WEDDINGBLOG.SMLWEDDINGS.COM

Invitations

SML Weddings — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:36:00 GMT

Just a note...

INVITATIONS

Now that you have picked your wedding date and venue you are finally ready to choose your wedding invitations - Wow!!! If signing your name on the wedding venue contract wasn't finalizing enough, seeing your wedding invitation with your names, wedding date and venue location definitely will make it all seam REAL!

There are tons of invitation companies to choose from and millions of designs so where do you start. The internet is an excellent place to start because most large companies such as Carlson Craft will allow you to search through their selections by $, Colors, Style, Paper, etc so you can see alot of options very quickly. However, I always recommend either ordering a sample or visiting a local invitation store so you can see the quality of paper and actual color of paper and ink, remember computer monitors don't always show colors the same in different lights.

I recently came across a new line of invitations that I LOVE and they are wedding invitations by the fabulous Event Designer Preston Bailey. If you are looking to add that special floral touch to your invitation in a new way then view them at www.InvitationConsultants.com. The colors are gorgeous and the floral pictures are unique. Everyone loves weddings that Preston Bailey does, so if you can't afford Preston Bailey as your event designer then why not have him do your invitations?

Colors Colors Everywhere!

SML Weddings — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:31:00 GMT

Just a note...

Are you having problems choosing the colors for your wedding event?

Go buy The Knot - Spring 2010 magazine. I don't often recommend to brides spending alot of money on magazines and books but if you are needing that color inspiration they have some great color ideas in the latest magazine.

You will find:

"4 fresh bridesmaids trends" in colors of Bold Green, Hot Pink, Slate Gray and Pure Purple
"color combos101" where they pair up combinations of colors with pink, brown, white, green, blue, yellow. These are great pages to tear out and take to your wedding coordinator, florist, cake baker, dress maker or linen rental company to show that color pallete you are choosing for your wedding.

"hot hues" covers three colors that they are predicting will be huge in weddings in 2010 which include: mandarin, moss green, purple.

As you can see from these three articles the color we keep seeing over and over again for 2010 is PURPLE!!! I recently had a conversation with a bride where the conversation of purple arose and an attendant made the comment that she didn't want to look like Barney the Dinosour at the wedding. Brides, there are a ton of shades of purple so don't be afraid of the beautiful color. Another hot color for 2010 is YELLOW!!! Want a very hot wedding, pair up purple and yellow together - WOW!!!

So, pick up the knot - Spring 2010 magazine or go to www.TheKnot.com/color for more information on choosing your wedding colors.

Note: The rest of the issue is mainly filled with dresses, dresses and more dresses.

Coming Soon...2009 SML Weddings Awards

SML Weddings — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:15:00 GMT

2009 is almost over and that means it's time to look back on the year and reflect on all of the wonderful moments that we shared with our Brides and Vendors. This year we have came up with some great categories for our couples and we look forward to sharing those memorable moments with all of our readers.

Do you want to know what wedding vendors we enjoyed working with the most in 2009? We have quite a few favorites and we'll be happy to share those secrets with you as well. Of course there are so many wedding vendors in our area and unfortnately we don't get to work with all of them but we'll share information on the ones that we did have the pleasure of working with.

Keep tuned...awards are coming soon!!!

Only 3 days left

SML Weddings — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:44:00 GMT

Only three more days left until the the 2nd Annual Smith Mountain Lake Bridal Event at Mariners Landing. We are so proud to be bringing another bridal event to the Smith Mountain Lake area and hope all of the Brides getting married at Smith Mountain Lake and surrounding areas come to meet our local wedding experts.

This years event will include local bridal experts including florist, photographer, videographer, caterer, cake baker, makeup artists and more to help answer your wedding questions. Take a tour of Mariners Landing and see the various ceremony and reception locations available. See an assortment of linens provided by Smith Mountain Lake Weddings to help you choose your wedding reception decor. Take a tour in the guest accomodations provided by Mariners Landing and the many amenities that they offer. Taste yummy food provided by Benjamin's at The Pointe and MORE!

Brides, be sure to pre-register at www.SMLWeddings.com to be entered into a special drawing for a FREE wedding coordinator for your wedding event provided by Smith Mountain Lake Weddings.

FREE admission for all Brides and their guests. Brides that means bring along your fiance, mother, future mother-in-law, maid of honor, friends, family, etc.

For directions to Mariners Landing please visit www.marinerslanding.com

See you at the SML Bridal Event!!!

