A few pics from Sunday!

A wonderful bridal show: Thank you everyone

Wow! today was a wonderful day, we are all exhausted from the show but really excited with the outcome. We have gotten many wonderful comments from the vendors and the brides who where thrilled about having the first bridal show with them in mind. It was great to see so many smiling faces. :)

Stay tuned to the blog, we have more featured vendor profiles coming up and tons ... tons.. of photos from the fashion show, booths and the behind the scenes photo shoot with our beautiful models.

Thank you Pam DuVal and her team for making this event a complete success and to the many vendors who participated and made this possible!

Photos are been downloaded we will have them up soon!

Featured Vendor: Sandals

SANDALS RESORTS BRING DESTINATION WEDDING AND HONEYMOON DREAMS TO LIFE
Luxurious Amenities, Innovative Programs and Unparalleled Service Combine to Create an Unforgettable Wedding Experience at Sandals Resorts ~

Celebrated for their ability to create precious moments, Sandals Resorts have assembled the top names and services in the bridal industry to offer their guests unparalleled experiences for their destination wedding and honeymoon. From innovative partnerships with celebrated event designer and wedding planner Preston Bailey to the introduction of the Luxury Included® Honeymoon in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia and the Bahamas, the Caribbean resort collection has moved beyond the traditional wedding and honeymoon genre into a world of unprecedented services and amenities.

“Sandals Resorts has earned a worldwide reputation for providing two people in love with the most romantic vacation experience in the Caribbean,” says Joann Delgin, Chief Romance Officer for Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, who is responsible for overseeing the execution of thousands of destination weddings each year. “In addition to unique luxury amenities, we have created a variety of interactive programs to assist couples with every aspect of planning their special day from selecting the resort location to choosing the color of their Preston Bailey bouquet. We have always remained ahead of the curve with innovative new offerings and partnerships and continue to seek out new opportunities and collaborations to inspire and excite our guests.”

Currently, Sandals boasts 12 Luxury Included® resorts located throughout the Caribbean in Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia and The Bahamas. Each offers stunning beachfront locations; a choice of à la carte restaurants, from white-glove dining to barefoot elegance; an exclusive partnership with California's legendary Beringer Vineyards, luxurious accommodations in a range of categories, unrivaled watersports including the Caribbean's largest PADI certification program, the London-based Guild of Professional English Butler Service for truly indulgent pampering and signature Red Lane® Spas, with services and treatments inspired by the region.

THE PLANNING
The wedding planning process ranks among one of the most stressful times in a young couples’ life. “From navigating the expectations of two families to the countless decisions to be made, couples planning the most important day of their lives together sometimes need a reminder of what made them say ‘I do’ in the first place,” says Joann Delgin Chief Romance Officer.

In an effort to ease the stress commonly associated with planning the big event, Sandals recently created a number of interactive programs and packages to assist couples with finalizing wedding and honeymoon plans.

Sandals Wedding Blog
Jaime Stewart-McConnell, Managing Director of Royal Plantation Collection and daughter of Sandals founder Butch Stewart, recently created the Sandals Wedding Blog sandalsweddingblog.com/blog/ for couples planning their wedding or honeymoon. The
interactive site shares valuable insights into planning a destination wedding and honeymoon at Sandals Resorts, including insider tips from Jaime’s own experience as a recent bride.

Dessy Dresses Collection
In 2004, Vivian Diamond of the Dessy Collection, created a line of ten gowns exclusively for Sandals Resorts. The simple light and airy dresses ideally suited for destination weddings are sold in select retail locations and online at http://www.sandals.com/ and http://www.beaches.com/. Each of the dresses in the Sandals destination wedding dress collection is available for $499.

Featured Vendor: The Marriott

Marriott hotels of Jacksonville, NC

The Marriott hotels of Jacksonville, NC – TownePlace Suites and Fairfield Inn & Suites – can help take the stress out of your wedding by hosting your guests. Our hotels are conveniently located in Jacksonville to many nearby wedding sites. With comfortable accommodations, complimentary daily breakfast, and superior customer service, our staff is committed to taking good care of your out-of-town guests. Discounts are available for group blocks of ten (10) or more guest rooms.

Contact Tracy Woodhead, Director of Sales, to learn more at (910) 478-9795 or tracyw@lbaproperties.com.

Q&A with Tracy:
What's the most important piece of advice you can offer a bride? As a recent bride, the best advice I can give is to relax and breathe. The day will go by very quickly. Remember the special moments you share – getting ready with your bridal attendants, the first time you see the groom at the altar, watching everyone enjoy themselves at the reception. These are the moments that don’t always get captured in pictures but will always be engrained in your memory.

What is the biggest trend you're seeing in weddings? Trends I’m seeing recently are brunch receptions and personalized drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Brunches can save money. With a personalized menu or special drink, a bride and groom can show off their personality and incorporate elements of their first date or favorite moment together to share with their guests.

