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# News

# Welcoming Melissa, our new Venue Manager!

March 8, 2016 Keith Alm

We’re thrilled to announce that Melissa Fedorovich has joined the Ritchie Hill team as Venue Manager, responsible for day-to-day operations and working with each of our clients to host spectacular events.

Melissa began her career in hospitability more than 10 years ago, later earning a degree in Hospitality Management from The Culinary Institute of America in 2010. Along the way, she worked for venues and vendors across the US and Europe, learning what it takes to create seamless occasions.

Her passion for turning a client’s special vision into a reality makes her the perfect addition to our team. Please join us in welcoming Melissa to Ritchie Hill!

You can contact Melissa at melissa@ritchiehill.com or (704) 975-5088.

# Pop of Color: Styled Inspiration by Erin Padgett Events

October 6, 2015 Elizabeth Sherrill

After a dreary, rain-filled week here in North Carolina, enjoy some colorful wedding inspiration from Erin Padgett Events!

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# Whimsical Inspiration: Styled Shoot on the Hill

July 15, 2015 Elizabeth Sherrill

When we saw the details for this shoot, we knew it was going to be one of our favorites. The decor from Vintage Charlotte and Old South Vintage Rentals alone is enough to make your heart beat fast. Add in golden desserts from Wow Factor Cakes with succulents and bright tabletop arrangements by The Blossom Shop and we just flat our died. Can I get married over again, please? I obviously missed out!

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# Romantic Styled Shoot on the Hill

July 6, 2015 Elizabeth Sherrill

A romantic styled shoot on Ritchie Hill featured in this month's Carolina Bride magazine!

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# Hats & Heels on the Hill

June 8, 2015 Elizabeth Sherrill

It's no secret we are a big fan of Southern Charm around here. Our first bridal shower on Ritchie Hill in April was everything we imagined and more. The perfect Southern affair! Hydrangeas, lace, big hats, high heels, front porch sitting, and the sweetest group of women gathered to celebrate the beautiful bride-to-be, Amanda.

I love the special touches they added to this shower. The pastel color palette was idyllic. My favorite detail might be the vintage suitcase for collecting cards. Although, seeing a crystal bowl of buttermints brought back many childhood memories! My Aunt Margaret always seemed to have a candy dish (or two) of buttermints laying around Ritchie Hill.

How gorgeous is this crowd!? Southern belles dressed to the nines.

Thank you for celebrating on the Hill and best wishes to Amanda!

XOXO, Liz

Venue: Ritchie Hill

Flowers & Linens: Chelish Moore Flowers

Photographer: Ken Thomas Photography

Tables & Chairs: Classic Party Rentals

Caterer: Melissa Shoupe, Another Successful Event

# Hot Now: Tasty Wedding Trends

June 5, 2015 Elizabeth Sherrill

In the world of wedding blogs and Pinterest, the traditional wedding dessert is changing forms. Where there once was wedding cake, we now see homemade assorted pies, s'mores bars, candy bars, etc. And why not? Your wedding day should be a reflection of you, and maybe you're just not a cake person!

In honor of National Doughnut Day, we thought we'd share one of our favorite wedding trends: doughnuts! Because who DOESN'T love doughnuts? (No one. It's impossible.) From the Ritchie Hill front porch, sometimes, on those amazing days when the wind is just right, we catch a whiff of the Krispy Kreme bakery on Wilshire Avenue.

This neat treat provides the perfect, bite-size wedding dessert and doubles as a wedding favor! You can dress doughnut holes up in personalized boxes, or have an open doughnut bar with all of your favorite flavors. You can even make them yourself! Check out one recipe here.

Visit our Ritchie Hill Pinterest board for some other trendy treat ideas! In the meantime, see which stores are giving out free doughnuts today!

XOXO, Liz

# Life on the Farm at Ritchie Hill

May 15, 2015 Jessica Eudy

Here’s to sustainable farming, and a look back to our farming days up on Ritchie Hill.

Tonight, we’re proud to be part of a benefit dinner, hosted by Scott Avett and the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, to benefit the Lomax Incubator Farm. Lomax Farm is an incredible organization that helps individuals in our region start farm-based businesses. These days, we rarely stop to think where our food comes from – but we should. The businesses that grow at Lomax Farm not only cultivate the next generation of farmers, but ultimately establish a sustainable local food economy and help all of us live healthier lives.

