Georgia Weddings

I think it’s pretty safe to say that I am enamored with this wedding from Anna and Spencer Photography. Oh wait, those pictures of the ceremony on The Dock at Piedmont Park Conservancy? Yep. Confirmed. I’m in L-O-V-E love. From the Anne Barge gown to the gorgeous wedding cake and cupcakes from The Cake Hag, every inch of this little number has me drooling for more and it’s all right here in the gallery.

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From Anna and Spencer Photography… This is Maple and Park’s wedding that took place in Atlanta, Georgia. The ceremony was held at Piedmont Park, and the reception was at the Oriental Pearl.

Photography: Anna and Spencer Photography / Ceremony: The Dock at Piedmont Park Conservancy in Atlanta, Georgia / Reception: Oriental Pearl Restaurant in Chamblee, Georgia (770-986-9866) / Officiant: Reverend Dawn Smith / Wedding Cake: The Cake Hag / Wedding Dress: Anne Barge via LeDress Boutique / Bride’s Shoes: Prada / Hair + Makeup: Fashion Taipei Studio

While we at SMP get to look at gorgeous nuptials through and through every day, I never could have ever imagined a sweeter, more darling country wedding than this one at Woodland Gardens. Deliciously designed with the cutest of salt and pepper shakers at every table, an actual pig roast, and the most adorable cake from Sweet Peeps, this little number will make you do a double – maybe triple – take. The photographs from Out of Focus Studios will literally take your breath away and you can see every single one in the gallery right here.

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From the Bride… From the start, we knew we wanted to have our wedding on a farm.  I wanted the wedding to come together on its own, to seem like it just belonged there.  I wanted it to symbolize our relationship, to be seen through the details, to come together naturally, and for our guests to see “us” in it all.  Jason is a chef in Atlanta and has built a close relationship with several farmers, so when he took me to Woodland Gardens we both just knew it would be perfect for our wedding.  Especially when I first saw that big beautiful tree, I just knew that’s where we were going to be married.  Luckily everything came together from there.
Jason and I met as neighbors.  He had been invited over to watch football and says he immediately fell in love with me while watching me yell at the television.  He proposed at a winery in Napa just before Christmas.  It was romantic and lovely, but as we were driving back to our hotel I asked him if we could stop at the In and Out burger!  I had never been and was dying to try it, thank goodness he just laughed and said that he would expect nothing less from us.  We headed back to the hotel and celebrated with our burgers and champagne.  I think that story pretty much sums us up.  And that’s the feeling we wanted in our wedding: romance and spontaneity, laughter and love.
We are both so lucky to have such talented friends and family to call on for help.  The tree guest book was drawn by my aunt and uncle. All of the sewing projects were done by a close family friend.  The jam favors were completed over a period of months with several different teams.  The food portion of the night was of course very important to us and took on a life of its own.  We wanted fresh, local foods with a southern twist.  We were lucky enough to have many resources available to help us create an amazing meal for everyone.  Several friends, who are also chefs, even came out to the farm Friday night after closing their own restaurants and started cooking the pig at 1 am.  They camped all night to make sure everything was perfect for our guests.  And perfect doesn’t even begin to describe it!
We were married under that tree on a wonderful fall day by my brother in his converse shoes.  We were surrounded by our closest friends and family.  It was the perfect day and everything that we had hoped for in our wedding.

Wedding Photography: Courtney Rosen of Out of Focus Studios / Wedding Venue: Woodland Gardens in Winterville, Georgia / Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Floral Design: Terri Knowlton of Everything & More! / Wedding Cake: Sweet Peeps / Wedding Paper Goods: Little Byrd Lettering / Band: The Packway Handle Band / Wedding Dress: Mori Lee via Formally Yours / Event Rentals: Goodwin Event Rentals

Georgia weddings just have a way.  A sweet way of prettying up our every moment and filling our days with pure, unadulterated happy.  And this drop-dead gorgeous Athens soiree?  It’s everything we’ve come to expect from the Peach State with a breathtaking farm setting, lush blooms by Everything and More Events and a classic meets whimsical vibe that is beyond devastatingly gorgeous.  It Takes Two Events (the beautiful bride!) planned and styled the entire day to absolute perfection… and the glorious images captured by Harwell Photography? Simply. Genius.  See so much more right here.

