1 Blue Ridge BRIDE2015

11

Blue Ridgepresented by The Mountaineer

BRIDE

2015

Finding thePerfect Dress9

DIY Wedding12

WNC Venues14

2

Blue Ridge BRIDEPRESIDENT & PUBLISHERJonathan Key jkey@themountaineer.com

EDITORVicki Hyattvhyatt@themountaineer.com

ADVERTISING & MARKETING DIRECTORSusan DuFoursdufour@themountaineer.com

EDITORIAL STAFFDeeAnna Wilkerson

ADVERTISING SALESJennifer AllenSherri RogersLori Gilbert

GRAPHIC DESIGNCynthia RyonMatthew PerusiSarah Morris

Blue Ridge Bride is published by:Mountaineer Publishing Company220 N. Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786(828) 452-0661www.themountaineer.com

ON THE COVER:

Phil + Kristen Photography

Pictured: Brad and Rebekah Goforth

facebook.com/BlueRidgeBridalEvent

Kelly Morgan PhotographyRings

Dresses pg 9

Photo by Debi HallCakes pg 10

pg 5

Dwayne Schmidt Photography Beth Brown PhotographyBouquets pg 15

3 Blue Ridge BRIDE2015

336 Rockwood Rd. ARden, nc | 828-483-6191Hwy 26, AiRpoRt Rd towARd AsHeville, 2nd ligHt

tAke A left.

Bridal Gowns | Bridesmaid Dresses | Tuxedos | Accessories | Social Occasions

info@themarriagevine.com • www.themarriagevine.com

91347

Kelly Morgan Photography

Beth Brown Photography

4

91350

A gallery specializing in fine handcrafted pendants, rings, earrings, limited edition watches and more. On-site custom design and repair. Featuring award-winning artists from the

Great Smoky Mountains and from across the country. 

80 North Main Street828-456-2260

Monday-Saturday 10am – 5:30pmSunday 1pm – 4pm (Seasonal)

www.jewelersworkbench.us91346

appalachianfarmweddings.com | 828.400.9800

Weddings & Events❧ Large & Small Events❧ Many Venue Sites

91353

Carolyn Lima

Maggie Valley, NC828-926-3541

CCMaggieValley@aol.com

Creekside CreationsCakes and Cookies for Special Occasions

Mention this ad and receive 10% of your wedding cake order!91348

The planning aspect of a wedding can be the most exciting and fun-filled part of this journey, but it can also be very stressful. From the venue to the photos to the cake and all the little details in between, it can become overwhelming quick-ly.

The goal of this magazine is to provide you with resources to help mark some of the biggest items off that long wedding to-do list. Within these pages you’ll find advice from wedding professionals and from brides just like you. There are also plenty of photos and unique ideas that are sure to inspire you to create the perfect wedding day.

You’ve already made the most important de-cision — you’ve found the person you want to spend the rest of your life with. All the other de-tails will fall into place with a lot of love and a little help from Blue Ridge Bride.

Happy planning,DeeAnna Wilkerson

ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT

CongratulationsPhoto by Fox and Owl Studio

5 Blue Ridge BRIDE2015

When it comes to weddings, Maggie Valley Club & Resort is the perfect wedding venue in WNC. The

pristine fairways of the course offer stunning views while the beautiful Smoky Mountains provide a dazzling

backdrop, making yours a truly enchanting ceremony.

1819 Country Club Drive • Maggie Valley, NC • (800) 438-3861

www.MaggieValleyClub.com91343

First comes love then comes marriage. But somewhere in between, there’s almost always a beautiful shiny ring and a special moment sealing the promise to stay together forever.

It’s understandable that shopping for the perfect engagement ring is a daunting, even stressful task for your guy. Tammy Moseley, manager of John Laughter Jewelry in Waynes-ville, gives her suggestions on the do’s and don’ts of engagement and wedding ring shopping.

Even if the engagement ring is already on your finger, these tips can also apply to the hunt for the perfect wedding bands for both husband and wife.

“Over the last 30 years, the main point I try to stress to men when making that big pur-chase is that the engagement ring be some-thing they can be proud of, and one that will make their fiancé proud to wear,” Moseley

said. “This is one of the three biggest purchas-es they will ever make, and the only one they will still be looking at in say 20, 30, even 50 years.”

DO set a realistic budget — Instead of going with something that will break the bank, find a ring with longevity.

DON’T be a cheapskate — With a budget in mind, you don’t have to settle on the first cheap ring you find. Your fiancé does not want to hear that you got a great deal on the Internet. She does want to hear that you hand-picked her engagement ring just for her.

DO go with your instincts — If you’ve de-cided to spend your life with this person, you should have a good idea of the perfect ring she will love.

