Once you’ve said “yes,” wedding day prep can become a bit of a whirlwind. All of a sudden you’re faced with a million small decisions – it’s not just picking the dress, it’s picking what kind of table cloths will be used, what time the ceremony will be, organizing a seating chart, and hiring a whole team to help you pull off your special day.  

To help you enjoy the build-up to your special day, we’ve pulled together four must-use wedding resources that can help you make it all happen… with minimal stress.

WeddingWire

WeddingWire is here to take the stress out of planning your big day – they have tools available for picking your wedding date, planning your seating chart, determining your budget, and managing vendors. 

They also have a huge database that lets you search vendors by location. You can browse for everything you need, including venues, photographers, officiants, bands, jewelers, wedding planners, and more. 

Need inspiration? Pinterest is not the only place -- you can get all the inspiration you need on Wedding Wire. You can browse dress styles, check out the user forum, or take advantage of their expansive blog. 

Website: www.weddingwire.com

The Knot

A popular alternative to WeddingWire, The Knot is another one-stop wedding planning shop. On one easy-to-use online hub, you can manage almost all your wedding needs including your:

• Registry

• Guest list

• Budget

• Wedding day timeline

• Vendors

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed, The Knot even has a free quiz to help you define your wedding day style. After you take the quiz they’ll help guide you to the right vendors to make your vision a reality. 

Website: www.theknot.com

TriadWeddings

Looking to get more local? TriadWeddings is a premier wedding resource and planning guide in Greensboro. Browse local wedding resources or download their free local wedding guide. 

One of our favorite parts is The Real Weddings section, where you can browse photos of other area couple’s weddings. 

Website: www.triadweddings.com

Triad Bridal Association

Sometimes deciding which vendor to opt for can feel like a real stab in the dark. However, the Triad Bridal Association takes the guesswork out of picking a vendor. 

When you hire a Triad Bridal Association member, you will be working with one of the area’s top wedding professionals. Someone with plenty of experience, who is not learning on your wedding. All of the Members adhere to a Code of Ethics, and you’ll breathe easy knowing that you (and your wedding) are in good hands.

Revolution Mill Events and Pepper Moon Catering are proud members of the Triad Bridal Association!

They’ve also got a section dedicated to local wedding shows where you can even snag a discount on a future show!

Website: www.triadbridal.com

Other Resources

• Evernote: If you’re looking to stay organized, this app (available on desktop and mobile) will keep everything on track. You can make multiple notes/notebooks, add pictures, or set reminders for yourself.

• Google Docs: Check out all the tools available with your Google account! You can use Google Drive to store photos, Google Sheets to make spreadsheets of vendors, and even Google Forms to gather RSVPs. All of your files will be easily shareable and available on your mobile and desktop.
  

Our Resources

If you’ve narrowed down your venue to The Colonnade, we provide a free wedding guide to walk you through everything you need to know about our venue. You can get an idea of a typical timeline, find answers to frequently asked questions, and see what’s included with your rental. 

If you’re ready to start planning your reception food and drink, you can view Pepper Moon’s Catering menu HERE. 

Matt Farver and Susie Lewis tied the knot on May 12, 2018. It was an unexpectedly warm day, but that didn’t stop everything from going flawlessly! 

Matt says he was attracted to Susie from day one, and it only took a handful of dates for him to be sure that she was the one. He proposed on the family boat at Smith Mountain Lake on Labor Day 2017. He had champagne and a selfie stick hidden on the boat for the post-proposal festivities.

The couple enjoyed an outdoor ceremony at The Colonnade, followed by a buffet dinner and dancing. 

“Most everything was turn-key. Jaime was very easy to work with and very responsive to my emails along the way, which meant a lot.”

– Matt Farver, Groom

The Planning Process

Matt and Susie started planning shortly after their engagement. Matt attended another wedding at Revolution Mill and knew they wanted to consider it as an option for their big day. 

Their advice to other couples? “Just know something isn't going to go as planned. Be ready to roll with it once the big day gets here, and don't sweat the small stuff.” 

The couple highlighted both Amanda Ward, their wedding planner, and Scott Adams, their florist, as standout vendors who went above and beyond their expectations. 

Photographer: Ashley Latham Photo
Florist: Bob Adams Florist
Cake: Easy Peasy

Coordinator: A Touch of Southern
Ceremony music: Blue Sand Entertainment
Music: Simpsounds

Favorite Moment

The newlywed's favorite moment turned out to be their first dance! They did a customized routine to Stand By Me. After the first dance, they tore up the dance floor with their five bridesmaids and eight groomsmen. 

Décor

Matt and Susie opted for a color scheme of peach and ice blue. They based the palette off the groom’s favorite colors, orange and blue, but went with soft shades that were more fitting for a spring wedding.  
 

The couple opted for traditional white tablecloths, gold rimmed white china, and an assortment of floral centerpieces. 

Food and drink

The couple enjoyed a cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres that included mini sundried tomato biscuits stuffed with pimento cheese, mushroom caps, and jumbo shrimp wrapped with bacon.

The dinner buffet featured a caprese salad; prosciutto, basil, parmesan, and feta stuffed chicken; grilled vegetables; and the couple’s favorite dish: beef tenderloin medallions.

Venue

There were many things about The Colonnade that appealed to Susie and Matt, but most of all the were drawn to the courtyard. They loved the idea of being able to have their ceremony and reception in the same venue, and were drawn to the layout of The Colonnade’s interior. After seeing several square rooms, the unique shape of The Colonnade stood out to them as a perfect fit. 