As we learned more about Lomax Farm these past months, it got us thinking about Ritchie Hill. Only a generation ago, Ritchie Hill sat on 11 acres. It was considered “in the country” and featured a modest, but sustainable farm. We didn’t know the specifics, though, so we did a family poll, even looked at fire marshal records and old insurance documents. All information combined, we were able to assemble an approximate picture of what the Ritchie Hill Farm looked like.

A vegetable garden, apples, blackberries, chives, mint, fresh eggs, cheese, milk, bacon; there were even guinea pigs, a pet flying squirrel, and a pony whose name no one can recall, yet we’ve confirmed it had one leg longer than the others and required special horseshoes.

Patterson’s Grocery would bring a horse and buggy to Ritchie Hill early in the morning to pick up chicken and other produce to sell in their store.

Before the home’s restoration, a shed stood on the right side of the property that was once used for boiling water and field dressing animals. Just across the yard, Uncle Dan kept bird dogs. During the 20’s and 30’s, hunting parties would come down from up North and quail hunting trips would be arranged through the Ritchie Hardware store. My grandfather, Lee Ritchie, said “those Northerners” preferred the “gamey taste” of quail and requested they not be gutted for three days. Gross.

The Ritchie’s farm was certainly a sustainable (and probably delicious) source of food for the family and the city. Recalling these stories reminds us of how rare and important farm-fresh goods are, and the significance of places like the Lomax Incubator Farm. It’s a lost art that we benefit from greatly. We thank those who continue this tradition and urge you to take a look at the Lomax Incubator Farm! We wish them all the success in the world.

# 2015 Women in Business Conference {Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce}

April 23, 2015 Jessica Eudy

The Ritchie family (and myself) are huge fans of the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce. Patrick, Ali, Paige and Danielle have been a huge part of our grand opening and our success so far! Needless to say, when we get the opportunity to “study” with them, we jump at it! They hosted their annual Women in Business Conference & Appreciation Event last Friday. I attended the conference portion and was truly inspired by Denise Ryan, their keynote speaker, and the Women in Business panel that followed.

Denise Ryan is a “motivational pyromaniac with infectious energy and enthusiasm that will set a room ablaze” according to her bio provided by the Chamber. Boy, were they right?! Her advice on being a powerful woman and paying attention to body language and how we present ourselves was something every female in today’s world should hear! INCREDIBLE! My favorite quote of her session: “Carry yourself like a leader and you’ll be treated like a leader!”

Then the Women in Business panel discussion lead by Cyndie Mynatt, President of Ben Mynatt Family of Dealerships began. The panelists consisted of Diane Honeycutt of Allen Tate Realtors and Cabarrus County Commissioner, Patricia Horton – Regional President of Uwharrie Bank, Veleria Levy – Senior Account Executive for MedExpress/AVITA Drugs, and Dianne Synder, DHA – Chancellor of Cabarrus College of Health Sciences. Wow, what a group of powerful women!

Here are my favorite quotes from their discussion.

Fear of Public Speaking: “If you don’t speak, someone else will. You need to be heard.” –Pat Horton

Hiring & Networking with Women: “Know your worth.” –Veleria Levy

Memorable Failures: “The time I failed was when I didn’t trust my gut feeling.” –Pat Horton

Dressing for Power: “You only get one time for a first impression!” –Diane Honeycutt

Work/Life Balance: “Women want to be all things to all people. You just can’t. Prioritizing is huge but hard.” –Pat Horton

Your one “do-over:” “I put things on hold or missed time with my children. You can’t do that over. Family comes first.” –Dianne Snyder

If you ever get the opportunity to be mentored by any of these ladies, jump at the opportunity!

After the panel discussion and a delicious lunch catered by Doughgirls Catering, there was an exhibitor show, where Ritchie Hill served cheese straws and collected names for one lucky lady to win a business luncheon at Ritchie Hill, catered with boxed lunches by Queen City Catering!

