New York International Bridal Week is one of our favorite times of the year here at Gather Together. Our inner princess is delighted to see gown after gorgeous gown in so many patterns, fabrics, and styles. NY Bridal Week is the equivalent of Fashion Week for the wedding world. Hosted in Manhattan, wedding gown designers from around the world gather to show their annual collections. They did not dissappoint in 2013!

Though we were not able to attend, some of our favorite local folks, including Tre Bella Bridal and Southern Bride & Groom, were lucky enough to be there in person! While they were in the midst of things, we scoped out the scene from afar {le sigh...}

Weddings Unveiled always has amazing fashion coverage, so we loved seeing their recap of all the shows! Here are some of our favorite gowns from this year's Bridal Week. All photos from Weddings Unveiled.


Rivini designed what we love as an ideal destination wedding dress. With that sophisticated comfort, this Rivini gown would fit right in on any white beach! We can just imagine bare feet, an orchid in the hair, and a great tan.


Another Rivini gown, you can see the wide range of their designs, from destination to classic ballroom. This dress is simply angelic. The layers upon layers of light organza would make a bride appear to be floating down the aisle, on the dance floor, or right into the getaway Rolls Royce!


Monique Lhuillier, one of the most well-known names in wedding couture, is known for traditional with a twist. This lace gown (we LOVE her lace!) with sleeves and an elegant neckline would be great for a winter bride that would like to be a bit more covered up. This dress is pure feminine sophistication.


This Theia gown is simple and sexy, with beading to die for! Perfect for the tall and slender bride, we just love the beautiful texture and pattern of this lovely sheath.

Did you follow NY Bridal Week? What designers stood out to you? What gowns were your favorites?

'Til we Gather Together again...
- Samantha

If you have ever started to search online about weddings, wedding planning, or wedding ideas, you have certainly stumbled upon Style Me Pretty. The blog is chock full of photo shoots, real weddings, and inspiration for any and every type of wedding. It is the creme de la creme of wedding style and taste.

With that little preface, you can imagine how excited we were when Style Me Pretty called Gather Together to chat! The coveted invitation to the Little Black Book of wedding vendors was the spectacular reason they got in touch. The vendors in the Little Black Book are considered the best of the best in the nation!

After great excitement, the invitation came with a thorough screening process we had to go through to make sure we were on par with the level of vendors in the Little Black Book. Style Me Pretty used references from other LBB vendors and other top vendors in the area. Even a phone interview was part of the process! Chelsey interviewed with the sweet and wonderful Joy Jacques about the company, our services, and our love of weddings, and...



Sure enough, we passed with flying colors! Chelsey, Kat and I were quick to celebrate! We're in the business of celebrations, right? With a big cheers over margaritas on the first true day of spring, we were giddy with the sense of accomplishment to be a part of Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book. This has always been a goal of Gather Together, and we are thrilled to have come this far.

Take a look at our LBB listing {here}. Cheers!



'Til we Gather Together again...
- Samantha

It's hard to beat a North Carolina wedding in November. The air is still warm, but the leaves have turned from bright green to orange, yellow and deep red. Elizabeth and Clay could not have chosen a better day to celebrate their nuptials!

Until the weekend of the wedding, the couple only visited once for a full day of planning. Clay is a Marine and could only make one trip to the Carolinas, but they made the most of their time and made decisions quickly. Even with just a short trip (and so much help from Elizabeth's sweet mother!), the day was absolutely perfect with sophisticated and classic autumn accents.




The outdoor morning ceremony was officiated by a close family friend of Elizabeth's. As Elizabeth walked down the aisle, her dress flowed in the breeze while Clay, in his dress blues, regally awaited his bride to be. It was truly a divine day.

Following their vow exchange, guests enjoyed a mimosa bar with a variety of mixed concoctions and a delicious brunch spread. The vanilla pound cake with vanilla buttercream icing was the perfect end to the brunch. It was adorned with Elizabeth's family's tartan, as was a sweet arrangement at the sweetheart table.





After brunch, DJ Frank Meldau invited all to the dancefloor. If guests hadn't woken up from their coffee, they were certainly up and at 'em with all the dancing! The couple danced their way out of the reception as guests blew bubbles, eventually on their way to Louisiana where they would make their first move as husband and wife.



