Weddings in North Carolina

Based in Asheboro, this artist makes handmade blank books and address books of various sizes, shapes, and luxury levels. Her books are luxurious to see and hold in your hand, the photo doesn’t do them justice. All different patterns and types of fabric available.

Visit the the Ay Bee Cees at Etsy.

I watched Sharon Michalka of weddingbrushes.com in action recently. She sat down in a corner with her canvas and paints, and as the event unfolded, it unfolded on her painting as well. It was quite entertaining and she’s a nice person. She’ll do portraits as well, of course.

Warning: her website has automatic music. Look to the right of the screen for a place to turn it off.

The biggest space available is the dining hall.

Maximum capacity is 200 people. Meeting space accommodates 150.
Day Use – 1-60 people: $330 per day, 61+ people: $5.50 per person, per day

The Dining Hall is a large open room with a central fireplace and a front wall of windows letting in natural light. The room is uniquely sectioned into three parts; partitions can be used to close off part of the room or left open to utilize the entire space. The tile flooring is newly re-finished! The building has central heat, air conditioning and bathroom facilities. The kitchen is closed for renovation, but a large refrigerator is accessible for rental use. The Dining Hall has a covered front porch that is the width of the building with rocking chairs and has picnic tables on its front lawn.

Maximum capacity is 150. Meeting space accommodates 125.
Day Use – 1-50 people: $250 per day, 51+ people: $5.00 per person, per day

This building is 1800 square feet and is one large, open space with central heat and air conditioning, two bathrooms, and a galley kitchen. Fleming Hall boasts hardwood floors, a large fireplace, large windows and a covered front porch and open back deck.

Meeting space accommodates 50.
Day Use – 1-25 people: $135 per day, 26+ people: $5.50 per person, per day

Oak Lodge has a large open room and full kitchen. Oak Lodge has meeting space for 50, bathrooms, wood stove, piano, heat and air conditioning. Oak Lodge also has a large private back deck overlooking woods.

Overnight capacity is 23. Meeting space accommodates 40.
Day Use – 1-25 people: $135 per day, 26+ people: $5.50 per person, per day

Dogwood Center is a multi-use building that can be rented for day-use or overnight. The building is T-shaped with a meeting room in front, a kitchen at the end, and two bathrooms and bedrooms on either side. The building has heat and air conditioning, fireplace, piano, kitchen, and meeting room.

For information on other buildings and outdoor spaces at the center: New Hope Camp and Conference Center. The center is located on 86 between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. For more pictures, see my previous post.

As I pointed out in the other post, the camp has its own tables and chairs, so that saves you a considerable expense and bother. I believe there is also a discount for church-related groups.

Of the places we considered, Camp New Hope was my preference for my daughter’s wedding next year. It is big, informal, outdoorsy but with nice indoor space, very close to where we live, and inexpensive.

I took these pictures yesterday – it’s late August so everything is kind of burnt up from the sun.

The guy who runs it is very kind and accommodating. I’ve played a number of weddings there and found the venue very pleasant.
There are two biggish cabins on site which can be rented for the weekend of your wedding, for people who don’t like to drive. The cabins have kitchens so you can settle in and have a vacation weekend!
[caption id="attachment_408" align="alignleft" width="475" caption="New Hope Camp and Conference Center dining hall"][/caption]The dining hall is large, air-conditioned, and L-shaped, so you can have one activity at one end and another at the other. Also, they have chairs and tables so you don’t have to go to the trouble and expense of renting them.Fleming Lodge, which is close by the dining hall, is smaller but nicer: it has a wood floor, I’ve done contradances there. It has a porch where people sometimes put food and/or drink.
There are several pavilions, some larger, some smaller; I’m a mentor with the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program in Carrboro NC and they sponsor family get-togethers at Camp New Hope, with volleyball on the grass and tons of people in the pavilion for a fried-chicken feast.

Also, having the pavilion means if it rains, or if it’s very hot, there’s shelter for you and your guests.

My daughter decided the camp was too rustic for her, but for an informal affair it would be wonderful. The next post will give prices.

When I was at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh today, to go to the Bridal Show, there was a fleamarket in full gear. I went by this store which rents tents, tables, chairs, linens, stages, dance floors, “and more.”

