2012 Spring Issue - Now Available

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Our newest issue is now available only on our blog! Remember The Bride's Book magazine is available on your smartphone, tablet or computer! You can reda it now or download it to read later either online or off. If you like something and want to share it look for the download/share button so you can share a page or the entire magazine with a friend or a wedding professional. This issue is full of links and video so be sure to look on the page for more info than just a picture! In this issue we have articles on Helping your man to get involved in the wedding planning without being a nag! This issue is full of wedding IDEAS. Check out our Inspiration pages by Rachel Hamm of Bliss by Sam photographed by f8 photography. We also have gorgeous destination weddings in tropical paradises such as Cancun, Hawaii and Puerto Rico as well as Blowing Rock and Emerald Isle. This issue begins an expansive series feature on Getting Married in beautiful Asheville NC. In the next issue due out in July we will focus on Wilmington, Blowing Rock, Chapel Hill & Durham NC. If you are considering one of these destinations you will definitely want to check out our July issue! We hope you enjoy this issue and look forward to hearing from you!

Thank you!

My Wedding Day!

I wanted to share my big day with the readers of The Bride’s Book. I don’t think I can put into words the way I felt that day. I was excited, anxious, emotional, and tired. It took a year and four months to plan our wedding and it felt like it flew by in 20 minutes. The night was a blur. I look back now at our photographs and think “Was that really us?” It is all surreal. I have a feeling once we get our video back that is when reality will hit that it was us and that it was real.



We were so fortunate to have a warm sunny day. Our ceremony was outside on the Mississippi River in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Our reception was inside at Mississippi Dunes Golf Course. Twenty minutes before the ceremony began my youngest sister drew blood by ripping open her leg on a broken couch! I was getting ready to pack up our stuff to head to the hospital for stitches when my extremely brave and tough sister Macy requested super glue to close the wound! If anyone knows Macy, this is typical. Oh the stories, this one being one we laugh about now. Especially since the bridesmaid dresses were above the knee and in some pictures the wound is quite showy!



I didn’t trip coming up the aisle in grass! However, I was waiting on a golfer yelling “FOUR” and someone getting hit by a ball. Our ceremony site was right next to a par 3 green! I want to apologize to our guests for the ceremony starting about 10 minutes late. The unwarranted construction caused some guests to arrive late. Including my Uncle, who met me just feet before the aisle and he wanted to stop and talk. Excuse me Uncle, Go and SIT DOWN. Again, love and laughs.

I’m a detailed person, so details at the reception were my favorite. I’m so in love with any Damask print. That was shown in my wedding and now has carried over to my house! We showed our excitement for cupcakes in our cupcake tower! The Candy Bar was a huge hit with the guests and made for a fun favor. In my opinion, my florist, Saba Flowers, could not have captured my idea of a centerpiece more accurately. And Brides, I believe any florist can do such a better, stress-free job when you pick flowers that are IN season. I did just that and the flowers were luscious and gorgeous and lasted for days! If anyone read my last blog post, I talked about the 350 lemons. They did a great job at the wedding! And afterwards, quenched much of my family’s thirst freshly squeezed!







Keith and I chose “When you got a Good Thing” off of Lady Antebellum’s second CD. This may have been my favorite moment of the evening. It was really the first chance Keith and I got to spend a second or two alone and take in the meaning of that day. I wish I could have frozen time in that moment. Eventually I got teased for having a weak throw in my bouquet toss. One special dance we had was the Anniversary Dance. I had seen this at weddings before, but every married couple is on the dance floor and the DJ plays a slow song and dismisses couples by years of marriage. Finally the last couple standing was my grandparents married for 50 years!



At the end of the evening I was so happy, but exhausted. It took me 30 minutes to take the bobby pins out of my head! Now in the weeks after the wedding, my favorite thing to do is look back at the photos my photographer, Kate Botwinski was able to show me. I can’t get enough of them! Brides, cherish your photos. These are pieces of art that you will have forever! I am completely in love with mine.

