PWG Luncheon at The Hall and Gardens at Landmark

 

Welcome!

Samantha Heart of Heart2Heart Ceremonies, a Raleigh Wedding Officiant 

  here to share my experiences attending the PWG luncheons.

Another amazing luncheon with my fellow Professional Wedding Guild friends www.pwgnc.com.

This luncheon was on Wed. July 23 and held at the Hall and Gardens at Landmark in Garner, NC .

I arrived early for the 11:00 AM event and boy was it a hot and humid day.     

 

You know you have arrived when you see this breath taking water fountain.

 

 

As I opened the door to the first floor, I was greeted by a large lighted sign board divided into quarters. Scrolling pictures of wedding table settings, a bride & grooms photo and The Perfect Wedding Guide appeared.

 As you can see by the photo, the sign board is enveloped in a very elegant setting. 

I stepped onto the elevator and up to the third floor & went.

The registration table matched the elegant room covered with a gold cloth and the ladies sitting in those beautiful chairs looked so royal.

Catherine Katz of Cherished Celebrations  and Lachelle Howard of Knot your Average Events were busy registering Laura McMillan from Confectionate cakes and Kimberly Williams from Weddings by the Vine.

 

 

I loved the design of the signs and the elegant writing. We had our luncheon in the Marie Antoinette Ballroom.

 

Here’s Kelley Kennedy of Teacup Floral with her business display.

 

 I think the idea to have the tables set up for the attending wedding professionals to display their business cards, brochures and tablets with photos of their work is a great way to network.

 

 

         The hall set up for the luncheon.

Even the carpeting says posh all the way.

 

 

Beautiful table settings provided by Andy Karris with A Special Event

 

   The Farmers Table Restaurant Group catered our luncheon with their Harvest salads: tuna, egg, chicken, potato with a fresh green salad and gourmet dressings.  

The beverage table offered ice tea, strawberry and mint water, sweet tea and direct from France a fizzy wine that was champagne on our lips.

 

 

In the picture is Quinton, new catering manager with the Farmer Table Restaurant Group

 

 

Confectionate Cakes beautiful display of cupcakes. There were 3 kinds to choose from and they were so ‘melt in your month’ delicious I think everyone took one of each.

 

 

Nina and Victor with AllEvents DJS 

set up their sound system for us.

 

 

 In the picture is Victor.

 

 

I couldn’t resist snapping a shot of the cupcakes with the table center piece.

 

What a lovely turn out. It’s always fun socializing with old friends and new one too. Gail is always mindful to introduce any new comers to the regulars so everyone feels at home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amy Wurster from Knots 'NSuch Events enjoyed looking through the beautiful wedding portfolio of David Kuhn from Kuhn’s Photo

 

 

 

 

Tenekia Parker from Triangle Party Rentals 

is enjoying a refreshing beverage. I love her business shirt.

 

 

A special treat was to see the Bonaparte Room! This is the waiting room for the groom and his groomsmen.

 

The gentlemen attending the luncheon so graciously agreed to pose for this totally awesome photo in the Bonaparte room.

 

Our host for The Hall and Gardens at the Landmark were Jamie Norris and Joyce Jones. They explained about The Hall & Gardens for weddings and events. Jamie was especially attentive to everyone’s needs including hooking us up with WiFi.

 

I was so pleased to meet Keith Bishop from The Gardens at Gray Gables

 

 

 

 

Gail Galloway, our fearless leader, with the Perfect Wedding Guide .

 

 

Here she has a cow bell to call us to attention. Gail always has something very entraining in store for us. This month it was playing the Speed Networking Game. The perfect opportunity to hone our professional business skills.

 

Speed Networking

 

 

A big thanks goes out to Caroline Z Dickson the luncheons’ photographer. She has allowed me to use some of her beautiful photos in this blog. Her business name is   caroline z photography  and she is located in Durham, NC



 

 

 

 

The luncheon ended with a guided tour of the enchanting gardens that serve as such a romantic setting for wedding ceremonies.

 

A group photo of all the wedding professionals eager to serve all your wedding needs.

