Post Super Bowl Shuffle - First Friday Raleigh, February 6

The Post Super Bowl Blues: Ok, you got through the holidays unscathed. January came and went like a flash (except for those bills). And, last night you attended your umpteenth "Super Bowl / Ad" party. Now comes that post Super Bowl funk ... a whole month of nothing until March Madness. That's why the good people at Hallmark and (pick your jeweler / chocolate maker) invented Valentine's Day. But wait ... First Friday Raleigh is this week and the galleries, bars, & restaurants have teed up a sensory surprise. So shed those Super Bowl blues, grab your coat, and shuffle off to First Friday Raleigh. February never looked better. Information.

Birds of a Feather at 311 Gallery: Come see a juried show featuring nine artists celebrating things that just plain go together. 311 Gallery challenged these artists to take this "Birds of a Feather" metaphor of personification and apply it to our modern world. Opening Reception is 6 to 9 pm on First Friday at 311 Gallery -311 West Martin Street, Raleigh. Website 

BIG & SMALL at Adam Cave Fine Art: February will be a busy month at Adam Cave starting with First Friday.  Come see BIG & SMALL- a group show featuring new works by many or their award-winning artists. This show features printmaking, photography, and small paintings, alongside large works by some of their best known artists. The reception is 6-9 pm at Adam Cave Fine Art - 115-1/2 East Hargett Street, 2nd Floor. Website 

Azaleas and Old Bricks: The Charleston Photographs at Gallery C:  Born in New Bern, NC Bayard Wootten is one of the American South's most significant female photographers. Her visits to Charleston and the surrounding area in the 1930's resulted in an important publication in 1937, "Charleston: Azaleas and Old Brick". This exhibition at Gallery C includes seventeen original silver gelatin photographs that are pictured in the book. Reception is from 6-9 pm at Gallery C - 540 N. Blount St. Raleigh. Website 

Collegiate Design Event - High Cotton: This year marks the Second Annual High Cotton Collegiate Design Competition. The winner's design will be printed on fabric and will become a bow tie for High Cotton's 2015 Spring line. Come meet this year's contest winner, Meredith West, and view her winning design at the First Friday 6 - 8 pm event. Wine from the Wine Feed will be served.  High Cotton Ties - 19 W Hargett Street, Suite 100, Raleigh. Website 

Chirba Chirba & Nicklepoint Brewery at Brushstroke Gallery: Brushstroke Studio and Gallery is a working studio and art gallery located in Downtown Raleigh. Throughout the year, Brushstroke features the works of local artists and photographers and host a variety of educational and fun workshops. Join them for First Friday from 6 - 8 pm and savor the amazing flavors of the Chirba Chirba Dumpling Truck, and local brewer, Nicklepoint Brewing Co. at 520 N. West Street, Raleigh. Website 

Here Comes the Guide - Tips in Wedding Planning 

(Article 1) 

As someone who's been there and lived to tell the tale, (MOB on 11-15-14) I'm happy to share wedding advise while still fresh on my mind. Be it small and intimate or large and loud, there

Photo by Mike Bayley Photography  www.mikebayleyphoto.com

are ways to go beyond and above your expectations, turning your visions into a reality. So listen up!   

Set Your Priorities - Make a list of what's important to you. That will help determine your budget. Discuss the wedding budget and who will pay for what. Skip the rituals that don't really matter and splurge on the most important things.

With priority list in hand, begin to work on the things at the top of the list first. For example: My bride & groom wanted Sleeping Booty Band as their #1 pick being most important to them. So we had to book them quickly. Don't assume all vendors will be available for the same day even if you're planning 12 to 14 months in advance. Many times you'll find that your date, time of day, or venues will have to change in order for you to book that most important vendor on your list. So flexibly is key and will keep your sanity in tack. Stay calm and carry on!

Tips in Searching Venues - Determine the style and theme of your wedding whether this be formal, semi-formal, informal and for how many guest. Number of guests is just as important at this point in planning as it is when determining catering costs. The venue space needs to fit your style and the people it holds. There's nothing worse than having a venue space that's too large which can make the area feel too open and sparse. And/or the size of the space will

Sleeping Booty Band

determined how many guests you may invite.

Vet Your Wedding Vendors As Thoroughly As Possible - Even if a vendor is recommended by someone you know or by your wedding planner, if their service is essential to the wedding going well, make sure you're absolutely on the same page. Make sure you're not taken advantage of due to your wedding naivet�. In addition to interviewing them and seeing samples of their work, see if you can do a test run or see the vendors' work in an actual setting. This will tell you whether they can deliver for you and if they are accommodating to your particular requests.

Make Lots and Lots of Lists - There are several wedding magazines and online sites with very helpful lists. Use them and make more as the months go by and the planning becomes more comprehensive. Here are just a few for starters. BuzzFeed has a collection of diagrams for planning every aspect of a wedding and RealSimple offers another checklists. Save them to your Notes, Evernote, Dropbox or whatever wedding folder you're creating and use them. The Southern Weddings Planner is a binder notebook collection of advice and resources for a bride, written by the editors of the magazine. The Southern Weddings Planner includes 10 in-depth sections with plenty of space for brainstorming, gathering inspiration, and keeping track of important information. This planner is $36, a great engagement gift.

So What's Next? - With our wealth of information and recommendations of some of the best experts in the South, in next week's issue we'll provide you with some of the best experienced professionals who pay attention to detail and execute flawlessly. It's our mission to help make your event unforgettable.