Georgia Weddings

For Anna and Travis, their decade long romance was more than just a celebration of love, it was a celebration of life. For after the heartbreak of tragically losing their son to cancer, they honored his young spirit with a day filled with family, remembrance and endless love. It’s a touching tribute to life after loss, and Brandy Angel Photography unlocked every heartfelt moment to share in THE VAULT!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Brandy Angel Photography… Anna and Travis have been together for nearly a decade and have been through more together than most people in a lifetime. It has only brought them closer together and more sure of their lifetime commitment to each other. When Anna met Travis she had a son named Lake. Travis fell in love with Anna and Lake quickly and it wasn’t long before they welcomed two children of their own and Travis even planned on adopting Lake as soon as they were married. Soon after a wedding was planned.

Sadly Lake was diagnosed with Cancer and wedding plans were put on hold for years as Lake battled cancer. Anna and Travis put all of their energy and time into caring for Lake and trying to find a bone marrow donor for not only Lake but all the other children and people in need of bone marrow donors. Anna truly became an advocate for childhood cancer. I – as the photographer – contacted Anna last year to offer her a free family photo session through my non profit for children with cancer. I quickly fell in love with them as well and found out I had known Travis my whole life. It truly is a small world.

Tragically Lake lost his battle with cancer On May 1, just weeks shy of his 9th birthday. After the shock and heart break Anna and Travis decided it was time to finally get married as Lake always wished they would. They planned a small family gathering in a beautiful field at Double H Farm in Colbert, GA and thought of ways to include Lake in the ceremony. I was honored that they chose me to capture that day.

Just two days before the wedding was set Anna was surprised by Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta at her mother’s home and they gave Anna the dress of her dreams. It truly was a perfectly magical day full of love, sorrow, remembrance and new beginnings. Anna was the picture perfect bride and I know Lake was shining down on all of us that day.

Anna was so worried about taking family photos that day for the first time without Lake and mysteriously in the photos following the ceremony there is a beautiful light shining in the photos that never changes shape or color and it moves around the family. It is truly amazing to see and undeniable. It can even be seen peeking behind Anna on a couple of photos. Anna could not have been happier and found so much comfort in that light. She said Lake would show up in a beautiful way that day and he did. Whether or not you believe in things like that you cannot deny that light. I feel so incredibly blessed to have witnessed something so truly beautiful. Please join me in honoring Lake and his family and look into becoming a bone marrow donor, www.bethematch.org, you could save a life just like Lake’s.

Photography: Brandy Angel | Catering: Mamma's Boy Catering | Hair: Style Bar | Venue: Private Residence | Bridal Boutique: Bridals By Lori | Wedding Dress C/o: Say Yes To The Dress

If ever in doubt, go classic; you will never be steered wrong. As time goes by, I keep coming back to these classics, the elegant affairs, because they never, ever disappoint. And this Augusta Country Club celebration, captured by Ashley Seawell, agrees with me completely. With a veil that I can’t stop staring at and a bouquet bursting with roses and peonies, our VAULT never looked so good – see it all right here!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Ashley Seawell Photography… Jane and Adam invited their guests to celebrate in the bride’s hometown of Augusta. Their meaningful ceremony took place in her home church and a lovely reception followed at Augusta Country Club. Wesley Cadle transformed the club’s ballroom into a unique space. Orchids, peonies, hydrangeas and garden roses were used throughout the day. The color palette included dark blues, white and green which was perfect for this January wedding.

Peruse more country club weddings here!

Photography: Ashley Seawell Photography | Event Planning: Wesley Cadle | Floral Design: Wesley Cadle | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Cake: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Invitations: Melinda Sapp | Ceremony Venue: St. Mary On The Hill | Reception Venue: Augusta Country Club | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Augusta Country Club | Makeup: Meredith Tompkins | Band: Moon Dance

The golden glow of this autumn affair makes every image an absolute work of art. From the Bride’s dress floating through the fields to the sweet looks between these newlyweds, every second speaks of pure romance. Thank goodness Chris Isham, with assistance by Anna Toner, captured it all for us to oogle over – head on over to our VAULT and let the pretty party begin!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Chris Isham… Brittany and Kevin’s wedding day was quite possibly one of the most relaxing, easygoing weddings I’ve ever been a part of. One of Burge’s plantation houses and a rustic cabin served as their prep spots earlier in the day with friends and family. The vintage church pews set for their ceremony seating along with their beautiful copper foot washing station were the perfect traditional elements to create a perfect church aesthetic amidst the rural field. And not wanting to leave anyone out, Kevin even had a few grooms-women in their wedding party! After the ceremony, inviting afternoon napping blankets and yard games were spread out among the lawn for guests to kick back with for an extended break before the reception dinner began. And to top things off, Brittany’s gorgeous gown couldn’t have puddled more beautifully in the evening sun during their romantic portraits.