Tell us an anecdote about one of your favorite couples, bride or wedding. A bride and groom were staying at our hotel recently. The day before the wedding the bride found out the chapel had been double booked and they were moving the ceremony. There were a lot of out of town guests who already had directions to the first spot. Many of the guests were at our hotel so our staff helped out by printing up new directions and making sure everyone knew of the new location so the bride didn’t have to worry. We were all amazed at how calm the bride was through the last minute change. She knew she just had to smile and it would all work out. She was marrying a great guy and that was really all she needed!

Featured Vendor: Poplar Grove Plantation

Poplar Grove Plantation is a beautiful, historic setting for weddings, receptions and parties. With expansive lawns and moss draped oaks as a backdrop, there's an authentic1850 manor house, lovely courtyard and cloud-white gazebo. Receptions for up to 175 in the Cultural Arts Center; accomodate more in a tent. For the wedding of your dreams at a price you can afford have your special day where generations of southern belles have married their gentlemen. Visit us at 10200 US 17, Wilmington, NC, on the web at http://www.poplargrove.com/ or call 910.686.9518 ext. 26

Casting call: Models needed for Sandals destination wedding gowns

We are looking for 4 models sizes 8-10 to showcase Sandals new line of destination wedding dresses. experience is not necessary but you must be 18 or older to participate.

From jeweled brooches to lace-up backs, elegance and effortlessness are the defining duet of destination wedding dresses. Lightweight fabrics like silk and charmeuse are easy to travel with and look playful and ravishing amid island breezes and leaping waves.

If you are interested, contact us at info@lejeunebridalgala.com. Great opportunity to build your portfolio, get exposure and network with area photographers, stylists and make up artist.

Meet our beautiful models: Stacy, Amanda, Brooke, Wendy and Kelley

Meet our beautiful models! They will be showcasing David’s Bridal latest collection and Sandals new line of destination wedding gowns this Sunday at the Lejeune Bridal Gala!

Don't miss out of this fabulous and fun event. There will be lots of door prizes and give aways. Bob 93.3 will be broadcasting live from the event!
I must say that I had the greatest time meeting with the girls who will be participating in the show. They are great! Not only gorgeous and super fun but also energetic and totally enthusiastic. I love them!

We have been chatting back and forth for the past few weeks while trying to narrow down all the last details. We finally got to meet Sunday and we had a blast! The weather was gorgeous and we went out to the Jacksonville Commons to check out the area where they will be working the catwalk.

This Week's Vendor: Special Events Catering

Special Events Catering specializes in pampering our clients and treating them to phenomenal cuisine. I have built me business in tune with today's best business model - a tremendous value without the high costs. So if you looking for moderate costs, high value, fabulous presentation, delectable cuisine, and professional service, we need to talk!'

Most important info:

Just relax and enjoy every moment of the day and leave everything up to us during your reception.

Biggest trend: Cocktail Wedding Receptions - are perfect for newlyweds looking to have an elegant affair, without breaking your budget.

There was a reception at the Pine Knolls Shore Aquarium where the otters were putting on quite a show during the reception which made for an unforgetable wedding!

This Week's Vendor: David's Bridal

David's Bridal offers a vast selection of designer wedding gowns, in stock, in every size. Not only can customers try on gowns in their size, but they can take home their dream dress the same day they found it. David's Bridal offers the convenience of one-stop shopping with head-to-toe dressing, on-site alterations, special financing options, and gown preservation services. David’s Bridal offers exclusive color coordination for almost every wedding detail, from gown accents and accessories, to bridesmaid dresses, invitations, gifts, and so much more. And for life’s other special occasions David’s has an endless selection of prom and party dresses to fit every style. David's Bridal. Beautiful dresses. Smart prices. Exciting new colors. Fabulous new styles. Including one that is uniquely you. And, with over 300 locations nationwide, it's easy to coordinate even the most widespread wedding party!

Featured Vendor: Sinclair Limousine

At Sinclair Limousine our goal is to provide you with outstanding service that's second to none. We make sure that every client receives the attention to detail and personal service that they deserve. Our fleet is modern and unique, featuring Lincoln Navigator and Town Car stretch limousines.
Whether its an airport transfer, concert, social outing, wedding or any other special occasion, trust in Sinclair Limousine to provide you with expertise and professionalism. Serving Eastern Carolina with affordable luxury and a smart choice for ground transportation.

