Back to the Basics!

In 2013, we are kicking our blog into high gear! Posting weekly, we will feature:

- Real Weddings

- Charlotte Wedding Vendors 

- Inspiration/Style Boards to help guide your wedding/party design

- Wedding/Party advice

- Fabulous Local Store Finds (for our DIY and Crafty readers)

- and MUCH MORE!

Cheers to a FABULOUS and STYLISH 2013!

XOXO,
Carla - Style Perfect Events

Fabulous Local Store Finds: Chalkboard Birds on a String

World Market always has the greatest finds, and these chalkboard birds are no exception! They are only $9.99 and would be a fun and cute addition to any wedding reception. Write a message to add a personal touch!

Fabulous Local Store Finds: Sea Shell Accent Piece

HomeGoods has these great sea shell accent pieces available for only $19.99.  They are perfect for the Carolina coastal bride and could serve as a fun and different centerpiece or simply as decoration.  

Charlotte Restaurant Week!

It's that time of the year again, Charlotte Restaurant Week! Charlotte is becoming quite the epicenter for great restaurants and top chefs. My husband and I love trying new restaurants and restaurant week is the best way to check-out Charlotte's finest upscale restaurants at a fraction of the price. Kicking-off on Friday, July 20th and going through Sunday, July 29th, you can dine at over 100 restaurants and enjoy a 3 course price fix meal for $30 per person. Yum! Check-out the details for Charlotte Restaurant Week here.

Here is my list of restaurants for the week!
Luce Ristorante e Bar
Delta's
LaVecchia’s Steaks & Seafood

Where do you planning on dining for restaurant week?

Etiquette: How to be a Good Guest

Everyone has had the opportunity to be the guest at a party, but sometimes we need a little refresher about what behavior is considered good guest etiquette. I came across a couple of articles that are great reminders of how to be a polite and respectful guest at any event, whether it be a cocktail party or an overnight stay. Real Simple Magazine lays out 10 easy ways to be a good guest. Some suggestions include: make sure you RSVP as soon as you receive the invitation, if you accept an invitation be sure to attend, and offer to help the host or hostess with anything he or she may need. Rachael Ray also has some great tips for guests on her website. Show up on time, bring a gift if you are attending a formal dinner party, and most importantly show your gratitude. You just might want to be invited back!

Source: Real Simple, Rachael Ray

Fabulous Local Store Find: Ceramic Table Number

I stumbled upon these great ceramic table numbers at Michaels the other day. They would be a bold addition to any tablescape and are available in numbers 1-9 in black and white for $8.99 a piece. You could even paint them to match your event color scheme!

Wedding Style - Bridal Hair

Deciding on your hairstyle for your wedding day, in some cases, might be just as difficult as finding the perfect dress. You want something that flatters your face, is comfortable, and something that will withstand hours of moving and dancing without falling flat. First, you should consider your hair type: is it straight or curly? If it is curly, will you straighten it for the big day? If straight, will it be able to hold a curl for the duration of the ceremony and reception? Second, how long is your hair? If it is short, how will you style it? Finally, think about the type of wedding you are having. A loose and flowing style is more appropriate for a beach wedding, while updos are a better choice for a more formal event. Either way, be sure to test it out with your veil before the big day. Check out these Oscar dos for a little inspiration! How amazing do these celebs look?

Source: In Style

Etiquette: What to Wear to a Wedding

Everyone knows the one cardinal rule of wedding guest attire: don’t wear white! However, there are many other questions that come to mind when deciding on an outfit for that special day. What is appropriate? How formal is the event? I stumbled upon a great guide on TheKnot.com that gives some excellent suggestions on how to avoid a fashion faux pas. Simply by looking at the invitation you can get some clues about what kind of attire is expected. If the invitation says white tie, stick to a full-length evening gown. A cocktail dress or long gown is appropriate for black tie. Black tie optional is a little trickier, but generally a long dress, cocktail dress, or even a dressy suit is appropriate. Finally, for a casual wedding, a sundress or a skirt or pants with a cute top are good options. No matter what, avoid jeans and anything too revealing. You can always consult other guests to get a better idea of what others will be wearing. If you’re still unsure, it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Source: TheKnot.com, Jaime Lee Blog, Nordstrom

Fabulous Local Store Find: Essie Nail Polish

I'm loving the shades of teal and blue nail polishes for this summer! Target has these fun Essie colors, "turquoise & caicos," "beach bum blu," and "bikini so teeny" on sale for $6.50 each. Harper's Bazaar listed, "bikini so teeny" as one of summer's most in-demand nail colors! What's your favorite nail polish color this summer?

Source: HarpersBazaar.com

Wedding Style: The Wedding Dress

A wedding is one of the most important days in a person’s life. It is one that will be memorialized in hundreds of pictures and remembered by guests for years. For these reasons, everyone wants to look their best on this special occasion, whether you are the bride, groom, maid of honor, or even a guest. Look at this amazing gown by Monique Lhuillier!

