Asheville Wedding Archive

This wedding has everything that makes my wedding planner heart go pitter patter: a wonderful and fun couple, blush and bashful details as far as the eye can see, and fantastic vendor team. It was one of those weddings and planning experiences that I wish I could relive over and over again — and I actually get to! This time with Lauren’s sister, Taylor; and so far, it is shaping up to be just as amazing!

Thinking back to earlier this year on the most perfect May day, Lauren and Thomas tied the knot with 200 of their closest family and friends at Lauren’s home church. Later they danced the night away at the Forsyth Country Club and it was one rockin’ party. I am so excited to finally share this beautiful day and some of my favorite details thanks to Samantha Laffoon’s talent. Enjoy!

These Badgley Mischka’s are the perfect bridal shoe — not too white, a touch of texture, a bit of bling, and jussstttt the right height.

Hands down, these bouquets are my all time favorite! I even included some of these photos on my own wedding inspiration board. Jen of Green Bee Floral Design is brillant and added just the right amount of pink to the bridesmaid bouquets while only giving Lauren her requested “whisper of pink.”

Highland Presbyterian never disappoints! Just look at all that architectual detail.

After the ceremony, guests moseyed over to the reception for hors d’ouerves and cocktails on the terrace of Forsyth Country Club. We tented this area in case of inclement weather (which we had during the ceremony!) as well as the bright May sunshine.

Charlie Band kicked off the reception with some favorite oldies tunes and the party officially started. From there, guests dined and danced all evening! The food station menu offered a variety of selections from a vegetarian display of balsamic grilled vegetables and hummus to primavera pasta and shrimp and grits to crab cake and pulled pork sliders with shoe string french fries. The showstopper of the menu was definitely the beautiful four tier wedding cake from Delicious Bakery.

Planning + Design: Leigh Pearce Events | Photography: Samantha Laffoon Photography | Ceremony Venue: Highland Presbyterian Church | Reception Venue + Catering: Forsyth Country Club | Floral Design: Green Bee Floral Design | Band: Charlie | Hair + Makeup: Carla White | Rentals: Party Reflections | Cake: Delicious Bakery | Get Away Car: Fantasy Limo | Invitations: Minted

Rankin and Brent’s wedding was one for the record books. Amazing couple, picture perfect weather, a stunning Sperry tent, luscious blooms … there is no wonder that Carats & Cake reached out and asked to feature it! You can see the full feature on C&C here and my detailed recap with all the details and memories here. Happy Thursday!

I absolutely loved planning with Chelsey and Bill for their July 2016 wedding for so many reasons. From their mustard yellow and grey color palette to their trusting in my vision and recommendations, it was an effortless process and resulted in the party of a lifetime. This group knew how to par-tayyy and I think the snaps from my friend, Vesic Photography, attest to that!

The ladies started the day downtown at their hotel getting dolled up with Carla White + team before heading to the church for a traditional 2 PM Catholic ceremony at Our Lady of Grace. One of my favorite churches in Greensboro, hands down!

Chelsey and Bill decided to do a first look prior to their ceremony and read letters from one another. So sweet!

Our Lady of Grace is stunning on it’s own so we went minimal with decor in the church. We brought a pop of personality with the ceremony programs, tying them back to the design of the invites from Smitten On Paper.

Because the ceremony was a tad earlier in the day, we planned for a break between the wedding and the reception. Guests were invited to our favorite local spot, 1618 Midtown (formerly known as 1618 Wine Lounge) for drinks and a reprieve from the heat. After the ceremony, the bridal party hopped on a party bus and headed to Fisher Park for some photos before heading to the reception.

When I think of a hot summer day, I think about Chelsey and Bill’s wedding day. It was bordering on 100 degrees with sweltering humidity. You know, just your typical North Carolina July day! To keep guests comfortable, we created lots of shade for cocktail hour, installed multiple high powered fans, and kept ice cold drinks flowing. Of course, anyone that was uncomfortable was welcome to come on inside but most guests were enjoying the NC sunshine and fun! For their guest book, Bill built a custom Jenga set. Guests were able to sign the pieces and it provided some extra fun for cocktail hour.

Designing with this color palette was so refreshing! I partnered with Just Priceless to create a natural look that Chelsey loved for florals with our more modern color palette. April from Tender Love and Cakes created the most beautiful cake with a cascade of custom sugar flowers. It was even more lovely in person!

I am always trying to mix up floor plans for venues we work at frequently. No one wants the same ol’ same ol’ and I’ve been dying to do another dance floor down below at Rev Mill. Most weddings put their cake in this area, which isn’t my favorite use of the space. I had this vision of Hooman shooting through the lights and Chelsey and Bill looking up at their guests during their first dance .. and as you can see, I totally delivered on that vision!

Side note: if your photographer asks to steal you away during the reception, say yes!

Chelsey came to me during planning and said she had this idea for hula hoops during dancing. There is a funny story behind them between her, Bill, and some of their friends .. one of those “one time at the bar” stories that always lead to some laughs. The hoops were the perfect touch for dancing photos that Hooman always captures so well!