Once you have your guest list, it’s time to figure out how and where to seat everyone. First, you’ll want to figure out what types of tables you’ll be using. 

Traditionally, round tables are a popular option. We also love the trend of mixing table shapes like rounds, squares and rectangles.  Between your ideas and our experience in designing within our event spaces, we’ll come up with the perfect layout to fit your vision. 

Here’s how many people we can fit at each table:

TO ASSIGN SEATS OR TABLES? 

We recommend for you to assign a place for guests to sit – either a table or specific chair. When guests first arrive, they are looking for direction. Minimizing confusion on where to sit creates a smoother event and welcoming environment for your guests. 

Guests can be assigned a specific table, where they will choose a seat, or they can be assigned a specific chair. Either approach will work well, you can decide what’s right for you.

SEATING CHART

Once your guest list and layout is finalized, it’s time to work on your seating  chart.  Unfortunately, this task must wait until close to the wedding after all the RSVPs have come in. 

We suggest working through this task with your partner and other decision makers, so you can talk through the potential issues of where to place each guest.

It's helpful to start by grouping people that already know each other - think tables of families, coworkers, and college friends. However, mixing in a few people that don’t know each other yet will keep things fun and get everyone making new friends. 

A few quick tips: 

• Group people who don’t know each other with those who are similar ages or have shared interests
• Try to balance male and female guests at each table
• Make sure not to put ex-partners together or people who you know don’t like each other
• Instead of having a leftover or “single” table, mix in guests who fit this category at the other tables
• Try to place elderly guests where they’ll have easy access to the restroom and away from the music speakers
   

SEATING CHARTS, PLACE CARDS, AND MORE

Once you’ve got your seating chart set up, you’ll want to make sure your guests know where they’ll be seated. If you have assigned guests to specific seats, you will need to create a seating chart, table numbers, and place cards. If you’ve assigned tables you can skip the place cards. 

We suggest a poster sized chart you can display near the entrance to the seating area. You can organize your seating chart by either alphabetical guest name or table. Depending on the size of your party, listing alphabetically makes it easier for people to find their names. 

You’ll want to make sure table numbers are easy to read and are prominently displayed on the table, but not so large they keep guests from being able to see each other across the table. 

LOOKING FOR SOME INSPIRATION? 

Check out this gallery of table set ups for ideas!

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The following article was written by Jaime Gilliam, Venue & Catering Manager for Revolution Mill Events, and was originally published in Triad Weddings in August 2018.

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Your wedding dinner is a celebration of the first meal shared as newlyweds and an expression of appreciation for your guests. Because of it’s significance and the variety of catering options available, you may find it challenging to decide what to serve for your reception.

Instead of worrying about the particular dishes to be served, begin with thinking about the style of meal you want. This decision will impact the structure of the reception and likely the food you choose, so it’s a great place to start. 

Let’s take a closer look at three key serving styles for wedding reception food: plated, buffet or hors d’oeuvres stations. 

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PLATED

TIP: Ask guests to initial their entrée selection on the RSVP card so you’ll know which entrée to indicate on their place card.

Guests are seated then served all courses by the catering staff. It’s common to offer salad, entrée and dessert (wedding cake or other) courses, but for more formal occasions you could consider additional courses along with wine pairing.

Plated meals are a good option for both intimate and formal gatherings. To provide more variety, you can offer several entrée options on your RSVP card or a dual entrée plate. 

A variation on the plated meal is family style, where platters of food are brought to the table and passed around by the guests. 

Considerations:

• Higher level of guest service
• Every guest will be able to eat at about the same time
• Reduced chance of spilled plates
• Guests can focus on conversations 
• Control over portion size so the food cost may be lower
• Some guests may feel underfed or not like the limited choices
• Tracking guest menu selections is necessary if offering multiple entrée options
• Takes longer for dinner service
• Generally the most expensive option due to the number of staff required for efficient service

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BUFFET

TIP: Talk to your caterer about their preferred plan for dismissing tables to help keep a smooth guest flow. They will work with your coordinator or DJ to efficiently move guests and prevent a long line.

A buffet is set in one central area and will display your food selections for guests to self-serve. There are many variations from casual BBQ to semi-formal. In the Triad, we have seen buffets as the traditional preference over the years.  

Considerations:

• Guests may select what they want to eat
• More menu item choices
• Guests can mingle in line
• No need for RSVP meal cards
• The most practical and cost effective way to serve a large crowd
• Fewer servers needed so you will save on staff costs
• No control over portions, however you could request buffet servers
• Guests must wait in line for their dinner
• Less elegant than plated table service
• Depending on guest count, some guests may finish eating before others have gone through the line
• Increased chance of spilled plates
• The food cost may be higher because a portion of each item will be provided for every guest

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HORS D’OEUVRES STATIONS

TIP: When selecting your stations, make sure your menu contains at least one protein, starch and vegetable to comprise a typical meal. Choose heartier items to fulfill guests during the dinner hour.

This style of service provides small plates of a variety of hors d’oeuvres spread out into multiple stations. Your guests will remember the fun interactive displays (think -  mashed potato bar, salad station or mac and cheese bar) and chefs cooking on site (think -  gourmet grilled cheese with soup shooters, carving station, fired ahi tuna or pulled pork tacos). 

