Posted by Nancy Craun on Mon, Feb 20, 2012 @ 07:50 PM
Probably the biggest decision a bride and groom have to make besides the venue for their wedding is the photographer. Years ago there were two choices, the traditional and the photo journalistic. Today most photographers know to say they are journalistic due to its popularity but are they really?
I recently interviewed photographer, Steve Dalgetty of An Endless Pursuit Photography. I believe I understand how he and Bernadette came across the name of their photography company. 'An Endless Pursuit' states the artistic journalistic approach that Steve and Bernadette offer their clients.
Here are some simple questions I asked Steve -
Why do you like weddings?
"It is the natural emotion that is at all weddings. We thrive off this energy. Weddings are jammed full of positive emotion which make them easy to shoot."
Why should a bride hire you?
"For us it is our very stylized journalistic approach - we try to pull the fun artistic creativity out of the couple we are shooting. Our approach is more West Coast Style."
"Our brand is centered around who we are as people. Brides and Grooms need to realize that not only are they hiring a professional but they are really hiring a personality behind a camera. Photography is hard work so we want to work with clients we enjoy. We avoid the numbers game. Our goal is to let the images think for themselves and create a conversation!"
Who are your clients?
"Our client are usually between mid 20's and 30's. They appreciate great photographs. They are slightly above the deal seekers. They understand 'our style of shooting' and love to put as much fun into their life as possible."
As you walk around the Blue Ridge Bridal Show next weekend, remember that anyone can buy a digital camera and shoot pictures but it takes an artist to take the product beyond mere pictures and turn it into a tangible wedding album that will always be there.
Drop by Steve and Bernadette's booth as well as the other photographers who are at the show. Remember Steve and Bernadette will be interviewing you as much as you are interviewing them.
Posted by Nancy Craun on Sun, Feb 19, 2012 @ 01:34 PM
Each new year Blue Ridge Bridal Show reaches out to our Wedding Experts to forecast the wedding ideas and trends for 2012. Although our Blue Ridge Bride does not always listen to "What's In and What's Out", it is fun to see what the wedding world is forecasting on this year.
Aimee Hardenberg from True Wedding Events,a member of the Association of Wedding Professionals, is a great person to interview. Her business focus is the "cohesive vision" her brides and grooms want for their weddings. She specializes in unique weddings and outdoor weddings.
Aimee says, "The royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William definitely had its influence. The 'vintage wedding' is stepping aside for a more sophisticated but not stuffy more elegant look. This is a definite reflection of the royal wedding. The classic traditional wedding is on its way back but there is a softening of it. It is more modern chic and definitely a warm feeling comes from these weddings."
"The dress is dimensional with a lot of tiers and different kinds of fabrics. Another way to personalize a dress is with the custom sashes which ties into the color of the bridesmaids."
Aimee also says there is a brand new HOT TREND - "Pre-owned Wedding Dresses" justified by a number of factors including "green - our environment and less waste", saving money, and some brides just want to share their dress instead of the older trend of packing it away for your daughter. "94% of daughters say no to wearing their mother's dress!"
Here is What's IN in our Blue Ridge Shenandoah Valley -
Stephen Arnold with Giovane Players - "What has been a growing trend in the wedding industry is the use of popular music instead of or in addition to the traditional songs. We have the traditional in our repertoire, but we also have a huge list of popular music on our website"
Pamela Lepold of Pamela Lepold Photography: "Traditional photographers have been overtaken by the photojournalist who can document the day as it happens without stopping to pose every photograph. Today couples are looking for a photographer who not only can capture the moment, but also tells the story of their love in those moments capturing their personalities. Which leads us to the next photography trend... the day after photo session. The once popular 'Trash the Dress' is OUT. Couples are opint to have a fun portrait session in their wedding attire the day after or within a few weeks of their wedding day. Many couples are less stressed about the day of the wedding knowing that they will have more time for portraits during a day after session. No worrry about the weather ruining pictures - the day after session can be scheduled on a beautiful day."
Lori Shepherd of Everything Linens - "Shenandoah/Blue Ridge Brides love to mix earth tones with their colors. We are seeing deep taupe, khaki, champagne gold, bronze, and burlap all year long. The 'Pales' are also replacing basic white and ivory as accest - yellow, lime, sage, and pink are especially popular.
Steve Dalgetty - "Many brides and grooms are deciding against the album only because they see it as a book that gets put on a shelf. The new albums available today stay on the coffee table and are a tangible memory that will always be there for the bride and groom. So definitely don't give up on the album!
