Kelli & Jason

I had so much fun working with Kelli and Jason. Kelli was one of the most relaxed brides ever! She has such a wonderful spirit about her, it was really an honor to be a part of this special day.
We had an AMAZING team of vendors put together for the big day that everything went without a hitch! The ceremony was held at University United Methodist Church, which is the quintessential Carolina church. It's pale blue walls echo the sentiment that Chapel Hill supports the University on every level!
The reception was in The Hill Ballroom of The Carolina Inn, my home away from home. What can we say about The Carolina Inn, that we haven't said already.....we love it there!
Cinda's Creative Cakes provided the delicious dessert, Tre Bella the unique florals, while DJ Greg Ramsey of Bunn DJ Company kept the dance floor busy.
April Sirit of Evoke Photography provided the amazing images from the day! Thanks everyone!

Pike-Senter Wedding

There is so much to say about the gorgeous wedding of Lindsey and David. Which I will, but for now, video speaks louder then words.

Kate Foster Productions from Travis Long on Vimeo.

Recent Flower Work

I can't believe it's almost August! So I'm on a mission to get back on track with my blogging and catch everyone up on the cool work we've been producing this summer.

So here is a quick flash look at some of the cool bouquets and bouts we've made for some of our recent clients.

Enjoy!

DREAM WEDDING GIVEAWAY

Us Weekly and WeddingChannel.com have teamed up for the second year in a row to throw one lucky couple the celebrity-inspired nuptials of their dreams! Last year, Courtney Dempsey and Gary Courtney said "I Do" at the same place as Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore – while Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding photographer captured the moment on film.Think you have what it takes to win? Share your inspiring story by midnight on May 26.

Common Sense Do's & Don't for your Wedding Invitations

Like many parts of wedding planning, sending your wedding invitations can be incredibly stressful. With so much wedding invitation etiquette to remember, many couples lose track of what's really important when sending out wedding invitations—making sure that all of your family and friends know when and where the ceremony is, and that this vital information is delivered in a stylish and elegant way.

When you sit down to send wedding invitations to all your loved ones, make sure you follow these simple, commonsense tips for wedding invitations first and foremost:

-DO send your wedding invitations early. The sooner your guests receive their wedding invitations, the sooner they can RSVP!

-DON'T send wedding invitations to anyone and then assume they won't be able to make it. You might have to be accountable for every single person on your guest list, so make sure you plan accordingly and only send wedding invitations to the number of people you can comfortably accommodate.

-DO send response or RSVP cards along with your wedding invitations. These sleek little stationery inventions will help inspire a perfect headcount in a stylish way.

-DON'T forget to proofread your wedding invitations. Read over the information at least three times, and then hand it off to your wedding planner to do the same!

-DO remember that this celebration is all about fun and family. Make sure your wedding invitations reflect your cheerful spirit along with your sleek and sophisticated

Personal Style & Seasonal Flavor

Today's wedding trends provide extensive inspiration for wedding invitation designers. From the colors of the season to the wide variety of current wedding themes, good invitation designers will match the latest wedding trends with the personal style of the couple. "Designing an invitation that emulates a couple's personal style will help set the tone of a wedding and make a memorable statement about the events to follow," says Le Papier Boutique's Stacy Amoo-Mensah.

Seasons Equal Color :

Since summer and outdoor weddings continue to be the hottest season and theme for weddings, Amoo-Mensah, whose creations are featured at online retailers, designs invitations that incorporate the color palettes and picturesque outdoor landscapes that these sizzling months offer. Amoo-Mensah recently designed an invitation for an elegant, yet modern outdoor ceremony and reception that took place in Chicago in June.

"The couple was able to take advantage of the groom's family home that was located on acres of meticulously landscaped grounds," she says. "With blush pink peonies and fuchsia roses in bloom surrounded by an endless sea of apple green grass, the bride drew upon the colors of the season for her wedding invitation and overall color scheme." It is easy for an experienced designer such as Amoo-Mensah to gather motivation from the natural colors of the landscape and the season. But she also looks at the fashion, interior design and other natural elements. As fall approaches and the citrus orange, apple green, turquoise blue and hot pink fade from Amoo-Mensah's color palette, the orange leaves of fall creep into her designs. "I start to incorporate the rich colors of nature into my designs such as chocolate brown, bamboo yellow, plum, emerald green and burgundy."

