Spring Trends by Guest Blogger, Lawan McFerran

Archive for the ‘Weddings’ Category

Spring Trends by Guest Blogger, Lawan McFerran

Monday, April 29th, 2013

The wedding and special event arena is ever changing and that is reflected more and more each year as technology plays a greater role in our lives. We have access to web sites such as Pinterest with our smart phones so that we can keep up with what’s hot instantly. Some of the latest trends are leaning towards the NYC club or lounge feel. Brides and grooms are frequently requesting hi-end lounge sofas and chairs to create a club feel to their cocktail reception or even the evening reception space. The idea is to create a space that invites guests to kick back and relax during and after dancing as well as to facilitate more guest interaction. The furniture pieces can be provided by a local furniture company or a party & event rental company. The cost can be steep but if creating that club feel is important, it can be accomplished.

Guests are also asking for live and interactive projection so that all of the day’s festivities are not only recorded but projected live on a full size projector screen. Interactive photo booths are also “in” because those fun shots can be displayed instantaneously for all of your guests to see. Hi-end and elaborate lighting and staging continues to be popular especially for So. Asian receptions that require the bride & groom sit on a stage for a portion of the evening. Lighting and staging companies can provide these services but shop around for the best deals.

As trends evolve throughout the year, the most important thing to remember is to make the event your own, whether that is done with lounge furniture, lighting or simply weaving your favorite hobbies or sporting activities into the day, make it reflect you!

Learn more about Lawan, wedding planning extraordinaire here!

Tags: wedding details, wedding planning
Posted in Events, Trends & Tips, Wedding Details & Frills, Wedding Planning, Weddings | No Comments »

West Belmont Place Wins “Best Venue”

Monday, April 15th, 2013

We are thrilled to announce that Rachael Mull, catering manager at NCC, recently won the “Best Venue” award at the International Special Events Society (ISES) 18th Annual Capital Awards Gala, for her submission of a decadent Indian wedding at West Belmont Place.

You might recall the utter gorgeousness of this wedding from last summer…

Here’s a brief recap to jog your memory:

Pooja and Vivek’s wedding took place on June 9, 2012 with 310 guests in attendance. Pooja arrived at 9:30 that morning and had her make-up and hair done in our executive bridal suite. Close family and friends arrived at 2:00pm to take part in the festive Baraat, where Vivek arrived in a blue mustang. Following the Baraat was the traditional Hindu ceremony, which took place on our beautiful courtyard patio adorned with white and pink paper lanterns. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed an ice-cream reception under our covered porte cochere, followed by dinner and dancing in our National Ballroom. More photos here.

Congratulations to Rachael and the catering team on your well-deserved award! It’s no wonder why our brides love working with you!

Tags: Loudoun weddings, Real Weddings, weddings
Posted in Real Weddings, WBP News, Wedding Details & Frills, Weddings | No Comments »

Tips for Bridal Shows

Monday, January 28th, 2013

Bridal shows are extremely helpful when planning for the big day. You’ll meet a ton of wedding professionals, see the latest bridal trends, taste delicious food (you may find yourself in a cake coma) and even have a chance to win prizes! While these shows will provide you with plenty of wedding inspiration, depending on the size, they can be rather overwhelming, especially if your groom comes along

Here are some quick tips for preparing and navigating through your first bridal show:

1. Make labels- This is the best, timesaving tip! Talk about an efficient bride. Not only will vendors be impressed that you took the time to make them, but it will lend you more 1 on 1 time. Make sure to include your name, mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address and wedding date (if you’ve already set one).

2. Bring an entourage- Whether your groom, family, friends or everyone comes along, make it a fun outing! It’s even better when you can divide and conquer.

3. Snap some photos- These shows are filled with aisles of breath-taking displays making it difficult for you to keep track. Snap some photos with a phone or camera (always ask the vendor first) and then add it to your Pinterest or any other inspiration boards.

4. Wear comfortable shoes- Leave the stilettos at home and opt for some flats instead. You’ll be on your feet for most of the day, so make sure to come ready with comfortable footwear.

5. Organize, organize, organize- Take some time to relax after the show and then start organizing all of the info. This allows you to stay on top of your first-pick vendors and also take advantage of special deals.

No matter where you are in your planning, bridal shows can be your very best friend. By following these tips, you’ll be able to make the most of the experience and even more importantly, have fun!

