Saturday, February 12, 2011

FEBRUARY BRDIAL SPECIAL

CAROLINA BRIDAL BOUTIQUE
Entire Month of February all weding gowns $400 and up will receive a $100 discount, and $25 off your wedding shoes by Dyeables...also you will get a $100 gift certificate toward a bridal or engagement session and a FREE 24x36 courtesy of M.E.A. Entertainment for more information call Carolina Bridal Boutique (803) 533-0888 1144 Orangeburg Mall Circle http://www.carolinabridalboutique/ and check out M.E.A. Entertainment at http://www.meaentertainment.com/

Monday, November 29, 2010

Congratulations

Congratulations to Dana Myers and Bruce "BJ" Jenkins that were married on October 16, 2010 in Orangeburg, South Carolina.  These two really bring the true meaning to a "fun" relationship that is evolved around love!  This was an evening filled of surprised emotions, that was kicked started when the groom serenaded his lovely wife to be with a song that was written by him, don't think there was a dry eye in the building! You can actually see the love this couple have for each other that actually forecasts over these two with every step that they take hand in hand!

Congratulations

Congratulations to Alicia Caldwell and Jeremy Farrington who received a perfect score of "10" as the were married on 10-10-10  (October 10, 2010) the wedding ceremony took place over looking the beautiful lake of Buckridge Plantation in Neeses, SC, some of the wildlife guest include, deers, fawns, and the very proud peacocks that were gracing the property. Guest were welcome to a panaromic view of the beautiful property as they dine. An evening full of wonderful elements!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Tossing of the Bouquet

It is a wedding tradition, but why do we do it? The tossing of the bride's bouquet is like having a glass of champagne that night- it is not necessary but certainly makes the evening more fun!

In the old days, it was considered lucky to touch the bride, and even luckier if you were able to tear off a piece of her dress or veil. Imagine someone ripping off a piece of your Monique Lhuillier couture gown - can you say friendship OVER?! The tradition of grabbing fragments of the bride's clothing for luck dates back to 14th century France. In order to prevent single women from invading the bride's personal space, and potentially leaving her half-dressed, the bouquet toss was introduced as a more civilized alternative. This way, the single ladies could still snag the potential of their own happily ever after while leaving the bride's beautiful dress intact.
Today, the bouquet signifies an upcoming engagement or unexpected romance for the lucky (or most aggressive) girl who catches it.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Congratulations

A much well deserved congratulations to Shakala Avant and David Bennett Jr. who were married on June 12, 2010 in Manning, South Carolina.  This was truly a family affair, to be able to witness all of the dedication, and sacrafices that were made by the family to ensure that this day would be a day to remember.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Congratulations

Congratulations to Lawanda Jennings and Steven Lykes who were married on June 5, 2010 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. There was an abundance of love projected toward the couple, with the massive amount of family and friends who travel from afar, just to witness the union of the loving couple. I wish the two of them many days and nights filled with joy and compassion toward each other!

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Congratulations

Congratulations to Dr. Alexandra Stevens and Travis Witherspoon who were married on May 22, 2010 in Columbia, South Carolina. with an outside wedding in the tri-level garden of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Alexandra and Travis have travel this road of planning, and their final destination was such a great success. Their guest were thrill by the auora of the live band performance, that kept them entertained and dancing thru out the night. I wish the both of them days full of smiles on their face and their heart.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Congratulations

Congratulations to Kuston Washington and Travis Williams who were married on May 8, 2010 in Columbia, South Carolina. with an outside wedding in the tri-level garden of the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The bride gave the color purple new meaning with her to die for purple shoes, that were so secretly hidden underneath her beautiful wedding gown, and all eyes were on the groom as he was able to get his 15 minutes of fame with his very swagger entry of coming down the aisle. Kuston and Travis gave a very loving toast to each other, and really express their grattitude, I wish them a continued fun, loving, and energetic life together!!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Congratulations

Congratulations to April Johnson and Eric Keitt who were married on May 1, 2010 in Orangeburg, South Carolina with an outside evening garden wedding at The Liberty Room, in which the weather was in great favor of this couple. April and Eric along with their guest expierenced  a fun filled evening.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Missing in Action