'Til we Gather Together again...
- Samantha

Venue: Croasdaile Country Club
Officiant: Rev. Betty Berghaus
Photographer: Doug Pitts
Videographer: Fortunel Productions
Florist: Floral Dimensions
Cake: Sugarland
Music: DJ Frank Meldau from Joe Bunn DJ Company
Hair Stylist: Posh the Salon

Ever sit at a wedding dinner table next to Aunt Shirley for 3 hours to eat a 20 minute meal? It happens! Especially if you're not much into dancing or don't know many people at the reception. Wouldn't it be great to explore and have an excuse to participate in a couple of activities that engage guests? We think so.

There are so many ways to entertain your guests and create memories for your wedding day. For example, we had a lovely couple that married on a quaint goat farm several years ago. For their RSVP postcard, they asked each guest to draw a goat if they were able to attend, or a chicken if they were not able to attend. On the wedding day, an installation of all the postcards was displayed, and guests were able to see all the creative RSVPs! It was a lovely conversation piece during cocktail hour, and it fit the wedding and the couple (he is an artist and she is a cinematographer).

We encourage you to think outside the box on things you have fun doing that guests might enjoy. However, if you're stuck in a rut, here are a few suggestions to get your brain working.

Make Your Own _______

{Sarah Der Photography}
So many people love to create and have a fun activity during cocktail hour. Why not order some extra flowers from your florist for a DIY boutonniere, headpiece, or necklace station? It may not be as intricate as Louise's necklace from our recent shoot, but the pictures of everyone decked out will be awesome. The Gather Together girls recently made paper pinwheels at an open house over some vino, another DIY option. The possibilities are endless.

Lawn Games


The South and lawn games almost seem synonymous. A game of cornhole (on well-designed, monogrammed boards, of course) entertains both young and old alike. Bocce ball is another fun lawn game. You could even rent an oversized chess set for the lawn from a decor rental company.

Dinner Table Activities


Cards at each guest's place setting could include a crossword puzzle, or a quiz about the bride and groom. This is a great way to get people talking at a table if they don't know each other. A couple who is in finance might have a Sudoku board at each seat, or a couple of writers could create Mad Libs to fill out. There are countless ways to create a fun and interesting place setting.

Love Notes & Advice

{Missy McLamb Photography}
Wishing trees are a classic but still popular item at weddings. Guests are asked to jot dow advice or well-wishes and these are hung on the branches of the tree. Not only is it a sweet gesture, but it also adds a lovely decor element. The advice could then be sealed in a box after the wedding to open on the couple's 5, 10, or 15 year anniversary!

Interactive Guestbooks

From guests signing Jenga game pieces, to writing notes on vintage postcards, to Polaroid photo books, make your guest book unique to you and your fiance. This is an easy way to make memories and add some whimsy to your wedding.

As a tip, Etsy has some amazing ideas and items for many of these interactive activities. Make sure to place these orders and make a plan well in advance for any DIY projects you want to do. It may seem easy now, but tying ribbons, printing sheets of paper, or glitterifying an item takes time and energy (no matter how many bridesmaids you have). When in doubt, your wedding planner is a great resource for DIY project ideas that will engage your guests and be lots of fun!

'Til we Gather Together again...
- Samantha

For many brides, budget can be a confusing or frustrating subject. We have many of our clients who first come to us because they're unsure of price quotes they received from vendors and how to really compare apples to apples. Some clients also come to us looking for creative ways to trim their budget. We are always happy to field those questions, and can certainly make suggestions on ways to slim down costs, but there is an important factor that is always our #1 rule for budgeting: priorities.

The wedding day is a haze of happiness and celebration, but there will be a few details you will remember and be excited about long after the day is done. Think about what you love most when you peruse through Style Me Pretty, Southern Weddings, or other wedding inspiration sources. Do you want a beautiful gown that makes everyone's jaw drop? Or an expertly designed and delicious cake? Or a stellar band that keeps the crowd dancing into the night? Once you and your fiance (we often find the guys place priority on the band, DJ or beer choice) settle on three top priorities, take your budget and cushion those elements. For the other items, be willing to make cost-cutting decisions and take your wedding planner's advice on how to best do so.