Peruse more rustic style weddings here!

Photography: Chris Isham | Wedding Dress: Winnie Couture | Cake: The Crafty Cakery | Invitations: Aerialist Press | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Union Station | Catering: Burge Plantation | Hair + Makeup: Charmed Salon | Band: Apostles Of Bluegrass | Groom's Attire: Brooks Brothers | Ceremony Music: Piedmont Strings | Venue: Burge Plantation | Film Processing: Richard Photo Lab | Groom's Suspenders: The Cordial Churchman | Photography - Assistance: Anna Toner | Rentals: P.E.W.S.

First up on this morning’s agenda? Find a way to replicate these pretty lil’ lens captures a la Sawyer Baird. Because there is no doubt that perfectly lit mornings punctuated with calming cups o’joe are something really magical. And if you think that’s as dreamy as it gets, just wait until you see how the rest of this beautiful day unfolds in THE VAULT, (hint: it’ll definitely make you a morning person)!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Sawyer Baird…When dreaming up your wedding day… I believe that you should always take the morning slow. As hard as that may seem. When dreaming up this session we wanted a classic bridal with neutral tones – along with a lot of emotion. Easily, your wedding morning is the first thing that came to mind.

The slow morning rise with a cup of coffee reflecting on the day that is about to be the most amazing day of your life is not only important, but beyond special.

[dotted]

See more early morning inspirations in THE VAULT!

Photography: Sawyer Baird | Floral Design: Forage & Fleur | Wedding Dress: Theia | Rings: Trumpet & Horn | Makeup: Bobbie Riot | Calligraphy: Sarah Ingram | Venue: Jamie McPherson, Maria Hickman, Tra Raines | Bridal Boutique: The Sentimentalist | Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic | Ring Box: The Mrs Box

You’re going to want to grab that second cup of Monday morning coffee and cozy up to this utterly beautiful soft blue goodness from Sally Pinera—I promise it will make the start to your week that much better. Whether it be the organic, stem-stretching bouquet designed by Kelly Lenard or the intricately detailed dress by Gossamer Vintage, something from THE VAULT is bound to sing to your heart.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Sally Pinera… Set against the Swan House, we hoped to exude a touch of organic elegance with hints of inspiration from Parisian colors and architecture. A custom made gown by Gossamer and shades of cool tones and blues were centralized as our choice of palette. We envisioned the beautifully aged historic building with bare walls and lush ivies to be overflowing as our two lovers celebrated their love.

Photography: Sally Pinera | Florist: Kelly Lenard | Wedding Dress: Gossamer | Makeup And Hair: Makeup By Kimaris | Calligraphy: Script Merchant Calligraphy | Venue: Swan House Mansion | Rentals: 12th Table | Silk Ribbon: Frou Frou Chic | Vintage Ring: Trumpet & Horn | Wardrobe And Wardrobe Styling: Gossamer

Easy, breezy, and practically perfect in every way, this sweetly Southern esesh from Simply Sarah Photography is the engagement shoot that dreams are made of. With stunningly soft afternoon sunlight, an ethereal (and on-trend!) off-the-shoulder summer dress, and chemistry that jumps right off the page, take in all the goodness from this golden hour engagement in The Vault right here!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From The Bride To Be…It’s funny because Sam and I can’t really remember when we met. We have been friends since high school in Clinton, MS (Sam was 2 years younger than me). After college at Mississippi State, I moved out of state, but we would still see each other occasionally. When I moved home to Jackson, MS nearly ten years later, we started hanging out a lot since we were the only ones of our friend group that was single and in town. It took a year of spending time around each other before I think God opened both of our hearts to the idea that maybe we were meant to be more than just friends. When you realize that you can’t imagine life without a person, the way you start to think about them changes and it is the most amazing and fun experience in the world. We knew we loved each other but I don’t think we realized how much that love would grow and bless both of our lives the way it has. So now, getting to marry the person that is truly your best friend in the entire world is just he icing on the cake for us! We can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together.