Hello, gorgeous! Talk about a snazzy get away car.

Congrats, Chelsey and Bill!! You two are the life of the party and I absolutely adore you both!

Wedding Planner + Event Designer: Leigh Pearce Events | Photography: Vesic Photography | Ceremony Venue: Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church | Reception Venue: Revolution Mill Events Center | Caterer: Pepper Moon Catering | Florist: Just Priceless | DJ: K2 Productions | Rentals: Southern Event Rental | Lighting: Kenneth Eller | Transportation: A Formal Affair | Cake: Tender Love & Cakes | Hair + Makeup: Carla White | Invitations: Smitten On Paper 

It’s true. Tents are my jam. As we approach 2017 and wedding planning for next year is abuzz, here is some inspiration for your tented wedding. Pinterest away!!

If you are planning to have your ceremony outdoors and don’t have a viable indoor back up plan, reserve a tent in advance in case of inclement weather. Also, it comes in handy to make sure all your design details will work well inside or out of a tent. I love this grand entrance we gave to Katherine and Nathan’s wedding tent – we created an outdoor church.

Whitebox Photography | See more from K+N’s farm wedding here

Hello gorgeous! Nothing will make your guests’ jaws drop like a beautiful Sperry pole tent. The signature high peaks and flags on these ionic sail cloth tents are my absolute favorite.

Kemper Fant Mills | See more from R+B’s at home wedding here

If you decide to go for a more traditional frame or structure tent, draping and chandeliers are the perfect accent to create a custom look.

Michael Moss | See more from M+E’s plantation wedding here

You may be thinking that you just need a tent in case of rain, but I recommend them rain or shine especially in the summer. They give your guests a reprieve from the sun and heat. You can install fans to help create a breeze or even side walls and an air conditioning unit. Your guests will thank you!

Alexa’s Photography | See more from C+C’s Badin Lake wedding here

Think about your floor plan. Plan out your focal points and high traffic areas like stage, dance floor, food stations, bars, and the like to ensure proper flow. Don’t forget to think about your entry and exit points and making them well defined.

Boonetown Story | See more from S+C’s travel inspired wedding here

One of my favorite ways to customize a tent design is to lay down flooring. The options are endless (hardwood, carpeting, patterns, oh my!) and your female guests will appreciate their heels not getting stuck in the grass.

Kemper Fant Mills | See more from R+B’s at home wedding here

If your venue comes with a tent, make sure to get a complete list of all the amenities and rentals that are included or available for upgrade. Think fans, lighting, dance floors, side walls, tables, chairs, and the list goes on. Knowing what items the venue can provide to you vs. what you will need to secure on your own will save you time and money down the road .

Perry Vaile Photography | See more from J+M’s Summerfield Farms wedding here

Nothing transforms a tent more than fabulous lighting. Chandeliers, twinkle lights, cafe lights, lanterns.. your options are endless. For this wedding, my wonderful bride, Katherine, wanted to dance under the stars but because of her large guest list and the unpredictable weather, that wasn’t feasible. Instead, I proposed a clear top tent with twinkle lights to create a starry effect. It was absolutely stunning and even more impactful in person.

Whitebox Photography | See more from K+N’s farm wedding here

If your wedding is completely off the grid (no main buildings around to support your needs), don’t forget about additional tents you may need. This could be everything from ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner to dancing to kitchen to restrooms to storage to marquees.

Whitebox Photography | See more from K+N’s farm wedding here

Still feeling a little overwhelmed? I would love to chat with you about making your tented wedidng stress free and beautiful. You can send a note through our handy contact form, call (336-552-5645) or, because I like to make things as easy peezy as possible, you can send an email or connect via social media with the icons under my photo on this page. Can’t wait to hear from you!

Every year, I fall head over heels for the details I meticulously design and create for my clients. From lush floral designs to delicately crafted confections, I love dreaming up every last detail and crafting them to perfection with my amazing creative partners. To us and to our lovely couples, the details matter because they create the perfect ambiance and guest experience. Why make ugly when you can make pretty?

First up in my recap from my 2015 soirees is this over the top, crazy gorgeous floral design from In Bloom. This piece was the perfect focal point as guests pulled up the long, winding drive way to the home of my clients (that also doubled as the wedding and reception location). I cannot wait to show you more details from Caroline and Chris’s wedding day!

Alexa’s Photography

One of my favorite parts of the LPW design experience is working with my amazing in-house graphic designer on personalized paper details. We wanted something classic but fun for Kristin and Ray and this natural white paper paired with a lavender monogram and patterned liner did the trick. It was the perfect precursor to a day full of beautiful blooms (like this Amy Lynne Originals bouquet) and timeless linens.

Riley Maclean Photography

It is no secret that I am a sucker for some beautiful blooms. So when Just Priceless walked in with this beauty on Katie and Doug‘s wedding day, I’m pretty sure I squealed with excitement. The peonies, the veronica, the eucalyptus, the vines .. talk about heart eyes.