Pure Spa at Mariners Landing

SML Weddings — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:50:00 GMT

Quiet, relaxing and beatiful views is how I would describe the new Pure Spa at Mariners Landing. I had the pleasure of meeting with Christin Burdette, Marketing Director for Pure Spa and taking a tour of their new location at Smith Mountain Lake. As many of you know views of Smith Mountain Lake are breathtaking at Mariners Landing but when you ad relaxing furniture, tranquil decor, calming music, a warming fireplace and candles you get the perfect location for a spa.

Pure Spa offers numerous services including skin care treatments, massage therapy, hand and foot care, body care treatments, hydrotherapy treatments, just for men treatments, spa packages, makeup applications, waxing and more. Pure Spa is open Monday - Sunday 10am - 6pm which makes it very convenient for guests staying at Mariners Landing or local Smith Mountain Lake residents that want to take advantage of a local spa.

For Brides getting married at Smith Mountain Lake Pure Spa is the perfect location for your beauty and spa needs. Here are some great ideas for Brides:
- Plan a day at the spa with your bridesmaids to have manicures, pedicures, facials or massages.
- Treat the mother of the bride to a massage to thank her for all of the support that she has showed you during the stressful wedding planning.
- Be sure to schedule your makeup application for your wedding day with Pure Spa, they are educated on knowing the proper makeup applications for flawless wedding photography.
- Brides can treat their groom to a 19th Hole Leg Revitalizer or a Golfers Delight Pedicure after he has spent the day at Mariners Landing Golf & Country Club with his groomsmen.
- After the wedding plan a couples massage where you and your groom can relax together.

When visiting Mariners Landing at the SML Bridal Event on November 15th be sure to take a tour of Pure Spa at Mairners Landing and receive more information on the numerous services they offer. For Brides attending the SML Bridal Event brides will have the opportunity to win a gift certificate for a Couples Massage at Pure Spa at Mariners Landing so be sure to attend this event.

Pure Spa at Mariners Landing is located at 1217 Graves Harbror Trail in Huddleston, VA. You can contact them at 540-297-9860 or relax@PureSpaSML.com. Find more information about their services by visiting their website at www.PureSpaSML.com.

Smith Mountain Lake Bridal Event

SML Weddings — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:37:00 GMT

2nd Annual Smith Mountain Lake Bridal Event

at Mariners Landing

Sunday, November 15, 2009

1:00pm - 5:00pm

November is here, which means our 2nd Annual SML Bridal Event is just a few weeks away. We are very excited about this years event at Mariners Landing and the many showcases we will have at our event. Come take a tour of Mariners Landing and even if you already have booked your wedding venue at another location you will want to come see our ceremony setup, reception decor and the many local vendors participating to meet our premier wedding experts.

We are excited to announce some of our great door prizes that a lucky Bride will have the opportunity to win. You could win a couples massage provided by Pure Spa at SML, after the stress of wedding planning enjoy a relaxing spa for the Bride and Groom to enjoy together. Brides that pre-register for the event have the chance to win a Wedding Director for their wedding day provided by SML Weddings, every Bride needs a wedding expert available to answer questions, fix problems and organize the event. And more great prizes from local wedding vendors.

Having problems choosing linens for your wedding reception? We will showcase numerous linen choices in various sizes, shapes, textures and colors. In the Blackwater Room you will be able to view the huge varierty of linens Smith Mountain Lake Weddings offers to rent for special occasions. Take the time to browse through hundreds of swatches and receive free linen rental quotes on site.

Here are a list of some of our participating vendors:
Smith Mountain Lake Weddings, Pure Spa at SML, CORSAIR Floral & Decor, Mariners Landing, Executive Town Car & Limousine, Benjamin's at The Pointe, Calligraphy by Rachel Snyder, Christi Austin Photography, Michael's Video, Billie's Cakes, Starlite Makeup Artistry & MORE!

Receive many special offers from our premier wedding experts, taste some yummy deserts and more!!! FREE ADMISSION!

Pre-Register for the event at www.smlweddings.com

If you have any questions regarding the SML Bridal Event please contact Kerry Keeney at kerry@SMLWeddings.com

SML Bridal Event

SML Weddings — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:38:00 GMT

Smith Mountain Lake Weddings is happy to be a sponsor of the 2nd Annual Smith Mountain Lake Bridal Event. This years event will be held at Mariners Landing, one of Smith Mountain Lake's premier wedding venues in our area. The theme for the SML Bridal Event is "Educating Our Brides". As a bride you may have attended past wedding shows where you receive business cards from tons of wedding vendors and leave the show puzzled over seeing too many vendors. At our SML Bridal Event the focus will be on educating brides in each vendors expertise so that brides will be able to make educated wedding decisions.