Considerations:

• Trendy
• Exciting and entertaining for guests
• Promotes guest interaction and movement
• Can offer a large variety of menu items and flavors
• Don’t need to provide seating for all guests since this is cocktail party style
• With multiple stations, there will be less time waiting in line
• The cocktail party style may be too informal for some
• Depending on menu selections, it may not be as filling as dinner
• Multiple stations will take up more space than 1 buffet
• More expensive than a dinner buffet and may require more staff (i.e. station chefs)

If you are still struggling to figure out which service style would be best for your wedding reception, reflect on your vision for the big day. Your catering selections are the perfect place to express your unique personality. Consider the best option for your number of guests, those in attendance and your budget.  It’s an honor to create a memorable reception where you get to share a meal with all the people in your life that matter most!

Kendelle Cooper and Ryan Federico tied the knot on March 31, 2018. The couple opted for an indoor ceremony with a start time of 5pm. A soft ivory backdrop with an accent of burgundy framed the downstairs ceremony location. 

After the nuptials, the guests enjoyed a cocktail hour and buffet style dinner.

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"Jaime-

I wanted to take a brief moment to give you our greatest thanks and appreciation.  From day 1 of meeting with you, We were confident and comfortable.  You have been an absolute delight to work with.  Both you and Randy were inviting, accommodating, flexible, patient....I could go on and on with the level of our satisfaction in working with you.  There was not one single thing that comes to mind that we were not pleased with.  Kendelle and Ryan had the wedding of their dreams, our guests thought everything was amazing and beautiful, compliments were innumerable, and a great deal of that accomplishment belongs to you and your staff.   You are at the top of our recommendation list!

  

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all that you have done for us and with us to make our children's wedding experience the most memorable time of their lives.  

 

My Deep appreciation-

Tiffanee Grindle, Mother of the Bride"

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The Planning Process

Floral Arrangements & Decor: Sophisticated Florals by Stephanie
Catering: Pepper Moon Catering
Cake: Sweet Josephine’s

DJ & Entertainment Services: Mr. DJ Gary Hunt
Photographer: Danielle DeFayette Photography
Hair: Avanti Salon and Spa

Décor

Ryan and Kendelle chose a warm color scheme of burgundy, blush, champagne, and forest green. We worked together to design a custom reception layout with a long head table and mixed table shapes (rounds + squares), which added visual interest to the room setup.

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Food and drink

Ryan and Kendelle kicked off their cocktail hour with a cubed cheese and fresh fruit display. For dinner, they served a buffet of tossed garden salad, parmesan herb crusted chicken and chef-carved roast beef with au jus and horseradish cream sauce. Fresh green beans and smashed potatoes were served up on the side. 

The couple highlighted their Italian heritage with a selection of Italian petite pastries from Pepper Moon Catering. 

We love sharing photos of your ceremony or event! When you share on social be sure to tag #RevMillEvents or @RevMillEvents so we can share your pictures! 

Looking for wedding color scheme inspiration? Some colors never go out of style! 

To help you get inspired, we’ve pulled together four of our favorite color schemes – one for every season. Each time of year has it’s own feel that you’ll be able to incorporate into your signature cocktail, food, floral arrangements, and décor.  

When it comes to picking season appropriate colors, think about your venue and what will work in the space. Every year different colors are trending, but no matter what time of year you decide to get married, don’t be afraid to incorporate your favorite colors. 

Spring Inspiration

Spring is the perfect time for soft colors and muted tones. With flowers blooming, our courtyard looks better than ever – making it the perfect time to incorporate extra greenery and soft pinks. 

This scheme of soft pink, linen, and moss is one of our all-time favorites: 

Photo Credit: April Larson Photo

 

Summer Inspiration

Summer is the ideal time to get bold and adventurous! Fruity cocktails, sunflowers, and bright pops of color are all on the table for your summer soiree. 

Why pick one shade of pink when you can pick them all? We love this combination of blush, strawberry pink, coral, and rose:

Photo Credit: The NIXONS Photography

 

Fall Inspiration 

No need to make your bridesmaids wear orange -- think outside traditional autumn colors for your fall color scheme. Fall is the perfect time for warm lighting, cozy drinks and seasonal centerpieces with pinecones and leaves. And hey, we won’t judge if you want to incorporate a pumpkin spice cocktail!

Spicy and imperial, this color scheme combines rich eggplant and garnet for a lush feel:

Photo Credit: Amanda Sutton Photo 

 

Winter Inspiration

Winter is a great time for soft, dusty colors or deep rich tones. Candles, rustic wood, and a signature cocktail can help create a cozy feel for your big day. 

For an unexpected winter scheme, we love this dusty lilac, sage and rich purple scheme. The succulents and berries are an ideal way to keep your bouquet season appropriate: 

Photo Credit: The NIXONS Photography

Still feeling stumped? Play with one of these color scheme generators to help you come up with the perfect look: 

• Magnet Street Color Boutique
• Wedding Wire Palette Generator
• Coolors.co Color Scheme Generator

Curious how The Colonnade might work for your ceremony and reception? Our space is extremely flexible and we’re always happy to work together to customize the space, but there’s a few tried and true setups we’ve found work well for weddings of all sizes. 

Part of our expertise is knowing what will and won’t work for our space. We host well over 100 events a year, so we can help ensure that your creative ideas turn out to be a success! 

