There is always something unique about the morning of your wedding. The birds seems to chirp a bit louder, the waves crash at a peaceful and rhythmic consistency and all seems to be right with the world; almost as though everyone knows just how special the pending occasion is to the eager couple.

On May 3rd, our Dream Wedding Couple woke to that feeling of peace and calm. Meanwhile, the Outer Banks Dream Team was working tirelessly on their wedding day duties. In true form, a trusted team of professionals ensures the bride enjoys her day by handling details the bride may or may not be aware of – one of many benefits of a wedding coordinator. Today, event pro Rachel Moser at 11th Hour Events made sure  Shana was simply enjoying this once in a lifetime moment with her friends and family.

The 2012 Dream Wedding was all about capturing details. From the moment this couple took flight high above the OBX with Kitty Hawk Kites to the ceremonial release of white doves by When Does Fly, this couple’s excitement was captured by the Outer Banks’ most talented photographers and videographers – Daniel Pullen of Pullen Photography, Sarah Kimmel of Sarah Kimmel Photography, Rich Coleman of Coleman Shots, Rachael Hyde of Rachael Hyde Photography , Benny Baldwin of Baldwin Video and Ryan Moser of  11th Hour Events.

Ensuring the wedding ceremony went off without a hitch was Blue Ocean Events. Officiating the much anticipated ceremony was Bonnie Williams, Minister at Hatteras Wedding Ministries. After the kiss, the fun-loving couple opted to have “Good to be Loved by You” as their recessional music performed by Kim Kalman before heading to their reception at Mallards Marsh. Having enjoyed delectable dishes by caterer 1587, and a gourmet cake by Great Cakes! of the Outer Banks, guests danced the night away to tunes by Outer Banks DJ.

From the wedding invitations by HLR Designs to the bride’s custom jewelry handmade from beach glass and pearls by Low Tide Jewels, this Dream Wedding was one for the ages and the Outer Banks Wedding Association couldn’t have been more pleased with the way our 2012 Dream Wedding turned out.

For more details on all the participating vendors, visit Outer Banks Wedding Association Dream Team.

Accommodations

Tranquil House Inn – Three night stay

Oasis Suites Hotel – Two night stay with Champagne

First Colony Inn – Two night stay

Village Realty – Three night stay for the bridal party in an event home

Transportation

OBX Trolley – Wedding day transportation

Sandy Beach Tours – Shuttle service

Specialty Services

The Wright Place  - Kids basket for reception

Outer Banks Popcorn Shoppe – Custom colored popcorn favors

Amazing Stanley, Magician - Magic Show

Ceremony and Reception: Great Expectations Home, Twiddy & Company Realtors

Coordinator: Platinum Party Planning

Cake: Just Desserts

Caterer: Ocean Boulevard Bistro & Martini Bar

Officiant: An OBX Officiant

Ceremony Musicians: Roy Murray Music Studio

Rentals: Ocean Atlantic Rentals

Beauty & Spa: Diva’s Day Spa

Florals & Decor: Renne Landry Style & Platinum Party Planning

 While most brides incorporate many, if not all, of these traditional wedding customs, the history behind these practices often remains unknown. After all, who first thought a bride should stand to the left of her groom? Why is the customary wedding cake tiered, rather than a simple sheet cake? And why would a bride want to throw her bouquet into the air for her friends to fight over?

Bouquet created by Holiday House Weddings and photographed by Beach Productions

Bridesmaids: Originally used to ward off evil spirits, friends of the bride would dress similar to her in an effort to confuse these unwanted spirits. Today, these women are selected by the bride to stand by her, help with planning, host showers, and lend support.

Bouquet: Flowers have long held significance such as roses for love, lilies for virtue and so on. Originally, brides carried herbs under their veil to symbolize fidelity and in their bouquet to ward off evil spirits. Orange blossoms, the world-renowned wedding flower, were carried to represent happiness and fulfillment.

Tossing the Bouquet: A tradition dating back centuries to a time when brides’ female guests would attempt to rip pieces of her gown to obtain some of her luck. To escape, the bride would toss her bouquet and run away. Many believe the woman who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry.

Tiered Wedding Cake: A custom that dates back to a time when newlyweds kissed over a pile of buns or small cakes to ensure a prosperous future.  As sugar became more plentiful in the mid sixteenth century, white icing became a wedding cake staple. The purest sugar yielded the whitest icing. White icing was no longer just alluding to the bride’s virginity, but her status in society as well.

Something Old: This tradition symbolizes the link between a bride and her family, as well as the past that has defined them all.

Something Borrowed: It is thought this item, typically borrowed from a happily married woman, will bring the new bride the same marital success and good fortune the lender has enjoyed over the years.