New Wedding professionals are welcomed to join us at the next PWG luncheon for fun, networking, a tasty lunch and the opportunity to grow your business. Please contact Ashely or Gail at Raleigh@pwg.com or go to  www.pwgnc.com to learn more about the Professional Wedding Guild

Feel free to contact any of the wedding vendors listed in this blog. I'm sure they would love to hear from you.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog. I welcome your comments and appreciate it when you share it with your friends.

 

Rev. Samantha L. Heart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Engagement Party and Betrothal Ceremony

 

After the question has been popped, the answer has been given, and the ring placed on the finger, what next?

 

 

Rev. Samantha L. Heart asks...

 

Have you considered having your engagement party with a betrothal ceremony?

 

 

 

Engagement parties with Betrothal ceremonies are increasingly popular as more couples opt for an alternative to just a party. 

 

Friends and family are invited not only to celebrate your engagement to be married but can also wittiness your betrothal promises to one another.

                                                                                                  

 

Your family and friends can take part in your ceremony and your parents can share their best wishes for you both.

 

 

 

Rev. Samantha of Heart2Heart Ceremonies offers a

Sample Betrothal vows might sound something like this;

Believing that TRUE LOVE WAITS,

I make a commitment to (God), myself, my family and especially to my future wife/husband

To trust him/her and to be honest to him/her

I promise to work with you to create a happy future

I vow to love you --- even as myself

I vow to be faithful and loyal to you

And on our wedding day I will promise myself to you all over again.

 

 

 

A Betrothal Ceremony is romantic and the first mile stone of your new journey together.

 

You can choose a special song to play and have family and friends tell stories about how perfect you are for each other to symbolise your new statuses as a betrothed couple, intending to marry.

 

 

Include special ceremony elements such as the love letter and wine box ceremony, where you write a love letter to each other, seal them and place them in a wine box with a chosen bottle of wine.

 

 

 

The letters declare your love for each other and your hopes for your new future together. At a chosen time, such as your fifth wedding anniversary, the letters can be opened and read, and the wine can be opened to share.

 

 

Hand fasting ceremonies are ideal for engagements as well, in times gone by, a betrothed couples’ hands were bound together in a ceremony with the intention of them being together for a year and a day.

 

 

Guests can toast to your engagement, giving their best wishes to you both.

 

 

Have a lovely dinner,

 



Formal

or Casual

 

and even dance the night away.

 

Book a photographer for keepsake photos of your engagement party.

Many Wedding photographers offer inclusive engagement and wedding packages. This is a beautiful keepsake of the start of your lives together.

Some I recommend are:

Galizes Photos - RGB Insight Photography - Durban Rhame Photography

Rev. Samantha L. Heart of Heart2Heart Ceremonies

 can show you the many options available to you as

well as write and perform your beautiful and

 meaningful Betrothal Ceremony.

 

My colleague Apara with Lady Bird Events is a wonderful Event Planner for your engagement party planning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alternative Wedding Dresses and Gowns

Hey brides-to-be, are you the kind of lady who likes to

“Think outside of the Box?”

Then why not use your free thinking and creative personality when it comes to your wedding dress?

In this day of modern weddings you can do what you want and have it the way you like. . 

                                

 Think COLOUR! Think PATTERN!

Now you are no longer held back by the old fashion “it has to be a white dress!” You can express yourself in your choice of wedding dress and gowns with the many colourful selections now available.

Found on weddinginspirasi.com

 

How about a lovely over the top gown in blue with white and gold accents?

Found on j-nacustomgsb.com

Here comes the bride with a wedding gown of elegant gold tone! Make a statement about who you are and the preciseness of your love.

Found on wendymakin.com

This gorgeous floral wedding gown will make your entrance even more beautiful. The floral colours speak of a southern summer afternoon.

Found on rusticfolkweddings.com

lace wedding dress is sure to impress. Soft and feminine lace offset by Raspberry Pomegranate colour that says “I’m yours forever!”

 

 

 

Found on weddinginspirasi.com

Black & White will always be classic colours, but when the black becomes the rose applique on a white background it really gives this wedding dress the WOW factor.

 

Found on weddinginspirasi.com

Another style wedding gown featuring black lace appliqués over English net. Shown in Black/Champagne, also available in White, Ivory.

 

Here’s to a colourful wedding gown that is truly unique and all about you!