Mountain Xpress Local Wedding Guide 2010

Wendy Arthur BAllAnce Makeup Artist

Welcome to the Xpress

Local Wedding Album

AshevillemAkeupArtist.com 828-545-9028

=:6GI A><=I L:99>C<H REV. Hannah Desmond spiritual, non-denominational, destination, earth based & civil ceremonies www.heartlightweddings.info 504-202-1447 heartlightweddings@yahoo.com

Excited About Your Wedding?

Photo courtesy Jen Lepkowski Photography

This year, the Xpress wedding guide was born from photos sent in by our community of local wedding-service providers. Our album is truly your album, and contains photos authentic to WNC. We appreciate the many lovely images we received, and regret we weren’t able to use all of them. Congratulations to all the happy couples-to-be!

Honor Your Love

Asheville Photography

By Brittany Mullins 828.989.0619 www.ashevillephotography.net

COUPLES CONNECTION with Cat & Jeff

Friday, Feb. 26 7-9 • $35 per couple Simple Partner Yoga, Chi Kung, Massage register online at

westashevilleyoga.com

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Why we went local 828.318.4061

www.

ThornhillPhoto.com www. facebook.com/ ThornhillPhoto

Black-Eyed Susan Catering

where breaking bread is simple, delicious and reasonable

weddings, holiday parties, corporate catering, luncheons, food platters and last minute catering

“Asheville, North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Mountains make a gorgeous backdrop for destination weddings,” reports WeddingBasics.com.

But we knew that. With the mountain scenery, great weather, activities for guests and romantic accommodations, Asheville has wedding written all over it. Add to that the local farms and businesses at the ready to provide every weddingrelated detail — from lush bouquets to special diet catering — and really, why would anyone want to have a wedding somewhere else?

But as much of a trend as destination weddings have become, if you already live in the perfect spot there’s no reason to hire a travel agent.

In fact, there are lot of arguments for staying put. EcoWedding.org suggests, “Pick a central location where the majority of the guests don’t have to travel too far,” “Keep things simple,” and “Keep it local.”

In other words, make local your destination.

A local wedding has some serious perks: Less stress, less expense and less impact on the environment top the list. Locally sourced products limit both the fuel cost to transport them long distances, as well as the headache of tim-

Photo courtesy Brown Photography

828-712-6314

www.blackeyedsusancatering.com

2 HUGE Events To Celebrate You!

18 brook st ste 103 • 828.277.4070 ilovewink.com • mon-sat, 10 - 6

Photo courtesy Rebecca D’Angelo Photography

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ing a shipment. Working with community-based businesses means personalized service, and also keeps money in the local economy. And, while a wedding at home (back-yard ceremonies were recession-chic; pot luck receptions get the guests involved; D.I.Y. decor lends a personal touch) can save serious cash, a local wedding doesn’t have to mean strictly homegrown. Asheville boasts plenty of stunning venues like the fairyland-esque glen at Homewood, the overlook deck at the Crest Pavillion, or the time-tested environs of the Grove Park Inn. A totally local event is more doable now than ever before. A hundred years ago, an Appalachian bride might have sewn her own gown, her community might have baked a layer cake using number 10 cast-iron skillets, and the ceremony would have taken place at the family home or church. Same idea today, only with plenty of added luxury.

Consider a one-of-a-kind dress handmade by a local designer, a specialty cake baked to suit the bride’s and groom’s personalities, a bouquet from an organic farm, gifts selected from area boutiques, a memory-making B&B suite within walking distance to the festivities, a conflict-free diamond ring bench-made by a local jeweler and the pictures (taken by a local photographer, of course) to commemorate the occasion.

Just to give you an idea about how it will all play out, Xpress offers up our local wedding album: a WNC-sourced guide to all things matrimonial.

And don’t forget our online business directory at mountainx.com/guides/wedding.X

We fell in love with with the mountains and wanted to have our wedding right there. It was the scenery that attracted us here, and seemed like a pretty epic decision — binding ourselves to each other, and to the mountains, too. Here, at Max Patch. WNC is blessed with venues of all sorts — from the great outdoors to lovely spaces in the heart of downtown. View the Xpress online directory for a long list of gorgeous options.

Photo courtesy Christopher Smith Photography

What a lovely opportunity — to select our own inseason flowers from a garden. We took advantage of the area’s farms and used locally sourced flowers, in season.

