THURSDAY, FEB. 12, 2009 • C1
BLACK MOUNTAIN NEWS • WWW.BLACKMOUNTAINNEWS.COM
A Black Mountain wedding By Gretchen Howard
was Erin McKee and the bridesmaids were the groom’s sisters, Koral and Mariah Inghram. The groom’s attendants were Catherine’s brothers, Phillip and Kevin Bost, brother of the groom, Dwayne Inghram, and friends, Jeremy and Matthew Mowrey. On the morning of the wedding, Catherine and her bridal party along with the groom’s mother, Rosie Inghram, all had their hair and makeup done at Adorn and West One salons, both in Asheville. Catherine returned to the Bella Luna Inn to change into her gown while others were also preparing to leave for the wedding site. Catherine wore an ivory dress with a blue sash made by Eden, and the bridesmaids wore coordinating blue strapless dresses. The groom and his attendants wore navy blue suits. The wedding ceremony took place at 2 p.m. at Wolf Creek Cove on a clear and perfect September day. “Wolf Creek Cove made for such a fun and relaxed atmosphere,” Catherine said. “We loved the beautiful setting and
SPECIAL TO THE BLACK MOUNTAIN NEWS
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atherine Bost and Ryan Ingram met through Catherine’s brother, Phillip, who worked with Ryan in Durham. At first the relationship consisted mostly of email communication, and a few months later Ryan came to visit Catherine at her home in Asheville. The two went on a rock climbing and camping trip to Table Rock, and began dating shortly afterwards. Ryan later proposed on a trip to Shining Rock Wilderness. Because they had spent so much time together in the North Carolina mountains, the two decided they would tie the knot in the Asheville area. After searching around for an outdoor wedding site, they settled on Wolf Creek Cove in Black Mountain. “We looked at almost every possible wedding location, from hotels to farms to castles,” Pattie Broderick, Catherine’s Mom, said. “Wolf Creek Cove provided the setting we were looking for - natural, outside, adequate shelter, and very beautiful.” Friends and family came to Black Mountain to spend the wedding weekend with the couple. The weekend kicked off with a rehearsal at Wolf Creek Cove followed by a rehearsal dinner at the Madison Inn. “The Madison Inn was great – the food and service were
all the space it provided. All of our guests really enjoyed it, too.” The non-denominational ceremony was conducted by minister Victoria Hutchins, of Boiling Springs. She designed the service with Catherine and Ryan, creating a personal and meaningful ceremony, which reflected their ideas, beliefs, and lifestyle. They chose to include the “Blessing of the Hands” and “The Bell of Truce,” a Celtic tradition. The bell used in the ceremony was created by Catherine’s friend, Laura, who is a potter. The 75 guests were seated in white chairs facing the chapel at Wolf Creek Cove. A multipeaked white tent by Artful Shelters of Asheville provided additional shelter and festivity to the event. Pianist Patrick Boland, of Asheville, provided the ceremony music accompanied by a guitarist. “What a Wonderful World” was played for the seating of the mothers and grandmothers. The wedding party entered to John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Patrick played ❥ See Wedding on page C4
Photos by Perrin Todd
(above, below, and right) Catherine Bost and Ryan Ingram were married at Wolf Creek Cove in Black Mountain. The wedding ceremony took place at 2 p.m. at Wolf Creek Cove on a clear and perfect September day.