Photography: Elizabeth Lanier Photography | Dress: Dillard's | Venue: Atlanta GA

Today, I am so thankful I work from home. Why? Because this recipe from Shannan Monson, RD of Nutrition Simply is literally making me drool. I wish I was joking. As someone who sits proudly on “team salty” over sweet, these images from Lauren Carnes couldn’t look more amazing to me if they tried. Oh, and they are good for you too. Sold, sold and sold.

Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest statement. These figs? They’re a no-nonsense, yes-we’re-really-just-really-that-good, side dish, dessert, or appetizer that requires zero fuss. Really. As a dietitian and nutrition coach, eating whole, seasonal foods is very important to me. But it’s even more important to me that you can throw together those foods in a delicious and satisfying way, with a baby on hip, work deadline looming, and still be prepared to eat and head out the door in under ten minutes flat. All I’m saying is, life is busy. Your food shouldn’t have to be, too.

This trio of ingredients will leave you drooling for more, plus it’s packed full of good nutrition. The goat cheese provides healthy medium-chain fatty acids that give you sustained energy and fuel your brain, the figs are a rich source of antioxidants which protect cells from damage and disease, and the prosciutto–which is often deemed a “bad” food–has much needed amino acids and healthy fats which will actually leave you feeling fuller, longer, helping to ward off sugar cravings later in the day. Plus, I can truly think of no better excuse to get dressed up and invite some girlfriends over for tea (wink, wink).

Abby CapalboRoasted Figs with Goat Cheese & Prosciutto

prep time

cook time

total time

Serves 0Ingredients

• 8-10 figs
• 10 ounces of goat cheese
• 10 slices of prosciutto

Instructions

1. Make a cross section cut from the tip of the fig to the base, leaving the bottom of the fig intact.
2. Repeat the other way, forming a small "x" on the smallest point of the fig. Stuff with about 1 ounce of goat cheese or until gently overflowing.
3. Wrap fig in prosciutto and broil on a foil-lined baking sheet about 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly brown on top.
4. Drizzle with a honey glaze if desired and serve warm.

Photography: Lauren Carnes Photography | Facebook: Lauren Carnes | Facebook: Nutrition Simply | Instagram: Shannan Monson | Instagram: Lauren Carnes | Nutrition: Shannan Monson, RD | Recipe: Shannan Monson, RD | Studio: Enterprise Mill

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Petit Bouquet

View Portfolio

Filled with timeless detailing, the perfect princess-cut ballgown, blush bridesmaids, and a drop-dead gorgeous fountain-backed ceremony spot, this Savannah wedding from Rach Loves Troy is pretty much the epitome of classic Southern style. Take a peek at all the pretty in the full gallery here, and get ready to make your Thursday a little brighter!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Rach Loves Troy…To say that Amanda and Kyle were dream clients would be an understatement. Their hearts were all in, all the time. From the flowers, to the invitations, to reception decor, Amanda’s wedding was one of the most classically southern weddings a girl could ask for. From Forsyth Fountain to The Mansion on Forsyth Park, Savannah could not have been a more romantic back drop for their union.

Photography: Rach Loves Troy | Cinematography: Withers Films | Event Design: Design Studio South | Floral Design: A to Zinnias | Cake: KM Cake Design | Ceremony: Forsyth Fountain | Reception: Mansion at Forsyth Park | Hair And Makeup: Joni Taylor | Band: Celebrity Allstars | Paper Goods Printing + Design: Cake | Rentals: Savannah Vintage Rentals | Rentals: EventHaus

With pops of bright blue hydrangeas all over, I totally understand why this Bride had always wanted to marry her man surrounded by this scenery. I Do Events and Epting Events took that natural beauty and amped it up even more with Southern sass and plenty of pretty England garden party details. VUE Photography captured it all – fall in love with this Georgia lake loveliness right this way!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride… Our wedding venue is a place near and dear to my heart. My great grandparents bought the home in 1951 and it has been passed down on my mother’s side of the family ever since. I grew up going there with my family and extended family every summer and ever since I was a little girl, I dreamt of getting married in my great-grandmother’s hydrangea garden. Thankfully my loving groom agreed to the location wholeheartedly.