I know that I have been M.I.A.(Missing in Action) and consider myself as a P.O.W. (Prisoner of Weddings) so I do apoligize in advance to all of my frequent and faithful readers of the BLOG, but as you may well know this is the wedding season. I have been very blessed to have a pack monthly schedule for weddings for the next few months.  I will be adding more info to the BLOG soon, but thank you for being so patient.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Congratulations

Congratulations to the lovely Lachandra Adams and handsome Avius Wood who were married on April 17, 2010 in Columbia South Carolina, at the Columbia Metro Convention Center. How special it was to see the marriage between two best friends. The entire evening was filled with genuine emotions, and sincere fun. These two are like the missing pieces in their own puzzle.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Congratulations

Congrats to Camea Gillyard and Tauiyan "Tye" Cato who were married on April 10, 2010 in Charleston, South Carolina at the Radison Hotel, in their Atrium which was like being in a tropical oasis. Camea and Tye, are two spiritual connected people and I pray they are blessed with many years of love and laughter!

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Sand Ceremony

Growing in popularity is the Unity Sand Ceremony. Not only does this create a decorative result, it is also much more practical in an outdoor setting where candles can be affected by the natural elements. With the Unity Sand Ceremony, select three decorative glass vases and place one color of sand into one vase and a second color into another vase. This is designed to represent the Bride and Groom. At the appropriate point in the service the Groom pours a portion of his sand into the third vase. The Bride then pours a portion of her sand in on top of the Groom’s in the third vase. To conclude the Bride and the Groom jointly pour the remaining sand in each of their respective vases into the central vase. The commingling of the colored sand is an impressive demonstration of two into one.
In those cases where children are involved, couples simply add additional colors of sand and incorporate the children in the Unity Ceremony.



Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Photo Card Box

Here is a very nice, cute and unique holder for your cards, and cash envelopes to be used for your wedding. I have passed this link on to several brides, and they loved it. It comes in 8x10 or 11x14 in which I have seen the 8x10 and it is just right. The box is made of wood, and has a lock and key and it rotates on a lazy susan base, and it is really an attention grabber at the gift table. You can put your bridal portraits on it, or engagement pictures, family photos, or a combination, the list goes on and on. It really is an elegant way to secure your cards, and monetary. I have seen it used at a graduation party also, so if you get a chance check this link out http://www.theperfectcardbox.com/ and they also have a clearance section that some of the boxes are little dented or scratched, and the box can be painted to match your wedding colors which is another plus.








Friday, March 19, 2010

Name Tags

I think it is a good idea to have name tags for everyone in your wedding party, and family for day of rehearsal. I have done so many rehearsals that have a large wedding party, and the only name I know is bridesmaid #1 or bridesmaid #6 and that is not a good thing. It is nothing personal, and I mean no harm but it's hard for me and others to remember about 25 people name in less than an hour whom I have never met in my life (smile) Sometimes the family is just meeting for the first time, and it is good to know grooms grandma, from brides grandma and the same with your bridal party, they have you in common as a mutual friend, but don't know each other. The name tags come in like a pack of adhesive labels, that you can write everyone's name, nick name, or if you want to give them a character name for that evening. The best thing, it's cost effective!!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Who Should Walk you Down the Aisle?

Of course by old traditions we know that the father of the bride will walk her down the aisle, but so many traditions have change far. It is a natural tradition for a father to provide and take care of his family, but yet there are so many that are not. When making the selection of who will hold this position, it should not be based on what is politically correct, but what is correct in your heart.

If you have a father who has not provided, or made contact with you until your adulthood or the year of your wedding, and neither one of you know anything about the other, but yet you have a step-father who has been your sole provider, then this honor should go to your step-father. If both fathers have equally shared the responsibility of your upbringing then let them both walk you down the aisle, or one can walk you half, and the other walk you to the altar.