Admission to the event is FREE for Brides and Guests!!! We will have numerous areas at Mariners Landing set up for guests to view. In the Bedford Room brides will register for door prizes and will be able to chat with local wedding experts. On the Pointe Lawn brides will be able to view a wedding ceremony setup so that you can gain ideas on how to set up your wedding event. In the Blackwater Room guests will be able to see numerous table setups provided by Smith Mountain Lake Weddings and CORSAIR Floral & Decor. Here you will also be able to go through tons of linen choices so that you can make decisions on what will look best for your wedding reception. Mariners Landing will also have condiminiums available for guest to tour to see what overnight, weekend accomodation and bridal suites are available at Mariners Landing.

Our vendors have contributed many wonderful door prizes for this event so be sure to mark November 15th on your calendar. Pre-Register for this event and you will be entered in a special drawing to have a chance to win a FREE Wedding Director on your wedding day provided by Smith Mountain Lake Weddings. To pre-register and find out more information about the 2nd Annual SML Bridal Event go to: https://www.smithmountainlakeweddings.com/show.php.

Erin & Jay's Wedding

SML Weddings — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:47:00 GMT

Erin & Jay's Wedding - October 10, 2009

First Baptist Church

Shenandoahh Club

I had the pleasure of directing Erin Edwards and Jay Barry's wedding this past Saturday at two locations I have never worked at before. It's always nice for myself to work in new locations because not only do I get to see new gorgeous venues but I also get to meet new people that are wonderful to work with. I was hired by the Mother of the Bride - Bonnie just a few short weeks before the actual wedding. This can be quite a challenge for a wedding coordinator like myself because it doesn't allow me the opportunity to meet with the Bride and Groom or get to know their style and personality. However, because they did such a terrific job with choosing great vendors I was able to fit right into their wedding plans.

The couple were married at the beautiful First Baptist Church for their ceremony, a very popular church located in downtown Roanoke. This was my first time at First Baptist Church and for those of you that have not been there it is HUGE, definitely a church that you can get lost in.

Many Brides ask for ideas they can use to make a church wedding a little unique and I always tell them it's the little things that make a big difference. For example since the couple got engaged in Washington DC they had a large coffee table style book about Washington DC used as their guest book. They simply had their guests sign their names, words of wisdom or best wishes on whichever page they chose in the book. That way when guests visit their home or they decide to flip through their favorite coffee table book they will have memories of the special friends and family members that joined them on their wedding day. Excellent idea!!!

Since one of the flower girls was a little older and they didn't have a young ring bearer they had a "Bearer of Rings" which was a young lady that carried a special family bible that was decorated with flowers similar to the bridesmaids which the rings could be tied to. This is a great option for a girl that may be a little too young to be a junior bridesmaid but too old to be a flower girl.

Of course nobody will forget the gorgeous antique Rolls Royce that was positioned outside of the church entrance where wedding party members (and even a few guests) took numerous pictures on a beautiful day.

Once the ceremony was completed guests were able to walk to the gorgeous Shenandoah Club for the reception. The reception was decorated with splashes of coral and green throughout the many rooms of the Shenandoah Club where guests mingled, talked, danced and ate. The gorgeous linens added pops of color throughout the large event space to tie all of the rooms together. The guests tables in the main dining room were draped with Fern Traditional Damask while the various bistro tables, food tables and other accent tables were draped with Coral Lamour and Apple Green Bengaline. Many of the tables were accented with gorgeous floral displays by Creative Occasions and lit votive candles which are an excellent touch to make a large space seem more intimate. The guests were also offered coozies with the Bride and Grooms names and wedding date, they chose to different colors to accent the coozies - burgundy in honor of Erin who attended Virginia Tech and Blue in honor of Jay who attended Duke.

The Bride and Groom were on the dance floor all night long with their family and friends dancing to TFC Band out of Norfolk. This band was EXCELLENT!!! When choosing a band for a reception I always tell my Brides to choose a group that can play a wide range of music, your guests will want to dance to different types of music so make sure you have listened to the band playing various songs. TFC was able to play many of the guests requests and they were very interactive which everyone loved - Great job to the whole band!!!