We’re happy to announce that Timbs Fulghum of Carolinas Medical Center NorthEast won the luncheon. Congrats Timbs! And thank you to the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce for allowing us to be a part of their annual Women in Business Conference. As you call tell, I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Also, a quick thank you to Chelish Moore Flowers for providing our beautiful tablecloth; Ritchie Hill Bakery for the yummy cheese straws and Irresistible Portraits for the gorgeous print from our Grand Opening.

XOXO

Jessica

# Hitched On The Hill: Kaitlin & Jarrett {04.10.2015}

April 19, 2015 Jessica Eudy

Although we can't say this was technically the FIRST wedding on Ritchie Hill, it was the first as the "new" Ritchie Hill. We were honored to host the wedding of Kaitlin and Jarrett on April 10th, along with their rehearsal dinner on the 9th. The weather cooperated. The flowers were in bloom and it was perfect if you ask me!

Kaitlin and Jarrett decided on Ritchie Hill as their venue during the stage of serious construction but they could visualize how incredible the house would be! It was fun to see their reactions at occasional visits to see the progress. Needless to say, they were thrilled with the final outcome!

Kaitlin is an art teacher and met Jarrett's mom, who's also a teacher at the same school. Jarrett's mom said she knew before they even met that Kaitlin would be her daughter-in-law. (That's so sweet!) After some matchmaking efforts, she introduced them and now they are Mr & Mrs Bumgarner!

Take a look at our sneak peek from the talented Ron & Briana of Love Shutter...

{VENDORS} Venue: Ritchie Hill | Photographer: Love Shutter | Tent & Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Caterer: Chef's Catering | Cake: Cook's Cakes | Florist: Midway Florist | DJ: Drew Parham of DJ America | Officiant: Rick of Mecklenburg Community Church | Bridal Gown & Bridesmaid Dresses: New York Bride & Groom | Hair: Myli of Hair Expressions | Tuxedos: Men's Warehouse.

Congrats to Kaitlin & Jarrett! It was a pleasure working with you and I wish you a blessed marriage and years of happiness!

XOXO,

Jessica

# Porch Chit Chat: Independent Tribune {Historic Concord house reborn, ready to entertain}

April 19, 2015 Jessica Eudy

James Nix \ jnix@independenttribune.com

# Historic Concord house reborn, ready to entertain

CONCORD, N.C. – A historic house on Union Street made its debut Friday as a banquet home, the first to operate in a residential area of the city.

Ritchie Hill, the 3,791-square-foot house built in 1906, was recently renovated by the Ritchie family and will now serve as a venue for weddings, corporate events, parties and family gatherings.

"They preserved and enhanced what already was,” said Concord Mayor Scott Padgett. "They’re going to be good neighbors, and it’s a win-win. We’re very proud of it.”

Banquet homes are large, historic homes used for weddings, parties, corporate retreats and other events. They have gained popularity as a type of land use throughout North Carolina, giving families like the Ritchies a way to make the homes self-sustaining and to generate funds to help keep the homes in good repair.

Heath Ritchie and his three siblings - Robert, Ritchie, Doug Ritchie and Beth Alm, asked Concord City Council to consider allowing banquet homes in residential areas of Concord as one last chance to find a new use for their family’s historic Victorian-style home, which has been in the family for more than 100 years.

Heath Ritchie and his wife and children were the last of the Ritchies to actually live in the home. Before that, several generations have always lived in the home at once. But it’s too big for any of them now to live in and maintain.

In 2008, they placed the 3,791-square-foot house on the market for $900,000. It did not sell. So they came up with a new idea -- a wedding venue.

The Ritchie family asked Concord City Council to change an ordinance to allow banquet homes in residential areas – and to give them a way to keep the house in the family.

Concord City Council voted to allow special-use permits for banquet homes.

Original article published in Independent Tribune, Sunday, March 29, 2015. Online article here.

# A special opening weekend, thanks to some very special sponsors.

April 3, 2015 Keith Alm

Food, flowers, wine, photography, decoration, gifts, music, and friends - these are the things great parties are made of.

Our opening weekend wouldn't have been nearly as great a party without a handful of talented sponsors who brought our home to life. Thanks for turning our vision of gatherings up on the hill into a reality!

We'd like to extend a special thanks to the following partners.

