The Biltmore Inspiration Shoot :: On Magnolia Rouge

I'm thrilled to have the Biltmore project featured on Magnolia Rouge today!  Kate started her blog five years ago and it has grown to be an internationally recognized hot spot for inspiration in the wedding world.  It's amazing what you can accomplish when you just keep moving forward each day.  People overestimate what they can do in one day and underestimate what they can do in a lifetime.  Onward friends!

Check out the full feature here and scroll down for more images from this shoot on our blog!  

Out of a Dream — Kristin & Marcus in Inspire Weddings & Marriage

I'm tapping my toes to a little tune from Boonetown Story's website.  Is it funny that sometimes I go to Nicole's website to listen to whatever snappy song has her attention?  I always like it.  :)  The bridge from today's tune is "something out of a dream" and I laughed and smiled because that is exactly how I felt about these pictures I was arranging.  

A week before Kristin's wedding she looked at me and said, "what if we just scrapped all the plans and I told you to do whatever you want?"  This was the first out of a dream moment.  We had planned shades of purple.  Most people feel most comfortable with monochromatic color palettes.  Nothing wrong with that!  I was the same way when I got married.  But one day I discovered this floral designer in Seattle that does an awesome job mixing colors that stuck with me.  I noticed that a little bit of yellow makes the centers in every other flower shine and some white makes the silhouette pop.  A little burgundy with purple isn't common, but it works.  It's quite rich and royal.  And those were my impressions about Kristin.  She was rich in all the right things — love, thoughtfulness, and royal — a princess.  So all of a sudden the color palette became a little more complex and interesting.

The second out of a dream moment came when I was walking by the completed reception table, "Is this really happening?!" I thought to myself.  Then I got one of those secret teary-eyed moments that resonate in your soul and you never forget.  I just knew in that moment that I was doing what God made me to do and He was happy about it.

The third came when Stephanie told me she wanted this wedding to be a part of her magazine — Inspire Weddings and Marriage.  She said she just saw Kristin and knew.  

And I imagine Marcus thought the same thing about this royal princess — he just knew.  Marcus looks at Kristin with eyes so full of love, and with love that encompasses patience, kindness, goodness and grace, this marriage will go down in the record books as a legend.

It was all so beautiful — like a dream.  But far better because it was 100% real life.  Things like trust, vulnerability, thoughtfulness, kindness, love and light made it happen.  I wish for all of these things to fill your heart and spill out of your eyes like sunshine.  I wish you eyes that can see beauty every day.

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Boonetown Story
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Photography: Boonetown Story  // Flowers & Styling: Philosophy Flowers  //  Venue: Twickenham House //  Event Planning: Day of Your Dreams //  Catering: Reid's Catering  // Hair Stylist: Heather Rogers, Haircut 101

Published in Inspire Weddings and Marriage Magazine, available today in Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million in North & South Carolina

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A Dream Followed

It is with great pleasure I share these images from Heather Payne Photography!  These photos are evidence of a dream followed, and I think those are the most beautiful kind.  I hope, with the kind of hope that believes it will happen, that you will use today to walk towards the dream God planted deep inside you long before you were born.  If faith is hard to find and clouded over by your circumstances, borrow mine.  Take heart.  Take courage.  Chose hope.  Then start walking towards the dream.   It's so important you do.  God will guide you and use it to fill the kingdom.  It's time to take back what the enemy has stolen.  It's time to bring redemption to the world.  Don't try to figure it all out at once.  The key to making your dream happen is to walk with Jesus one step at a time.  Just do the next thing you think He is guiding you to do.  Those steps of obedience are sweet, exciting and fruitful.  Oh the stories I can tell you!  One step is all you need to move on.  That's how He works.  One step at a time.

Are you going to do it?  Saying yes to that question is the first step in pursing the dream.  When you do that, you're already on your way!  Fear will stand in your way.  You'll get over it.  You'll see that that the risk is worth it, and you'll find that when you don't leave room in your heart for fear, you won't be fearful.  You'll be confident.  You'll want to have all the questions answered, and on your schedule.  You'll hate the times of waiting at first, but you'll find that patience is relaxing, even restful.  Waiting in the Lord, confident that He will let you know what you need to know when you need to know it — it is restful.  

Here's to Jesus and the cross!  He makes all things possible.  I'm really looking forward to 2014.  I'm looking forward to noticing all the beautiful things in this world that point towards a Creator, and more than that, I'm looking forward to walking with Jesus — one step at a time.  

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The Biltmore Estate is a beautifully maintained, century-old cheateau with gorgeous sprawling gardens in the heart of Asheville, North Carolina. With this as our inspiration, we set out to marry old world charm and today’s American bride. We pulled our favorite elements from the castle’s interior out into the garden — rich tapestries, primary colors and antiquities curated from world travels. With a modern tapestry from Urban Outfitters as our dinner backdrop and a menu inspired by France, Ireland and Italy, we brought the bounty of the world to a carefully refined, elegant garden wedding in the South.

Published In: Sweet Violet Bride Magazine, Magnolia Rouge & cover of High Country Wedding Guide

Photography: Heather Payne Photography || Venue: Biltmore Estate || Flowers & Set Styling: Kelly Perry of Philosophy Flowers || Custom Calligraphy & Paper Goods: Abany Bauer of Brown Linen Design || Dress: Badgley Mischka from TreBella Bridal || Suit: Bernard’s Formal Wear || Hair/Makeup: Makeup for Your Day (MYD) || Fragrance: Lollia, “At Last” from Take Heart Boutique || Table Linen: West Elm || Tapestry: Urban Outfitters || Necklace: Ann Taylor || China: Miss Match Rentals || Food & Food Styling: Megan Forbes of Goldmine Journal