From the Bride… Paul and I were introduced through my sister, and since meeting him, I have never looked back. He is amazing, and I was proud to say yes to his proposal on 11/11/11! Ten months later, we were married at the same place he proposed, a beautiful private home right outside of our college town of Athens, Georgia. Our amazing friends generously opened up their home for our wedding at Water Oak Farms in Bogart, Georgia. A never-before wedding venue was transformed into our very own fairytale from top to bottom. Hands down, it was the best day of our lives, and Jeremy Harwell, our photographer, captured all of the emotional moments in ways I never expected. The day captured our love for one another, our family, our amazing God, horses, the music, dessert and so much more. The details of the wedding were what made it come to life and allowed our guests to really get a view of the personal touch we wanted them to experience. This was not just another wedding.  This special day was written with heavy DIY mixed with the elegant work of Atlanta’s best vendors to help make our vision come to life.

As part owner and lead planner of It Takes Two Events, planning my own wedding was a whole new ball game. I wanted to sit back and enjoy the process like so many of our brides do while we take the reigns and make her day everything she wanted. My amazing sister and business partner, Jenny, stepped up to the plate, and my wedding quickly became a family affair! It was important for me to stay true to the vision of what Paul and I wanted for our wedding day. I can truly say it was executed above and beyond what I had ever dreamed of. We had unbelievable support from every member of both of our families. Everyone, especially my mom, pitched in with all of my handmade DIY ideas! From table numbers and programs, to the guest book and candy dessert bar, I kept my family on their toes and busy helping everything come together. My sweet mom contributed so much to these items and gave deeper meaning to “a labor of love.” My sister and I worked with the vendor team to create an event that many of my guests left saying was “magical” and the best wedding they had ever been to. One of the best compliments was from a good friend that said, “Weddings are usually really fun but missing elegance and aesthetic beauty, but this wedding captured all of it and more.” 

This would not have been possible without our amazing vendors collaborating and working together to pull off all of my ideas and visions! To top it off, we had the great pleasure of having Everything and More Events provide us with not only the most beautiful floral arrangements, but impeccable coordination on the day of the wedding!

Wedding Photography: Harwell Photography / Wedding Venue: Water Oak Farms in Bogart, Georgia (The Home of Friends) / Wedding Planning + Styling: It Takes Two Events / Floral Design + Wedding Day Coordination: Everything and More Events / Officiant: Aaron Keyes / Wedding Cinematography: Jason White / Catering: Affairs to Remember / Wedding Cake: Sugar Kneads Cakery / Wedding Stationery: Paper Affair / Ceremony Musicians: Jordan Shababy + Adam Kersh / Reception Band: The A-town A-list / Farm Tables: Four Inch Fold / Lighting, Tent + Chair Rental: Goodwin Event Rentals / Linens: I Do Linens / Handmade Decor: Glorious Designs / Wedding Dress: Judd Waddell via Bridals by Lori / Bride’s Shoes: BCBG + Vince Camuto / Hair + Makeup: Formal Faces / Groom’s Suit: Indochino

Your wedding day is one of the few times in your life when all of your favorite people will be in the same room, at the same time, sharing their love. Knowing this to be true, this bride and groom planned an in-state destination wedding at The Foundry Inn and Spa, allowing them to spend the entire weekend eating, playing and celebrating with their family + friends! Artworks Wedding Cinema and Lacey for Scobey Photography captured every sweet moment. See the rest here!

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From the Bride… From the start of my wedding planning, I knew that I wanted a rustic, yet elegant feel.  When my husband, JP, and I began speaking about our “wedding day” desires, we both knew that we wanted to create a night that encompassed love, commitment and fun!  I was once told by a friend that a wedding day is the one day when you will be able to have all of your closest family and friends in one place with you, so that thought was always at the forefront of our minds. Knowing that we have many family members and friends out-of-state, we decided we would have an in-state destination wedding. The idea of having friends and family being able to stay near one another, eat together, celebrate together and attend the wedding together sounded like the perfect plan. So with that we chose The Foundry Park Inn and Spa as our destination getaway, only an hour away in Athens, Georgia.