Something Blue: The blue item symbolizes love, purity and fidelity. The traditional bride may hold an antique blue hankie while the modern bride may walk down the aisle in stunning blue heels hidden underneath her white gown.

Maya and Ben's wedding day at The Inn at Pamlico Sound photographed by Basnight Photography

Six Pence in the Shoe: This tradition is honored in hopes the bride and her new husband will enjoy wealth in their future. Many families pass the cherished six pence down through generations stemming hundreds of years.

Bride Stands Left of her Groom: Ever the chivalrous groom, the soon-to-be husband takes his position to the right of his bride to ensure his right arm is free to wield a sword should his bride require protection.

Best Man: In ancient times, men captured women to make them brides. Often, the lady’s family opposed the union, leaving the groom in need of protection. The groom would then enlist his strongest, most trusted friend, to fight off the opposing family. The best man would then accompany the groom up the aisle in case opposition continued.

Wedding Ring: Dating back to the ancient Greek belief that the vein in the third finger of the left hand goes directly to the heart, people began wearing the wedding band on the important finger. The band, a never-ending circle, symbolizes everlasting love.

Giving Away the Bride: The roots of this custom date back to the days of arranged marriages. The father would give his daughter away for a price. Today, the act of giving his daughter away symbolizes his blessing of this union.

A sneak peak into Jamie and Micheal's wedding day photographed by Beach Productions

Check back next week for an in-depth look at everything it took to make this Dream Wedding happen, as we recap the festivities in their entirety.

Destination weddings are always a unique combination of wedding and vacation, and Brad and Shana are savoring every moment during their time on the Outer Banks. From hang gliding to glamorous bridal portraits in historical gardens, these two are creating memories that will last a lifetime.

The morning after Shana and her girlfriends danced the night away at her bachelorette party, hosted by Port O’ Call and sponsored by OBX Romance Store, the men met for a round of golf at Nags Head Links  where Daniel Pullen, of Daniel Pullen Photography, was on hand to capture Brad’s last round of golf as a single man.

After an exciting evening the night before, the ladies spent time relaxing and celebrating Shana at her bridal luncheon at the Inn on Pamlico Sound. Later, joined by her loved ones at the Cypress House Inn, a serene bed and breakfast and local historic landmark, Shana was treated to a quaint bridal tea.

After the wedding party practiced their parts, and the Dream Wedding Couple  rehearsed their vows, they headed out for a night of good food, fantastic company and tunes provided by the talented Barryoke Karaoke Entertainment.

Here’s to Brad and Shana! May your wedding truly be an event of which dreams are made – Cheers!

Photography by Daniel Pullen Photography.

While wedding planning this spring, these two found time to relax in their hotel, the historic First Colony Inn. The inn, found on the National Register of Historic Places, was first erected in 1932, and courtesy of its recent rehabilitation has been brought back to its original grandeur. The only surviving “beach-style” hotel, guests can step back in time to an era filled with live music, intimate gatherings and a relaxed, yet sophisticated feel.

What’s a couple to do when they need to relax from the stress of decision making? These two took to the skies. Literally. Taking a leap of faith, Shana and Brad went hang gliding with Kitty Hawk Kites, the largest, oldest and most well-known hang gliding school in the world. Nothing says, “we’re ready for anything” quite like soaring through the air, high above the Outer Banks. This thrilling experience will be something they can marvel at for years to come thanks to the photography by Rachael Hyde, and videography by Ryan Moser at 11th Hour Events.

Upon her decent, Shana was pampered in preparation for her bridal portrait session, captured by the talented Rich Coleman of Coleman Shots  at the impressive Elizabethan Gardens, and documented in video by 11th Hour Events. Opened in 1960, this serene yet spectacular garden pays homage to the first English colonists who came to North America in the late 1500’s. It is this sacred spot where Sir Walter Raleigh first attempted to colonize the New World under Queen Elizabeth I, explaining its significance to our beloved Outer Banks.

If these are the activities that took place months ahead of the wedding, you can imagine what’s in store for this lucky couple in the coming days here on the Outer Banks. This is truly going to be a Dream Wedding for this deserving couple, and it could not have been done without the amazing Outer Banks Wedding Association Dream Team  vendors.

Stay tuned for the big event…

Ceremony:  On the Beach, Carova

All photos by Shooters at the Beach.

Who doesn’t love a great party? Whether you’re the host shuffling through invitation designs, or the guest simply thrilled to attend a lavish affair without having to lift a finger with the cleanup, parties are a time to forget the work week, dance to Frank Sinatra – or Beyonce – and enjoy the company of friends.

As many a host will attest, party planning isn’t always as fun as the actual event. In fact, Forbes recently declared party planning the sixth most stressful career behind dangerous jobs such as military personnel, firefighter, pilot and police officer. Now, couple party planning with the stress of a wedding, and it’s no wonder brides find themselves too overwhelmed to enjoy their wedding day.