Here are a few pieces of advice when looking for “the dress.” First, be sure to keep your venue in mind. Are you getting married on the beach, in a barn, or in a church? Second, discuss your budget before you go shopping. We don’t want you falling in love with something you can’t have! Finally, be true to your personal style. What’s most important is that you are happy on your wedding day. Source: Style Me Pretty

Etiquette: How to Properly Set Your Table

The most important aspect of any party is the table setting. Whether it is a dinner with close family or a more formal event, start out by placing the plate in the center of the placemat. To the left of the plate is the dinner fork, followed by the salad fork. To the right of the plate, place the knife with sharp edge towards the plate. The soup spoon is placed next to the knife. You can make changes to this guide based on what is being served. Salad and bread plates go to the left of the forks while glassware should be placed above the knife and spoon. Should you be serving soup, place the bowl on top of the plate.

It’s all about the details! Make sure to add unique touches, like a fun napkin or a beautiful dinner plate, to personalize the evening. Bon appétit!

Source: Mark Cutler Design, Green Wedding Shoes, Style Me Pretty

Fabulous Local Store Find: Message Cookies

While wandering through Williams-Sonoma, I came across this fabulous cookie making kit. They are available for $19.95 and are a fun and original way to say "Thank You" or even make an important announcement - an engagement, for example! This kit includes a variety of cutter shapes, words, and letters, so you can customize your cookie just for you. How fun!

Bridal Jewelry

If you do not already follow Style Perfect Weddings and Events on Facebook, like our page now!

Daily on Facebook we post inspiration pictures, DIY projects, great Etsy finds and more. Today's "Etsy Find" is from the Etsy shop Happily Ever After. They sale vintage style bridal jewelry and accessories. I love the styles and everything is nicely priced! Here are a few of my favorites.

Summer Interns Needed!

Style Perfect Weddings and Events is looking for college students or recent college graduates to participate in on our Apprenticeship Program for the summer. If you are passionate about weddings, special events, advertising/marketing and looking to gain some great experience in the wedding industry please email us at jobs@styleperfectevents.com to receive additional information about our Apprenticeship Program starting June 2012.

Please no phone calls. Email jobs@styleperfectevents.com for details.

Charlotte Wedding: Tonya + Daunte 3.24.2012

We kicked off our 2012 wedding season with a sweet couple Tonya and Daunte, who were married at Grace Covenant Church on March 24th. The reception was held at the Mint Museum Uptown. Click here for a sneak peek of the wedding from their photographer Sunny of Themba Imagery. More images to come soon!

Enjoy!

Guide to Addressing Invitations

Are you getting ready to send out your save the dates or wedding invitations? If "yes", check-out this great chart from Emily Post, "Guide to Addressing Correspondence". It's a great tool!

$70 Bridesmaid Dress!

Many retailers have started carrying dress lines for the bride and her bridesmaids. Target is no exception. Check-out the new Target bridesmaid dress collection! The dresses are priced at $69.99 and are available online only in sizes 2-28W.

Happy Planning!

How to Make a DIY Scratch-Off?

I've seen many fun scratch-off invites and save the dates on the web lately and while reading my Better Homes and Gardens magazine last night I stumbled upon the recipe for making your own scratch-off. How exciting! I can't wait to try it.


Source: Better Homes and Garden


Source: Calligraphy Etc.


Source: Shelterrific.com

Click here for the instructions on how to make a scratch-off.

Foodie Inspiration!

Source: A Season to Celebrate

When planning your event you should not only evoke site, you should entice all the 5 senses especially TASTE! Check-out this great blog by Marletha Booker, A Season to Celebrate | The Ultimate Food Guide For Celebratory Events. I LOVE it! The site is a great resource for foodie inspiration and will guide you in planning your event menu and more.

Today's post talks about the ever so popular dessert table favorite, macaroons, and what they cost.

Happy Planning!

We Love our Clients!

In March, Style Perfect Events, we'll celebrate 3 years as a wedding and event planning company in Charlotte. Our business is built on supportive and encouraging vendors and trusting clients who allow us to come in and bring their wedding or event vision to life. We are so thankful for our clients and vendors and wanted to celebrate them with a Client Appreciation "Date Night"!

This was our first client appreciation event, so we wanted to go all out for our 2011brides and grooms and corporate clients. We hosted a fun sushi making class and wine pairing at Silk Lounge at Enso Asian Bistro and Sushi Bar and brought in Katie Crawley from Global Wines to pair wine and Saki with our sushi. We also brought in yummy cupcakes from the Cornelius bakery SweetCakes Bakery for dessert.

Check-out a few pictures from the event taken by Lucy Parker of Smitten and Hooked, one of our favorite vendors, on her blog!

I can't wait to start planning for our next event celebrating our 2012 clients!

Wedding Day Hairstyle Ideas for Short Hair

Today's post is from our intern, Keneya. Enjoy!

Choosing the perfect hairstyle is a tough decision for any bride. Some brides prefer the elegant bun while other brides want full, fun curls. All these styles are beautiful but brides with shorter hair have fewer options when it comes to doing these styles. Having short hair shouldn't limit you on your wedding day. Good news! Glamour released an article for our shorter-haired brides. Click here to find ten different hairstyles will have you looking beautiful and elegant on your wedding day!







Source: Glamour