When I began to ponder what I wanted the wedding to look like, I knew that earth tones and calming hues were in the direction I was heading. I absolutely adore the mix of burlap and lace, so I knew that somehow those features would be incorporated into our day. My florist did such an amazing job and actually was the one who introduced the idea of peonies. Her touches of lavender and baby’s breath throughout the wedding, along with the bridesmaids’ roses, simply stunned me upon entering. After all of the planning, envisioning and discussing, the wedding ceremony decor was more beautiful than I could have even imagined. Our wedding ceremony was an evening that JP and I were fortunate enough to have officiated by his Aunt Nancy. It meant so much to us that she was family — it was important to us that our ceremony to capture the essence of us both as individuals and as a couple forming a union. Since the passing of my mother and brother, I had desired that when I got married that I would find a peaceful way to make them part of the day. What a tender moment during the ceremony when my mom’s best friend, Sara, spoke and incorporated Mom and David into the wedding day. The ceremony as a whole was such a magical moment for both JP and me. Looking into his eyes and holding his hands as we faced one another was an emotion that I cannot fully express in words.  To be able to look out at so many friends and family members cheering us on in their hearts was such a comforting feeling. One day JP and I will sit down and open the box from the ceremony, open the wine bottle (from the winery that JP took me to on a surprise date for our six-month anniversary when we were boyfriend and girlfriend) and read the love letters that we wrote to each other that weekend.  

Our beautiful wedding reception was awaiting our arrival just a parking lot away. When we entered the ballroom, I was once again amazed by the beauty and the smiles that surrounded us. The night had just begun and “JP’s awesome wedding band” was there to offer their tunes so we could all dance, celebrate and enjoy the presence of so many loved ones that we had the blessing of being with that evening. Seeing our families and friends mingle and meet one another was such a neat experience! The night was just what we had dreamed of and we were loving every minute of it.

Wedding Photography: Lacey DellaPace of Lacey for Scobey Photography / Wedding Venue: The Foundry Park Inn and Spa in Athens, Georgia / Floral Design: Pat Doyle of MG Floral /  Wedding Cinematography: Artworks Wedding Cinema / Music in Film: “I Must Be In Love” by Rick Baker, Licensed through Song Freedom / Wedding Cake: Cecilia Villaveces Cakes / Band: “JP’s Awesome Wedding Band” (members of ATL Funk Society with some friends) / Wedding Dress: Winnie Couture / Bride’s Hair: Mandy Sauls James / Bride’s Makeup: Emily Hillard / Groom’s Suit: JCPenney

When dreaming up a DIY wedding, I can bet that all of your hopes and imaginings can be seen in this adorable little number from Paperlily Photography. It is all things soft, beautiful, effortless, and – most importantly – personal. Each piece of loveliness meaningfully created by the family and friends of this bride and groom is inexplicably flawless and unmistakably gorgeous. And that Claire Pettibone gown? I die. See the full wedding in our gallery, right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Bailey and I were married on June 30, 2012 — the culmination of a two and a half year relationship separated by five hours. The wedding was held in our college town of Athens, Georgia, where we first met.  It was a location where we had shared some of the best moments of our lives apart but wished to make the greatest of our memories together. 

We desired a wedding that was very unique to our tastes — one that included sharing our fondness of music, food, and the culture and history of Athens with friends and family, not to mention the record-breaking 107-degree heat on a Georgia summer day.

While we wanted our wedding to be an experience to remember, we also attempted to be sensible financially by incorporating some DIY elements to offset cost. We did not hire a wedding planner/event coordinator, and, instead, relied on each other to communicate plans to remain on schedule for the wedding. In addition, my mother and multiple other family members assisted with the flow of the wedding day and created all of the flower arrangements for the reception as well as the bride and bridesmaids’ bouquets. Downloaded playlists were the choice for music for different parts of the reception instead of splurging on a band or disc jockey. Although these DIY ideas required more work on the part of Bailey, me and some of our relatives, it made the day all the more special witnessing what we all had worked to create together.