To find out more about Sinclair Limousine call 252-241-6519 or visit http://www.sinclairlimo.com/

This Weeks Vendor: Kathy Canby Cakes

I have been married for 35 years to my wonderful husband, Ron. Our son, Greg, is 20.
Both my husband and son have been very supportive and helpful with my business.
We have lived in Jacksonville since 1977 and I started decorating cakes as a hobby for friends and family in 1987. I started getting outside orders through word-of-mouth advertising.
At first, I was very nervous about doing cakes for others because I had so much to learn.
Fortunately, through the encouragement of my husband and some very loyal customers,
my confidence and abilities grew. Now that I am retired from my job on Camp Lejeune, I can devote more time to my passion for making delicious and beautiful cakes. To find out more about Kathy Canby Cakes visit: http://www.kathycanbycakes.com/

Door Prizes

The Lejeune Bridal Gala will be giving away door prizes throughout the day, some of the prizes are:

• Spa Day Pass and teeth whitening session courtesy of Planet Beach Contempo Spa
• Two $300 Gift Certificates courtesy of MM Digital Photography
• 12”x18” sheet cake in a variety of flavors (Serves 50) courtesy of Kathy Canby Cakes
• Gift Certificate for an engagement, bridal or portrait session with an 8x10 fine art print courtesy of R. D. Decker Photography
• Certificate for a custom aisle runner courtesy of Chapel Runners
• Cake knife & server courtesy of Promised Hearts
• 11 x 14 photo frame courtesy of Uniquely You PhotographsWedding music CD & songbook courtesy of the The O'Neil Brothers

In addition to the growing list of door prizes, the first 100 brides to attend will receive a free goody back filled with tons of gifts and saving from our vendors.

This Week's Vendor: Uniquely You Photographs

My name: Arthine Saunders Thomas
Business name: Uniquely You Photographs
My e-mail: photographer1@uniquelyyouphotographs.com
Business website: http://www.uniquelyyouphotographs.com/

Business mailing address: P.O. Box 801 Richlands, NC 28574
Business phone: 910-324-2126

Bio: I am a native of Onslow County. Born in Richlands to Doug and Hazel Saunders. Graduated from Richlands High School and East Carolina University. I taught in the Onslow County School System for over 29 years retiring in June 2008. I have a daughter, Kimberly, and a granddaughter, Janiya. I am the widow of Michael Thomas.

Q1. The best advice I can give the bride and the groom it to remember that it is your day and your wishes, hopes, and dreams are what is most important.

Q2. The trend I see today is that couples are still doing the traditional things at their weddings, but putting their own unique "spin" on them.
Q3. The most touching thing I witnessed at a wedding reception was the groom "marrying" the 3 young stepdaughters with each getting their own ring.

Featured Vendor: An Affair to Remember by Laurie

An Affair to Remember by Laurie is based on the belief that customers' needs are of the utmost importance. Laurie is committed to meeting all her client's needs. As a result, a high percentage of her business is from repeat customers and referrals.

"I would welcome the opportunity to earn your trust and deliver you the best service in the industry," said Laurie.

To learn more about her services visit http://www.anaffairtorememberbylaurie.com/ or contact her by phone (910)265-0259 or email lamottespecialevents@hotmail.com.

Featured vendor: Island Essentials

Island Essentials has over 10 years experience in the rental equipment industry. There is one thing we have down to a science, service. Brides and party planners alike have raved about our top quality items, competitive pricing and unsurpassed service. Let them tell you…

“...Everyone at this place was very helpful. They are priced nicely as well.”- Landon Wedding

“...We couldn’t have done it without them!!!” - Wolfe Event

“Very friendly and easy to work with!” - Licko Wedding

This Week's Vendor: Images by Rodger Photography

Rodger Whitney, Images by Rodger Photography

Located in New Bern, serving all of Eastern NC. With many years of experience, I work to get the shots others miss. In addition to the posed and customary images, I try to capture the moments that make true memories, not just pictures. Weddings, Family Reunions, events and commercial photography are all available. Web Site: http://rodgerwhitney.com/ .

Featured Vendor: Emma Lupton

This weeks featured vendor is Emma Lupton, and here is a Q & A with her:

What's the most important piece of advice you can offer a bride?
Select vendors you have received recommendations from other brides and whom you are comfortable. Don't go into debt for a wedding celebration. Remember the photos are designed to tell your wedding story and will be passed down to your children and their children. Select a photographer who has talent and a good personality.
What is the biggest trend you're seeing in weddings?

I think brides are focusing more the bridal couple and guests having fun. Good food and great entertainment.
Tell us an anecdote about one of your favorite couples, bride or wedding.

The brides I get the best photographs from are the ones who are relaxed and let things happen. The bridal couple who are into the photography always have awesome albums and photo books to share with their families. The is nothing more romantic than a bride and groom holding hands and laughing together over a shared secret moment. To view samples of her work, visit: Emma Lupton Photography at http://www.emmaluptonphotography.com/live/

Featured Vendor: Amy Andreola, Sheraton Atlantic Beach

Meet Amy Andreola, she is the Catering Manager at the Sheraton in Atlantic Beach. She has been at the Sheraton for 12 years ans has been in the catering office 10 of those 12 years. A huge part of Amy's job is planning everything from set up to menus for weddings, military functions and group business ranging from associations to corporate.
Amy is enrolled in a Wedding and Event Consultant course through the US Career Institute to become a certified wedding and event planner. Amy shares that the most rewarding part of her job is meeting new people and helping them plan a memorable event whether it be a once in a lifetime event like a wedding, a USMC Birthday Ball or an annual event for their organization. Accordind to Amy there is never a dull moment in this business.