Classic Party Rentals - Providing the highest quality of tenting, draping, lighting, furniture and elegant tableware and linens.

Chelish Moore Flowers - Creating one of a kind experiences for each amazing client, specializing in wedding and special events from quaint small gatherings to large lavish events.

Queen City Catering - Bringing a passion for exquisite culinary experience featuring the highest caliber of service, trend setting design, and attention to even the smallest details.

Bistro Catering and Events - Offering full service off site events for any size group up to 2000 guests, from a locally owned business located in Historic Downtown Concord.

Shutter Hutch Photo Booths and Videography - Providing handcrafted photo booths built with fun in mind, and wedding cinematography that captures events professionally, with a creative flair.

Cakespirations - Specializing in custom cakes, sugar sculpture, dessert tables, French pastry, designer cup cakes, cake pops, hand painted French macarons and more.

Matt Stratford Band - Singing with a voice said by many to be the best in the region, his smooth and inviting tone grabs the listener by the ear and does not let go. He is rapidly becoming the most requested and booked musician in the state.

Icing on the Edge - Creating custom works of art in cake exclusively for wedding celebrations and large events - where cakes with exquisite flavor meet extraordinary style.

The Bead Lady - Offering a full-service bead shop an custom design studio that specializes in creating beautiful and unique jewelry pieces for any occasion.

Skip Erdman Events - Filming in stunning HD cinematic style, Skip Erdman captures the beauty of your special day.

Ritchie Hill Bakery - Baking the south's finest cheese straws with a Ritchie family recipe handed down for generations.

# Porch Chit Chat: Cabarrus Magazine {The New Kid on the Block}

April 1, 2015 Jessica Eudy

By: Kim Cassell

### There are a number of wedding/reception venues in Cabarrus County Suited to just about every taste – whether it be upscale and formal or outdoors and rustic.

Ritchie Hill is an impressive Queen Anne Victorian home located at 391 Union Street S., in historic downtown Concord; it truly cannot be missed by the passer-by. It’s also the newest event venue in Concord. According to Peter Kaplan, author of The Historic Architecture of Cabarrus County North Carolina, the Caldwell-Ritchie house was built circa 1902. Heath Ritchie says Charles F. Ritchie purchased the home and 11 acres of adjacent land between 1906 and 1913. His additions included a deep wrap-around porch, a porte-cochere (coach gate or carriage porch) and sleeping porches for two upstairs bedrooms. Electricity and plumbing were most likely added at that time as well.

The land was farmed until Ritchie’s death in 1941 and subsequent generations of family members continued living in the home until Heath and wife Carolyn moved out in 2008. By that point, the home was in need of extensive renovations, but no one in the family was up to the task. “The family, begrudgingly, decided to list the home for sale,” Elizabeth Ritchie Sherrill says. “A few people looked at it as a possible B&B, and a few more as a home, but no one seemed to like the 4,000-square-foot house with the 1,800-square-foot porch with the four-plus acres, every inch of which needed some TLC.”

The idea of transforming the family home into a wedding venue came from the most unlikely of places. In 2011 – around the time she was, herself, getting married – Sherrill had been given the first book in The Bride Quartet series by her mother, Carolyn. The books chronicle four friends who create a wedding venue from a family estate and operate it themselves.

“A few of my friends and I read it together,” Sherrill says. “From there, I casually mentioned it to family as a ‘what-if’ idea and everyone fell in love. We began discussing it as a dream, which turned into an opportunity. We are so lucky to have a very talented family, which includes both business and artistic minds.”

Before any renovating could take place, however, legal matters had to be attended to.

“Not only is the home in a residential neighborhood, it is considered a ‘pivotal structure’ in the South Union Street Historic District, the highest level of architectural importance,” Heath Ritchie says. “We first informed the Historic Preservation Commission of our intent in hopes they would be receptive to the concept. Next step was to petition the Planning and Zoning Commission to write legal statutes to allow such a project. Public hearings were held, and laws were written and sent to City Council to be discussed. After debate and more public hearings, ordinances were enacted to allow ‘banquet homes’ as a conditional use in the city limits, with many restrictions.”

What followed? A trip back to the Historic Preservation Commission to apply for a certificate of approp-riateness; another public hearing and debate; approval from the Historic Preservation Commission; and back to Planning and Zoning for a conditional use permit under the new laws.