As the snowy winter months kick in, this Chicago designer adds elements of dramatic colors such as cherry red, black and ice blue to her invitation designs. Then, spring converts her palette to shades of purple, lavender, coral and latte.

Trends Beyond the Seasons:
There are several trends that transcend an individual season. Themes such as the use of chic custom "couples" monograms and the use of flowers as the main design element for the entire wedding all carry over every season. For example, the use of invitation wraps now range from simple ribbon to ornate fabrics, bright and bold color patterns and destination accents. "Whether your mood calls for a fleur-de-lis for a romantic, candlelight ceremony or fun stripes for a summer soiree," Amoo-Mensah says, "keeping to one color palette and intermixing the design elements onto all of your wedding correspondence will help to create a sophisticated, unified look."

Thank you to Wedding Paper Divas for the interview

CONGRATULATIONS

Much love goes out to KFP Staff Assistant, Rachel McClure, who officially finished her last day at NC State University today!

~We are so proud of you~

Congratulations!

Happy Earth Day Ya'll

In honor of Earth Day, I am asking you all to share with me how you are incorporating more "earth friendly" opportunities into your wedding planning.

Post a Comment to this thread & share!

Are you choosing your wedding flowers from our local farmer's market?
Serving organic, free-trade coffee with the cake?
Donating your leftovers to the food bank?

Tell us here!

Share with the community how you

are creating a more sustainable environment

&

minimizing your carbon footprint.

Here at Kate Foster Productions, we are always seeking new ways to conserve.
Help us stay green by viewing our E-Brochure

I look forward to reading all of the creative ways

our brides are saving the earth for all of us!

~Thank you~

Enhancing Your Bridal Bouquet

Like most brides, you'll have a beautiful bouquet when you walk down the aisle; but there are a number of ways that you can customize your bouquet to make it one of a kind!
The bridal bouquet is typically a bit larger than your bridesmaids' bouquets, as well as a bit fancier. This is only the beginning of your bouquet's uniqueness. Adding touches to the wrapping of flowers' stems is a gorgeous way to personalize your bouquet.

• Choose a ballerina wrap for the stem of your bouquet (wrapped the way a ballerina wraps his/her shoes). Use ribbon of multiple colors, sizes and types - such as chiffon - to add texture and beauty.
• Add sequins, rhinestones or pearl pins
  
• Add a monogram brooch or pin for the initial of the last name you two will now share
  Tie small (postage-sized) photographs to ribbon. This is a great opportunity to include pictures of loved ones that have passed away and, therefore, cannot be there physically to share in your special day. Tie the ribbon around the stem of the bouquet
  
• Hang or pin one or multiple charms on the stem, such as a cross, angel or any other symbolic ornament.
• Tie an elegant bow with the ribbon used to tie the stem. Let the ends of the bow hang anywhere from two to 10 inches, whichever you prefer
• Have customized ribbon printed with your wedding date (or you and your groom's names) on it.

The stem is surely not the only way to distinguish your bouquet. The entire bouquet can take on a whole new look, should you decide.

• One spin on the typical bouquet is the pomander, a gorgeous grouping of flowers that are individually pinned into a sphere shape. The ball bouquet hangs from a delicate handle for carrying down the aisle.
  
• Another interesting option is a fan bouquet. As its name depicts, it's an assemblage of flowers held together in a fan shaped frame. Chances are many of your guests haven't seen anything like it!
• 
  A feather bouquet is an enchanting alternative to flowers. Should you choose to use feathers, you may also want to incorporate them into bridesmaids' bouquets, centerpieces and other décor to keep the theme consistent.
• 
  For those getting married around Christmas, a holiday bouquet might be just the individuality you need. Incorporate hints of ribbon, garland, tinsel, mini pinecones, poinsettia flowers or even lights in your bouquet for a magical, delightful touch.

A more common choice is a bouquet of exotic flowers, perfect for those having a Carolina beach wedding. Suggestions for flowers to add to your exotic bouquet include (by their commonly used names) Birds of Paradise, Calla Lily, Oriental Lily, Lotus, Heliconia, Anthuriums, Amaryllis, Hibiscus and Plumeria.

Let your artistic side shine! Whether you're looking for slight enhancements to give your bouquet some personality or an entirely new twist on bridal flowers, don't be afraid to have some fun with it. Talk with your florist about your ideas. A good florist should be able to work with your floral vision (dependant, of course, on your budget) and will probably have his or her own creative designs to contribute.

