My purpose...to share my knowledge of my own wedding experience with any bride who needs guidance (I know I did!). I, like many other ladies in the world, do all my shopping ONLINE and in this case my wedding proved no different. I can navigate through so much information so quickly it makes most people's head spin (ie...my new husband). Well, I say..."thank heavens for the internet!"

So this is how I started.

We got engaged on May 5, 2009 snorkeling on the island of Jost Van Dyke, BVI....and after a year of no planning, we up and decided to "just do it". (Nike won't mind me stealing). So, in June of 2010, we decided to set a date. SEPTEMBER 25, 2010...leaving not much time to plan.

I knew what I wanted. I wanted something outside with the option for indoor space as well. I wanted to be comfortable and for my guests to feel relaxed and inspired. I wanted good food, fun music to dance all night and just enough decor to feel special. And I wanted my guests to be able to stay on or near the reception site... my friends and family have been known to have a couple and I want them all to be safe. That was really important to me:)

Immediately I stayed up many late nights researching wedding venues. We live in Greensboro, NC and I was not exited about any of the facilities in town, so being a mountain gal and my future man to be was a graduate from Appalachian State and mountain man himself, I started researching everything on the western NC. Asheville was too expensive, Highlands also, Boone was scarce, Blowing Rock a little too upity (is that a word?), I liked the Apple Barn, but it was too small, thought about Blueberry Farms Winery...that was a BIG NO and then.... I found Beech Mountain.

The Beech Alpen Inn. A quaint tudor-style inn with rustic rooms, stone fireplaces, a beautifully landscaped lawn, outdoor dining and a covered, wood-built pavilion with a huge outdoor fireplace. It was perfect.

The day we met Steve at the Alpen Inn, Bryan and I knew this was the place for us.

Beech Mtn here we come....