Kristina Arntz - "Post Wedding Breakfasts and Brunches are trending...."
Kathleen Luczak - "The outside tented weddings are most popular today because brides and their grooms are looking for the natural, unconventional, eco- friendly wedding experience in the Country."
- Joyce Lee - Fuller skirts, lots soft ruffles, organza and tulle dresses, lace, cap sleeves and illusion necklines, and adding color.
Give us your thoughts about trends for weddings! We like to hear from Shenandoah Valley wedding professionals and brides and grooms getting married in the Blue Ridge.
Posted by Nancy Craun on Tue, Feb 07, 2012 @ 09:27 AM
When one decides to get married, one quickly realizes all your very best friends have their ideas of what your wedding should be. So staying true to your dreams is hard.
During last year's Photography Extravaganza, one Blue Ridge Bride stood out for her originality and staying true to her dream for a theme wedding capturing the movie and music years of the mid 20th century. A singer herself, she loves jazz and blues and the Hollywood 40's cinema. With a limited budget, she wowed us with her ability to create a wedding that should have costed much more. It was creativity that made her budget work.
Being true to her family, the ceremony occurred in a very traditional church environment. In her words, "I was good at bartering." She also was good at losing 104 pounds! Congratulations Jessica.
From walking out the church door into a waiting vintage car, to walking on Red Carpet in to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema for the reception, Jessica began to shape her wedding dream. The screen was perfect with The Three Stooges on silence in the background. Jessica did tons of research to be true to her wedding theme. She also followed the DIY trend making her own centerpieces.
One thing Jessica learned early was to be true to herself and not compromise. Early in the wedding, she realized she had bought the wrong dress. "I had to just realize I was going to lose the money on the dress which made my budget even tighter. So good bye to a florist and hello silk flowers. Martini Glasses with candles became great centerpieces."
"I found that if I gave my vendors "free will" within the restrictions of my theme, not only did they meet my price range but their ideas were fabulous. The silk flowers I used for my bouquets allowed me to design early which gave me more freedom on the day of my wedding. I loved my red dress as much as my white dress. It was a surprise to realize I could rent Zoot suits and added the red checked Converse shoes. Adding a cane and a tommy gun, my fiance loved the idea. One of my bridesmaids agree to be a Cigarette Girl and another friend was the News Paparazzi dressing the part. Dad loved playing Humphrey Bogart."
Jessica said she kept things local because I felt that the wedding professionals locally would work with me. For more pictures, see more. (published tonight)
What about your wedding dreams? Are you going to do a themed wedding? It is a lot of work but also a lot of FUN! Tell us what you are planning to make your wedding 'all yours'!
Posted by Nancy Craun on Sun, Jan 15, 2012 @ 08:54 AM
Probably no region offers more diversity to brides and grooms than the Blue Ridge Shenandoah Valley. From the most unique cavern settings to the conventional beautiful ballroom, Blue Ridge Brides are not limited in their choices of wedding ceremony and reception venues.
In our series on 
, we will like to introduce you to Millwood Station Special Event Center. Located just off of Interstate 81 in Winchester, Virginia, Millwood Station opened in 2004 as a new alternative from the traditional fire hall event reception space. 
Although situated in a commercial corridor, Millwood Station is certainly not commercial. It is located at the top of a hill with ample parking for your guests. A very easy location to find. Walking thru the doors, one is surprised to see a reception area with a fireplace and couches - again, not your typical fire hall lobby. Through double doors, one sees a beautiful chandelier ballroom with large dance floor. There is also a lovely patio which may be used year round with wonderful patio heaters for the cool nights.
George Semeples of Jimmy's Catering has been the catering management company for Millwood since it opened. George's background includes working for the Red Fox Inn, Purcellville Inn, and the owner of the Old Post Office Restaurant. With over twenty five plus years of culinary and hotel management experience, George and his event coordinator, Lisa Windle, offer the brides who book Millwood a stress free wedding day experience. "For an event to be successful and the food to be wonderful, there has to be a strong back house and front house team. Lisa and I work great together ensuring that the event is everything the client wants it to be."
From weddings to casino nights to corporate gala events, the Winchester community is grateful for this convenient spacious event center.
Millwood Station Special Event Center can easily do a weddng sit down dinner for 200 with over 5200 square feet of ballroom space. "We are not inexpensive but we are not over top," saids George Semeples. Definitely Millwood is one of the best values in the Winchester Shenandoah Valley area. Contact Lisa today!