DON’T settle for a big box jeweler — This is a meaningful purchase, so you should search for a jeweler that will “go the extra mile,” will

still be in business next year and truly has your best interests at heart.

DO select a ring that will last — An en-gagement ring must be wearable every day for years and years to come. Give thought to what she does in her daily life and talk to your jeweler for advice. They have years of knowl-edge and insight that you can use.

DON’T buy a certificate — DO buy a dia-mond.

DO ask questions — A reputable jeweler can answer your questions so that you feel knowledgeable and comfortable with your decisions.

John Laughter Jewelry is a family-owned store that has been in business for 40 years with loca-tions on Hendersonville Road in Asheville and North Main St. in Waynesville. For more infor-mation, contact Moseley at 828-456-4778 or the Asheville store at 828-274-5769.

FINDING RINGtheGUY’S GUIDE

By DeeAnna Wilkerson

6

www.laurelridgegolf.com91351

Boutique668 N. Main St. Waynesville, NCLa

Social Occasion Dresses & SeparatesMom’s • Cocktail • Prom

Casual Day Wear & AccessoriesTux & Suit Rental or Sales

Threads Thru Time TailoringExpert Alterations

(828) 400-4129

91344

Sometimes the best weddings take hardly any effort at all. At least that was the case for Brooklyn Jamison, who met her sweetheart, Justin, in 2010.

Despite Justin being stationed in Washington in the Army, the couple continued their relationship, knowing they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. However, it was unclear when or how he would even make it home to propose.

After secretly requesting a four-day military leave, Justin surprised Brook-lyn with his arrival to North Carolina on Nov. 1, 2014 and a breathtaking proposal in the snow. The couple made plans for a simple courthouse wed-ding to take place Nov. 3, just before

&JustinBrooklyn

REAL BRIDES — REAL ADVICE

452-0661 • themountaineer.com

Once you’ve made it down the aisle,

put your trust in us.

We will clean and preserve your wedding gown and can

provide storage if needed

American Cleaners10 Penland Street, Canton | 648-2817

177 Waynesville Plaza, Waynesville | 452-2222

91725

7 Blue Ridge BRIDE2015

Sellars Florist

Flowers For all occasionscan be reached aFter hours

“like” us on Facebook

Let us help you make your day special.

98 Main St. Canton 648-7180

Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm Saturday 9am - 1pm

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100% satisFaction guaranteed

Melodie McDanielIndependent Ambassador

#168294

828-593-9200melodiemcdaniel@gmail.com

www.melodiemcdaniel.myplexusproducts.com 89415

Twin Maples Farmhouse

828.452.7837 | 143 East Street, Waynesville, NC | www.herrenhouse.com

Let our expertise help you make your day PERFECT.

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Twin Maples Farmhouse in downtown Waynesville, built in 1908 is nestled on 2 acres

with a rambling steam.

It is the ideal setting for a charming southern wedding, reception or bridal shower and luncheon.

On-site lodging available.

Justin

Justin was scheduled to head back across the country to return to military duty. However, he had different plans — and the entire fam-ily was involved.

The morning of the big day, Brooklyn’s friend Melanie took her to a scheduled hair appointment with plans to meet at the court-house at 11 a.m. But when Brooklyn thought they were stopping at Lake Junaluska for bridal photos, she quickly realized that she was walking up to her own surprise wed-ding ceremony.

“Justin and our families had put together an actual wedding ceremony for us with all of our closest friends and family,” Brooklyn said. “I have no idea how everyone kept all these secrets from me, but all I can say is I have some of the most amazing family and friends there are, plus one amazing hus-band.”

The ceremony took place at the amphithe-ater style seating area beneath the cross at Lake Junaluska in Waynesville. Navy, yel-low and red wildflowers complimented the bride's simple vintage ivory gown against the panoramic view of the lake and Blue Ridge Mountains.

A reception followed at Frog Level Brew-ing Company in Waynesville with a home-made barbecue dinner.

FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE DAYThe moment I found out we were having

an actual wedding ceremony up at the cross at Lake Junaluska instead of the courthouse. I truly had no idea they had put all this to-gether for us and was in complete shock. It was the best surprise I could have asked for. Talk about a fairytale come true!

ADVICE I’M GLAD I TOOKOriginally I was just panning to wear a

basic dress (it was not an actual wedding dress) because I knew we were trying to keep things simple. My mom convinced me to shop around and look for a wedding dress; so I did. I am very happy I decided to do so.

ADVICE I’D LIKE TO PASS ONDon’t get too caught up in all the little de-

tails of the big day. They can consume you and take away some of the joy you could be experiencing. I didn’t have much of any say-so with my wedding and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. That isn’t the ideal way for every bride, but I do know from experi-ence, the less you have to worry about the more you can enjoy everything. If you are involved in all the planning, let people help you when they offer. Don’t try and take it all on by yourself. Take as much help as you can get!