We’ve put together 3 graphics to help you visualize where your ceremony, dance floor, food, gifts, and cake can go in our space. To start, we suggest picking a dance floor location and building the rest of your layout from there.  
 

Step 1: Pick your dance floor

We have 3 popular options for dance floor placement. Tables can be placed around the dance floor in Option 1, allowing all your guests to watch as your family busts a move. 

Some couples enjoy how the dance floor is separate from the dining tables in Option 2, which is conducive to conversation for the non-dancers.

Of these three options, Option 3 allows for the most seating capacity, making room for tables across the main level to seat up to 200.

Keep in mind – we don’t lay down a separate dance floor, because our historic hardwoods work great as-is! Once you pick your dance floor spot, we’ll determine where the DJ and band setup should go. 
 

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Option 3

Step 2: Ceremony Location 

Before we nail down the rest of your reception details, we’ll want to figure out where your vows will take place. 

A courtyard ceremony is a popular option – depending on the season – and can seat up to 180 guests. 

Option 2 provides a wonderful decorating opportunity for a customized floral arch or drapery backdrop. This option can seat up to 130.

Option 3 offers great flexibility -- 72 guests can be seated on the lower level while additional guests can stand around the railing, giving them a great view of the ceremony. This setup highlights the textured brick and expansive windows for stellar photos. 

Depending on guest count, we can use Option 2 or 3 for an inclement weather plan.
 

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Option 3

Step 3: Everything else

Now that you have the two big decisions locked in, its time to determine the flow of guests and the placement of your food, gifts, and cake. 

While some folks opt for guests to arrive through the courtyard, most people utilize The Colonnade’s main entrance for guest arrival. Guests can set presents down on Gift Table Option 1 or 2 (as pictured below) as they arrive. You can also place a guest book table in the entryway or near the coat closet for easy access. 

Our main buffet area gives Pepper Moon Catering staff easy access to the kitchen and allows for guests to freely flow on both sides of the table, cutting down on serving time. Additional interactive food stations could be placed around the room to encrouage guests to mingle. 

Your cake can be highlighted in various locations. 
 

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No matter what your vision, we belive we can make The Colonnade work for your wedding! You bring the ideas and we’ll bring our knowledge of past events. Together, we’ll create the perfect ceremony and reception for you and your guests.  

It’s a privilege to be a part of the start of so many marriages, but in May we had the unique honor of helping celebrate 50 years of marriage.

Hector and Brenda McEachern met in college – they were best friends who enjoyed the same things and spending time together. Being college students, they didn’t have a formal ceremony when they got married. But that hasn’t negatively impacted their relationship -- if you ask them, they’ll tell you, “it’s not about the wedding, it’s about the marriage. While weddings are nice and show an outward display of love to others, when everyone goes home, it’s the two of you. Weddings are nice, but the marriage is key.”

After 50 years together, they decided to have the celebration of their love that they never had in college. 

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The planning process

Hector and Brenda’s 50th celebration was their second event with us, and we couldn’t wait to help make their vision come to life. We worked with them and Events by Nishaka for 11 months before their big event to plan all the details.

After a seated dinner, they had a vow renewal and then enjoyed toasts from family and friends. It was evening full of romance, elegance, and glam. 

Brenda says, “Jaime were very organized and cordial. She responded quickly and accommodated our every request big and small. The day of the event, the serving staff was pleasant as well as the event manager. All our needs were met.” 

Video: Katrena Wise Artography
Florist: Blossom Artistry
Cake:  Triton Catering & Dessert

Planner & Coordinator: Events by Nishaka
Music: DJ Nick Nyce
Photographer: Howard Gaither Photography
Stationary: UR Invited

Décor

Hector and Brenda went with a burgundy and gold color scheme, which even carried to Brenda’s gown. Tasteful sparkle glittered throughout the room and the couple sat on white and gold throne chairs. 

The theme of “50 Years of Love” was woven throughout the evening. 

Photos of the couple throughout their 50 years were stationed around the room. 
 

Favorite Moment

The couple enjoyed the entire day, saying “It was a culmination of our family and friends coming together to celebrate our union.  We were able to show what love, communication, encouragement and faithfulness looks like in black and white.  It spanned generations.  It was a delight and we are so grateful that our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were able to experience what 50 years of a commitment looks like, in a tangible way.”
 

Food and Drink

Before dinner, several appetizers circulated the room including a favorite of sundried tomato biscuits stuffed with homemade pimento cheese.

Guests highlighted the grilled vegetables as a favorite of the buffet dinner. The couple also received several compliments on the two meats -- bourbon and pecan coated chicken breast with apricot sauce and marinated flank steak with pommery mustard sauce.  

For dessert, a spread of vanilla cupcakes surrounded a burgundy and gold hat cake. 
 

Venue

With a guest list of 250, this couple utilized every part of The Colonnade. The downstairs area provided plenty of space for dancing while the upstairs was set up for the reception. 

50 years together

After 50 years together, this couple is obviously onto something special! When asked what advice they would give to their grandchildren about finding a mate, they replied: 

Brenda: “To pray and ask God to send someone that believes in them, understands them and encourages them.” 
Hector: “Seek guidance from God, be unselfish, become friends first and always be willing to give as much or more than you get.”  

To see even more of their special day, check out this video by Katrena Wise Artography:

The following article was written by Jaime Gilliam, Venue & Catering Manager for Revolution Mill Events, and was originally published in Triad Weddings in January 2018.