In recent decades, the wedding industry has seen growth as brides’ budgets increase, extravagance and celebrity style weddings become the norm, and destination weddings become more appealing to couples looking to escape. Also, as the average age of today’s bride increases, she is more likely to be established in her career and lack the time needed to plan such a big event.

Enter: wedding planner.

These professionals will assist the bride in everything up to and including:

-       Selecting a theme – beach, country, destination – for the wedding

-       Utilizing their extensive contact list to assure competitive pricing on vendors, venues, accommodations

-       Creating a timetable for the day, keeping the couple from dealing with the overwhelming number of details

-       Handling all emergencies from wardrobe malfunctions to vendor tardiness

Wedding planners will work with the bride to ensure she stays within her budget while getting the biggest bang for her buck. Hiring a wedding coordinator certainly doesn’t relieve the bride from all decisions; rather, it provides a professional opinion and assistance on those things in which a bride may not be prepared to handle, minute details that need attention, and those minor emergencies a bride shouldn’t even be aware of on her wedding day.

If you’re considering having your wedding at a resort, or a popular wedding venue, be sure to ask if they have a wedding coordinator onsite. Resorts, churches and large wedding facilities often provide their own coordinators.

Your wedding day should be an image reel of fond memories, laughter and love. Let a professional handle the stressful aspect of such an important event. The story about the top layer of your cake falling off when it was delivered will be much funnier if you hear it from your wedding planner…post honeymoon. Trust me.

See more of Kimberly & Christopher’s real wedding on the Outer Banks Wedding Association website.  All photos by Mary Basnight Photography.  Wedding Coordinator for Kimberly & Christopher was Plantinum Party Planning.

Ceremony: Oceanfront

Reception: 108 Budleigh

Photographer:  Outer Banks Productions

Cake:  Atlantic Cake Company

Caterer: Coastal Provisions Market

Reception Music:  John Harper Disc Jockey Services

Equipment Rentals:  Ocean Atlantic Rentals

Beauty & Spa:  It’s Royalty Salon & Spa

Accommodations:  Village Realty

All photos provided by Outer Banks Productions.

Three things make a woman’s heart race: romance, fashion and sugar! It’s no wonder a woman dreams of the day in which all three things come together to form the perfect union. Romance is everywhere, your guests are all anticipating the gown, so let’s talk sweets.

This year, the bride’s dessert options continue to expand as bakeries get more creative with wedding cakes, as well as wedding cake alternatives. Today’s bride may choose to overlook the traditional large wedding cake; instead, opting for dessert tables, candy bars, ice cream sundae stations or chocolate bars.

In recent years, wedding cakes have been rich in flavor. Now, brides are deciding to go with fruit flavors such as fig, pomegranate and passion fruit. Whether the fruit is found in the layers, or infused in the batter, cakes will have a much lighter and more refreshing taste this year.

In addition to bakers infusing fruit into their cakes, they are also adding height. Wedding cakes will be much taller then the previously trendy two to three layer cakes. Though cakes are getting taller, they are also getting simplified. Brides are opting for a minimalist look by incorporating a plain ribbon or a piece of fabric relating to the overall wedding theme. Many bakers are decorating vintage style cakes, also on trend this year, with sugar elements such as sugar flowers.

Now, if you’re looking to depart from tradition, dessert bars are becoming all the rage. There are various directions you can take with this option from creating a chocolate bar to a pie table, providing guests with an array of pickings.

Chocolate bars are always a great choice. With the varying types of chocolate, a white chocolate truffle with peppermint or a dark chocolate brownie with sea salt, this dessert bar is sure to please the palate of every guest.

Pie bar. Ask a person to name their favorite pie, and I bet they can’t. One type may roll off the tongue first, but they follow that choice up with about three other favorites. Pies are so diverse in flavor and texture, from key lime to apple, that it’s difficult to choose just one. A pie bar will provide guests the opportunity to taste their favorite pie, in bite size form, without having to sacrifice their other favorite flavors.

Dessert bar.  This option also provides the bride the option of an array of desserts that may represent the couple. Is the groom from New York? Incorporate cheesecake in shot glasses. Is the bride from Georgia? Mini peach cobblers are an excellent idea. Will kids be at the wedding? Have a candy table where they can fill goody bags full of their favorite treats.

Whether you choose the traditional route and have a multi-tiered cake, or embrace the dessert bar trend, have fun with your sweets. If salt-water taffy is your favorite treat, find a way to introduce it in your wedding reception. Wedding planners, caterers and bakers are incredibly creative; let them know what you want incorporated in your wedding day dessert, and work together until you get exactly what will make your mouth water on your big day!

Photo Credits: 11th Hour Events (top); Island Photography (left); Julie Dreelin Beach Productions (bottom).