Blue Ridge Bridal Show is proud to host the Winter Bridal Marketplace Show at Millwood this February 26, 2012. Join us for a fun day as we celebrate your wedding in the Blue Ridge Shenandoah Valley.
Posted by Nancy Craun on Thu, Dec 29, 2011 @ 08:37 PM
Part Two of our new series called "Let Me Introduce You" highlights a familiar tourist attraction between Winchester and Middleburg, Virginia on Route 50. Open since 2001 for Ceremonies ONLY, the State Arboretum at Blandy Experimental Farm will open as a Reception Site in the Spring of 2012.
"One has to come to Blandy to understand the aura of the location", says Koy Mislowsky, Events and Volunteer Coordinator for the State Arboretum. "The State Arboretum is a special place "Serene and Beautiful in a truly natural setting, many visitors describe the acres of gardens as 'The Jewel of the Shenandoah Valley'" The Margaret Byrd Stimpson Amphitheater is a perfect setting for ceremonies with the receptions occurring on the courtyard under a tent.
"Our mission is "education and the environment," says Koy. "Obviously, we are a very 'green' venue. Brides and Grooms who select this site will want nature to be a very important part of their wedding. There are no traffic sounds at Blandy.
The perfect wedding for this site is a small wedding particularly one desiring a great deal of privacy and who does not mind the cost of a tent. The Bride and Groom must also understand they are planning a wedding at the mercy of mother nature. For Pricing, call Koy at 540-837-1758 x 246.
Fact Sheet -
Uniqueness -
Do you want to be one with mother nature? How are you picking the wedding venue of your dreams?
Posted by Nancy Craun on Mon, Dec 19, 2011 @ 08:08 AM
Ok - you have gotten engaged and now one of your first big decisions is where should you get married and celebrate that day! We are starting a new series called "Let Me Introduce You" which will help the Blue Ridge Brides know what is 'new, hot, must have' this 2012 Wedding Season.
One of our first hot topics will be Wedding Venues in the Blue Ridge Shenandoah Valley. The first site we would like to highlight is Lord Fairfax Community College's Event Center.
What do higher education and weddings have in common? Well, for those lucky enough to look to the beautiful Shenandoah Valley for their nuptials.plenty.
Founded in 1970, Lord Fairfax Community College is a comprehensive, multi-campus public institution of higher education --- serving the Northern Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. After 40 years, the College is offering space rental for weddings and other special events.
The College's newest building, the Corron Community Development Center on LFCC's Middletown Campus, provides a beautiful and cost effective location for a wedding reception, business conference or other special event. The site is exceptionally convenient, located on Route 11 and close to where I-81 intersects with Route 66. Ample parking surrounds the event site, which includes both interior and exterior venues. Interior locations and facilities are also handicapped-accessible.
The largest space in the CCDC is the Carl and Emily Thompson Conference Center. The center boasts over 4800 square feet that can be divided into three rooms, or left as one for larger events. The center is highly versatile and features 16 foot ceilings, a glass wall overlooking the plaza, and the latest technology (including audio and video set up) to make your event memorable. There is a full , commerical warming kitchen in the center, and a dais stage. The center can accommodate 240 at round tables or 400 theatre style. Other space available includes the McCoy theatre, which seats 220 and various meeting and conference rooms.
In addition, the 120 acre campus has multiple outdoor locations for unique portraits. Views of the Blue Ridge, Massanutten and Allegheny Mountains provide beautiful backgrounds, along with trees, hill, lush lawns, and a creek. The campus also features gazebos, an athletic field, and open spaces that can be utilized during events.
Lord Fairfax is a conveniently located, beautiful and inexpensive venue with the newest technology. Check out pricing.
Fact Sheet
- in business over 40 plus years
- serving 8 localities in the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont Regions including the counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester.
Uniqueness
Posted by Nancy Craun on Wed, Dec 07, 2011 @ 09:24 PM
I bet you did not know that when you became a bride, you might also have the opportunity to be introduced to new business adventures. As part of the 
series, we would like to introduce you to 
Tiffany is one of our multi show exhibitors. She has been with us for the past three years. Many brides are surprised to learn that one of the pluses in being a bride is finding out new business adventures they might want to pursue after their weddings.
Originally, Tiffany was invited to a party and went to just have fun! Not only has she now paid off her 70,000 dollars of student loans but she has moved from a lifestyle of living paycheck to paycheck. Slumber Parties has given her the opportunity to add to her base income with a financial resource that would allow her to do the pluses in life - like traveling, adding on an addition to her house, and other not necessary but so much fun to do if the money was there.
