Georgia Weddings

When I scroll through a wedding and an uncontrollable smile starts to form on my face, I just know it needs to grace the pages of SMP ASAP. And that’s precisely what happened with this gorgeous Georgia fête from Amy Arrington Photography. Her stunning images tell the sweet story of a super in love couple on they day they say I do, and it’s all topped it all off with a puppy that is just as cute as they come – making this one smile-inducing post. See it all here.

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From Amy Arrington… Sarah + Trey were married at Smithgall Woods on April 20, 2013. One of my favorite parts of their wedding was their choice of ceremony music. They hired a harpist to play, and it was the perfect choice with the accompanying sounds of nature in the background –  creek water rushing, birds singing, and trees blowing in the wind. Another favorite part of their wedding was their adorable ring bearer – their beloved beagle trotted down the aisle carrying the wedding bands in a box tied from her collar. [dotted]

Wedding Photography: Amy Arrington Photography | Wedding Venue: Smithgall Woods State Park | Catering: Food Factory on Main | Cakes: Memorable Creations Cake Shop | Cupcakes: Truelove Celebrations | Hair + Make Up: Creative Visions Salon + Tammy Shirley | Floral Design + Decor: Judy J. Thomas of En Plein Air Floral Designs (ivory-j@hotmail.com) | Wedding Invitations: Palmetto Peaches | Harpist: Jan Fairies | Rentals: Lanier Tent Rental

In case you hadn’t noticed, we take this whole “wrapping up the week in style” thing very seriously here at SMP.  So serious, in fact, that we thought we’d send a little something extra special your way this lovely Friday morning.  A little something we like to call “engagement session perfection” with a totally adorable Atlanta duo and an entire gallery of pretty captured by Altmix Photography.  Start your weekend off right in the full gallery.  It’s beyond lovely.

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From the Bride-to-Be… Josh and I met at work. We had little interaction for almost a year until he commented on some pictures I had taken at an abandoned warehouse that a friend took me to when I got my “fancy” camera. Josh asked if I could take him there and one Sunday afternoon in July, I did. That afternoon is what we consider our first date. When Josh said he wanted to go back to the warehouse to take our engagement pictures, I was nervous about how pictures of two people in love in front of dilapidated and graffitied buildings would turn out. I asked him why he wanted to take pictures there and he recalled that during our first photo shoot, he was looking through his viewfinder at me and there was a moment where he “knew he was in trouble.” It was so romantic that I had to agree and I’m so glad I did. Our amazing photographers, Kate & Matt of Altmix Photography, loved the idea and ended up loving the warehouse venue. We spent hours wandering around the buildings and uncovering new places to shoot. Before we lost the light, we were able to hop over to the bridge by Josh and my house, which has the best view of downtown Atlanta. This shoot represents not only our style, as a couple but also the lesser known and more interesting places Atlanta has to offer. I hope that it inspires others to explore their neighborhood to find unique places to take pictures.

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Photography: Matt + Kate Altmix, Altmix Photography

I’m about to show you what can only be described as the cutest couple. They way they just adore each other is my favorite. The love is so transparent, the chemistry so strong, but that adoration? Man, I’m weak in the knees over the way they look at each other. 3Ring Weddings captured the essence of this couple, and their gorgeous wedding from Ashley Baber Weddings… I’m so excited to share it with you!

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From the cinematographer… Whether Emory and Katie are sitting at their favorite neighborhood bar or listening to the Avett Brothers as they cook, it is evident they simply love spending time together. From the moment they met both of them recognized they had something truly special. Katie commented, “I didn’t have any expectations for him and then there he was…he naturally became my fairy tale.”

Emory was also enchanted by Katie. “I never knew I would feel so confident about finding someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with…Yeah it’s just truly special.” Although Katie and Emory have a “happily forever after” essence to their relationship, they define it by hard work and communication. From the beginning they took a no nonsense approach by asking difficult questions and really seeking to see one another for the person they are. They quickly saw their romance had fire and self awareness in it and that they were intrigued, challenged, and simply enjoyed being with each other at all hours of the day.