We had the pleasure of working with many great vendors on this wedding, which always makes my job more enjoyable. Thank you for all of your excellent work!!! Pictures will be posted soon!

Cake Baker - Linda Adams

Photographer - Magnifico Photography

Flowers - Creative Occasions

Reception - Shenandoah Club

Band - TFC

Harpsichord - Kaye Young

Vocalist - Robin Scott

Trumpeter - Jeff Kresge

Violin - Carolyn Peterson

Piano - Shirley Pustelak

Cello - Carol Sawyer

Transportation - Limo Joe

Playing Catch Up

SML Weddings — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:45:00 GMT

Wedding season is slowing down here at Smith Mountain Lake which means I finally get to play catch up on my blog. I apologize for the delay on seeing some of the fabulous weddings we were involved with this year but I'm finally getting around to updating this blog. I hope you enjoy seeing some of our 2009 weddings.

Kristen & Landon

SML Weddings — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:40:00 GMT

Kristen Gates & Landon Smith

October 3, 2009

Mariners Landing

I had the pleasure of being the wedding coordinator for Kristen and Landon for almost a full year before her wedding day. Kristen and Landon had met while students at Virginia Tech and were living in Charlotte, NC. The couple chose Mariners Landing for both the wedding ceremony and reception.

During the week of the wedding, the weather forecast looked like it would rain on Saturday but the good news came on Thursday when the weather man announced that the rain would skip our area so a beautiful wedding day was planned for their outdoor event. The ceremony was on the Pointe Lawn with beautiful Smith Mountain Lake and mountains as the backdrop for their wedding. The Danville trio was placed under the gazebo which added a classic touch to the event.

The Blackwater Room at Mariners Landing was decorated with ivory and brown to accent the bridesmaids cinnamon dresses. The guest tables were draped with a mixture of Ivory Classic linens with Chocolate Lamour table runners and Brown Classic linens draped with Ivory Lamour table runners. Instead of the typical guest book, the Bride and Groom had a record made with their picture on it and matted for guests to sign which will add a unique decor piece to their home.

A few months ago I had received a phone call from a friend of the couples with a surprise that she needed help with. As a wedding coordinator when someone wants to do a "Surprise" for the Bride and Groom on their wedding day, I'll admit it scares me. However, without a doubt after meeting Kristen and Landon I knew the surprise would turn out terrific. After the guests had finished dinner the Bride and Groom had their special dances with their parents and then the party began with a huge hit. The DJ made an announcement about how the Bride and Groom had met at Virginia Tech and VT had one their away game that day, then all of a sudden the Virginia Tech Hokie Bird decked out in a tuxedo jacket and a boutonnière made an appearance and the guests went wild!!!! The Hokie Bird danced with the couple to Sandman and various other songs, had his picture taken with the happy couple then left for a short time to take pictures with other guests in a nearby hallway. He then revisited the Bride, Groom and their guests on the dance floor for a few more dances and slow songs. The couple was definitely surprised and everyone loved having the Hokie Bird at the wedding. One of the grandfathers at the wedding was extremely happy as he was the first of many generations of people in their family to attend Virginia Tech and had fun see the dancing with the Hokie Bird. The grandfather also shared with me that when he had attended VT there was only 3,000 students in attendance and he was so proud of how the school has grown.

Other special moments in the night included the Groom singing a surprise song to his Bride and a slideshow of pictures of the couple that was played after guests were done eating. Without a doubt it was a fun night for everyone and we were happy to be a part of Kristen and Landon's special day. Pictures will be coming from Christi Austin Photography soon!

Ceremony & Reception: Mariners Landing
Catering: Benjamin at the Pointe
Photographer: Christi Austin Photography
DJ: Sandi Conner
Flowers: Budget Designer Florals
Cake: Billie's Cakes

Wedding Colors For Fall

SML Weddings — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:42:00 GMT

Colors for Fall

Many Brides choose autumn colors for their fall weddings starting in mid September. But if you are a Bride that is tired of seeing the same brown and orange colors at every wedding you attend then take advice from Pantone's Fashion Color Report Fall 2009 (www.pantone.com/fall2009). Iron, brown, black and charcoal gray are the top colors in Fall 2009 fashion collections and that trend is inspiring Brides as well. Although our economies mood is drab and dark doesn't mean our wedding scene is though, so use these fashion colors with a POP of color for a great look.