“The process takes time, but between Commission meetings we completed designs, arranged financing, selected our contractor, etc., so we would be ready to start,” Ritchie says.

The Ritchies’ plan from the very beginning was to bring their home back to its original glory. “The house had two kitchens, so we combined them to form a large catering kitchen and prep area,” Sherrill says. “We graded a portion of the back yard to form a 60-foot by 80-foot grass pad for tenting or overflow parking. The majority of the house and porch have just been brought to new again with fresh paint, refinished floors, new crown molding, etc.”

“The home has, for over 100 years, proven itself to be a welcoming place for extended family and friends,” Heath Ritchie adds. “Very few changes were necessary or desired to allow us to share it with others. Floor supports were added to allow for larger groups of guests, electrical wiring – some 90 years old – was replaced to meet code, new paint inside and out, handicapped bathroom and accessibility were added, and wider driveways and more formal landscaping were required for wedding options.”

Potential clients are being given tours of the facility, projected to be completed by the 15th of this month. “The first floor of the home has a music room, living room, library and formal dining room, all of which are open for interior event space,” Sherrill explains. “For brides and grooms who rent the space, the home features a groom’s lounge, bridal suite with private bath, separate upstairs changing room, two interior guest restrooms, a fire pit and a butler’s pantry bar.”

The Ritchies have developed a pricing structure, with various packages available. “For Friday and Saturday events, we do include a table and chair rental package,” Sherrill says. “While we plan to acquire many décor items and additional perks as we go along, our main purpose is to provide a classic, timeless location for a Southern wedding. We want our brides and grooms to add their own touch as they see fit. We allow outside caterers, DJs, coordinators, etc.”

Depending on how much of the facility one needs to rent, prices vary from $250 per hour (minimum of two hours) for the first floor of the house and front porch on a Friday morning, to $6,500 for use of the whole estate for a full-on Friday and Saturday wedding event.

“Whether it’s spending a relaxing afternoon on the front porch for a book club or sitting conference-style at our family’s dining room table reviewing a presentation, we are ready for it all! Since the home has been empty for so long, we can’t wait to have it used as much as possible,” Sherrill adds.

What has made this endeavor a little easier is that every family member has jumped in with both feet, taking on tasks and managing projects. “The only missing link was our director of operations to run the venue. We could not have asked for anyone better than Jessica Eudy (704-975-5088 or Jessica@ritchiehill.com), who is a recent bride herself and has years of experience in various aspects of the wedding and event industry,” Sherrill says.

She adds, “As a family member who has personally lived in the house, I know first-hand that we could not be more blessed to have the neighbors and community that we do. Everyone has been so positive and receptive to our dream. We are so excited for the relationships we have already formed with local vendors in downtown Concord and around Cabarrus County, and cannot wait to see what our first year of events holds!”

Original article published in Cabarrus Magazine, February 2015. Online article here.

# Flowers, Linens & Moore

March 25, 2015 Jessica Eudy

If you’ve met Chelish Moore, you’ll never forget her spunky personality and endless knowledge of events! Give her a color and a style and let her creative mind run wild. Chelish Moore, owner and designer of Chelish Moore Flowers, is a jill of all trades.

Her business name underestimates her inventory of linens, props, furniture, and gorgeous floral designs. The variety of her inventory allows her to be able to design any style of event – from vintage to bling and everything in between!

Q: What’s your favorite part of a wedding?

A: Every bride is different and that keeps me on my toes! I’m not happy unless my brides are happy!

Q: How did you become a florist?

A: I started working in the industry in high school. It’s all I’ve ever done!

Q: How have weddings changed in your years of experience?

A: When I started, wedding receptions were mints and punch. It’s VERY different!

Q: What’s your favorite flower?

A: Hydrangea… in any color! It gives arrangements size and texture.

Q: What do you need to get through a Saturday? (I ask because I already know the answer.)

A: Sundrop.

Chelish is providing florals, props, and some linens for all three days of our grand opening this week. I hope you’ll stop by to see her work in person!

