Georgia Wedding Ideas and Inspiration - Style Me Pretty

Elegant Affair at The Georgian Terrace

When I first laid eyes on this beauty from Belle Of The Ball Events and Our Labor Of Love By Heidi, I couldn’t help but be mesmerized by it’s sparkly, shining elegance. The Georgian Terrace, the iconic hotel with it’s delicate marble detailing, grand staircases and fancy chandeliers paved the way for every inch of sophistication and Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio added just the right amount of romance with their lush florals. Head to the gallery to be enchanted.

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From the beautiful Bride…There are some moments in time that will forever stay with you. Just a blip on the radar when you think about a lifetime, but no matter how much time passes it always stays clear and vivid in your memory. Mainly because you know that from that moment on you will never be the same. First laying eyes on Rob in that quaint Baltimore bar, Memorial Day weekend 2011, is one of those moments. He was confident, sensitive yet strong…incredibly handsome. He took me off guard with his charm and impressed me with his chivalry—the man of my dreams. Two days after we met that day in May, we went on our first date and 6 months later we were engaged to be married. Not long after, prompted by a job opportunity for Rob, we packed ourselves up, kissed our hometown of Baltimore goodbye and moved to Atlanta. While we missed (and still miss) the Chesapeake Bay, crab cakes and our families dearly, we were happy to embrace the warmness of both the people and the weather in the south. Although, I must admit, when it came time for us to plan our special day, we didn’t quite know where to begin. Having just moved to this southern city, we knew little about where we wanted to tie the knot. I knew only that I wanted Veronica Lake inspired waves and Rob, well, he just knew he wanted me as his wife. So, as I assume most newly engaged couples do, we began exploring venues. And while a few outdoor locations did steal my attention, the Georgian Terrace stole my heart. Everything about the chandeliers, marble floors, delicately spiraled staircases and intricate architecture of the iconic hotel held an elegance that allowed us to envision our love story unfolding between its walls. We wanted a palette and florals that complimented the innate beauty of the ballroom, so we kept it romantic, yet classic with ivory and blush tones. Hints of gold arrived in the reception decor as it seemed only right to include them in such a grand space. As a designer for a living, I delightfully took the invitation look and feel upon myself. The beauty and art of letterpress has always held a special place in my heart, so we enlisted the help of Farmwood Press to have my designs crafted that way. Before stuffing and sending them off, Rob and I wrapped each invitation suite in a tulle bow and then Myrtle and Lloyd, a local calligrapher, added to the loveliness by hand addressing each one. After we had selected the reception venue, we needed to nail down the ceremony location. This was easy for us as Rob and I had always talked of wanting a sacred occasion of love and commitment. Therefore, exchanging vows at the breathtaking Cathedral of Christ the King was the perfect choice. One of my fondest memories today is walking down that magnificent aisle towards my groom as Pachelbel’s ever-lovely “Canon in D” was played on the harp. It was magical! After our nuptials, Rob and I were whisked to the reception in a 1947 Rolls Royce Silver Wrath while buses transported our guests to cocktail hour. There they noshed on hors d’oeuvres and sipped champagne while a pianist filled the air with classic love songs. After a seated dinner and toasts, guests spilled onto the floor and danced to an array of tunes by Chris Watson of Lethal Rhythms. To cap off the evening we had milk and cookies passed at midnight and gave out sunglasses in an array of colors shortly there after. Rob and I danced joyfully together well into the morning hours, surrounded by a 100 of our nearest and dearest — me with my Veronica Lake curls (and my dear husband!) and Rob with his wife.

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Behind The Blog: Waiting On Martha

You know when you meet someone and you just know you’re going to be lifelong friends? Well that’s kind of how I feel about Mandy of Waiting on Martha. She’s no stranger to SMP (in fact, she’s part of our contributor network!) but we’ve yet to take the chance to delve a little deeper. With photos from Rustic White, we’re going behind the blog!

SMP: Tell us a little about Waiting on Martha!
MKR: Waiting On Martha is a lifestyle blog with the philosophy of making every day beautiful. From food and cocktail recipes, decorating tips, fashion and beauty tutorials and most importantly, entertaining ideas, I believe that everything, no matter the apparent importance, presents a reason to celebrate and raise a glass.

SMP: What’s one change you made that really made your blog thrive?
MKR: Original imagery really made my blog thrive. With millions of blogs penned daily, I knew I would have to make a splash and I’ve tried to do that by telling stories through gorgeous imagery. Whether it’s a simple cocktail party or a lavish dinner party, I want my readers to be able to visualize my ideas so that they can truly put them to use.

SMP: What piece of advice would you give to a blogger just starting out?
MKR: Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s end. Some bloggers have been around for a decade and they didn’t have millions of followers from the start. It takes time to cultivate an identity and loyal readership. Also, be consistent. Blogging is a job, so if you promise your readers 5 blogs a week, then you better blog 5 days a week.

SMP: If you had the opportunity to get a message across to a large group of people, what would your message be?
MKR: Kindness. The world would be a much better place if we could all be kinder–kinder to each other and kinder to ourselves.

SMP: If you could do it all over again, would you change anything?
MKR: No. I truly believe that where I am in this exact moment is where I’m supposed to be. Life is too short for “should’ve, could’ve, would’ve.”

SMP: Your most favorite item in your home?
MKR: My Gray Malin, A la’ Montagne, Top of Aspen Mountain photograph. It’s huge (36 x 54) and framed in a gorgeous white lacquer. It was the first piece of art I invested in and it represents the Mr. and my love of skiing, so it’s very personal.

