BELMONT, N.C. – All brides are invited to Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden during its annual Wedding Showcase on Feb. 17 from noon to 5 p.m.

All brides, regardless of their planned wedding venue, will receive free admission to the event hosted by the region’s premier wedding destination. Whether they are looking for new ideas or for help in planning a dream wedding, they will find a top-quality vendor ready to lend a hand.

Guests will have numerous opportunities to talk with the Garden’s staff and its partners about booking and planning every detail of the perfect wedding. Guided tours of the Garden and its facilities will be offered every hour beginning at 1 p.m. The Garden conducts more than 100 events each year, from luncheons, to social affairs, to black tie events and a wide range of weddings.

During the event, guests will be able to meet with representatives from event sponsor Best Impressions Caterers, the Garden’s exclusive catering and event equipment rental company. Best Impressions, Inc. was founded in 1989 and provides culinary services for weddings and a wide range of high-profile corporate, philanthropic and social events. During Wedding Showcase, Best Impressions will feature the best and latest in the culinary industry along with the hottest trends in wedding décor.

In addition to Best Impressions, dozens of vendors will offer the latest trends in wedding attire, photography, food & beverage menus and samples, floral arrangements, entertainment needs and much more for the big day. Exclusive discounts will be offered to all brides at the show who book their event at the Garden.

Wedding Showcase vendors include:

The Wedding Showcase is free with general Garden admission – brides and members are free, $12 adults, $11 seniors 60+, and $6 children 4-12. For more information, please visit www.DSBG.org or call 704-829-1252.

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Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden, the Carolinas’ Garden for All Seasons, provides guests a chance to reconnect with nature. Located within 380 acres on the banks of Lake Wylie, spectacular gardens, sparkling fountains, a conservatory dedicated to the display of tropical plants and orchids, a visitor pavilion, gift shop and nature walk await the visitor. HGTV named it one of the nation’s “20 Great Gardens” and USA TODAY says the Garden is one of the nation’s best places to “welcome fall with a flourish.” Committed to horticultural excellence, Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden is a must-see for all ages.

Randy and Kathy were married in Grand Cayman Islands at The London House.  Their story will follow in a few days of how they met but I wanted to get the images posted.  Here are some of my favorites from the week I spent with them.

Explanation for the above photo on the left, Randy is doing the Blue Steel pose from Zoolander

Click here to view Randy and Kathy’s slide show

Adam and Heather’s story began when they met through a mutual friend Phillip.  Heather sent Adam a Myspace message and they have been inseparable since! That was June of 2009. Adam proposed on his birthday November 1, 2011.  Heather came home from school to all the lights off in the house; rose petals leading to the living room and found a note that was on the sofa that said push play. Heather picked up the remote control and did as the note said and a slideshow of all of their pictures since they met came on the television screen playing to the song “Because you love me” by Celine Dion. When it was over Heather said she wiped tears from her face and Adam popped up from behind the kitchen counter.  He walked over and asked are you crying yet!? Heather said yes.  Adam then said “well you’re really about to cry” and he got down on one knee! Heather said at that point, she started crying even harder and just wrapped her arms around him.   Nine months later they were married at the beautiful Brakefield at Riverwalk.  Heather chose pink for her color scheme.  She said it is her favorite color.

A special thanks to the following vendors who made Heather and Adam’s special day so beautiful.  Carol at Brakefield at Riverwalk; the amazing Allan with Crown Alley Films; Johnny at Johnny B’s Limo service; Rev. Rebecca A. Nagy; Kirkland’s Katering in Rock Hill SC; DJ Retro Mike with Rave Productions; Florist Debbie at the Harris Teeter on Audrey Kell; Cake designer Cindy Decker; Makeup artist Rachel Jones of Fringe Salon; and Hair stylist Erin Ryan of Salon College’.

Pettis & Christina were married in Rock Hill, SC at the beautiful Brakfield at Riverwalk.   Pettis & Christina’s story started back in high school when they met through mutual friends.  They dated for 8 years before Pettis proposed to Christina at Concord Mills.  They had gone to the mall to get an iPad. Christina said they were near a jewelry store and she suggested that they look at rings.  To her surprise, Pettis said “sure” which shocked Christina.  They looked and she saw one she really liked but Christina said she was not expecting anything beyond that.  They left that store and as they started walking around, they approached Reeds and Pettis suggested they look there.  Christina said she found a ring she did not want to take off of her finger.  She loved it so much! Christina had a friend shopping with them and they left the store to go to Best Buy so that the salesperson named Tip could convince Pettis to get the ring.  Christina said when she reached Best Buy, she felt so nauseous thinking that Pettis may actually get the ring.  She said her stomach was in knots.  Pettis showed up at Best Buy with a Reeds bag and stated that the salesman gave him his card and some jewelry cleaner. Pettis told Christina he had to stop back in the store before they left the mall.  They got to Reeds and Christina said she was looking for the ring in the case.  She turned around to find Pettis was on one knee and stated  “Will you marry me Boogah”!

Pettis and Christina were engaged for 1 1/2 years.  Christina decided on the colors Pink and Green because it was her Sorority colors.  They decided to get married at The Brakefield at Riverwalk because they loved the vision that Carol, the owner of the venue had and it resembled a castle which was the look Christina was wanting.

A special thanks and shout out to all the wonderful vendors that made Pettis and Christina’s wedding a beautiful even and smooth running day.  Carol Goodwin at the Brakefield at Riverwalk, Aprils Floral Expressions, Catering by Sandra Lee at Heaven Sent Catering, Ice Sculpture from Ice by PreMo, Toby Kirkwood of DJ Krazy T, Day of planner Ria Palmer with Golden Affairs,  Cake Designer Takesha Silver at Silver Sweets, Videographer Laurin Wilson with Images of Power, Hair by Joni Tyson of Styles by Joni, Make up by Jennie Brown of Face by J makeup Artistry, and Tuxedo Rentals from A Lasting Impression.