The Coolest Clutches.....

These clutches from Freddy&Ma are bold, modern, and - luckily for us - are categorized by pattern color on their whimsical catalog pages. I feel I should mention how adorable these would be if each girl in your wedding party got a clutch with a pattern that suited her personality in the color of your choice! If you’re looking for a way to incorporate some color into your ensemble, here’s a chic way to do it, too… and, oh yeah - they’re great if you’re only a guest, too!

Courtesy of inspired bride,Maddy

Some other cool services offered by Freddy&Ma:

Color Matching :Do you love one of their patterns but wish it came in a different shade? Send them fabric swatches and they will create custom color ways in complementary hues to restyle any of the thousands of prints that they offer.
Custom fabrics: Do you have an heirloom piece that you want to turn into a clutch? Unique vintage fabric to coordinate with your dresses? Send them a swatch and they will turn it into their best selling ‘hazel’ purse.
Custom linings :Want to keep your customization a secret? Go for a solid color on the outside of the bags and a different printed lining in each bag.

Top 10 Forgotten Wedding Invitation Recipients

In the world of wedding invitations, some people inevitably don't make the cut — whether you run out of room on your guest list or some people simply slip your mind, there are certain groups of people who always end up left off the wedding invitation mailing list. If you find yourself in the uncomfortable position of trimming down the number of wedding invitations you can send, don't worry—these Top 10 Most Forgotten Wedding Invitation Recipients should be used to being left off the list!

1. Kids. When space and money get tight, the first thing many couples do is to limit their wedding invitations to adults only.

2. Exes. Unless you remain close friends with an ex, and your future spouse has expressly given you permission to invite them without hesitating, it is overwhelmingly considered bad form to send a wedding invitation to an ex.

3. Great aunts and uncles. Elderly extended family members might not be able to travel long distances for your ceremony, but this group is more likely to be offended if they don't receive wedding invitations. Tread carefully!

4. Second cousins. This group of relatives certainly won't be expecting wedding invitations unless you are unusually close.

5. Childhood friends. You may have promised your childhood BFFs that they would be vital parts of your wedding ceremony, but there probably won't be enough wedding invitations for all of your fourth grade buddies.

6. Neighbors. Unless you and your neighbors are particularly friendly, they shouldn't be expecting you to drop by with wedding invitations.

7. Coworkers. It would be nearly impossible to send wedding invitations to all of your coworkers, so limit your list to only those who you are truly friends with and be discrete when discussing your plans!

8. Non-mutual friends. As a couple, you share a lot of friends in common—those friends who have become a part of your joint social circle are much more likely to receive wedding invitations than those who only get along with one of you.

9. Friends' families. Although many people would love to send wedding invitations to the parents of close friends, there often isn't room in the budget to accommodate these extra guests.

10. Friends who argue with your fiancé. Let's face itfriends who argue with one of the people getting married aren't going to add to the celebratory spirit of the day! Leave these guests off the wedding invitation list for a little extra bliss on your big day.

Brought to you by Beaucoup Wedding Favors

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Going "green" has so many applications these days. So I thought I would share with you a more literal example from one of my all time favorite couples, Alissa and George. I had the pleasure of providing design assistance on this Black, White & Green wedding along with producing all of the floral design.

There are so many amazing details from this wedding, which I will have to come back and post at a later time. For now, here are a few cool, green details to get you in the holiday spirit.

We LOVE saving you money!!!

Alexia's Bridal Boutique will be hosting a Carmela Sutera Trunk Show from March 26th through March 28th featuring the Fall 2009 collection.

Bride's referred by Kate Foster Productions will receive a complimentary ensemble of Vera Wang Stationary from Alexia's Bridal Boutique. Be sure to use the referral code: Kate Foster Productions when scheduling your appointment during the Carmela Sutera Trunk Show.

Carmela Sutera's gowns range in style and silhouette from light chiffon dresses for a destination wedding, to lace gowns for a garden event, to Duchess satin styles perfect for an evening soiree.

Spaces are limited, so please call today to schedule your appointment.919.481.6633

Gifts I Love...

I'm always being asked by friends and clients for great gift ideas, either for bridal attendants' gifts, wedding presents or parent's gifts. So I've decided to start a series on Gifts I Love to share with you all some great, cost-effective gift ideas you can use too!

