“The Invisible Groom” is a wedding event for the modern day groom that wants to be involved and excited about the wedding but within a “man cave” atmosphere! Think Wedding Vendors, Hors d’oeuvres, Raffles, Cigars, Bowties, and Beer!

The Date: February 24, 2013

The Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm

The Location: The Great Room at Top of The Hill

{100 East Franklin Street Chapel Hill}

The Great Room at The Top of The Hill was the perfect venue to partner with to produce this event. The Great Room is located in the space once occupied by the legendary Carolina Theater and is the only large scale event venue located directly on Franklin Street. Top of The Hill also produces TOPO one of the triangle’s best whiskey, vodka and gin created from scratch!

We also have a bridal boutique for the bride and her bridesmaids for a wine tasting, great food, and to meet some of the triangle’s best wedding vendors. Come out and experience a wedding show of a different caliber. Get your wedding party together and join us!

Event Partners include:

As usual we are all about spreading the love and boy do we love ourselves some Simp Sound! Simp Sound is a lighting, Dj and sound company that produces the best events in the Triangle and beyond. The staff at Simp Sound are knowledgeable about what it takes to produce an amazing event and always courteous and easy to work with. Jeff Simpson, the owner of Simp Sound is just one of those people that you want to invite to your family reunion, he’s that cool!

Here are a few more samples of his work!

If you’re interested in learning more about Simp Sound, you can visit the website at www.simpsound.com and tell them Virtue sent you!

Have you had any experiences using Simp Sound? Tell us how they did at your event.

Choosing the right rental company is an important factor to think about if you want your event to be perfect. You want to choose the company that will deliver  top quality products and services, thus meeting your expectations.  In today’s blog, Paula Hunter from Party Reflections, gives us tips on how to change the face of your event by selecting linens and party supplies that rock!

Here’s what Paula had to say. ..

Getting started:

Picking the right linens for your event may seem overwhelming at first–after all, your linens play a large role in the overall appearance and mood of the event. You’ll want to choose table linens that coordinate with the theme, color and other decorations details you have planned. Table linens are the base for the theme of your event. They can be fancy, simple, elegant or extravagant.  Your choice of linens will be visible because of the numerous tables at an event that will need covering. Guests will spend most of the time at these tables, so make them look good by selecting the right linens.

Understanding the linen business: 

Most of our clients don’t realize that color plays a very small role in the cost to rent a table linen. Pricing is based on fabric, not color. A lot of clients think that they will save money by using overlays or runners versus renting a nicer fabric as a floor length linen. That’s a very big misconception because often, the client can actually end up spending double the money. Not only will they spend money on the runner or overlay, they will still have to rent the actual tablecloth to use underneath.

Keeping up with the cash:

For clients on a budget, choosing a basic fabric, but one with a pop of color is a very easy way to make the event more special. Another way to keep the budget down is by renting a colorful or patterned linen for key, eye-catching locations throughout the room, such as the cocktail tables or the food and beverage tables for visual interest, instead of for every table. Colored napkins or unique napkin holders could have the same effect.

What do I do first?

As far as the planning priority list, clients should always start with booking the event planner, venue and the caterer, not the rentals. A lot of times, they overlook the importance of doing these things because they are so anxious to work on their tablescapes. The reason why you want to have the venue and caterer booked first is to avoid renting items unnecessarily. Be sure to verify what items your venue and caterer already have. That will definitely assist with budget. Also, having your venue booked before placing a rental order will help avoid things like conflicting colors. Consider your venue before you solidify your design, so that your linens don’t clash with the existing decor. Keep the room’s dimensions, wall and ceiling color in mind, along with any wall art or features that will be present during your reception. If your venue has 20-year old neon orange carpeting that cannot be covered or removed, it would be helpful to know that before ordering clashing linens or decor.

What sets Party Reflections apart?

Party Reflections  buys the fabrics that speak to us, while keeping the client in mind. Whether the patterns and textures are trendy and cutting-edge or  traditional, we are able to service each client’s individual needs because we have the ability to cut and sew everything in-house. We use the fabrics for our table coverings and runners, but we also have the extra fabric if needed for napkins or something unique like pillow covers for a lounge area.