SMP: Three things every style savvy homeowner should have?
MKR: Every style savvy homeowner should have a well-styled and stocked bar cart so he/she can be ready to throw a party with a 20-minute notice. They should also have a personal collection of something. Whether it’s of coffee table books, ginger jars, or Staffordshire dogs, a collection is a personal touch that will stay with you from house to house. Finally, high quality bedding is essential. You spend half of your life sleeping so you might as well be comfortable!

SMP: What’s your best tip for balancing work and personal life?
MKR: Work hard play hard. I may work more than I play, but when I’m spending time with friends, family, the Mr., or even enjoying some quiet time to myself, my phone is off and I’m 100% in the now.

SMP: The best job you ever had?
MKR: This job! It’s a job I never expected to have and I now I can’t imagine doing anything else. I really am living my dream.

SMP: What advice would you give to your younger self?
MKR: Live in the moment. Learn a second language. Don’t pine for adulthood because you’ll be an adult much longer than you’ll be young. Take school a bit more seriously and always wash your makeup off before bed.

SMP: What’s your secret to success?
MKR: Hustle, humility, and understanding. Hustle. If you want a thriving blog, business or relationship you have to work at it every single day. Humility. I love the quote “work hard in silence, let your success be your noise.” Understanding. I think the biggest key to success is honest understanding. You have to understand yourself, your business, your audience and your competitors and keep adjusting your game plan to that reality.

SMP: Why do you think Waiting on Martha has done so well?
MKR: I think Waiting On Martha has done well because I try to put an original spin on everything we create. I also try to share content that offers something for everyone: recipes for foodies, entertaining ideas for the hostess, outfits for the fashion forward, and interior inspiration for the decor obsessed.

Photography: Rustic White Photography | Hair & Makeup: Jennifer C Nieman | Blogger: Waiting On Martha | The Optimist: The Optimist

Jacquelyn Clark

Altanta Floral Engagement Shoot

Our next dose of inspiration comes to us in the form of this beyond charming engagement picnic. (Can we make that a thing please!?!?) Brought to us by Kait Murphy Photography it’s as effortless and as it is elegant, as romantic as it is rustic. The florals alone are enough to make us start swooning… and can we talk about those adorable save the date tees?!? There’s even more where that came from and it’s all right here in the gallery.

From Kait Murphy Photography…It was an absolute dream to shoot Kelsey and Taylor. They are such a beautiful couple and we could all really see how truly in love they are as they kissed at sunrise, danced in the gazebo, and splashed their feet off the dock.

We were inspired by The Lumineers song “Flowers in Your Hair” to create a dreamy, natural, and earthy feel to elevate the typical picnic to a romantic date where the couple could escape wedding planning and start dreaming about the honeymoon and their marriage. With an amazing team of vendors gathered by The Not Wedding we were able to put together a romantic sunrise inspiration shoot and we’ll be teaming up again for the 2nd Not Wedding in Athens on April 3rd!

Blush Pink Georgia Garden Wedding

I don’t know about you, but Friday and a heaping dose of pink go together hand in hand in my book. And that’s exactly what Brita Photography is serving up for us this afternoon. Not only is this soiree sweetly covered in blush galore, but it’s pretty freaking adorable to boot. Did you see Jackson, the couple’s golden? He’s hanging out with the rest of the cuteness that the gallery holds.

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From Brita Photography…We’re excited to share Emily & Stephen’s romantic outdoor wedding with you! I met Emily and Stephen (and their sweet dog Jackson!) for the first time at their engagement session. They were so easy going and natural in front of the camera, and I couldn’t wait for their wedding day. Emily and Stephen incorporated blush pink and gray colors into their wedding day; the bridesmaids picked out their own dresses at different stores, making the pictures so unique and beautiful. I love that the colors were the same, but the styles were completely different and matched each bridesmaids’ personality. The groomsmen coordinated with matching blush ties, gray suits, and fun pink socks!

I met up with Emily and all her bridesmaids in the bridal suite of Kimball Hall as they finished their last hair and makeup touches. Meanwhile, Nick was with Stephen and his groomsmen already getting a start on pictures. It was such a special day, and the love that Emily and Stephen share is the sweetest. Stephen and Emily absolutely adore each other and their emotion came through in every moment. They were such a joy to be around all day and I constantly caught myself smiling behind my camera (especially when editing their pictures)! I’m so happy that they did a “first look” because we were able to capture so many beautiful portraits around the gardens. They even brought along their sweet pup, Jackson, who wore the cutest pink bow tie! I hope you enjoy their beautiful wedding as much as we loved being a part of it!

Timeless Ballroom Wedding in Atlanta

I’m so excited to bring you this next Biltmore Ballroom wedding, I want to just skip right over the intro. But, a few quick words to sum it up? Opulent. Lavish. Luxurious. Elegant. Timeless. Stunning. I could seriously go on and on, but then it’d take longer to get you to the gallery. Check out the shots from Kaitie Bryant and you’ll know exactly what I mean. Go!

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From The Bride…I wanted to be able to look back at our wedding in 20 years and still love everything I chose, so I opted for a traditional ceremony, a neutral color scheme, and no first look! We chose to have a band and a full bar at our reception because although we did want our wedding day to be elegant and timeless, we definitely still wanted our guests to let loose and dance!

From Kaitie Bryant… Austin and Sarah’s wedding was the most elegant wedding I have ever shot. The Biltmore Ballrooms remind me of something you would expect to see in a French palace like Versailles, and the elegance of both the Cathedral and the Biltmore were a perfect fit for Sarah’s vision of a timeless wedding that could be appreciated 20+ years down the road. They both were radiant and the details of the day were simple and classy and elegant. Austin and Sarah did a great job incorporating their Alma Mater, Georgia Tech, by having the Tech Trolley for transportation and stopping to take some pictures near the main Georgia Tech sign.