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Selecting your wedding venue is one of the first major decisions you’ll make as an engaged couple. Your venue sets the tone for the rest of your plans and will likely comprise much of your wedding budget.  Consider the following tips to help you confidently make your decision and reduce planning stress! 

KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

Know your approximate guest count, wedding date options and approximate budget before starting the search. 

ENVISION YOUR DAY

Your venue lays the foundation of telling your unique love story on your wedding day. Chat with your fiancé and other decision makers about the style and aesthetic you have in mind. Are there any essential features the space must have? 

RESEARCH AND TOUR

Use online resources and Triad Weddings to find local wedding venues. You should be able to narrow down options by the framework you set in the previous tips.  Each venue has its own character and charm, and a site visit will help you determine if it is the right fit for you. Save time and find out as much as you can about a venue before you go visit. Contact your top picks in advance to set up a personal tour. Document the details by taking notes and snapping photos to help you make comparisons.

ASK QUESTIONS

Gather as much information as possible! 

• How long is the venue rental?
• What amenities are included, such as tables, chairs and linens? 
• Are outside vendors permitted?
• Are there any décor or grand exit restrictions? 
• Are there enough parking spaces and restrooms to accommodate the guest count? 
• What is the rain plan?
• Does the venue itself photograph well and provide pretty portrait spots? 
• What will the overall guest experience be like?

 

CONSIDER CATERING

Since catering goes hand in hand with your venue, it’s important to consider options during the early planning stages. There are several benefits to choosing a venue with an exclusive caterer. The venue and catering team will work together seamlessly. You’ll typically have one point of contact to coordinate the venue, catering and rental details which makes things easier for you. However, if there is a certain caterer you’d like to work with or you have a specific vision in mind (like food trucks), you’ll want to look for a venue that allows outside vendors. 

COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES

The frustrating thing about the wedding venue search is that you’re usually comparing apples to oranges. All venues include distinctive services and packages, so as you research, try to organize the information in a way that’s easy for you to understand and compare. 

TRUST YOUR INSTINCT

As true with most decisions, if something feels right (or on the other hand, doesn't feel quite right) you should trust your instinct! Look at the big picture - while you may not like every single thing about the venue, if the pros outweigh the cons it’s likely a good fit for you.  Make sure you feel comfortable with the staff, as they are going to be the ones to ensure your day runs smoothly. Be sure to check out online reviews!  

BOOK IT

Request a contract and take the time to read it thoroughly. Confirm your agreement of date, times and details to be provided by the venue are in writing. Be sure to understand all the terms, fees, restrictions and cancellation policy. Now it’s time to sign the contract and pay your deposit to officially lock in your date! 

Congratulations, you can check this important step off your planning checklist!  Your remaining details will start falling into place now that you’ve made this big decision. 

We believe every wedding is special in its own right. Some make you laugh. Some make you cry. Some make you smile. Some make you reminisce. 

In this new blog series, we’ll be highlighting some of our most recent weddings. In each post, we hope to capture a little bit of what makes each ceremony so unique. We’ll be sharing special moments and photos from each wedding, as well as highlighting the vendors each couple used. 

Our first profile focuses on Leah Riker and Greg Atkins, who tied the knot at The Colonnade in Greensboro on April 7, 2018. 

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“Our wedding day was just perfect. The ceremony went off without a hitch, everyone had a great time at the reception, and we ate our fill of delicious food and danced the night away! The venue was decorated so simply yet so beautifully. Coupled with all of our loved ones in the room, we couldn’t have envisioned it better if we tried.”

- LEAH, Bride

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The Planning Process

A good venue sets the atmosphere. A good caterer makes mealtime a memory worth savoring. And, a good photographer ensures no moment goes uncaptured. 

Leah and her mom started planning for the wedding in October 2017 – about 6 months before the actual wedding date. Her advice for the newly engaged? “Make sure you pick a great venue, caterer, and photographer. Those are so important! Also make sure to take time to actually enjoy the planning process. Remember it doesn't all have to be done at once!” 

DJ: A&A Disc Jockeys
Hair and Makeup: Careaux Cartier
Officiant: Dave Widgeon
Rentals: Eventful NC

Wedding Coordinator: A Touch of Southern Events
Caterer: Pepper Moon Catering
Photographer: The Nixons
Florist: Blossoms
Bakery: Sweet Blossoms
 

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Decor

Leah and Greg chose to go with a simple color scheme of Leah’s favorite color: pink!

Simple and elegant, this monochromatic color scheme focused around coral with coordinating shades of pink. Pink was woven throughout the décor, with little touches here and there in the floral arrangements and bridesmaid’s dresses. The groomsmen coordinated in light grey suits with pink boutonnières. 

Favorite Moment

For Leah and Greg, their standout moment came during their reception. With the sound of Butterfly Kisses filling the room for the father/daughter dance, Leah graced the dance floor in her father’s arms. Halfway through their father daughter song, they were joined by all the other fathers and daughters on the guest list. “It really was a very sweet moment,”Leah recalled.

Food and drink

The culinary highlight of the day was Pepper Moon’s show-stopping mashed potato bar! Guests were able to fill their own martini glass with our signature smashed potatoes and then customize with a wide variety of toppings. A few of the favorites? Chopped bacon, diced ham, smoked salmon, shredded smoked gouda, shredded cheddar, salsa, sour cream, sautéed mushrooms, scallions and whole green olives.