We’re well versed in what the current styles and trends are, and can ensure that the linens and other supplies that you rent match perfectly the theme of your event. We know exactly what it takes to turn an event into a bold statement, using table linen rentals to bring life and color to any type of event. Party Reflections has a vast customer base, including a variety of different companies and individuals, including hotels, restaurants, clubs, business offices, private universities, catering companies and a lot more. Everyone who has worked with Party Reflections in the past knows that if you want your event done right, with the right table linen rentals , Party Reflections is the way to make sure that your needs are met.

The holidays are here and we are busy designing some of the most creative holiday parties with our magnificent team of professionals and it’s time to showcase our one stop shop for our linen and rental needs in Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham area. Party Reflections, Inc. is a family owned company that has served both North and South Carolina as the premier source of event rental equipment, party supplies, and services for over 51 years. Their team has been an instrumental part of our success in North Carolina and we valuable our partnership with them.

Here are a few pictures of their work:

Our relationship with Party Reflections, would not be possible if it weren’t for Paula Hunter who brightens our day every time we see her. Paula has been our saving grace on numerous occasions, she’s ridiculously efficient and full of humor, she’s our type of chick! In fact, we love Paula so much that she has been asked to be a regular contributor on our blog, so stay tuned because she will tell you what you need to know when selecting linens for your event.

Thanks Paula for rocking our event world with outstanding customer service!

Party Reflections has just about everything you would ever need for an event and they are focused as we are, on creating the best event experience for our clients. Check them out on their website, Facebook, and Twitter for the latest in event rentals and don’t forget to give Paula a shot out!

Well, we are back at it again! Our hunt for an amazing make-up artist came to a screeching hault when we met Charlene Kongolo of Charlyko Beauty Art and Photography. As a result of our first encounter, Charlene and her team have no doubt become the exclusive makeup resource in the Raleigh-Durham area for the Virtue team. Charlene has also been a contributor to our blog with the make-up do’s and don’t blog that you can view here.

If you are seeking a make-up genius and photographer, Charlyko does it all. Charlene recently dropped by as me and my team were setting up for a wedding at The Cotton Room and snapped a few pictures for my portfolio. Here take a look -see and tell us what you think about her work.

To learn more about Charlyko, you can visit the website www.charlyko.com. Make sure you tell her Virtue sent you!

Photo courtesy of Judy Park Photography

It’s your big day, the planning process has finally been implemented and completed, and you’re ready to exchange some vows and become a Mrs…FINALLY! The last thing you want to do before you walk down the aisle, is make sure your face looks just as beautiful as that thousand dollar dress you have on! In addition, most likely you’re paying top dollar for a professional photographer, so ladies, do yourself a favor, get your money’s worth, and hire a make-up artist so that those photos of you and your man come out flawlessly.

Photo courtesy of Wedding Inspirations

Point being, if you are not using the right products , it doesn’t matter how good your photographer is, your pictures will not do you any justice, because in reality, you get what you pay for! So, after consulting with make-up artist Charlene Kongolo with Charlyko Beauty, here is a brief bridal makeup Do’s and Don’ts “tip list,” so to speak, so that you get the look you want and a bang for your buck!

DO’s:

• Prior to your big day, get an idea of what type of look you are going for, whether it’s by flipping through magazines, browsing the web, or consulting with a make-up artist at a beauty bar in one of the large department stores in your area.
• Once you have conceived that image in your mind, find a make-up artist that understands what you are looking for and has the products you desire her to use.
• Go for a skin tone match which are usually free of charge and ask for your skin type to make things go smoothly on the day of your wedding!  In general, if you have dry skin aim for a hydrating , satin-finish, liquid-based foundation.  Those of you with oily skin, go with an oil-free liquid foundation, avoiding powder as a base, and only using it for touch-ups.
  

  Photo courtesy of Pinterest

• Make sure you blend your make-up in a circular motion starting from the top of your face and  moving down and backwards towards  your hair line, using as much natural light as possible while applying.
• Browse and choose from different fake eyelash options being that each style portrays a different and unique flare and will help accentuate your eyes in your photos.
• Keep your eye make-up simple and sweet, sometimes more is less ladies!

