Special!!

The roof-top reception continued that vintage feel as guests signed in using metallic pens on specially-selected  vinyl records. Holly and Rob chose albums from some of the concerts they have attended together-- very original and creative.  Long, burlap covered tables were lined with mercury glass votive candles, mason jars and bottles tastefully filled with fragrant stems by +Mandy Majerik  of +HotHouse Design Studio .    Not only did guests enjoy the atmosphere, food and dancing, but the hit of the evening was the special dessert table.  The bride and groom chose to have a mini-pie bar instead of a wedding cake.

Mini pies from +Pie Lab 

One special pie for the bride & groom

Birmingham's own De'Ja Blue Band (www.dejablueonline.com)

One final, special surprise was when the bride's dad brought out his guitar to play and sing a song he had written for Holly and Rob -- not your typical love song, but special nonetheless.  It is one Holly and Rob will be singing in their heads for a long time to come.  Oh, what a night!!



Thanks to my tried and true assistant coordinator, +Hayden Slaughter  for the use of her images.  She even takes time to snap some great shots.

Ten Things Every Wedding Guest Should Know

This Post is For Everyone . . .  Not Just Brides!!

This is for YOU and  yours, regardless of age, sex, race, . . . and all that other stuff.  Each and every one of us puts on a wedding guest hat at some time or other.  Whether you have never attended a wedding or have attended dozens, you probably never thought about your responsibilities as a a guest at this sacred, dreamed-about, once-in-a-lifetime event that the bride, groom and their parents more than likely have been planning for a long time. 

Just ask yourself how considerate you have been in the past and try to step up your manners at the next one with the following:

1.  Return that response card (this is a very important detail) indicating that you will or will not attend this special event.  Note:  some couples today opt to ask for your response via their website.  This is just as important as a response card would be.
2.  If you cannot attend,  perhaps the families will understand, but a gift IS in order.  And, this gift needs to be ordered, sent, or taken as soon as possible.  We hear the rule of thumb is within a year, but hey, who remembers to do it after a week or so? With online registries these days, it is as simple as going to one of the couple's chosen registries, selecting something that they need or want within your price range, providing a credit card, clicking and it's done.
   
3.  If there is any way possible you can attend, DO!  These families did not send you an invitation out of courtesy, they really do want you there.  And, from personal experience, I know how much it means for so many friends and family members to be present at this time.  I tell my brides and their moms and dads, "this probably is the only time so many of your friends and family members will be in one place at one time because you have invited them."  Perhaps their funerals, but who cares about that?? It really IS a special time for them, and should be for you too. This being said,  Mark your calendar so you don't forget the time and date.
4. Make any necessary travel and hotel accommodations soon.  This is your responsibility as well as any expenses incurred.  The family will probably provide this if you are a member of the wedding party, but is not responsible otherwise.
5. Plan to be at the ceremony about 30 minutes before the time stated on the invitation!  That time shown is the time the processional should be starting, and you don't want to interrupt the processional or have to wait until after the processional to make your entry.  This is quite distracting.
6. Don't bring gifts to the wedding if you can avoid it.  This responsibility should have already been taken care of.  If you haven't done it before the wedding, wait until the next week and take care of it.  That works out much better for the moms and dads who always have tons of bags, left-over cake, , guest book, flowers and any props used during the reception to load into their cars.  All this with gifts makes it very difficult for families at the end of the reception.  And, gifts at the ceremony or reception can get lost sometimes, or cards can get separated from their respective gifts.
   
7.  If the line is backed up at the entrance because of guests signing the guest book, try to go ahead and get seated.  You can always sign the guest book at the reception.  Don't knock anyone down or step on toes, just be seated as quickly as possible.
8. Either leave infants at home with a sitter or sit in a provided area for guests with small children.  If a nursery is being provided for the ceremony, that is usually stated in the invitation. The reception is different.  Children are usually a refreshing and fun addition.
   
9. After the ceremony, leave and get to the reception as quickly as possible if the invitation states that the reception follows the ceremony.  Don't wait for the wedding party and don't stick around and socialize.  You can do this at the reception.  Don't try to run any errands or stop for a quick cup of coffee in between.
   
10. Have a fun evening.  This is the purpose of the reception,  and that's what your host wants more than anything.  Remember that the bride and groom are the guests of honor and the entire event revolves around them.  Don't rush or crowd them, but at some point during the event, try to speak to them, thanking them for their invitation and wishing them well in their new lives. It's nice also to find the host and hostess as listed on your invitation and thank them for such a fun evening before departing.