excellent and the setting was so unique,” Catherine said. “Our dinner was in the ‘library’ room and the décor was beautiful.” Catherine and her family stayed at the Bella Luna Inn in Black Mountain where they enjoyed the inn’s comfortable accommodations and delicious food. The groom’s family rented a nearby cabin. Other friends and family stayed at the Madison Inn. “Bella Luna Inn was very welcoming. Our family rented four of their six rooms, so it was really fun to have everyone there together,” Catherine said. “The inn was immaculately clean and beautifully decorated. The owners, Cynthia and Brad Brasher, were so nice and the food was delicious.” Catherine’s maid of honor
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MOUNTAIN WEDDINGS
What’s hot in wedding trends for 2009 By Gretchen Howard SPECIAL TO THE BLACK MOUNTAIN NEWS
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ust as in the world of clothing and fashion, each year brings new trends to the wedding industry. From flower and cake designs to how couples are spending their money, trends vary from year to year and in various parts of the country. Here, we’ve asked some area businesses in the wedding industry what they foresee to be as this year’s trends. Local wedding planner Maggie Schlubach sees an overall trend of cutting down on frills and keeping weddings as simple as possible. “Destination weddings are not as popular as they were a few years back. People are staying closer to home,” she said. Boots Glenn, owner of Black Mountain Floral Center, is seeing a step away from traditional wedding flowers and more brides looking for less elaborate flowers. “Everybody wants hand-tied bouquets with light and airy wildflowers,” she said. Salidego and monte casino are among the popular flowers she is seeing this year. Glenn, who has been in business for 34 years, recommends that brides select their flowers as soon as they choose the colors of the bridesmaids dresses - the earlier, the better. Scott Counce, from The
Merry Wine Market, says a big trend they’re seeing is wine with custom, personalized labels as gifts for wedding guests or to serve at the wedding. “We help our brides and grooms select the wine and then add their own custom labels at home. This makes for a unique, personal gift. Brides and groom usually include their name, date, and location of the wedding on the labels,” he said. Cynthia Brasher, owner of Bella Luna Inn and Black EyedSusan Catering, agrees that couples are keeping it simple and focusing on family and friends. “I am seeing smaller, more intimate and heartfelt weddings and that is reflected in the couples’ food choices,” Cynthia said. “Warm, comforting foods to
(above) Simple elegance is this year’s trend in cakes.
nourish the soul are popular choices and chic, expensive food trends are falling to the wayside.” Perrin Todd, of Perrin Todd Photography, says most couples tell him that one of the most important things about the wedding are the memories, and photography is the best way to capture those memories. “Black and white photography remains popular as do photojournalistic styles with a bit of traditional photography to balance the photography mix,” Perrin said. “Excellence is always in style and great portraiture is enduring and always stands the test of time. As part of the photojournalistic mix I like to add a bit of fashion photography and ‘celebrity’ flair to my wedding images. The couples love it and it is a lot of fun for me too!” Perrin says he is seeing a move towards clean design in albums with nice artistic touches that emphasize the beauty of key images. “My style is more towards making each image larger, simplifying the page layout and adding more pages to the album instead of overcrowding the images into too few pages,” Perrin said. Bill Metes, with Rhodo Creations, an outdoor furniture company, sees more and more couple forgoing the traditional church and marrying in “Mother Nature’s Church” – outdoors. Outdoor weddings provide the simple and relaxed backdrop that
seems to be the trend, he said. Rhodo Creations offers rustic furniture pieces created from rescued rhododendron trees, mountain laurel and recycled barn wood such as wedding arbors, gift tables, flower stands, and fences. Jennifer Lane, of Lane Confections, says that simple elegance is this year’s trend in cakes. “Clean and simple could not be more beautiful,” she said. Jennifer says that fresh flowers and fruit are an inexpensive way to achieve a simple and elegant look. She uses blackberries and fresh flowers to decorate a lemon curd in French vanilla cake and the look is fresh and clean. Jen Buel, of Fire Lily Florist, has noticed brides several changes in floral trends. “I’ve been noticing a lot of mother’s carrying tiny nosegay bouquets instead of wearing corsages,” she said. I love the new trend of bride’s wearing sundresses or colored dresses instead of the traditional white/ ivory bridal gown. I’ve always offered a free toss bouquet to brides that spend over a certain amount. Lately, I’ve met a handful of women that don’t want one because they simply don’t want to throw it or feel that everyone attending their wedding is already married.” Judy Garry, owner of Your Vase or Mine, offers hundreds of varieties of fresh-cut flowers grown out of her garden. Her unique ‘pick-your-own’ experi-
Photos provided by Gretchen Howard
(above) Rhodo Creations offers wedding arbors created from rescued rhododendron trees, mountain laurel, and recycled barn wood.
