27 Dresses!

How many old bridesmaids dresses do you have hanging in your closet?  Just like the movie, probably a ton!  Reminder that this week is 27 Dresses in StudioWed Asheville!  The Asheville location is taking gently used bridesmaids dresses and formal wear until Thursday at 4:00 and selling them for $27 this Friday from 3-8 and Saturday from 10-8 to area high school students who want to look and feel their best at prom. All proceeds will benefit Girls on the Run ~ what a great way to give back to the community!  Have questions? Call us 828.277.4066.  

Many thanks to WNC Magazine, Talloni Shoe Salon, and Junior League of Asheville for your support!

StudioWed Says "I DO!" in Atlanta, Georgia

StudioWed opened their Atlanta studio on March 2nd, 2009 with 26 of Atlanta's best wedding professionals.  StudioWed Atlanta is located in trendy Midtown West on 1000 Marietta Street, Suite 124.  To learn more about Atlanta's exclusive vendors, check out www.studiowed.net/atlanta.

Michelle Gainey, owner of StudioWed Atlanta, states that it is her goal with the studio to "streamline the wedding planning process and be a resource for engaged couples.  I find that brides are quickly overwhelmed with the number of vendors in the marketplace and the time tit takes to drive all over the city to meet with vendors.  StudioWed offers couples a haven to find quality vendors and resources for planning their wedding."

Welcome StudioWed Atlanta!!  

Real Weddings: Rebecca and Ronnie

Claxton Farm is truly a beautiful venue to have a wedding here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  StudioWed Asheville vendors all worked to perfectly execute the wedding of Ronnie and Rebecca.  They had a beautiful and emotional ceremony, led by Tim Lolley with Blue Mountain Weddings, under an incredible arbor built by the bride's father.  They partied the night away to the tunes of Blazin Sounds Entertainment.  

Event Planner: Verge Events, Photographer: Aaron Imaging, Floral Design: Studio Flora Diva

Wedding Festivals

The bi-annual Wedding Festivals will be in Asheville this Saturday, January 10 at the Asheville Civic Center from 10-3, with an after-party at StudioWed from 2-6.  We hope to see you there!

Real Weddings: Ashley and Kevin

Some of the vendors of StudioWed Asheville collaborated for another beautiful wedding on the Biltmore Estate at Lioncrest

Verge Events worked with this beautiful couple for over a year in planning all the details for their "One Starry Night" theme.  Thankfully the weather held out so they could have just that!  The floral design was executed by the ever so talented Blossoms at Biltmore Park.  From floral chandeliers to lots of 'sparkles' requested by the bride, it was breathtaking!  Dylan Skidmore of Blazin Sounds Entertainment had the party dancing the night away under the stars.  The day was captured by Jeremy Russell of Corey McNabb Photography - who was just fantastic to work with.  Makeup design by E. Scott Thompson.

Feature vendor this week is Michael Juiliano of Michael Juiliano Photography.  We have worked with Michael a lot in the past, and he is just wonderful ~ read below to hear from Michael, the ninja!

How do you describe your style?  I always have a problem with this question.  Can we just call it ninja style?  I enjoy pulling from different things.  Art, music, books, video, people, conversation, places, things.  Everything inspires me.  I think we have to be flexible in this day and age.  We aren't just journalists, we aren't just fine art photographers, we aren't just portrait photographers.  We need to do it all and everything in between.  Be flexible.  Go with the flow. Like a ninja.

How long have you been a photographer?  I think I've always had the photographic eye.  I found myself always saying "that would be a great picture."  As soon as I was big enough to hold it I started to "borrow" my dad's SLR camera or " big camera" as I used to call it.  I started taking pictures on family vacation and my mom used to compare them to the postcards and tell me mine were better.  Don't worry it never went to my head, but I love the story.  It's been a hobby all my life pretty much.  I kept my dad's camera and unfortunately traded it up for a better camera when I got more serious about photography.  I've been shooting professionally since 2004 [I think?] I hope my dad forgive me for that.  I don't know if I ever told him where his camera went.  I'll shoot his next wedding free, that'll make him happy.  [no rush dad].

How did you get started?  Professionally?  My good friend John saw some of my photographs on the computer at work.  I had them as my screen saver.  They were mostly urban shots of textures and old building and garbage cans and such.  He asked me if I shot weddings.  I said no.  He asked me if I'd teach him some stuff so I did.  He eventually talked me into doing his wedding.  I did it as a gift as long as I could do what I want.  Part of what turned me off about wedding photography at first was the fact that I thought you had to do a certain thing or your photos had to have a certain look.  A look I was not interested in .  Boy was I wrong.  I had a blast.  I've been doing it ever since.  My first paid wedding was a referral from his wedding.  The rest is history.  I love it.  I have fun and insist my client-friends do as well.

What inspires you to keep doing what you do?  Freedom.

If you could give couples one piece of advise on picking a photographer, what would it be?  Know what you are looking for.

If you could photograph anywhere in the world, where would it be?  Italy.  I'm hoping that happens in 2009.  I'm working on it.

Photographer Feature: Realities Photography/Jill Schwarzkopf

We recently interviewed Jill from Realities Photography about her inspirations and love of what she does - check out her pics and information below!  Thanks Jill!

How do you describe your style?  Completely non-obtrusive, capturing moments as they happen.  I develop close relationships with my clients, which helps everyone feel at ease on the wedding day.

How long have you been a photographer?  Five years.

How did you get started?  I started taking photos of children.  It only took photographing one wedding for me to be totally hooked!

What inspires you to keep doing what you do?  Providing my clients with images that are not just a representation of their wedding day, but so much more.

If you could give couples one piece of advise on picking a photographer, what would it be?  Photography is not a place to cut corners.

If you could photograph anywhere in the world, where would it be?  Italy.

Photographer Feature: Aaron Imaging

We recently chatted with Aaron Hogsed, owner of Aaron Imaging, about his style, and why he loves what he does.  See what he has to say!

How do you describe your style?  I would say my style is fine art garfunkel.

How long have you been a photographer?  9 years part time, 5 years full time

How did you get started?  I got started with an interest in wildlife and landscape, but found out that people are more wild and unpredictable than animals so I just love people photography.  I did quite a bit of luxury real estate work for a while, all over the south, but now I am concentrating on weddings and portraits with a little model portfolio work thrown in.

What inspires you to keep doing what you do?  The constant and never ending pursuit of being different, better, and fresh each time I shoot.

If you could give couples one piece of advise on picking a photographer, what would it be?  Do it alphabetically.

If you could photograph anywhere in the world, where would it be?  Morocco looks cool.

Studio Flora Diva!

Recently Studio Flora Diva provided flowers and decor for a wedding and reception on Bald Head Island, NC.  The ceremony and tented reception were held at the base of the lighthouse, which provided a dramatic backdrop for the event.  All the flowers, decor items and supplies has to be loaded on to rolling trucks, and then loaded on a ferry for transport to the island.  As no cars are permitted on the island, everything [including completed centerpieces] had to be delivered to the site via golf cart!  What a challenging and fun experience!  The bride and groom were pleased beyond expectation, and we received rave reviews!

our debut...

so i had no clue we would make the newspaper before our doors are even officially open! thanks so much to the asheville citizen times for publishing an article on the expansion of our business.  some of you might know us from verge events, www.vergeevents.net and www.vergeevents.blogspot.com ~ and we have expanded!  we have taken our love for helping couples plan a wedding, and raised the bar in the industry, and making the planning process easier, more streamlined, and most of all...fun!  much more to come on details soon...stay tuned!