Venue

For some, the standout feature of The Colonnade is the elegantly exposed brickwork. For others, it’s the towering ceilings. For Leah and Greg, it was its beautiful wrought iron railings and the natural light from our tall windows.

“The Colonnade really is such a beautiful place and it’s a great value, too. Along with the venue, our favorite thing about working with Revolution Mills Events was Jaime. She’s so thorough, very professional and always goes above and beyond to answer any questions.”

Ready to get started planning your own Greensboro wedding? If you’re looking to get a jumpstart on the planning process (or pulling together a last minute ceremony), take a look at our wedding guide or contact us to see how we can help. 

It’s no surprise that people love to get out of the office – but there’s also a number of business benefits to hosting corporate events. When done right, corporate events will help build relationships, boost employee morale, and cultivate creativity. They’ve even been shown to increase employee retention! 

Think beyond a corporate happy hour – consider getting out of the office and into a new space for your next meeting. Something as simple as shifting employees to a different surrounding can have a notable impact on their collective performance. 

Different surroundings can spark fresh discussions and generate ideas that might not have come from the confinement of your team’s everyday work area. In addition to providing a new perspective, it can relax employees, help with problem solving, and forge stronger working relationships. And, it shows your workforce that you’re willing to invest in new, and perhaps better, ways of working for them.

If you’re looking for something beyond a new meeting space, planning a fun corporate outing can be a little tricky. In order to be energizing and rewarding, your event needs to be fun, interactive, and engaging. Our suggestion? Consider incorporating games into your next gathering.

Icebreaker activities

To get the atmosphere going and put attendees at ease, open up with an activity that involves interaction and team work – prompt them to find a solution or work together to figure out an answer. As an added bonus, this type of game will subtly replicate the kind of dynamic needed back at the office.

Breakout

Put everyone into teams, give each group a set of numbered envelopes with the same clues enclosed, and challenge everyone to ‘breakout’ of a mythical room by solving each hint. This will ensure everyone has to get talking - without forcing it - and will get their creative cogs turning.

To add a bit of tension, you could set a countdown clock on a big screen to really channel everyone’s inner competitor and get the energy pumping.

Quiz

An alternative icebreaker could be the traditional quiz. It’s another easy way to get everyone interacting and it’s simple to set up. To make sure it doesn’t lose its spark, keep the questions fairly light-hearted, keep up a good pace, and include some polls that tie into the theme of the event.

To take it to the next level, consider giving each team a funny buzzer to sound when they think they’ve got the right answer - it’ll soon get people chuckling, and the competition among teams to push their button first will spice things up a bit.

Super-sized fun

Every event has some natural down time, but the last thing you want is for the energy in the room to go stale during these periods. To prevent this, it’s a good idea to have optional activities sprinkled around the room.

To put an enticing spin on what could otherwise be seen as lame board games, think big and supersize them! From Connect 4 and chess to yard pong and giant Jenga, we can make lots of giant sized games available to you. 

Because of their supersized stature, they’ll soon draw people in and get people engaged and mingling during the times when you’re not hosting.

Bingo

A round or two of bingo is a great way to sprinkle some corporate information into your event while maintaining the fun factor. You can tailor the contents of your bingo cards to anything you want - past success, key learnings, employee awards, short or long-term goals. But, be sure you pick out an entertaining emcee who can keep people engaged. Just because the content might be corporate, it doesn’t mean you can’t put your own spin on the traditional bingo approach.

Classics

Inject a bit of nostalgia by creating a corner dedicated to some old school classics, like Pacman, Twister, Hungry Hippos, or Monopoly . The trip down memory lane alone will spark discussion and get people sharing their past times, which is a great way for attendees to naturally build on new or existing relationships.

Casino corner

If a classic game corner isn’t your thing, or if you’ve got enough room to segregate multiple activity areas, a makeshift casino could be the perfect set-up. Simply provide everyone with a limited number of make belief casino chips and let their risk taking sides shine -- after all, taking risks is a big part of business too. 

If you can, try and think of clever ways to tie the odds back to your company. For example, instead of using 21 as the magic number in Blackjack, could you change it to an iconic number relevant to your business? Like how many year’s you’ve been in business for or how many employees you have? 

Prizes

To encourage participation and healthy competition, remember to provide some prizes. They don’t have to cost a fortune - it’s the thought that counts, but they’ll bring out the inner-competitor in everyone and increase all-round uptake at your event.

To keep them on topic, your prizes could be something self-branded (like a cupcake or stationery, for example) or something free from a sponsor or exhibitor. 

For help organizing a corporate event that reaps all your desired rewards, download our complete corporate and social event guide here, or get in touch with us here.

Your Day of Coordinator will coordinate the perfect sendoff! 

Your wedding day is supposed to be all about celebrating you and your new spouse. But a myriad of decisions, detailed schedules, and DIY projects can take the focus off of you and turn the day into a giant stress fest. 

We want you and your loved ones to enjoy your wedding day – and the best way to do that is to hire the right team of wedding professionals.

The Venue and Catering Manager

You can count on the Revolution Mill Events Team to be an integral part in making your day run smoothly. You’ll work with Jaime, our Venue and Catering Manager, to plan the logistics for your day related to the event space and catering. Jaime will coordinate with the Pepper Moon Catering team on the day-of to ensure hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and dinner are served on-time. The catering staff will cut and serve your wedding cake, pass champagne, clean up and pack a yummy to go box for you to enjoy after the wedding.

