From Danielle...

I knew the most important things to me when looking at my budget were location, pictures and food. I spent the majority of my money there and then really budgeted the rest. I knew I could have the wedding of my dreams if I just really put my mind to it and chose the right elements. I also wanted a wedding that was not the regular cookie cutter wedding – a wedding that exuded our love and our story. Very personal and fun!

All photos by Ray and Erica Tisdale at 35 Atlanta

I found my Maggie Sottero dress here at a local store in Atlanta and used Ann Taylor for the bridesmaid dresses. Ialso bought a gold cocktail dress to change into during the reception since we love to dance and I knew I could not move around in my princess dress! One of my bridesmaids made my chocolate brown programs and I worked with a local stationery shop for my save the dates and invitations. I knew I wanted to add small elements and details because to me that is what makes the difference but I knew with my budget I would have to get creative. I chose not to do favors and instead did inexpensive things like…

-HandPainted Signs leading guests to the ceremony site

-GuestTowels in all the bathrooms printed with a great quote

-SilverLunch Pails filled with guest necessities (Advil, Breath Mints, Band Aids, Hair Spray, Gum, etc) in all the bathrooms

-Chocolate brown bar napkins with our monogram

-Candle Monogram “C” on the dock

-Sparklers as we were leaving

I also knew that I could save money on my flowers since FWF offered such a beautiful, natural setting. My dream was to have peonies in my bouquet but they were out of season and it would have been excessively expensive to ship them in. Instead, I asked my florist to take carnations (I know, I know) and wire 3 or 4 of them together to make it look like a full, lush peony. It worked! We added hydrangea, roses and magnolia leaves to complete the look. I found some discarded burlap that we wrapped them in and I added beaded trim (that you use for pillows) around the burlap. It was the perfect mix of Montana Rustic and Southern Chic!

For the ceremony, I chose to use the backdrop of the oak tree and lake instead of overloading the area with flowers. We did use two large urns filled with tons of baby’s breath – they were breathtaking! I had gotten the idea from Martha Stewart Weddings years ago and it was a huge cost saver! We decorated the reception tables with burlap tablecloths that had a white topper. We chose inexpensive table arrangements so that I could save money. I used simple flowers, assorted nuts, and tons of candles. Candles always make the space look elegant and romantic! I also hung mason jars throughout the trees and shepherd hooks along the reception area. They were magical!

We have a few more brilliant details coming, so check back in a bit!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Ann Taylor, Autumn Wedding, Fair Weather Farms, Georgia, Maggie Sottero, Southern Wedding
Post categories: All Real Weddings, Budget Beautiful, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance

All photos by Ray and Erica Tisdale at 35 Atlanta

Danielle has been sweet enough to share with us her Real Wedding Story…

We spent the 2004 Labor Day weekend with family and friends in Montana, where our family has a vacation house. I brought my newfound best friend, Melinda, and my brother, Cass, brought a few of his friends. Little did we all know that within six weeks of the trip, Lee Copeland (one of Cass’s best friends) and I would be dating, as well as Cass and Melinda. If you fast-forward a few years, I was in the midst of planning the wedding of my dreams with Lee, and Cass has just proposed to Melinda! We were going to be a great big family of best friends!

I plan weddings on the side and have looked at every bridal magazine since I was 5 years old. I had so many choices to make – what season, color, theme- there were too many options! I finally decided on an early fall wedding and the color palette of sage green, chocolate brown, and cream. I always wanted to have an outdoor wedding and reception but it was hard to find just the right place. We wanted an element of Montana throughout the wedding but did not know where we could find that in Georgia. Finally, my florist told me of the perfect place! Fair Weather Farms did not advertise (all by word of mouth) and was gorgeous! It is a 2000-acre private family farm located in Social Circle, GA. You drive down a long, curvy dirt road for about a mile before you get to the Lodge and Pavilion. The Lodge is a three story hand-pegged rustic beauty – all of the wood beams and floors were salvaged from a cotton gin out of North Carolina. When you step through the doors, you are looking at a 3-story glass window that overlooks the lake and 200-year-old oak tree where we would exchange our vows. You were surrounded by trees and rolling pastures – it was as if we had planted a little bit of the Montana Big Sky Country right here in Georgia!

We planned the ceremony for outside underneath the gorgeous old oak tree in front of the lake. Our reception took place outside and inside the screened pavilion that is adjacent to the Lodge. I wanted a Southern Rustic Chic theme using as much of the natural surroundings that we could AND I was on a budget!

To see how Danielle designed this perfect, budget friendly wedding…stay tuned!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Autumn Wedding, Fair Weather Farms, Georgia, Southern Wedding
Post categories: All Real Weddings, Budget Beautiful, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance

The pair were married underneath a 200 year Oak tree in front of a beautiful lake, in a stunning Rustic Chic style. Danielle was on a budget and STILL managed to pull off this lovely wedding. I have more pictures and brilliant details coming, so stay tuned!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 19 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Autumn Wedding, Fair Weather Farms, Georgia, Southern Wedding
Post categories: All Real Weddings, Budget Beautiful, Real Weddings, Traditional Elegance