ence is both cost effective and earth-friendly. Judy agrees that 2009 wedding trends will be heavily influenced by the economy. Smaller budgets equal weddings that are more intimate and personal. Judy says that bold and interesting coloring pairings are a theme for this year’s floral schemes, like mixing purple and orange. “Other popular floral colors for this year are subtle darks like graphite gray and deep purples,
which are complemented by beige, raspberry red and sensuous pink,” says Judy. “White will never go out of fashion as far as weddings are concerned, and this year they will be complemented by pink and green. The use of accents such as feathers, crystals, fruit, colored water and submersible lights are popular to give your wedding or event flowers a more unique and special look.”
How to save money when planning a wedding By Gretchen Howard SPECIAL TO THE BLACK MOUNTAIN NEWS
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o, you’re planning to get married and nothing but the type of glorious wedding that Cinderella had when she married the Prince will do. Right? But what if the Father of the Bride is NOT the King, and the Prince, though undoubtedly charming, did not recently win the lottery? Time to scale back, just a little. Okay, maybe a little more than that. But remember, scaling back does not have to mean this can’t be a glorious event. Here are some ideas on saving money that can still allow the event to be the envy of the Ugly Step-sisters. The planning for the big day (or big weekend) should be based on what is really important to the bride and groom. Don’t cut out the cake if it’s something you’ve always dreamed of. Look at each aspect of the event. Maybe there is another area where you can go without or
scale back. Consider the invitation list and keep it simple and practical. Don’t feel obligated to invite every friend and acquaintance you have. Think of who you will be in touch with 20 years from now. Family and dear friends, yes. A smaller group allows you to spend more quality time with the people that really matter to your lives. Then, like in real estate, there is location, location, location. Consider a place where weddingrelated events (rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, Sunday brunch) can be held in the same location. This factor can save on rental costs, decoration expenses, and transportation. Decorations can be simple and still elegant. The use of locally grown flowers (maybe ones you or your friends have grown yourselves) and the inclusion of simple candles or lamps can add a beautiful touch. Choose local flowers that are in season the time of your wedding. “Brides and grooms are going to be looking for good prices on
their wedding floral décor, and floral designers are going to have to be creative in what they can create for low cost. This means taking a walk out in your garden or, using locally grown flowers and budgeting a certain amount of money for the unique flowers that must come from the flower wholesaler,” Mary Noble Braden, from Bella Blooms Cottage, said. A well thought-out menu is essential and can save the wedding from being a large financial burden. “Chicken or vegetarian dishes are less expensive than beef and can be just as good,” Cynthia Brasher, of Black-Eyed Susan Catering in Black Mountain, said. “You can also ask your friends to bring appetizers and let the caterer do the main course. Or ask a friend to make your cake.” Serving beer and wine instead of an open bar can significantly save on money. Use local breweries and nearby vintners. These items are usually more expensive the farther they have to travel. For music and entertainment,
consider using a DJ instead of a full band. You can specify exactly what music you would like to have and when. Maggie Schlubach, a wedding event planner in Black Mountain, suggests a few other ideas for saving money. •Have a morning wedding followed by a brunch without alcohol. •Borrow a friend’s smart car for your getaway instead of renting an expensive limo. •Purchase your wedding dress at a consignment store. •Limit the number of hours you use a professional photographer. •Make your own invitations. •Create a budget for your wedding planning and then get creative with ways to stick to it. Determine the aspects of your wedding that are most important to you and cut corners in other areas, and you can still be Cinderella at your very own ball.
Metro Photo
(above) Wedding event planner Maggie Schlubach suggests purchasing your wedding gown from a consignment store in order to save money.
Nestled in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies Wolf Creek Cove, a picturesque, tranquil, outdoor setting for weddings, parties and other special celebrations. Wolf Creek Cove is located just three minutes from downtown Black Mountain and about fifteen miles from Asheville, N.C.