Jaime and her team will also guarantee the venue and its amenities are accessible to vendors at the scheduled times, the space is properly setup and the inclement weather plan is ready-to-go if needed. 

The Wedding Planner

If you need help defining your wedding vision, finding vendors or figuring out your budget, a Wedding Planner is a great place to start.  Their expertise can help lighten the planning load and keep you from making critical mistakes. They can assist you with everything from choosing your venue to your color scheme, offering etiquette advice, and being a mediator when things get stressful.  One of their biggest values is steering you toward the best vendors for your vision and budget, which saves lots of time. Planners typically help with wedding day coordination and logistics, although there are some who only do pre-event planning and design. 

Not all couples hire a Wedding Planner, because they feel confident in working through the planning phase on their own. In this case, we encourage all of our brides to hire a Wedding Day of Coordinator!

 

Day of Coordinator

Day of Coordinator is the commonly used term, but this vendor will typically assist you the month leading up to your wedding. Their primary role is to coordinate the logistics of your day and ensure everything you have envisioned runs as planned while you enjoy a glass of champagne with your bridesmaids! 

There are some wedding tasks you can delegate to a friend or family member, but wedding coordination is best reserved for an experienced professional. They will be committed to your day and allow your loved ones to celebrate every moment instead of working the night away. 

A professional Day of Coordinator will assist in contacting wedding vendors to confirm details, develop a timeline, setup your décor, help with the flow of guests, cue each stage of the ceremony/reception and find the groom’s missing sock!

One example where a wedding without a Day of Coordinator went wrong? At a recent wedding, the photographers missed the cake cutting because they were in the back eating dinner. It’s completely normal for photographers to step away and grab some dinner, but the DJ didn’t realize the photographer’s absence, and called for the cake cutting to start. As a result, this special moment wasn’t photographed. Because it’s the Day of Coordinator’s job to cue the reception and know where everyone needs to be, this could have been easily avoided!

We feel an experienced Day of Coordinator is essential for a seamless wedding day. Still not convinced? Here’s a quick overview of their general responsibilities: 
 

1. Make sure all the details you have planned come to fruition.
2. Establish the day’s timeline and distribute to vendors.
3. Function as the point of contact for vendors and bridal party.
4. Welcome and manage guest flow.
5. Handle last minute changes and keep vendors informed.
6. Make sure picture taking time stays on track.
7. Instruct you on what to do next, at every point of the day.
8. Orchestrate the setup of your personal items/décor.
9. Assist with your dress, pinning on corsages/bouts, etc.
10. Direct the rehearsal, ceremony and reception.
11. Problem solve any issues that arise (like a drunk guest or vendor that doesn’t show up).
12. Distribute any final payments and tips at the end of the day.
13.  Oversee cleanup and removal of personal items.
14.  Keep you calm and stress free so you can enjoy every moment!
     

While this list is by no means exhaustive, it should give you a pretty good idea of just how indispensable a Wedding Coordinator is to any wedding. Trust us: your future, married self with thank you for hiring someone to take the stress off of your shoulders! 

"Find your mask and wear it well, so your identity, no one can tell.”

---

On February 3, 2018 we hosted the annual Autism Unbound Gala. With a theme of unmasking the possibilities, attendees were invited to wear their own mask or find one upon their arrival. Guests enjoyed a New Orleans themed evening of live music, bidding, and heavy hor d’oeuvres. 

Pepper Moon Catering put on a sophisticated spread of shrimp and grits, mashed potato bar, ham biscuits, and other southern favorites. 

The proceeds from Autism Unbound Gala: Unmasking the Possibilities benefited those with autism, their families, and their educators in Guilford County. Proceeds went towards funding Autism Unbound's classroom grant program, family social activities, housing initiative, and parent and teacher support training.

Check out a few of our favorite photos from the event below! 

Photos courtesy of Ross Photography. 

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Photo courtesy of Aura Marzouk Photography

With over 12 years of event management experience and impeccable attention to detail, Jaime has a talent for producing memorable occasions. She joined Pepper Moon Catering in 2015 to lead the Revolution Mill Events team along with managing sales and operations. From floor plans to flatware, Jaime works diligently to ensure every event is a wonderful client and guest experience. 

She is a graduate of Elon University in Business Administration and holds certificates from Cornell in Hospitality Management and the University of Georgia in Conference & Meeting Management.

Jaime says, “I have always been drawn to the hospitality industry and delight in taking a concept from start to finish. With each new event comes the opportunity to build long lasting relationships."

To get to know her a little better, we've asked her about a few of her favorite things. See her answers here:

• How did you get interested in event planning?
  Hospitality and event planning is in my DNA! When I was growing up my parents hosted many social celebrations and business functions. I can remember helping with the details from sending out invitations, selecting menus, planning seating arrangements, setting tables, welcoming guests, to helping the catering staff. I wanted to be involved with everything behind the scenes. Confession: I used to save up my allowance to buy all the bridal magazines!
   
•  What skills do you think are necessary for being an event planner?
  I think it's vital to be service oriented and very organized, while loving the details and having strong leadership skills. You have to know how to gracefully handle different situations and personalities under pressure.
   
• Favorite thing about your job: Every day is a new day! I love being able to work with a wide variety of event types and clients, which keeps things fresh. 
   