DON’T’:

• Use excessive amounts of shimmer, sparkle, or frost  on your face or chest due to  the glare it will give off in your photos; Although, you can probably get away with a hint of sheen.
• Match your eye make-up with your color scheme; Compliment your color scheme with your eye make-up.  Go with either a natural/smokey look, or something that brings out the colors in your wedding party or personality and style.
• Wax your brows or lip the day of your wedding, don’t worry, your hair will not grow back over night ladies!
• Schedule any type of chemical peel or intensive facial at least two months prior to your wedding day being that your skin has the ability to react differently each time to these types of treatments.
• Use too light of an under-eye concealer because it will be very visible in your photos; you don’t want to look like “a deer caught in headlights.”
• Go for the nude/natural lip color and dark/dramatic eye shadow because you will look like you have a black eye and washed out lips, which will not photograph well.

In conclusion, do your homework ladies, find your look and most of all, your make-up artist.  A great way to get started is by coming to join us on Sunday, October 28^thfrom 2-4:30 at the Southpoint Nordstrom’s Mac counter for our Virtue Bridal Beauty Bar!

Make-up artist Charlene Kongolo with Charlyko Beauty will be demonstrating different looks and sketches to help you get some ideas and give you some professional advice for your bridal makeup! First come, first serve being that there is limited seating, so click HERE to register and join our mailing list!

Apart of your planning process is creating a signature look for you and your bridesmaids on your special day. It’s important to take the time prior to your wedding day to design exactly how you want to look and which make-up you want to use. We will be hosting the first of multiple events for Brides and their bridal party to get a master class from the makeup experts at MAC in Nordstrom at Southpoint.

Seats are limited, so register quickly!

If you miss this one don’t worry, we will have another one at the beginning of the year. Subscribe to our website and like us on Facebook to find out more about the events that we host to help you get excited and prepared for your wedding!

We hope to see you Oct. 28th.

Check out some of our event sponsors:

Photo courtesy of Doug Palme Photography

Today is all about you, your fiancé knows this, your parents know this, and so do your friends…but ladies, let’s be serious, what would your special day be like without those special girlfriends of yours that have been your shoulder to cry on when you’ve hit rock bottom, your partners in crime when you were living life on the edge, and your first 5 phone calls made 5 minutes after you’ve gotten proposed to…? That’s right, absolutely horrible.  So let’s do this right and make your best girls look just as brilliant as they would want you to look on their special day! All you have to say is BAAM! Budget, Attire, Accessories, Makeup, BAAM!

Budget- As we all know, money doesn’t grow on trees, and financially speaking everybody has a different definition for what is “reasonable.” So be a good friend and find something that all your girlfriends can afford.  This does not mean you’re not allowed to peruse through designer brand catalogues and dress shops to get an idea of what type of look you’re going for. This means create your image and duplicate it by finding a similar style and look.

Once you have your image you can look anywhere for that particular dress style, and save your besties a couple hundred dollars in the process. Another option would be to find a reasonable price and buy the dresses for the girls rather than giving them a special present, which is tradition, in honor of being so much help and a part of your special day. Lastly, whether it’s coming out of your pocket or theirs, be practical and get a bang for your buck and try to find a dress that can be worn more than once.

Photo courtesy of Peppermint Bliss

Attire- In a perfect world, we would all be a size zero, with a B cup and have an ass the size of a cantaloupe, but realistically, everyone comes in all shapes and sizes, and are beautiful in their own way. So be nice and remember, different styles compliment different body types and not all your maids have to necessarily wear the same style if they are wearing the same color, fabric, shoes, and accessories.Accessories- Sweet and simple is the name of the game.  Your maids are going to have a beautiful bouquet in their hands, with a classy up-do, and a stunning dress, with a chic pair of heels to tie it all together, so accessory-wise save the girls some money and keep it simple. You don’t want to take away from the rest of the look by overdoing it with unnecessary accessories.  Also, keep in mind that if you decide to go with different style dresses, not everyone’s dress will look right with certain accessories. For example, if one of your maids is wearing a halter style dress, a necklace probably wouldn’t be the best bet. Don’t forget to take into consideration which styles you’re working with and which accessories would complement each style. Earrings go with everything and you also have a tremendous amount of options when it comes to style because studs or dangling earrings, can be as dressed up or dressed down depending on how you like it.

Makeup- When picking a look, you have to keep in mind that everyone has a different skin tone and a different skin type.  The best way to go about this ladies is by doing your research and finding a makeup artist to do everyone’s makeup properly to give off a uniform and natural look that compliments each girl’s skin type.