Q & A with Amy:

What's the most important piece of advice you can offer a bride?
Don’t Sweat the small stuff it will all come together in the end and most importantly take time to appreciate the experience of the wedding ceremony.
What is the biggest trend you're seeing in weddings?
Destination weddings – Beach Weddings
Tell us an anecdote about one of your favorite couples, bride or wedding
I guess one of my favorites weddings was one that the brides mother was so nervous the whole time about the reception. We drew diagrams and she emailed me almost every day. She just wanted it to be perfect for her daughter’s once in a lifetime event. Wedding day came – beautiful weather we worked hard all day on the room reception, time came and as I waited for the brides mother the more nervous I got. Then just the look on her face told it all she was ecstatic the room was beautiful she was wowed. Everything went off without a hitch and she had a smile on her face the entire evening. That’s what it is all about.

To learn more about the Sheraton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront Hotel email: amyg@sheratonatlanticbeach.com or visit http://www.sheratonatlanticbeach.com/

This Week's Vendor: The English Rose

The English rose was founded in 2007 by Sandra McCuin.
Sandra McCuin is originally from England where she started her first Floral Business at the age of 14. Sandra firmly believes in keeping up to date with Education and Trends within the floral industry. For the last 18 years she has studied all over the world, including Japan to study Ikebana. Sandra continues to be involved in Industry Conventions, Floral Associations and Educational workshops, working with many industry leaders to create new trends and raise the standard within the Floral Industry. For Sandra, flowers are a passion and a way of life. To learn more about The English Rose visit: http://www.theenglishrosenc.com/

Featured Vendor: Topsail Weddings

Rev. Sheree' L. Alderman is the owner and founder of Topsail Weddings, a non-denominational wedding company located in southeastern North Carolina. She has married hundreds of couples our surrounding areas. A retired Paramedic of 13 years, she says she enjoys meeting people on the "best day of their lives instead of their worst."
"I love what I do," says Sheree'. "I thoroughly enjoy meeting the couples and their families and getting to know them through the process of planning the biggest and most important day of their lives."
Topsail Weddings is the oldest wedding service provider that serves Topsail Island. Sheree' does, however, perform weddings "from Raleigh to the coast." Whether you want a private party of two or a grand event with two hundred or more of your closest friends, she can help you customize your nuptials to create the wedding of your dreams.
"Because of close family ties, I'm always bouncing between Raleigh and Topsail. I'm happy to provide services to any of these areas."
Those family ties run deep.
"I'm always looking for any excuse to visit my 3 year old grand daughter," laughs Sheree'.
Q & A with Topsail Weddings:
What's the most important piece of advice you can offer a bride?
Location! Location! Location!
One of the most important decisions a bride and groom have is to make is where the wedding ceremony is going to be. And second, will your budget allow it? Let's face it; most of us live on a budget. Even a well-planned wedding these days can place a strain on your every day living.
By first deciding what type of wedding you want; traditional, as in a church wedding; civil, possibly in your home or at a park and, lastly, casual as in a beach ceremony, you will have set the stage, so to speak, and narrowed your choices. You can have a high-end service in any venue. For instance, you can have a formal affair or a casual event on the beach; it's all up to you and what your budget allows.
This is one of the reasons that operating within the confines of a well-planned event is so important. Finding the best restaurants, accommodating caterers or who to hire for a unique wedding cake is extremely important to any couple.
The best advice I can give you is to talk to someone that knows the area. A lot of the time, your pastor, or officiate, is very knowledgeable when it comes to finding right vendor for you. They work around various companies and providers, and can give you an "insider’s view" on the rapport with their clients.
What is the biggest trend you're seeing in weddings?
As far as wedding trends go, I'm not so sure I know anything thats new but, I will tell you this, we are seeing a lot more "casual" type settings. I don't think it's particularly always a financial decision, but a dual desire by the bride and groom to be more "in tune" with their audience.
I certainly have seen formal "Cinderella"-type gowns and tuxes in beach ceremonies but, these are getting further and further between. A good amount of the time, the girls do wear the regular bridal gown and the guys will wear khaki knee-length shorts with linen shirts. This looks great, feels more comfortable and the guys love it. I've noticed they're much happier when they don’t have to put the tux on and they'll let you know it!
For the most part, military weddings are a bit more complex with dress uniform; while, a lot of the time, the bride is in a simpler gown, like a white, long sundress, or something more adaptable to the summer, which is the height of our wedding season. I do have to say personally, there is nothing more beautiful than a military wedding at sunset with full dress uniform. It really tugs at my heart.
Nonetheless, any combination you use in your ceremony should be of your own choosing. As far as I know, there are no official rules for your clothing choices except the fact you have to wear them!
Tell us an anecdote about one of your favorite couples, bride or wedding
Will and Sharon - Your wedding has expired!
I do have a funny, and touching, story of a couple that I met a couple of years ago. When I was first introduced to Will and Sharon, I just fell in love with them. They are a couple from Raleigh who had been dating for seven long years. (This was according to Sharon, who was definitely ready to get married).
They were both in their late thirties, and neither had been married before. (I could feel the anticipation myself.) They are both beautiful people, inside and out, so I was a bit surprised when I got a frantic call from the bride a month before their wedding saying their marriage license was not valid and he refused to pay another $50.00 for a new one. Was there something I could do?
Well, unfortunately, no, there is nothing that can be done by officiates or clergy when it comes to your marriage license. You have to be aware that there is a time limit on these documents when you receive them and a time restraint on getting them back to that same facility. You can get your marriage license anywhere in North Carolina but it has to be filled out by the person that marries you and returned to that same location within ten days after your ceremony.
The problem? Sharon was so excited that Will had finally proposed and was ready to marry her, she dragged him to the court house the next day for the license, which unfortunately became invalid two weeks prior to their wedding date.
Since their date was set in stone, the only thing left was to marry them before the date ran out, which is what we did. It was short, simple and no frills. The "real" wedding came two weeks later and it was on the beach with all their friends and family.
At their ceremony, I told the story, (with their approval), of the wife that loved her husband so much, she married him twice! I knew they would have a great story to tell their grandchildren in years to come.
For more information about Topsail Weddings visit: http://www.topsail-weddings.com/

