Jeremy Igo is a local wedding photojournalist and award winning member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA). His work documents not only how you looked on your wedding day, but also how you felt. This is a style that is meant to capture the truth in your wedding day. In addition to the photojournalism, Jeremy also offers creative portrait sessions on the wedding day that present the couple in images that feel less “posed”. Jeremy also teaches at The Light Factory, a great Charlotte photography organization that benefits the community.

Jeremy Igo

The Peninsula Club has been remodeled and is once again open for wedding ceremonies and receptions.

The Club is located on Lake Norman and offers a beautiful view of the lake. Ceremonies take place on a well kept green in front of the club house with the lake as a backdrop. There is not much shade available at the ceremony location, brides would be well advised to plan on later in the afternoon or early evening for summer weddings.

The interior of the club house can be customized to fit your needs. A large banquet room in the middle of the venue can be closed off with removable doors for smaller weddings, or opened up to include a second room for larger ones. While your guests arrive they can relax in a very nice lounge with bar.

Brides interested in Church weddings do have the option of a reception only booking. The Club often holds golf and tennis tournaments, be sure to check on if there may be any possible conflicts with your wedding date.

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Wedding Cakes have come a long way over the past decade. Now they are as fun or artistic as the bride sees fit. A popular choice for Charlotte Weddings is Hansel and Gretel’s Bakery. Their cakes are made from scratch, never forzen, and made with a delicious butter cream icing.

Here is an example of their work from a recent wedding at the Birkdale Country Club in Huntersville…

First of all, makeup and hair should be a part of every bride’s wedding budget.  I’m not recommending this because I am a professional artist, but if you leave everything else to the professionals, why wouldn’t you hire someone for the most important part…you?!

Wedding day stress can be overwhelming and the last thing you need to worry about is how you look.  A qualified artist can help make you feel relaxed and pampered.  But how do you choose a makeup artist?  Well here’s some valuable tips…

1.  Don’t go to a makeup counter.  These people are trained to sell makeup, not apply it.  You are taking a chance on dealing with someone who has never applied makeup for photography or special events.  But feel free to ask them if they can refer someone, often times a professional freelance makeup artist will purchase their makeup from that location so the sales personnel are familiar with them.  Do ask your photographer.  Do search online.  Call a local modeling agency and ask who they use for their models.

2. If the makeup artist doesn’t have a portfolio, don’t hire them.  If they don’t have the experience or interest in providing their clients with a professional portfolio then this is someone you don’t want to rely on for your wedding day.  And ask for professional references from other brides and photographers.

3. Book a full consultation.  This may be included in their rate or some artists charge a reasonable extra fee.  Either way, it’s worth it.  This way both of you can make sure you are compatible, you can practice your colors and application and the artist will be prepared on wedding day because they will already have your look picked out. Make sure the artist fills out a “face chart” and makes it available to you.  (note: you may want to purchase the lip product prior to the wedding for touch-ups on your special day).

4.  Upon you initial conversation, ask the artist what brand(s) they use.  This is very important.  Make sure it is a brand you are familiar with or are comfortable using.  The wedding day is not the time to experiment with new makeup that can irritate your skin.  Feel free to request the artist use any of your own makeup products if you feel more comfortable with the ingredients or shades.

5.  Hygiene. This is the most important aspect of using a makeup artist.  Look carefully at their makeup kit.  Make sure every product is clean.  Make sure all products are applied with a DISPOSABLE applicator.  Make sure all “cream” products are not expired and the applicators are sanitized with 70% isprophyl alchohol.  Feel free to request the artist clean their brushes and applicators in front of you before beginning an application.  And make sure they cleanse their hands before touching you.

Kym McClean is owner of Who’s the Fairest and a well respected Charlotte Makeup Artist.

The Ballantyne Resort is both a wedding and reception venue, suitable for medium to large weddings.

Bridal prep areas are the best in Charlotte. Typically brides rent a suite or use one of the smaller rooms on the main level. Both provide enough room and creature comforts for any bridal party.

For ceremonies, there is a paved outdoor area is used with the golf course as a backdrop. Ample room is available for stringed instruments and other music options. In case of rain, a large lobby area with stairwell is a contengency plan option. I have witnessed two weddings at Ballantyne Resort, and in both cases golfers were allowed to play through behind the ceremony. In one case, a golf ball landed within a few yards of the groomsmen. Be sure to double check with the staff on their policies regarding this.

Receptions are held typically in the large ballrooms with high ceilings. These are great for a blank slate for you to customize to your liking. A stage and parquet dance floor can be provided for entertainment. The lobby area outside of the ballroom provides seating for guests looking to relax their ears from the loud music.

All in all the Ballantyne Resort is a desireable option for brides looking to impress their wedding guests.

Questions about this or other venues? Let us know!

by Ginny

I’m sure you’ve seen the match.com commercials and think “no way can it work.”  Well Dustin and I are living proof that it does; yep that’s right, we met on match.com.  After talking via AIM and the phone for a few days, we decided it was time to meet in person.  February 8, 2008 at 7pm my doorbell rang and that’s where it all began.

Dustin picked me up and we had dinner at a nice local restraurant.  Conversation wasn’t awkward, we talked about life, goals, plans, etc.  Then we went out in Downtown Charlotte.  It was the Saturday before his birthday and his friends had planned to all hang out in Charlotte.  So on date one, I met his brother and all of his closest friends. We were out until 2am and had a blast!