Photos by Taylor Boyd Photography

452-0661 • themountaineer.com

8

91820

State Farm, Bloomington, IL1211999

Angie Franklin, Agent1908 S Main StreetWaynesville, NC 28786Bus: 828-456-8200angie@angiefranklin.com

91345

Meggan and Austin Morgan have known each other for sev-

eral years after growing up in the same town

and going through school together,

but they didn’t start dating un-til after they both graduated from Pisgah High School in

Canton.After a pro-

posal on the beach in Florida, the couple

married at Jeter Mountain Farm in Hendersonville June 14, 2014. The outdoor ceremo-ny featured a scenic mountain backdrop with light purple accents and purple and white hydrangea bouquets. The cer-emony was traditional meets rustic, with the bride in a ball gown and groom in a tux, but touches of country decor such as burlap and hay bales.

The reception was held in-

side the venue’s barn, where guests were served Dickie King barbecue, smoked chicken, baked beans, pasta salad and cole slaw.

WEDDING STYLERustic countryFAVORITE MOMENT OF

THE DAYI think my favorite part of

our wedding day was finally seeing Austin after we had been apart since the night before and all the anticipation was gone.

ADVICE I’M GLAD I TOOKSome of the best advice I

remember getting was to do things the way I wanted and had dreamed of and not worry about pleasing everyone be-cause it’s impossible!

ADVICE I’D LIKE TO PASS ONPlan ahead! No matter how

far away it is it's never too soon to start planning. There is so much that goes into a wedding and a lot that can't be done un-til last minute. theknot.com was my go-to!

Photos by Forever Wedding Photography

&Austin

MegganREAL BRIDES — REAL ADVICE

9 Blue Ridge BRIDE2015

BRIDAL GOWNS

The only rule when it comes to modern wedding dresses is there are no rules. Brides no longer feel like they need to fit a certain cookie cutter style when it comes to their gown for the big day. As the fo-cal point of the day, the biggest goal should be to find the dress that makes you feel the most beautiful.

Margaux Schrager of Wildflower Bridal in Asheville shares the hot-test wedding dress styles going into the 2015 wedding season.

All about that back — Revealing a little more shoulder blade or exposing the entire back is a subtle and tasteful way to wow your guests — and most importantly, your groom.

“Whether a gown has a very low exposed back, lots of detailing on the back or illusion netting or tattoo lace, the focus is all about the back of the gown this year,” Schrager said.

Buttons all the way down and corset backs are also classically beau-tiful additions to a gown.

The Bohemian — Schrager is seeing more and more brides who are attracted to dress styles that hearken back to the 70s .

“There's an emphasis on soft, flowy, romantic gowns that are dreamy and ethereal, and also comfortable,” Schrager said.

Color is in — While ivory is still the most popular option, brides are ditching tradition and embracing more color in their wedding gowns.

“More and more brides are wanting tones of champagne, taupe, grey and purple. Blush shades are also popular,” Schrager said.

The wedding dress is one of the first and most important purchases you will make in the planning process. It’s also what will help deter-mine the overall style of the rest of the wedding.

Shopping for the dress can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Schrager says there are a few things to keep in mind when starting the search for your wedding gown.

Be open minded — The majority of Schrager’s bridal customers come into the store thinking they want a specific style, but many change their minds by the end of their appointment.

“Case in point — I had a bride come to the shop specifically to try on Sarah Seven style Mademoiselle, and she really wanted a flowy, Boho look,” Schrager said. “She ended up with Blush by Hayley Paige style Venice (a big ball gown). Don't marry yourself (pun in-tended!) to one specific look. If the consultant recommends you try on a gown that you may not like on the hanger, do it anyway. Worst case scenario, you hate it and move on. Best case scenario, you found

your dress!”Set a budget and stick to it — Go ahead and settle on a budget be-

fore you begin shopping for a dress.“You don't want to test drive and fall in love with a Ferrari if your

wallet can only support a Honda,” Schrager said.Falling in love with a dress that you can’t afford can be stressful,

discouraging and sometimes cause tension between you and your family or groom. It can also ruin the shopping experience.

“Come in with a clear budget, and be honest with your bridal styl-ist about that budget and how firm it is. We don't want to bring you something that is out of your price range, and we also don't want you to limit yourself by telling your stylist your budget is $2,000 when it's really $3,000,” she said.

Put the phone down — Snapping photos with cell phones is almost second nature nowadays, but Schrager recommends telling your en-tourage to put their phones away during the appointment.

“First off, it eats a lot of time during the appointment,” she said. “Around 25 percent of the appointment time is usually gobbled up by photo taking, and that is time you can otherwise spend either trying on other gowns or refining your accessories.”