She discovered that with the franchise - "Slumber Parties", she could increase her income, meet new people, and reward herself with trips. Her parties are 100% females. They normally are not bachelorette parties - just an evening of relaxing "Fun Girls Night Out!"
Slumber Parties is a perfect avenue for both you and your partner offering happy ideas thru out the longetivity of your marriage. What is wonderful about being part of Slumber Parties is that you are not part of a "Pyramid" organization. You get paid the night of the party. 95% of my team has come from my parties and 5% from Corporate Leads.
The parties are just fun - with no pressure for anyone to have to buy anything. So if you are short on cash, want to look at another income to your household, give Tiffany a call at 703-407-3461. She is a real believer in "personal phone conversations where you can get the real character of the person you are talking to. It is a shame so many people have forgotten to use it."
Posted by Nancy Craun on Wed, Nov 30, 2011 @ 02:59 PM
The Blue Ridge Shenandoah Valley is many things to many people. Depending on your hobbies and interests, you can find a great trail for hiking and birding, a river for water rafting, a mountain rock to sit and contemplate the past, present, or the future or just the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. At the same time, one can walk down the sidewalk of our small towns and villages with the excitement of going into a unique coffee shop or gallery. One can also lay on the grass at a country fair or festival enjoying cotton candy or a corn dog or be at a steeplechase hunt watching the speed and beauty of a steeplechase race.
As one of our first events, the owner of Go Blue Ridge Travel, Nancy Craun decided to highlight what was really "The Best in the Blue Ridge". It is amazing how one can live in an area but not really know the area. Having been born and raised in Virginia, I am ashamed to say I have never been to Monticello or Mt Vernon, but I have been to The Great Wall in China, the grasslands of Mongolia, glaciers of Alaska, the calmness of a sunset on the Baltic Sea, and the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea. As I drive down some of the roads here in the Blue Ridge Shenandoah Valley, I realize I have much to learn about this area I call home, a region I was born, raise, and now earn my living.
Go Blue Ridge Travel has asked its fans and friends to give us their opinion of The Best of the Best in the Blue Ridge.
Taking a look first at one of the fastest growing industries in our region, Go Blue Ridge Travel's first week's choice was our Vineyards. Although concentrated heavily in Loudoun County, vineyards are everywhere in our region. It is difficult to drive down a country road or Interstate 81 and 66 and not see road signs for this vineyard and that. We congratulate Breaux Vineyards for winning first place as "The Best Vineyard" in the Blue Ridge.
Next we moved to another tourism draw, the Best Water Sports in the Blue Ridge. I know I have enjoyed the lazy pleasure of floating in a tube down the lazy Potomac or Shenandoah River on a hot sunny day feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin and the coolness of the water. What surprised me was to learn that Front Royal has put a claim on being the "Canoe Capital of the World" Since I live in Jefferson County with the Potomac River separating us from the state of Maryland is a beacon to the city dwellers who come here every weekend for the fun of river rafting and tubing.
However, first place for the Best Watersports went to Massanutten Resort - a real surprise here in the Blue Ridge Shenandoah Valley. 
We are all acquainted with timeshares, but not in our back yard, particularly the largest growing timeshare in the United States and to my surprise - 70% employee owned. Massanutten's Waterpark, Arcade, Mini Golf and other kids activities came in first place for both Best Waterpark and Best Activities for Kids. Other popular Kids Activities sites included Old McDonald's Farm, White Oak Lavendar Farm, and Ridgefield's Farm are all great examples of how our farmers have become part of the tourist industry - with what is called agri-tourism. My hat is off to these farms, since I was spent my summers on my grandparents farm in Rockingham County and would not trade that experience for anything in the world.
If you have not voted, then our last week is our most exciting --- "Best Kept Secret". Do you have a restaurant, or a bed and breakfast or a hiking trail or a private romantic spot you would like to share? Win an overnight stay at The George Washington Hotel or Historic Rosemont Manor 1811. We will open up the voting by letting you simply write on the wall of Go BRT.com Add a picture so we can see why this is so special to you. Can hardly wait to see what you post! I will let you know some other Best of the Best in Part Two - Naming the Best of the Blue Ridge Shenandoah Valley.
