Wedding Inspiration | Exits

While we pride ourselves on being one of the more laid-back venues in the area we do have a few things that we are sticklers about.....one of them being sparklers. We have had so many issues  with them in the past that we no longer allow them on our property, as do many other venues. Because of this we are often asked what other options there are. A quick search on Pinterest can create a flood of fun ideas!

 

 

Bubble Favors | Blowing Bubbles | Bubble Exit
 



Bells & Ribbons | Shake 'em | Ribbon Dancers

 

 

 

 

Kazoo Favor | B&G Kazoo | Gold Kazoo

 



Tambourine Programs | Blanket of Tambourines
Tambourine Favor

 

 

 

 Careful! Occasionally guests will get into these early and take them onto the dancefloor!!

Glow Sticks | All that Glows | Glowing Exit
 

 



Water Soluble Confetti | Confetti Exit

 

 We just love the idea of custom kazoos and other festive noise makers! What exits are you and your groom considering for your big day?

 

Partners in Wedded Bliss | Skip Erdman Events

Earlier this week we brought you our new series, Bygone Bride and Bespoke Bride, and today our last to share is one where we will help our brides learn a little more about some of our Preferred Vendors or as we like to refer to them, Partners in Wedded Bliss! One of our favorite people to work with is Skip Erdman of Skip Erdman Events. Skip is not only a talented videographer but an all around, salt of the earth, good guy! He has a heart of gold and puts so much of that heart into his work. We recently quizzed Skip on how he got his start in the wedding industry and why he chose it.

How did you get into wedding videography?

All my adult life, since college, I've had the privilege of traveling with many well-known recording artists.  This situation allowed for me to work side-by-side with companies producing music videos for artists you would recognize today.  My last professional music video shoot took place with country music artists Brooks & Dunn in Dallas, TX for their song "Put A Girl In It".  Once I found the love of my life, who is now my wife - Stephanie, I had to make a choice.  Live the life of a Gypsy soul like I was or stop touring and move closer to Stephanie.  I chose love over life on the road!  After living that kind of life, what work can you find outside of that world?  I tried insurance sales with two companies and found myself not meeting the goals set for me by those over me.  Leaving those jobs by forced resignation, I was searching for something more.  While being home with my fiancé at the time was nice, it wasn't paying the bills.  Then a kind of strange and perfectly timed thing happened; I met NASCAR driver Robby Gordon at Concord Regional Airport as I was there watching planes take off and land pondering what life would bring me next.  We had been introduced years earlier while traveling with a band and he remembered me.  After asking me what I was doing currently, he basically hired me on the spot just before taking off for a test in Nashville.  So then I was on the road again and set to marry Stephanie a short time after starting with this new endeavor.  This lasted a couple years and to save my marriage to Stephanie, I had to stop traveling again!  I left racing and went to work in sales again but, in a different industry...HVAC.  Being let go after 3 months, left me and Stephanie to really search out our next move.  We believe in prayer and prayed that The Lord would provide for us.  Through other friends in the wedding industry encouraging me to get into Wedding Videography, a lot of prayer, a ton of research as to what I felt I would need to start, and about 3 months later.....Skip Erdman Events was born.

Why weddings?

I think I have some sort of issue with loving stressful situations...LOL...JK!!!  In all seriousness, a wedding to me is such a sacred event.  It carries with it problems and solutions with commitment and encouragement.  The problem is there are two imperfect people coming together as one with a solution to lean on each other and The Lord (hopefully) to see them through the daily grind of life.  Committing their life to encourage one another and put the other above themselves is a selfless and honorable act of commitment.  I love learning about each couple and many become good friends of ours afterwards.  To film a wedding is to provide a way for the couple, their friends and family to relive this amazing clash of nature.  It's a happy time!  Film can do what pictures can't!  In a time of forgetfulness, routine, and the same ole stuff...if you have your wedding filmed, you can always look back in time to see and hear what you and your significant other committed to each other on that day before the witness of your friends and family.  A film brings emotions and thoughts back to you unlike any other aspect of a wedding investment.  I like to give that kind of awesomeness to others!!!

What is your favorite part about shooting Arbor's brides?

Knowing that the backdrop of filming there will be as amazing as the bride herself. There is nothing worse than having an ugly place to ruin your footage of a bride at her best.  I don't worry about that at The Arbors!  Everywhere you look is a beautiful landscape waiting for a camera and bride to take advantage of.  The opportunities of creating an epic video are endless!!!

What type of videography style would you consider your work to be?

More movie-like or cinematic!  However, each couple presents their own uniqueness and I like to match their style more than pushing mine.  This is why it's so important to work with a videographer that really takes the time to get to know their couples.

What price range do your packages fall into? 

This is always tough to disclose, because people invest in things they want, like, and trust.  I'd rather meet with the couple and get to understand each other a little before proceeding into any financial obligations.  This allows us both to get to know one another and decide if we're a fit for each other or not.  My pricing is based upon an "a la carte" system allowing any couple to purchase only what they want or need.  Pricing starts at $1,050.

