We are on blogiday until January 3rd, so for now enjoy some oldies but goodies on the blog! 

If you are a bride, you have probably heard of Wedding Wednesday … whether it be on Twitter or Facebook wedding vendors and aficionados post tips, photos and tidbits concerning all things wedding. Well, I actually have a “secret” Facebook group for our HCB vendors where I share news and ask for ideas. It is kind of like a meeting place for the advertisers.

A while back, Christopher from Christopher Breedlove Photography began a trend of posting a photo on Wedding Wednesday (now reduced to W/W on our page), and soon after many of the other vendors started to follow suit. I wanted to give you a glimpse into what the vendors are posting and also what they are saying … it is fun to have a little behind the scenes look, and I hope you enjoy this first of many W/W postings brought to you by our amazing HCB vendor family.

Below is the photo that started it all, and here is what Christopher had so say … I thought I would start a new trend on the group wall. Whether photographer, florist, or designer, we need to showcase our work. With that in mind, here is a teaser of an amazing intimate wedding post to come … Chris and Rachel’s first dance.

Next to post was Linda of Love Is in the Air, who does amazing work with catering, cakes, decor, flowers and so much more. Here is what Linda had to say … Ok, Christopher! This is one of our favorite photos – our Shrimp Louisiana in glow martini glasses. Photo by Stone Blue Productions.

Kimberly from KD Burke Photography posted the photo below, which is so classic and beautiful. Vendors offered comments of … beautiful, Kim; some of your best!  and elegant, nostalgic and lovely. I love the way our vendors support each other even behind the scenes!

What a sweet exit that was caught by Liz of Sincerely, Liz: Photography. She said … I love this shot from a super fun wedding back in May, and I agree!

This next photo from Kim Jennings of Capture It Photography and Events
is so sweet! Kim said … this kid is taking his ring holding job pretty seriously. He is!! I’m sure he did a fantastic job.

Of course our photographers were quick to get in on the fun as was Jeremiah Colling of Colling Photography, who said … this is my first time posting for Wedding Wednesday as well. I love the anticipation as the B&G are about to see each other for the first time!

It’s not all weddings behind the scenes as you will see by this photo taken by Jeremiah Guelzo of Stone Blue Productions who said … our couple was having fun on an engagement session we shot a few weeks back. She looks like she IS having a great time!

This was from the Connor Wedding shot on June 11th at Boonsboro Country Club … said David of David Duncan Photography. Other vendors said … can’t wait to see more and very cool! I agree, and the colors are great.

Below is Crystal of Crystal George Studios‘ first W/W posting to which she said … well, I guess it’s time to join in on the Wedding Wednesday fun with the rest of you crazy people. I love this. It just happened randomly while we were on the beach. I think it’s past and future looking at each other.

The next photo is a moment captured from a “first look” by Allegra of Allegra’s Studio. One vendor said … I love the framing. Allegra definitely does have an eye for that!

Of course it is always a treat to see a beautiful cake made by Jennifer of La Bella Torta, who said … This is this past weekends’ cake with hand painted gold scrollwork and adorned with handmade gumpaste flowers. For those of you who are curious about the flavor (as one vendor did ask!), it was strawberry lemonade. Delish!

Adam of Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography shot this beautiful image to which one of the vendors commented … Check out that captured emotion! BRAVO! What a sweet moment.

The next image hails from Thomasina from Photography by Thomasina. She stated that she … wanted to get in on the W/W fun. And what fun it is when there are stunning images such as the ones below.

You never know what you will find on the page on a Wednesday as is evidenced by this photo by Heather of Visions by Heather. Vendors commented … lovely, lovely! and the clouds behind her are so cool. 

Our vendors are so talented as is shown by this photo of the work done by RS Exclusive. Rachel of RS said …Enjoy a photo from an outdoor wedding RS decorated for, and directed, this weekend. We were so happy with the way their bridal pagoda turned out! It’s no wonder … it is so gorgeous!