Phone photos probably won’t do the bride or the gown justice and looking back on a photo instead of living in the moment could affect your overall impression of the gown.

Buy your accessories with your gown — While buying a dress is a huge commitment in itself, it’s best to go ahead and settle on your accessories at the same time.

“Once you order your gown, you will not see it again for about four to five months. Although it feels like this buys you time to nail down your accessories, most brides find it near impossible to shop for veils and bridal jewelry without also having the dress on,” Schrager said.

Waiting until the dress arrives to select accessories could leave you in a pinch time-wise.

Settle and stop — Once you commit to a gown, the shopping should end there.

“If you don't you are bound to come across another dress that, in your mind, somehow beats the one you got. It's like getting engaged — once you have a ring on your finger, you're not going to date other people, right? Same with wedding gowns — when you find THE ONE, get giddy and stop shopping,” Schrager said.

AND HOW TO SHOPHotWHAT’S

AustinTaylor Boyd Photography Mozingo Photography

By DeeAnna Wilkerson

Rachael McIntosh photo

10

Dwayne Schmidt PhotographyDwayne is an

award winning photographer who

travels from the mountains to the

coast to capture your special occasion.

If you are looking for a professional

and passionate photographer,

contact Dwayne.

Studio: 828-565-0028Cell: 828-400-2346

dwaynesimages.com90934

CakesTHE TAKE ON

Traditional white wedding cakes are now a thing of the past as bakeries are becoming more creative with styles and flavors proving there are no rules to the modern wedding cake.

Brides seeking the “rustic elegance” theme seem to be moving away from lavish cakes and opting for something more simple and sleek, says Sarah Resnick, pastry chef at City Bakery.

“The current trend for wedding cakes is simple, buttercream iced cakes all in white, usually with some sort of light texture or piping,” she said. “And then beautiful fresh flowers are used as the main decoration.”

But that trend might be changing in 2015. Resnick predicts metallics will be all the rage, with a lot of gold and silver.

“In general, I think wedding cakes

will trend toward more fancy styles. More fondant will be used versus but-tercream,” she said.

Debi Hall, owner of Just Simply Deli-cious Cakes, Desserts and Confections, said cakes without icing at all will con-tinue in popularity this year. “Naked cakes,” typically multi-tiered cakes that are only iced between the layers, are also a trending choice for rustic wed-dings.

COMPOUNDING FLAVORSCity Bakery specializes in tradition-

ally crowd-pleasing flavors, but there is one trend that seems to be popular when it comes to flavors.

“We have noticed that almost every cake we do has a different flavor for each tier of cake,” Resnick said.

For example, one tier may be choco-

WEDDING CAKE TRENDS

By DeeAnna Wilkerson

Taylor Boyd Photography photo

11 Blue Ridge BRIDE2015

Miss Caroline’s country wedding chapel

“A Romantic Smoky Mountain Wedding Experience. Wedding Ceremonies available throughout the Year.”

828.926.5227 or Toll Free 1.888.257.5227 • 3248 Soco Road • Maggie Valley, NC www.misscarolines.com

Complete wedding packages

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Fall & Chapel Venue

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*over 20 years experience

late, one a lighter fruity option, and another in coconut. Red velvet and almond flavors are also popular choices.

Hall agrees, saying that brides no longer only ask for white cake with vanilla icing.

“Although classic wedding cake flavors never go out of style, 2015 will offer more compound flavor combinations, adding a twist,” Hall said. “Couples want to offer a little more flavor for their guests and that little bit of surprise.”

For example, Hall has added a strawberry cheesecake layer to the traditional strawberry cake.

“For a chocolate cake, we normally suggest a peanut butter mousse, but brides are now wanting to add additional flavors, such as raspberry puree to the combination, making a peanut butter and

jelly chocolate cake,” Hall said.She also predicts spiced chocolate flavors will be popular this year

including chili chocolates and beer flavored chocolates using local brew stouts.

THE DESSERT BUFFETSome couples don’t want to settle on just cake for dessert.“Brides are offering many flavors by adding side cakes, especially

since they want all of their guests to be able to enjoy their desserts,” Hall said. “It is very trendy to add side cakes that are vegan or glu-ten-free or watching out for allergies.”

In addition to cakes, pies, cobblers, cookies, candy, bite-sized des-serts and even chocolate fountains are often found on the buffet-style dessert table.

Fox and Owl Studio photo Photo by Beth Brown PhotographyFox and Owl Studio photo

• Floral’s• Wedding Planning• Venue’s, • Catering, etc.

StargazersCreating Custom Floral Art

347 A New Leicester Hwy. | Asheville, NC | 828-254-3621 | 828-683-1600

Our shop specializes in a one stop Bridal shop.