This Week's Vendor: J & S Creations

Greeting to everyone from J&S Custom Creations.

Creations. We are a small family owned cottage business located at Surf City. J&S or Jeff & Sue Conerly are the founders & owners. With backgrounds in Engineering and Pharmacy, we retired and moved from Raleigh, our home for 20 years to Surf City, the best move we have ever made. Retirement gave us the opportunity to meet lots of new friends and spend our time and energy doing the things that we love including activities at our church- Chapel by the Bay, our photography, virtual tours, and others. Our photographic activities quickly evolved to a full time –year around activity. We have had articles and photographs published in local newspapers and magazines. In general we provide a variety of services but our love is to focus on smaller beach weddings and beach oriented family portraits. Our goal is to capture the event as well as the traditional images. This gives us the opportunity to meet new friends and capture the memories they can enjoy for a lifetime. Check our website for some examples of our work: http://www.jandscustomcreations.com/ .

We are pleased to participate in the Lejeune Bridal Gala and are looking forward to meeting and visiting with everyone.

Q. What's the most important piece of advice you can offer a bride?


A. Based on our experience with quite a few brides there seems to be one common factor that can easily distract from what should be a very happy and enjoyable time. Don’t get stressed out over every little detail. Make vendor selections based on budget and quality expectations then meet with selected vendors then let them do their job. Regardless of the size of your wedding, a small informal beach wedding or a large formal event, keep it simple. It’s your wedding, enjoy it. We give this bit of advice to each bride & groom that we meet with. Their feedback has shown it to be sound advice.

Q. What is the biggest trend you're seeing in weddings?
A. Over the last few years we have observed two basic factors that are affecting local wedding plans. For military weddings plans and dates tend to be more frequently driven by deployment or returning from deployment dates. In the case of nonmilitary weddings, planning considerations and decisions are more frequently driven by the declining economic considerations. In either case the bride is looking for the best way to have the wedding she wants that fits in her shrinking budget.

Q. What was our most memorial wedding?
A. No doubt, our most memorable wedding was a beach wedding of approximately 20+ people. After the ceremony, the photos and the congratulations the party lined up on the beach holding hands and charged into the surf -bride in her wedding gown, bride’s maids in their dresses, and all. Of course, the photographer had to be out front to get the best photos. When all was done the entire party was splashing around like a bunch of kids playing in the surf while the photographer was waist deep capturing the fun and dodging the waves while keeping the camera dry. We have only had one wedding that went to this extent but this is a great example of everyone having a great time and our commitment to capturing the memories.

Featured Vendor: R.D. Decker Photography

Meet R. D. Decker, he is a professional wedding & portrait photographer providing photography services to Eastern North Carolina couples. Photographer R. D. Decker combines a mixture of photojournalist, fashion-editorial and traditional styles to capture photographic memories of your wedding day.

Below is a Q & A with the Bob:

What's the most important piece of advice you can offer a bride?
Please, please, please don't go ultra-low budget on your photography. You'll regret
It’s for years to come. The photos of your special day are one of the few things you'll have for years to come.

