The Hill City Bride advertisers are SUCH a fun group, and I want you to know more about them (ok, this was also my sneaky way of finding out more about them myself, too!). They are a great group of people, and I really feel like we have a Hill City Bride family … I love it!

The concept behind “10 in 10″ is to answer all 10 questions within 10 minutes using 10 words or less. Enjoy getting to know a little bit more about Linda Hall and Mary Love of Love Is in the Air – Decor, Cakes, Catering and Flowers. They are a super sweet, ultra talented duo!

Here is their bio in Linda’s own words: We partner with the bride and groom to create a wedding and/or reception specifically for them, turning their vision into reality.  Our catering is freshly prepared food from recipes we have collected over the years – many of which are our very own.  We strive to create magic and can transform any space into a thing of beauty!

And here are Mary’s words about Love Is in the Air: It has always been my desire to create something unique, whether it is inspired by glimpse of nature or by something as simple as a piece of silver. Linda and I started as two friends with many of the same ideas but as a team became creators of mystical moments.

10 in 10 by Linda Hall

What is the one thing you miss about being a kid? The smell of the bakery truck that used to come up our street ringing the bell. That’s more than 10 words!!

Do you have any phobias? Reptiles – don’t want to see or hear about ‘em!

If you had to change your name, what would you change it to? The Bling Queen

Cats or dogs? Dogs! My black cocker, “Pepper”, and my goldendoodle, “Max”.

Name one thing that is on your “bucket list”. Meet David Tutera.

If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do? Ride the horses!

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Homemade peach that my Mama used to make.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? A zillion!!

Facebook or Twitter? Yes, you must choose. Facebook.

What would be the title of your autobiography? Revived at Sixty-Five

10 in 10 by Mary Love

What is the one thing you miss about being a kid? Being able to eat anything and not gain a pound!!

Do you have any phobias? Heights, kinda lose it when I get off the ground.

If you had to change your name, what would you change it to? Anything but MAMA!

Cats or dogs? Dogs, not much on cats.

Name one thing on your “bucket list”. To own an island.

If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do? Be a clown.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Mint Chocolate Chip.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Enough to fill up every closet in my house.

Facebook or Twitter? Yes, you must choose. Facebook for sure.

What would be the title of your autobiography? Not Knowing How to Say NO

Below is a glimpse of Linda (left) and Mary (right) at a barn that they transformed into an incredible wedding venue in the fall. I call them the “dynamic duo” as I have seen these ladies in action!

I also had to include the photo below (one of the photobooth shots by S Carter Studios from Bliss, a fine wedding fair) just to show you how fun these ladies really are! They are “in cognito”, but I will let you guess which ones they are. I will post more fun photobooth pictures taken by S Carter Studios from Bliss soon.

Again, click here to find out more about what the team of Love Is in the Air can do to make your wedding a beautiful, ravingly successful event.

Be sure to register for Bliss, a fine wedding fair going on tomorrow!! See you there.

This video definitely speaks for itself … both in what a Trash the Dress session can be but also to the validity of having a videographer capture your moments. Trash the Dress sessions are for fearless brides, especially as is evidence by Ashley and her session by the James River Foot Bridge. Devin from Devin Olson Media had the fun of capturing this unusual session of Ashley. Photos can speak volumes, yet I truly think that Ashley’s session is so unique due to the fact that she had it caught on video. Even Devin said, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth 5 million”, and I quite agree with him! I hope you enjoy both the stills and the video that Devin put together.

Trash the Dress, Bridge-Jumping Style (James River Foot Bridge) from Devin Olson Media on Vimeo.

Once again, I am pleased to present The Exclusive, written by Rachel McLean of the duo of RS Exclusive. Part One of this posting can be viewed by clicking here, and we hope you enjoy this look into wedding etiquette.

Wedding Etiquette (Part Two)

As event planners, we are constantly asked our opinion on what is and isn’t permissible when it comes to the details leading up to, and surrounding, the wedding day. While there are innumerable questions that can be addressed when it comes to the topic of wedding etiquette, we’ve compiled of few of the ones we get asked most. We hope they provide you with some added insight and direction when making decisions for your big day.

Invitations

Wedding invitations are the first opportunity you have to show your guests your personal taste and style, and proper etiquette continues to dictate they are tangible, never virtual. If money is an issue, there are many budget-friendly printed invitation options available, as well as some great DIY projects for those who enjoy the opportunity to get crafty.

If you’re really on a shoe-string budget, sending out an electronic Save the Date is acceptable, but be sure to send a hard-copy of your invitation to anyone on your list who may not be web-savvy, and remember that anyone who receives a virtual invite must also be sent your official invitation.

