Well, now that clutch has gone to print, I am taking a bit of a media break since I have basically lived with my computer by my side. So, I am enjoying a week of no phone/no internet, but I still want you to have pretty things to look at! So, enjoy my Spring Blogiday postings, which are repostings of oldies but goodies. Oh, and don’t forget to register for Bliss, a fine wedding fair on April 1st by clicking HERE.

As a bride at Spa 4109 you will need to check your stress at the door. Of course some believe it is impossible for anyone to remain stressed about anything at all by the time you make it down the stairs and walk into the spa. It’s hard to believe that you are in Lynchburg anymore. This underground retreat shuts out the noisy traffic, crazy weather and the stressful impostors of your life, whatever they may be, and soon you will be wrapped in a plush robe snoozing in the Zen waiting room.

Spa 4109 is a full service spa offering everything including manicures and pedicures, all types of massages, body treatments, hair and makeup. They provide unparalleled service from head to toe (and everywhere in between) to ensure they meet every high expectation.

Since its beginning in 2007, then called The Spa at Sakinas, Spa 4109 has been Lynchburg’s local retreat. Joellen Perkins and Jeanine Maxwell, owners since August of 2009, together with their staff make sure you are nothing short of enchanted throughout your visit, especially on your wedding day.

A few special services that brides may want to consider would be a St. Tropez spray tan for a golden glow or maybe a full set of Extreme Lash eyelash extensions for a natural dramatic touch to your wedding eyes. Dermosonic cellulite treatments allow brides to ready their bodies for the wedding day months before and Botox, Juvederm and specialized facials can ensure the brides skin is at its best for those wedding pictures that last forever.

In addition to the spa, Spa 4109 boasts a full salon and makeup counter. For the perfect wedding look, makeup artist Patty Mattingley uses La Bella Donna, a mineral-based, allergen-free professional makeup line for a perfect wedding finish and each of the hairstylists are trained and experienced in creating wedding hair creations. All the while you and your wedding party will be sipping on complimentary wine or champagne.

Bridal consultations can be set up before the wedding date free of charge for both hair and makeup.

While the day is all about the bride, inviting the wedding party for a pre-wedding party can be a great way to say thank you to those who will stand with you. Spa 4019 can accommodate bridal showers and bachelorette parties on site. Selections from their “Tapas” menu of mini services are a great option for allowing everyone in the party to get a service in a shorter amount of time.

Spa4109 is one of Lynchburg’s finest treasures tucked away from everyday reality and a perfect addition to any wedding day. For appointments call 434-384-9338 and check out their website at spa4109.com

Downtown Lynchburg is such a fun place. With the bustling Community Market and storefronts along with fine restaurants nestled in old buildings, the Hill City provides the perfect backdrop for a beautiful wedding. Tresca on 8th is one such venue. I have to admit that the outside of the building is beautiful, yet when you walk into the front doors, you are totally transported to a beautiful, vast and versatile event space. From their spacious ballroom downstairs to their intimate lounge and dressing rooms upstairs, Tresca is a wonderful venue to consider when planning your wedding.

I am really pleased to give you a true glimpse of this venue … if a picture says 1000 words, then this video by Shaking Hands Productions says 10,000. So, sit back and enjoy your tour of Tresca … from an empty room to a wedding full of guests, you will have a true view of what this venue really has to offer.

Tresca on 8th from Shaking Hands Productions on Vimeo.

Thank you again, Tresca and Shaking Hands Productions … what a beautiful video of such a fine venue.

Well, it’s almost Christmastime … the season where we all do last minute shopping, go on Christmas light hunting rides and enjoy time with family and friends. I hope you enjoy these Christmas “blogiday” postings as I review some oldies but goodies from the vault.

One of the things I really enjoy about Lynchburg is the downtown area, and the revitalization of the City of Lynchburg has been such a success! With new businesses (and old, thriving businesses) housed in historic buildings, it makes for an eclectic mix of people and opportunities. Our downtown abounds with hotels, restaurants and unique shops along with the Community Market and the Academy of Fine Arts. Honestly, I can not think of another downtown that has a “small town feel” yet has so many “big city” offerings … I love it!!

Nestled in among historic buildings on Commerce Street is one such treasure in the form of Tresca on 8th. For a bride who is planning her wedding and/or reception, this could be the perfect spot! The building itself was built in 1892, and its rich history has allowed it to serve as a hardware store, a wholesale grocery and a shoe store. Tresca still has her original hardwood floors, windows, columns and staircase, and the result is breathtaking!