Pink + Navy Engagement Session at LaGrange College

I’m in complete agreement with Buffy Dekmar‘s take on engagement sessions: they should tell a story. They should tie something in that is meaningful and true to your and your love. That’s exactly what these two sweetly smiling love birds did. Keep reading for Buffy’s sweet words about the couple and of course, peruse the beyond beautiful captures.

From Buffy Dekmar Photography…To me, engagement photos are more than just a pretty collection of pictures. I like for engagement photos to tell a story, to draw on new or old memories, or to speak to the principles and values that a couple upholds together. Natalie and Will wanted their engagement photos to be both meaningful and memorable, so we chose to do two sets, both centered on important places and events:

The first set was taken just before their engagement celebration at LaGrange College, where Natalie’s parents were married years ago. Natalie wore a pink Kate Spade party dress, and showed Will around the college campus in the center of her hometown. Then we headed to the alumni house, where friends and family awaited them ready to celebrate their engagement with good food and good music!

For the second set of photos, we chose a more private and personal spot: Natalie and Will’s house in Dublin, Georgia, which they are in the process of renovating as their forever home. The estate sits just down the road from the home where Will grew up (and where his parents have made their loving home together). The empty house, with its hearths and warm window light, nods to a bright dreams for their future together in that very place.

These sets of this precious couple’s engagement photos are important pieces of their story, both because of time and place and because their relevance to a family history of loving commitment. My hope is that these photos will serve as not only a personal collection of art, but also a reminder of promises, values, and strength of spirit as Natalie and Will begin a new life together in Dublin!

Photography: Buffy Dekmar Photography | Shoes: Kate Spade | Venue: Lagrange College | Pink Dress: Kate Spade

Outdoor Wedding at The Ford Plantation

I’m a gold girl through and through. Yes, silver has its place, but for me a touch of gold wins every time. There’s something about the way it pairs with natural, earthy details that speaks to my style’s heart. So when Hyer Images brought us this next Georgia wedding, with its pretty little tablescape of gold china set around wooden planters by Amy Harvey Designs, my day got a little happier. Click here to see why!

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Deciding where to have our wedding was a no-brainer. We wanted our wedding to be sophisticated, yet relaxed and not too stuffy. The Ford Plantation in Richmond Hill, Georgia (where the bride’s father resides) was the perfect fit for our vision—not to mention one of our favorite places on earth! The ceremony and reception were both held at the Main House, which is set on the Ogeechee River surrounded by cascading live oaks. It’s impossible not to fall in love with its unique blend of Low Country charm, natural beauty and timeless elegance.

We chose a color palate of grey, gold and emerald green, which we thought paid the perfect compliment (and respect) to the natural backdrop. We wanted the reception to mirror the location—old-world elegance blended with vintage and rustic details.

We designed and planned the entire wedding ourselves, and we are so happy and proud of how everything turned out. It was better than we could have ever imagined! From the homemade limoncello, DIY hand-painted chalkboard signs and potted lavender plants to the glass orbs hanging from the bistro lights and wine ceremony box handmade by the groom (a carpenter by trade)—we tried to infuse ourselves and our relationship into as many details as possible to create a truly unique experience for our guests. And—from the compliments we have received from wedding guests—I think we pulled it off! We couldn’t have done it without your website, which was instrumental to the entire process. So, thank you, for providing us with so much inspiration to plan our perfect wedding!

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Savannah Engagement Shoot

This cute couple and their adoring e-session will definitely bring a smile to your Tuesday. Shot by Jade and Matthew Take Pictures, and showcasing their shared love of golf, the shoot is full of love and laughter. Get more goodies in the full gallery here.

From Jade and Matthew Take Pictures… Miranda and TJ met and fell in love in the military. They love playing sports together especially golf! And you can see they have a terrific style!! Sweet, Romantic, and Vintage!

Photography: Jade + Matthew Take Pictures | Styling: Gray Harper Event Maker | Location: E. Shaver Bookstore

Elegant Country Club Wedding in Georgia

Brides to be, listen up! If you’re debating whether or not to spend the extra cash for a wedding film, this one from Artworks Wedding Cinema may just settle that debate. Beautifully captured and edited to perfection, the couple’s memories will live on forever in the sweetest short film form. And that, my friends, is a priceless memento. Press play for all the precious moments.

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From Artworks Wedding Cinema… Kris and Jessica are one of those couples who you just want to be around. They both have a passion for life and are always smiling … and their smiles are contagious! They celebrated their wedding in one of Atlanta’s most elegant country clubs, The Country Club of the South. The ballroom has a rustic feel with the high wood beams and chandeliers, yet still has a classy and elegant feel to it. Add to that rich Tiffany blue with pops of coral and tan, it makes for a super classy and stylish spring wedding. We loved all the details and prettiness this bride (and her mom!) put into the decor, and it makes it that much more gorgeous when you add a group of people with a contagious sense of happiness. It was a wonderful day and we were so happy they chose us to be a part of it!

Elegant Atlanta Wedding

Wrapped in shimmering linens and beneath a crystal chandelier, this couple seriously sparkled while exchanging “I do’s.” And, thanks to Amy Arrington Photography, we’ve got a front row seat on all the glam. Click here for more gorgeous details from Bride Beautiful and Stylish Stems. Plus, wedding video by Rusticus Films!

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From Amy Arrington Photography…Vanessa + Gustavo’s wedding was such a stunning atmosphere. There were so many linens draped around Venue 92. The ceremony area was surrounded by sheer white drapes, and the couple were married under a gorgeous crystal chandelier. Pillars lined the aisle. Each pillar contained beautiful florals that sat in crystal vases. The reception area was full of rustic charm with exposed brick walls. The sweets tables held an array of pastries displayed in crystal vases + jars, and I loved Vanessa’s pink reception dress!