828-669-9562 ~ www.wolfcreekcove.com ~ gretchen@ghpr.net CMYK C2
BLACK MOUNTAIN NEWS • WWW.BLACKMOUNTAINNEWS.COM
THURSDAY, FEB. 12, 2009 • PAGE C3
MOUNTAIN WEDDINGS
Outdoor weddings with elegance and comfort By Gretchen Howard
er.
SPECIAL TO THE BLACK MOUNTAIN NEWS
Many sites have their own tents available for rent or can recommend an event rental company. Provide fans or air conditioners for hot days, and plan to heat your tent for cool nights. Having a solid back up plan for bad weather will alleviate stress and worry. Decorations for an outdoor wedding can usually be kept to a minimum by using and accentuating your location’s natural decor. Keep it simple and your pocketbook will appreciate it. Flower arrangements and some additional lighting is really all you need. Cynthia Brasher, owner of Bella Luna Inn and Black EyedSusan Catering, has been hosting and orchestrating weddings for over six years. She says that lighting the outdoor space can make it more inviting and enchanting. Use tea lights, Christmas tree lights, tiki torches, and outdoor
T
hinking of saying your vows in the great outdoors? Many couples choose Western North Carolina as their wedding site because of the beautiful mountain backdrop and for a different event that suits their style and ideals. An outdoor wedding site can be just as elegant, spiritual, and comfortable as an indoor one, though you’ll want to spend some time considering the comfort of your guests and what you can do to avoid any potential problems. The first thing to consider is the weather - you should hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Some venues have both indoor and outdoor areas, which can be comforting if you are concerned about rain. A tent can provide both an air of festivity and shelter from possible bad weath-
Photos provided by Gretchen Howard
(above and below) Many sites have their own tents available for rent or can recommend an event rental company. Provide fans or air conditioners for hot days, and plan to heat your tent for cool nights. Having a solid back up plan for bad weather will alleviate stress and worry.
chandeliers. Mary Noble Braden, of Bella Blooms Cottage, says outdoor wedding can be made more elegant by bringing in several focal
points. She suggests using large urns or unusual containers like old wooden wheelbarrows filled with local flowers. “Wooden arbors, benches, and hay can make the outdoor space even more interesting,” she said. Hidden River Events offers ceremony and reception packages and limited accommodations whether you are looking for a destination wedding site or call Western North Carolina your hometown. Located in the Swannanoa Valley next to Warren Wilson College, Hidden River Events has panoramic views of the Blue Ridge mountains and frontage along the lovely Swannanoa River. Rhodo Creations offers rustic furniture pieces created from rescued rhododendron trees, mountain laurel, and recycled barn wood such as gift tables, flower stands, and fences.
“Our pieces combine the inherent beauOutdoor Wedding ty of the area with an Venues artistic embrace to enhance the ambiance Wolf Creek Cove of one of life’s most 57 Maney Lane, Black special moments,” Mountain owner Bill Metes said. 828-669-9562 Be sure to convey information in the www.wolfcreekcove.com invitations that your guests will find useful Inn on Mill Creek about the outdoor site, Ridgecrest such as parking and 828-669-1115 what they would be comfortable wearing. www.-inn-on-mill-creek.com You may want to tell the women to wear Lake Eden Events sandals or flats. 379 Lake Eden Road, Black Providing guests with Mountain sunscreen or bug spray 828-686-8742 is a nice touch. Make sure your www.lakeedenevents.com caterer is experienced with preparing foods Bella Luna Inn for outdoor weddings. 99 Terry Estate Drive, Black The food items should Mountain accommodate the temperature. There 822-249-6979 should be plenty of www.bellalunainn.com ice, water, and nonalcoholic beverages Hidden River Events available. The caterer Asheville should be prepared to promptly clean up 828-216-0341 food and plates after www.hiddenriverevents.com mealtime to ward off any pesky insects. Alert all your other vendors of your outdoor location flowers, or reusable shopping as well. bags. Wedding favors could be a Plan your outdoor wedding token of your outdoor affair and carefully and in advance, and you capture some of the natural ambi- will have a beautiful wedding day ence. Wolf Creek Cove suggests without sacrificing elegance or miniature trees ordered from the comfort. National Arbor Day Foundation. Other ideas are seed packets filled with sweet peas or wild