Photo courtesy The Enchanted Florist

WNC is home to so many amazing craftspeople. We wanted jewelry as unique as our bond, and sought out local jewelers to create custom wedding bands for us. Here, our design from blue goldsmiths.

Photo courtesy blue goldsmiths L O C A L W E DDING G U ID E • mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 17 - FEBRUARY 23, 2010 25

What she wore

by Alli Marshall “One of the many blessings that come from an original tailored garment is the opportunity to incorporate personal, poetic and sentimental touches,” explains local designer R. Brooke Priddy of Ship to Shore.

“Often my clients bring items from loved ones of generations past.”

It’s a concept that goes far beyond the “something old, something new” adage.

Priddy repurposes and incorporates gloves, scraps of lace, velvet flowers, pearls, hats, even entire wedding gowns into one-of-akind dresses for the brides who come to her shop.

That’s a really big difference — a world apart, in fact — from the process through which many women choose a gown.

Catalogues, bridal superstores and mainstream mall-style shops offer plenty of selection but in impersonal settings and with few if any options for customizing.

When it comes to weddings, few brides would admit to wanting a cookie-cutter feel to the big day.

So what stops many brides from purchasing a custom-made gown? Price. Tales of nest egg-cracking designer gowns are the stuff of both legend and nightmare. FYI: The most expensive wedding dress in the world, to date, is the $12 million Diamond Gown, a collaboration by Renee Strauss and jewel dealer Martin Katz. But that’s hardly everyone’s style, and when it comes to custom design (within reason), Priddy points out that “People don’t seem to know that the prices are not that much higher than local off-the-rack chain retailers. Sometimes much less.” (Alterations and extras are hidden costs of off-the-rack gowns.)

While buying locally might mean spending less; it definitely means keeping money in the local economy and avoiding unfair trade or sweatshop practices associated

Photo courtesy Wedding Inspirations with many mass-produced clothing lines. But most importantly, a local designer provides one-on-one consultation and personal touches. Back to that “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” tradition: “Each of these lucky items can be sewn in like secrets under hems, or woven into accentuated waistlines,” says Priddy. “In my experience, the more the dress tells a story — laced with a history unique to the bride — the more emotionally fulfilling the whole experience can be.”

WNC boasts many talented design-

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ers as well as small boutiques that can offer personalizes service when it comes to finding the perfect dress.

Brides on a budget can check local consignment and vintage shops for second hand and antique gowns.

These dresses, at the hand of a tailor or seamstress, can be updated and made to fit perfectly. Have a family heirloom wedding gown that’s brimming with emotional value but is hopelessly out of style? Consider hiring one of the area’s many alteration shops to take in, let out, shorten, remove sleeves or otherwise revamp the dress. X

What she wore

Photo courtesy R. Brooke Priddy / Ship to Shore

The Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (a surprising resource for weddings) debuted its “Asheville Wedding Crashers” blog on Valentine’s Day. Its intent? To celebrate and capture the unique spirit of the wedding scene in and around the Asheville area. Look for photos, guest blogs, insider tips, funny stories and bridal trends. Visit www.myweddinginasheville.com to learn more.

Adorn Salon just earned a Best Bridal Salon nod from The Knot wedding magazine. “We do between 40 and 50 weddings a year, take great pride in our work, and love being involved in people’s big day. We have recently relocated to a beautiful new space and have added spa services to our menu in response to the many requests we get for pampering from our brides,” writes owner Rebecca Hecht. Also earning kudos were City Bakery & Cafe for wedding cake bakers; Biltmore Estate and On Broadway for reception sites; Artisan Catering and Deli for wedding caterers; and Studio Flora Diva for florists. Visit www.theknot.com to learn more.

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A class for those who want to improve one or more relationships in their lives. Taught in a workshop setting, you receive teaching and guidance that helps you resolve issues and grow your relationship to its next best expression-your life will be better and more fulfilling.

What we ate: Local food

Joseph and Sarah have supported us to increase our love, helping us go deeper and get closer on a continual basis. There’s always something more to work on in a relationship and they always have the answers for the next step. —Nadia & Patricio Herrera Led by Joseph and Sarah Malinak. Contact us for more information: (828) 645-0999 www.meetup.com/CreatingYourIdealRelationship

Photo courtesy Artisan Catering Top 10 reasons to buy local food include: Better tasting food, sustaining rural heritage and protecting the natural beauty of the mountains, says the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. For your wedding, tapping into the bounty of local farms has never been easier.