It is evident this couple loves each other for who they are. Emory mentioned he loves how opinionated and enthusiastic Katie is and how she approached their friendship from a “take it or leave it” mentality. Happy as a bride can be, Katie explained, “For all the ways that he knows life is not perfect and people are not perfect that makes him perfect to me…that allows me space to really just be myself.”

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Venue: White Provision | Planner: Ashley Baber Weddings | Photographer: David Christensen Photography | Videographer: 3Ring Weddings | Band: Mo Sol

There is the perfect amount of elegance and the perfect amount of fun in this Sea Island soiree captured by Scott Hopkins Photography. With it’s gorgeous setting, classic style and stunning couple, it has all the elements for one gorgeous wedding…and trust me when I say, it doesn’t dissappoint. It’s the best possible version of beach chic, and you can see it all right here.

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From Scott Hopkins Photography…Carolyn and Ed were married in the luxurious Sea Island Resorts in Sea Island, Georgia. They were wed (along with their dog Lacey)  in the gardens on the grounds of the Cloister at Sea Island. Carolyn wore a stunning Rivini gown and Stuart Weitzman heels while her groom his groomsmen looked dapper in their tuxes. After the ceremony, guests made their way to Sea Island’s private beach club for dinner and dancing. Entertainment was provided by the band the Moxie Band. Dinner was held in the Ocean Room while dancing took place the starts of the beach club’s courtyard overlooking the water. The tables for dinner were adorned with beautiful mercury glass centerpieces that matched her bouquet.  Carolyn and Ed then departed via golf cart through a grand sparkler exit.

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Photography: Melissa + Scott, Scott Hopkins Photography | Venue, Catering, Event + Floral Design: Sea Island | Band: The Moxie Band | Hair + Makeup: Image Artisans Salon | Wedding Dress: Rivini | Shoes: Stuart Weitzman

DIY weddings ooze charm to me. I find myself in complete awe over all the details couples dream up (and whip up) all on their own, and this sweet soiree is the perfect example. The duo in the center of it all, not only planned this day to complete perfection with The Southern Tree Plantation – they also performed for their guests, officially them making them 100 times more talented than myself. Which I happen to love. So settle in with all these pretty images from Raebeam Photography – they are a treat for sure. Click here for even more.

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From Raebeam Photography…This couple is in a band together! So what did they do at their DIY, simple, but awesome wedding? They gave a concert to their guests during the reception. It was a perfect sunny day in Blairsville, GA at The Southern Tree Plantation.

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Photography: Raebeam Photography | Event Planning: The Southern Tree Plantation | Ceremony + Reception Location: The Southern Tree Plantation

If you’ve ever stopped to wonder why we here at SMP are sooo obsessed with Georgia weddings, the answer is simple: they are awesome.  Awesome in the way that only sweet Southern affairs can be, with the perfect mix of traditional and rustic and enough pretty to fill the entire Peach State.  It’s the tried and true formula shining brightly in this darling Rome soiree, a DIY extravaganza with the fab stylings of one very talented bride and a stunning Farm backdrop that will, put simply, take your breath away.  See every last moment captured perfectly by Scobey Photography in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… From an unconventional beginning on PlentyOfFish.com came the greatest gift I could have imagined, a man whose love, determination, and selflessness envelops me every day. Matt asked me to be his wife at a castle in Scotland. Almost immediately we started talking about our wedding and how we wanted it to look. We both agreed, we did not want a cookie cutter wedding. We wanted a wedding that would be a reflection of us, it would be a personalized wedding everyone would remember. We wanted something that seamlessly melded my love for all things vintage and antique, Matt’s love of the outdoors, and incorporated our mutual love of the mountains. Our vision blossomed when we found our venue, a farm emanating a rustic elegance, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Georgia; a place where you can see the stars shine at night, and most cell phone service ceases to exist… our version of perfect.