A lot of the planning was inspired by the venue. I knew I wanted something to complement the property and accentuate the natural beauty of the gardens and the lake. I loved the idea of an English garden party meets classic Southern elegance. I wanted a light and airy aesthetic with touches of tarnished silver, and hemstitch linen, and Lee Epting made that dream come to life. He brought furniture and china from his own home and his unique touches really made the evening special. The main stress of the weekend was the weather. My groom and I were constantly looking at the radar praying that the rain would steer clear just for an hour for the ceremony. I had dreamt all my life of getting married in my great-grandmother’s garden and I was so fearful that the rain would force us to get married under our reception tent. The evening of our rehearsal dinner, a torrential rain swept through and, as the lights flickered, my groom tried to soothe my fears by saying “maybe it’s getting it out of its system ahead of time.” On the day of our wedding, there were scattered showers throughout the morning, and we waited to set up the ceremony site in hopes that the weather would clear up. About an hour before the guests were to arrive the sun finally came out, and thankfully we had an incredible crew of people to get everything set up right in the knick of time!

My favorite part of the evening was sitting down for a private dinner with my new husband away from our guests and before the reception began. We were served a beautiful dinner at a table nestled away on the dock overlooking the lake. It was fantastic to sit down, just the two of us, and soak it all in. I would advise any bride to set aside some private time with your new spouse to slow down and really take in the moment. The day goes by so fast, and it was wonderful to have a few minutes alone with my best friend!

Photography: VUE photography | Event Planning: I Do Events | Floral Design: Epting Events | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Catering: Epting Events | Hair And Makeup: Kathleen Marsh | Band: US Beat | Venue: Lake Rabun Family Lake House | Bridal Boutique: La Raine's Bridal Boutique

Picturesque pastures married with rustic details makes me one happy wedding blogger. Especially when said farm feté happens to have the talented MARROW By Glass Jar Photography behind the lens. From the stable side ceremony (with a bird seed exit) to the reception, each moment is the definition of Southern romance and you can see it all here!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From MARROW By Glass Jar Photography… A romantically rustic southern style wedding in Rome, Georgia. This gorgeous barn/farm wedding was full of great inspirations for future brides looking for a rustic yet elegant vibe day.

Starting out getting ready in the a white marble room inside an old barn style home, followed by a Stable side ceremony with a bird seed exit to the reception.

From the beautiful Bride… My dream was to find a farm location with lots of green spaces and a rustic charm that was also able to accommodate our family and friends for a whole weekend getaway. By chance, we came across this beautiful farm property in Rome, Georgia and instantly fell in love with the photos. As we currently live in NYC, we had to plan from a distance and ended up booking The Farm without ever having visited! We could not have made a better choice – The Farm was everything we could have hoped for and more. From the rolling green pastures, to the huge barn, and the many unique cottages scattered throughout the property, this was the perfect location for us.

Throughout the planning process, our talented friends and family were our biggest source of help and inspiration. A friend of ours who is a graphic designer worked with us to create a custom invitation suite that helped set the tone for the wedding. The invites included a watercolor image of the barn made by another very talented friend/bridesmaid. Greens and whites were our unofficial colors, keeping things simple and natural as the surrounding scenery was beautiful on its own. I let my bridesmaids pick their own white/off-white dresses and they all turned out lovely together. The groomsmen wore matching slacks, grey suspenders, blue gingham bow ties, and fun socks that were given as a gift. My mother made my veil and I pinned an antique blue broach that belonged to my grandmother on my bouquet. A friend hand painted a welcome sign and the wedding program sign.

It was very important to us that the ceremony be deeply personal and unique to us as a couple, so we skipped any traditions or rituals that were not meaningful to us and focused on what we felt mattered most. My youth minister, who has known me and my family for years, married us; we wrote our own vows; and the maid-of-honor sang the Beatles song “In My Life” as I walked down the aisle with my parents. The ceremony was very emotional, everyone cried (and laughed!), and it was definitely my favorite part of the whole day.