“When you buy local food, you help keep local farms in business, strengthen our economy, preserve rural landscapes and encourage sustainable agricultural practices,” adds ASAP’s marketing and communications contact, Rose McLarney.

“And you benefit directly: You enjoy fresher food.”

Know those popular green bumper stickers that read “Local Food: Thousands of Miles Fresher”? — that’s what they’re talking about.

“For a special event like a wedding, you want the best ingredients,” explains McLarney. “When you buy local, you get those in several senses. You get better tasting food. You get unique, regional food that is a reflection of your wedding’s location. And you get food that’s really fitting for a celebration, because it’s good for your whole community.”

A bride and groom who live in WNC probably already have an idea of their favorite local flavors. They might know a farmer from one of the area’s many tailgate markets, or favor a particular baker or producer of specialty foods. Mead, wine, beer, goat cheese, chocolate, honey and jam are just a handful of the many products that can be locally sourced.

For those planning a wedding from

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afar (or for local residents needing some suggestions), McLarney recommends ASAP’s Local Food Guide at www.buyappalachian.org. “They can either search for specific ingredients or browse the Caterers & Bakers section,” she says.

Salad dressing, coffee and freshly milled grains can be found in the guide; so can vegetarian chefs, dessert masterminds and pasta makers.

Local food, like slow food, is a movement. Actually, the two are intimately linked. “Slow food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating,” reads the Slow Food USA Web site. “It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.”

But if joining a movement seems like a major undertaking on top of planning and carrying off a wedding, don’t let the revolutionary language throw you. At its essence, local food means edibles that travel the shortest distance from farm to plate. Whether it’s an heirloom tomato or a delicately balanced, three-tiered cake, the less time spend in transit, the better.

And, because wedding planning doesn’t leave much spare time for trawling farmers markets in search of the best radicchio and ripest strawberries, consider leaving all that shopping to the experts.

The local caterer or chef you choose to prepare you meal or hors d’oeuvres can sleuth in your stead. Another bonus for going local: The folks making your food have the insider info on where to find the very best goods.

Vincenzo’s Events A s h ev i l l e ’s f re s h , n e w fa c e i n

h i g h q u a l i t y, a c c e s s i b l y p r i c e d eve n t s a n d m e e t i n g s i n S o u t h , C e n t ra l a n d N o r t h l o c a t i o n s .

• T h e O rc h a rd a t B ro a d m o o r • V i n c e n z o ’s R i s to ra n te • T h e C l u b a t R e e m s C re e k

We d d i n g , R e h e r s a l D i n n e r s a n d S p e c i a l E v e n t s

C a l l 8 2 8 - 6 8 7 - 8 5 6 1 o r g o to w w w. v i n c e n z o s eve n t s . c o m fo r m o re i n fo r m a t i o n

Presents the 1st play of its 45th Season A drama/comedy by Jeff Baron Directed by Glenn Musser

Performance Dates: Friday thru Sunday March 12-14, 19-21, 26-28, 2010 Fri & Sat Evenings @ 8:00PM, Sun Matinees @ 2:00PM TICKET PRICES: RESERVATIONS: Walk-In BOX OFFICE: ADULT: $14.00 828-692-1082 Fri & Sat 10am-1pm UNDER 18: $8:00 Starting March 1 Starting March 5

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What we ate

Photo courtesy Artisan Catering “We have had the pleasure of serving several 100-mile menus to brides and grooms who are committed to minimizing the environmental impact of their wedding and showcasing the very best of what WNC has to offer,” writes Miki Kilpatrick from Saffron Fine Foods. “All of the meat, fish, fresh vegetables and dairy are sourced from within a 100-mile radius.”

A few of the many places Saffron gets delicious veggies, meats & cheeses:

Kick Off Your Shoes & Let Us Pamper Your Wedding Party Couple’s Rendezvous Package for Two Romantic Couple’s Room, Champagne & Chocolate • Bridal Parties • Boutique • Massage • Waxing • Body Treatments • Skin & Nail care Mon-Sat 10-7, Sun 12-5 • 18 Brook Street, Asheville, NC 828.277.BODY (2639) • SpaAtBiltmoreVillage.com

