Eden Wedding Archive

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church + Revolution Mill Studios Wedding | Greensboro NC Wedding Planner

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!

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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!

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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

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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!

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

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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 PricelessDJ: K2 ProductionsRentals: Southern Event Rental | Lighting: Kenneth Eller | Transportation: A Formal Affair | Cake: Tender Love & Cakes | Hair + Makeup: Carla White | Invitations: Smitten On Paper 

Tented North Carolina Wedding {Megan + Elliott} | Greensboro NC Wedding Planner

Nothing makes my heart go pitter patter more than a beautiful tented soiree. Pair that with beautiful spring blooms and a blush and bashful color palette and I am in wedding heaven. Megan, Elliott, and their families were so much fun to plan with and it was definitely an evening to remember. From Megan’s pale pink gown to the hand calligraphed paper details to the late night popcorn station, every detail was perfection. So kick back, pop open a Cheerwine, and enjoy this beautiful day!

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Planning + Event Design: Leigh Pearce Weddings | Photography: Michael Moss | Venue: Willow Oaks Plantation | Catering: Painted Plate | Hair + Makeup: Carla White | Floral Design: Amy Lynne Originals | Rentals: Whites’s Rental Company | Tent + Rentals: Party Reflections | Linens: La Tavola | DJ: K2 Productions | Cake: Maxie Bs | Ceremony Music: Rob Massengale Entertainment | Invitations: William Arthur via Swoozies | Wedding Day Paper: Confetti Grey | Calligraphy: Holly Albright | Bridesmaid Dresses: BHLDN | Bridal Gown: Kleinfeld Bridal

Best of the best: Details {2015} | Raleigh, NC Wedding Planner

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!

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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.

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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.

View More: http://alisandraphotography.pass.us/katieanddoug

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!

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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.

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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!

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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.)

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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!

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Alexa’s Photography

Wedding Venues + Vendor Lists | North Carolina Wedding Planner

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Whitebox Photography | Meghan + Brandon’s Graylyn Wedding in Winston-Salem, NC

If you have started touring venues for your perfect wedding spot, you know how much time and consideration will go into this big decision. How many people can the space hold? Will this be in my budget? What is included in the cost? And the list goes on and on. I have shared my thoughts on how to select your perfect wedding venue in the past (see those tips here!!); but something that is often allusive are preferred vendor lists provided by venues.

Preferred vendor lists can be a wonderful thing! Most venues provide complimentary lists to their couples  listing those that provide excellent service at their location and have done so in the past. These lists usually range in category and budget.  A perfect tool to get your started in your planning! These lists are typically just a guideline and you are welcome to bring in your own vendors and creative partners if you already have some in mind.

B U T   C A U T I O N ! ! !

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Liz Grogan Photography | Brittany + Chris’ Starlight Meadow Wedding in Burlington, NC

Make sure to ask your venue if these vendors have paid to be on this list. You want to work with people that are recommended because they are great, not because they paid the piper. Also, if you are considering a venue with a list of partners you are required to use, make sure to ask about additional charges to use vendors not on the list. If you have your heart set on XYZ Photography and they did not want to pay to be on the list, will it set you back an additional $500?  What if you want to use the same makeup artist your sister did and she is not on the list? That is another $500 you owe your venue. This type of paid for vendor list (and kickbacks while we are at it) is generally frowned upon in the wedding industry, but certainly not unheard of.

That said, some venues have understandable restrictions that are of a benefit to you. One of which refers to catering. Some venues require you to use their in house caterer (no exceptions!) or you may use one of your choosing from a select list. As as former venue manager, trust me when I say, you want to use a caterer on that list! These folks have been in your venue before, know all of the rules and regulations, and can actually save you money from knowing your space so well. Sometimes there are additional fees associated with outside caterers so be sure to ask your venue about this in detail.

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Anna Paschal Photography | Erin + Andrew’s Revolution Mill Studios Wedding in Greensboro, NC

Overall, your selection of venue and the associated vendors should be the right decision for you, your partner, your families, and guests. Some couples enjoy the easy shopping of a limited list. My motto is always to each his own, but I always advise to do your due diligence and research, research, research! Know what is an acceptable practice in the industry and do not be afraid to ask for what you feel is right.

Of course, it goes without saying that if you consult with a wedding planner, you can avoid all of this. We planners work with creative partners that are recommended to you based on their reputable business practices as well as your personality and budget not who is lining our pockets.  For Leigh Pearce Weddings, if a vendor offers a discount to me or cash in hand for booking a client for them, I in turn ask for that amount to be reduced from my client’s bill. My experience and services are a large investment for my clients so I want them to know I will save them money anyway that I am able.

I would love to hear YOUR thoughts on the matter! Please share in the comments below!