This week- The Bridesmaid Gift/Wedding Gift

Check out this incredible special on Fabric Gift Bags. A fabric bag is always a functional, yet appreciated gift to give your girls. This gift set comes in two sets of assorted colors, including Primary (yellow, green, red and blue) and Pastel (light blue, pink, lime green, and lavender). The most amazing part is you get 32 Fabric Bags for only $7.95!!!!! That's .25 a piece....seriously!

For such a great price, you can afford to have these monogrammed for each girl and still have a beautiful, custom gift for less then $20! And you'll be sure to have multiple bags left over to use for future gift giving opportunities.

You simply can't beat this deal but hurry, it won't last long.

Yummy Part of The Biz....

I'm am VERY excited to be participating in a food tasting for Rocky Top Hospitality on Monday, February 23rd. Rocky Top Catering is a division of Rocky Top Hospitality, the culinary minds behind Twisted Fork, Micheal Dean's, Red Room, Bogarts, Hive-Five and 1705 Prime!

We are extremely blessed to be the preferred wedding planner and floral designer for both their on-site and off site catering events. Monday, Rocky Top will be hosting a private tasting for approximately 60 brides who will be having their wedding with Rocky Top and Catering Director, Kathy White, has asked me to design some spring-inspired centerpieces for their table decor.

Linens will be provided by Classic Party Rentals, who have pre-selected a vibrant color palette of fuscia, mango and yellow. Drawing inspiration from the linens, I designed two separate centerpieces to complement the decor.

I'll post images on Monday to show-off our vibrant designs!

Have a great weekend!

A little about Rocky Top....
Rocky Top Catering, is committed to making your next function a memorable experience that is literally something to talk about. Our goal is perfection, one plate at a time. Whether you entertain in one of our unique restaurants or off-premise in a location of your choice, you will receive the same outstanding attention to detail and incomparable food and presentation that have won us loyal customers and rave reviews since we opened Michael Dean’s in 1998. We won’t settle for the ordinary, and neither should you.

Voted Best Caterer in the Triangle for 2006 - CitySearch.comVoted Best Caterer - National Association of Catering Executives (NACE)

Reem Acra Trunk Show

My good friends Alexia and Micheal Joyce of Alexia's Bridal Boutique in Cary, NC are hosting a Reem Acra trunk show February 19th through the 21st.

A trunk show is when a designer send their newest collection of gowns, not yet avialable in most stores. Fantastic incentives will be offered with the purchase of any special order gown during the event.

A Reem Acra representative will be on site to offer style and fit expertise.

Call today to schedule your appointment at Alexia's Bridal Boutique.

919.481.6633

Only Tuesday?!?!?!

I honestly can not believe it's only Tuesday. We have been busy bees around KFP this week. I've gotten to meet with my friends at F8 Photo Studios, Neil Boyd Photography and booked a new wedding with Michelle Robinson Photography just today!

I've also been working on wedding design for two gorgeous weddings this fall. This week Rachel and I designed two custom invitations with unique monograms, handmade envelops and one covered in fabric to incorporate textural elements.

We also had a gorgeous cake designed by Gregory Bingham of The Art of Cake. I wish I could give you previews of how amazing this cake is going to be, but I don't want to spoil the surprise!

I'm also working on a fabric design to drape an entire ballroom in fabric, complete with LED lighting that will change colors throughout the evening!

Meanwhile, my floral designer, Demitris is on a trip checking out a new flower grower we have found. Our initial research has shown that they carry the most incredible flowers that are quite superb in quality and size! I am hopeful that he will report back with another great resource for our clients!

Lastly, we are having some really beautiful new marketing pieces printed this week, which features some images from two phenomenal weddings from last year, both were shot by our friend Christoble of Azul Photography. Check these out:

Well I'm off to meet a group of photographers and catch up on what's new and hot in the photography industry. Just another way we are continually working for our clients. So, as you can see, it's been a busy week already. Just imagine what we can accomplish by Friday!

Until then.....

A Little Piece of History

This week I visited with my friends over at All Saints Chapel in downtown Raleigh. All Saints Chapel meets a very big need in Raleigh, by providing a spiritual environment to host a wedding ceremony, without the membership commitments that almost all Raleigh churches require.

Built in 1875, All Saints Chapel has been an integral part of Raleigh's downtown charm for over a century. It's details have been perfectly restored for an intimate wedding and reception. I personally love the architectural elements of the arched windows and stained glass backdrop of the handsomely appointed sanctuary. The rich wood beams create an elegance that is warm and inviting. The perfect location for a candle light ceremony!