From The Bride…Our wedding day was even more special than I imagined it would be. Everything was perfect and beautiful ! We want to Thank Amy and Brandon for creating these gorgeous pictures and for their amazing work. Thank you so much for everything !!

Classically Elegant Georgia Estate Wedding

This wedding is the one I used to dream of as a little girl. The horse-drawn carriage. The tuxedo-clad gents. The lace Marchesa gown made just for the Bride. It’s a fairytale wedding if I ever saw one, and Amy Osaba brought every stunning design detail to life. The gallery from Our Labor of Love is one perfect image after another, and don’t miss the film from Dave Pileggi. Happy Friday!

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From the planner… Both born and raised in the South, this true Southern couple had the sweetest love story for all to witness on their big day. Jana from Knoxville, Tennessee & David, from Fairhope, Alabama, met at the University of Alabama and after several attempts to get Jana as his fraternity date to a football game, Jana finally gave David a chance and the two immediately bonded over a Bama victory and the rest is History! The power couple both settled in Atlanta after graduation. David works in Logistics and Jana landed a job in media, publishing luxury magazines. After 9 LONG years of dating, David finally popped the question at his sister’s baby shower in Atlanta that Jana was hosting. Jana was hard to keep secrets from so David figured he would have to surprise her at someone else’s party to swing it- plus what perfect timing with friends/family surrounded.

Choosing the venue was the easiest part for these two- their long-term relationship has touched so many people so they had guests coming in from all over, even her Maid of Honor from Australia, so they wanted a destination wedding close to Atlanta and immediate fell in love with Tuscany-inspired winery, Montaluce Vineyards & Estate in Dahlonega, Georgia. It seemed like the ideal spot to finally bring together friends and family who have known each of for so long throughout this relationship to celebrate in unity.

Publishing veteran, Jana, has profiled many weddings so she knew exactly what she wanted and custom curated her own special day. From her customized Marchesa gown to hand selecting different dresses from all over for each bridesmaid, every little detail of this fairytale wedding was so unique and personalized. Upon arrival, guests were greeted with strawberry water and Blueberry adorned Prosecco from the vineyards in antique glasses as they took their seats at the gorgeous ceremony site situated on a hill overlooking the N. Georgia mountains and Montaluce Vineyards underneath a tall oak tree with hanging chandeliers. Jana custom designed all 11 flowergirl dresses with one of her bridesmaids’ mothers and they all strolled down the aisle in their bohemian styled floral headpieces with Perse, the couple’s 9 year old chihuahua they got in college together.

The Bride and her father made a grand entrance on a white horse drawn carriage and placed a beautiful moss covered cross on her mother’s chair at the end of the aisle in remembrance of her Brother who passed away just before David appeared in Jana’s life- impeccable timing for a guardian angel! David’s Father was even able to stand by their sides and officially pronounce the couple as a Chief Clerk. So many other special touches throughout the evening brought this true romance to life, especially the 1976 convertible Ford Bronco completely restored by David’s Father- for their wedding day- that awaited the couple at the end of their sparkler exit.

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Savannah Bridal Shoot Inspiration

Savannah is romance defined… a truly perfect precursor to a walk down the aisle. This bridal shoot brought to us by Sawyer Baird, Ivory & Beau, and Sarah Ingram is a portrait of pure sophistication. Add to it a gorgeous handmade Ivana Krejci gown and it’s officially a feast for our couture loving eyes. Fortunately, all the pretty is on display right here in the gallery.

From Sawyer Baird… This bridal session was placed together with some of the greatest vendors and the sweetest ladies. I had planned a personal weekend to Savannah for a mini vacation. That soon changed and this shoot came to life. Shooting in Savannah has been something I have dreamed about for some time now.

Ivory & Beau allowed me to use these beautiful pieces from Twigs & Honey, Jaclyn Jordan, Ivana Krejci, and I had my dear friend Sarah Ingram do what she does best- create!

Being able to work with a Ivana Krejci gown was swoon worthy. These gowns are handmade and beyond stunning.

Overall- I can’t really say just how grateful I am for this amazing shoot.

Weddings + Events at Georgia Aquarium

As a bride who said “I do” in a converted industrial warehouse, I’m all about unique venues. And how much more special could it get than the one-of-a-kind Georgia Aquarium?! The perfect spot for your wedding day (or engagement shoot!), this amazing locale offers couples top-of-the-line catering from Wolfgang Puck, a stunning space and a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your guests.

Georgia Aquarium ensures your big day is seamless + stress free thanks to their incredible special event planners who will leave no detail attended! To get started planning your unforgettable Georgia Aquarium wedding, call 404.581.4126.

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Autumn Atlanta Estate Wedding

Fall lovers, get excited because this autumn “I do” is about as good as it gets. Captured by Amy Arrington Photography it’s a true celebration of Southern elegance amongst the foliage, and Design House Weddings and Events whipped up all-white blooms that sort of stole the show. Click here for more and don’t miss the film from Artworks Wedding Cinema.

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From the Bride… Our wedding day simply could not have been more perfect. It was incredibly rewarding to see four months of hard work and meticulous planning come together to create a beautiful, relaxing atmosphere to celebrate our love and start our life together.

We were blessed with the opportunity to say our vows at a truly unique, exquisite, and private home that exuded Southern elegance and timeless tradition, two themes that we carried forth into every detail of the wedding. The beauty of the home and its landscaping spoke for themselves, so we kept the ceremony décor simple. Sahara and cream rose petals lined the wedding aisle, leading to several oversized flower arrangements, which mimicked my bouquet. A springing fountain behind us created the illusion of an overhead altar, while its sounds added to the romantic and relaxed atmosphere.

