Vendor Spotlight: Piedmont Club Private Events

This week we talked to Katie Simmons, Private Events Director at Piedmont Club in Haymarket, Virginia.  Piedmont Club is the venue for the Encore Wedding Giveaway that our couple Becky and Jason won.  It is a beautiful golf course venue- check it out for your next wedding or event!  For more information you can contact Katie at 703-753-5922 ext 225 or find Piedmont online at: 

www.PiedmontClub.com
PiedmontClubPrivateEvents.blogspot.com
www.pinterest.com/piedmontclub

Tell me about your business. 

Piedmont Club is a private golf club in Haymarket, Virginia. Although we are a private club, you do not have to be a Member to host an event with us. Our ballroom can accommodate up to 180 people and has a spacious patio adjacent to it. We also have our library, which is a great space for smaller events for up to 40 people, such as rehearsal dinners or bridal showers. We only host one wedding per day so that when you rent our ballroom you have total access to the entire venue whenever you would like that day. We have menus for every occasion but also enjoy customizing packages to suit our client's specific preferences and needs for their event.

What do you enjoy most when working with a bridal couple? 

I enjoy getting to know the couple and finding out what things are most important to them so that I can help them put a personal touch on their big day. I love seeing the looks on their faces when they see the ballroom and all of their ideas come to life for the first time.

From where do you draw your inspiration? 

I think that each couple has something that makes them unique and that makes their relationship special, so finding out what is important to them and what they enjoy helps me to suggest creative ideas to personalize their wedding.

What advice do you have for brides and grooms who are in the throes of planning their wedding? 

Ask all of the questions that you need to and don't be shy when it comes to letting your vendors know how you want things for your big day. It is your wedding and your vendors should always be focused on helping you make your vision become a reality.

Thanks Katie!

Upcoming Trunk Shows at Soliloquy Bridal Couture

Source: Soliloquy Bridal Couture

We wanted to let you know about upcoming trunk shows at one of our favorite bridal salons- Soliloquy Bridal Couture in Herndon, Virginia.

April 24-28: SJ Couture of Arizona

May 4-6: Local fan favorite Sareh Nouri. Designer will be present for personal consultations and customized changes.

May 11 and 12: Project Runway’s Season Six Winner Irina Shabayeva

Brides will receive 10% off all Trunk Show gowns!  Appointments for all Trunk Shows can be made by calling 571.449.2580 or through their website at www.soliloquybridal.com

In addition to upcoming Trunk Shows, brides are invited to meet Sareh Nouri and be the first to see her new 2012 collection during a Fashion Show and Reception, Friday, May 4 at 7 p.m. at our boutique. Reserve your seat at the fashion show by emailing mayevent@soliloqybridal.com; limited seating available. 

Vendor Spotlight: Music Unlimited

This week we had a chance to chat with James Bazen of Music Unlimited.  Be sure to check them out for all your music needs for your next wedding or event!

Music Unlimited has been in business since 1985. We book a wide variety of bands, disc jockeys and musicians for weddings, corporate events, and private functions. In addition we book various festivals and clubs around the DC area. Over the years some our clients have included Sun Trust, Kilpatrick Stockton, the NRC, and the Carnegie Institute.

While corporate work is great I think my personal favorite is to work with couples on their wedding music. I know it can be stressful for the couple but ultimately a wedding is an occasion full of love and happiness. My job is to bring that joy and, of course, the fun out through music.

When a bridal couple first contact me I ask them questions about the music they like, the venue they have chosen, and the overall “vibe” that they want to create for their special day. Together we determine what is right for them. It doesn’t matter if it is a full 9 piece band, a DJ or musicians for the ceremony. What does matter is that they are happy.

And that is what inspires me. To see a couple starting their new life together and knowing that I helped with great ceremony music and an exciting reception full of great tunes.

Many couples get caught up in what is the “right” thing to do or the “appropriate” music to play. My advice to them is there is no “right” way to do things. It is your wedding. Whatever you want is what you should have. For example some feel that classical music is the only way to go for the ceremony. But there are other choices equally valid. One of the most popular recessionals of recent years is the Beatles “All You Need Is Love”.

Another thing that helps is if the couple keeps in mind the venue where the wedding will be held. If you 250 guests in a big hotel ballroom perhaps a DJ is not the way to go. A band might be more appropriate. Conversely if there are 50 guests in an intimate historic mansion perhaps a DJ or a duo or trio would work better.

But ultimately my advice is enjoy the planning and the buildup to the wedding. It is fun and exciting. And with the right wedding professionals like – surprise! - Music Unlimited and A Splash of Elegance the entire process will be a breeze.

Thanks James!  For more information on Music Unlimited visit their website at http://www.musicunlimited.com/.  

Wedding Etiquette

We wanted to share with you our top go-to books for everything about wedding and event etiquette.  Emily Post's Etiquette, 18th Edition and Crane's Wedding Blue Book -- they are the two "Bibles" of etiquette and are great references for your special day.

One of the trickiest parts of wedding planning for a bride is getting the wording correct on her invitations.  With so many factors to take into account - parents who are divorced, remarried; time of day, military, what you should and should not include on the invitation, it is easy to get stressed out when writing your invitations!

Contact us to help write or review the wording of your invitations.

Happy Planning!

Julie Daniel

The Perfect Palette

Have you chosen your wedding colors but don't know what to do from there?  The Perfect Palette is a great website that let's you search by color to find inspiration for your wedding or event based on that color.  It also shows you great combinations of colors -- say you love Coral but don't know what color to pair with it.  Simply click on Coral and you will get tons of combinations that go great with coral and also inspiration based on that palette.

Source

Happy Planning!

Julie Daniel