Wedding Photography: Paperlily Photography / Ceremony: The University Of Georgia Chapel in Athens, Georgia / Reception: Farm 255 in Athens, Georgia / Flowers: DIY via FiftyFlowers / Wedding Invitations: Minted / Wedding Dress: Claire Pettibone / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Groom’s Tie: Pierrepont Hicks

This Farm 255 wedding is a little bit country, and a little bit city slick, just like the LA based Southern rooted bride and groom. Fluffy garden florals by Gardenia Floral Design keep the Southern charm rolling in milk glass vases collected by the bride and her mother. Speaking of white and pretty: the bride’s uber elegant structural silk Vera Wang sheath is just to die. You simply must see it from every angle possible in Caroline Fontenot‘s shots the rest of the gallery!

From the Bride… My husband and I met at the University of Georgia in a painting class we took together eleven years ago. We were friends first and then soon became a couple. We moved out to California together in 2004 and have lived here ever since. We decided to have our wedding in Athens because we met there, we love it there, and because our families live in Georgia and Tennessee, so it would be easier and less expensive for all of them to come to the wedding if it were back down south. It was perfect.

We wanted the look of our wedding to feel homey and relaxed. I’m from south Georgia, Brian’s from Tennessee, and we currently live in Los Angeles. So somehow, we wanted it to feel both country and modern; a little bit southern and a little bit urban. I liked the idea of using a ton of small milk glass vases instead of only a few large arrangements for the tables. My mother collected over 100 milk glass vases during our one-year engagement. She borrowed some from friends and family, but she found most of them at small consignment shops along the way from our house in south Georgia to my grandmother’s house near Savannah. My talented aunt made the beautiful linen table runners, and my mom found a bunch of votives to warm it up and add some glow. I made all of the table numbers and signage myself and put each in 5×7-inch gold frames. I also made the place cards and party booth banner. Because I was planning the wedding from so far away, I wanted the seat assignment display to be easy to assemble but not boring. So we took some wooden skewers and white artist’s tape to make name flags for each guest. My husband’s handwriting is much better than mine, so he wrote everyone’s name and table number on each flag. We filled each glass container with different colored grains, peas, beans and grits and inserted the guest flags into the corresponding container according to their last name. It matched the vibe of the venue and was easy to make.

We wanted the ceremony site to feel important and beautiful. Since we were getting married in Georgia in June, an inside venue was also appealing. It’s hot outside! So after some searching we decided the Day Chapel at the State Botanical Gardens would be perfect. It’s beautiful and small. We only had 65 guests, so we didn’t want our ceremony venue to be so large that it felt empty. The craftsman style is gorgeous and the room feels very reverent and serene. The chapel itself was so lovely that we only had one large orchid arrangement in the back of the room. Plus, the chapel is surrounded by manicured gardens and walking trails. You rent the chapel, but you get to enjoy acres and acres of gorgeous State Botanical Gardens for free!

Again, because we were having a “destination wedding,” we thought having the reception at a restaurant made the most sense. Everything is on site, and you don’t have to worry about rentals and coordinating a lot of different vendors. Brian and I care a lot about food. Where it comes from, how it’s prepared and how yummy it tastes. Brian is an avid cook and selecting a place for our reception was very important to both of us. While visiting Athens several years ago, we ate at Farm 255 for the first time, as it was not there when we lived in Athens. They own their own farm just outside of town and use it to provide delicious meats and fresh vegetables to guests. It was a perfect fit for us. It’s intimate, it has a outdoor patio and stage, the interior feels like an urban loft and the minimalist decor is southern. It’s also downtown, so any guests that wanted to keep the party going after the reception could visit any of the 100 or so local bars. The location was also only a few blocks from the hotel so if some guests had too much fun, walking back home was easy and safe. The chef, bartenders, and servers at Farm 255 are so talented and friendly. They made our reception easy, delicious, and fun. It was exactly what we wanted.