A friend & happy bride of Ms. Moore,

Jessica

# Make it Classic!

March 20, 2015 Jessica Eudy

When we first began envisioning Ritchie Hill, before all else, we dreamed of the events that would take place there. Everyone has their own style and we wanted that to be reflected in each event. When we started exploring rental options we didn’t have to look far. We fell in love with Classic Party Rentals in Charlotte. Their customer service, love for events, and variety of rental options blew us away. They had a solution for every situation we threw at them!

CPR is the nation’s leading provider of special events rentals. They have even provided rentals for the Oscars! They specialize in large-scale events; everything from corporate occasions and fundraisers to back yard BBQs and weddings. Aside from tenting, CPR’s showroom also features linens, chairs, place settings, and anything else you might need for your event. The Charlotte branch alone holds over 100 years of experience in working in the event industry!

Meet Amanda and Andrew, our amazing representatives from Classic Party Rentals. Amanda is an Account Executive at the Charlotte location. Andrew is the General Manager of the Charlotte branch and previously owned a catering company. He, along with his entire Events Team, understands the challenges a wedding can create.

We asked them a few questions to help you plan your wedding and get to know your local CPR team:

Q: What is your favorite part of the wedding day?

Amanda: I am a big fan of color. Linens are a wonderful way to add shimmer and vibrancy to any wedding. If you plan to have catering tables, gift tables, a cake table, etc.; considering adding specialty linens to those areas to tie in all your flowers, décor & colors.

Andrew: When the bride walks down the aisle. I have over 20 years working in special events and I still tear up watching every wedding.

Q: If you could offer up one piece of advice to a bride planning her wedding, what would it be?

Amanda: Pay attention to details you like and/or your wedding planner suggests. It can really enhance your event & make it extra special in some creative & memorable ways. Remember the day is about you and your fiancé, enjoy it!

Andrew: Be realistic about your budget. Don’t leave yourself with buyer’s remorse after the Big Day. Work with your vendors to select items you love that will not break the bank. The bills should not overshadow the memories.

Q: What are some rental items clients commonly overlook?

Amanda: Lighting: creating ambiance can enhance your event. Whether you look into adding dim lights, up lights, rope lights, Tuscan lights and/or votives; changing the lighting can help you create a wonderful atmosphere. Up lights with color gels can be your most powerful pop to get the ooh’s and ah’s you are looking for. If you put the right lighting in your space the rest will be easy.

Andrew: Coat racks, power supply (generators), and trash cans.

Q: What are some ways to spruce up the inside of a reception tent?

Amanda: Swaging the tent ceiling with colored crystal organza or imperial taffeta. Swagging adds just the right amount of texture to your ceiling to excite your guests and lift their eyes. Colored trays for butler passed hors d’eouvres can help highlight your menu selection. Furniture placed in areas to give guest lounge seating. Look into using various styles & colors with accents.

Andrew: Swaging the interior roof with taffeta, organza or velon makes a bold statement. Lighting is also a great way to add drama to a tent – up-lights in particular. And, cover up those tent poles! Draping for tent legs is a must!

Q: And lastly, what is your favorite Southern tradition?

Amanda: I look forward to my “Supper Club” every month. I call it my favorite day of the month because it gives me the opportunity to have fun planning a get together with my dear friends.

Andrew: Taking a caramel cake to a funeral. You’ve been here for generations if you know to do that (and even longer if you know how to make one!)

Want to learn more? Visit their website or give them a shout! And be sure to attend our grand opening on Ritchie Hill March 28th & 29th to check out some of the amazing rental items they have available!

XOXO, Liz

# Where Old Meets New

March 12, 2015 Jessica Eudy

I am lucky enough to have grown up on Ritchie Hill. It started out as my grandmother’s house: a holiday destination, the go-to for family gatherings, and the beholder of my great childhood memories. Then, in my teenage years, my family moved to Concord and lived in the home. I spent summers on the front porch and winters by the fireplace. Now, not only will the Ritchie family continue making memories in this home we love so much, but we have opened our doors to other families who will write their own stories on Ritchie Hill.

I love Ritchie Hill for many reasons, most of which are from memories shared in the house. But what I love most is something new. Across state lines and phone lines, our immediate family has been intensively involved in this project from start to finish. We have watched the home be stripped down and then picked back up again. We feel as if this were meant to be, each a piece of the puzzle in bringing the home back to life. Watching the reaction across generations of family members as they see the home’s transformation has created memories I will always cherish.

