To some couples, the party and the booze are top priorities when choosing where to allocate their wedding budget. In order to maximize that budget and offer the best (and tastiest) options to your wedding guests, take some advice from the pros! Read some expert tips below from Rachel of Black Moth Bars on how to determine alcohol quantities and types, and how to best help your bar provider help you! Tips from a mobile bar owner: Assuming you’ve never bought enough alcohol f

As a wedding planner I've come across many stressed couples. It is when they become stressed that they typically begin reaching out for a planner's advice and help. A common thread in a list of their stressors - booking their wedding day vendors. How do you know if it's the right time to reach out to a DJ? "My wedding is 8 months away, is now a good time to begin looking at hair and makeup artists?" So. Many. Vendors. and most couples have very little experience planni

There are so many wonderful things I can say about live music played by musicians on wedding day. I, personally, chose to hire musicians for both the ceremony and cocktail hour of my own wedding! No matter the theme or vibe of your wedding, having musicians there to help kick off your event is a great way to start your forever with your partner...(in my opinion at least). The Elle M Events team are big fans of Dean's Duets, a local group of wedding musicians. We've worked

One of my favorite aspects of planning a wedding is choosing flowers and planning the event design with and around them! With so many floral options and price points, it can be easy to overwhelm quickly in a meeting with your florist. Sommer, owner of Elegant and Classy Events, has provided us with some of her expert advice on how to tackle wedding florals and has laid out what options surround them. After reading through her wonderful tips, make sure to check out Sommer's

As a wedding planner I always guide my clients "to-do" list, and at the top of the list is always music. Wedding music needs to be well thought out and not a rushed process. What important songs will be played during first dances and big moments throughout the night? What about how to handle music requests from guests and that dreaded "do not play" list? Take a browse through the great information and tips below provided from Troy of Carolina DJ Professionals. Troy is on

One of the biggest decisions that most couples have to make - WHERE will the wedding be held? It is the place where you say "I Do" to the one that you love most. Do you want the space to be an expression of your style? Or have it simply be a gathering place for your friends and family? Many factors go into making a venue selection and Sydney Rhyne, venue director at the gorgeous Ritchie Hill property, shares a few tips on how to best prepare for making your final decision

Wedding planning comes hand-in-hand with a lot of meetings - with a lot of different vendors. Deb Hall, owner of Olive Paper, has simplified one of your meetings for you - Stationery and Print materials! Below she provides some great advice on how to prepare for your meeting with your stationer and a few things to think about in advance. Preparing for your Stationery Meeting: Newly engaged couples are quickly overwhelmed with a plethora of meetings that are quickly added to

Photography is one of the most important pieces to planning your wedding. Your photos, after all, are the tangible memories you'll have to look back on and share with those most important to you. Below, Amy of Sunshower Photography provides excellent photography advice for couples going into their wedding day. You can learn more about Amy and her photography business at www.sunshowerphotography.com. Check her out! Tips from a wedding photographer: 1. Before you decide on

To video, or not to video? Such a big question that many couples face. Catey of West Mint Media provides some insight that may help to make your decision an easy one. To continue on with our "Tips from Pros" trend, please read, see and watch these great videography tips from Catey - one of our favorite Lake Norman Wedding Professionals. You can learn more about Catey and her videography business at www.westmintmedia.com. Tips from a wedding videographer: 1. When walking d

You’ve gotten engaged, starting dabbling in wedding planning and meeting with vendors, then all tires come to a screeching halt when you begin realizing what everything costs. Weddings are expensive! *The national average cost of a wedding is $33,931. So why not get a little creative and save some money? Below are a few ideas to help you save money on your wedding. You're welcome! :o) Cake: Not a huge cake fan? I actually hear this quite often. Opting for a small cake for c