Having a difficult time deciding what is important to you? We understand it can be a bit overwhelming, and there are a lot of decisions to be made. Here are a few of our opinions on vendor budget priorities...

Chelsey's Top Three:
1) The Dress: The feeling of wearing a beautiful, couture wedding gown that's just right for you is like none other.
2) Band/DJ & Entertainment: Great entertainment makes for a great party that everyone is going to remember and talk about for years to come.
3) Flowers: Few design elements can bring as much beauty and drama as fresh, lush flowers.

Samantha's Top Three:
1) Wedding Planner: A couple can breathe easy, save time, money and sanity, when they have a dependable planner to lean on! (Note from Chelsey: Okay...obviously this is my #1, too!)
2) Catering & Cake: Quality and quantity are both critical to an impressive, enjoyable wedding. Do not take this lightly! A great caterer makes all the difference in the world.
3) Venue: The right space can do wonders in setting the mood and atmosphere for the day.

Mariah's Top Three:
1) Photography & Videography: Images and films capture the memories that will last forever.
2) Decor & Lighting: Creating a perfect environment makes guests feel comfortable and reflects you as a couple.
3) Hair & Makeup: Professional hair & makeup artists know how to bring out your natural beauty in the best ways, so it will look great in person and on camera.

Now, these are just our personal opinions. Every bride is different! Prioritize, divide, and conquer to your hearts desires. What are your top three vendor budget priorities?

'Til we Gather Together again...
- Samantha

You may remember us posting about our styled "Farm & Factory" wedding inspiration shoot a few weeks ago. After several planning meetings, prop scouting, and arranging logistics with vendors, the team came together on a sunny Sunday afternoon to pull the shoot together. As you stepped into The Front Room at The Cookery, you could feel the magic happening! From the architectural lines of The Front Room, to the calligraphy on the chalkboard wall, to the cohesion of the rustic and delicious foot, the Watering Hole Bar with Rusty Nail cocktails and Working Man's Lunch beer, and the detailed farm decor: the spirit of the shoot was coming alive.

We could go on and on about the details, but we think the images speak for themselves. Therefore, we want to highlight the amazing vendors that made this photo shoot possible...oh, and absolutely perfect. Behind the scenes: coming right up!

Rochelle Johnson, The Cookery

Rochelle and her husband, Nick, own The Cookery, and they were the perfect, gracious hosts. Not only does The Front Room at The Cookery host events, they also coordinate pop-up dinners on a regular basis: a first in NC!

Rachael Price, Tre Bella

Rachael is one of the three lovely sisters of Tre Bella Flowers and Tre Bella Bridal. They were kind enough to not only help us with floral styling, but also provided a bridal gown from Modern Trousseau and a bridesmaid dress from Jenny Yoo. Here is Rachael in action creating that gorgeous real flower necklace for Louise's bridesmaid ensemble. Creative genius, enough said!

Dave Watson, Get Lit Special Event Lighting

You last saw Dave Watson's talents in our recent blog post of Alison & Jacob's wedding, but Get Lit Special Event Lighting does more than just twinkle lights. They created a custom made LOVE sign and Edison bulb chandelier for this shoot. We can't wait for one of our brides to rent these!

Party Reflections

Party Reflections allowed us do play dress-up with their beautiful farm table. We just love this double hemstitch napkin (one of our favorite items of theirs!), paired with the rope flatware and simple white china. Their knowledgeable team is great at brainstorming with us and clients to come up with the perfect accents for events.

Farm & Filigree

Looking for vintage church pews for ceremony seating? Interesting tables for a guest book or favor table? Farm & Filigree is one of our go-to's for unique and vintage accessories. This photo shoot, with its chalkboards, milk bottles, and (pictured here) one sweet Moxie soda cooler and vintage sofa, could not have come together without them.

Kaiya Ramsey, Details Cake Design

A member of The Cookery's kitchen, Details Cake Design, created the simple and elegant cake with wood grain that matched the invitation suite. Kaiya can create a simple, delicious cake, but loves to detail intricate designs as well. And her homemade marshmallow fondant? Amazing. You've never tasted fondant like this.