Thank you Bride’s Book for letting me share my big day with you! We love to hear about our reader’s weddings and see their pictures! Please share with us on our facebook page!

-Mia Mauer - Acct Executive with The Bride's Book

Vintage Vixens - A Day of Dress Up for You, Something Special for Him.

Stacy Borelli, Owner and Photographer of Swank Photo Studio went out on a limb last year when she was asked by one of her brides to do some 'sexy' pictures for her fiance. What happened during that session has forever transformed and shaped her new love for photography, her own brand and line of stylish boudoir photography; Vintage Vixens - A Day of Dress Up for You. Something Special for Him. 

With the overtly talented Margo of Belloviso on staff for the sessions, the two pair to bring their clients a one of a kind experience. "It truly is a day of pampering for the girls. They come have some wine and girlie chat, all the while getting their hair and makeup done, we play dress up and take fun & playful pictures. There's not one client that hasn't come to me with an undertone of latent anxiety that hasn't left saying, Wow!, that was fun!".

The end result speaks for itself. "The greatest reward in all of this is seeing the women being transformed and I'm not talking about transformation of looks although the makeover is an essential part of what we do. I'm talking about inner transformation. The glam makeovers get our clients to step out of their everyday look and become high fashion glamorous. This instills the inner confidence. By the time they get in front of the camera, they're putty.".  Throw in the gentle direction from Stacy, and the end is pictures her clients are proud of. The boys are pretty happy too!

All of the sessions include your hair & makeup, several looks and outfit changes, as well as a honeybook. And while the sessions are an investment, are you not worth it?  Millions of millions of dollars are spent on our looks, spa treatments, and medical treatments every year. Why aren't we documenting ourselves in the prime of our lives?!

To book your session or private party (perfect for bachelorettes), please contact Stacy/Swank Photo Studio - 919-602-1050 or Stacy@SwankPhotoStudio.com

Thavy & Maarten- A Cambodian-Dutch Wedding

We were inspired by these photographs taken by Hilton Pittman at the Magnolia Manor Plantation!

Real Bride in Wilmington, NC

Katie and Bobby Watkins were married at Airlie Gardens on September 6, 2009.  Melissa at the Wilmington Hilton Riverside coordinated the event and Ray Baca of Baca Photography captured the wedding.  Wendy Wright at A Beautiful Event provided the flowers and Cindy with Imaginary Friends Bakery created the cake.

Real Bride in Myrtle Beach, SC by Bella Rose Photography

Joel Payne and Morgan Davis tied the knot on July 12, 2009 in Myrtle Beach, SC.  This gorgeous outdoor wedding was held at stunning Brookgreen Gardens in Myrtle Beach.  Invitations were by Greenskeeper Florist, flowers by Blossoms Events, and cake by Incredible Edible Cake.  J.Rowe Events and Weddings coordinated the wedding and Lisa Brown from Bella Rose Photography captured it all on film.

Real Bride in Raleigh, NC

Brad and Kristen Johnson were married June 20, 2009 in Raleigh, NC at Duke Gardens.  The flowers were designed by Victoria Park Florist and the cake created by Sugarland in Chapel Hill.  The wedding was photographed by Anna Creissen.  This Wild West inspired wedding featured the men wearing cowboy hats and boots!

Real Bride in Asheville, NC

The stunning vista of the Biltmore Estate over the Appalachian Mountains is the perfect backdrop for a summer wedding.  This couple was married on July 4, 2009--a true all-American wedding!  Cutler and Cristin Andrews were beautifully photographed by Jill Schwarzkoph of Realities by Jill. The Venue was the Biltmore Estate--the largest home in America as well as gardens, a winery, and a world-class luxury inn. The event was coordinated by Nicole Riley at Verge Events in Asheville.  Flowers were provided by Blossoms at Biltmore Park.  What a gorgeous wedding location!