There are cases that there is no father present, and then this honor should go to the single mother who has been your sole provider. In Jewish tradition both parents walk the bride down the aisle, which is now becoming a popular tradition across the board. The only rule about this is do what’s in your heart, I have experienced the bride being escorted by her brother, uncle, grandfather, mother, or her son and the list can go on and on.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Color Combo for March

Color combo for the month of March is Orange and Blue. The color combo to me is very rfreshing and unique it is more like the calm (blue) before the storm (orange). This combonation is not restricted to just a certain season, this is a four season color combo!

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Cozy Crochet

Johnna Frierson a native of Rockhill, South Carolina is the owner and lead creator for Cozy Crochet, which specialize in hand-made crocheted items and accessories for everyone, their most popular item are the crochet hats. The variety of items and accessories expanded from hats to blankets,baby sweaters, baby booties, scarves, head bands and so much more. Each item is custom made order to uniquely suit each individual. Johnna was recently inspired to pick back up her hobby of crocheting, when she was inspired by her husband's grandmother (Mrs. Ruth)  With each custom Cozy Crochet item that is made for customers, a large portion of Johnna's passion, patience, and love goes into each item. Prices for items vary according to the type of materials used and any additional embellishements (buttons, broaches etc.), and each item is made with high quality material.  Cozy Crochet is currently featured at the Lonnelle Marie Boutique @ Semaj Beauty Salon at 121 21st Ave. N Suite #104 in Nashville Tennessee, but you can contact Johnna at cozycrochetbyj@gmail.com and call to place your order at 864-386-0658

Friday, February 26, 2010

How to be a Good Wedding Guest


There is an etiquette associated with being a wedding guest. If you are attending a wedding in the near future, here are some tips and etiquette rules so you can be the kind of wedding guest that couples appreciate and love.

When invitations to weddings arrive in the mail, do you find yourself glancing telling yourself you will RSVP later when you have more time? If you want to be a fantastic wedding guest, check your schedule as soon as you get your invitation and send it back immediately. Many couples rely solely on the RSVPs to get a head count for catering and seating so always send in the RSVP. If a situation arises where you will no longer be able to attend, call so they can take you off the final headcount and save money.

Be sure to dress appropriately for the wedding. Wearing t-shirts, jeans,sweat pants, hoodies or sneakers is never acceptable and  you may say "who would wear that" well I have seen it, and just because your son is 16 it is not acceptable for him to come dress in that manner also. If you are attending a religious ceremony that is different from your own, you may want to research what is deemed appropriate. For example, at a Muslim wedding, you would probably not want to wear a short skirt and sleeveless shirt, out of respect for the Muslim culture.


Never bring uninvited guests. Someone's wedding is not a hang out event, or a community workshop. If the invitation says your name only, that means only you are invited. If the invitation states that you and one guest are invited, bring only one guest. Across the universe one plus one equals two not four and five!  Do not call up the bride and groom and ask if you can bring an extra guest with you. If the invitation also includes your children, then if they start to get noisy or begin crying in the middle of the ceremony, immediately take them outside.

Be sure to get to the wedding on time. There is nothing more distracting than listening to the bride and groom reciting their vows and having somebody walk in during the middle of this interchange and you clickety-clack all the way down the aisle to find a seat. If you are unable to get to the wedding on time, then proceed to the reception site.

When taking pictures during the ceremony and reception, always be mindful of the professional photographer that is on hand taking pictures for the couple. Sure, you want to get great shots, but the couple is paying for the photographer to be there, so stay out of the way.

Stay at the reception until the very end. I have attended way too many reception where more than half of the guests leave after eating, leaving the room half empty. Keep in mind how you would feel if half of your friends or relatives left right after they ate. Have fun and be available to send the couple off at the end of the night!

Sure, there may be an open bar, but that is not an open invitation to get drunk. Drink in moderation so you can avoid embarrassing yourself and the couple, and so you can get home safely afterwards.