Happy Cow Creamery, Pelzer, SC Looking Glass Creamery, Asheville Sunburst Trout Farm, Candler Farside Farms, Asheville Huntley Family Farms, Barnardsville Deep Woods Mushrooms, Mills River Madison Farms, All Over Madison County Holly Springs Nursery, Mills River — From Miki Kilpatrick at Saffron Fine Foods

A sample Spring menu, courtesy Saffron: Hors d’oeuvres Sweet Pea Risotto Balls with Herbed Tomato Sauce Local Goat Cheese Crottin with Rhubarb Jam in Wonton Crisp “Green Eggs & Ham”— Spinach and Bacon stuffed Deviled Eggs Dinner Spinach Salad with Shitakes, Roasted Red Pepper, Walnuts & Goat Cheese Lamb Roulade stuffed with Roasted Garlic & Fresh Herbs Scallion Mashed Potatoes Spring Vegetable Trio: Roasted Asparagus Spears, Sautéed Radishes with Watercress, Sugar Snap Peas with Caramelized Onion Artisan Breads with Herb Butter X

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Unforgettable Food for Your Unforgettable Day!

Anne’s Custom Catering beyond what you can imagine

“The fusion of colors, taste & glory.”

Fresh Herbs... Artistic Presentation

“Anne’s culinary creations are talked about years after the wedding.”

www.annescustomcatering.com

828-450-3525 Full Service Caterer Meet Anne at Moments Café & Patisserie in Swannanoa

±0ICK 9OUR /WN² By the Bucket, By the Vase, or By the Stem

coming March 24th

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From May-October, Master Gardener Judy Garry offers hundreds of varieties of organic, “home-grown” fresh and fragrant cut flowers from her East Asheville garden. And because this is a home garden, our prices are extremely competitive!

From Bridal Bouquets to Flowers for the Cake, We offer Full Floral Services With a Natural, Wildflower Look Wedding Special ~ 20% off your first bucket with this ad Contact Judy for your free consultation:

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L O C A L W E DDING G U ID E • mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 17 - FEBRUARY 23, 2010 31

Rev. Larry Anderson

Love is love

“Your Wedding Should be Just the Way You Want it!”

828-681-5177

www.AndersonWNCWeddings.com

Photo courtesy BobbyMark’s Designs Land of the Sky United Church of Christ supports marriage equality for gays and lesbians and officiates same-sex commitment ceremonies. “We believe that marriage equality is an important justice issue, and our community of faith includes families that are affected every day by the status quo that says they cannot enter into the legal covenant of marriage,” writes Rev. Amanda Hendler-Voss, co-pastor. Both pastors are married with kids, writes Hendler-Voss, “so we know full well the privileges and challenges afforded by the institution of marriage.”

My true-love hath my heart, and I have his, By just exchange one to the other given: I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss, There never was a better bargain driven: My true-love hath my heart, and I have his.

His heart in me keeps him and me in one, My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides: He loves my heart, for once it was his own, I cherish his because in me it bides: My true-love hath my heart, and I have his.

— Sir Phillip Sidney

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Your Pet’s Preferred Vacation Destination • Personal Attention & Tender Loving Care • Private Accommodations • Affordable Rates • Playtime & Daily Walks Available

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12 Cavalier Lane Swannanoa

Just Minutes from Asheville

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Alterations • Custom Design 2 Day Service (Not 2 Weeks!) Also last minute!

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88 Country Club Rd. • 828-450-8916 Showcasing panoramic views and graceful rustic design, High Vista Country Club offers the ideal location in the mountains of WNC for your wedding event. The Country Club facilities are complete with formal dining, dance floor, verandas and more in a golf resort setting conveniently located between Asheville and Hendersonville, NC. Our professional event staff is ready to work with you to ensure the smooth planning and success of your event. We offer excellent service in an elegant setting that is perfect for • rehearsal dinners • ceremonies • receptions • and other weddingrelated activities.

www.highvistagolf.com

How we ate cake

by Alli Marshall It seems like every wedding movie has the requisite scene where the bride- and groom-to-be perch on fussy little chairs and sample an array of pastel-hued slivers of cake. Words like “butter cream” and “fondant” are tossed around and eventually lead to something massive and white and tiered like a designer wedding gown. Something far closer to sculpture than scrumptious.

The thing about wedding cake (and most of us past our mid-20s have gone to enough weddings to have done the necessary research) is that it’s never very good. Pretty to look at, but often dry and bland. Why else would so many wedding cakes meet their ends smashed into brides and grooms faces to the delight of photographers? Or toppled by an inebriated best man?

