posted by Lisa | filed under:
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July 13, 2010 - 05:39 PM
posted by Lisa | filed under:
While we are on the subject of the Washington Duke Inn, I thought I would mention a resource that I recently came across that is perfect for brides getting married in Durham. The Duke University Hotels Network, is an online source to find hotels near Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. They provide a wide range of services including hotel reservations, car rentals, and other useful travel tools for your trip to Durham, NC. You can choose your accommodation by price, rating and location, using their local University Hotel Map. Their system will provide you with convenient hotel rates and discount fares. Check it out!

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July 13, 2010 - 05:26 PM
posted by Lisa | filed under:
It is always a great experience to photograph the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner before one of my client's weddings because it gives me a chance to get to know the couple, their families and the bridal party a little better before the actual wedding day. The rehearsal is always exciting because everyone is anxiously anticipating the wedding the next day. Robin and Garan's wedding rehearsal was no exception. You could feel the excitement in the air, and everyone was ready to celebrate and have fun together. The rehearsal took place at the Washington Duke Inn and the dinner was at the Parizade restaurant in Durham.


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July 12, 2010 - 11:22 PM
posted by Lisa | filed under:
My bride, Robin, decided to take her bridal portraits at her parents home in the early spring. We were able to capture some really unique images inside their home with the staircase and then we took their antique chaise lounge out into the garden for some beautiful portraits. The chaise has been a family heirloom since the Civil War and Robin's mother was really excited that she was able to use it in her bridal portraits. And last but not least, I have to give some love to the shoes! Robin wore these exquisite Valentino silver sequined pumps with her wedding dress. The shoes had their own photo shoot. That's just how my world works!

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July 12, 2010 - 09:52 PM
posted by Lisa | filed under:

I am fortunate to have a great description of this beautiful wedding written by my bride, Jenny. Jenny and Zach's wedding is featured in the Summer issue of The Bride's Book Magazine! The issue was just released electronically and should be distributed in print soon. It was a great experience working with Jenny and Zach and such an honor to be a part of their 'dream wedding'. It truly was a dream and Jenny was a spectacular bride!

Here is Jenny's description of the wedding:

"As a little girl, I had always wanted to marry the man of my dreams at the beach.  Some of my fondest memories were spent seaside.  After Zach and I began dating, we actually spent more time with my family on Figure Eight Island than in my hometown of High Point, NC.  After we were engaged, the beautiful North Carolina coast just seemed like the perfect place for the wedding.  We chose First Presbyterian Church for the ceremony because my grandfather was a member and it is where we attend church when in Wilmington.  Plus, it has incredibly beautiful architecture.  We chose Figure Eight Island for our reception site since it has beautiful sweeping views of the waterway and marsh.  It was also close to where many of our guests were staying. 


            The theme of the wedding began with the dress.   I had found a beautiful Vera Wang Luxe dress in a bridal magazine advertisement.  I immediately fell in love with it.  It was the first dress that I tried on at Alexia's Bridal Boutique.  After trying on several other dresses in the store, the deal was clenched when my sister-in-law Natalie Thomas suggested that I try the dress on with a belt that had a bevy of fabric flowers.  It just completed the dress! 


From there, the wedding took on a "romantic, vintage" theme to match the bridal gown.  The wedding cake was modeled after the dress's belted accessory.  The centerpieces were hobnail white ware as a nod to the vintage theme.  The chargers complimented the hobnail.  We chose white on white flowers because they were delicate and romantic.  The table linens were ivory, cream, and sandlewood.   The invitations were written with calligraphy in wide sweeping and whimsical strokes.  The seating cards and the seated dinner menu were done in the same calligraphy.  The bridesmaids wore satin Vera Wang dresses that were aubergine with an off-gold belting.  The colors were chosen in honor of the groom's alma mater, the University of Washington.


Traditions: I carried my late grandmother's handkerchief that was wrapped around the stems of my bouquet.


Other fun elements: My dog, Brady. met us at the reception for a quick photo.  On the day of the wedding, the bridesmaids had a yoga session at the Figure Eight Island yacht club.  The bridesmaid gifts included yoga mats for the lesson and a personalized bag and makeup case that they could carry to the church.  Our band was Black and Blue .  Zach played guitar with the band for two blues songs.  The band invited the wedding party and family up on stage to perform various songs with the band."

