Friday, January 31, 2020

Greensboro Vendor Spotlight: Mike Micciche

Read the original post: Greensboro Vendor Spotlight: Mike Micciche from Dow Oak Events DJs or read it below.

wedding vendor spot light

Our Favorite Local Wedding Vendors

In this first part of a new series, we're giving shout-outs to local vendors whom we've worked with and who've proven to be top-notch. So without further ado, we're happy to write about Greensboro photographer Mike Micciche.

We've done a couple of weddings with Micciche Photography and let me tell you: they were a blast. You can see it all over the photos. It's so clear everyone was having an awesome time throwing down; you can feel those moments through the pictures. We firmly believe that a wedding is a cause for celebration, and through the photos, you can tell they were celebrations.

 

A Party in Summerfield

One of the first weddings we worked with Micciche Photography was a throw-down at one of our favorites, Summerfield Farms.

We could go the route of our typical posts, but in this case we really think the pictures speak for themselves.

 

 

What I will say though: this wedding was great. We really don't have enough awesome things to say about Summerfield Farms and Mike Micciche. And in this case, with a ceremony involving classic cars and a bridal party entering to TI... we knew it was gonna be a party. And Mike really was able to capture that spirit. And with a dance party featuring Whitney Houston and the Isley Brothers, there was spirit to capture.

 

mike micciche summerfield farms reception gallery

Belly Dancing in Greensboro

The next event we worked together was a traditional Egyptian reception near downtown Greensboro. Featuring henna tattoos, Arabic hits, and even a belly dancer.  And the pictures turned out amazingly (especially the belly dancing, it seriously was awesome).

When you look through the pictures, you can really see the way Mike Micciche was able to capture the spirit of this one too. Though these two weddings were very different, you can see the same level of expertise in both of the galleries. Here's a taste:

 

Some very cool henna tattoos

 

As promised, belly dancing

 

greensboro belly dancing reception photos

Not pictured: us looking on in amazement

 

New Experiences

A Triad-based wedding and corporate event photographer, Mike Micciche's been in the wedding business for almost 16 years (which is definitely a long time, kudos). He's a busy man too, shooting wedding celebrations and corporate events of all kinds throughout the year. But it's not just experience that makes for a great photographer. There's the eye required to visualize a shot, but also the technical skill required to capture it. And you can definitely see all of that in every picture.

We decided we wanted to see where the magic happens and dropped by Micciche studios. It was definitely an interesting peek behind the curtain. Not only do they have their own full studio, but there's also a whole wing dedicated to professional hair and make-up.

It's always great to connect with other wedding vendors and see how the wheels turn. There's so much that goes into every aspect of creating a unique wedding, so we love getting to see all sides.

All in all, our experiences with Mike Micciche and Micciche Photography have been awesome. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend his services to anyone looking for a great photographer in Greensboro, the Triad, or throughout North Carolina.

See more of what he's been up to here

(Final note, we leave you with this pic of a good boy holding onto the rings. Another great photo courtesy of Mike Micciche. Though this little fella wasn't at either of the weddings, this picture's too good not to be included.)

greensboro belly dancing reception photos

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Hold Up… They Now Make Adult Bouncy Castles? For Weddings?



There are many things to love about weddings. Aside from the fact that it’s a joyous celebration of love, they also provide an opportunity to dress up, and if you’re lucky, there will be an open bar to boot. But now, it looks like tying the knot is going to get even more enjoyable, thanks to companies which allow couples to rent a bouncy castle for their big day.

The white inflatable castles are fit to hold adults and children alike. They measure around 17 feet by 20 feet by 13 feet, but you’ll need a space of 23 feet by 33 feet by 15 feet in order for there to be sufficient space.

“ALL WHITE WEDDING BOUNCE HOUSE! A fun gorgeous photo op for your wedding, bridal shower, engagement party, or baby shower!” writes rental company, White Wedding Jumpers, on Instagram about their castles.

“We are the leading provider all white Bounce Houses for all of Orange County and the surrounding areas! Our all-white bounce houses make for great photo opportunities as well as providing entertainment for your guests! We also offer a package deal that includes a lounging area for your guest to sit and lounge before their opportunity to take amazing photos in our adult size bounce house.”




Hooooold the phone. I can’t even name the number of weddings I’ve been to that didn’t have one of these (all of them). I’d like to be able to write “every wedding I’ve been to has had one of these,” but sadly that just isn’t the case. I hope that someday these catch on, cause they legitimately would be the coolest addition to a wedding reception. 

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

10 Wedding Day-of Facts No One Tells You For Some Reason



No matter how many weddings you’ve attended before, or how many times you’ve been a bridesmaid, there are some things you just don’t find out about until your wedding day.

Talk to anyone who’s gone through it before and they’ll tell you that your wedding day absolutely flies by. You’ll be so busy going from one thing to the next that before you know it, you’ll be cutting the cake. You may already know that you need an emergency kit (just in case), that it can be difficult to use the bathroom in your ball gown, and to pack a stain remover. But aside from the logistics, there are tons of intangible, special moments that make up the wedding day itself. Here, 10 truths about the wedding day that no one ever talks about.

Source
1. Ten minutes before the ceremony is the most nerve-racking part.


The time leading up to the walk down the aisle will be the most anxiety-ridden 10 minutes you’ll ever have. And it makes sense — you’re about to make a life-changing decision in front of all the people you love and care about the most. Just remember that your other half is waiting for you at the end of the journey and you’re going to have a huge party to celebrate (not to mention the reason why you said “yes” in the first place).

2. The ceremony is the best part.


There’s something truly amazing about the wedding ceremony. The traditions, the vows and all your emotional family members and friends make it one of the most special moments of your life. Our advice? Take it all in and drink it up. You’ll want these memories to last a lifetime.