As time passed we were seeing each other almost every day and realizing that what we had going was truly something special.  Weeks and months went by and it seemed as if we had known each other forever.  For my college graduation present we went to the beach for a week in June; a much needed vacation for us both.  Each night we would walk the beach from pier to pier.  On June the 9th, we were walking and I was about 10 feet ahead of him.  I turned around to tell him to catch up and he was looking at me with his hand outstretched and full of seashells.  He said “come tell me which one is your favorite.”  I walked over thinking nothing because I like to keep seashells.  And there in the middle of his hand was my beautiful ring.  It was then that he dropped down on one knee and said, “I have loved you since the day we met and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.  Will you marry me?”  With tear filled eyes, I happily said “YES!”

We called our parents (who already knew what he had planned) and all of our closest friends.  The next day I made him drive me to the store so I could get my first wedding magazine.  A wedding is something that a girl dreams of her entire life and wants every aspect to be perfect.  Once we returned home, the planning began.

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What bride does not want to look their best on their wedding day?

I have witnessed Kymm in action numerous times and have always been impressed with her work. She offers both onsite hair and makeup services, in addition to consultations. The brides have always been relaxed and confident in her abilities.

Kymm has agreed to periodically grace us with her insight into makeup and hair from time to time. If you have any specific wedding makeup or hair related questions, please let us know!

image courtesy of Jeremy Igo

Photography is one of the most important wedding day considerations. After the cake is eaten, after the champagne is gone, after the flowers have long since wilted, the pictures will remain.

Cheyenne Schultz is a local photographer with a unique eye and style. If you want to break away from the typical “smile and say cheese” wedding photographer, you should definitely consider Cheyenne. Modern brides looking for more fashion forward stylized photos will surely love her work.

We at Crazy Fancy understand that planning your Charlotte wedding is a full time job. The purpose of this site is not just to provide names and numbers of local vendors, but for actual local brides to share their ideas and experiences about their weddings.

As such, we are seeking a handful of local brides to follow through their wedding process. We want to know the details and emotions behind what a Charlotte bride goes through?

Interested? Let us know!

All the Right Grooves is a local group of ladies that come highly recommended. Every wedding reception I have witnessed that they have worked has been lively with plenty of dancing. What brides seem to like most about them is they get people involved without being pushy, corny, or having the “cheesey DJ voice” (direct quote from a bride).  Outdoor or indoor receptions can be accommodated, as well as a variety of music preferences.

They book up fast, so be sure to check their availability early!

The Charlotte City Club is a popular reception venue located in the heart of uptown Charlotte. If you are looking for an upscale feel to your wedding, it definitely should be considered.

The venue features many rooms, including a dining room, lounge/bar area, bridal prep rooms, and a huge stairwell with white stairs and crystal chandelier. Next to the stair well is a baby grand piano for the guests entertainment while they wait for your entrance.

The dining room is a large room with full windows overlooking uptown. I have seen color schemes ranging from deep red to yellow in this room, all worked well. Cake cutting is typically done in the dining room before adjuring to the dance hall.

The dance hall is a large rectangle with yellow walls. The parquest dance floor typically is adjacent to the DJ or live band. After witnessing a few receptions here, I can tell you that accent lights will go a long way. While there is a large chandelier in the room, ambient lighting around the room is minimal. Use your imagination on lighting schemes, check with your DJ or band on their options as far as dance floor lighting.

If you have any questions about this or other venues, please comment below!

The Great Aunt Stella Center is a popular ceremony venue choice for local brides who want a church wedding but do not belong to any particular church. The sanctuary offers a historic feel with antique stained class, plush red carpet, pipe organ and original pews dating back 100 years. Seating can accomodate 400 people.

Brides typically prepare for the day on the 3rd floor, where a large room with window light is waiting. I have always noticed a lack of mirrors however, brides would be well advised to bring their own. There is ample room for bridesmades and make up artists. Located on the same floor are private rest rooms, convenient for brides not wanting their groom to see them.

The sanctuary is dark, even with the stage lights provided by the venue. Make sure your photographer knows this. Camera flash is allowed typically.
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…and how you can avoid them.

I was working a wedding not too long ago for a great couple. We made it to the reception after the flawless ceremony and everything was going swimmingly. Until I noticed the fully dressed cake table….minus the cake.

I pull the restaurant owner aside and inquire about the wedding cake. Turns out the cake maker (who shall rename nameless), had the bride’s wedding on her calendar for the following Saturday. Thats right, no cake was made. He informed me they were working feverishly to get something put together for the couple.

A couple of hours later I saw a van come screeching into the parking lot, and two people rushing something into the kithen of the reception venue. Turns out that on the way over, the cake fell over in the van. Yikes.

The most amazing part of this story is the bride. She was cool, calm, and collected. Lucky for the the cake maker huh? They cut their cake with cardboard poking out of it, and did not let it ruin their evening.

What is the moral of this story? Always touch base with every one of your vendors the week of your wedding. Vendors make mistakes, but just a simple phone call or email can help you minimize them!

Asbury Park Grove, located in North Charlotte is a wedding venue option for small to medium sized weddings. It offers an all in one solution for brides looking for a convenient place to hold both ceremony and reception, that is also close to many hotels in the area for guests. It is located about 5 miles from the intersection of 77 and WT Harris. This is where the Northlake Mall and various hotels are located.

Adjacent to the lobby is a room for bridal prep. It is large enough for brides and a handful attendants to prepare for the day.

You have two options for ceremonies at Asbury Park Grove. One is on the large patio with white gazeebo, the other is on the back lawn. The patio and gazeebo is covered and the choice of mosts brides, as it takes away the question of rain but still provides an outdoors feel to the ceremony.

The receptions at Asbury Park Grove take place in a large banguet room that is a blank canvas. It is up to you to provide ambient lighting and decor, which is not a bad thing at all. There is amble room for a DJ or small band, and a parquet dance floor is also offered. The food is great and the servers are friendly.

Would you like a review on a specific venue? Let us know!