I thought I’d go see what was up and report back to you. However, there was a little sign in the window that said, “Inquire next door at the bike shop.”

The bike shop next door was not a nice yuppy bicycle store, it was a motorcycle place full of burly Hells Angels types. I was quite intimidated and walked right by.

Wedding rentals and bikers: this is not what I would call synergy.

If you want to look it up, it’s tentandevents.com (according to the sign).

On my way to the Bridal Show, held today at the Jim Graham Building at the NC State Fairgrounds, I happened across the weekly Raleigh Flea-market. It’s huge! And when I saw these $15 tuxedos I couldn’t resist.

I saw this on a wedding site today. Honestly, what’s going on here? Is it really a good idea to take a picture of a row of women with their heads cut off?

Hannah sent me a link to this shoe, which costs $595, has a 5″ heel, and is called “Benjamin Adams Sissy” if you want to look for it. This shoe, dancing, and champagne: wouldn’t mix well in my opinion…

I’ll be in Paris till August and will resume posting then. Have a nice July!

I wrote to a company called handfans-direct.com and received an answer from John Millang (phone 800-984-9943) about hand-fans for weddings. He sent me these samples.

Hand fans for weddings

They appear to be the same company as idpromotionalaids.com – I mention that because on the second site there are all manner of other cute things which can be personalized.

The price I received from this company for this kind of fan was:

1. For unlaminated 4-color fans, printed on one side, the charge would be $151 including press setup, for 250 fans.

2. For laminated 4-color fans, 200 would cost $235.

They accept pdf files for uploading. I have some questions pending with the vendor (for instance, are the handles plastic (like the ones I got) or wooden (like the pictures on the website) but I can attest that these fans are sturdy and well printed. We’re going to use this company for my daughter’s wedding.

My daughter finally decided on Duke Gardens as the location for her wedding. It’s a very popular location, so you have to plan ahead. On the first day of June, the year before her wedding (which is June 2010), there is a “lottery.” All the people who want weddings at the gardens the coming June get pulled randomly in a lottery and the first person gets first pick, etc.

This may seem odd, but it used to be worse – a mother-of-the-bride I met told me that just a few years ago you actually had to camp out at the office on the first day of the month the year before – she got there at 6 am and there were already people there!

Anyway, the first date my daughter chose was taken by the time her lottery number got pulled, but she got her second choice. Her wedding is on a Sunday, which is less popular than the Saturdays…

When the kids were in town, we went to see the building and the grounds and to talk to Jennifer Copeland, the coordinator there (seen in the picture on the left).

There is a list of caterers from whom we must pick (except it is supposedly possible to get a new caterer on the list, and we’re working on it) and Duke Gardens takes a 7% surcharge – cut of whatever the caterer charges. They rent the place empty – you must rent tables and chairs.

This back patio is covered, which makes it great for hot weather or mild rain, and it can be extended by a special tent so your whole large wedding can be under cover – BUT you must use their special tent company, and the tent costs an appalling $2,000. It gets left there all weekend, so theoretically you should be able to coordinate with the other bridal party of the weekend and split the cost – but the tent company won’t tell you if somebody else is using the tent, they would rather get $2,000 each for the two days.

120 or so is the maximum number for a sit-down dinner. There are not extensive facilities for the caterers, so they must come pre-prepared.

The ceiling (above) is beautiful!

Sites available for weddings at the Gardens are:

Doris Duke Center Locations*	Ceremony	Standing Reception	Tables of 8	Theater	Classroom
Kirby Horton Hall	150	160	120	160	90
Isobel Craven Drill Classroom	-	-	32	50	25
North Terrace	175	200	160	250	-
North Lawn	225	300	240	-	-
Angle Amphitheater**	150	200	-	150	-

*Based on set-up, numbers may vary.

**Rental of the Angle Amphitheater is at the discretion of SPDG’s staff and is based on availability or in conjunction with rental of the Kirby Horton Hall.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens Locations	Ceremony	Standing Reception
Pergola	150**	150
Fish Pool	150**	150
South Lawn	150**	150
Iris Bridge	65	65
Blomquist Pavilion	20	-
Pond-Viewing Shelter	10	-
Bird-Viewing Shelter	10	-

**A maximum of 50 chairs are allowed at these Garden locations. For example, if 150 guests are present, 50 will sit and 100 will stand.

