16 Jan Snow-Kissed Dreams {Expanded Feature}

Image by Austen Taylor Photography

Baby it’s cold outside! If you’ve managed to flip the pages of this year’s High Country Wedding Guide, no doubt you were momentarily breathless when you caught glimpse of “Snow-Kissed Dreams”, a beautiful mini-feature by the talented Austen Taylor Photography. Well today we’re happy to be showing off more stunning images from this amazing styled shoot that prove that you CAN say ‘I do’ in the snow. From the bride’s vintage gown and delicate flower crown to the snow covered portraits outside Banner Elk Winery + Villa, every dreamy moment of this moody session is perfection. 

For more tips on making a Winter wedding work in the High Country, pick up a copy of the 2017 Guide (digital or print) and catch our roundup of fabulous tips and tricks to making the snow work for you… 

Photographer + Stylist + Florals: Austen Taylor Photography

Venue: Banner Elk Winery + Villa

Beauty: Canvas Beauty Bar

Bride’s Coat: Belk 

10 Jan High Country Wedding Guide {2017 Issue!!}

Pop that champagne! The 2017 issue of High Country Wedding Guide has hit stands and, we must say, it’s more gorgeous than ever! This year’s guide is filled to the brim with stunning real High Country weddings, a comprehensive guide to the most stunning venues in the region, and more bridal beauty than our little mountain-lovin’ hearts can handle. 

Get yourself a copy by either picking one up while you’re out and about wedding planning in the High Country or we can even mail you a complimentary copy! Want to soak up all of the beauty right away? Click here to download your own digital copy of the magazine so you can carry it with you wherever you go. 

We can’t wait to share expanded features on this special issue with you throughout the year. So much more beauty in store! Now, go get to planning that beautiful 2017 wedding! 

17 Nov Emily & Jack {Engagement Session}

Image by Joy Davis Photography

This week’s dose of romance comes to us from the lens of Joy Davis Photography. Emily and Jack’s High Country engagement session took place at (or in, we should say) a babbling brook in Lenoir, NC, and goodness, was it ever gorgeous! We love how this fearless couple just said “Yes!” to getting in the water for some of their shots. Always be open to your photographer recommending a unique series of poses and locales during your engagement session… You never know how unique and amazing they could turn out! 

Photographer: Joy Davis Photography

Hair + Makeup: Smith & Co. 

25 Oct Fall Dinner Soirée {Styled Shoot}

Image by Paul Sherar Photography 

When we first laid eyes on these dreamy Paul Sherar Photography images, we were so excited to share them with you! This bespoke styled shoot, creatively designed, styled and flowered by The Laurel Collective, speaks to sweetly to our Autumn-obsessed hearts. Whether you take the beauty you see here today and apply it to a fall-time bridesmaids luncheon, an engagement celebration or even just an artfully planned dinner for you and your love, every moment from this al fresco dinner scene is worth a Pin! So open the windows for some cool High Country air, light that pumpkin scented candle and breath in this thoughtful feature. 

Photographer: Paul Sherar Photography

Venue: The Treehouse in Deep Gap, NC

Planning + Design + Styling + Flowers: The Laurel Collective

Catering: Reid’s Café + Catering

Dishes: Miss Match Rentals 

12 Oct Stunning Styled Shoot {SkyRetreat}

Image by Danielle Flake Photography 

Have you missed us? Sorry for the blog hiatus, but we’ve been busy cooking up a stunning new issue of High Country Wedding Guide. Trust us, y’all, this 2017 Guide is going to make your hearts skip beats all year long. In the meantime, we have some b-e-a-utiful blog features lined up over the next several months to keep you and your Pinterest boards busy until the new issue hits stands at the end of the year. Today’s feature comes to us from the creative mind and lens of Danielle Flake Photography. The dapper bride and groom are, in fact, real life husband and wife who work at Sky Retreat, the incredible venue where this was shot. From the amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the elegant vintage tablescape by City Florist and A Bushel and a Peck Vintage Rentals, every bit of this styled shoot has us swooning. Enjoy, dears! 

Photographer: Danielle Flake Photography

Venue: Sky Retreat

Rentals: A Bushel and a Peck Vintage Rentals

Florals: City Florist

Hair + Makeup: Face Forward

Attire: Bridal Traditions

20 Jul Meet Our Editor! {Hannah Chillag}

We are pinching ourselves in excitement! Today, we want to introduce our fabulous new High Country Wedding Guide editor, Hannah Chillag. Sweet Hannah will be working with our team to put together what is surely to be the most beautiful and comprehensive edition of the guide yet and we just can’t wait to see her work her magic. 