If you’re really tight budget wise, plan for a girls day out, and take a trip to a makeup counter and get everybody color tone matched. Most places will let you get a free demo after spending “X” amount of money on their products. Once they buy these products they will have them for months because the good stuff lasts, and they will also learn the correct technique not only for your special day but for the future;

Photo courtesy of Doug Palme Photography

Once again, a bang for their buck. When deciding whether or not to go natural or dramatic, take into consideration your color scheme, the hair and dress styles, and what type of look you are going for.

Remember, this is YOUR day and although you want your bridal party to pop, you want to have that “wow factor,” that differentiates you from the bridal party.

BAAM! You’ve got your girlfriends looking beautiful and they still get to go home with a nest egg because most importantly they still will want to be your friend after the wedding! Mission complete! Good luck ladies!

So, remember to mark your calendars because on Sunday, October 28^th from 2-4:30 at the Southpoint Nordstrom’s Mac counter is the Virtue Bridal Beauty Bar! Mac experts will be demonstrating different looks and sketches to help you get some ideas for your bridal makeup! First come, first serve limited seating.  Head over to our Facebookpage to sign up for the event and like us to get more information!

Photo courtesy of Wedding Gawker

Photo courtesy of Google

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart Weddings

Photo courtesy of Love and Lavender

We love love love these ideas for escort cards and seating charts. It’s a great idea to make your escort card table and seating charts interactive, fun, creative and festive so that your guests can get a glimpse of what awaits them during the reception. Make it personal and take this opportunity to showcase your creative genius. Tell us what ideas you have for escort cards, we want to hear all about it!

Get Organized!

Keeping organized when there are RSVP’s flooding your mailbox can be extremely overwhelming. That’s why there are 5 easy, affordable, and practical ways to keep track without having a heart attack!

1.  Create An Excel Spreadsheet:

Before even sending out your invites, create a spreadsheet!  You are going to label each column accordingly: Name of Guest, Address, # in Party, Yes, No, Unknown, Meal and Gift.  When the RSVP’s start coming, all you have to do is start plugging! It’s as simple as that!

Not only are you tracking your RSVPs but you are also one step ahead of the game by having the information you need for your Thank You cards! As you receive a gift in the mail from someone who isn’t attending, or as you open the gifts after the wedding, keep your worksheet opened and just plug it in as you go! The best part is you can’t lose it, because we all know how easy lists disappear!

2. Download the Guestlist App on Your Smartphone:

Nowadays, who doesn’t have a smart phone, or an Ipad?  For only $1, the productivity app, Guestlist, will save you so much time, money, and aggravation.  For each guest you enter, you have the option to plug in how many people are coming under that parties name. To track if they are coming you select “joining,” “not joining,” or “hasn’t responded yet.” Guestlist does all the work for you when it comes to keeping an organized RSVP list!

3. Your Personal Wedding Website:

Most couples create wedding websites as a way to communicate all of the pertinent details to their guests about the wedding. Your wedding website usually has details, such as wedding weekend itinerary, directions, host hotel links and room block information and lastly the registries. Having a page for your guests to rsvp while on your wedding website is a quick option for them and for you. Wedsite.com, rsvpmenow.com, and ewedding.com are a few websites that can make communicating with your guests and collecting rsvp’s much easier.

4. Get a Dedicated Voicemail or Toll-free Number:

This option works very well for guests that either don’t have Internet access or are apart of that older generation that doesn’t understand how the Internet works. This also gives you an opportunity to catch those family members that want to invite 12 of their friends to your wedding that weren’t invited. Check out E Voice, Google Voice, or Ring Central.

5. Entrust Your Planner to Manage RSVP’s:

We are asked often to manage this portion of the wedding for our clients that know that they won’t have time or are frustrated by this process. Depending on the client, we may use any of the above-mentioned options that accommodates their theme the best. For example, our full service clients typically lean more towards the wedding website or toll-free number. No matter the method, we make sure that the RSVP’s are managed and organized as not to add unnecessary stress to our clients.

Truthfully, managing RSVPs is time consuming and can be frustrating for the working couple. Hopefully, after reading this you’ll never have to tear up your house again looking for a list that you could have sworn you placed right on the kitchen table!

How do you keep organized?! Share with us how you keep from losing your lists! Have you found another option that may save us a headache when keeping RSVPs in order? If so tell us about it!