If you follow these tips you are on your way to being a good wedding guest, and people would enjoy inviting you in the future, to other events

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Save - the - Date


What is a Save-the-Date? A Save-the-Date notice is an item stating the date of a wedding or any other formal event. It typically states the date when a couple plans to marry, or when a special event will occur. I highly reccomend using them if your eent is going to take place on a holiday, weekday, or will be a grand destination to those you are inviting.A destination wedding do not always mean that your wedding is out of the country, on a beautiful island. A destination wedding can be that for your guest who may live in New York but your wedding is in California, thetn hey would need as much notice to prepare if it was on an island.
When do you send them? you can send them out as early as 12 months in advance especially if it is a destination wedding, but usually 6 to 8 months befor e the wedding is fine.
Do I send one to everybody? No, you are not required to send a Save the Date to everyone on your guest list. Many brides cut costs here by sending Save the Dates only to those guests who will be traveling or who will likely need to make arrangements far in advance.
Do not send a Save the Date to anyone who will not be receiving a wedding invitation.
I am a big fan of the magnet Save-the-Date, so that way they are not lost in a cluttered draw, they usually will be on the person fridge, and you can laways add magnets to the Save-the-Date yourself.

Debbie's Lil Darling

Deborah Haigler is a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina, and the owner and lead seamstress for Debbie's Lil Darling, which is a children's boutique that specialize in custom made garments for children, that you will not find in a department store. They offer a variety of styles to choose from and especially children that are hard to fit average sizes. They will custom make school uniforms, choir robes, mini - bride gowns, cheerleader uniforms and the list goes on and on. you will also be able to find accessories, selected gifts and the prices are affordable.                  
Debbie's Lil Darlings is located at.
411 Clarendon Street Orangeburg South Carolina

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Worthy Workshops

Sherika V. Washington is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. She has enjoyed public speaking and creative writing since childhood. Presently, she has over one hundred completed poems and fifty short stories in progress.

In 2005, Sherika published her first collection of poems, in a book titled "Speak Life".Sherika has had several opportunities to share her poetry and speak life to the community.
Worthy Workshops is a variety of workshops facilitated by Sherika, with a goal to encourage, inspire, and catapult all to greatness, she will speak wisdom from a heart filled with love. The workshops available at this time include: Ladies “L” is for Love (promotes TRUE self-love), No More Baby Mama Drama (strategies and tips to maintain a healthy relationship with your children’s mother), Aspiring Creative Writers (exposure to traditional and non-traditional venues open to aspiring writers), Express Yourself Youth (techniques for young people to express their opinions and emotions positively in order to avoid being misunderstood), and finally Speak Life (exposes the dangers of negative speaking and the urgency of speaking positively in all situations).
 If you would like to request  Sherika as a keynote speaker or present these workshops to your organizations, or would like to register and attend any upcoming events, please log onto:  http://www.worthyworkshops.vpweb.com/

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Friday and Sunday is Cheaper $$$

Getting married on a Saturday is the most popular day all over the world, for so many reasons, one it gives your guest time to come in town that Friday, and get some rest and leave out on that Sunday and make it to work on Monday morning. With that date being so popular it is not hard for a venue to fill that date. If you still feel strong about getting married on a weekend, then I reccomend a Friday or Sunday wedding, which can save you a lot of money, and out of those two days, a Sunday wedding can save you much more. For example if there is a venue that charges $2,100 to rent on a Saturday but $1,000 on a Friday and $700.00 on a Sunday. WOW what a differene a day can make. If your wedding is filled with close family and friends, and you send them a Save-the-Date so that they can prepare in advance, I say why not aim for a Friday or Sunday.  Also keep in mind that a  lot of the wedding vendors will offer you a discount as well, but be advised you have to ask for these discounts, they are not going to volunter.

ARTofficial

Craig Wolley a native of Orangeburg South Carolina is the owner and creative artist for ARTofficial Custom Apparel, which is a company that offers hand painted custom apparel with unique one of a kind designs. If you have a special T-shirt, jacket, shoes, hat and etc. that you would like to have customize just for you, that may feature a favorite slogan, company logo, fraternity, football team, college and so much more.ARTofficial can create a one of a kind design to paint on your apparel, and no designs are done be a machine, each item is painted by hand. Their work is for everyone and all age groups. Their T-shirts are machine washable, and 100% pre shrunk cotton, and the sizes go up to an 6x.