What is the biggest trend you're seeing in weddings?
Private meetings between the Bride & Groom before the ceremony.

This is a great opportunity for the couple to enjoy themselves in their wedding attire and often makes for some wonderful wedding day images as well. The expression on a grooms face when he first sees his bride in her wedding gown is almost

always emotional.

These big strong guys often tear-up.

Tell us an anecdote about one of your favorite couples, bride or wedding.
Every bride... every couple... every wedding is my favorite in one way or another. It
is the unique nature and personalities of the couples that make them special. It is these attributes that I seek to capture in my images. To check out more of Bob’s great photos visit: http://www.rddeckerphotography.com/

Featured Vendor: CK Entertainment

Chuck Kolb founded CK Entertainment in 1997 with the single goal of providing a quality DJ/MC service to local customers. Since the first year of 14 total events, CK Entertainment has grown into a multi-unit DJ service that caters to Weddings, Corporate Events, School Dances and Proms. Our services have expanded to include specialty lighting, music videos, and AV rental equipment. CK Entertainment on average performs at over 100 wedding receptions per year.

The guys behind the music:
Chuck Kolb - Chuck began his DJ career in Charleston, SC. Since Charleston is one of the top destination wedding locations, he quickly learned to offer a variety of services, be flexible, and able to change itineraries on a moments notice. Chuck moved to New Bern, NC in 1997 and launched CK Entertainment. He continues to cater to corporate clients, Bride and Grooms, and school functions. Some of Chuck’s fondest memories are of bride's parents giving hugs and kisses at the end of a reception and thanking him for helping to make their daughter’s wedding memorable. From New Bern, Chuck has DJ’d at locations all across North and South Carolina including The Lowes Motor Speedway, The Biltmore Estate, Pinehurst, and numerous locations in Raleigh, Myrtle Beach, and Eastern North Carolina.

Bryan Hales - Bryan was born in Eastern North Carolina and began his DJ career performing for birthday parties and school dances. Through the years, Bryan won several local DJ contests and had quite a beach music following when he performed at several Atlantic Beach locations. Since joining CK Entertainment in 2000, Bryan has honed his skills as a Wedding and Corporate DJ/MC. He is now one of the most requested DJ’s in Eastern North Carolina and routinely travels to Raleigh and Wilmington for special clients.

Ed Peugh - Ed has been with CK Entertainment since 2006. He moved to New Bern to serve our country as a Marine stationed at Cherry Point Marine Corp Air Station.Ed came to CK Entertainment with several years of DJ experience while living in California and Iowa. Ed loves the opportunity to work with customers and ensure all their needs are met and exceeded.

Frankie Hill - Frankie started with CK Entertainment in 2006. She has brought a wealth of DJ and Karaoke experience to CK Entertainment. Frankie loves to be in front of a crowd and encourages lots of group dances and participations from all the guests. Clients love her outgoing personality, warmth, and truly caring attitude. To check them out, visit: http://www.ckentertainment.net/djs.html

Featured Vendor: Promised Hearts Wedding Planning

Meet Pam Duval from Promised Hearts.

Pam has had a passion for weddings and events for as long as she can remember. After years of planning events for friends and family, she decided to make her dream a reality and start her own business, Promised Hearts Wedding Planning.
Prior to becoming a wedding planner Pam was business office manager for nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the New Bern, North Carolina area. She gained invaluable knowledge in dealing with people in stressful, complex situations. Her experience with finances as an office manager has helped her to plan and manage her business as well as plan events with any type of budget.
Working almost every wedding with her husband Joe, Pam expanded their business by opening a retail shop in downtown New Bern. By constantly searching for new and unique items, Promised Hearts Inc. carries everything a wedding planner needs for their next event; rental items, candelabras, specialty linens, candy stations, unique gifts, wedding accessories, anniversary items, and more.

Pam is a Professional Bridal Consultant, co-director of the New Bern area networking group, an active member in the New Bern Chamber of Commerce, and a certified Sandals expert. Pam’s main goal is to teach students that by providing an exceptional level of personal care, they can help their clients have a memorable and enjoyable experience from the time they start planning until the big day, regardless of the event size or budget.
As an Instructor for The Wedding Planning Institute’s How to Become a Certified Wedding Planner course, Pam strongly believes having a professional certification in the wedding planning industry gives her students “the training and credibility to become a trusted planner. Brides especially, must have confidence in their planner,” she says. “You will be spending a lot of time together and you must be able to have that level of trust.”
“Wedding Planning can be a great career that is fun and extremely fulfilling. It is exciting to see all the pieces come together the day of the event,” Pam adds. “To see the happiness on the bride’s face and to know that her big day has been a dream come true makes me happy. I just love what I do!”