For reception décor we kept it simple with single stems in vases and jars and greenery scattered throughout. The same dear friend who painted the watercolor made us a huge map pointing out all of the locations that have been part of our relationship – this was a fun way to tell our guests more about us. Instead of a guest book, we let everyone take Polaroid photos of themselves and write a little message across the bottom. I highly recommend this; the photos are way better than a name in a book and many of them are hilarious! For our food we wanted to represent our respective hometowns (Atlanta and Houston), so we had a huge southern spread with BBQ and a mashed potato bar. One of the highlights was the beer we served. One of the groomsmen is a talented brewer, so he made us three unique wedding brews, each with their own special labels, which were a huge hit. Also at the bar were local Texas and Georgia beers; our signature cocktails, the Manhattan and French 75, were classic nods to our current home. Neither one of us are big wedding cake people, so we opted for a two tiered pound cake (made by a friend), a chocolate groom’s cake, and lots of PIES! The reception was a blast and flew by way too fast. Luckily, many of our friends were staying on the property so there was an unofficial after party that went well into the night!

Oh, and one more thing: bury the bourbon! We buried ours two months before the wedding date, and the whole week leading up to the day the weather was looking terrible. I’m talking thunderstorms and hail kind of bad. But we dug up our bourbon after rehearsing the day before, shared it with the wedding party, and low and behold, on our wedding day we had no rain and the most beautiful diffused light. Yes, it’s a somewhat silly southern superstitious tradition, but it was totally fun and made for some good memories – plus, no rain!

Photography: MARROW By Glass Jar Photography | Floral Design: Adaptation Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Catherine Deane Yasmin Gown | Invitations: Meaghan Murray Graphic Design | Brides Shoes: Nina Payne | Rings: Greenwich Jewelers | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Nanette Lepore | Catering: The Sweet Bar | Groom's Attire: J.Crew | Groomsmen's Attire: Topshop | Wedding Venue: The Farm | Rome, Georgia | Groom Pocket Square: Bo Clothing | Grooms Shoes: Allan Edmonds

Elegant yet charming with the perfect amount of southern sweetness, this beauty of a wedding at Little River Farms is my definition of southern perfection. With every moment beautifully captured by Brita Photography, this gallery is image after image of the most darling inspiration you ever did see.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

When I arrived at Blair’s bridal suite, she had all of her gorgeous, wedding details ready for me to capture. There were so many meaningful pieces and there wasn’t a detail overlooked. From her grandmothers’ broaches to the embroidery on her wedding dress and the most lovely, sentimental jewelry…everything was just beautiful. I felt so honored to be the one capturing these heirlooms and special pieces that Blair and Jonathan will remember for the rest of their lives. Over 200 guests filled up their outdoor dining room at Little River Farms as Mr. and Mrs. Morgan made their grand entrance. Wooden tables, pastel floral arrangements, and rustic, elegant accents decorated every room of their venue. Their friends and family had a great time celebrating and dancing into the night, laughing, singing, and enjoying every moment of Blair and Jonathan’s special day.

Photography: Brita Photography | Floral Design: Arrangements By Catherine | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal | Wedding Cake: Rhodes Bakery | Ceremony: St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church | Reception: Little River Farms | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Dessy After 6 Collection in African Violet | Catering: Event Wise Catering | Hair & Makeup: Suzanna Harati | Band: Emerald Empire Band | Groomsmen Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Transportation: Lanier Parking Solutions | Dress Boutique: Formally Yours | Getaway Car: Special Day Limos | Lantern & Chalkboard Rental: Miss Milly's | Linen: Party Time Rental | Photobooth: Timeless Photo Booth Co. | Vintage Plates: The Vintage Chicks

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Emerald Empire Band

View Portfolio

Who could be better than a close friend to photograph your engagement session? Sawyer Baird jumped at the chance to capture these adorable friends in their element, and every photo in the full gallery is sure to steal your heart! From casual and cozy moments walking the dogs to a dazzling, dressed-up affair, it’s the kind of shoot we dream about!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Sawyer Baird… Madeline and Zachary are two of the funniest, sweetest and beautiful people I know… let’s be honest here.

When Zachary told us that he was proposing to Madeline on their recent cruise that they went on, and Bert and I would have to make a video saying “Congrats” due to them having no cell service – I sobbed in the happiest of ways. We were beyond thrilled for them. Being a part of this process and being able to photograph such amazing memories for them just melts my heart. It truly is such a gift.

I can not wait to stand with these two next May as they say their vows and start forever.