Black Mountain caterers can take care of your wedding cuisine needs By Gretchen Howard SPECIAL TO THE BLACK MOUNTAIN NEWS
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lack Mountain is home to an array of caterers with culinary talent fortunately for the bride and groom who choose the town as their wedding location. From casual, relaxed weddings to the most formal events, the right food to match the occasion can be found in Black Mountain. Black Mountain Bakery is well-known in the community for their beautiful, delicious cakes for every occasion. They will consult with the bride and groom to design a unique and personalized wedding cake. Cake options include white, yellow, chocolate, lemon, almond cake, pound cake, carrot cake, and Italian cream cake. Fillings include raspberry, lemon, orange, apricot, strawberry, and pastry cream. Fondant icing is available. Black Mountain Bakery 669-1626 www.blackmountainbakery.com
•Black-Eyed Susan Catering owner Cynthia Brasher has been cooking for weddings for over six years and promises your guests will remember her delicious food. She uses the freshest ingredients available from local farmers markets. She strongly believes if you start with a good product the end result will be wonderful. Black-Eyed Susan Catering will help you design a menu perfect for you and your wedding guests. Following is a sample of some of the menu offerings: Appetizers: Carolina smoked trout dip with points and cucumbers, herbed and spiced goat cheese balls, almond and honey baked brie with fruit and bread, caramelized sweet onion dip with rounds
Main Dishes: Chicken herb provence with roasted red pepper aioli and lime cilantro aioli, pork loin with port and fig reduction, herb and mustard encrusted beef tenderloin, Alabama shrimp and grits, French cut prime rib, soy vey poached salmon Sides: Beet and walnut salad pear, apple and goat cheese salad, maple glazed acorn squash rings, grits with goat cheese and chives Cakes: Tiramisu cake, carrot cake Black-Eyed Susan Catering (828) 712-6314 blackeyedsusancatering@ charter.net
•The Merry Wine Market has worked with many caterers in the area and is happy to do the leg work of pairing wine with a menu or help build a menu – a free service. Owner Scott Counce says their job is to make sure the couple is happy, saving money, and worry-free when it comes to the wines and beer for the wedding, rehearsal dinner, luncheons showers, and parties. The Merry Wine Market 669-9050 www.themerrywinemarket.com
•Courtney’s Cakes is a local baking business owned by Courtney King and specializing in wedding cakes. She has recently combined her efforts of cake making with charity. “For every wedding cake I sell, 15 percent will go towards a charity of the couple’s choice from a list of local charities. My hope is that the same giving spirit will carry on throughout their marriage together!” Courtney’s favorites are her butter cream iced cakes and fondant covered cakes. She loves using fresh flowers on her cakes. Courtney’s Cakes (828) 450-6143
•Okie Dokies Smokehouse, formerly Grill House Catering, specializes in Southern-style cooking for large events. Okie Dokies Smokehouse also has a self-contained mobile kitchen to serve with style at almost any location. From casual buffet style to formal service, Okie Dokies Smokehouse works with each client to make their special day perfect. Following is an example of their buffet-style menus for wedding receptions. Main course: Carolina pulled-pork bbq, baby back ribs, grilled chicken and dinner rolls. Sides: New potatoes, smashed garlic potatoes, baked beans, green beans, grilled asparagus, and coleslaw. Dessert: Double fudge chocolate brownies, key lime pie, cheesecake and banana pudding. Steve Dunning Okie Dokies Smokehouse (828) 686-0050 •Johnnie’s Catering serves events both large and small. Following is a reception dinner menu to make a bride’s fantasies come to life. Passed hors d’oeuvres: Herbed shrimp, pecan-crusted cheese bites and wild mushroom bouchées. Punch flowing from a
Photo by Rebecca D’Angelo
(above) Black Mountain residents Hallie and Sam Saunders were married at Mountain View Baptist Church and then hosted a reception for their family and friends at Lake Tomahawk Clubhouse.