That’s where a locally made cake comes in. For starters, small cake shops tend to turn out pastries that taste as good as they look. No mass-made confection here; these edibles are lovingly crafted one at a time and flavored with regional delicacies. Short Street Cakes’ menu offers flavors like “Aunt Tissy’s Italian Cream Cake” and “Ashevelvet” (“Red velvet the way it was meant to be.

Brown”). That bakery also offers glutenfree and fruit-sweetened options, while West End Bakery can create vegan wedding cakes in chocolate, white and carrot.

Speaking of carrot, World’s Best Carrot Cake just happens to be located in Woodfin and can make a nuptialready carrot dessert or (thanks to a team effort with baker Candace Blakeslee of CB Desserts, any number of wildly imagined cakes. On her blog, Blakeslee writes, “Can’t decide between two flavors? A cake can be made with layers of each flavor or a swirl of those flavors.” Like

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mocha, or tres leches, or golden rum.

While independent local bakers get to show off their individuality, so do the bride and groom. Put those two creative forces together and you wind up with a cake that says a lot about the couple it celebrates. That’s the case at Sweet Promises, which can do a traditional rolled fondant or a fantastical seasonally themed dessert. Baker Wynette Scruggs describes an elaborate autumnal tree cake she made: “A design which was created for bride who wanted to reflect an enchanted forest theme for her fall wedding.”

Similarly, Annie’s Naturally Bakery, along with buttery white tiered confections, crafts some comedic treats. Head cake decorator Natalie Haynes describes one chocolate treat as “a whimsical groom’s cake done for an outdoorsman” — complete with icing whitewater, a tent topper and a sign for the Appalachian Trail. And then there’s the mandolin groom’s cake created by Tiffany’s Baking Company: The perfect details from strings to tuning pegs only enhance the chocolate decadence.

And that’s really only the tip of the icing — er — iceberg when it comes to personalized designs. Sisters McMullen can whip up a wedding cake made of dozens of elegantly frosted cupcakes.

City Bakery has decorated a tiered cake with birch bark and fresh daisies; both bakeries have turned out pop-art spectacles of geometric shapes, fanciful icing and layered balancing acts worthy of Cirque du Soleil. But it’s all because local bakeries know their clients and work in collaboration to make the perfect dessert.

And not just perfect looking, either. X Find a directory of WNC bakeries at mountainx.com/guides/wedding.

City Bakery

The Sisters McMullen

Sweet Promises Wedding Cakes

Short Street Cakes

Annie’s Bakery groom’s cake

Tiffany Baking Co.

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er weddin gs d n e la v at Mountain Farm

Gifts we received

Weddings at Mountain Farm are a down-to-EARTH affair.

Views of lavender and the Black Mountains make a dramatic backdrop for your wedding.

Hosting only a limited number of weddings a year gives our staff an opportunity to get to know the wedding party and tailor your experience at Mountain Farm to create the wedding you envision.

Our wedding site at Blueberry Cottage, a romantically rustic cabin that sleeps up to 8 people, is included for three days and nights. The two-acre lawn is ideal for up to a 40x80 tent. The picturesque arbor, lavender field and flower gardens are a unique setting that will create an unforgettable experience for you and your guests!

We also specialize in table favors and wedding party gifts from the farm: honey, soaps, lavender wedding tosses, and more!

contact us: 125 Copperhead Bend • Burnsville, NC 828-675-4856 • www.mountainfarm.net

Teapot by River Arts District artist Patty Bilbro Want to get really Asheville, long after the actual ceremony? Many local artists offer registries for couples, who might then end up with a set of dishes both handcrafted and unique. Forget department stores and work with independent local retailers who stock all manner of wares.

And if you’re curious what the process is like setting up a registry with an artist, rest assured, they’ve made it virtually stressfree.

Here’s a sample step-by-step primer from ceramic artist Dawn Dalto: “Normally I meet with the couple in person so that they can see the work and make selections. They tell me which pieces they want and how many. I then set up a special section on my Web site for them. It has each of the items that they selected and the quantity that is being requested.

Then their guests can visit the site and

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make purchases. I give them a link to their particular section that they can send to their guests, and if they wish I will put a link on my front page with a link to their page.

Some couples don’t want a link as they want it to be more private.

I give the purchaser the option of having the item shipped to them or I can hold it in my studio for them to pick up or even deliver it myself to the couple prior to the wedding if they are local and can ship too.