Customer Satisfaction is the foundation of ARTofficial Custom Apparel, so if you have any questions, or would like to place an order for your customize garment, contact information is:
ARTofficialurbanbrand@yahoo.com (Email)  (803) 536-5388 , or become a fan on Facebook


Monday, February 22, 2010

Fingerprints

Quanita McFarlan was reared in Columbia South Carolina and is the founder and CEO of Fingerprints, which is a unique concept of custom jewelry designs. Fingerprints offers exclusive one-of-a-kind pieces, comprised of Natural Stone, Bone and/or Wood. Each piece is designed to optionally coordinate with a specific ensemble, or for any desired purpose. The inspiration for the concept of Fingerprints was derived from our Heavenly Father. When He created our individual fingerprints, He custom crafted them, without replication. Thus, no two human beings in the world have the same fingerprints. Each piece of jewelry affiliated with Fingerprints is custom crafted, and not duplicated! Therefore, every recipient will have their own special piece that no one else has! Fingerprints produces wearable art. When it comes to custom jewelry design, the possibilities are endless and exclusivity is priceless!

For more information or to make an appointment for an consultation : log on to http://www.fingerprintscustomjewelry.com/


Friday, February 19, 2010

Vintage Wedding Pictures


Just a few Vintage Wedding Pictures, to let you see the progression that things have made over the years!


Black Business Week

As a nod to Black History Month, next week (February 22 thru February 26) I will be featuring Black business owners, that are within our community or state. These will be small business owners that bring a unique and different service to the community, that some may not have been expose to. So please stay posted, to see what unique service that they offer.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Preserving your Wedding Gown

Every bride should protect her investment by having her wedding gown professionally cleaned and stored. An expert dry cleaner or gown preservationist can make certain that your heirloom dress is protected from soil and age so it looks as new in 20 years as it did the day you wore it.

1.Find a dry cleaner that advertises expert cleaning of wedding gowns. Ask the cleaner if he/she uses different solvents on gowns than on regular clothing.

2.Ask if you can see the dress before it is packed. That way, you can see for yourself if all visible stains have been removed prior to storage.

3.Wedding gowns should be stuffed with clean, acid free tissue. Acid-free tissue placed between the folds of the dress and stuffed in the bodice will prevent permanent wrinkles and folds as well as help stabilize the environment of the box. .Don't put the gown in a hot attic or a cold basement. Extreme temperature changes can also damage your gown.

4.The cost of professionally cleaning and storing your dress can range from $75 - $600, depending on its size, fabric and detailing..

5.To cut down on cost, you can pack away your gown yourself, but only after it has been professionally dry-cleaned. To do this, you will need a large box, tissue paper, and a cotton liner. Cedar chests can also be used instead of a box. Carefully arrange the bodice and skirt to avoid wrinkling, and crumple tissue paper in major folds to prevent hard creasing. Never use plastic or brown boxes. They contain materials that are harmful to the fabric.

Colors can Cost $$$

There are so many beautiful colors out there that have been fused and blended together to create a brand new color, like for example a new color called Lemon Sprinkle, in which the first thing you think is "yellow" but it has a yellow tone, but yet have like a pink hue, so it's like really hard to figure out which is which, then a color called Coral of Craze which is hints of orange, pinks, and some peach, all mixed into one.  Having these unique colors is a very good thing and out of the box thing to do, BUT just keep in mind that sometimes these new colors can cost you extra bucks. You may have to get your linen custom order or custom made, a lot of things for your decor will have to be either dyed or tinted, sometimes it is difficult to find accesories for your bridesmaids and the list can go on.  If the new color is something that you really love, I would suggest 1. Let it be your accent color, so that way it is complimenting another color that is not difficult to work with, or 2. If it is your dominate color then try to make everything else around it stay in the neutral tones, far as linens and decor, and decide on what things that you would be willing to put the cost into getting customized in your unique colors. you can have a neutral table, with creams, and ivory and a centerpiece that reflect a neutral tone and maybe greenery, and let your menu card, and or napkins be in the unique color which will pop off of the neutral background, because custom napkins are cheaper than custom linens.