Alisandra Photography

I absolutely loved dreaming up this chuppah design with Olivia for her wedding to Scott. Her dad and brother crafted the handmade chuppah while her mother sewed these beautiful sheer swiss dot drapes. The peony and elaeagnus tie backs by Farmer’s Wife pulled the whole vision together underneath the giant ceremony oak tree at Summerfield Farms. I am on pins and needles waiting to share this beauty of a day!

Anna Paschal Photography

How often in your life do you get to enjoy a multi-course meal with a proper place setting, hand calligraphed place cards, lush centerpieces, and luxurious linen napkins? Most likely, the answer is not that often so what a treat for your guests to experience that on your wedding day! Megan and Elliott treated their guests to the ultimate dining experience under twinkling chandeliers before enjoying this delicious textured cake design with fresh blooms.

Michael Moss Photography

While I am a spring time, blush and bashful loving gal, I also adore fall events and the beautiful warm color palette they come with. We focused on clean, classic, and natural details for Sarah and Cedric’s event design and the way their head table came together shows that perfectly. The natural foliage, the crisp textured linen, and the pops of metallic were all so beautiful!! More to come from this sweet day soon!

Boonetown Story

Cream colored naked cakes and crisp apple strudels … these are a few of my favorite things. The dessert display we created with Sweet Josephine’s for Kathryn and Shawn was definitely a favorite. I am a firm believe you can never go wrong with assorted desserts with a beautiful cake at the center. That along with vintage touches, hand calligraphed pie tags, and fresh blooms really took this delectable display to the next level. I will have more to share from this vintage farm soiree soon! (P.S. Bonus points for anyone who appreciated my corny Sound of Music reference.)

Alexa’s Photography

One of my favorite details to love on is the grand exit of the bride and groom. We designed a classically beautiful day for Anna and Jack so what could be more fitting for their send off that traditional bird seed? I tucked the seed into translucent bags so the guests knew what they were tossing and added these sweet For the Love Birds tags. So much more to come from A+J’s elegant Winston-Salem wedding soon!

Alexa’s Photography

A beautiful event design is at the core of what I do, but the real heart and soul of a wedding will forever be the special moments captured so perfectly by amazing photographers. From laughs between a bride and her maids to the long walk down the aisle with her father, these moments are the memories that will last a lifetime. I always have such a difficult time deciding my favorite moments from a year of lovely weddings and sweet couples. Even though all of the images from this year have not quite come in, I want to share these favorites from 2015. Enjoy friends!

Kristen and Ray were the perfect couple to kick off our 2015 events. Not only are they sweet as pie, but they both have infectious smiles. I absolutely love this candid of Kristen while her maids are fluffing her dress and veil for portraits.

Riley MacLean Photography

Anna and her maids were some of the loveliest ladies I have had the pleasure of working with. You feel their love for Anna and their prayers for a wonderful marriage to Jack. I cannot wait to show you the rest of their classic, Southern day!

Alexa’s Photography

The walk down the aisle is one of the most special times between a bride and the man that raised her. This beautiful wide shot of Sarah and her dad is so lovely and makes you wonder what all was said on that long walk to the top of the aisle. I am so excited to share the rest of this beautiful day very soon!

Boonetown Story

This stunning view of Badin Lake is one of the many reasons Caroline and Chris decided to tie the knot at the vacation home of Caroline’s family. So many holidays and summers are spent on this lake so it was perfectly fitting for their wedding. Also, can we talk about those crazy gorgeous florals? You will swoon over every last detail coming soon!

Alexa’s Photography

If your photographer asks you to come outside during your reception, DO IT. Katie and Doug shared a dance and enjoyed the last of the summer daylight while their guests dined. SO worth it!!

Alisandra Photography

I love the way Olivia smiles at Scott. You can feel the excitement and love in the air just following their traditional and sentimental ceremony. You will swoooooooon for their beautiful handmade chuppah .. stay tuned!!!

Anna Paschal Photography

Not only was this event a highlight of my year, but also one of my career. Planning an event that will have a high profile guest is never easy, but the results are so rewarding. This private concert by Eric Church at the launch of his furniture line, Highway to Home, was so amazing!

Bo Calilung

This may be one of my all time favorite creative photos from a wedding. Alexa ran circles around K+S with a lit sparkler to get this really cool effect and the result was so worth it!!! You have not seen the rest of the fabulousness from Kathryn and Shawn’s wedding yet, but let me tell you.. it was pretty epic.

Alexa’s Photography

Courtney and Brian’s Asheville wedding is the epitome of rustic elegance. Courtney’s beautiful vision of a “dark and stormy” color palette combined with organic, flowing floral design was perfect for the historic Grove Park Inn, while all surrounded by an amazing view of the North Carolina mountains. From handmade lounge furniture to a a cake stand crafted by the bride’s father, family and love were incorporated all throughout this couple’s special day. Anna Paschal Photography was there to capture it all- including the absolutely stunning sunset!

Planning + Event Design: Leigh Pearce Weddings | hghg | Photographer: Anna Paschal Photography | Venue:Grove Park Inn | Floral Design, Cake, Cateringm + Rentals: Grove Park Inn | Hair + Makeup: Carla White | DJ: K2 Productions