I offer free gift wrapping also for wedding registries. I try to make is super easy for both the couple and their guests.”

What are the advantages? Along with the convenience of registry, Dalto lists “getting a hand-made dinner service, tiles, wedding-day accessories that meet their theme and style, ease for their guests to purchase something the couple wants without hassle, free gift wrap, free local delivery.”

Some very WNC registries Asheville’s River District Artists Situated along the French Broad River mere minutes from downtown Asheville, the River Arts District is home to more than 100 artists. Many of them will work with couples on creating their registries.

You’ll find two examples of River District Artists that offer bridal registries listed below. However, head on down to the River Arts District any day of the week and discover the possibilities on your own.

Find out which artists are open on any given day by visiting www.riverdistrictartists.com and clicking on “Calendar Open Studio Hours.”

Hofman Studios Register for gifts and/or wedding china at Hofman Studios. Artist Michael Hofman makes hand-built porcelain that he impresses with antique lace. Hofman says, “Often brides will bring in old family lace or perhaps extra lace from their own wedding dress for me to make their pieces with.”

111 Roberts St., River Arts District. (828) 232-1401. www.hofmanstudios.com The Potter’s Mark Ltd. The Potter’s Mark offers handcrafted, functional stoneware, featuring a rare red glaze: “A piece of art you can use every day,” says Potter’s Mark artist Eileen Black. Couples can use the Web site or call to build a registry. Potter’s Mark will work with a couple to design their own Web page, where their family and friends can go to order items.

The Cotton Mill Studios, 122 Riverside Drive, Studio A, River Arts District. (828) 252-9122. www.pottersmark.com Common Housefly A “toy store for the food conscious,” declares Common Housefly’s Web site.

The shop offers pots and pans, tableware, glassware, bar accessories and much more.

Proprietor Kerryn Davis says it’s very easy to register at Common Housefly, “simply come by during regular business hours ... and request a sheet to list [your] general info and ‘wish list,’ and it is then kept [at the store] for guests etc. to pull and shop with.”

104 West State St., Black Mountain. (828) 669-0503. www.commonhousefly.net New Morning Gallery New Morning Gallery showcases a collection of American-handmade decorative and functional crafts — ceramics, furniture, glass and more — in a 12,300 squarefoot, multilevel space in Biltmore Village.

The gallery assists couples in building their own online registries.

7 Boston Way, Biltmore Village. (828) 2742831 or (800) 933-4438. www.newmorninggallerync.com Porter & Prince Couples can make appointments to come into the store to discuss their bedding, bath and furniture needs. After a couple has selected the items for their “wish list,” a registry is created. The couple’s guests can then visit the store and choose from the list.

Gifts can be picked up at the store when it arrives or shipped with a minimal fee. Gift wrapping provided for smaller items.

2 Hendersonville Road, Suite A1. (828) 236-2337 or (888) 431-2337. www.porterandprince.com giveArtfully.com An online gift registry based in Asheville that offers handmade art and crafts: original pottery, photography, textiles, handmade books and more. Creating a registry at giveArtfully.com is a free, one-step process. Much of the artwork is created upon order and allows the couple to be involved in the design process by selecting colors, finishes, styles and sizes.

(888) 696-6807. http://giveartfully.com X

• All Local Menus • Outstanding Food • Friendly, Professional Staff • Free Composting & Recycling • Budget Conscious • Planning Services Available

www.saffronfinefoods.com contact@saffronfinefoods.com 828-280-3094 Check out sample menus at www.saffronfinefoods.com

See why brides are just mad about Saffron...

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Where we stayed

Women’s Semi-Annual Boutique Consignment Event Become a consignor today! It’s easy... It’s fun and a great way to earn extra $$$. You Decide The Price Then Earn

70% of the Selling Price!

SheTrade is a biannual consignment sale for women featuring exceptional quality brand name clothing, prom dresses, accessories, handbags, shoes and jewelry.

Photo courtesy The Gardener’s Cottage

visit us at w w w. s h etradewnc.com and join the fun!