And last, but not least, even our hair experts get in on the fun! Here is a hairstyle by Gwen of Mitchell’s Salon on 7th to which vendors said … nice, soft curls and so pretty Gwen! You’re the bomb with a pair of scissors and a few hairs – I’ve seen you at work! Again, I adore how much our HCB family really supports each other.

I hope that you have enjoyed this little glimpse into our secret Facebook group … it is a lot of fun to see what the vendors come up with to show us each week, and I am looking forward to sharing more with you soon.

Forgive me if I’m a little excited, but I have come to LOVE John Wind‘s pieces. It’s a lot of fun when I receive an email asking if I want to go a giveaway because I get to road test the piece myself before I give it away … see?? FUN! It has also added several fun pieces (2 necklaces, 2 pairs of earrings and now a bangle bracelet) to my collection. Plus, I adore anything vintage inspired, and his pieces are modern yet have that vintage flair.

Ok, enough rambling! Let me show you some of the amazing pieces in this collection, which would be perfect for gifts for this time of year … but especially perfect for bridesmaids. What a beautiful way for them to have something personal to remember your wedding day.

First, let me introduce you to the letters and what words they are paired with … mine (J) has the word “joy” written on the side. You can give them to a girl who starts with that initial (say, give the “C/confident” to your friend Carrie), OR if your friend Carrie is vibrant and fun to be around, you may want to give her the “V/vibrant”. How fun to be able to pick out an attribute or an initial. Pick whatever inspires YOU!

Now on to some of the pieces … necklaces, bracelets and bangles, oh my!

And now on to what someone will win! The gold inspired initial bracelet in your choice of letter. I am SO glad that gold is making a comeback … yay!

Ok, so here is the skinny on how to winny (corny, I know!):

1. Comment on this blog posting telling me what letter you would want and why (this doesn’t commit you to that letter if you win!).

2. Share this posting on Facebook and tag Hill City Bride so that we know that you shared!

3. Tweet this posting and also include @hillcitybride so that we know you tweeted!

4. You can also Instagram the photo if you would like and tag @hillcitybride in your Instagram photo. How fun!

Ok, that’s four ways to win for each of you. This giveaway will end next Friday 12/14/12 at noon, so be sure to enter while you can. It would be a GREAT gift for Christmas (or for yourself!).

Be sure to check out the full Inspired Initial collection by clicking here, too!

Well, there you have it! 5 days of our finalists, and I am so excited for each and every one of them. Now it’s up to you (partly!) to VOTE, and there are two ways to do so.

1. Head on over to Hill City Bride on facebook. “Like” the page (click here), and also “like” the photo of the couple that you wish to win (click here for the gallery). You are able to vote for more than one couple this way, and this voting is seen by the public.

2. Click here to vote privately. You can only vote one time per computer/device, and  you can also only vote for one couple in this manner. The results are private here, which keeps things more exciting!

These both will be totaled to count as the public vote for each couple, which will account for half of the vote. The other half will be determined by the vendors that will mingle with the couple at a meet and greet, where we will be announcing the winning couple. It’s all so exciting!

Please feel free to email info@hillcitybride.com if you have any questions about this process.

I am so thrilled about our 2013 I Dream of a Wedding! This year we had so many amazing entries, and I can not wait for you to meet them. For now, these are just introductions, and this is the last of our five finalist couples. Soon you will have the opportunity to vote to help determine our winning couple … so exciting!

Today, you are meeting Hannah and Miles … enjoy!

Hello! I’m Hannah and my soon to be husband is Miles. I was adopted from China as a baby and have been an American since, My incredible mom was my homeschool teacher and the one who helped shape me into who I am. When I was 6 my mom was diagnosed with cancer, and it shook up my world. After a four year struggle with chemo and other things of the sort, she went to be with the Lord when I was 11 years old. While this was tough, my newly single parent dad took the best care of me. After a few years he did remarry, and shortly after he got a job in Virginia. I really did not care to move after just getting settled as a teenager in my school. Like I said it was really sudden, sudden as in he got the job in May and we moved in the beginning of July. But little did I know that it was going to be the best thing ever to happen to me. My curriculum was different from the one in Virginia, so when I came to Lynchburg, I was required to go to Chemistry one year early. And that’s where I met my future husband.