TJ Donovan, Donovan's Dish

TJ waits as we set the table to present his culinary creations. Not gonna lie, we enjoyed sampling the dishes - farmhand okra bisque, dairy maid chevre and beet stack, and cast iron blackened carolina catfish - as much as we enjoyed looking at them. Donovan's Dish catering is top notch!

Marika Wendelken, Write Handed Calligraphy

If only we had handwriting like that! Marika lent us her talents and put chalk to chalkboard. Write Handed Calligraphy is popping up everywhere and we can't wait to see what's next for her. You may know Marika as the brains behind the ever-popular Durham City Goods wear, too!

Jennifer Buenviaje, Makeup for Your Day

We adore Jennifer and her staff at Makeup for Your Day. These ladies know how to accentuate beauty in just the right way. A full service hair & makeup team, they can do soft and light to dramatic and bold, and anywhere in between. Our models, Lindsey and Louise, are already glowing, but the ladies of Makeup for Your Day made them shine!

Lindsey Didsbury & Louise Rose

And aren't they delightful? A big thanks to our "bride" Lindsey Didsbury and "bridesmaid" Louise Rose for their great looks and lovely smiles!

Bernard's Formalwear on our groom model, Mike Shannon

Can we swoon over this three-piece suit with a peachy-pink bowtie? Our groom model Mike Shannon was outfitted in dapper digs by Bernard's Formalwear. Their collections are spot on from light and casual to dramatic and elegant, not to mention, the service is superb.

Sarah Almond, Shed Letterpress

We love Sarah Almond of Shed Letterpress, and we love her company name, too. When she moved to North Carolina, she joked with her northeastern friends that she was moving to a shed in NC to make a living in letterpress. Now located on happenin' Foster Street in downtown Durham (not a shed), she has beautiful collections of stationery for weddings and all occasions. We have her to thank for our lovely logo and business cards, by the way.

Big Spoon Roasters and Fullsteam Brewery

Last, but not least, a special thanks to Big Spoon Roasters for lending us their gourmet nut butters for the favors, and to Fullsteam Brewery for lending the growlers! These items fit the favor table perfectly and made us crave a PB&J and a brew.

Chelsey Morrison, Gather Together

Chelsey, as usual, focusing on every last detail. While wedding planning and design are her first passion, she gets giddy about styling photo shoots, engagement sessions, and just about anything!

You will not see the fabulous Sarah Der pictured here, because, of course, she is the genius behind the camera. She is an unbelievable photographer with a natural style that brings out beauty in all things. We'll let the photos do the talking, but we will also say she is a joy to work with and be around!

Want to see the results of all this hard work? Check out more photos { here }. To all the amazingly talented folks involved in this photo shoot, we just have a few things to say...

Seriously!


Thanks, y'all!


For more information on any of these vendors, or to ask about Gather Together styling services, give us a shout!

{ info@gathertogetherevents.com }
{ 919-695-7295 }

'Til we Gather Together again...
- Samantha

I love a good peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I really do. The perfect combination of creamy and rich peanut butter paired with sweet and light jam or jelly working together to create a scrumptious bite. Why are we talking about PB&J, you ask? Most likely because I'm hungry, but it is also an analogy for venue coordinators and wedding planners.



On the surface, it may seem that a venue coordinator will be the leader in planning your wedding day, especially if you book your venue before your wedding planner. The venue coordinator will answer questions about where the food stations will go, what wine pairings are best, and how many tables create just the right layout for your reception. A knowledgeable venue coordinator will be able to aid in all aspects of your venue and sometimes even more. They can provide a preferred vendor list (folks they have worked with and trust) of florists and bakers and DJs, oh my!

All of these wonderful skills of venue coordinators are fantastic, and they will play an important role in your wedding planning process. While it is important to have a good relationship with your venue, however, they play an extremely different role than a wedding planner. Here are just a few side-by-side examples of how a wedding planner's role differs from that of a venue coordinator...