Photography: Sawyer Baird | Venue: Private Residence

Having been to Savannah more than once, I’m well aware of the magic it possesses. Its sparkle shined a bit brighter for this beautiful spring celebration, captured in all its glory by The Happy Bloom. From the glittering gowns worn by the Bride’s lucky ladies to the dapper doggies, it was an affair not to be missed!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From The Happy Bloom… Just a few weeks ago, we photographed Brittany and Michael’s wedding in Savannah’s incredible Forsyth Park. Of course, no wedding day is complete without a quick trip to Wormsloe for their first look and Bay Street for some classic cobblestone portraits! Brittany and her girls started the morning with mimosas, a little bit of Taylor Swift and a whole lot of laughter. Heather of Beyond Beautiful by Heather worked diligently on the bride’s hair while the bridesmaids made sure to keep the mood light and the jokes plenty. Brittany decided that metallics would rule her wedding, draping her girls in a champagne dress that looked like magic. Add a bit of soft green and wisp of ivory and she had a wedding day with class, style and sparkle. Yes, every Southern girl’s dream.

Brittany and Michael’s love story is so beautifully intertwined that both of their families celebrated this day with joyful tears and beaming smiles. We absolutely loved the moment when Brittany put on her dress and shoes, surrounded by the smiling faces of her adorable bridesmaids. It was such a beautiful moment and we’ve never felt so much love in one room. And the moment that her granddad kissed her cheek after he walked down the aisle?! Ugh, our hearts! With their sweet pups watching with eager eyes and pointed tails, these two people became one underneath the sweet Savannah Spanish moss. Brittany and Michael wanted to give their guests the true Southern experience. And no trip to Savannah is complete without whiskey and a large helping of old fashioned soul food. Before the reception, Michael dug up a bottle of whiskey (that had been in the ground for months!). For those of you who don’t know, this prevents rain on your wedding day. Oh, don’t believe us? There wasn’t a single drop! As their guests entered the reception, they were greeted with a glass of sweet tea (some with a touch of bourbon) and a plate of fried chicken with all of the fixins.

Photography: Justin Leon Brown (formerly The Happy Bloom) | Videography: Thomas Blake Film + Vidoegraphy | Floral Design: Donna Case | Wedding Dress: Mori Lee | Cake: Cakes By Audrey | Stationery: Minted | Ceremony Venue: Forsyth Fountain | Reception Venue: Charles H. Morris Center | Shoes: Betsey Johnson | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Badgley Mischka | Catering: Johnny Harris Restaurant | Hair + Makeup: Beyond Beautiful By Heather | Band: The Adrian Duke Project | Film Processing: The Find Lab | Historic Site: Wormsloe Historic Site

I love a Southern Wedding. And this one, my dears, is exactly why. From the sunlit ceremony in the Bride’s family-owned historic library to the twinkling al fresco reception in her grandmother’s backyard complete with a Southern feast, this family affair is full of the charm and traditions that make Southern weddings so special. See all the loveliness, captured by Simply Sarah Photography, here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the Bride…Brendan and I met for the first time at the Passion Conference in Atlanta; one year later we met again at a New Year’s Eve bonfire on a friend’s farm where we actually had a chance to speak. Our best friends on either side were our wingmen, and a month later we were dating! We dated long distance for ten months until he popped the question on Blue Mountain Beach with our family watching from a distance.

When it came to planning the wedding we had a few things set in stone that we both wanted. We knew that a big ceremony was not for us. An elegant and intimate wedding with those that loved us most as witnesses was most important and we also knew we wanted to be married relatively soon. I searched online for wedding venues in Florida and Georgia, BUT nothing stood out to me. After almost a week of back and forth we decided on my hometown of Bainbridge, GA – we would have the ceremony in The Old Library (a family owned building in historic downtown Bainbridge) and our perfect twinkling reception in my Grandmother’s back yard! We hired the most amazing planner Christy McCoy, with Christy McCoy Studios. Christy made my vision come to life, while fully encouraging my crazy ideas! She handled all of the planning, setting up, as well as being our florist.

The wedding was such a God moment. We had the most beautiful natural light coming through the windows; flower petals and candles lined the aisle, and all of our closest family and friends smiling back at us. We wanted our wedding to glorify God; we prayed that everyone present would experience the love of Christ. We asked our friend Bobby Forrester to sing Holy Spirit by Bryan and Katie Torwalt as I walked down the aisle. It was such a special moment for me!

The reception was so magical! I dreamed of a sit down dinner under string lights, and that is exactly what Christy created. We had a typical southern dinner, preserve roasted chicken, buttermilk mashed potatoes, and asparagus. Everything was perfect! One of our favorite and most special moments of the day was sharing our first dance to Take the World by Johnnyswim!