Tresca on 8th‘s 5,500 square foot ballroom is on the main level, and this large room boasts beautiful columns, which gives the space e an intimate feel.  A second level expansion for 2011 is planned, which will allow for a separate lounge and dressing rooms, providing this event venue with an additional 2,500 square feet of usable space. Currently, their capacity is 300 guests (250 if seated), but after the upstairs is complete, it will hold 400 guests (325 if seated). Plentiful parking is available adjacent to the building.

If the photos of Tresca on 8th are not enough to convince you of the beauty and flexibility of this venue, just take a quick view of some of the benefits of using this space:

• Flexible venue space that allows for several different arrangements based on the needs of the bride.
• One location that can be used for both the ceremony and reception.
• Unique space that can be decorated on any budget.

• Vendor flexibility, which allows the bride to choose her own vendors.
• Beautiful staircase to allow the bride and bridal party to make a grand entrance into the reception.
• On site coordinators available for the event.

With all that Tresca has to offer, it is no wonder that this is fast becoming one of “the” places to tie the knot and celebrate afterwards. I encourage you to take a trip to Commerce Street and discover this beautiful venue for yourself.

To find out more about Tresca on 8th, feel free to visit their website or call (434)229-8519. Tresca can be found at 724 Commerce Street, Lynchburg VA. Photo credits – first photo: Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography, all other photos by DuckDuck Collective.

For the first 12 days of December, I am reposting my personal favorite photography postings. There are just so many that deserve attention once again … and these postings are not only getting attention, but they are getting a prize. That’s right! On December 13th, voting will begin to determine the best posting of 2011.

The photographer who submitted the winning posting will receive a $50 gift certificate to Gerald’s in Wyndhurst (what a great way to take a break and have a nice meal out during the holidays!). The couple featured in the winning posting will receive a $50 gift certificate to Charley’s in Lynchburg and also a $25 gift card to Starbucks … what a great date night!

So, whether you vote for the couple that speaks most to you and has that special spark, you root for the couple that has the most creativity or you even choose your favorite based on whose photography most aligns with your personal style, take a moment each day to look at the postings so that you can help us determine Hill City Bride’s winning couple and photographer.

It goes without saying that this wedding is close to my heart because of the bride and groom, plus I love the fact that so many HCB vendors were involved in their special day! Without further due, here is today’s favorite:

I love looking through wedding photos … especially when they are filled with details, and this wedding is no exception. Well, maybe it is a teeny bit of an exception. You see, this is a special wedding – the wedding of one of HCB’s very own vendors, Brad Bennett of Shaking Hands Productions. I could not think of any better posting to kick off Hill City Bride’s 2011 year!

Combine that with the fact that it was photographed by Adam Barnes of Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography, took place at Riverview Manor and the flowers were done by Elisha Dudley of Petal Flower Company; and you have a big event for the whole Hill City Bride family!! As a sidebar, I was given free reign to look through the photos and choose them myself, hence the lengthy posting.

A few neat details are included in the photographs, such as the use of pears … 280 of them were picked from Riverview Manor‘s property, and they functioned as place cards for the wedding. The location table cards (as you will see “Hershey, PA” below) represented all of the different places they had been as a couple, and the cross roads sign showed some of the distances that people had traveled for the wedding. One guest hailed from Germany!

Have fun perusing Brad and Lyndsey’s wedding photos, which took place in September of 2010.

I wish heartfelt congratulations to Brad and Lyndsey … a beautiful couple both inside and out. I hope that they have a wonderful lifetime together, and I am so glad that they are a part of the Hill City Bride family! Also, be sure to visit the lovely website of Adam Barnes Fine Art Photography … it is definitely a feast for the eyes.

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 Leecy Fink of Celebration. 

What is the one thing you miss about being a kid? Bike riding without being sore afterwards.

Do you have any phobias? Fear of having 10 word or less answers.

If you had to change your name, what would you change it to? I would have Leecy be my biological name.

Cats or dogs? Neither – not an animal person.  Pet Rock would be fine.

Name one thing on your “bucket list”. Take a honeymoon with my hubby.

If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do? Firebreather or a Sword-Swallower or both.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? I don’t really like ice cream.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Approximately – 20 pair of Clarks. All Frumpy.

Facebook or Twitter? Yes, you must choose. Facebook. Don’t like Twitter.

What would be the title of your autobiography? Motherhood, Life’s Biggest Guilt Trip.

Leecy (pictured on the left) is with her friends from both Celebration and Tresca on 8th (which Leecy also co-owns). From left to right: Leecy, Tara, Jessica and Rebekah (whom we all miss very much!).

Photo by Sam Stroud Photography.