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Note that, if you rent the building, you have it for the day, but if you rent one of the outdoor spaces, you have it for, perhaps, only a couple of hours, and I have known of bridal parties being hustled away because a new batch was coming in.

Ceremony Times: Friday: 6 pm; Saturday: 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm or 6pm; Sunday: 12 pm, 2pm, 4pm or 6pm

Parking is $1 an hour and they tow. If you rent the building, you get 100 parking passes.

Some of the spots are a hike from the parking area, but there is a little trolley to take folks around.

Cost of renting Duke Garden locations (2009 prices):

Duke Gardens Ceremony and Doris Duke Center Reception: $2500 $250 each additional hour
Includes two-hour use of: The Gardens (50 chairs) or Amphitheater (100 chairs)
Includes six-hour use of the Kirby Horton Hall, the North Terrace, the Adult Classroom (for caterer’s use)
Also includes: 100 parking passes

Doris Duke Center Reception: $2000* $250 each additional hour
Includes six-hour use of: The Kirby Horton Hall, The North Terrace, The Adult Classroom for caterer’s use
Also Includes: 100 parking passes

Duke Gardens or Angle Amphitheater** Ceremony: $650 $250 each additional hour
Includes two-hour use of: The Gardens (50 chairs) or Amphitheater (100 chairs)
Also includes: 1 hour rehearsal, 100 parking passes

A tent on the lawn costs $500, you have to use their one preferred vendor.

You know I’m sort of in love with our local letterpress artisans. The folks at Officina Briani are having a fabulous sale. From the email:

Officina Briani knows that times are tough, so we are offering our award-winning letterpress services for unheard of prices! Now is the perfect time to make that investment in quality which will set you apart. I am pleased to announce Officina Briani’s Making Lemonade Letterpress Sale for the month of July!

On all orders during the month of July

The Front Porch
Four piece set: 400 total printed pieces
Printed on 110 pound Cranes Lettra 100% cotton paper.
5×7 flat note card, Personalized or logo
4.25×5.5 flat note cards, thank you card
one color with free Matching Printed Envelopes: $325

The Southern Belle
Wedding Invitations or Social invitations
Four piece set: 400 total printed pieces
Printed on 110 pound Cranes Lettra 100% cotton paper
5×7 flat invitation, 4.25×5.5 flat reply card
one color with free Matching Printed Envelopes for each: $375

Sweet Tea with lemon special
Two piece set, 200 total pieces
5×7 flat card with envelopes
one color $210

Just Hot Enough
100 4×6 flat note cards. Personalized with your name
Choice of Fonts Choose between several ink colors Envelopes included
$88

Surviving the Heat
50 4×6 flat note cards. Personalized with your name
Choice of Fonts Choose between several ink colors
Envelopes included $75

For special pricing on other projects, please call or email for more information.
Jennifer Brauer
Officina Briani
Director of Sales and Marketing
C. 919.810.8473
jennifer@officinabriani.com

Thomas J. Kelly of I Hate Weddings has devised a mathematical formula for figuring out how much money to give at a wedding. He starts with a base figure of $75.00. Excerpts:

You brought a date to the wedding.
Add $75.00
You were invited to bring a date but couldn’t find one.
Add $25.00
You were not invited to bring a date.
Subtract $25.00
You were not invited to bring a date but brought one anyway.
Add $5.00

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This is the bride or groom’s second or third marriage
Subtract $50.00

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Open Bar for alcohol
Add $25.00
Cash Bar for alcohol
(*Ask for a receipt every time you order a drink. Deduct the total amount of money you spent on alcohol. Then put the receipts in the envelope with your gift)
Subtract *
Dinner is served Buffet Style
Subtract $10.00
The reception is a Denny’s Breakfast buffet.
Subtract $20.00
Cash Bar for soda **
(**If they charge you for soda at the wedding DO NOT GIVE A GIFT. Immediately,
go to the bride, kick her in the shin and then go home.)