Photography: Elizabeth Lanier Photography | Wedding Dress: Modeca | Ceremony Venue: The Old Library | Reception Venue: Private Residence | Shoes: Gianna Bini | Catering: The Paisley Cafe | Hair & Makeup: Three Little Birds Salon | Groom's Attire: The Black Tux | Event Planning & Floral Design: Hope Stanley

Give me a tented wedding any day of the week and my heart is happy.  But give me a wedding celebrated under the sailcloth canopies of Sperry Tents and that’s an entirely new level of pure, unadulterated joy. Think breathtaking silhouettes, solid wood support poles and seriously sweet pennant flags waving in the breeze.  It’s romance meets elegance and it’s exactly how your wedding should be.

There are weddings, and then there are weddings held under the handcrafted goodness of Sperry Tents. Those are the type of weddings where sophistication takes center stage with sweeping panels of genuine sailcloth intricately crafted by sailmakers in coastal New England.  Imagine an array of tent sizes, creative lighting and luxurious floor options seriously perfect for your Big Day, no matter the size of your party.  So whether you plan on dining with an intimate group of 50 or dancing the night away with 500 of your favorites, Sperry Tents’ nationwide network of licensed providers has a tent just waiting for your creative touch… and flare for the amazing.

Contact the Sperry Tents Southeast location nearest you to begin your journey towards your dream wedding.  Offices are now open in Naples and Miami, Florida, as well as Charlottesville, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina.  Happy planning, lovelies!

[dotted]

Photography: IRIS Photography + Al Gawlik Photography + Concept Photography + Neil Landino

Sweeter than a southern peach, this stylish and oh-so-Southern e-sesh has stolen my heart. From their romantic walk through a river (on the property where this Groom proposed!), to their sunny smiles, Sawyer Baird captured it all. It’s a gallery that you’ll want to revisit and you can see it all right here!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Sawyer Baird…Hillary & Jay…where do I even begin with these two? They are the absolute sweetest!

Hillary & Jay decided to do their engagements in the small town of Clarkesville, Georgia. We started in the town and enjoyed a quick stroll around town. Later we went over to Jay’s family property on the river – the spot where Jay proposed to Hillary! So sweet, right?

From the golden light to Hillary’s super cute outfits (Show Me Your Mumu) complete with her Hunter boots! (Hunter boots are always a good addition…) the engagement could not be any more stylish or cute.

Photography: Sawyer Baird | Venue: Private Residence | Boots: Hunter Boots | Bride's Attire: Show Me Your Mumu

This Bride and I are of the same mindset. Because for her, it all began with finding the dress. A dreamy vision laced with vintage details, she found the perfect gown and married her handsome groom on a day decorated with romance. Graced with light colored bouquets and pretty pops of color, this darling destination fete from the lens of Laura Leslie is filled with loveliness.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the beautiful Bride… When I began planning my wedding I was so excited to find a dress. I knew that I wanted something romantic with a vintage inspired look, something different. I also knew I was going to have a bit of a hard time finding what I wanted. I searched at my local wedding boutiques, looked at all the usual wedding designers. I was exhausted and disappointed because I could not find what I really wanted. And then I came upon Chaviano Couture’s website. I screamed from excitement and showed my Maid of Honor the dress I had focused on. She agreed that that it was perfect. I wasted no time and reached out to Annette. It was the best decision I made. My dress was a complete dream!

We wanted a romantic look so we knew we wanted the bouquet to have light colored flowers with a pop of color. We opted for peonies, roses, waxflowers, tuberoses in peach, pink and ivory. We also included scabiosa pods, dusty millers and some dark blue berries to give it that pop of color.
The cake was a 3 tiered almond amaretto cake with a raspberry filling and buttercream frosting. We decided to have our florist put flowers cascading down the front of the cake as decor.

We live in Miami, Florida and our wedding was in Athens, Georgia so planning a wedding a state away was a bit tricky but we pulled it off!