Skip recently helped us out with a new commercial for our property that will begin to air next week. We are excited to reach more potential brides this way and are so grateful to Skip for his amazing work! You can be one of the first to see it by clicking here!

If you are on the fence about hiring a videographer check out Skip before ruling it out. You won't regret it!

Bespoke Bride | Devyn

Today is the start of one of our new series, Bespoke Bride, where we will feature an upcoming bride who is currently planning the look and feel of her wedding day. First up is Devyn!

Devyn and her groom, Kyle, snagged one of the most sought after dates for 2014...12.13.14! Devyn and Kyle are one of those rare couples who aren't afraid to wed in the cooler months and because of their careers in racing, December was the perfect time! During this time of year we have the ability to offer a discounted rate on BOTH of our venues allowing clients to hold their ceremony and cocktail hour indoors at one venue site and the reception at the other. Although outdoor ceremonies are most common on our property, the indoor soirees can be some of the most romantic and unique!

We had a few questions about what Devyn is planning to wow her guests........

Why did you choose The Arbors Events to host your wedding day?

We chose The Arbors Events because it's an intimate space with a lot of character. We love the wood and stone, open feel, and all the little details that make The Arbors Events special.

 
Was there a particular vendor (aside from The Arbors Events) that you had to have?
 

We had to have Crystal Stokes of Crystal Stokes Photography - she was the first vendor we booked.



This was the image from Crystal Stokes Photography that won Devyn over!

What are some of your design inspirations for your wedding day?

I've always wanted a balance between masculine and feminine. Pinterest has been a great resource! I want it to be romantic and rustic at the same time.

Are there any planning aspects that you are hung up on that you might need advice on?

Surprisingly, décor is what I'm caught up in most right now. I don't have a great visual on what our decorations should be for the reception site. Or when we should be renting things, what we should be renting, what we should buy, etc.

**Devyn hired our planning and coordination staff to assist her with her wedding plans. Of course we stepped in right away after hearing this! We were able to come up with some inspiration on what Devyn was envisioning.




Glittering Florals | Mercury Glass | Floral Lantern
Vintage Crate | Naked Cake | Chair Swag
Gold Flatware | Golden Calligraphy

What do you think will be the best part of your wedding day? What are you most looking forward to?

This may be cliché but seeing Kyle for the first time on our wedding day will be the best moment for me. I'm looking forward to being surrounded by the people who love us the most to celebrate our wedding.  And being married!


We are so looking forward to seeing Devyn and Kyle tie the knot on our farm!

Bygone Bride | Mrs. Lawson

Marla and Luke were married at our Main site venue this past October and what a beautiful day they were blessed with! Everyone that knows these two has nothing but sweet and heartfelt things to say about them and we know why.....Marla is a doll....so perfectly sweet and classically beautiful, she was such a pleasure to work with and all the hard work her, her mother, and aunt put in really showed through that day. Amanda of Amanda Castle Photography captured this day in such a natural and seemingly effortless way that we just had to share.

Created by an Nashville artisan and friend of the bride and groom, these custom marquee letters were the epitome of cool .

That sunlight....EEEEK!!!



This little guy wanted to blow our fire right out!

We see a LOT of corn hole boards at our events and these just might be our favorite ones yet!

 



We chatted with Marla recently to find out her thoughts on their wedding day.....

 

Why did you choose The Arbors Events to host your big day? 

Luke has his own landscaping company in Winston Salem, NC. I really wanted to incorporate his love of being outside and my love for the outdoors in our wedding. The Arbors was just that!!-Beautiful land along with a beautiful, rustic, intimate setting that really expressed our personality. Once we saw it we knew this was going to be our spot where we would say I do!

 

What was the best memory from your wedding day?  

One of my favorite memories from our wedding day was when Luke and I left after the ceremony to take pictures with our photographer. We did not see each other before the ceremony (Luke being old school and really wanting to make it special to see me). When we left to take pictures for a little bit we were really able to get away and be able to spend a special moment together. It was the best feeling to be together alone and really take in the memories we were making.

 

What advice to you have for brides who are currently planning their wedding?
My best advice when planning is do not allow all the “stuff” to take over during the engagement. Luke and I really took some time out one night a week to go on a date and not talk about wedding related stuff just so we could remind each other the true meaning of why we want to be together and a break from the planning. It was a good reminder to not let stress or planning affect our time to enjoy the engagement.

 

Where do you see you and your husband in five years?

Luke and I in 5 years…..we will probably still be in Winston Salem due to his local business. We really want to build a house on some beautiful land in Lewisville, so hopefully that will be developed along with possibly a kid or two! 

 

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Lawson! We see lots of gorgeous babies in your future!!

 

 

Photographer | Amanda Castle Photography

Videographer | MacDonald Films

Venue | The Arbor Events

Caterer | Thyme 2 Cater

Florist | Bo Ty Florist 

Hair | Mirror Bomb Studio

Cake | Charlotte Cake Man

Band | Justin Taylor 

Paper | Parrott Design Studio

Calligraphy | Caroline Ward Sayre