Featured Vendor: MM Digital Photography

Greetings from the staff at MM Digital Photography! We are thrilled to participate in the Lejeune Bridal Gala. It’s great to see all the wonderful vendors that were invited to participate in this exclusive event. We see many familiar vendors, many who are already part of our fantastic network and who we often see at our weddings. We also see some new faces and look forward to meeting everyone.
To our brides, all we can say is that this is a fantastic opportunity to meet tons of great people and get to meet your future vendors. We were asked to answer a Q & A and here are our answers:
Q. What's the most important piece of advice you can offer a bride?
A. Get to meet your vendors, ask for samples of their work. There are many types of photographers and their styles vary as well, find out what it’s the style and personality that fits you the most. The biggest difference in style that you will come across are traditional, photojournalistic and editorial photography. Basically the first style captures the main events of your wedding and for the most part is heavily posed some photographers offer the very standard while other are more creative and give you a playful approach. Photojournalistic style is very popular, it is the least intrusive of all the styles. The true photojournalists, which I like to call the purist don’t believe in posing at all but rather capture the events as they unfold, most of the purist will also carry minimal equipment, some only provide images in black and white.

However there are variations and several degrees of photojournalistic photography, make sure to ask and understand what you should expect. My favorite style is editorial, this style is really a blend of traditional and photojournalistic, it combines the candid unobtrusive coverage, but it also incorporates the traditional posed shots. The idea behind editorial photography is to tell the story of your day while making your images look as they would appear on a fashion magazine. Much emphasis is placed on making you look beautiful.

Things to keep in mind when shopping for a photographer:
- Look at complete weddings, which will give you an idea of what you will get.
- The key to finding an experienced photographer is to compare 2 or 3 photographers with similar styles. Look at the way their photos are lighted, look at the colors. Look at their prices, yes if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Nine out of ten lower end vendors come with lower end products to keep costs down, but there are exceptions to the rules. Professional equipment is really expensive, a professional who has invested in professional grade equipment and has formal education can be expected to be at a higher price bracket that someone who does not possess this qualities.

With that said is very important to place close attention as to who you hire, sometimes it can be deceiving as you may encounter an ocean of aspiring photographers with less than appropriate equipment and high hopes for an easy career willing to use your wedding day to learn the trade and build a portfolio. Look at their web site, ask for complete galleries, look and feel the products they offer, ask for referrals and make sure to check them. Most important, trust your instincts.

Q. What is the biggest trend you're seeing in weddings?
A. We see a huge welcome to trash the dress sessions or what we call wet ’n wild newlyweds. This sessions are so much fun. It’s all about dressing up one more time and having fun. The TTD sessions can be done with the couple or just the bride. The great news for the grooms is that they don’t have to wear a tux or dress blues. Usually the groom wears a button down shirt and rolled up khakis, while our brides get to dress up and play in their dress. The emphasis of the TTD sessions is to make beautiful and creative images that will decorate your walls in a unique and elegant way. Large Canvas are the most popular choice for this sessions.
And that is all for now! To check out some of our work visit http://www.mmdigitalphoto.com/. We look forward to seeing you at the Bridal Gala Feb. 15!

This week's featured vendor: American Dream Cakes

Meet Gunilla Kroshus cake designer and owner of American Dream Cakes bakery.
American Dream Cakes started business in March 2001 working out of a 300 square foot shop at Gunilla’s house. In 2004 her husband retired from the U.S. Army (22 years working as a Food Inspector) and started working with Gunilla. They opened their current storefront location in Gum Branch Road two years ago in February and they now have a team of bakers & decorators. Here is a Q & A with her:

Q. What's the most important piece of advice you can offer a bride?
A. Brides that are bringing in pictures from magazines and cakes seen on TV should be aware that those cakes are custom creations and therefore tend to be high dollar cakes. If your baker can recreate your "Dream Cake" be prepared to pay for it.

Q. What is the biggest trend you're seeing in weddings?
A. Because of the increase of TV shows like "Ace of Cakes" and Food Networks multiple cake shows, brides are mostly asking for fondant covered cakes. My experience shows that once they get to try it, most brides do not like the taste or texture of fondant. Overall brides nowadays want something unique but yet elegant. At American Dream Cakes Bakery the bride can have her cake iced in Butter-cream as smooth looking as fondant.
To learn more about American Dream Cakes visit their website at http://www.americandreamcakes.com/

This Week's Vendor: Panache wedding

Panache Wedding, Catering & Photography Services is a one-stop shop located on seven acres of country beauty conveniently located in the heart of Jacksonville. As wedding planners, they will assist with all aspects of the wedding and reception, including rehearsal dinners. The staff at Panache prides themselves for working with brides and making their dream wedding a reality and within their budget. Panache belongs to a network of local businesses who extend discounts to their clients. Panache has been a part of the wedding community since 1985. Here is a Q & A with the planners at Panache:

What's the most important piece of advice you can offer a bride?
Hold off on making purchases until you find a venue for the wedding and reception. Some venues provide or rent at a nominal cost many of the items you would be purchasing. If the facility you decide on comes with "Wedding Planner Services," you may enjoy greater savings if the Wedding Planner negotiates savings for you through their contacts with other local businesses.