Photography: Laura Leslie Photography | Event Planning: The Knot | Floral Design: Gardenia Floral Design | Wedding Dress: Chaviano Couture | Bride's Shoes : Badgley Mischka | Makeup: Sriyani Of Beautifully Marked | Hair : Model Citizen | DJ: DJ YNot | Groom's Attire: Tommy Hilfiger | Venue: Foundry Park Inn & Spa | Bride's Accessories : Chaviano Couture

You know it’s going to be a beautiful engagement session when you find out it was captured through the lens of Sawyer Baird. But when the Bride-to-be is a wedding planner and designer for Atlanta’s Simply Charming Socials, you’re in for an extra special treat. And this sweet e-sesh doesn’t disappoint. From the fresh Spring blooms to the gorgeous couple, there’s nothing not to love. See it all here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From Sawyer Baird…When two creatives come together for an engagement session, nothing but magic can happen. Sydney reached out to us about shooting her engagements & wedding after we had worked together on other business projects. Beyond thankful, I was thrilled to work with Sydney for her big day!

Sydney is a wedding planner & designer for Simply Charming Socials, this being how we met, and when Sydney got engaged I almost jumped with joy! Instead, a lot of happy claps & congrats were occurring. Sydney received the most beautiful heirloom ring from Dustin… and it just fits her style and personality perfectly.

When figuring out details for the engagement session we knew we wanted something classy, fun, and in the city. With Atlanta having so many tucked away gems the engagement session was beyond perfect. We started in Inman Perk on the streets (might I add one of the cutest neighborhoods in Atlanta) and then later off of Ponce De Leon for a more classy feel in an area of Private Estates!

Photography: Sawyer Baird

One scroll through this garden fete and I’m all smiles. Why? Just look at the love between these two! It’s couples like this that make our hearts go pitter patter, and with Laura Leslie behind the lens it’s sure to get yours racing. Overflowing with sentimental details, from the cake topper to the ceremonial arch, one peek at the gorgeous gallery and you’ll be grinning from ear to ear. See it all here!

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the beautiful Bride… Two special details come to mind because they were so personal: First was the arch we stood under during our ceremony was envisioned and created by my dad and a couple of other very talented friends… adding a very sentimental touch to our ceremony. The second was a gift from my older sister; a unique spin on the cake topper. She gave us a custom made cake topper the day before our wedding, featuring a clay version of Bryan and myself, a replica of the photo that we used for our save the date. The picture was originally taken in front of a wall in Austin, Tx the weekend of our engagement. I loved that this particular photo was close by throughout our entire wedding.

We used a friend’s hot sauce, “Hotlanta” as a wedding favor. Bryan and I both share a love for anything spicy and thought this was also a great way to pay homage to the city we call home.

The most stressful part of planning was finding the perfect venue. We knew that we wanted to have a wedding within the city, yet I had always imagined myself getting married outdoors (and was unwilling to let go of that image). Bryan and I also wanted to be able to have both our ceremony and reception at the same location. That being said, we scoured the city for venues that would allow us to have both a garden-like ceremony, with also having to be large enough to accommodate all of our guests and at the same time, fit within our budget. After a long, painstaking search we stumbled upon Callanwolde which was the perfect fit for us.

Photography: Laura Leslie Photography | Videography : Just Peachy Pictures | Event Planner : B. Moore Events | Florist : On Occasions of Atlanta | Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller | Cake: Sweet Caroline's Cakes | Invitations: Kelly Luther | Catering: Highland Bakery | Hair : Kyle | DJ : D Street Entertainment | Wedding Venue: Callanwolde Fine Arts Center | Accessories : BHLDN

With a backyard like this, why get married anywhere else? This lovely couple said their “I do’s” at the Groom’s parent’s backyard at Lake Lanier, and with so much natural beauty all around every photo captured by Graham Terhune is breathtaking! It’s a sweet and simple celebration in hues of mint and blush, and you can see it all in the full gallery right here.

Share this gorgeous gallery on

 

From the beautiful Bride… The wedding style that we were aiming to achieve would be simple, elegant, and timeless. We got married in Shane’s parent’s backyard on a Lake Lanier, and did not want to try to compete with the beautiful backdrop. We chose a very soft color scheme (light mint, blush, and neutrals), and tried to keep everything very clean and simple in order to allow the amazing scenery speak for itself. Flower arrangements were loose and whimsical in attempt to connect with the natural beauty surrounding us. We couldn’t be more pleased with how everything came together and cannot thank all of our vendors enough for the wonderful venue they helped us to create!

Photography: Anagram Photo | Event Planning: Susan Graham Signature Events | Floral Design: Flowers By Yona | Cake: Donut Depot Bakery | Ceremony Venue: Private Residence | Catering: 2 Dog Catering | Hair And Makeup: Erin Tierney | Band: EastCoast Entertainment