Wedding Planner	Venue Coordinator
Full wedding budget planning	Venue related budget planning
Attends all vendor meetings	Attends on-site meetings at venue
Creates full wedding weekend timeline	Creates venue setup timeline
Maps out, plans and conducts ceremony rehearsal	Prepares venue for rehearsal and ceremony
Plans, designs and executes wedding design & details	Plans and executes wedding layout setup
Answers vendor, design, planning, timeline, and etiquette questions	Answers venue logistics questions
Manages vendors, guests, and family (and family drama)	Manages venue staff
Chooses best vendors for the client based on their needs	Provides a preferred vendors list

In summary, your venue coordinator will make sure every single detail about the event space is perfect; your wedding planner will make sure every detail about the whole weekend is perfect. These two people and the rest of your wedding team must work together hand in hand to create the wedding you have envisioned. Everyone is a working piece of the puzzle (or sandwich), and we like to say that the wedding planner is the glue (or peanut butter) that keeps it all together. Not to mention, a great venue coordinator is sweet as jelly and makes the job of the wedding planner much easier.

So - remember, your venue coordinator rocks and will work hard to make sure the venue is everything you want it to be, but he/she will not be the person to...

...sew a missing button onto your wedding dress
...make sure Aunt Edna stays away from her ex Uncle Joe
...hold up a floral arrangement from behind the wall during an entire windy ceremony
...have a mobile detailing service come clean the getaway car because the groom forgot.

That person, my friends, is your wonderful, fabulous, and most talented wedding planner, who bends over backwards in every detail of planning and execution of your beautiful wedding day. And yes, we have done all of the above, and more. Let us be your peanut butter.

'Til we Gather Together again...
- Samantha

Whether it is 96 degrees and 100% humidity or snowing and sleeting, Gather Together knows the wedding must go on! If you are local to the Triangle, you may remember this January 25th, when all schools, offices and restaurants closed down early for a pretty good dose of snow and ice. While most of the population was trying to retreat home, Gather Together (not to mention the entire bridal party) braved the weather on the way to the church for the rehearsal of Alison & Jacob's wedding!


Alison in her beautiful custom tailored lace dress - breathtaking!


Alison's fur stole with her new monogram. I think this will be a keepsake that's passed down for generations.


The dapper bridal party in downtown Durham.

When we first met with Alison & Jacob, we naturally gravitated to this beautiful couple because of their pure joy of being together and supporting each other in faith, hope and love. As they were planning their wedding, big plans to move to Tennessee in a few months were well underway, so they asked us for a little extra help during the process.


A warm embrace on this chilly January day.




As the ice cleared, the wedding day began with Alison and her father sharing one of our favorite special moments: the father-daughter first look. There is something that pulls at the heart strings with this relatively new wedding day idea, and we just love it! After Alison's father walked her down First Presbyterian's aisle and she said yes to the man of her dreams, Alison & Jacob greeted their guests at the quirky and fun Durham Armory for the reception.


The father-daughter first look was so emotional.


Alison's father sweetly helping with her veil. Great capture by our lovely photographer!


A gasp as Alison places the ring on Jacob's hand - what a beautiful moment.


The music of this organ filled the church. It was an ethereal walk down the aisle for Alison.

Thanks to the ingenious specialty lighting company, the Durham Armory was shimmering with twinkling lights everywhere overhead. Jacob's aunt added to the beauty by providing floral arrangements mixed with winter branches throughout the venue. The pops of subtle color cheered up the dreary weather. And, if you thought Alison kept that adorable monogrammed fur stole on due to the chill, you are most certainly wrong! Just moments into the reception, the dance floor was filled to the brim. It may have had something to do with the bridal party's unbelieveable flash mob (!!!), but the whole crowd was ready to party until the band had to stop.


How could flowers like this not bring joy and warmth?


These two did not stop smiling the whole evening. Love was all around, especially during the toasts by Alison's father, her sweet sister and maid of honor, and Jacob's best man.








Not kidding about the flash mob! We picked up some stellar moves from this hilarious choreographed dance.

Alison & Jacob opted for delicious pies for dessert, and had a mini cake all of their own to officially cut. After a heart-warming last dance shared by just the two of them, the evening ended with everyone bundled up and ready to face the cold. Hot chocolate favors sent them away with warmest thanks, and everyone guided the couple to their getaway car with a shimmering sparkler exit. It was a winter wonderland wedding for this fun, beautiful, loving couple!