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RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER

The Biltmore Beacon

Published weekly | Asheville, NC

thebiltmorebeacon@gmail.com

Thursday, January 9, 2014

A1

Express Lunch

$10 Daily Special

Monday-Friday 11-2

GRANDBOHEMIANHOTE

LASHEVILLE.COM

82094

anny Wilson began shadowing his father

and learning how to become a plumber at

age 5. So when he hit his mid-30s, Wilson said he

needed a career change.

That’s when he packed a bag of scuba

gear, sold the rest of his belongings and moved to Hawaii

to become a certified scuba diver.

Wilson, 46, is now back in is hometown of Asheville and

is one of three owners of Asheville Scuba – a full-service

dive and snorkeling facility.

Wilson, along with friends Michael Smith and Travis

Berning, opened Asheville Scuba a year-and-a-half ago.

“We saw that there was a niche

that needed to be filled,” said Smith,

who has been a scuba instructor for

12 years. Asheville Scuba, located inside

the Asheville Racquet Club (27 Re-

sort Drive, Asheville), features three

training pools, equipment rentals

and sales, as well as equipment ser-

vicing and air and nitrox fills.

Individuals can choose from a

range of courses at Asheville Scuba,

including snorkeling, scuba certifica-

tion and scuba discovery opportunities. The dive center

offers scuba certifications through Technical Diving Inter-

national (TDI), as well as Scuba Diving International (SDI).

DIVE

NEWYEAR

WITH

ASHEVILLE

SCUBA

INTO THE

By Brittany Jennings

TDI certifications are more technical, while SDI courses are centered on

recreational scuba diving, Smith said. Instructors can help participants select

the best certification program that fits their scuba diving needs.

For those who have never scuba dived but are curious about diving, the

center offers scuba discovery sessions. The 30-minute class is $50 and allows

participants to get into the pool and breathe underwater using a regulator.

Those who enjoy their scuba discovery and wish to enroll in a scuba div-

ing course may have their $50 fee roll over and be used toward the scuba

diving course, which costs $379, Smith said.

To become a certified scuba diver, individuals must participate in two

weekends of courses, held both Saturday and Sunday.

“A lot of people discover a whole lot more under water than they think,”

Smith said. “You develop a unique awareness about yourself. It’s an incred-

D

See SCUBA, 3A

Your Questions Answered

About the Flu

HOW SERIOUS IS THE FLU? Flu can cause

severe illness, hospitalization and even

death. Those at high risk of severe flu ill-

ness are pregnant women, children under

six months old, frail and elderly and any-

one with chronic disease such as asthma,

diabetes, heart disease or cancer.

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF THE FLU? Flu

usually comes on suddenly, accompanied

by fever and chills, coughing, sore throats,

muscle aches, fatigue and headaches.

Nausea and diarrhea are more common in

children.

HOW DOES LIMITING MY VISITS TO THE

HOSPITAL HELP?

Flu is a highly contagious virus that

can spread from one person to another by

contact or the air. The spread of the flu can

be controlled by individuals limiting their

exposure to the virus.

HOW CAN I HELP PREVENT MYSELF AND

OTHERS FROM GETTING THE FLU OR BE-

ING EXPOSED TO THE VIRUS?

Get a flu shot. Stay home if you are not

feeling well. Flu bugs can live for two to

eight hours on surfaces after someone

coughs them out. Don’t go back to work

until 24 hours after your fever breaks to

prevent infecting other people.

Practice frequent hand hygiene. If vis- >> See Flu, 3A

TOP: Travis Berning is a co-owner of Asheville

Scuba. He has participated in diving for two years.

Donated photo

LEFT: Scuba diving instructor Michael Smith began

snorkeling and free-diving at age 8. He became

certified in scuba in 1998. He has completed dives

in the Mediterranean and Red Seas, as well as in

the Caribbean. / Photo courtesy Michael Smith

By Jacie C. Volkman MPH, CIC

Director, Mission Hospital Infection

Prevention & Epidemiology

Mission Health is now limiting visitations at Mission Hospital due to

the spreading of the flu. / File photo

Haywood • July 16, 2014 • The Guide 1

a publicaTion of THe mounTaineer | week of JulY 16 – 22, 2014 | HaYwooD reGion

HAYWOOD1

Hart tHeatre PresentsHello,Dolly

80688

Pg. 6

Community Band Concert July 20 - Pg. 12

Arts Council presents ArtFest - Pg. 9

A1A1

www.themountaineer.com

Friday, July 25, 2014

The Mountaineer75¢

©2013 The Mountaineer

Waynesville, NC • 828.452.0661

Partly sunny

High 84 F

Low 56 F

TodaySaturday

Sunny

High 85 F

Low 63 F

Sunday

Partly sunny

High 86 F

Low 64 F

WEATHER

A1A1

289 Access Road, Waynesville phone: 828-452-4343 www.smokymountainfootclinic.com

Treat your feet with confidenceBunions • Corns • Calluses • Hammer Toes

Warts • Ingrown Nails • Heel Pain • Diabetic

Pedorthics • Sprains • Arthritis • Wound Care

Dr. Banks, Dr. Przynosch, Dr. DelBene, Dr. Lawrence & Dr. Davis

88025

Walk-In Clinic • Mon - Thurs • 1 to 4

Teen dies in accident

A Waynesville teen died after

falling out of the bed of a mov-

ing pickup truck early Wednes-

day morning in the Fines Creek

area of Clyde.