3. You’ll definitely cry.


Okay, this one might not be such a secret — all we can say is that crying is basically inevitable. And since you already know the waterworks are coming, the best thing to do is just be prepared. Store some tissues nearby, and if you’re a bride, make sure to wear waterproof makeup (or even get eyelash extensions) and keep some mascara and lipstick readily available for quick touch-ups.

4. Your face will hurt from smiling so much.


Thousands of pictures aside, you’ll be smiling all day because it’s going to be the best day ever. You’re marrying your best friend, after all! Between finally “making it official” with your partner and dancing like crazy with all of your close friends and family, there’s literally no reason to frown (even if it rains).



There’s so much that goes into planning the big day that sometimes it can be hard to even imagine how all the pieces will even come together. But trust me, they do. And that’s one of the main reasons we love weddings so much. Seeing it all come together is beyond awesome. Even after going to literally hundreds of weddings, it’s still great to see. 

Monday, January 13, 2020

Wearing a T Rex Costume to Your Sister’s Wedding with No Regrets… Could You?

What started out as a joke ended with this maid of honor balancing a bouquet in T-rex arms
CATHERINE GRILLI/ FACEBOOK

This bride certainly wasn’t a bridezilla.
When Deanna Adams told her bridal party they could wear whatever they wanted to her wedding, her sister and maid of honor, Christina Meador, surprised guests by showing up to the ceremony in an inflatable Tyrannosaurus-rex costume.
“When you’re maid of honor and told you can wear anything you choose,” Meador shared in an Aug. 10 Facebook post that has since gone viral. “I regret nothing.”
In the photo, Meader is seen wearing the enormous costume and standing next to the bridemaids and Adams as she and her new husband exchange vows.
“I remember being surprised that everyone seemed to be doing their best to avoid noticing the elephant in the room (or should I say dino) but it was hard to see in the costume,” Meader told the Daily Mail about her decision to wear the costume for the ceremony, which started out as a joke between her and her sister.
It began when Adams asked her little sister to be her maid of honor last year.
“About a year ago my big sister texted me asking if I would be her maid of honor,” Meader told the outlet.
“She, knowing that I’m not a big fan of wearing formal dresses and that I probably wouldn’t have a lot of money to buy something really nice, reassured me by letting me know that I could pick out any outfit that I choose,” she added.
While contemplating what to buy, she decided she wanted to purchase something she knew she would wear more than once.

Wow. If that’s what the ceremony was like, the reception must have been A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. Elegant ceremonies are great and all, but we love it when families cut loose and have fun… After all, it’s a celebration of love! Sure, maybe the sisterly love stole center stage in this one for a bit. 🀷‍♀️ But what are siblings for if they can’t poke fun at you and your hubby on your wedding day? One thing is for sure: this is the type of wedding we would have loved to be a part of.

Friday, January 10, 2020

A Different Kind of Runaway Bride



A bride running away in the middle of her wedding day could be interpreted as a really bad sign.
But what got Carla Reilly Moore sprinting in August 2015 was far from cold feet.

By the time her wedding day had arrived, Moore was more than ready to take her vows to her future husband. Indeed, Moore had already been through quite a lot that year, 2015 — good and bad.

Moore had dreamed of starting a sanctuary for farm animals and she finally opened the doors of Happy Tails Farm Sanctuary in Kingston, Ontario, the year before.

“By 2015 the word had got out and our farm sanctuary really started to fill up with very deserving residents!” Moore told The Dodo.



As Moore and her fiancΓ© were realizing the dream of having a sanctuary, getting accustomed to caring for so many animals, and were in the middle of planning their wedding, which was to take place at the sanctuary, fate took a sudden turn.

“That same year, while driving to work, I was in a devastating car accident,” she said. “[This] caused lifelong damage to my back.”

Moore had to go through long and intensive rehabilitation. “I spent hours with the animals as it’s eased my pain and helped me along my path to recovery,” she said.

When the wedding day arrived, and Moore was much stronger, she knew that the animals would be a big part of the celebration.



You can read the whole thing at https://www.thedodo.com/on-the-farm/runaway-bride-feeds-animals-during-wedding or read more cool wedding stuff at www.dowoakevents.com/blog 

I know, another story about weddings and animals. I can’t help it, I’m sorry. I honestly wish that there were more animal related wedding stories. So I’m doing my small part to make that dream a reality with these posts. 

Wednesday, January 1, 2020

10 Ways To Save On Your Wedding (From a Pro!)



I got married in July 2015 and, like many brides, I was overwhelmed. Trying to affordably fit the perfect venue, dress, flowers and all the other little details into the vision I had created on my Pinterest “Rustic Wedding” page required skillful planning and negotiations, financial savvy — and a few compromises. Throughout my time planning my wedding and now helping my clients save for weddings for themselves or their children, I’ve developed 10 tips and tricks for getting the best bang for your buck.

Before you even begin planning what might be the biggest party of your life, you need to have some serious money conversations with your future spouse and set a budget. In 2018, the average American wedding cost $33,931. While this amount is likely to be even higher if you plan to wed in a bigger city, it can be a helpful starting point.

But my most important piece of advice? Your wedding is important, but your future is even more so. Stay mindful and realistic. You don’t want to go into debt over a party. There will be future expenses — houses, college funds, retirement — so don’t blow it all in one place. All in all, your wedding is your day — but you’re in it for the life partner, not the party! Now, here are my top 10 tips…




There’s always ways to save, and it’s smart to be prudent with large events like weddings. But PLEASE, if you’re looking to save on wedding expenses, at least hire a DJ and don’t try and DIY the music. I promise it’s worth it even to get a cheap DJ. Thank me later.