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The hottest wedding trends for 2020, according to our wedding expert

From simple gowns to small wedding parties, 2020 rocks! If you’ve always dreamed of a large wedding with several hundred guests, don’t worry. Weddings that include your family, friends, coworkers and neighbors are still very much a thing! But if a smaller, simpler wedding is music to your ears, Lauren Burns, manager of Windy Hill Wedding & Event Barn, says you’re not alone. “Smaller weddings are a hot trend for 2020,” Burns said. “A lot of people don’t want the stress of a large wedding. Plus, small gatherings are far more intimate.” Burns said this past weekend, Windy Hill hosted a wedding with fewer than 75 guests. She said the guest-list included mostly family and a handful of close friends. “The bride couldn’t stop talking about...

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Why budget-minded brides love January weddings

This least popular month for weddings is also the least expensive Out of all the weddings you’ll attend in 2020, there’s a good chance none of them are scheduled for the wintry month of January. “January and February are the two slowest months of the year for those of us in the wedding business,” said Lauren Burns, manager of Windy Hill Wedding and Event Barn. It’s a fact. According to WeddingWire, which publishes a yearly ranking of the most popular months for weddings, January is always the least popular month since outdoor weddings are not an option in colder parts of the country. “Cold weather doesn’t really affect us since we have indoor heating at Windy Hill. But most couples prefer spring and fall for romantic outdoor ceremonies,”...

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Ring in the New Year Great Gatsby-style at Windy Hill Wedding & Event Barn!

$500 prize for best 1920s costume up for grabs For one magical night, the Upstate venue known mostly for traditional bridal fashion will travel back to a time of flapper dresses, linen suits and straw hats. “I’m a huge fan of The Great Gatsby,” said Lauren Burns, manager of Windy Hill Wedding & Event Barn. “It’s why so we’re excited to ring in the New Year with a Great Gatsby-themed celebration!” Burns said couples attending Windy Hill’s first-ever New Year’s Eve bash will be in for an unforgettable evening of dinner, music and dancing. “The Roaring 20s were a time of tremendous prosperity in this country. And for Jay Gatsby, the title character in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel, it was also a time for extravagant parties. We plan...

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How Black Friday can help you save big on wedding expenses

From bridal dresses to party favors, get ready for markdowns Have you heard?  Weddings are expensive!  The average cost of a wedding and reception in 2019 was nearly $30,000, according to WeddingWire.com.  And that doesn’t include the cost of the engagement ring and honeymoon which can add another $10,000. Thankfully, budget-minded brides can score some good deals on Black Friday. “Black Friday is a great time to save not only on big ticket items like wedding dresses, but household goods to give to the bride at her engagement party or bridal shower,” said Lauren Burns, manager of Windy Hill Wedding & Event Barn in Simpsonville. At 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving (11/28) through midnight on Black Friday (11/29), David’s Bridal will offer...

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4 reasons you should schedule your wedding in December

You can probably guess the first reason “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” Andy Williams crooned in his iconic 1963 Christmas song. Those lyrics instantly became famous because they capture the essence of Christmas month which, of course, is December. So what better time for couples in love to exchange their sacred vows! “Everyone is happy in December,” said Lauren Burns, manager of Windy Hill Wedding & Event Barn. “We hear that frequently from brides and grooms who choose to get married around Christmas.” Burns admits couples that get married in December are few and far between. “December, January and February tend to be our slowest months,” Burns said. “But there are lots of reasons people may want to consider a holiday...

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What to include in your wedding day emergency kit

And why you shouldn’t get married without one Have you heard the story about the bride who popped a button on her wedding dress right before the ceremony? It happened to a bride who was getting married at Windy Hill Wedding & Event Barn in Simpsonville. Fortunately, she was best friends with Windy Hill manager Lauren Burns, who had just what the young bride needed. “She didn’t have a sewing kit,” Burns said. “Luckily, I had one nearby. Crisis averted!” Think of it as the Murphy’s Law of weddings: what can go wrong will go wrong without some level of preparation. For brides, and even grooms, being prepared means having an emergency kit. “Without an emergency kit, a small problem can turn into a big problem quickly,” Burns said. “It’s...

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Here’s why you should high-five your wedding venue owner

A peek at the hard work that goes into setting up for a wedding It’s the part of weddings you don’t see: lawnmowers buzzing, vacuum-cleaners vacuuming, and tables and chairs being shuffled—again! “Setting up inside Windy Hill Wedding & Event Barn is different every week,” said manager Lauren Burns. She’s not kidding. Chairs are constantly being moved from one side of the 10-plus acre property to the other. There are 200 chairs inside and 200 outside that must be perfectly placed for each wedding. “Many brides will see a photo on Windy Hill’s Instagram page and say, ‘That’s exactly how I want the chairs to be arranged for the ceremony,’” Burns said. Preparing the barn for the couple and their guests is no small feat either. Every inch...

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Yes, it’s okay to wear jeans and cowboy boots to a barn wedding

How rustic venues have changed the rules of wedding fashion Make no mistake, white gowns and black tuxedos are still the top fashion choice for brides and grooms. But as more couples choose barn weddings over more traditional church weddings, the rules of “what not to wear” are starting to loosen up. “Barns have that country feel. It’s a more comfortable feeling,” said Lauren Burns, manager of Windy Hill Wedding & Event Barn in Simpsonville. Proof of that comfort can be found on Windy Hill’s popular Instagram feed. If you scroll through the photos, you’ll come across grooms that decked out in light-colored tuxedos and wheat boutonnieres. “A lot of our grooms lean toward khaki. I’ve even seen a few with jeans and cowboy boots,” Burns...

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The 2020 wedding date that’s filling up quickly

Brides want it, grooms will appreciate it someday Admit it, if you’ve been married for a long time, it may take you a second or two (or three) to remember your anniversary date. But for a lucky few who plan to tie the knot on a certain Saturday in 2020, remembering will take little to no effort years from now. We’re talking about October 10th—also known as 10-10-2020. “We’ve had close to a dozen brides call and ask for that date,” said Lauren Burns, manager of Windy Hill Wedding & Event Barn. “I have to tell them it’s already booked and that it was one of the first dates on our 2020 calendar to go.” Why wouldn’t it be? Repeating numbers or dates on a wedding invitation look super cute! And Oct. 10 isn’t the only date next year that’s...

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5 photos that will have you dreaming of a fall wedding

From place settings to bridesmaid dresses, fall colors dazzle It’s no surprise that September and October are the two most popular months for weddings. “Brides especially love the coolness in the air. And who doesn’t enjoy gathering around a fire pit on a crisp autumn night?” said Lauren Burns, manager of Windy Hill Wedding and Event Barn. While cooler temperatures are reason enough to insist on a fall wedding, brides also love the kaleidoscope of rich colors associated with the season—reds, oranges, yellows, browns, deep greens and purples. “I love the different colors that come with fall,” Burns said. “They make wedding photos more vibrant.” Burns pulled together five of her favorite fall wedding photos taken at Windy Hill Wedding &...

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