Tags: bridal advice, inspiration, wedding planning
Posted in Wedding Planning, Weddings | No Comments »

Real weddings: a 5-star review by a recent bride, with kudos to Rachael Mull

Tuesday, August 21st, 2012

A recent Facebook post and a WeddingWire review by Mehek Akbar praised a West Belmont Place wedding planner. Rachael Mull, the bride’s on-site coordinator was humbled to read such a review about herself, but we had to share it with you. The wedding venue received 5.0 out of 5.0 stars on WeddingWire. Mehek, thank you for taking the time to write such a detailed review!

I am so happy I chose West Belmont Place as my venue. It’s a gorgeous venue with lush green grounds and lots of trees. The inside is very contemporary and artsy. But more than the look of the venue, what sold me was the superb customer service I received from Rachael Mull, my event planner at West Belmont Place. From our initial emails and first meeting till the end of the event, Rachael was a gem to work with. I visited 30 + potential venues for my wedding reception and no other venue came close to the great customer service I received from Rachael at West Belmont. She was so friendly and helpful. She went above and beyond to make everything perfect for us. She never answered with a straight no; rather, if she was unsure of something, she would always reply positively, saying she was sure she could work something out for us. Every question, every request, every wish of mine – Rachael fulfilled. I was often late to my appointments with her (I live quite far from the venue) and I often had a large group of family come with me. But that didn’t bother or annoy Rachael. She was always very pleasant and patient with us, as we would ask her endless questions and take our time to walk the venue and plan. She worked great with the rest of my vendors to make sure everything was set for the wedding. The day of the reception, I wasn’t there for set up. But my brother told me that Rachael was there the entire time, going out of her way to help my family and friends set up. We felt so comfortable and assured going into the wedding because we knew we were in good hands with Rachael. She did a superb job coordinating my wedding. I cannot say enough good things about her customer service. And it’s not just me; my husband and entire family feel the same way about Rachael and her service. Besides Rachael, all the other staff we came into contact with at West Belmont was also really great. Everyone was so friendly and willing to help with a smile on their face. We made a lot of changes to the wedding itinerary and a lot of the information we didn’t get to Rachael till a few days before the wedding. But she was totally okay with it and still ensured that we got everything that we had asked for. This venue was slightly out of my budget but the main reason why we chose it is because of Rachael Mull’s exemplary customer service. I would recommend West Belmont Place 100% as a wedding venue. Their whole staff is great but since I worked with Rachael the closest, I would definitely say to request her as your event coordinator.

-Mehek, wed at West Belmont Place July 2012

Kudos to Rachael for another job well done! To view photos of Mehek and Ovais’s big day, check out the couple’s wedding photography on Naureen Bokhari’s Facebook page. Congratulations Mehek and Ovais. View past reviews from brides at West Belmont Place.

Posted in Real Weddings, Wedding Vendors, Weddings | No Comments »

Real Weddings: Sneak Peek of Mehek & Ovais’s Reception

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

This past Sunday, Mehek and Ovais’s were wed at a temple and held their reception at West Belmont Place. The bride and groom had a traditional Pakistani reception with several entertainers and beautiful matching walima. Each table had a different type of vase with flowers – very creative! We love the contrast of the Chiavari chairs with the dark table cloth.

Tags: Real Weddings
Posted in Real Weddings, Wedding Details & Frills, Weddings | No Comments »

Ideas That Will Blow Your Guests Away with Red, White & Blue

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

May is Military Appreciation Month. As a salute to all the U.S. veterans and military men and women, we wanted to celebrate their bravery through patriotic event decor. Here are a few centerpieces and other ideas that make you feel patriotic in red, white and blue; perfect for the bride with a military family, political banquet or a patriotic event:

Topiary tree made of patriotic ribbons
Pinned from adiamondinthestuff.blogspot.com

Festive paper vase
Pinned from bhg.com

Perfect to hang from trees for an outdoor reception
Pinned from: inspirationforhome.blogspot.com

Gumballs in jars as centerpieces
Pinned from: thetomkatstudio.com

Red, white and blue chip snacks
Pinned from: partyresources.blogspot.com

Dessert bar in patriotic colors with milk and cookies
Pinned from: celebrationsathomeblog.com

What are your favorite ideas for patriotic events?