2010 Spring Event • March 23-28 Four Points Sheraton Downtown Asheville

public sale dates March 26 - 27 9am-8pm • March 28 12pm - 6pm drop off dates March 23-24 9am - 8pm

by Alli Marshall Often venues and accommodations go hand-in-hand. If your Asheville Wedding is a destination wedding, that’s likely to be the case. There are plenty of great locales for such an event, from the allinclusive services of The Inn on Biltmore and The Grove Park Inn to more intimate settings like The Hawk & Ivy Country Retreat in Barnardsville (where one of the proprietors is even an ordained minister and can perform the ceremony) or Hot Springs’ Mountain Magnolia Inn (which can lodge 38 guests and has a restaurant on site).

If your local wedding doesn’t include a combined venue/guest rooms establishment, WNC offers plenty of excellent accommodations — no chain hotels or motels necessary — at a variety of price points.

The Home Away from Home: Since Asheville has long been a tourist destination, the city has made an art of the Bed & Breakfast. The Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association includes more than a dozen inns; with a total of nearly 100 rooms. The Montford historical district alone is home to B&Bs housed in stately homes — some designed by noteworthy architect Richard Sharp Smith in the early 1900s. B&Bs provide personalized service, delectable meals and a distinctly local touch: perfect for out-of-town guests who want a unique experience.

Easy Elegance: Boutique hotels might be a buzzword among discerning travel-

38 FEBRUARY 17 - FEBRUARY 23, 2010 • mountainx.com • L O C A L W E DDING G U ID E

ers, but in Asheville they’re old school.

Historic properties include the sprawling Princess Anne Hotel (once owned

by Johnny Mercer’s father) and the Albemarle Inn (which hosted Hungarian composer Bela Bartok). New properties such as Hotel Indigo and The Grand Bohemian Hotel seek to continue the tradition.

When in the mountains ... Do as the mountaineers do. Rent a cabin. Or rent a group of cabins. There are plenty of options, from rustic to luxe (hot tub with mountain views, anyone?), and plenty of local rental agencies ready to find the perfect setup for your wedding party. Cabins can be found close to all the amenities of town (the button-cute 1920s-era cabin village at Tunnel and Swannanoa River roads comes to mind); others are tucked into wooded privacy, or surrounded by outdoor adventures, like hiking and tubing.

Romance on a budget: Hostels aren’t just for European backpackers. Asheville’s handful of low-cost hostels — including the brand new, right-in-the-action Sweet Peas on Lexington Avenue — are fun and friendly. Good for the adventurous and social, hostels offer travelers a chance to meet other on-the-move folks. Communal kitchens, living rooms, game rooms and other amenities like tourist info and bike rentals make for a pleasant stay for wedding guests on a shoestring. X For more accommodations, check out mountainx.com/guides/wedding.

828.279.7060

L O C A L W E DDING G U ID E • mountainx.com • FEBRUARY 17 - FEBRUARY 23, 2010 39

How we did it

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Back in the day, getting hitched was as simple as jumping over a broom. These days, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a bit more too it: Forms to fill out and file, officiants to procure, rings to buy. The good news is that, despite the legalese involved, the actual process in the eyes of the law requires little more than a trip into the Buncombe County Courthouse.

Interesting fact: Buncombe County Marriage records are on file, dating back to 1891, at the Register of Deeds (first floor, room 110). If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not interested in historical research, you can simply purchase marriage license and certificates of marriage in this office. No appointments are necessary; hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (though both parties must be present by 4 p.m. to complete the paperwork).

Couples where both people are over 21 have it easiest: As long as both are currently single, they simply need their driversâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; licenses and social security cards (or a legal document with the social security number). Those under age 21 will need a birth certificate as well; those under 18 must bring parents to sign for them.

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Getting the marriage certificate requires filling out a form at a computer in the Register of Deeds office, or online before hand at buncombecounty.org/ GOVERNING/DEPTS/RegisterDeeds/ vital_marriage.htm.

Worth noting: If you have been married before, you need to supply the date of a divorce or a spouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death. No physical or blood test is needed; the only thing administered will be an oath. A marriage license now costs $60 (make your check out to â&#x20AC;&#x153;Register of Deedsâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;cashâ&#x20AC;?) and is valid for 60 days. The ceremony must be performed by a an ordained minister; the minister does not have to be local.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve not planned for a ceremony, a magistrate is available on the 10th floor of the court house.

To finalize the process, return the signed license to the Register of Deeds where it will be filed. A copy of the Marriage Certificate costs $10. Get extra copies so you can show them to the DMV and Social Security Office should you need to make relevant name changes.

Online help is available for Social Security name changes at socialsecurity.gov. X