As our renovation comes to an end, our grand opening weekend grows ever closer. Boxes are arriving daily and finishing details are being put in place. We wanted to recreate photos taken at the start of construction and come full circle to document the end of renovation. Thanks to Concord NC Wedding Photographer Carolina Portrait Designs for making this happen! We emerged with some wonderful images, and cannot wait to FINALLY reveal the home at our grand opening weekend, March 27th-29th! Another big thank you to Reliable Woodworks and their crew for the blood, sweat, and tears poured into this revitalization.

We hope to see you all up on Ritchie Hill!

XOXO,

Liz

# Get Planning!

March 6, 2015 Jessica Eudy

When you first begin to plan your wedding, you start with the fun stuff: Where will it be? What will my dress look like? Who will make up my bridal party? You go buy wedding magazines and fold down pages with your bridesmaids, while simultaneously pinning more things than you have in, well…ever! You see potential wedding color schemes on your cereal box, make note of every hair style (good and bad) on your evening TV shows, and start purchasing notebooks like mad woman to list everything you could possibly list. While the entirety of the planning process should be fun, it doesn’t always work out that way. If you’re anything like me, you quickly find out how much you do NOT know about planning a wedding. So, one of those first questions should be, “Do I want a wedding planner?”

There are limitless positives to hiring a wedding planner. The only question is how it will fit into your wedding budget. But trust me, it is well worth it! When you are talking about a once in a lifetime event, it can be worth a little extra to make sure you actually enjoy it.

Read Lauren’s breakdown to help decide which planning services might be best for your big day!

Hi! I’m Lauren, Executive Planner and Lead Designer at Southern Savvy Events. Since no two brides are the same, there are a variety of planning and coordination services. The most common are Full Planning, Partial Planning and Coordination. Additionally, there are design packages, hourly consultations and A La Carte items often available to fit your needs. Though the package descriptions may vary from planner to planner, each service has unique characteristics and it is important to have an understanding of those to find your best fit!

Full Planning - I like to refer to this package as “all inclusive”. When you book a full planning package it includes design, as well as all aspects involved in wedding planning (venue scouting, vendor referrals, budgeting, timelines, etc.). Your planner is in constant contact with you and your vendors. Think of it as a personal assistant - you will most likely see your planner as often as your Maid of Honor! There are no maximum amount of hours or meetings and no part of the planning process we are not a part of. When you book full planning you are gifting yourself with a full time wedding assistant throughout your engagement. Now, go pour that glass of wine and relax!

Coordination - This service acts as a guide to finalize details for wedding day. It is for the bride who has booked almost all of her vendors and has plenty of time to maintain her budget, design/decor and vendor details. Your coordinator’s main role leading up to wedding day is tying up all the loose ends. We handle scheduling for your vendors and wedding party, setup and decor and ensuring that the entire day runs smoothly. The lead time on this package can vary from “30 days”, “60 days” or a set amount of hours.

Partial Planning - If you feel like you don’t quite need Full Planning, but Coordination isn’t hands on enough for you, Partial would be a good fit. Differing from Full Planning, Partial is based around a set amount of planning hours. For example, with this package I normally attend about 75% of my clients’ vendor meetings. This would be a good fit if you have a vision for your day in mind, but need assistance bringing it to life.

The most important thing to remember when selecting a planning package - everything can be customized to fit you needs.

Cheers!

To reach Lauren and learn more about Southern Savvy Events, visit her website!

Happy planning Ritchie Hill brides!
XOXO Liz

# 50 Shades of Overwhelmed

February 14, 2015 Jessica Eudy

You’re engaged! (Congrats!) You thought attending the area bridal shows would be the perfect solution to help kick start your wedding planning. You and your groom (or if your groom was lucky enough to get a pass, then your maid of honor…) geared up to hit the big show in our area and you set out to find the PERFECT wedding vendors.