The ceremony was short, sweet, and officiated by Danny’s Step-Father. Our vows were traditional in theme, yet modern and personal in diction. One of my favorite moments of the entire day was standing at the altar, watching my Danny trying to hold himself together, and realizing that I had never felt so relaxed and reassured in all of my life. It was gratifying to feel the confidence that I was bringing into marriage completely erase the stress that I brought into wedding planning.

Our reception was held in the grand ballroom of a local community center. The lighting of the chandeliers and the opulence of the large space added to our theme of timeless elegance. We added several personal touches to the traditional elements of our reception. Instead of sitting at the head table with our bridal party, Danny and I enjoyed a private candlelit dinner on a terrace overlooking the city lights. This was one of the most intimate moments of the entire day, as we were able to finally have a private moment to talk, laugh, and relish in the fact that we were officially a married couple.

The wedding cake was simply decorated with a pattern of hand-rolled, white chocolate pearls, while the back of the cake held a surprise. Baseball has always been one of the biggest aspects of Danny’s life, so I surprised him with a fondant baseball “smooshed” into the back of the cake. As another personal touch, we decided to forego traditional wedding favors and instead donated our wedding favor budget to a nonprofit called charity:water. Each guest was given a water bottle with a label designed to educate them on charity:water and the work they are doing to solve the world’s water crisis.

We (rather embarrassingly) danced the night away with our closest friends and family before ending the night to a song I had dedicated to my cousin, who tragically passed away just two years before. Driving off in a beautifully restored 1956 Chevy was the perfect moment to take it all in. At the end of it all, our wedding day served as a microcosm for how we hope to live the rest of our lives—surrounded by the ones we love, focused on our commitment to one another, dancing like fools, and laughing in stride at the “uh-oh’s” that life will undoubtedly throw at us.

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Blush Jekyll Island Wedding

This Jekyll Island affair? It’s yet another reason that proves choosing the right venue is so, so important. This stunning Bride + Groom chose Crane Cottage which couldn’t have been more perfect for their Gilded Age-themed soiree. And with plenty of DIYs and decor inspiration (including the SMP Weddings book!) the resulting imagery from Concept-A Photography is timeless beauty at it’s best.

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From the beautiful Bride…Crane Cottage on Jekyll Island, Georgia, was the first location that Adam and I thought of when we started planning our wedding. He’d taken me to Jekyll Island for my birthday one year, and I clearly remember feeling as though we’d stepped into a movie, it was all so perfect. I love our venue because of its history and the natural beauty that surrounds it- enormous oaks with Spanish moss, the river on one side and Atlantic Ocean on the other. The Jekyll Island Club has also been called “the Millionaires’ Club” because it was originally built as a turn-of-the century winter retreat for families such as the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Morgans, and Pulitzers. The Club Hotel and surrounding “cottages” have been so well preserved and maintained that it was easy to feel like we’d stepped back in time. For that reason, I chose decorative touches with a Gilded Age theme- blush heritage roses, peonies, and dahlias; dotted-swiss vases hanging from shepherd’s hooks along the aisle, and carried the pale pink of the floral design into a post-Victorian-era color palette of grey, cream, and blush. My Marisa dress had an antique feel to it but my amazing seamstress, Holly, played to the art-nouveau styling of the time by customizing the neckline. She used the intricate beading on my Rivini veil to create a beautiful neckline and little flutter or cap looking sleeves.

Our venue really was the centerpiece of our wedding. We almost didn’t need decorations. And surprisingly few of our friends and family had ever heard of it, even though it’s only an hour north of where we live (Jacksonville, FL). The comment I got the most that weekend was, “this place is amazing, how did you find it?”

The best part of having our wedding at Crane Cottage was that we were able to hold every event in and around the cottage. The “cottage” was actually the most expensive private home built on the island at the time by one of the Club members, with 14 rooms, a sunken garden, and an interior courtyard. Our parents, the wedding party, and a few close friends stayed at Crane Cottage while the rest of our guests stayed at the Club Hotel next door, or at another nearby hotel on the island. Our rehearsal dinner was held close to sunset on the west-facing front lawn of the cottage, overlooking the River across a wide expanse of lawn, flowering shrubs and oaks strewn with Spanish moss, and it was absolutely gorgeous. To welcome our arriving guests, we hosted a party on Friday evening at the “Rah Bar”- a very authentic indoor-outdoor bar situated over the water on a huge, old dock across from the hotel.

The wedding ceremony itself took place outdoors on the grounds adjacent to the Cottage under a giant oak- the oldest and largest on the island- that provided an amazing canopy of hanging Spanish moss. As we recessed back up the aisle, everyone threw cones of dried lavender and rose petals in the air. The cocktail hour was held in the Crane Cottage garden, which is also where we had taken our bridal party photos earlier that day. (It’s so stunning that it’s usually where wedding ceremonies are held at Crane). Then finally, the reception was held in the outdoor courtyard at Crane Cottage where columns of incredibly fragrant jasmine happened to be in full bloom! I remember thinking it couldn’t be more beautiful or perfect.

When you spend months and months planning a wedding it’s really exciting to see it all come together in real life. I’d looked through books, magazines, and blogs (including a copy of the Style Me Pretty Weddings book!) It’s so helpful to see real weddings and pick out elements you love (and don’t love) and then tie them all together. My bridesmaids (who wore Annabelle by Jenny Yoo) each chose a different way to tie their dresses, and my mom created belts for them using some bulk beaded fabric trim purchased on Etsy. Leading up to the wedding I’d gone back and forth about the whether the colors of their dresses would work (they were all in grey except for my sister, who wore blush) but seeing them all put together was breathtaking. Those dresses were one of my favorite things about the entire wedding! We took pre-ceremony photos in the garden and the palette was gorgeous – the pale greys and blush and my dress against the green. Halfway through the photos we looked up and our friends were hanging out of their window cheering at us. I loved it! It was so special to have everyone so close all weekend.