Posted in Events, Trends & Tips, Wedding Details & Frills, Weddings | No Comments »

The Knot Bridesmaid Handbook

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

The Knot Bridesmaid Handbook: Help the Bride Shine Without Losing Your Mind

Whether you’re concerned about what your bridesmaids need to do for the wedding, you’re a bridesmaid and want to learn your role in the bridal party or if you want to understand how to deal with your frantic bride, The Knot Bridesmaid Handbook is the go-to book for brides maids to make it through the wedding planning process.

Brides and bridesmaids will find out their duties and what needs to be done up to the big day, how to throw a memorable shower or bachelorette party, and how to deal with good and bad from fellow bridesmaids. This book is entertaining, insightful and contains what to do in the worst scenarios you wouldn’t even think such as “What if the DJ doesn’t show up?” Other good books by Carolyn Roney of The Knot include The Knot Book of Wedding Lists and The Knot Guide for Mother of Bride.

You can find other bridal guide books by editors of The Knot on Amazon.com.

If you’ve read these books what did you think? Entertaining & unpractical or realistic & informational?

Tags: bridesmaids, wedding guide books, wedding tips, weddings
Posted in Trends & Tips, Wedding Details & Frills, Wedding Planning, Weddings | No Comments »

Real Weddings: Kacie & Anup

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

Kacie and Anup wanted a traditional Indian ceremony consisting of the Baraat, the Varmala and the Satphere. Their July ceremony brought them great weather in the outdoor courtyard. The lavish affair continued indoors with a reception in The National Ballroom for Kacie and Anup’s family and friends. Enjoy a look back at their ceremony with photography courtesy of Eli Turner Studios.

The Shoes

The Flowers
Also known as a varmala, it’s a traditional wedding garland worn in Indian ceremonies, along with Bangles or a Churi which signify matrimony

The Details

The Courtyard

The Tradition

The Bridal Party

The Baraat

The Excitement

Happily Ever After

Congratulations Kacie & Anup! We look forward to sharing photos of their reception soon.

Tags: cultural weddings, Eli Turner, Hindu ceremony, Indian weddings, Loudoun weddings, Real Weddings, wedding photographers, wedding traditions
Posted in Real Weddings, Weddings | 1 Comment »

5 Ways an Intern Can Help at a Wedding

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Every summer The National Conference Center has interns join different departments from June through August and this year I am happy to be a part of the catering department. Planning weddings is something I have always dreamed of doing so you can imagine how excited I am to participate in the implementation of weddings and special events that take place at West Belmont Place.

So what exactly can an intern do to assist with weddings like I have at West Belmont Place? Here are some aspects of what I, along with some of the other interns, can be found doing on a wedding day:

Assisting the Catering Manager or Wedding Planner with any pre-wedding set-up help they may need. This can include setting out ceremony programs, arranging the place card and gift tables, or helping the banquet staff with table settings and chair covers.
Making sure all wedding guests are comfortable and taken care of whether it’s helping them to their seat during the ceremony or setting out octagons of water on a hot day.
Directing guests from the ceremony to the reception. The National Conference Center is a large venue and it’s our job to make it as quick and easy as possible for the wedding guests to make their way from the ceremony location to the reception room.
Assisting the Banquet staff with serving hors d’oeuvres and plated meals during the reception. Kyle, our Food and Beverage Intern, can often be found working diligently to make sure all of our guests are served in a timely manner.
Capturing the event by taking pictures that the Catering Managers at West Belmont Place can keep for their portfolio. These pictures only give a glimpse of how the beautiful the wedding really is, but we love to show them off to brides who are looking to hold their own wedding at our wonderful venue.

The interns placed ceremony programs in the form of fans on each white chair for the wedding guests to enjoy.

Assembling the chair covers and purple sashes was a joint effort between the wedding planners, interns, and Banquet staff.

While the Banquet staff set up the silverware and glassware, the interns went around each table to place gifts of assorted candy for each wedding guest.

Kelsey, Rachael, and Amanda are three of the interns who helped with a wedding on June 25, 2011.

As a wedding planner or venue, how have you utilized your resources such as interns or volunteers who would like to assist with weddings? What other tasks have your past interns enjoyed?

Written by Rachael Mull, West Belmont Place’s catering intern and recent graduate of Virginia Tech’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program.

Tags: Interns, Volunteers for Weddings, Wedding Interns, Wedding Internships, wedding tips
Posted in Trends & Tips, Wedding Planning, Weddings | No Comments »