Posted by Nancy Craun on Sat, Oct 22, 2011 @ 10:51 AM
Take a drive out to the country - Relax – Have a Glass of Wine, attend festivals, stay in a cabin, and enjoy the beauty of the northern Blue Ridge Shenandoah Valley in all seasons. If you are a tourist, a bride, or live in the Blue Ridge, welcome to Go Blue Ridge Travel is your personal itinerary planning guide for an afternoon, a weekend or a week. Like us and begin to enjoy the Blue Ridge Region!
CURRENT EVENTS - 
Posted by Nancy Craun on Sun, Oct 16, 2011 @ 08:39 AM
Join Go Blue Ridge Travel and VOTE on the Best of the Blue Ridge Photography Naming Contest beginning October 17th.
Voting starts each week on Monday and ends on Sunday night. The photo with the most votes wins and winners will be chosen by raffle from this winner’s choice. Winners are announced on Monday and the next week is also posted. There will be five winners each week as well as 5 Grand Prize Winners.
WEEK ONE - OCT 17th WEEK TWO - OCT 24th WEEK THREE - OCT 31st
WEEK FOUR- Nov 7th WEEK FIVE - Nov 14th WEEK SIX - NOV 21ST
WEEK SEVEN - NOV 28TH WEEK EIGHT - DEC 5TH WEEK NINE - DEC 12TH
WEEK TEN - DEC 19TH
This contest runs for ten weeks with the grand finalist winners chosen on the tenth week. The goal of the contest is to brand the northern Blue Ridge Shenandoah Valley as a great place to visit, shop, dine and play or hold your corporate event or have your romantic wedding.
Be a winner - 
Be a winner - 
Week One - October 17th - 24thbegins with two sets of Tasting Tickets from Breaux Vineyard and Wolf Gap Vineyard.
Thank you to the following sponsors for Weekly Prizes -
is a fine art and fine craft gallery in the beautiful Piedmont Virginia area. Featuring hand-made items from artisans in the U.S. including paintings, pottery, jewelry, glass work, fiber arts and more. A Primary Sponsor prizes will vary each week - Week One's choice is 'Two sets.jpg)
of boxed note cards by the Piedmont's premier landscape artist, Tom Neel.' One box includes 3 of each of 4 images of the Piedmont. The second box includes 10 images of a most popular painting of “Flower Cart”. Made in USA. (Value $33.00 )
,the former home of U.S. Senator and Virginia Governor Harry F. Byrd, Sr., was once a respite for U.S. Presidents and the Washington D.C. elite. After 13 years of careful restoration, Rosemont Manor and its park-like 60 acre grounds are now open to the public for overnight accommodations, afternoon teas, weddings and other special events. 
Located just 45 minutes outside of the beltway in the quiet haven of Berryville, VA, Rosemont is the perfect place to enjoy the best that the Blue Ridge has to offer. Their weekly prize is Free Afternoon Tea at Rosemont (value $44).
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is located in Downtown Winchester, Virginia. A Historic Wyndham Grand Hotel, the George Washington is a wedding-vacation destination in the Shenandoah Valley. Their weekly prize is a Gift Certificate to the Dancing Goat Restaurant in the hotel. Once you have enjoyed dinner, then come upstairs to the Half Note Lounge for after dinner drinks and great music. (value $25)
specializes in the new Calendar Girl Pre-Parties ideas. 
Weekly she is rotating a $25 Gift Certificate and a Frame A Name Gift.
Other Prizes include -
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is a premiere vacation timeshare outside of Harrisonburg, Virginia. From golfing, to skiing, to a huge inside Waterpark, Massanutten offers something for all ages including great hiking paths and kayaking and canoeing on the Shenandoah River. The are offering an adult ticket covering the entrance fee to your choice of skiing, golfing, or their indoor Water Parks. (Value $66.00)
offering one of the Grand Prizes - We will help bring your pictures to life with the creation of a unique, one of a kind slideshow. Be it a wedding, class reunion, Sweet 16, birthday party or corporate event, we will take your pictures and, using music as a backdrop, give everyone in attendance a trip down memory lane. You will get the slide show as both a digital file and a DVD, which can be played through any DVD player. (Value $125.00)
is another great Pre-Party idea. 
Sponsoring the Best Nightlife Week, you will receive a Massage Mitten and Creamy Massage Oil. ($25 value).
This is just a Preliminary List of prizes being awarded each week of the contest. More prizes will be posted with the Grand Finale Prizes being posted as the Best of the Blue Ridge contest moves into the upcoming weeks. Give us your comments on What is the Best of the Blue Ridge?