Jeff and Kamaria’s story began when they met at Wet Willies in Charlotte NC. Jeff stopped Kamaria as she was walking to the ladies room, and told her that she was the most beautiful person in the building that night. After a small conversation, they exchanged phone numbers. A few telephone conversations followed over a one month period and Jeff finally convinced Kamaria to go out on a date. They had sushi at the Red Bowl for lunch as their first date. Kamaria said that first date literally never ended. What was supposed to be just a lunch date led to a day at the park with Kamaria’s daughter, which led them to dinner, and then a night out with a group of Kamaria’s friends.

7 weeks after their first date, Jeff proposed! The proposal took place at the University Place Boardwalk. Kamaria said they were walking across the bridge and Jeff was being playful and silly as usual, when he suddenly dropped to one knee. The engagement lasted a short 13 months. Neither Kamaria or Jeff are from Charlotte, yet they met in Charlotte so they decided to have the wedding feature the feel of the city they met in. This would be their “destination wedding” since their families are from different states. Jeff and Kamaria wanted their out of town guests to experience the “Queen City” that they met and fell in love in.

When the couple began to think of what a “dream wedding” meant to them, they  could only imagine good food, good cocktails, good music, and tons of fun. With that in mind, an uptown wedding was a sure fit for Jeff & Kamaria. They visited several venues and easily agreed that the rooftop of the Holiday Inn would be a good fit and great experience for their friends and family. Jeff and Kamaria loved the idea of the venue because it allowed them to have an outdoor ceremony with the city skyline as their backdrop. The colors of the wedding weren’t really planned. Kamaria knew with their “city” theme, she wanted her brides maids to have “party” dresses. Kamaria found the platinum party dresses at a local department store and knew they would be perfect for their wedding theme. Kamaria said she felt the platinum color was elegant, classic and timeless so she said she had to go with it. Tiffany blue is a hot color this season and it looked great with the dresses. Kamaria figured it would be good as an accent color. Kamaria said that everything just seemed to come together after that. The venue was perfect for the ceremony and reception, the decor was a great match, the cake which was from “Wow Factor Cakes” was amazing, the food was delicious, the drinks, music, and everyone dancing the night away under the stars made their event the wedding of their dreams and was a Queen City night to remember.

I want to give a special thanks to all of the following vendors who made Jeff & Kamaria’s dream wedding perfect:  Rachel Kafsky at The Holiday Inn, Center City; John McKinstry, their minister; the Caterer Caffe Siena; Ann at Wow Factor Cakes; the Florist Tropical Images; the DJ of DJ Streets; and Monica Ramsey who provided hair and makeup.

Here are some images from Jeff and Kamaria’s wedding day.  They decided they wanted to do a “first look” before the wedding so they could use the City of Charlotte as our playground for some amazing images!

Marc & Jennifer were married at Providence Country Club in Charlotte, NC on June 23, 2012.  Their story began 2 and 1/2 years ago. They met on a dating site called Plenty of Fish.  After dating for 1 and 1/2 years, Marc proposed to Jennifer while they were visiting Marc’s home town in upstate New York on top of White Face Mountain.  Their engagement lasted 1 year.  They chose Providence Country Club for their wedding and reception because they wanted to get married out side and it had a beautiful outdoor area that provided the perfect back drop to their wedding day. Jennifer chose purple for the theme of their wedding because it was her favorite color and she chose a butterfly design for her cake, Jennifer said she loves butterflies.  Marc and Jennifer went to Hilton Head Island for their honeymoon.

I want to give a big thank you to the following wedding vendors that made Marc & Jennifer’s wedding day run smoothly, look beautiful and an all around amazing day!  It was a great team effort.  Dorianne Bellamy of Providence Country Club, Rev. Rebecca A. Nagy of Weddings from the Heart, Dayna of Carolina Cake Artistry, Chris Ernest, DJ at AAA Entertainment and The Flower Boutique

Here are some of my favorite images from Marc and Jennifer’s Wedding Day:

Stephen & Nicole were married last year at the Victorian Villa on Lake Wylie.  They decided it would be fun to Rock the Dress and Tux at one of their favorite places – Reedy Creek Park in Charlotte NC.  Here are some fun images from that session.  Don’t let your dress sit in a box for years without doing this type of session first!

Josh and Erica wanted their engagement session to take place at the Gamecocks stadium so off to Columbia we headed for a really unique engagement session.  Josh and Erica are a fun, energetic couple that wanted their engagement session to reflect their personalities and playfulness as well as the romantic aspect of their relationship.  They will be getting married on June 2nd, 2012 in Lancaster, SC

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Wondering what you should do with that wedding dress of yours after your wedding day?  Once upon a time, a bride would box and seal her wedding dress for her daughter(s) to wear some day.  That tradition has faded.  The modern bride needs other ideas about what to do with her wedding dress.  You could re-sell it or you could have an incredible day and rock out your dress resulting in some amazing images!  You can take this session as far as you want to go, you do not have to submerse your wedding dress in the ocean or you can go all the way with this session, the choice is yours. Don’t like the ocean idea, there are lots of water falls in North and South Carolina, there are beautiful fields filled with flowers, paths lined with large live oak trees, forests and streams, even parks with water fountains.  This session is known as a Trash the Dress session but I prefer the term Rock the Dress since that is really what you are doing!  The dress in these images survived the ocean and was able to be cleaned. It just depends on your material.  Please feel free to leave comments or feedback.  We love comments on the blog!