We wrapped up the weekend with a lovely Mother’s Day brunch in the Grand Dining Room in the Club Hotel. Having our wedding at Crane Cottage, surrounded by our favorite people all weekend, with everything a short walk away, could not have been more perfect! Post wedding we were floored by how beautiful our photos, by Concept A Photography, turned out. We had a day after session thrown in, so we really got to use every part of the grounds, and we went to a driftwood beach with huge trees that we climbed into. Though we’d expected the photos to be amazing, we weren’t as sure about our videography since we were using a student from the University of North Florida (where I work). We were amazed at how well our videography turned out. Jonah Roberson, our videographer, gave us a highlight video that was better than anything from the established videographers I’d looked at in our entire region. We were able to save a lot of money by using students from the local university for both the videography and the string quartet.

Here’s a list of everything we DIY’d. We couldn’t have done it without the support of our very talented families!

Inspiration for several of my favorite DIYs came after I saw a banner (Martha Stewart) created from fabric printed by Spoonflower. I created a monogram which we made into a banner that hung at the head table, a guest book by printing the monogram onto fabric and wrapping/stapling it around a block of wood (which is now hanging up in our house instead of being stored in a bookcase), a large menu banner that featured hand calligraphy by our calligrapher, Farin, who we found on etsy. The menu ended up being 6’ long and was on display during the cocktail hour.

My aunt sewed the ring-bearer’s pillow using beading and pieces of satin from my grandmother’s wedding dress, my great-grandmother’s brooch was pinned into my bouquet- it was my something old, my mom made belts for the bridesmaids out of trim we bought from Etsy – they were gorgeous, at a fraction of the cost of the actual belts being sold on Etsy and at bridal stores, my mom also made the delicate blush table runners, my sister made amazing heart-shaped cookies frosted in pink and white, imprinted with our initials, that two of my cousins wrapped in translucent bags and tied with ribbon for everyone to take home after the reception, Adam and I stamp-embossed our monogram onto guests’ welcome boxes using his sister’s embosser and a custom stamp I got from the etsy shop “Blinks of Life”

Inside each gift box was a bottle of our favorite champagne- Wycliffe- that we re-labeled as “Woodruff-Kane Wedding Champagne”. The labels were so identical that a server accidentally poured us the Woodruff-Kane champagne instead of Wycliffe at the reception! Instead of a photo booth we had an old polaroid camera and some black and white film from The Impossible Project which people used to take photos of themselves. They then swapped the photos for their escort cards. I bought a cardboard “A”, “C”, and “&” from a craft store along with some fake flowers and hot glue gunned the flowers to the cardboard letters, then ran a string through the letters and hung it over the door to the cottage. My stepdad brought lots of bulb lights that we’d gotten for the engagement party and hung them around the courtyard which added a beautiful soft glow once it got dark. I had a topper made for the groomscake by The Canine Couture. They used photos of our lab, Lulu (who wasn’t at our wedding) to create a very Lulu-looking sculpture out of clay. Now we have that as a keepsake instead of a fondant topper that would’ve been thrown out. The table numbers were pictures of Adam and I at each age (Table one was 1 year old, etc).

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Romantic Barnsley Gardens Engagement Session

These two? They’re pretty darn adorable. And their love for one another (proven by their sweet, sweet words below) is unmatchable. They teamed up with Gracie Blue Photography to capture that love at the beautiful Barnsley Gardens Resort, and the result is one of my fave love shoots to date. Have a peek for yourself right here in the gallery.

From Gracie Blue Photography…Lisa and Stephen wanted their engagement session to take place in a location that matched their relationship, which they describe as romantic, affectionate and private. They fell in love with the beautiful Barnsley Gardens and we all agreed that the setting matched them perfectly. What’s more romantic than a beautiful private garden with historic old ruins as a backdrop?

From the beautiful Bride-to-be…From the moment I met Stephen, I had this really good gut feeling about him. We hit it off right away. Stephen exceeded my expectations in every single way. During the 9 months of our long distance relationship, we flew to see each other as often as possible, and we talked on the phone and skyped all the time. We were addicted to talking with each other to the point where I was always tired at work. I always had to look out for how many minutes I was using on my phone every month because I went over the limit a couple of times. He worked really hard to get the job in Atlanta, which was extremely competitive, and there was a high possibility that he would not get that job. Despite all the obstacles and the distance between us, as cheesy as it sounds, he made me believe in love again. He gave me hope, and he made me feel a kind of happiness I never felt before. Usually there’s a lot of pressure to a relationship when someone moves for the other person, but I felt like with us, we didn’t have to try to make it work or force anything to happen. Instead, we fell in love and knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.

I want to remember how we never take each other for granted, and we are always grateful to be together. I want to remember all the inside jokes we have with each other. Our perfect Saturday together is hanging out at a park or hiking, and then, dinner and a movie. We like to keep it simple. It really doesn’t matter what we end up doing because we enjoy every minute we have with each other since he works a lot of weekends. We share a tradition to go on a yearly cabin trip. We bring food with us and grill for our meals. We hike around the nearby trails, and relax by the fireplace watching a movie and roasting marshmallows. I love how Stephen understands all my quirks and appreciates them. I love that he was raised with good morals, and I love his patience and compassion.

From the handsome Groom-to-be…I love that Lisa laughs at some of the strangest and littlest things, and I love that we have started to build an extensive list of inside jokes that no one else can understand. I love that she gives me a lot of support. She has made my life much more fulfilling and joyful.