If your RSVP date is rapidly approaching, and many of your guests still have yet to reply, don’t panic. Enlist members of your family or bridal party to make “courtesy reminder calls” about a week out from your RSVP date. As it is not unusual to have a few last-minute guests show up, it is wise to plan accordingly with your wedding planner and caterer for adequate seating and food.

Adult Only Wedding

Whether for cost or to create a more formal atmosphere, many couples opt for an adult only affair. The most successful way to communicate this to your guests is to print “Adult Reception” on your invitation, and list only the names of those guests invited.  However, be prepared to field calls from friends and family asking for exceptions. If you make the allowance for one family, be prepared for the possibility of hurt feelings from others where an allowance wasn’t made.

Bridal Escort

Today’s families come in all shapes and sizes, and no one has to feel left out, or alone. Close to both your father and step-father? It’s perfectly appropriate (should you desire) to include both in the wedding ceremony. Based on your situation, a brother, special friend, or close relative can also stand in this position. Your decision comes down to what is most meaningful to you, and what is most honoring to the ones you love.

Receiving line

While many modern brides forego a traditional receiving line in an effort to save a large chunk of time, we do encourage you and your new spouse to make time during the reception to make brief visits to each guest table. Your guests will no doubt appreciate the opportunity to congratulate you in person, and it allows you a moment to thank your guests for making the effort to attend and support you. This can also be a great way to hand-deliver your wedding favors to your guests!

Seating Chart

For small, intimate weddings, seating charts aren’t necessary. However, with a larger guest count, arranged seating can alleviate the awkwardness of table shuffling and help you to avoid any sticky situations (i.e. divorced parents).

Alcohol

For couples who don’t drink, there is nothing wrong with foregoing liqueur. If money is the concern, consider featuring a signature drink and forego the expense of an open bar. In any case, having a cash bar is never okay at a wedding. There are many ways to save money (without sacrificing style or taste) when it comes to your beverages, however, asking your guests to pay isn’t one of them.

Wedding Cake

Not into cake? Serve something else. The sky is really the limit when it comes to your featured dessert. Be creative and have fun finding the right dessert that says “you.” Should you still want to include a traditional cake-cutting element, you can always opt for a personal-sized bride and groom cake to have in addition to your other sweet selections.

Again, many thanks to RS Exclusive, who will also be presenting a session on being the bride and really enjoying your wedding day at Bliss, a fine wedding fair on Saturday … it’s coming up soon, so be sure to register!

Photos are all from Flickr from the following sources from top to bottom: lacey.h, jaydaonline, blush**, C@tch, normadeanphotography, claireken, YouDidntDidYou, Albee’s Garden Parties, and mr & mrs griffiths.

Well, leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with a great idea not only that provides a great conversation starter that also gets people talking about the bride and groom. The instructions, copy and photos come straight from Martha Stewart Weddings. Enjoy this cute, easy, doable DIY!!

Play It
During cocktail hour, each guest sticks a flag into the year she met either the bride or groom.

Make It
Save our clip art on a disk. Have it printed on oversize paper and mounted to foam board at a print shop. Cut flags from origami or scrapbooking paper; punch two holes and thread a corsage pin through. Stick into a fabric-wrapped foam board on a tray. Pins, by Lomey, from michaelsfloralsupply.com.

Cinematographers can capture so many of your fun moments … behind the scenes at your engagement or bridal session or even documenting the most important day of your life … but have you ever considered utilizing a cinematographer to create a video especially for you?

With a little bit of brainstorming and a splash of creativity, you can come up with an interesting mini movie to capture you and your future spouse in a way that highlights what you enjoy doing, which is exactly what Bryan and Christine did when they had Stone Blue Productions put together this fun video for them.

Bryan loves football (as you can see, he played for Liberty University), and Christine loves her football player, so they spent an afternoon creating an entertaining trailer for their guests to watch before their reception. What fun … I am sure that their attendees got a lot of laughs out of this spoof of Christine being able to outdo her husband!

I hope that you enjoy it, too, and I hope that it inspires you to come up with a creative idea of your own.

Bryan and Christine Wedding Intro Video from Stone Blue Productions on Vimeo.

Thanks, Stone Blue, for another creative video, and remember, the guys at Stone Blue can take care of both your cinematography and photography needs.

Jeremiah from Stone Blue is also co-teaching a seminar on how to get the most out of your wedding photography at Bliss, a fine wedding fair. Your wedding day photos will remain long after the memories fade, so this session will help guide you as you think about how you want your day remembered on film. For more information about Bliss, or to register, just click here. See you there on Saturday!