• What was your wedding color scheme? 
  We were married in 2006 and had a light pink and green color scheme. 
   
• Favorite feature of The Colonnade
  The windows and natural light they provide. 
   

• Favorite feature of Color Works Meeting Space? 
  Because Color Works is located in the middle of campus, I like that you get to experience the character of the Mill as you walk to the event space. 
   

• Favorite event planning tip?
  Remain flexible - things never go exactly as planned, but if you have a solid team of professional vendors you can rely on their experience to create a seamless event.
   
• Favorite menu planning tip?
  Stick with your theme. Consider your event theme when choosing, serving or displaying your food throughout the event. A beautiful outdoor wedding will best be remembered not only by the scenery, but also by the fresh and seasonal food and drink that accompanies it. 
   
• Favorite Pepper Moon Dish? 
  It's really hard to pick! But, probably the Short Rib Tart - it's the perfect blend of sweet and savory with a touch of tangy blue cheese.
   
• When you're not at work, where will we find you? 
  Usually at home enjoying the quiet of living in the country - cooking, exercising, reading, or gardening. The mountains are my favorite place to be!
   

Want to get in touch? Jaime can be reached via email at jaime@revmillevents.com or by phone at 336-362-6517. We look forward to seeing you at Revolution Mill Events! 

Courtesy of Chelle Photography

Welcome to Revolution Mill, the Triad’s exclusive provider of premier event space. Nestled in the heart of Greensboro, yet conveniently located to serve Winston-Salem, High Point and surrounding areas. We offer two distinctive event spaces; The Colonnade, a versatile indoor/outdoor space and Color Works Meeting Space, the perfect venue for meetings of all types.
 

Getting married? The Colonnade is the essential space to say, “I Do.” This historic space with its original maple, exposed brick, custom iron work, and enormous windows is perfect backdrop for any wedding. Whether you and your betrothed are planning a small intimate gathering or a grand scale wedding, the versatility of the Colonnade suits a wide array of visions and tastes. Click here to download our Wedding Guide.

The Colonnade works great for a corporate event as well!

With 8,500 square feet, The Colonnade is suited for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies. Our picturesque outdoor courtyard can accommodate up to 180 garden chairs. There are also several indoor arrangements where you can tie the knot, utilizing as much or as little space as you please. Plans include seating for 70 guests in the lower level with additional guests overlooking from the upper railing (up to 180), or seating for up to 130 guests in the front section off the lobby. Take a look at our Wedding Gallery here.

Of course, the fun and customizable options don’t end with your ceremony. Receptions at the Colonnade are all about choice. We can accommodate everything from a dance floor to a live band or DJ. Past brides and grooms have elected to include photo booths and other fun activities for their guests.

Color Works Meeting Space.

For other social and corporate events, the Colonnade can house up to 300 for standing parties or 200 for seated banquets. Please keep in mind that while maximum capacity is provided above, your final guest total will be affected by your specific set-up decisions.  Contact us today to discuss your plans and custom layout.

Having a Meeting? Color Works Meeting Space with its distinctive textures and industrial-chic feel is the place to be. It’s equipped to hold high tech corporate meetings plus a countless range of other social gatherings. Standing receptions can accommodate up 175 guests, while classroom and theatre arrangements can house 150 and 175 respectively. The 5,000 square foot space can be tailored to meet individual requirements and capacity is directly proportional to your desired setup.

As a part of the Color Works Meeting Space, you are afforded access to a long list of equipment at no additional charge. This list includes, (15) 60” round banquet tables, (22) 6’ classroom tables, (12) 30’ tall cocktail tables, (120) X-Back rustic wood chairs, (75) rolling ergonomic chairs, mounted drop-down screen & HD Projector, podium, and adjustable lighting. Additional equipment including staging, linens, décor, china, silver and glass are also available for an additional charge. For added convenience, specialty rentals for audio and visual services, professional valet parking, coat check services and floral arrangements can also be procured for extra costs. For an exhaustive list, please view our helpful Corporate Guide here.

Bon Appètit

Are you looking for the best catering experience and delectable delights the Triad has to offer? In addition to your rental, you have access to one of the best culinary experiences in the Triad via our exclusive caterer, Pepper Moon Catering. All food (with the exception of specialty cakes), beverage and equipment rentals must be secured through Revolution Mill Events/Pepper Moon Catering. Contracted vendors are welcome to provide other goods and services appropriate to the permitted use of the facility. It would be our pleasure to customize a unique menu for your special occasion limited only by Pepper Moon Catering’s 20-plus year experience and your imagination. We’re happy to answer any questions regarding the specifics of your event. Give us a call today.

Book a Tour

Due to our active event calendar, all tours and meetings must to be scheduled in advance to access the event spaces with our Venue Manager. Jaime Gilliam is our Venue & Catering Manager and can be reached via email at jaime@revmillevents.com or by phone at 336-362-6517. You may also take the Virtual Tour here.

After your visit, we will be happy to prepare a custom proposal for you containing all details needed for a successful event. Our detailed proposal will reflect the estimate of venue rental, food, beverage, rentals, security, wait staff, service charge and sales tax to give you a starting point of overall costs.

The Colonnade is located at 900 Revolution Mill Drive, Greensboro, NC 27405 and Color Works Meeting Space is located at 1000 Revolution Mill Drive, Greensboro, NC 27405. We look forward to meeting with you and making our history part of your future.