Here are some words from the editor herself… 

“Hi everyone! My name is Hannah and I am excited to takeover as the new editor of the inspiring High Country Wedding Guide.  As a lover of all things outdoors, there is nothing I find more attractive then a wedding amidst falling leaves, crisp clean air, and natural surroundings. I cannot wait for the new adventures this wedding guide leads me on and the beauty I am about to discover along the way. Email me at editor@highcountryweddingguide to strike up a conversation.”

Everyone join us in welcoming Hannah to the team! 

06 Jul Christina & David {Mast Farm Inn}

Image by Revival Photography

What better way to enjoy this Summer afternoon than pouring over the Revival Photography images from Christina and David’s High Country wedding at The Mast Farm Inn! We were so head over heels for this wedding (featured in our 2016 print guide) that we just had to share more. From the natural florals to grapefruit cocktails to a pony petting portrait session, this orange-kissed celebration has everything our wedding-loving hearts could want. Enjoy!

Photographer:   Revival Photography 

Venue: The Mast Farm Inn  

Coordination + Décor + Design: Danielle Deschamps Stabler 

Catering + Cake: Simplicity at The Mast Farm Inn

Beauty: Shear Shakti

Florals: Pearl’s Garden 

Music: WestWend 

Officiant: High Country Ministers

24 Jun Tara & Alex {Westglow Resort & Spa}

Image by Joy Davis Photography

This High Country wedding from our 2016 guide checks all the boxes. Sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains? Check! Elegant grounds and a historic manse perfect for celebrating? Check! A fabulous band to kick off the dance party? Check! Classic Cala Lily bouquets? Check! Thank goodness Joy Davis Photography was there to capture every pretty bit of Tara and Alex’s wedding at Westglow Resort and Spa! 

Photographer: Joy Davis Photography

Venue: Westglow Resort & Spa

Coordination: Jennifer Williams of Westglow Resort & Spa

Flowers: Fuchsia Moss Floral Design

Cake: Christina Banner Cakes 

Music: Dean’s Duets + Band 24/7

Rentals: Boone Rent-All

Transportation: Air Haven Limousine

13 Jun Katie & Jared {Green Park Inn}

Image by Waterhouse Studios

We’re so excited to be sharing Katie and Jared’s stunning High Country wedding on the blog today! Captured by Waterhouse Studios, every detail from Katie’s stunning veil (happily sourced by her father while on a work trip to Spain) to the cookie bar by Appalachia Cookie Co. has our wedding-obsessed hearts going pitter-patter. The Green Park Inn served as the perfect reception venue for the Boone based lovebirds, offering both lodging for their family and friends as well as a stunning reception space. So give your Monday a boost and dive head first into this white bloomed beauty! 

Photographer: Waterhouse Studios

Ceremony: Greenway Baptist Church 

Venue: Green Park Inn

Cake: Christie Haas

Florals: Bouquet Florist & Gift Shop

Hair + Makeup: Canvas Beauty Bar

Music: Haynes Event Productions

Rentals: Boone Rent-All

Favors: Appalachia Cookie Co. 

06 Jun Join the HCWG Team! {Editor Position Available}

WE’RE HIRING!!! 

Love weddings? Love romance? Love celebrating all things North Carolina’s High Country? High Country Wedding Guide is looking for a Western North Carolina-based contractor to pull together the 2017 edition of the print publication, which covers Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties.

Responsibilities include:

·      sourcing and sorting through submissions for real-life wedding stories, inspiration/styled shoots, engagement portrait sessions, and more

·      producing shoots featuring fashion, florals, tabletop, products, and more

·      writing, fact-checking, editing stories in accordance with Chicago Manual of Style

·      working with remote art designer, editor-in-chief, and daily blog/digital editor (and driving production schedule with same team)

·      acting as a liaison between the traveling sales staff and content

·      representing the brand in the community

·      feeding social media fodder to the digital editor

Skills needed:

·      proficiency in Word, InDesign, Google Docs

·      an eye for lovely imagery, ear for a good human interest story, and knack for trendspotting

·      knowledge of the High Country and its wedding industry

·      engaging, professional personality

·      meets deadlines and can work autonomously

·      excellent communicator (online, by phone, etc.)

Experience:

Prefer candidate with writing, editing, print production experience.

Time Commitment:

Part-time, with a concentration toward to the end of the year (publication goes to press in the third quarter). Time commitment totals about 4 months.

Compensation:

Competitive for a regional publication.

Please email email cover-letter, resumé, and pertinent writing/editorial samples to info@highcountryweddingguide.com. 

We’re so excited to be growing our team!