Emergency workers and law

enforcement responded to the

call on Shelton Laurel Road

around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday

where Randy Tyler Jensen, 18,

had been riding in the back of

a pickup truck when he fell

Gig nets$10,000

Folkmoot will get $10,000

from the town of Waynesville

that it was denied during the

budgeting process.

The unexpected gift, not on

the agenda, was enthusiasti-

cally agreed to by the govern-

ing board just before adjourn-

ment of Tuesday night’s

regularly scheduled meeting.

“Before we adjourn, I have

Patrick Parton photo

a mind-changer — Performers from Trinidad were so impressive that Waynesville Mayor Gavin

Brown decided failing to fund Folkmoot USA was a mistake. After attending the gala performance

Monday, Brown asked his board to reconsider its position and provide funding for the organization.

mary ann enloe

Mountaineer correspondent

Gig continues on 8A

new economic development strategy gears up

The revamped economic develop-

ment effort in Haywood County got

off to a slow start last week when 10

of the 22 board members missed the

first meeting.A committee to craft by-laws was

set up, and those present left with

marching orders — to fill in the gaps

of a proposed five-year strategic plan

for the effort.The beginnings

of the plan were

crafted by the task

force that examined

whether a public/

private partnership

effort to spur eco-

nomic development

was feasible, and

if so, how it might

look. Previously, the county led eco-

nomic development efforts with the

help of a board that included munici-

pal, business and county representa-

tives.The revamped effort is now a part

of the Haywood County Chamber of

Commerce.As with previous EDC meetings, a

large part of the proceedings includ-

ed updates from Mark Clasby, who

switched from his county job to the

post at the chamber.

Selling Haywood Regional Medical

Center to Duke LifePoint has been a

top priority, Clasby said, and a July 31

closing date is the target.

A $150,000 square-foot expansion at

ConMet, a heavy truck parts manu-

facturer in the Beaverdam Indstrial

Vicki hyatt Editor

news@themountaineer.com

Strategy continues on 8A

mark clasby

Teen continues on 8A

deeanna haney Staff writer

deeanna@themountaineer.com

Starting this Saturday, the train coming through

Waynesville and Canton will be displaying the yel-

low and black colors of the Blue Ridge Southern

Railroad, the company that has bought out Nor-

folk Southern in the region.

Watco Companies has purchased three railroad

branches in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and

Jackson counties that will now operate under a

new name. The black and white Norfolk Southern

train will pass through Haywood County for the

last time on Friday.

“We are going to serve the same rail line from

Asheville to just past Sylva in the Great Smoky

Mountain Expressway,” said Stefan Loeb, senior

vice president of marketing for Watco Companies.

“We’re here to stay. We’re not in the business of

shutting down.”

After several months of negotiations, Nor-

folk Southern sold its line extending from

Asheville to Dillsboro, along with some other

lines in the Asheville area.

The Blue Ridge Southern Railroad is a class

III shortline railroad operating more than 91.8

miles in Western North Carolina. It will oper-

ate with 10 locomotives, and lines will extend

from Murphy Junction to Dillsboro, Asheville

to East Flat Rock, and Hendersonville to Pisgah

Forest.

ON

TRAIN continued on 9A

Pictured is the new locomotive that

will be passing through Waynesville

and Canton starting this Saturday,

when Watco Companies officially

takes ownership of the railroad

tracks that extend from Asheville to

Dillsboro.

TRACKBACK

Patrick Parton photo

Watco purchases Haywood railway lines

Story by Shelby Harrell

Girl Scout’s project helps kids stay healthy -6A

Post 47’s announces ‘Baseball

Bash’ Fundraiser — 1B

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The MountaineerProudly serving Haywood County N.C. since 1885

The Biltmore Beacon

themountaineer.com828-452-0661

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When I started planning our wedding, I knew right away that we would be on a limited budget, and I was perfectly OK with that. Actu-ally, I was excited for the challenge and the opportunity to make my wedding entirely my own by doing as much of it myself as possible.

From the sapling arbor to the centerpieces on the tables, almost all of the decorations at our wedding were from DIY projects.