Photography: Gracie Blue Photography | Resort: Barnsley Gardens Resort

Elegant Atlanta Wedding with New Orleans Style

Those Southern lovelies, they sure know how to do elegance right. And this afternoon’s slice of pretty is exactly that—elegance at it’s best, mixed with side of NOLA influence. From the classic, black and white invitations designed by Paper Daisies Stationery to the lace galore to the pops of peach sprinkled about, Simply Sarah Photography made sure no detail went uncaptured—see it all here.

Colors

Seasons

Spring Weddings

Settings

Garden Weddings Religious Institution

Styles

Classic Weddings

From the beautiful Bride…Our unique Spring wedding was a mix of a traditional church ceremony, and a lively garden reception heavily influenced by all things Atlanta and New Orleans! The Southern affair was truly a night to remember.

My now husband, Matt, and I met in high school in Atlanta. We went to the same church and our families were friends as well. He was a year older, and I fell hard and fast. At 17, I just KNEW I was going to marry this boy. Fast forward a year, and I was left with a broken heart while he went off to Georgia Tech for college. I went off to college at Louisiana State University the next year and, after realizing that every 17-year-old goes through a bad breakup, I left my bitterness behind and Matt and I became friends who kept in touch a few times a year. Little did I know that my 17-year-old self was right. After graduating from college and moving back to Atlanta, Matt and I started dating again and, my 23-year-old self (once again) just KNEW she was going to marry this boy. Luckily, he felt the same. :) He proposed two years later in Atlanta in front of our family and friends. And now, we have a funny story to tell people how we met.

Since we both grew up in Georgia, we decided right off the bat to have the wedding in Atlanta. However, in beginning to plan, we struggled with how to combine all of our family and cultural traditions into a night everyone would never forget. Having some family from the Northeast, it was important to us to demonstrate everything our two favorite Southern states – Georgia and New Orleans – have to offer.

In the end, we decided that including ALL of our favorite things from my fiance’s and my home state of Georgia and my extended family’s home state of Louisiana was the way to go. No traditions were left uncovered, and everything blended beautifully!

Our traditional Catholic ceremony featured meaningful readings, wedding hymns played by an organist, and a lighting of a Unity candle. Our church housed gorgeous stained glass windows and beautiful marble floors. We steered clear of decorations for the church, and let the historic Atlantan beauty speak for itself.

To keep in line with the look of the church, and the overall Southern wedding feel, my dress was all white lace, with delicate lace straps, a plunging back, and a long train. To amp up the look, I added a dramatic jeweled belt, and a royal length veil. I wanted the veil to trail behind me as far as possible down the long church aisle. I kept my accessories simple, only adding jeweled and pearl earrings and jeweled silver shoes to match my belt. My bridesmaids wore long, chiffon dresses in light blue with pearl stud earrings and dainty pearl necklaces. My flower girl wore a white lace dress and pearls to look similar to me and the bridesmaids. The groomsmen, fathers, and ring bearer all wore traditional black tuxes. To take the tuxes up a notch, we nixed the typical black bow tie and instead had them wear bow ties with fleur-de-lis, a traditional New Orleans symbol.

For our invitations, we chose black and white computer calligraphy (yes, computer calligraphy – it’s amazing!) with traditional wording. Rounded edges added a little flair and were the perfect combination of traditional and modern. My bouquet, my bridesmaids bouquets, and my flower girl’s flower pomander had beautiful white, peach, and pink flowers. The bouquets were an assortment of anemones, peonies, garden roses, and dusty miller, with green filler as an accent. All of the bouquets were tightly wrapped with a gray satin ribbon. A perfect Spring combination!

Most of our wedding planning was geared toward our garden reception at a Historic Atlanta Mansion. We wanted to really show off our personalities, all the while remaining focused on our number one goal, ensuring that we had a celebration that we would remember for a lifetime. In truth, neither of us had a strong preference when it came to decorations, flowers, or linens. Our venue boasted gorgeous gardens, and a large white tent already, so we wanted the centerpieces and decorations to accent the beauty that was already there. Amberly at Wrenwood Design did a phenomenal job (especially for the little guidance she had) and created alternating high and low centerpieces filled with beautiful white, peach, pink, and green flowers in glass and silver vases. The centerpieces matched my bouquet and the bridesmaids bouquets, with variations to make them stand out on their own. Our decorations consisted mainly of stunning flower arrangements, to play up the garden theme. It turned out better than we could have ever imagined.

The food was one of the most important parts of our reception. We wanted a combination of foods from Georgia and New Orleans, and the result was astounding. During the cocktail hour, guests enjoyed a “Spring Blended Display” of Georgian cheeses, Louisiana fried boudin balls, and other meats, fruits, and specialty appetizers. Dinner was an interactive buffet where guests could make their own meals, once again combining Georgia and Louisiana offerings. Southern-style short rib, shrimp, jambalaya-style chicken and andouille, grits, macaroni and cheese, fingerling potatoes, and assorted vegetables were among the options. Dinner was topped off by passed desserts consisting of melted Georgia peach and vanilla bean ice cream on top of bacon glazed chocolate donuts, flights of spoons filled with delicious mouses, and traditional New Orleans beignets.

Our cake was a simple, three-tiered, amaretto cake with buttercream icing. Flowers matching the centerpieces and bouquets cascaded down the side. Before cutting the cake (which, yes, as much as I threatened, got smeared all over my face by my new husband), the bridesmaids participated in “cake pulls,” a New Orleans tradition in which the single bridesmaids pull a charm out of the bride and groom’s wedding cake. Each charm acts as a “fortune” and tells what will happen to them in the future. A super fun tradition, unless you’re the bridesmaid that pulls the “crabby old lady” charm. :)

Our wedding favors consisted of pralines from our family friend’s praline shop in New Orleans, and koozies with our monogram because, what’s a Southern wedding without a monogram?

