Inspiration from The Oaks...

What does a Southern garden party, sleek romance and a whimsical cocktail party all have in common? They were all themes that were brought to life here at The Oaks, and all three have been spotlighted in the latest issue of The Bride's Book! Each of these inspiration events were custom styled by Rachel Hamm of Bliss by Sam, and stunningly documented by f8 Photo Studios. Take a peek (http://raleigh.thebridesbook.com/e-zine.php) - you don't want to miss seeing these gorgeous full-color spreads filled with beautiful photography. And you may very well find some inspiration for your own special day!

Simply Elegant...

Timeless beauty, classic elegance, combined with a few hints of whimsy...that's what our latest style shoot was all about. You'll think you're looking at the pages of a national magazine when you check out the photos from Prevoir Photography (http://prevoirphotography.com/the-oaks-at-salem-style-shoot-apex-nc/). A clean, bright color scheme of white with pops of purple and apple green created the perfect backdrop for this stunning wedding. From the gorgeous tabletop to the stunning sky-high floral centerpiece that accented it, no detail was left to chance. An apple green candy bar, the bride's purple ruffled peep-toe pumps and the family dog's apple green bowtie were touches of whimsy that guaranteed fun for everyone. And to seal the deal, the couple set off in a beautiful classic car. That, my friends, is wedding day perfection.

Perfect details for this event provided by:

Style Shoot Design: Prevoir Special Events; Make Up: Made up by Lindsay Morse; Hair: The Cottage Salon in Durham; Bridal Gown & Bridesmaid Dress: Tre Bella Bridal in Durham; Florals: Tre Bella Florist in Durham; Tuxedos: Bernards Formal Wear in Durham; Linens: Connie Duglin Linen; Rentals: Party Reflections, Durham; Car: Classy Transportation ; Stationery and Seat Assignments: Sealed With Appeal ; Uplighting: Anything Music DJ’s; Photography: Erin & Natasha of Prevoir Photography

Lovestruck for Valentine's

A romantic wedding kicked up a notch to passionate...some might even say sexy...with sensuous details...rich fuschias and vibrant tones of pink and magenta...shimmering, sparkling silvers and crystals...and flowing fabrics with vintage details. That was our Valentine's Day style shoot here at The Oaks. From the raspberry-studded champagne to the glittery favor boxes and fragrant, ruffled floral arrangements, the tone of the day was clear: lovestruck. A feeling of pure and intense passion. Don't believe us? Check out the stunning photos from Live View Studios (http://www.liveviewstudios.com/wedding-couple-photography/lovestruck-a-valentines-inspired-wedding/). And, check out the feature on Raleigh Cake Pops that was included in the March/April issue of SavorNC magazine from this style shoot!

Special thanks to all the vendors who contributed to this special shoot:

Flowers and Event Design: Julie Liles; Hair/Makeup: Michelle Clark; Bridal Hairpieces & Accessories: Petals by KC; Jewelry: KnB’s Marketplace; Heirlooms & Extras: La Gartier; Cake Design: Frosted Bliss Cakes; Cake Pops: Raleigh Cake Pops; Stationery: Jacqueline Designs; Bridal Boutique: The Dancing Dress; Linens, Chairs & Cake Stand: Andy’s Tents & Events; Makeup: Karen Michelle Clark

Wedding Gowns Galore...with Cary Magazine!

The Oaks was selected as the backdrop for Cary Magazine's wedding dress feature section, "Wedding Whites", in their February issue. And not only that – one of the photos made the cover! We had a great time with the staff and models during the photo shoot, and we feel honored to have been chosen as the venue for such an elegant feature.

Each of the gowns, provided by Traditions by anna and Lana Addison Bridal, were breathtaking on models Gretta Handley and Katie Garfield. From exquisite lace and pops of color to the rising trend of going away dresses, this issue has you covered! Visit www.carymagazine.com to see more of these fabulous gowns.

Love Is In The Air...

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Check out this video from Big Dog Little Bed Productions...this was an absolutely magical affair at The Oaks, with love dripping from each and every moment. Laurie and Matt are such an amazing couple, and their wedding was brimming with intimate and meaningful details, like the blending ceremony with Matt's son. But wait, it gets even better...their wedding may be on national television!

Laurie flew to New York to shop at the famous Kleinfeld bridal boutique, and she was chosen in advance to be filmed for Say Yes to the Dress, a TLC show that follows brides on their journey to finding the perfect wedding dress. Hopefully their special day will make the final cut and be featured on the show. Either way, we know they (and their guests) will never forget the special day they created here at The Oaks!

Special thanks to all of their fabulous vendors:

Photographer: Carrie Richardson Fry Photography; Hair & Makeup: Jackie Bushnell, Twisted Scizzors; DJ: Joe Wells, Top Notch Entertainment; Officiant: Kayelilly Middleton; Cake: Stick Boy Bread Company; Food: Catering by Design; Florist: Exquisite Occasions (Roanoke Rapids, NC); Wedding Coordinator: David Dickens, Exquisite Occasions

Oooo La La!

Wedding Extraordinaire Alexandra Beauregard has chosen one of our style shoots to be featured on her blog site! Viva L’Event designed a romantic, vintage Parisian style wedding, using the classic contrast of soft pinks and navy blue. Pearls, luscious bouquets of textured florals, ribbons and lace, exquisite china, and unique accents like cameos and parasols all came together to make this a one-of-a-kind, custom tailored event for the bride and groom. Our pond and towering oaks, along with the rich architecture of the house, created the perfect setting for this elegant shoot. And of course, the stunning photography by Hilton Pittman Photography perfectly showcased each detail. Visit www.heartloveweddings.com/2012/01/vintage-parisian-styled-shoot-from-viva-levent to view all of the fabulous photos.

Special thanks to the vendors who contributed to this chic event:
Vintage Rentals: Suzanna’s Antiques & Viva L’Event
Hair: Blo Salon Team
Makeup: Kristi Martinson
Flowers: Tre Bella Flowers
Bride’s & Bridesmaid Dresses: Tre Bella, Inc Bridal
Stationery: Paperwhites Press
Wedding Dress: Tre Bella, Inc Bridal

Holiday Open House and Historical Home Tour...Oh My!

On December 4th, The Oaks at Salem opened its doors to welcome over 400 people for a double-header event. In the afternoon, the house was featured as a stop on the Apex Historical Home Tour - a self-guided tour through a select sampling of the town's most charming homes, each decorated magnificently for the holidays. In the evening, we hosted our own Holiday Open House, where amazing vendors from around the area set up displays with food, table settings, floral creations and more. The hit of the evening was a special dessert room with delectable sweets from some of the area's best caterers and bakeries! We'd like to thank each of the fabulous vendors who helped to make this event such a success, and everyone who came out to view the house in all its holiday splendor!

Event Planning & Design by Viva L'Event; Rentals by Party Reflections; Florals by Julie Liles Floral & Event Design, Tre Bella Florist, Flowers by Elizabeth, The English Garden and Fancy Bloomers; Photography by Christa Davidson Photography; Dessert by Ambrosia Cake Creations, Raleigh Cake Pops and Sweet Memories; Bridal Gowns by Tre Bella Bridal; Catering by Posh Nosh, Cook Shack and Daniel's Catering; DJ & Lighting by No Regret Productions; Photo Booth by Shutterbooth