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They hired a band
Add $5.00 for each piece
This is the first time the band has ever played a gig outside of their garage.
Subtract $4.00 for each piece
The band is a "Neil Diamond Tribute" band.
Subtract $10.00
The D.J. or band leader can’t remember the bride or groom’s name.
Subtract $10.00
The D.J. or band played "The Chicken Dance," "The Macarena," or "The YMCA".
Subtract $5.00 for each

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You were in the bridal party or given a special role in the wedding.
Add $50.00
You had to rent a tux or buy a dress for the wedding.
Subtract $10.00
Someone at the wedding volunteers to serenade the Bride and Groom with a song he/she wrote specifically for their wedding.
Subtract $10.00
You serenade the Bride and Groom with a song you wrote specifically for their wedding.
Add $75.00
You were asked to fill out your own thank you card envelope.
Subtract $75.00

My daughter has been looking for a place where she can have a party the night before her wedding. She wants space for 80-100 people, and wants to cater it with Mexican food from Torero’s, and she wants to be able to serve beer or margaritas.

We’ve looked at several spots. It appears the Recreational Center facility at the Forest Hills Park (they also call it the Forest Hills Neighborhood Center) might be good. There’s plenty of parking and a big front yard. The center itself is a little run down, but not too bad.

According to the Parks and Rec brochure, the cost is $90 for three hours with additional hours at $25 per hour. There’s a kitchen fee of $50, or, if you plan to bring in food, you pay a $25 “food fee.”

There’s also a picnic shelter, rental fee is $80.

Note that if you want to serve beer, you have to hire TWO REAL POLICE OFFICERS to stand around, one inside and one outside, $25 per hour for each, minimum of three hours. So that’s a $150 policeman fee, and I believe there is a $50 alcohol permit fee as well.

My daughter, her sweetheart, and various members of the family sampled wedding cake from seven bakeries this past weekend.

My daughter’s favorite: Bliss Boutique Bakery in Chapel Hill.

She called them and reports that cupcakes cost $2.00 each if you buy more than ten dozen.

My daughter, the bride-to-be, and her groom were in town for a whirlwind tour. We tried several caterers, visited her venue (Duke Gardens), and sampled cake at seven bakeries. I baked the last two cakes myself, as a home-made comparison taste-test.

We tried 2-4 cake types each at:

1. Guglhupf;
2. Cake Dreams by Sally;
3. Mad Hatter;
4. Sugarland;
5. Sweet Janes
6. Bliss
7. Good Taste Cake Designs.

Now the happy couple are back on the plane to California and I’m on my bed wishing for Pepto-Bismol. Reports on what we sampled will have to wait…

I played a wedding here a couple years ago; the bride had her dog walk down “the aisle” (see above) with the wedding ring on a pillow around his neck. Bob and I, the Pratie Heads, played English country dance tunes and Irish waltzes and O’Carolan tunes and then we accompanied the bride’s son as he sang “The Wedding Son.” It was a pretty, quiet location.

A bride has posted a great photo tour of Duffy’s event venue. She notes:

Duffy Gilligan
Valhalla Retreat Center
9423 Charles Lane (off Orange Grove Rd.) Chapel Hill, NC
(919) 929-2045

downstairs outdoor fireplace gazebo $1500 includes 99 chairs and 12 round tables up to 10 ppl each and

upstairs 4 bedrooms, bathrooms, sleep up to 18 ppl, $200 a night
THEY set up tables!
catering will need to include table stuff
stereo system and portable bars are included
no permit needed

After the wedding on the raised deck, we all repaired to the barn and had a sumptuous feast. The bride had provided disposable cameras at every table and we took lots of pictures.

Found via digg at metalmother.com, it was printed by Kayrock screenprinters.

Long ago I went to a restaurant-supply store in Boston, bought four different size pans (the huge one, the big one, the medium size one, and the baby one) and baked my own wedding cake.

They told me the layers are so heavy you have to put pieces of corrugated cardboard between the layers and support the cardboard with little pieces of dowels. Well, that was easy enough – however, after I iced it I sadly realized the cake was not perfectly level.

On the “day of,” my dad, who was an engineer, looked at it with displeasure, said “you need some shims,” and proceeded to square it up. Or so I thought he had, but when I dug up the picture, I saw the re-engineering had actually not been successful. Luckily the cake (which was chocolate with fresh cherries and kirsch) was delicious.

These days, if this happened you could just say you did it that way on purpose!

UPDATE: I am writing about my bake your own cake experience.