Love Notes VI

Love is the master key which opens the gates of happiness.

-Oliver Wendell Holmes

Photograph by Luminaire Foto

Love Notes V

You smile...oh and then the spell was cast and here we are in heaven for you are mine at last.

-Etta James

Photograph by Ashley Brockinton

Love Notes IV

How beautiful life can be when touched by love.

-Tiffany Anderson

Photograph by Ashley Brockinton

Love Notes III

You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are in the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.

-Henry Drummond

Photo by Ashley Brockinton Photography

Love Notes II

You know you're in love when you don't want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

-Dr. Seuss

Another beautiful engagement photo by Concept Photography

Love Notes

For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart.  It was not my lips that you kissed, but my soul.

-Judy Garland

Photograph by: Lockwood Studios

Wedding Planner Internships

We're looking for a few great interns for the winter and spring wedding seasons here at Weddings by Socialites, could you be one of them?  If interested, please reach out to me by emailing Info{at}KellyMcWilliams.com for details.

This was Kylie working at one of our weddings. She's 1 of over 25 interns sponsored at WBS.
Photo Credit: RiversEdge Photography.

What are we looking for?  Happy and enthusiastic people who have strong commitment & work ethics and the desire to learn everything about the wedding industry.

A Pretty little purple bridal shower luncheon

It doesn't get any more girly than this!  Lauren loved purple, every shade of it.  And she is also one of the girliest girls I have ever met. Putting this bridal shower &n luncheon together for her was so much fun for us.  Lauren & Joe's photographer, Ashley Brockinton came to snap these great photos of the pre-wedding celebration.When you're done be sure have a look at her wedding featured on the Every Last Detail Blog and watch the directors cut by AMC Video from her wedding a few months later at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples.

The beautiful centerpieces by Signature Floral were so perfect.  Using so many shade of purple helped to make sure that the flowers provided  the perfect contrast to the lavender tables and chairs.

 Lauren was becoming Mrs. Ciancimino - Italian!  Her future mother n law brought dozens and dozens of fresh homeade Italian cookies.

 How sweet is this petite cake cake topper on the polka dot cake?

Want to see the details from the wedding?

Upgrading the bar at your wedding or welcome reception

Are you trying to think of something new to do at your wedding?  This can be especially tricky if you and your friends have been to 12 wedding in the last 8 months and there are 2 more before yours. Well the good thing is that you don't truly need to reinvent the wheel.  Just "feature" something.  For instance, if you're having a summer, beach or tropical wedding, Rum is just the ticket for a feature.
Ask your caterer or venue coordinator if they can offer different types of rums at a bar separate from the main bar.  Have the bottles on display with a sample glass of each rum concoction available for your guests to choose from.  A Rum bar menu would be good to have as well.
I found a good list of rums in Martha Stewart Living.  It would be great to have create a rum menu with a cocktail for each of these:

White Rum (Banks Five Island)

Spiced Rum (Sailor Jerry)

Rhum Agricole (Rhum JM Vieux V.S.O.P.)

Dark Rum (Goslings Black Seal Bermuda 80 proof)

Aged Rum (Zacapa Rum 23)

Now, I'd like to introduce you a rum cocktail.  I was very lucky to have my favorite displaced southern belle wedding planner-bff Nicole of RSVP Shindig about threaten my life if I didn't eat at Husk when we visited Charleston this summer. I owe her big time.  I can not begin to explain the amazingness we enjoyed at that dinner.  Including a few of their cocktails and punches of course. Here is one of their specialities:

If you do go to Husk, try the fried chicken skins and the Fried Green Tomatoes.  I know, you can't even imagine. Nor could I. But for the 1st time in my life, I contemplated licking a plate; or in this case, slice of tree.

Joyce+John=Lavish | China Wedding Photographer

Destination Wedding Photographers

When we photographed our first wedding almost a decade ago, did we ever imagine we would end up in...China?! Not in our wildest dreams. But this year we found ourselves working with a dream couple, John & Joyce, in the ancient imperial city of Xi'an, home of terracotta warriors, huǒ guō, and some pretty epic karaoke bars.

Everything about this couple's wedding was lavish, from the ceremony stage surrounded by Greek sculptures & roses to the abundant wedding day banquet & entertainment. But according to the dictionary, lavish not only means splendid and grand, it also means generous. And that describes John & Joyce perfectly. The attention and love they gave to their friends and family from around the world knew no bounds; they planned site-seeing tours, organized club-hopping, and shared meals with them every night (they even provided us with a personal interpreter!). The week almost seemed like a celebration of all the people they loved in their lives!

And with each other, all they are is giving. I don't think there was a dry eye in the place when John and Joyce said their vows with each other at the ceremony, describing how each of them gives the other encouragement, love and respect every day.

Some of our favorite images...

The wedding took place at the residential complex built by Joyce's father. I just love the ceremony canopy of ribbons.













Married!

Chinese lunch reception at the modern Xi'an Westin Hotel

The couple's vows on the big (and I mean really big!) screen courtesy of Michael & Randy of Michael Y Wong Cinematography based out of Toronto.







We had such a great time exploring the ancient City Wall of Xi'an with John & Joyce.

From ancient to modern architecture.

My favorite portrait of the day.

Chris' fav.

And a little bit of nature too.

Back to the ceremony site for the reception celebration catered by the Xi'an Shangri-La Hotel head chef Fabrizio Aceti.

A night of entertainment!






Congratulations!

Thank you John & Joyce for being such wonderful hosts to us in Xi'an, and for sharing your celebrations with us!