My Wedding Hero

Say “I do” in Southern Style at Houmas House Plantation

susan — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:00:43 +0000

I do declare! This is about the luveliest place Ah’ve seen to get mahrried in a whaal! Wow. I never realized how hard it is to write a southern accent, even though I hear it on a daily basis. But I digress. If you’re a Gone with the Wind fan, or your honey is a civil war buff, you just might take to the idea of having your ceremony and reception on a real southern plantation. Spending time at the Houmas House Plantation, known as “the Crown Jewel of the Louisiana River Road,” will have you speaking like Scarlett in minutes. Talk about harking back to another age, a gentler time and place, this 38-acre plantation in Darrow, LA, not far from New Orleans (one of my favorite cities!) dates back to 1825, when the daughter of a Revolutionary War general developed the property her daddy had bought. Legend has it, you may run into a ghost or two here!

Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte and other movies have been filmed here, and a number of companies, like Budweiser, have filmed commercials on the plantation. The 16-room mansion, called “The Sugar Palace” is filled with period antiques and Louisiana artwork. The grounds and gorgeous gardens are a glorious setting for a wedding. Your guests will love staying amid the excitement and activities New Orleans has to offer, and they’ll be charmed out of their britches when you bring them to the splendor of this location for your vows and reception.

How much fun would it be to dress your bridesmaids like southern belles and your groomsmen like antebellum gentlemen! I declare, you’d have youah guests talkin’ for days and days! (Sorry, it’s a hard habit to break…) Your wedding photo album would be a real showpiece, filled with colorful images of an extraordinary day. As wedding themes go, this one’s a real doozy! You have to promise me, though—if you do have your wedding at the plantation and run into a ghost, you have to let us here at My Wedding Hero know! Talk about weird wedding crashers! If Ah were you, Ah’d just invite ‘em to partake of youah sumptuous weddin’ meal, a mint julep or two and dance ’til the cows come home!

Susan

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Radio Talk Show Wednesday

shafonne — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:27:14 +0000

Tune In Tonight for our Radio Talk Show Wednesday @ 7pm on www.makingyoureventspeciallive.com.

Tonight we will be talking to Dave of Beautiful Union Portraits, a wonderful Richmond, Va Photographer.

Visit his website to see his amazing work. He will be on tonight talking about all of the things that you need to know about photography for your wedding and getting the best pictures.

Get your questions together because you can call in during the show with your questions.

Look for the podcast of the show on Friday, here on the blog.

Shafonne

Making Your Event Special

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I’m bacccck!!!

shafonne — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:17:22 +0000

Yes, it is me your favorite Wedding Planner, Shafonne

Yes, I’ve been gone for a while. But I have finally returned to my home, My Wedding Hero.

I have been very busy. I have started my own Wedding and Event Planning Radio Talk Show on Wednesdays @ 7pm on my talk show website Making Your Event Special Live. I will be putting up posts on Wednesdays so that everyone can see our topics for the week. We always have great guest on the show as well as taking calls from our audience.

I am also now teaching Wedding Planning at University of Richmond, here in Richmond, Va so that has kept me busy. Any aspiring Wedding Planners out there let me know and I will get you the information.

I will be updating the blog often with my own posts as well as incorporpating some other posts from great guest bloggers.

As always, you can send me your wedding planning questions and I will answer them in a post.

Can’t wait to hear from everyone

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Say Autumn Vows at The Castle in the Clouds

susan — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 05:12:12 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for summer to be over. Yes, I live in the South, and I love it—much more in the fall than the summer. For me, summer is just “the gateway to autumn.” Autumn is absolutely breathtaking in the South, and it’s just as beautiful in New England, too, where you’ll find The Castle in the Clouds. This lovely New Hampshire jewel was once a private mountaintop estate that was taken over by a preservation organization after the owners passed away. Known since the 1960s as the Castle in the Clouds, the house—an “unusual example of Arts and Crafts architecture in New England, expressing that aesthetic movement’s philosophy of living in harmony with nature”—is now open for tours and for use as a very impressive event venue. Wouldn’t you just love inviting family and friends to your wedding at “The Castle in the Clouds?”

Choices! Choices!

The castle has a number of picturesque locations for both your ceremony and your reception. With lush gardens and sweeping views, you’ll want to consider an outdoor ceremony. Wow! Can you imagine having a New England autumn the backdrop for your ceremony? (And I suspect a spring or summer wedding here would be just as dramatic!) The Carriage House “outdoor stone floor patio offers mountain breezes and an incredible view of Lake Winnipesaukee,” and they say this location is ideal for cocktail socials, twilight ceremonies and light dining. You have a choice of four reception sites, and the castle can handle up to 200 guests.

Yummy Menus

If you browse around their Web site, you’ll find their wedding menus, and maybe it’s just because I’m a bit hungry right now, but they sound divine! I’ve linked you to one of their menus, but there are others, so look around. The site also provides you with an extensive list of local wedding services to make your overall planning easier. Anyone who comes to your wedding in The Castle in the Clouds is lucky, indeed. And the only thing that will be more beautiful than the surroundings? You!