The budget for our entire wedding was $5,000, and we ended up with money left over. It wasn’t easy, but the trick is to start planning early and know what you’re working toward. Set goals for yourself and keep the following tips in mind. Believe me, if I can pull off a DIY wedding, so can you.

Don’t take on too much — If you’re a budget-minded bride like I was, chances are you’ll be taking on several do-it-yourself projects to keep your costs low. For our wedding, I decided my family would do the decorations, music, flowers AND the food — talk about stress. We pulled it all off, but it wasn’t easy. My poor mother cooked taco meat for three days straight and we spent five hours putting bouquets and centerpieces together the day before. My advice —carefully consider which big aspects of your wedding you can handle and pass off the

rest to a professional. Forking over a little extra cash for a DJ or caterer could help save your sanity.

Know your limits — Pinterest is a wonderful way to find great ideas for any type of wedding. By the time my wedding rolled around, I had more than 1,000 pins to my wedding board. But once I started looking into some of the projects I had pinned, I realized that most of them would take way more time and effort than I was able to spare. Make sure you are being cost effective with your projects as well. There are some cases when doing it yourself could cost even more than simply buying what you need.

My favorite DIY project from our wedding was the pallet sign at the ceremony. One of my bridesmaids and I had a blast spending an evening painting it and it turned out beautiful and unique. I also made signage and even put together my own flowers with the help of my family. My advice — be realistic about your projects. Do you really have the equipment to make that wooden cake stand or those cute per-sonalized corn hole boards? Make sure you can finish what you start.

Be thrifty — Many of the decorations at our wedding were vintage or "rustic" pieces I had collected during our engagement, such as the

ON A BUDGET

HOW TO PULL OFF A DIYPhotos by Phil & Kristen Photography

WeddingBy DeeAnna Wilkerson

13 Blue Ridge BRIDE2015

Mason jars on the tables and the old trunks used to hold gifts. My advice — take time to go to thrift stores and look for cheap items that will go great with your wedding theme. I scored a lot of great finds at yardsales, Goodwill, Salvation Army and the Habitat for Humanity Re-stores in Asheville and Waynesville. I also wasn't above rummag-ing through my family's attics and garages in search of usable jars and fabric.

Recruit talents — For the projects I knew I couldn’t handle on my own, I turned to some of my friends and family. One of my brides-maids is a graphic designer, so she made our invitations. My mom made our programs and my veil. My talented father-in-law made our cupcake tree and beautiful wooden arbor and my dad put together all the wooden boxes that were used as centerpieces at the reception. My mother-in-law made her amazing shortbread cookies to hand out as favors. The cake and cupcakes were made by a church friend. My advice — do as I did and recruit the talents of all the people around you. Most of them will probably even do it for free!

Delegate, delegate, delegate — In order to see your wedding run like a well-oiled machine, everyone involved must have a job. Defi-nitely don’t try to do it all alone, or you will end up overwhelmed on the day when you should be the most happy. My advice — pick a person to help with every aspect of the wedding from set up to break down. You’ll need someone to help decorate, direct the wed-ding, serve the food (even if it’s a buffet), cut the cake, clean up — you get the idea. Your wedding party and all the loved ones close to you want to help make your day as special and stress free as possible, so don’t be afraid to ask. (Just remember to ask nicely)

Photos by Phil & Kristen Photography

Where: Appalachian Farm Weddings, Waynesville, NCWhen: Sept. 20, 2014Style: Antique countryFood: Taco bar made by the familyDessert: Homemade cupcakesFlowers: Sunflowers, daisies, baby’s breath, dhalias from Sam’s Club and neighbor’s yardsPhotographer: Phil + Kristen PhotographyDress: David’s BridalAlterations: Threads Through Time

Dress: $250Alterations: $100Shoes: $40Jewelry: My “something borrowed” from my sisterInvitations: Made for free by one of my bridesmaidsPrograms: Made by my motherVenue: $1,500Flowers: $300Photography: $1,800Decorations: $200Food: $400Cake & cupcakes: $150Music: A co-worker and her husband provided music, charging only $150Total: $4,590

Our Wedding

OUR WEDDING COST BREAKDOWN:

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3rd Generation Barn LoftCharmingly Rustic, Elegantly Simple

An historic barn for weddings, receptions, rehearsal dinners, & photo ops

Just 1 mile from I-40, off exit 33

www.3gbarnloft.com Competitive priCes648.4094

90916

Western North Carolina is home to some of the nation’s most beau-tiful scenery, so it’s no surprise that locals and out-of-towners eye these beautiful mountains as the location for the perfect dream wed-ding.

The following is a list of various wedding venues by county in Western North Carolina. Though it would be impossible to create a comprehensive list of venue ideas, this provides a great place to start when looking for a venue that fits your vision and budget.