Delicious pies just waiting for guests to take a bite.


For every winter storm, hot cocoa is close behind.


Not sure if their smiles or the sparklers were brighter! It was the perfect ending to an exciting evening.

By the end of the evening, all the girls of Gather Together were ready for fuzzy pajamas and their own hot cocoa (maybe with a splash of Bailey's...). We are looking forward to some warm outdoor weddings this Spring, but could not think of a better way to start off the year than Alison & Jacob's beautiful celebration.

'Til we Gather Together again...
- Samantha

Ceremony Venue: First Presbyterian Church
Reception Venue: Durham Armory
Officiant: Rev. Fil Anderson
Photographer: Sarah Der Photography
Videographer: Without Walls Productions
Florist: Jane Henderson
Rentals: Party Reflections
Lighting: Get Lit Special Event Lighting
Ceremony Music: Kathy Parkins, Daniel Goans & Lauren Goans
Reception Music: Another Level
Pies & Cake: Foster's Market
Hair & Makeup: Altered Image

Two weeks ago, Chelsey attended the 2012 Triangle NACE (National Association for Catering & Events) Awards at the always sophisticated and luxurious Umstead Hotel & Spa. NACE is an event industry organization that engages an amazing network of event vendors from caterers, to florists, to event planners and more. Their monthly meetings are a great way to bond with great vendors, discuss new trends, and hear from talented speakers. Many of these members have become great friends throughout the years, and we consider them top notch on our recommendations to brides!


Chelsey with Triangle NACE President and wonderful friend Laura Petersen of the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club

The evening was spectacular, but that's not all we have to share. Gather Together was nominated for a big award at this year's event: Best Wedding of the Year. It was simply an honor, and truly humbling, just to be among a group of amazingly talented planners in the same category.

As the program inched toward the category, fingers and toes crossed, the winner was announced...Gather Together Event Planning & Design for Fay & Jon's wedding! In shock and delight, Chelsey accepted the award with great pride and joy! She could not stop smiling the entire night (week...month...)!


Permasmile and gratitude

While I was not able to personally attend the event, Chelsey relayed all the amazing details. If you know and love Chelsey as much as I do, I pretty much had the following clip in my head of her dancing in happiness, glee, and appreciation to the couple, the vendors, and just life in general...


Yo, girl!

Ahem... Side note from Chelsey: It was more like this...

Go shawty, it's your birthday!

Thank you so much to the wonderful NACE family, and a huge congratulations to the other category winners! Gather Together is grateful for the support the organization has provided the past few years. We look forward to many more fun times in the future!

'Til we Gather Together again...
- Samantha

What do flowers, a New York Times best selling author, and a fashion show have in common? All three will be the highlights of one of the best bridal events in the Triangle, Altar Ego!



With the help of amazing vendors such as the Washington Duke Inn, The Catering Company of Chapel Hill, Bella Bridesmaid and many more, Tre Bella Flowers + Bridal will host their 4th annual cocktail party and fashion show. This is a wonderful, stress-free way to accumulate more inspiration for your wedding day. Bring a girl friend or your mom to hear from the talented Emily Giffin, author of Something Borrowed and Something Blue, and peruse the latest fashions by Hadley Emerson, Scout, and Smitten Boutique during cocktail hour. Then, watch the fabulous fashion show by Bella Bridesmaid, Bernard's Formalwear, and Tre Bella Bridal. Keep a look out for a Chelsey look-a-like; her blonde sister is in the fashion show. You will know her when you see her!

Not only is this a fun night out, but the proceeds benefit an organization close to my heart, Girls on the Run of the Triangle NC. This group encourages young women to pursue running to aid in creating a positive sense of body image and self-esteem.

So, what are you doing on Friday, March 1st? We invite you to enjoy an evening of fabulousness and fun at the Washington Duke Inn. Doors will open at 6:30pm and tickets can be purchased {here}. You better believe the Gather Together girls will be there or be square!

'Til we Gather Together again...
- Samantha