You attended the show with almost 200 vendors, where I’m assuming you had a blast! You tasted caterers’ food, bakers’ cakes, watched a runway show with fabulous dresses, and got some great design ideas. You arrived home with a 10 pound (cute) bag from the show, stuffed with business cards, handouts and goodies. You sat on the floor, dumped the bag.., and the anxiety set in. You pulled out the goodies, including our Ritchie Hill koozie with delicious Ritchie Hill Bakery cheese straws (wink), and then realize there is a massive amount of information lying on your floor.

What do you do now? How are you going to organize all this info? Should you end the anxiety by just throwing it all away? No. There is hope. Below are just a few tips to help you organize your bridal show material…

1 – Get sticky notes, a pen and a trash can.

2 – Write a sticky note for each category of vendors: photographers, cakes, caterer, DJ, venue, dress, etc.

3 – Sift through the pile and stack them according to the categories.

4 – If you’ve already decided on a vendor for any of the categories, throw that pile away.

5 – Go through a pile, one category at a time and mark any card of vendors you remember talking to. (If you recall a conversation, amongst the hundreds you probably had, then you may have “clicked” with that vendor, which is a huge part of the planning process.)

6 – Check out the websites of each card in that pile and their reviews on WeddingWire. Only keep 1-3 of your favorites. This will give you options in case one is already booked on your date. Throw away the rest.

Now that you have smaller piles, you can start your planning! I hope this helps.

Happy (less stressful) planning!

Jessica

# Our First Appearance at the Carolina Bridal Fair

January 26, 2015 Jessica Eudy

Last Sunday, Ritchie Hill made its first appearance at the Carolina Bridal Fair. Liz and I have both attended the fair as brides, but were especially exciting to attend as a new vendor. The tables have turned! Here’s a quick recap from the show:

First, we’d like to say a big congratulations to the winners of our drawing: Jamie and Antwaine, who will be saying their vows up on Ritchie Hill this August! The lucky couple won a free two-hour event complimenting their other wedding festivities. Jamie and Antwaine, we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

In addition, we’d like to say a special thanks to to Chelish Moore flowers for providing linens, flowers, props and furniture for our booth; as well as Karen Goforth of Irresistible Portraits for providing furniture. The biggest challenge of exhibiting this year was showing a home that’s undergoing renovation. Even though we’re nearing completion, we weren’t quite ready to make the big reveal. Instead, we wanted to give couples a feeling for the style and atmosphere of the home. These wonderful vendors helped us assemble a booth that perfectly portrayed our vision of Ritchie Hill!

We chose old, white furniture paired with a modern rug and pillows and touches of flowers in antique tea pitchers to show our formula of mixing old with new. Ritchie Hill may be an antique home, but the clean, modern interior mixed with the original architecture, fireplaces, and doors is what makes it such a special, fresh, and beautiful place.

Ritchie Hill also has a long family history that we wanted to share. To do that, we filled the panes of an antique window with all of the original wallpaper. The colors and textures made for an interesting display and great conversation. We also had a few Ritchie family pictures on display – like one of Margaret Ritchie enjoying her wrap around porch years ago. I think it’s neat to make the connection between upcoming events, and the history of the home.

In closing, the show was a huge success. We’ve had a great time this past week giving couples a tour of the property, and our fall dates are disappearing fast - with Spring 2016 not far behind. I hope you were able to stop by our booth and get a Ritchie Hill koozie and some delicious cheese straws (courtesy of Ritchie Hill Bakery)!

If you’re like me, you probably came home, picked out the goodies from the cute bag they gave you and ignored the massive pile of business cards you received at the show. Overwhelmed, to say the least! Not to worry, over the next couple weeks, we’ll be sending along some tips and tricks for finding the right vendors, and planning the perfect day. Stay tuned for our next bit of news from up on Ritchie Hill.

Happy Planning!

Jessica

# Ritchie Hill Welcomes New Director of Operations

January 1, 2015 Keith Alm

The Ritchie family has been bursting at the seams to announce our new Director of Operations at Ritchie Hill. In the spirit of new beginnings, we felt that New Years Day was perfect timing. Meet Jessica Eudy, a recent bride and seasoned event industry professional. Her passion for weddings and events is evident to all who have met her. We could not be more excited to see what this year holds, along with all the years yet to come on Ritchie Hill. Cheers to 2015!

Jessica Eudy, Director of Operations