This week's featured vendor: Weddings of Grace

Meet Malika Becton from Weddings of Grace, this lovely lady is a fantastic wedding planner, she is known for her charismatic personality and willingness to help. Here are some tips that she shared with us during an interview:
"The most important piece I can offer a bride is to make sure they hire a professional bridal consultant to help them plan there wedding. Some people automatically assume that a wedding planner is a luxury only for the wealthy and is not a necessity. A wedding planner is a very vital element for a wedding just as much as the wedding gown, tuxedo, and ring are to the bride and groom. There’s nothing more reassuring, than knowing your wedding is going to run flawlessly right before your eyes. More so, if we say that despite of a tight budget you can still have the wedding of your dreams. Your wedding planner can make that happen. We can get the best prices through our networking group of many different vendors. You can not afford not to have a wedding planner."

We asked Malika was was the biggest trends she sees with her clients, here is what she has to say: "The biggest trend I am seeing in weddings are trash the dress sessions, after parties, changing into a special gown at the reception, adesso albums and photo booths.

To learn more about Malika visit her website: www.weddingsofgrace.us

This Week's Vendor: JC Formals

Meet Pamela, owner of J.C. Carolina Formals, LLC. She is a couture bridal and formal gown designer with more than 10 years of experience in the field. Pamela is known for her creative style and for her wonderful personality, she will be delighted to create your dream gown. One huge advantage of having your wedding gown custom made is that you get a better fit, you pick the fabric and the exact design you dreamed of. Make sure to stop by her booth. Need to schedule an appointment before that? Call Pamela at 934-0237.

This week's featured vendor: Reverend Bonnie Lee Compton

We have the pleasure to introduce Reverend Bonnie Lee Compton, she is a non-denominational minister and serves unique wedding ceremonies in New Bern, Greenville, Jacksonville, Kinston, the Crystal Coast and surrounding areas. Rev. Compton is known for her dedication and responsiveness to the needs of her couples. Rev. Compton is a member of the National Association of wedding ministries and is highly respected in the area. If you would like to schedule a consultation, you can reach her at 252-638-2358 or visit her website http://www.revbonnieweddings.com/ to read some wonderful comments from some of her previous clients.

Brides are encouraged to post their questions for our vendors.

Why is so important to hire professional vendors?

When you think of hiring all your wedding vendors, you may think, “It is too expensive.” The real fact is - it may very well be the best investment you ever make. Most brides work full time, some have children, elderly parents, and countless other obligations. Add to that, the pre-wedding parties, gown fittings, etc.. With today’s hectic lifestyles, how are you going to fit it all in?
A good planner will be your best friend. They have done all the research and can recommend dependable, professional vendors or suppliers, most of the time at a better price. Planners can often suggest something you didn't think of, or a less expensive alternative. They will save you time, money, and relieve your stress. You, your family, and your friends deserve to have fun and enjoy your special day. Leave the worry behind.
You may want to do some or most of the planning yourself, after all that’s part of the fun. It can also be very time-consuming, checking prices, researching, making sure you are getting the best deal for your money. A wedding planner is always someone you can bounce ideas off of and talk to about anything. We are great at keeping secrets, our reputation depends on it.
If you have a medical problem, you see a doctor. If you need legal advice, you see a lawyer. Why would you not seek professionals for the most important day of your life? Even if you plan some of it yourself, you need someone there the day of to oversee everything. After all, you can't do everything and be everywhere. Professional vendors have the training and experience to handle any situation that may arise.
Don't' trust the most important day of your life to unqualified people. Although they mean well, they will want to enjoy your day with you. Hire professionals, you'll be very glad you did!

Lejeune Bridal Gala it's here!

Planning a wedding can be such a fun time and also a time of much decision-making, The Lejeune Bridal Gala is the first of its kind and it’s catered with our troops in mind to help you through the process.
Indulge your taste buds during a wedding cake showcase and sampling of wedding reception cuisine. Meet with bridal consultants, photographers, florists and entertainment experts. Enjoy a fashion show that will highlight the latest trends in bridal and formalwear from the best shops in town, hair and makeup demonstrations, a grooms’ lounge, honeymoon ideas and much more! Guests will be serenaded by DJs who will be showcasing their talents.
All the products, services, ideas and information you’ll need to make your dream wedding come to life are waiting for you.
The Lejeune Bridal Gala is scheduled to take place February 15, 2009 from 1-5 at the Jacksonville Commons Recreation Center, which is located off of Western Blvd., Extension.
Turn on to Gateway North or Gateway South. Both roads become Recreation Loop. From Recreation Loop, turn onto Recreation Lane.