Brides want the mood of the wedding to be an escape of sorts with guests feeling uplifted and full of spirit so using base colors of charcoal gray or black adds an elegant touch with accents of orange, yellow, turquoise or purple adds the energy to the event. Of course colors can translate differently in various venues so before you choose your colors make sure you have chosen your venue. Your decor colors should be suitable for the event location and size of your event. Iron and dark silver can also be used as accents at weddings this fall such as in a vase or other table accents.

If you are wondering where or how you can add that "Pop" of color to your event, SML Weddings can help. Using table runners in the center of your tables is an easy and inexpenisive way to add that pop, with a cost of as low as $3.00 each you can add a significant Pop of color at a minimum cost. Adding colorful linen napkins can also decorate your table with color just don't forget to choose how to fold the napkin or decorate them with accented ties also available to rent through SML Weddings. If your event will be incorporating "bistro" tables be sure to highlight these table with a Pop linen especially if they are being used scattered throughout your event. Pop colors can also be added with menus, chargers, favors and of course your table centerpieces. Don't forget to also add colors to your specialty tables such as cake table, gift table, guest book table, name card tables and food tables.

So when you are choosing your fall wedding color pallete be sure to look at the following linen choices from SML Weddings:

Table Linens
Taupe Classic, Gray Classic, Black Classic

Beige Bengaline, Fern Bengaline, Purple Smoke Bengaline, Silver Bengaline, Gunmetal Bengaline, Black Bengaline

Taupe Lamour, Moss Lamour, Copper Lamour, Eggplant Lamour, Platinum Lamour, Black Lamour

Plum Dahlia with Band, Bonita Sheer, Loden Shantung, Autumn Kyoto, Taupe Regal Damask, Stone Faille, Stone Rattan Damask, Chestnut Shantung, Stone Elemant, Black Niko, Black Floral Silhouette, Black Phantom, Black Orleans Damask, White Dahlia with Band, Gracie Jacquard,

For that POP color

Yellow Classic, Orange Classic, Teal Classic, Turquoise Classic, Plum Classic

Melon Bengaline, Burnt Orange Bengaline, Teal Bengaline, Grape Bengaline

Yellow Lamour, Orange Lamour, Citron Lamour, Teal Lamour, Purple Lamour

SML Weddings
www.kerrykeeney.com
540-493-0928

From Plastic Bottles to Linens

SML Weddings — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:39:00 GMT

Many Brides have been going "green" for the past few years and the interesting theme is growing rapidly as businesses support their Brides eco-friendly practices. Smith Mountain Lake Weddings is proud to offer Brides a wonderful new linen made of recycled bottles. I'm sure that your first thought is, that linen must feel and look scratchy and hard. Not so, Botela Damask is available in two colors Natural and White so it's usable in almost any wedding decor.

So, how are they made? Plastic bottles with a "1" designation on the bottom were first recycled into yarn, which was subsequently used in the fabric used for the finished linens. Botela Damask is the first 100% recycled fabric added to Smith Mountain Lake Weddings linen choices and we are happy to offer this for our "Green" events in our area.

Natural Botela Damask and White Botela Damask are available at the following discounted prices in 2009

Napkins - $1.90 each

120" round - $43.00

132" round - $48.00

Schedule a linen appointment at Smith Mountain Lake Weddings to view our available Eco-friendly linens for your special event.

SML Weddings
www.kerrykeeney.com
540-493-0928

Kernodle & Laing Wedding

SML Weddings — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:43:00 GMT

Anne Kernodle & Justin Laing
May 30, 2009
Mariners Landing

How many emails can a wedding coordinator have regarding one wedding? Well, after a full year of planning, the "Kernodle" email file reached over 300 emails. Seems like alot of reading and work but after viewing the gorgeous pictures taken by Ken Luallen Photography yesterday all of that work is well worth it.

Angela Courser described the wedding floral decor in her proposal for this wedding as "Fresh & Fabulous" and she nailed the head right on the pin. Not only was the event fabulous but so was the Bride, Groom, their family and guests. The event began at the beautiful lakeside lawn at Mariners Landing gazebo with a gorgeous floral chandelier created by CORSAIR. When the gorgeous Bride arrived with her dad by her side the guests were speechless of how beautiful she was while wearing her mothers wedding dress and a hand tied bouquet of tulips.

