Highgrove Favorite: Azul Photography

We wanted to share another one of our favorite vendors... Azul Photography! We absolutely love working with Christobal and his team of talented photographers and you won't find a more likable guy than Chris! Working with someone who makes you feel at ease, especially when emotions are running high during the wedding day is such an important quality to look for in a photographer, and Christobal certainly has that ability! His style is photojournalistic and he prides himself on getting the interesting and often overlooked angles and shots that others miss out on. 

Take a look at some of his work below and also on his blog and website.

You can also watch an interview with Christobal here from his Highgrove segment on My Carolina Today Show

More Than Just a Rehearsal Dinner

The wedding planning is done, everything is in order for the big day tomorrow... the ceremony rehearsal is finished and now it's time to really get the party started! Instead of just making your rehearsal dinner an extension of your wedding, consider the option to make it a personal, fun, and unique event all its own.

This is the event where you really get to enjoy the company of your closest family and friends from near and far without all the activity of the wedding day, without a photographer following your every move, and while you are still wearing an amazing (although a little more comfortable) outfit!

The Knot has some creative and fun ideas for making the rehearsal dinner more than just a meal at a restaurant-- check out that article right here! 

And don't forget some of the key elements to any memorable rehearsal dinner: 

Toasts: If the groom's parents are hosting the rehearsal dinner then they would give a toast to the new bride-to-be and her family (around dessert time). Sometimes the groom will also follow with a short speech to bride's family and bride as well.

Gift giving: The rehearsal dinner is the perfect opportunity for the bride and groom to give their bridal party their gifts and to thank them for being a part of their wedding celebration.

Whatever you do to celebrate your rehearsal, make it fun, memorable, and personal... something meaningful that everyone will remember!

Menu Tasting Event

It was a fabulous evening from beginning to end... we were so thrilled to feature some of our most popular menu items as well as spotlight some of new and exciting trends. Here are just a few pictures from our Menu Tasting Event last night! Thanks also to Flowers on Broad Street for the lovely decor and Island Sound DJs for the music.

Mini Corn Tacos with Fried Talapia and Fresh Salsa

Fresh Fruit Cosmos... colorful and refreshing for a wedding any time of the year.

Three of our signature drinks, created by our own bartenders. We had a Highgrove Zinger, a Sweet Tea Mojito and a Pineapple Spritzer-- colorful and delish!

The ballroom, set and ready for guests.

A peak at our Serrano Station with Cured Mangalista Ham.

Another ballroom shot with gorgeous Spring flowers.

One more picture... so pretty!

Just a peak at our homemade dessert station... fresh cannolis, cheesecake, and lemon meringue pies made by hand by our own chefs!

Chef's Corner- Strawberry Jam

Strawberries are in season and ready for… pretty much anything.

I tried for the first time to make preserves for gifts and they were a sweet success!

Start with 5 cups of the best strawberries you can find and mash them with a potato masher. Place them into a medium saucepan with ¼ cup of lemon juice.

Follow the directions on the pectin and add in the first half of the preserve powder. 
Note: After three different batches I found that Pomona’s pectin made the best preserves – rich, red, and jammy. 

Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat that can not be stirred down, stirring constantly. Add 4 cups of granulated sugar, stir well and bring to another hard boil. Remove from heat and skim the foam off the top.

Ladle hot jam into prepared hot jars and process.

Follow waterbath canning process at: http://www.freshpreserving.com/tools/waterbath-canning

I actually used an old large pot and drilled holes in an old tart pan for my waterbath process. Ace Hardware should have all you need to get started.

Yes, it’s a lot of work and takes some time, but the rewards of sharing this with neighbors and friends – priceless!

Now go and spread some love!

March Highgrove Wedding

We were so excited to celebrate with Emily and Travis on their wedding day on Sunday.  The weather was beautiful for the ceremony and afterwards guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the patio with crab cakes with Old Bay aioli sauce and pulled pork on corn crisp with roasted corn, sweet onion, red pepper and cilantro chutney.  We served our signature dishes of pecan crusted chicken with bourbon sauce and smoked beef brisket with Texas BBQ sauce on the buffet.  Along with the delicious wedding cake by Sweet Memories, guests enjoyed the Krispy Kreme Flambe and a candy bar.  The bride did such a creative job with designing her guest book, the table arrangements and the candy buffet.  Congrats to the happy couple and we wish you all the best in this new journey!

Guest book

Ceremony

Ballroom

Candy Buffet

March Highgrove Wedding

We were so excited to celebrate with Joy and Dan this past weekend in our first wedding of the season! The rain was pouring down during the rehearsal the day before, but the day of the wedding the skies were dry and the mood was excited and full of joy! The menu featured our Cuban Sandwiches and Fried Green Tomatoes with Pimento Cheese along with our Family Style dinner of Pecan Crusted Bourbon Chicken, Beef, Garlic Roasted Mashed Tomatoes and Seasonal Vegetables. The night ended with delicious cake and our Krispy Kreme Flambe Station. Congrats to the happy couple!

The ceremony

Ballroom for the reception

Simple, sweet wedding cake

Guest tables with a view of the donut station in the back!

The guest book was a Jenga game that guests signed their names on

The foot washing during the ceremony

Highgrove Fashion Show Recap

It was a fabulous evening last Thursday night as 150 guests attended our first ever Highgrove/Cousin Couture Fashion Show! The theme was Spring Into Fashion and the runway featured models dressed in   20 different trendy and upcoming styles for this season. The first walk down the runway included all white ensembles, which were elegant and sophisticated for any occasion. The second walk down the runway included a variety of colors, patterns, and fabrics that would brighten up any Spring day!

Miss North Carolina, Beth Stovall was our featured guest who both modeled during the show and sang a tune for us.. a fun number by the Jackson 5!

After signing in and receiving a gift bag filled with coupons and homemade Highgrove Raspberry Jam, guests were presented with a Highgrove signature Mocktail-- Raspberry Mojito. In the ballroom guests dined on individual mini Chinese take-out boxes filled with our Sesame Chicken Pasta... complete with chopsticks! The appetizers table also included Pulled Pork Sliders on homemade Sesame Rolls. The desserts were displayed in our bookcase and included sweet and colorful French Macaroons, Mini Fruit Cheesecakes, Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies, Banana Creme Pie Shots, and our Fresh Fruit Cosmos with Key Lime Sauce.

It was a special night for all and many thanks to Renee Sprink for coming out to photograph the event (her pictures are coming soon...) and fantastic Emcee and DJ, Jason from Stylus S.E.

The white fashions

The spring colored fashions

Miss North Carolina singing for us

The gift bags that each guest received upon arrival

Cousin Couture PopUp Shop

More dresses to choose from... all gorgeous!

Sesame Chicken Pasta in take-out boxes

Fresh Fruit Cosmos