Throughout the night, guests mingled throughout the gardens and tent, danced to an AMAZING band that played a huge variety of music, and participated in a traditional New Orleans Second Line, which kicked off the party! The end result of all the hard work and planning was an amazingly fun night with mixed traditions, family, friends, and love. The ceremony was perfect, the food and drinks amazing, the dance floor packed, and the night filled with joy. We couldn’t have asked for anything more and will never be able to thank our family, friends and all of our amazing vendors enough for the epic event they hosted for us.

Quaint Southern Chapel Wedding

There’s something about this simple chapel wedding that makes my heart really happy. Like smiling ear-to-ear and can’t stop happy. It’s a little reminder that the very best days aren’t overdone with details, but rather focus on the love. Watch the story unfold from Amy Arrington’s lens right here.

Colors

Seasons

Fall Weddings

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Religious Institution

Styles

Classic Weddings

From Amy Arrington Photography…Stefanie + Tyler were married at one of the sweetest little churches in the South. Whitefield Chapel is located at Bethesda Academy in Savannah. The scene at Bethesda is so dreamy with all of the oak trees and Spanish moss.

From The Bride…We chose Savannah for our destination wedding because of its beautiful southern charm, romantic feel and an enjoyable weekend for our guests. The weekend was planned to allow our guests to experience the highlights of Savannah; Thursday night was a haunted Halloween ghost tour, Friday guests were invited to rehearsal dinner at Lady and Sobs followed by a cocktail party at the 109 West house, Saturday was our wedding and Sunday guests joined for a farewell brunch.

Our wedding day was a beautiful fall day in Savannah where the bridal partygoer ready at the 109 West House. Trolleys transported the bridal party and guests from historic downtown Savannah to The Whitefield Chapel at Bethesda Academy. The ceremony was conducted by a family friend, Judge Kenneth Lester in a historic chapel filled with friends, family and flowers in memory of Stefanie’s Nanny and Tyler’s Grandma Ruby.

Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour on the patio of Trustees Garden enjoying snacks and Peachy Savannah Sangria. The night was filled with fantastic Motown music courtesy of The Root Doctors band which kept guests dancing all night long.

After our sparkler exit we were whisked away on a pedicab, wishing all of our friends and family a farewell after the end of a perfect day!

One year prior, Tyler proposed to me while on vacation, so Savannah will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Peach + Navy Flat Creek Country Club Wedding

Our gorgeous week on the LBB is soon coming to an end SMPers, but as you know, we like to go out with a bang—we wouldn’t have it any other way. This darling soiree dressed in peach and navy, it’s that ‘bang’ and so much more. Drenched in gorg florals from Virtu Floral Design, graced with a beauteous Bride in a satiny Fabulous Frocks dress, a little bit of prep and a whole lotta class, Amy Arrington made sure to snap up every lovely bit and it’s all here in the gallery.

Colors

Seasons

Spring Weddings

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Country Club Religious Institution

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Classic Weddings

From the beautiful Bride…Though I haven’t lived in the South for more than 10 years, I had always pictured getting married in my hometown in Georgia. Also, since my husband is from the South (Kentucky), we couldn’t have imagined a better way to capture our upbringings and commemorate such an important part of our lives than to come home to to Peachtree City for our wedding. Having both moved away and made lifelong and special friends from across the country, we were thrilled to bring all the most important people in our lives together in a place that means so much to me.

In planning our wedding, we wanted it to reflect the importance of our faith, our families, and our friends. As such, we carefully crafted our wedding ceremony to include Bible excerpts read by two sets of married friends that we cherish and hymns that have special meaning for us. We also had the ceremony officiated by our pastor from our home church in Cambridge, MA, where we met, dated, and became engaged (we have since moved to Chicago). Similarly, we wanted our reception to include personal touches reflecting our relationship and to be an atmosphere celebrating both our wedding and our friends and family who had traveled great distances to support us. A few highlights from our reception planning included our choice of wedding cake and groom’s “cake” as cookie cake and banana pudding (our respective favorites), table numbers with stories about our relationship that incorporated each number, and the last dance song as “Call Me Maybe” – an admittedly silly song that has a special story behind it from our relationship.

Lastly, our wedding day was sunny and warm – one of those perfect days that the South seems to magically create in Spring. We couldn’t have asked for anything better. Every moment from the preparations of hair and makeup with my bridesmaids in the morning to the last song of the night and our exit with sparklers for our golf cart get-away, was perfect.

Classic Tybee Island Wedding

There’s something about red anemones that really get my blood flowing. This pretty flower is like a sweet burst of energy in any bunch of blooms. And Urban Poppy knew it would fit right in to this Tybee Island soiree from Artworks Wedding Cinema. A few second into the amazing film and you’ll see why. It’s a day of elegance, yet sooo much fun. Have a look at Harper Noel Photography‘s imagery for more!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/95036489 600 338]

Colors

Seasons

Spring Weddings

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Religious Institution

Styles

Classic Weddings

From Artworks Wedding Cinema…Oh wow. What a fantastic day this was! Lauren and Terence are now officially one of my most FAVORITE couples! One of the things that sets them apart is their total devotion and dedication to each other … and their patience! They knew they were to be married years ago, but both wanted to finish school and their masters before taking that glorious walk down the aisle.

When Lauren told me her colors were blush, ivory, red, black, and gold … I was honestly thinking … okay … but oh wow, how fabulous everything looked all put together! The bridesmaids were super chic in their floor length black gowns and the red and gold were made adorably bright with the addition of blush. It was so so pretty! Harper Noel Photography was such a fabulous choice in capturing all that gorgeousness!

The couple was one of the first ones to enjoy their reception in Tybee Island Wedding Chapel’s newly added reception space, and they surely set the stage for couples to follow. We hope the two of them have a fantastic life together and were so happy to have been there to capture it all!

Music credit: “Golden” by Holley Maher