The reception was beautifully transformed by SML Weddings and CORSAIR, with pops of color and beautiful flowers. The bride and MOB (mother of the bride) had one request - get rid of the burgundy! No sight of burgandy was seen with classic black table linens and apple green lamour table runners as well as white chair covers and apple green lamour ties. The bistro tables added a contemporary elegance with black floral silhouette linens which added that extra pop around the room lighly decorated with candles. As guests entered the room the first thing they saw were food tables decorated with bouquets of flowers perched atop tall cylinder vases with beautiful ribbon dangling below, not too mention the creative food masterpieces provided by Benjamin's at The Pointe.

Anne and Carol Anne knew exactly what they wanted at this wedding - a weekend retreat, lots of relaxation, beautiful weather, elegant ceremony, fabulous reception, tons of food and lots of fun. Well, I know that without a doubt with the wonderful staff at Mariners Landing and all of the vendors that worked together for this weekend event we achieved all of these goals for the Bride, Groom and mother of the Bride. Much happiness to Anne and Justin - you were wonderful to work with and I look forward to seeing you in the future.

Be sure to view beautiful pictures of this event at http://www.kensjournal.com/kernodle and read CORSAIR comments at http://blog.corsairevents.com/?p=506

Ceremony & Reception Location was held at Mariners Landing - www.marinerslanding.com
Wedding Coordinating provided by SML Weddings - www.kerrykeeney.com
Floral & Decor provided by CORSAIR - www.corsairevents.com
The Phase Band provided live music
Linens provided by SML Weddings - www.kerrykeeney.com
Cake by Special Occasion Cakes
Ceremony music was by The Danville Quartet
Dance floor and window decor provided by SML Weddings - www.kerrykeeney.com
Photography provided by Ken Luallen Photography

The Count Down Begins

SML Weddings — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:34:00 GMT

A little over a month ago I received a phone call from my favorite florist - Angela Courser (owner of CORSAIR Floral & Decor), you could hear the excitement of her voice when she announced to me that her only child Hollie was engaged to be married!!! As a mother and friend, I was extremely excited for her and this special occasion in her life. Then total panic set in when she asked me to be her daughters wedding coordinator for her wedding. We had 8 weeks to plan the wedding of the year at Smith Mountain Lake for a fellow wedding vendor - Yikes that's alot of pressure! I was screaming from the rooftop with joy over what a wonderful opportunity this was going to be to share this moment with her, her family and the staff of CORSAIR. However, working for a peer in the wedding business can be a little stressful knowing that you are working with a fellow wedding expert and want everything to be PERFECT and UNIQUE. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely up for this job though!!!

A littel bit about the happy couple... Knowing Angela and her husband Steve there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to love working with Hollie (the Bride). Hollie recently graduated from Radford College and is a fun spirited girl with a good head on her shoulder and thinks outside of the box (just like her Mom). Just last week I also had the opportunity to meet the handsome groom who is very romantic, alot of fun and totally in love with Hollie. The Perfect Couple!!! Although Hollie has a super resourceful and creative Mom, Hollie definitely knows what she wants when it comes to her wedding and has been very hands on when it comes to planning her wedding.

Readers, please remember that from the date of the proposal to the wedding date is just 8 weeks - not a lot of planning time but doable. We have now completed month one and we're beginning to count down the days until the big event. You would think this would be a coordinators nightmater but in all honesty for this wedding it's a true blessing. You see the MOB (mother of the Bride) is the most creative Mom that I have ever known and although Angela has only had a month to come up with ideas for her daughters wedding I'm sure she has been thinking about this event for years (all Moms do). So, if Hollie was having the typical year engagement, Angela would have even more ideas running through her head which could definitely become dangerous.

So, I'm sure you're now wanting all of the details abouth this fabulous wedding to come. Well, I can't dilvulge all of the details just yet but I will tell you the event will have french accents, a huge ceremony finish, some quirkie elements and alot of elegance and fun throughout the whole event. The ceremony and reception will be held lakeside at the beautiful Mariners Landing at Smith Mountain Lake. Photography will be by Christi Austin Photography, music by The Deborah Liles Band, food provided by Benjamin's at the Pointe, some staging effects by Stage and Sound and of course flowers and decor provided by CORSAIR Floral & Decor.

So, be sure to check back with us on more event notes regarding Hollie Courser and Wes Jividen's wedding on July 11, 2009 at 10:42am.