Another super cute detail to the wedding: Jenny and Zach met in medical school and they are both doctors. The favor that they gave their guests was a pill bottle with lavender M&M's. The label said 'Love is the Best Medicine'! So cute!
Congratulations Jenny and Zach!


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July 11, 2010 - 06:02 AM
posted by Lisa | filed under:
The elegant wedding rehearsal dinner of Jenny and Zach took place at the historic City Club at de Rosset in Wilmington. Zach's mother and artist, Leslie Sandbulte, painted two beautiful paintings of the couple as a wedding gift. The incredible artwork was then used to create wine labels for mini bottles of wine that were used as favors and place cards. It was such a unique and creative idea, everyone loved the little wine bottles! Guests were seated at tables decorated with a variety of berries, greenery and vegetables. Each place setting even had an individual potted plant and a delicate fern was tucked in each napkin with the menu. The beautiful styling of this event was done by none other than the talented, Jennifer Rose Sandy, of Salt Harbor Events. The guests enjoyed a five course meal that was followed by toasts and an artfully decorated dessert table with everything from chocolate truffles to creme brulee.

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posted by Lisa | filed under:
If you are looking for a fantastic dress for a prom, pageant or your wedding dress, I think it would be worth a trip to visit Dimitra Designs!

Owner Dimitra Mandala's experience comes from over 30 years of dressmaking. After graduating from design school, she worked in the Los Angeles fashion industry for such notables as Nolan Miller and Bob Mackie.

She was then recruited by famous pageant designer Stephen Yearick in Greenville, SC. When Mr. Yearick relocated his headquarters to New York, Dimitra decided to open up her own salon. She has had the privilege of dressing 
                                 many beauty pageant contestants and brides.

DressProm.Net is brought to you by Dimitra Designs Bridal Emporium in Greenville SC, that offers full service bridal attiere, wedding bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, mother of the bride dresses, tuxedo rental from famous brands, prom dresses and homecoming dresses instock every season from top designers, exclusive pageant gowns for beauty contests, even little girls pageant dresses. Also Dimitra Designs has in the Upstate the largest selection of quinceanera dresses and formal dresses for almost any special occasion as well as bridal accessories, wedding shoes, veils, tiaras and wedding invitations.

dresspromsite.jpgThey gave Bella Rose Photography some love on their blog today! Check it out!

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posted by Lisa | filed under:
The wedding of our lovely couple, Melissa and Chuck, is featured on the Southern Bride and Groom website. Read their love story and view their wedding details at this link.

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May 20, 2010 - 01:45 PM
posted by Lisa | filed under:
One of my photos was featured on the Blaine Wedding Photography blog recently! Nice!

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March 15, 2010 - 03:41 AM
posted by Lisa | filed under:
The glamorous 'Haute Hat Show' was the 'grown up' equivalent of playing dress up. All of the models were dressed in sophisticated 'little black dresses' with jewels, gloves, boas, high heels and of course, fantastic hats! I felt like I had gone back in time and we were witnessing a modeling show from the 1940's with models that stepped out of Vogue magazine.
Jan Wutkowski of aMuse! has been creating custom-made hats since 1995 when she studied hat making in Melbourne, Australia. She now resides in Wilmington, North Carolina and has a charming little store. Aside from creating hats, veils and headpieces, Jan has an extensive collection of vintage jewelry, gloves, handbags and other pretty things. It was so exciting to photograph this show and I absolutely loved every minute!


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The talented, Dessert Divas, made a cake inspired by one of the hats in the show. They chose a dramatic large brimmed hat and recreated it in frosting! The beautiful model, Elena, modeled the hat with the cake for me! So glamorous!

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  Amanda DeLeon, (fashion designer), Rebekah Hinkle, (The Dessert Divas), Jan Wutkowski, (aMuse!), Deborah Place, (The Dessert Divas), Lisa Brown, (Bella Rose Photography), Jennifer Mattis, (The Dessert Divas), Jess James, (Style Girl).

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Jennifer, Rebekah, Jess, Amanda, Elena, & Lisa enjoying the delicious cake!