We were seated together alphabetically, but throughout the year while everyone else’s seat assignments moved, ours never did! Throughout the school year we became the absolute best of friends who spilled out the very contents of our life’s stories to each other, plus chemistry partners. But, the funny thing was, we both liked each other the whole time, yet we never told one another. Then came prom time! Miles smoothly asked me if anyone else had already asked me to our Jr/Sr Prom, and the rest is practically history. We also came to realize that we have been called into a life of ministry, which drives our motives for a degree in Biblical Studies.

This past April, we celebrated our 4^th year together as a couple! And to which Miles promptly proposed when we went on a day trip to Charlottesville, Virginia. And he also organized a completely secret surprise engagement party when we got back into town! He truly is my best friend, and he always will be.

With Miles starting his last year of college and I in my second to last, finances are tight. I personally absolutely love to create artful and fun things, which is perfect when we have a small budget for a wedding. But of course, there are many things that I can not personally make. I would love to surprise my husband with a completely paid for wedding so he does not have to have the loads of stress to worry about. Im so glad I got to share my and Miles’ story with you all. Thanks so much for listening!

We wish you the best, Hannah and Miles, and thank you for entering!

I am so thrilled about our 2013 I Dream of a Wedding! This year we had so many amazing entries, and I can not wait for you to meet them. For now, these are just introductions, and for the next 5 weekdays, I will be letting you get to know our 5 couples. Once they are all introduced, you will have the opportunity to vote to help determine our winning couple … so exciting!

Today, you are meeting Anita and Jeff (as submitted by Anita) … enjoy!

Jeff and I met at Ciano’s Pizza on Balad Airbase, Iraq November 21, 2010. He was a CID agent with the National Guard, and I was a civilian working for an emergency response cleanup company. I didn’t want to go out that night, but I was responsible for two employees waiting at the air terminal to leave – one being our HR director. I decided to drop a couple of pizzas off to them while they waited. When I placed my order at Ciano’s, I was invited by a work acquaintance to sit with her friends at her table. I sat across from Jeff, and though we only exchanged a few words I was quite taken by him – rare for me since I had blinders on after two years in Iraq, but I dismissed the idea guessing he probably had a girl back home. My pizzas came out, and Vanessa invited me out later to play a game called Rock Band.

After I took care of my co-workers, I returned to my quarters and considered going to bed, but begrudgingly decided to make an effort to go. However, I didn’t know exactly where to go and became lost. After asking around, I discovered it was in a gated compound that took a code to get into. I’m not sure why I didn’t give up then. I waited around for someone I could follow inside and ask directions from. When I finally arrived it was dark, and everyone was playing the game. I enjoyed the evening, though few words could be exchanged.

Afterwards, Vanessa offered Jeff and me a ride, though the distance was short. The next day, I had a message from Jeff. He had read my last name from my badge and looked me up that night. He invited me out with everyone again, but I sadly informed him I was transferring bases permanently the next day, which in Iraq may as well have been a thousand miles away. We started emailing, and then started to talk over Skype, and within two weeks our entire evenings were spent on video chat. He started writing me letters, (real letters!), which I eagerly awaited every day.

On December 28^th, I became violently ill, and found out I had appendicitis and had to have my appendix removed in the army hospital. We had no contact for three days. The army hospital gave me a laptop to connect with family. Jeff had been worried sick and canceled his plans that evening so he could chat with me until the New Year came. Jeff left Iraq in April 2011, and I quit the month after so we could be together. I moved to Virginia that summer. Jeff proposed to me on December 2 at our favorite winery. We are planning our wedding, though we admit we made that commitment in our hearts to each other within the first six weeks over long distance in Iraq. I’m lucky to have Jeff in my life.

Photo caption: The picture is the very first picture taken of Jeff and I together taken at an outdoor restaurant in Victory Base, Iraq. (He was able to find a reason to get orders for three days to my base so we could spend Valentines day 2011 together, which our first real date.)

I hope you enjoyed meeting our fourth couple, and thank you Anita and Jeff for entering. I wish you the best!