Susan

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Say Your Vows in the Serenity of a Chinese Garden

susan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:53:13 +0000

With the 2008 Summer Olympic Games opening in Beijing this evening, I was looking for a pertinent wedding venue, and I found one in the Pacific Northwest. Portland, OR has a beauty!The Portland Classical Chinese Garden is an “authentically built cultural heritage garden and living museum of Chinese trees and flora.” The authentic Ming Dynasty scholar’s garden features serpentine mosaic pathways that lead to “harmonious landscapes of plants, water, stones, pavilions, and poetry.” Sounds peaceful and lovely, doesn’t it?

Possibly Portland’s most unique event venue, the gardens are a carefully planned paradise of winding walkways, a bridged lake, and open pavilions, making it a picturesque setting for a wedding or any occasion. Asian-themed weddings are a growing trend, and you don’t have to be Asian. All it takes is a love of the culture and its beautiful imagery.

Whether you want a simple ceremony or a ceremony and catered reception for 250 guests, the Garden can accommodate you, and there’s also a traditional teahouse on the ground that holds up to 50 people for a more intimate wedding. According to the Chinese, the color red is considered good luck, so you can abandon the white wedding dress for a bold and beautiful red wedding dress. And how’s this for a wedding cake? Absolutely stunning! I can’t even imagine how fabulous your wedding photos will be!

祝你紅雙喜和長期的生命！
(Wishing You Double Happiness and Long Life!)

Susan

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The Next Time I Fall In Love

susan — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:15:09 +0000

There’s an old song that says, “love is lovelier the second time around.” It appears to be true for many people who are taking the plunge two and sometimes three or more times. And there’s a pretty good chance that, on the second go-round, your kids and possibly his, too, will be along for the ride. If your first wedding was traditional—white gown, flowers, elaborate reception—why not make the next one an intimate family affair with a destination that’s fun for everyone?

Disney Cruises have a variety of wedding packages for three, four or seven nights. Prices now range from about $3,700 to $6,400 for the couple, and it includes a number of wedding services. Of course, you’ll have to pay for the kids and any other guests that accompany you on this fantastic voyage. You can have your ceremony aboard ship or on Disney’s private Castaway Cay. With plenty to do on this “breathtaking Bahamian oasis” for adults and kids, you can be as active—or relaxed—as you’d like. Sunbathe on the beach or go for a sail. Swim in the lagoon or dance at the Gazebo.

Finding “Alone” Time

There’s lots to do as a family, but you are newlyweds after all, and you’re on your honeymoon (or “familymoon,” as so many resorts are calling this growing trend.) Disney has that covered. Scuttle’s Cove is a special area just for kids, complete with trained counselors who supervise the activities at this fun-filled place. You just drop your children off, and they’re in good hands for a couple of hours or most of the day. If you’re traveling with teens, they’ll be as happy as you are to get some time to themselves. At the Teen Beach, they can swim, snorkel and kayak. They can get some exercise at the Sports Beach, where volleyball, soccer and more await. Other activities include basketball, ping pong, pool, foosball and a few other muscle-movers.

While the kids are happily occupied, you can pamper yourself at Serenity Bay with an open-air cabana massage, toast to each other with a tasty island drink at the Castaway Air Bar and nibble at the Air Bar BBQ. There’s parasailing, boat rentals and bike rentals. You’ll never be at a loss for something to do, and you’ll be doing it with your newly blended family!

Susan

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A Wedding in Heaven: Chateau du Sureau

susan — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 20:32:56 +0000

When you look up “Fairy-Tale Wedding” in the destination-wedding encyclopedia, you’ll find a photo of Chateau du Sureau on the Estate by the Elderberries, nestled on a hill overlooking the grand Sierra Nevada mountain range. Not far from Yosemite National Park in California, Chateau du Sureau is the romantic inn on the estate where proprietress Erna Kubin-Clanin opened her award-winning restaurant in 1984. She built the inn to accommodate the many out-of-town visitors.

The interior of the chateau matches the charm and graciousness of the exterior. Erna filled the Inn with fine antiques, tapestries and 19th century art from around the world. Inside you’ll find a Grand Salon with a floor-to-ceiling fireplace and a circular Music Room with trompe l’oeil frescoes and a spiral limestone staircase. Each guestroom is named for the fragrant herbs and flowers grown on the Estate. All guestrooms have fireplaces, deluxe bathrooms with silky plush bathrobes, oversized tubs and separate chambers for the shower and toilet. As they put it, “Each room represents nothing less than a delight to the senses.” Oh, and did I mention there’s a world-class spa on the grounds? Sounds absolutely divine, doesn’t it?

This storybook setting has several ceremony locations that include an outdoor gazebo by a babbling brook, a small chapel and the Grand Salon, which you see here. And judging from the photos I’ve seen, an autumn or winter wedding here would be as lovely as spring or summer. Although a late fall or winter wedding wouldn’t allow you to use the gorgeous garden terrace for your reception.

