It's official, it is Wedding Season!  I had the pleasure of being a guest at a few Charleston Fashion Week festivities last week.  Thank you Mrs. Atosha Barboza of Larger Than Life Events for bringing me along!  I wanted to share some of the events I attended for this week's blog.  The whole week was nothing short of networking, flowing champagne, good eats and of course gorgeous gowns! 
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My first stop was at The William Aiken House!  This venue is so beautiful and vintage!  Kate McDonald Bridal was revealing her 2016 Bridal and LulaKate Collections.  They all consisted of light and airy fabrics such as silks, satins and tulle.  The historic garden venue was transformed by Event Haus under the vision of Luke Wilson.  From the guests' infinity chairs to the lounge space to the delicious hors d'oeuvres, spring and anticipation filled the air.

The second event I attended was Ooh! What a Pop-Up Party presented by Charleston Weddings, Ooh! Events and Lovely.  The brides-to-be in attendance were greeted with make up artists for some pampering and a super cute cotton candy cart, Pure Fluff.  Guests were able to taste great food and drinks provided by CRU Catering.  Delicious macarons and cake were provided by ABCD Cakes.  My favorite vendor, Page of Penned by Palmer gave every guest a custom notebook with their name in calligraphy.  After some time, Ooh! granted us access to their wonderland of rentals.  Oh my goodness, you could spend all day in their warehouse just looking at their awesome furniture and accessories. 

​Saturday, March 19th was the big show!  The huge white tent in Marion Square I had been watching days prior begin setting up was now a hub of elite designers, wedding vendors and excited brides.  Beautiful wedding gowns from Kelly Faetanini, Cordella Bridal, Fabulous Frocks and Jessica Williams of Alvina Valenta rocked the runway.  And I cannot not forget the epic performance by Broe Works!  I met so many wonderful people including Charleston Weddings Magazine senior editor Ms. Melissa Bigner and production director of Charleston Fashion Week, Ms. Jacqueline Lawrence.  The whole week will be one of my many Charleston experiences to remember.

The first day of Spring is coming this Sunday, yippee!  Love is in the air, the weather is gorgeous and wedding season officially begins.  Here are a few things this lady in waiting would suggest you do before your wedding day.
1.  Purchase high heel protectors.  If you're having an outdoor wedding, make sure you and your bridesmaids have these.  We have to remember with this great season it brings a lot of rain.  Even though the outdoors seem dry, the ground is still wet.  Don't want to ruin shoes because you sunk into the soft ground.
2.  Stock up on allergy medication.  If you have bad allergies around this time of year, keep tissues, eye drops and extra blotting sheets on hand during your wedding day.
3.  Take more walks.  Personally, I have found long walks to be a stress reliever.  If you're experiencing anxiety as your wedding date approaches, take a stroll with your love.  Have a conversation about things not related to the wedding.
4.  Go over wedding day checklists.  Make sure you have purchased everything you need personally for your wedding day.  Are you missing a few items for your honey moon?  Take care of them while the wedding planning process has slowed down and you have more time to yourself.

It's another beautiful Wedding Wednesday!  This week I have shared reasons why a lady in waiting is a must.  Today I'm sharing reason 3 of 5: because every bride should start her big day feeling extra special and catered to.  We can run to your favorite bakery, stop at Starbucks or even bring mimosas at your request.  Your wedding day is a celebration that you should start from the moment you wake up.  Visit our Instagram page at @_ladyinwaiting to continue to follow along!

It's almost spring, woohoo!  I purposely waited for the weather to change and wedding season to begin to post this blog.  Today I'm going to show you and your bridesmaids how to properly hold your bouquets going down the aisle.  Right before the wedding processional, I always check to see where everyone is holding their flowers.  Depending if the bridesmaids are going down the aisle solo or with a groomsmen, will determine where the flowers can be held.  A tip to all of my brides and bridesmaids out there, the best time to practice this is at the wedding rehearsal *wink*.  Ok, so this post is not long at all.  I simply wanted to show you where you want to hold your bouquets.
Photo #1:  Too high!  Ladies, you just spent a good amount of money on a beautifully crafted gown.  The worst thing you can do is hide the detail and your cleavage.  Allow your photographer to get the full effect of your entrance.  Show your guests every sparkle and inch of lace on your wedding dress.
Photo #2:  Too low!  This pose is ideal for photos taken before or after your ceremony.  Yes, the detail of your bodice can be seen but you don't want to rest your hands and heavy bouquet on your thighs.  This could create an impression on the skirt of your dress making it to become longer - increasing your chances to trip.  A bride's worst nightmare!
Photo #3:  The sweet spot!  Whether you're walking alone or with an escort, this is the perfect position.  Arms are bent at 45 degrees, your bouquet is nestled right under your bust line and you're entire upper body is straight.  You are completely open for the perfect pictures and your skirt will barely grace the floor.  
​Now you can enter your wedding ceremony with poise and grace.