Some helpful information:

SML Weddings - www.kerrykeeney.com

CORSAIR Floral & Decor - www.corsairevents.com

Christi Austin Photography - www.christiaustin.com

The Deborah Liles Band - www.deborahliles.com

Mariners Landing & Benjamins at The Pointe - www.marinerslanding.com

Stage & Sound - www.stagesound.com

SML Weddings Linen Rentals

SML Weddings — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:42:31 GMT

Why should you rent linens for your wedding from SML Weddings?
When your guests walk into your wedding reception let them say Wow!!! Adding floor length table linens to your event add a touch of elegance and choosing a color that reflects your wedding decor can add that pop of color that many wedding venues need. SML Weddings offers hundreds of linen choices, chair covers and other accessories for your wedding event. Don't settle for out dated linens or ordering linens online from a company that you don't know. Schedule a linen meeting with us so that you can browse through our linen swatches right at our boutique where you can see and feel the linens you need for your event.

How much do wedding linens cost? It honestly depends on which linens you choose but I know that doesn't answer you question so here are a few examples.

Table Linens - For a wedding that has 80 guests and is using 5 foot round tables your cost using our classic linen which comes in over 30 colors would cost $140.00 (not including delivery, setup and taxes).

Chair Covers - If your wedding venue offers table linens but does not offer chairs that match your wedding decor then you may wish to rent our chair covers. We offer chair covers in various linen choices and colors so that you can match your table linen decor or wedding style. SML Weddings also offers chair ties in a huge assortment of textures and colors. Our chair covers start at $5.50 each.

Runners - Do you need to add just a slight splash of color to your tables? Choose a table runner to add that pop of color without putting a dent in your budget. With table runners starting at just $3.00 you can add multiple runners on each table and don't forget your food tables, bar tables and gift tables as well.

Napkins - Add some sophistication to your table setting with napkins. You can choose to have your napkins match your table linen or add some color by choosing a contrasting color or a patterned napkin. Napkins start at $0.75 for our classic dinner napkin.

Other Accessories - SML Weddings also offers the following table and chair accessories for rent:
- Chivari Chair Covers
- Specialty Chair Ties
- Chair Pad Covers
- Chair Bands
- Chair Jackets
- Tassels

SML Bridal Event

SML Weddings — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:21:00 GMT

SML Bridal Event

Thank you to all of the Brides that attended the 1st Annual Smith Mountain Lake Bridal Event this past Sunday, October 26th at Bernard's Landing. I had a wonderful time meeting most of the Brides and discussing Wedding Coordinating options, linen rental choices and invitations.

The day was beautiful outside and I must admit the Board Room (which is where I was located) was decorated beautifully as well. Thanks to Angela Courser from Corsair Floral & Decor who provided the beautiful cake flower arrangements and decor throughout our area. I gladly provided the gorgeous linens for the tables in our room and on the bridal registration desk. Christi Austin Photography set the mood as well with beautiful pictures and budoir decor in our area. Here's a picture that I took of our room - loved it!

I want to congratulate all of our many doorprize winners at our event as well. Especially to Robin Bush and Mike hall who are the winners of our Grand Prize of free wedding coordinating services. Robin is getting married in just two short weeks so Smith Mountain Lake Weddings is very happy to be able to help out on all of those last minute details for her wedding event which will take place at Parkway House of Prayer in Vinton.

Thank you to all of the wonderful wedding vendors that we had participating at the SML Bridal Event. You were all great to work with and I look forward to working with you again soon.

New Linen Selections Available

SML Weddings — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:19:00 GMT

October 28, 2008

New Linen Selections Available

I am so excited to offer a new line of linen rentals to Brides in our area. If you are bored with solid polyester linens, plain overlays that have been around for the past fifteen years and haven't changed or the plain white linens that your venue is providing then come see Smith Mountain Lake Weddings!

We are happy to offer a new line of linen rentals that are sure to add that special touch to your wedding event decor. We are offering even more unique fabrics with original designs, colors and textures that will make your wedding "POP" or add that elegant touch.

Smith Mountain Lake Weddings also offers excellent customer service which can include setup and removal of linens so that you don't have to do the work.

Don't forget we also offer a wide variety of chair covers and chair pads as well.

Here are a few of my favorites:

SML Wedding Venues

SML Weddings — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:18:00 GMT

December 08, 2008

Smith Mountain Lake Wedding Venues

With over 500 miles of shoreline and gorgeous mountain views Smith Mountain Lake is a dream location for Brides. Smith Mountain Lake has many wedding ceremony and reception locations that can offer locations from intimate weddings to grand events.