As you can imagine, the estate has a few reception sites, too. There are three beautifully appointed dining rooms, depending on the number of guests. But my favorite spot, by far, is the garden terrace. Check it out–it’s a wonderland by night! Get your glass slippers up there, Princess! Your kingdom awaits!

Susan

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Mamma Mia! What a Place for a Wedding!

susan — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:34:42 +0000

On July 18th, when “Mamma Mia!” the movie hits theaters in the U.S., you’ll get to see more of this gorgeous Greek island. One of the 11 Sporades Islands off the eastern shore of Greece, Skopelos is the greenest Greek Island and has been officially proclaimed “The Green and Blue Island,” where the “green of the pine-trees and the dense forest mix with the deep blue of sea and sky” to create the picture of unrivalled natural beauty, an idyllic land in a small paradise in the very heart of Greece. With its romantic scenery, caves, picturesque little houses, magnificent churches and crystal-clear water caressing beautiful beaches and coves, Skopelos is a dream wedding destination!

After seeing “Mamma Mia!”, you just might want to tie the knot in the church used in the film, so let me tell you a little about it. The wedding takes place at the spectacular Agios Ioannis church, situated 329-feet high on a sea rock that juts out over the misty Aegean. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is one of 360 on the island. Part of the building was ruined by the 1967 earthquake, but it has been reconstructed. There are 105 steps carved into the rock leading to the chapel.

Not only is the scenery a sight to behold, there are a number of charming hotels and villas for rent on the island. You can’t imagine a more romantic place for a honeymoon. You can easily find these hotels and villas online. Some villas sleep as many as eleven people, and of course, heavenly villas just for two are available as well. Elissiaos villa at the left sleeps six and has a private swimming pool, which is fairly common. Secluded and surrounded by colorful flowers and shady trees, the villas provide an ambience that you and your wedding guests will long remember.

It’s no surprise that the interiors of the villas are as quaint and relaxing as the exteriors, like the Kyparissi villa shown here. If you’re like me, you can’t wait to see the movie! And if you’re looking for a destination wedding venue, pay attention to the scenery! You’ll leave the theater humming ABBA music and imagining your wedding on Skopelos!

Susan

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A Patriotic Place for Your Independence Day Wedding!

susan — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:49:10 +0000

I admit the idea of getting married on Independence Day is a touch oxymoronic, but what a great day to celebrate! And I have found you a lovely place to wed your guy on the Fourth of July! This is George Washington’s River Farm, one of five farms near his beloved Mount Vernon owned by our first president. The grounds are spectacular, particularly in spring, summer and fall, and the farm is nestled along the banks of the history-rich Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia. River Farm can accommodate up to 160 guests and transport them almost 250 years into the past.

This lovely wedding venue is also the headquarters for the American Horticultural Society, which explains the exquisite grounds. If you like the venue but would prefer another date, their Web site gives you a schedule of bloom times, so you can essentially choose the kinds of flowers that surround you.

Rental rates are reasonable, and they depend on the number of guests and time of year. The rental is for the grounds only. You’ll have to make off-site arrangements with caterers, florists, photographers, etc. but the Web site gives you an extensive list of vendors in the area. All in all, I can’t think of a more appropriate place and time to begin your “pursuit of happiness” than on the banks of the Potomac River on the Fourth of July! Here’s wishing you a safe and happy Independence Day!

Susan

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My, Oh My! Miami’s a Magnificent Place to Marry!

susan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:33:38 +0000

If you’re looking for a hot spot to hold your wedding, head to Miami, Florida. (And I mean “hot” figuratively and literally. Don’t plan a summer wedding down here.) With those words of wisdom, I give you, Vizcaya (that modest, little abode you see on the left), a palatial piece of property with a tropical ambience, exquisite gardens, lovely ocean and water views and a spectacular setting that’s guaranteed to set any wedding apart from the usual.

Now a museum, Vizcaya was once the winter residence of American industrialist James Deering from Christmas 1916 until his death in 1925. It has 34 decorated rooms with 15th through 19th century antique furnishings and art objects. The expansive gardens combine elements of Renaissance Italian and French designs.

Though it’s a bit on the pricey side to rent, your wedding memories will be well worth it. Because Vizcaya is also a museum, there’s a list of parameters you’ll have to work around. (Okay. I promise my next few destinations will be affordable to people in my own tax bracket, which I’m certain is significantly lower than the tax bracket of those who can afford to wed here.) But you have to admit, Vizcaya is an amazing backdrop for a wedding, and there are actually two price levels.

For those of you with deep pockets, Vizcaya is available for rent during the evening hours and guests have the exclusive use of the inner courtyard, outside terraces, and gardens. Private events can’t be held during the day because, well, it’s a museum. However, for a fraction of the cost you can have a daytime ceremony in the gardens. With the money you save, you can rent a yacht and take all your guests on an ocean adventure for the rest of the weekend. Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

Susan

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