It was a pleasure to meet with several brides who were taking advantage of the weekly open house, which takes place every Tuesday from 4:30pm-6:30pm. So be sure to stop by and visit the ladies at All Saints. You will not be disappointed!

Versailles Comes to the Carolinas

The Falcon's Hamlet is the latest event venue to be introduced into the local market. But make no mistake, this venue is far beyond anything we have ever seen in this area.

Inspired by the French architecture of Versailles, The Falcon's Hamlet is a grand palace nestled among the rolling hills of 150 acres of farmland. When I first approached the wrought iron gates, I knew instantly this was going to be something special.

Special Events Coordinator, Tim Kavenaugh and intern Lacey Hardee, gave my assistant Rachel and I the Grand Tour! Beautifully bred horses strolled lazily through the pastures as baby calves suckled from their mothers in the cow pastures. The barren winter trees gave us a clear view of the incredible amount of water surrounding the Hamlet from three directions.

As we approached the bustling construction site of the main building a shiver of excitement washed over me as I realized how impressive this venue will be upon completion. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with this venue and it is an honor to be a part of something so special.

The Hamlet recently had a photo shoot with the talented photographers of f8 Photostudios and I was honored to provide them with the jewel toned bouquet for the shoot. Check out some of the images here.

This is inside the stables, which are an exact replica of the Queen of England's private stables.

Let's "Do Lunch"

Last week I had the opportunity to have lunch with someone I consider to be one of the most inspiring business minds in this area.


I have been following the career and growth of Missy McLamb Photography for over ten years and it was such a treat to sit across from Missy and talk freely of her company's success and how it developed over the years.


Not only did I learn so much more about what her studio has to offer to my clients, but I took a lot away from a business ownership perspective. I think what stood out for me the most, was to stay focused and commited to my primary objectives and to always be prepared. You never know when an amazing opportunity will present itself, your dream bride will call or a magazine will publish your work, but you have to be ready every day. It's all about timing.



Thanks again Missy!

Image by Nick Pironio

Copyright 2008 Missy McLamb Photography

Website Updates

The time passes so quickly, but I am actively focusing on getting more and more of our beautiful weddings online.

We've uploaded 5 new weddings just this week!

Check out all of our lovely brides on our website to see some of our work from '08!

P.S. Thanks to f8 PhotoStudios for this awesome pic from Danielle and Kent's wedding.

Carolina Inn Bridal Show!

We hope that everyone's 2009 is getting off to a great start! The Carolina Inn Bridal Show is coming up this Sunday, January 25th from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. in Chapel Hill. We are so excited to be able to showcase our business at this years show and we are looking forward to meeting all of the brides. There will be some great show specials so make sure you stop by our booth and our table display. The afternoon will be filled with great ideas, food, drinks, and most of all great vendors. See everyone Sunday!

Cool New Stuff for Our Brides

We have so many fun new products and services for our brides this year. The first of many, is our completely customized wedding websites. Since so many of our brides and their guests are from out of town, we have teamed up with WeddingWindow.com to provide a fantastic website resource for our clients.

WeddingWindow.com offers you the greatest number of features available for a custom wedding website including:

• Unlimited pages


• Unlimited photos


• Color & photo selections to match your wedding theme


• Free email addresses


• Site wizard assistant


• Personal Blog with RSS feed


• RSVP tracking


• Customizable "Save The Date" E-Cards


• Create Direct Links to other sites, such as Hotel or Gift Registries


• ............and so much more!

Because we want you to check out all of the features of this fantastic resource, we are offering a FREE TRIAL to help get you started. Consider this your first wedding gift from your Kate Foster Productions, wedding planning team!

Happy Planning!

I can't believe it!

This is really just going to be a short burst of astonishment that it's already into January. I honestly felt like the holidays flew by in such a whirlwind that I hardly got a chance to catch my breath.
Regardless, I am so excited it is January. It's my favorite time of year, as our calendar is filling up with new clients. I love getting to meet all of the new brides and hearing about the creative and exciting events that they visualize us creating for them!
2009 is going to be the best year for Kate Foster Productions, and all of our amazing brides. Thank you for choosing us to be a part of the most special day in your life. It is an honor!

Best Wishes,
Kate