Wedding Photography: Caroline Fontenot / Ceremony: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, Georgia / Reception: Farm 255 in Athens, Georgia / Floral Design: Gardenia Floral Design / Wedding Cake: The Bride’s Cousin, Candace / Cake Bunting, Table Numbers + Signage: DIY by the Bride / Desserts: The Bride’s Aunts / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Loeffler Randall / Hair + Makeup: Jennifer Hadden of Flawless Finish / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Suit: Thick as Thieves /Groomsmen’s Suits: Tommy Hilfiger / Men’s Ties + Socks: Express

You just won’t be able to help falling in love with this couple.  They are sweet, charming, funny and oh-so head over heels for each other.  You’re also not going to be able to stop yourself from falling for their sophisticated and elegant wedding captured by Gracie Blue Photography.  The fact that this Athens beauty was done with budget-friendly creativity makes it that much more amazing!  Click here to see it all!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Grace of Gracie Blue Photography… This beautiful wedding took place in North Georgia near the University of Georgia, where the couple met. Sam is a Marine, and he surprised Sarah with an engagement ring on Federal Hill in Baltimore, Maryland, back in July 2011 on a weekend trip. On their wedding day, Sarah was glowing. She was confident and full of joy. It was blatantly obvious that this was the best day of her life. The two decided to do a first sight session before the ceremony, and it paid off. There’s nothing more beautiful or intimate. Their bridal party was incredibly supportive and funny. The individual personality portraits of each one was the bride’s idea, and they rocked it. There was so much laughter and fun in the air, and that created a happy environment for Sarah and Sam.

The ceremony was performed by Sam’s dad. He included some personal and touching knowledge about the couple’s relationship and the strengths he’s come to recognize in it. During the vows, Sam got choked up, and Sarah held his hands tightly. The reception was held at the Melting Point in Athens, Georgia. A fun atmosphere for a fun group that likes to get down, complete with a photo booth by Athens Photo Booths. This was a budget friendly, yet sophisticated wedding full of love and laughter.

Wedding Photography: Gracie Blue Photography / Ceremony: The State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, Georgia / Reception: The Melting Point in Athens, Georgia / Photo Booth: Athens Photo Booths / Hair: Mint Hair Boutique

We have the prettiest way to start your Monday thanks to Ali Harper Photography and this lovely Athens affair.  The.prettiest. With the deep blue hues and that timeless elegance that never fails to grab my heart strings and play the sweetest of songs – it’s would be hard to not adore every bit of this post. There is more lovely where this came from – have no fear – the gallery is full of so much more! Happy Monday Georgia!

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From the Bride…Ryan and I met in Athens nine years ago, as freshmen at the University of Georgia. We’ve been together for eight years, but not always actually together. After graduating, he lived in Boston while I lived in Atlanta. After three years of long-distance dating, we met in the middle–Indianapolis, where we live now. We considered six or seven different cities to get married in–everywhere from Chicago to Savannah to San Juan (we love to travel and have been fortunate to take many trips together). But something about Athens, going back to where it all began, just felt right.

I come from a big Italian family but didn’t want a big traditional Italian wedding. We both wanted a simple celebration that was close-knit and comfortable, with lots of good food and lots of dancing. And that’s exactly how it turned out! The Foundry was the perfect venue because it’s like a small village with everything you need in walking distance. Our ceremony was inside the historic foundry space, and our reception was outdoors on the pavilion and lawn. The weather couldn’t have been better–mid 70s and not a cloud in the sky in late September. It was like a perfect “Indian Summer” day, which is what we’d hoped for all along.