fountain. Main course: Chopped green salad with portabella mushrooms and olive oil vinaigrette; rib roast with au jus; and poached salmon with lemon dill
sauce. Sides: Tiny pearl onions in butter sauce, steamed asparagus, parmesan, oven-roasted potatoes, and hot yeast rolls. Dessert: Tropical fruit com-
•Old South Cakes offers delicious, homemade cakes with no preservatives or artificial flavors. Best sellers include coconut-lime pound cake, rum cake, red velvet cheesecake, dulce de leche cake, sweet potato cake, chocolate cake with malted milk icing, lavender pound cake, and chocolate pound cake. Old South Cakes 403 West State Street, Black Mountain (828) 664-0614
pote… and the grand finale, wedding cake. Johnnie’s Catering Johnnie Whisnat (828) 669-0033
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BLACK MOUNTAIN NEWS • WWW.BLACKMOUNTAINNEWS.COM
MOUNTAIN WEDDINGS
Wedding,
continued from Page C1
(above, left, and below) The 75 guests at Catherine Bost and Ryan Ingram’s wedding were seated in white chairs facing the chapel at Wolf Creek Cove. A multi-peaked white tent by Artful Shelters of Asheville provided additional shelter and festivity to the event. Catherine wore an ivory dress with a blue sash made by Eden, and the bridesmaids wore coordinating blue strapless dresses. The groom and his attendants wore navy blue suits.
“Waltz for a Wedding,” which he had written for his niece’s wedding, as Catherine walked down the aisle with her dad. The couple created their own reception music with a few IPods and speakers. Catherine and Ryan’s first dance was to
“Forever” by Ben Harper, and Catherine and her father danced to “The Long and Winding Road” by the Beatles. 28806 Deli Bakery Caterers in Asheville provided the reception fare including a large hors d’oeuvre selection of veg-
etable spring rolls, ciabatta sandwiches, marinated vegetables, grilled chicken, and other wonderfully prepared selections. “The serving staff was very professional, attentive, easy to work with, and created a comfortable atmosphere for the guests,” Pattie said. Catherine’s mom decorated the tables and Wolf Creek Cove’s chapel with fresh flower arrangements, potpourri, candles, and mirrors. The bridal bouquets were done by Thyme in the Garden in Asheville and consisted of pink and white roses and periwinkle blue hydrangea to match the attire. The ceremony aisle was sprinkled with blue flower petals. “One of the flower arrangements was particularly special as it was created as a ‘memory vase’ of roses placed in memory of family members who had passed away,” Pattie said. Perrin Todd, of Black Mountain, photographed the wedding. The couple was extremely pleased with his service and work.
“Perrin was very professional, not at all intrusive, and got some fantastic shots of the wedding and the scenery at Wolf Creek Cove,” Catherine raved. “Perrin captured special moments using his amazing photography skills in a very professional and non-invasive way. He took time to get to know the couple and family and it shows in the way he artfully composed his scenes,” Pattie said. After a fun reception of dancing and socializing with friends and family, Catherine and Ryan retired to the Bella Luna Inn. The next day was Ryan’s birthday, and the couple headed back to Wolf Creek Cove (they rented the site for the whole weekend) to celebrate with birthday cake, family, and friends.
Catherine and Ryan honeymooned in Arizona with a
backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon.
Home is where your story begins. With low interest rates and lower home prices, why rent? Call Janet Randolph, Accredited Buyer Representative, to find your home. Janet Randolph 828-230-8764 Advantage Realty 521 College St., Asheville, NC Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
Fire Lily Florist Floral design for your style Specializing in weddings
• The traditional bright and colorful • Simplistic Japanese Ichabana style spring wedding • Interesting color schemes • Classic/ formal high styled event • Themes created by our brides • Natural outdoor themes or rustic mountain wedding
Jen Buel Flowerspetals@hotmail.com
828-582-7258
Firelilyflorist.com CMYK C4