Smith Mountain Lake Weddings has had the opportunity to coordinate weddings at a majority of the Smith Mountain Lake wedding locations and can assist you in choosing the best location for your wedding event. If you need assistance in finding the best venue for your wedding, contact Smith Mountain Lake Weddings at kerry@SMLWeddings.com or 540-493-0928.

Below you will find a list of the preferred wedding venues at Smith Mountain Lake. When contacting any of the venues listed below tell them that you received there information from Smith Mountain Lake Weddings.

Smith Mountain Lake Wedding Venues:

Bernard’s Landing Resort & Conference Center – www.bernardslanding.com

Love Stone Inn - www.lovestoneinn.com

Mariner’s Landing – www.marinerslanding.com

Parkway Marina – www.parkwaymarina.com

Virginia Dare Cruises – www.vadarecruises.com

WE Skelton 4-H Center – www.skelton4hcenter.org

Westlake Country Club – www.golfthewestlake.com

More information regarding these venues and other wedding businesses can be found at www.SMLWeddings.com

Posted at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Interview with BC's Big Rhythm Sound

SML Weddings — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:17:00 GMT

December 09, 2008

Interview with BC's Big Rhythm Sound

Smith Mountain Lake Weddings interviewed BC's Big Rhythm Band in December of 2008. I have heard BC's Big Rhythm Band in person when they performed a wedding for one of my Brides in Lynchburg, VA - they did a Fantastic Job!!! Here's the interview...

What is the name of your business? BC's Big Rhythm Sound

What services do you offer to Brides? Wedding Ceremony Music as well as Reception Music.

How many years have you been performing at weddings? 15 +

What is the style of music you perform? Basically everything from Big Band to Gwen Stephanie

What makes your business different than other musicians or bands? variety of music, and we do NOT over power audiences.

Do you only perform weddings in our local area or will you travel? We regularly play in DC, West Va, Hampton Rhodes and N.C.

What other services do you offer? Wedding Ceremony Music

Do you have a favorite song to perform at wedding receptions? What ever the newly weds want we will do.

Why should a Bride have you perform at there wedding? We are unique because of our size 8 pcs. and the variety of music we perform.

Where can a Bride hear examples of your music? Contact me @ Leadtrptbc@aol.com and I will be happy to send a CD.

How can a Bride or Groom contact you? Call 434-239-3070 or email me Leadtrptbc@aol.com

Any additional information you would like to add? We will do whatever it takes to make your special day a HUGE success.

Rainy Day Wedding

SML Weddings — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:15:00 GMT

December 16, 2008

Rainy Day Wedding

The other day I was cuddling with my one year old watching the rain pouring down when I thought how much we need the rain since Smith Mountain Lake is so low right now. So then the idea of todays blog popped into my head...rainy day weddings. The majority of weddings at Smith Mountain Lake are outdoor weddings due to our beautiful scenery, however, an outdoor wedding can add a lot of stress on a Bride when planning her wedding day.

When you plan an outdoor wedding you MUST ALWAYS have a back up plan in case it rains. Depending on your venue location and your budget there are a few backup plans that are available to the majority of Brides.

Venue - If your venue has a large enough banquet room (such as Mariner's Landing Boardwalk Room) that you are using for your reception then you can have your wedding coordinator combine ceremony and reception location into one place. Another option is to have an additional room reserved for a ceremony location if the venue has one available.

Tent - A tent is another option in case it rains on your wedding day, however, this usually takes a little more prep time and will again depend on the location. Please remember that you can't just call up a tent company on a Saturday afternoon and have them set up a tent 20 minutes before the ceremony, well you could but it probably wouldn't happen that soon. Most tent companies require that they set up the tents a couple of days prior to the event so the decision to use a tent must be made a few days in advance. Be sure to determine the location of the tent in advance so that any changes to the aisle/walkway can be made. Be sure all of your vendors are also aware of any tent plans so that they can make any required changes that will need to be made.

Optional Venue Location - A third option is to have a venue in "standby" just in case your ceremony or reception is rained out. You may want to contact a few churches to see if they would be available for your ceremony location, however be sure that you are able to contact all of your wedding guests so that you won't have guests arriving at the wrong location.

If you are having an indoor ceremony and reception and it happens to rain on your wedding day then just be sure your wedding coordinator has brought along extra large umbrellas, lots of hairspray and a few extra tissues to pat away any rain drops.

A professional wedding coordinator has the ability to make weather backup plans and has probably dealt with rainy wedding days before (I know that I have) so be sure review the backup rain plan with her/him. Just remember that in many cultures rain on your wedding day symbolizes good luck!