Wedding Photography: Ali Harper Photography / Day-of Coordination: Dawn Gahan / Venue + Catering: The Foundry Park Inn / Floral Design: Gardenia / Music: Black Tie Events / Hair + Make-up: Bella Salon / Wedding Dress: Private Label / Tuxedos: JoS A Bank / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung / Bride’s Shoes: Gianna Bini / Jewelry: Vintage

There is a whole lot of pretty coming your way this lovely Monday morning and I, for one, could not be happier.  With all of the charming details wrapped up in this gorgeous Athens affair by Caroline Fontenot Photographer, you can’t help but smile.  From the amazing bouquets by Ginger Lily Events, wrapped in lace and filled with an abundance of colorful blooms, to those super adorable J.Crew bridesmaid dresses in just the perfect shade of teal blue, it’s just one beautiful moment after another. I can’t think of a better way to start the week here on Style Me Pretty Georgia than with all of these stunning images.  Join me in the gallery for every last one!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… We had a blast collecting, designing and crafting décor for the reception. The wrought iron candelabras and wooden boxes were borrowed from a family friend. The burlap, lanterns and Mason jars were borrowed from my boss. I designed all of the signage for the bar, guest book table, donation tables, etc. to match the overall “brand” of the wedding. And yes, I did just use the word “brand” in reference to our wedding. I work for a graphic design agency… I can’t help it ? The signage for the bar was a beer list that included a humorous description of why we chose each beer to be served at the wedding. We hung family wedding photos from a clothesline and made a board for guests to give marriage advice. We also spray painted wooden arrows (From Michael’s!) with chalkboard paint for our guests to personalize in the photobooth.

Beau came up with the awesome idea to give out donations as our wedding “favors.”  We chose 3 organizations that had a major impact on us during our time at the University of Georgia. The first was Relay for Life, an organization devoted to raising funds and awareness for the fight against cancer. Both of our families have been touched by cancer, and Beau served on the executive board for UGA Relay for three years. The second organization we chose was ugaMiracle, a student-run organization at UGA that benefits Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. I served on the executive board during her senior year, and Beau hopes to pursue a medical career in the field of pediatrics. The last organization we chose was the UGA Foundation Fellows program. Beau was awarded the Foundation Fellows Scholarship during his time at UGA, which offered him a multitude of international and local opportunities including service projects, academic conferences and discussion groups.

Our wonderful friends from Charlottesville helped us compile bags of homemade cookies (by the talented Whitney Roper) and our two favorite candies (Sour Patch Kids for me, and Reeses Pieces for Beau!). We tied tags to each bag that told of the donations, and also designed larger signs for the tables that described why each of the organizations were important to us.

Wedding Photography: Caroline Fontenot Photographer / Floral Design: Ginger Bradshaw of Ginger Lily Events / Wedding Ceremony Location: Athens First Presbyterian Church / Wedding Reception Location: Foundry Park Inn & Spa / Wedding Invitations & Programs: Designed by the Bride / Bride’s Shoes: J.Crew / Wedding Dress: Christina Wu / Bride’s Necklace: J.Crew / Men’s Attire: JoS. A. Bank / Men’s Ties: Tie Obsessed / Band: A-Town A-List

A few more pics and details from the gorgeous pink inspired Athens, Georgia wedding that we are featuring today!

From the beautiful bride, Ashley…

When I was planning my wedding I knew I wanted 2 things- for it to be outside and to have peonies!  We ended up having the most beautiful weather- 78 and sunny- in Georgia in the summer!  We chose the location because my husband and I both graduated from UGA, and thought it would be really fun for everyone to come back up for the wedding.  The Founders Garden is just one of those gems on campus- perfect for a wedding!  We were really going for the garden party theme with a few vintage touches (mostly with the centerpieces).  We hung lanterns in the trees and had lights strung across the courtyard.   I would have to say my favorite detail of the day was the flowers- they were absolutely perfect!

Thanks so much for sharing your day with us, Ashley! We are announcing our giveaway winners next, so definitely check back in a bit!

This next pink inspired real wedding is pretty and traditional, perfect in that sweet Southern style. It was held this past May at the Founders Memorial Garden in Athens, GA (on the UGA Campus)…

Bridesmaids dresses by Ann Taylor, Cake by Cecilia Villaveces Cakes, Insanely gorgeous photography by W. Scott Chester, Flowers by Gardenia Floral. And that beautiful wedding gown? It’s by Marisa.

Ashley, the stunning bride, has been sweet enough to share a few details of her day with us…stay tuned!