HAYWOOD COUNTYAppalachian Farm Weddings828-400-9800Camp Daniel Boone828-254-6189Camp Hope828-648-2363Canton Armory828-648-2363Cataloochee Ranch828-926-1401Colonial Theatre828-648-2363Lake Junaluska800-222-4930Laurel Ridge Country Club828-452-0545The Loralei Inn 828-230-0009Maggie Valley Club and Resort828-926-1616Miss Caroline’s Country Wedding Chapel828-926-5227Pisgah Inn828-235-8228The Swag Country Inn800-789-7672Twin Maples Farmhouse828-226-1657The Waynesville Inn Golf Resort and Spa 800-627-6250The Yellow House828-452-0991

WALNUT COVE3rd Generation Barn Loft 828-648-4094

BUNCOMBE COUNTYThe Biltmore House and InnCastle Ladyhawke 828-894-0466Claxton Farm828-658-1390

Crest Center828-251-1820Deer Creek Run828-777-7624The Farm, A Gathering Place828-667-0666Hidden River Events Center828-333-3401Homewood828-232-9900Jeter Mountain Farm 828-226-9454The Fields of Blackberry Cove828-645-2118The Grove Park Inn800-438-0050The North Carolina Arboretum828-665-2492Pack Square Park828-252-2300Sleepy Hollow Inn and Event Center 828-298-1115Taylor Ranch828-684-6650The Venue828-252-1101Yesterday Spaces 828-777-6948

CHEROKEE COUNTYMcGuire’s Millrace Farm828-837-0015

GRAHAM COUNTYFontana Village Resort828-498-2150Great Smoky Mountains National ParkChristopher Place Resort423-623-6555Palmer Chapel828-497-1930 (special use permit required)

MACON COUNTYWeddings On Top of The Mountain828-349-3390

WNC WEDDING

GUIDEVenue

WEDDING CAKE TRENDS

Photo by Mozingo Photography

Photo by Kelly Morgan

15 Blue Ridge BRIDE2015

248 N. Main Street | Waynesville, NC 828-476-5070info@WellsEventsCenter.comwww.WellsEventsCenter.com

• Engagement Parties• Bridal Showers• Rehearsal Dinners

• Weddings• Receptions • Bridesmaids’

Luncheons

Celebrate Your Wedding at Wells Events & Reception Center

91732

The best part about planning a wedding is making it all about you and your husband-to-be. Splashes of your personalities should be found in every detail of your wedding, and that includes your flowers. Here are six unique flower trends that will help show a little more about who you are individually and as a couple.

Garden fresh — Why not go outside and make your wedding bouquets and bouton-nieres from the flowers in your own back-yard? They are cheap and always beautiful. In the warmer months, sunflowers, daisies and dhalias are never in short supply. Even wild-flowers like Baby Blue Eyes, Butterbur, Corn Flowers, lavender and more make a stunning display when grouped together.

Embellished bouquets — Adding a small trinket to your bouquet is a unique way to in-clude something special in your big day. Per-haps you would like to pin an antique brooch family heirloom to your flowers, intertwine a pearl necklace, tie on small pictures of fam-ily members who have passed away or even include the dog tag of a family member who was in the military. Whatever means the most to you, find a way to put it in the bouquet.

Bright & Bold — If you and your man have big personalities, find flowers to match them. Try combining bright yellow, orange and red. Or find vibrant shades of purple and deep pinks.

Dried Flowers —Perfect for fall weddings, dried flower bouquets are an up and coming trend, popular with the Bohemian wedding look. Lavender, wheat, baby’s breath, lark-spur and hydrangeas are just a few of the flowers that look great dried.

Feathers & Fabric — For the couple that isn’t traditional, try making your bouquets from fabric using burlap, flannel or cotton pieces. A quick Google search will turn up plenty of DIY tutorials on how to make one. Or, add peacock or pheasant feathers to your flowers.

Perfectly Pink — Are you a little bit coun-try but girly at the same time? Soft pinks and blush hues are in this year, especially when it comes to the popular rustic chic look. A bou-quet of all pink roses, for example, provides a put together, elegant and feminine look that looks great against the dominant green and brown colors that are typically seen at rustic barn or ranch style weddings.

BouquetsUNIQUE TRENDS INWEDDING

BOUQUET BLISS

Photo by Phil & Kristen Photography

By DeeAnna Wilkerson

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Here.

Weddings at Lake Junaluska

Your future together starts

Your place in the mountains

Indoor and outdoor venues • Affordable lodging • Elegant reception facilities forrehearsal dinners, banquets, and bridal luncheons

www.lakejunaluska.com/weddings | weddings@lakejunaluska.com

828.454.6791

89416

Ed Kelley photo

Jeremy Russell photo