As a lover of DIY projects, I knew this was the way I would create a wedding that would stand out. In an effort to keep every element personalized I wanted to incorporate something into our centerpieces that would be a conversation starter, it came in the form of tea cups. Our floral centerpieces were housed in my grandmothers 100-year-old tea cups, gifted to her by her mother. I also wanted to DIY our favors, so from my love of baking the idea of bottling homemade vanilla extract for favors (a six month process) was born. We documented the process through photos and displayed these at the wedding. I wanted our table settings to tie in the soft peach, and smokey blues found throughout the day, so I cut fabric strips for napkin rings and attached sparkled buttons. We even painted and re-purposed an old table we found in the garbage and used it as vessel to showcase our family’s wedding photos. In addition we tea-stained and hand-stamped tags for our invitations and favors, and created table names out of wooden birds, moss and dowels. The satisfaction and pride I had decorating the venue was amazing, as I placed each little detail where it belonged I couldn’t wait for our friends and family to see what we had created.

My beautiful Mom only tried on one wedding dress and fell in love, after she told me the story I found myself rolling my eyes thinking that will never happen to me. As it turns out, like mother like daughter, I bought the first dress I tried on. To me, that dress was magic, in just the right light it flashed the slightest hue of peach, the separate lace overlay added a vintage charm, and the belt enhanced the peach undertone of the dress. This dress was an extension rather that a departure of my normal wardrobe. I often layer jackets and belts, and with the layers in the dress it allowed the dress to change throughout the night by removing the overlay. The bridesmaids’ dresses were not as easy. I had a very specific blue in mind, not baby blue, not bright blue, but a soft smokey antique blue. I held out until I found it, and I am so glad I did.

As our wedding day approached, as most brides, I had my eyes on the weather, 100% chance of rain. Really? I had never seen the weather report so certain. Well it did rain, but it rained just as our guests were enjoying the cocktail hour inside of the covered stables, some even sitting in rocking chairs looking out over the vast farm as the rain poured down; the thunder and lightning didn’t stop until morning. As the rain pounded the tin roof of the barn at the end of the night, someone said to me “aren’t you sad its all over.” I remember thinking to myself, no, I am not sad its over, because this was not an end, this was our beginning. I think the most important thing Matt and I did throughout the planning was never loosing sight of what this day really meant, it was the celebration of our beginning. Our wedding day was perfect, I will cherish my memories of that day, the planning, and all the wonderful projects and details, but most of all each day I cherish my patient, loving, honest, husband, my greatest gift in this world.

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Photography: Scobey Photography | Cinematography: Jeremy Tucker of Cinema Bliss | Band: Chris Wold of 7 Sharp 9 | Wedding Cake: Kate White of Honeymoon Bakery | Cake Topper: Shauna Hullender of Lava Gifts | Bar Service: Sharon Gregory of Bar None of Rome | Catering: Deborah Rothman of Harvest Moon Cafe | Floral Design: Bussey’s Florist | Bridal Party Bouquets: Heidi Belmont of Burlap and Bling Studio | Groomsmen Boutonnieres: DIY by the Bride | Event Design & Decor: The Bride | Event Planning: The Bride assisted by Dixie Bagley of The Farm | Wedding Ceremony Location: St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church | Wedding Reception Location: The Farm in Rome, Georgia | Wedding Invitations: Jen Simpson of Jen Simpson Design | Groomsmen Suits: Perry Ellis | Groom’s Tie: Kohl’s | Groomsmen Ties: Marc Anthony via Kohl’s | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Jasmine Bridal (B2) via Bride Beautiful | Wedding Dress: Martina Lianavia via Bride Beautiful | Bride’s Shoes: Alex Marie | Groom’s Shoes: Sonoma | Rings: D. Geller & Son | Vintage Ring: Heirloom, Bride’s Grandmother | Bride’s Necklace & Bracelet: Borrowed, Mother of the Bride | Bride’s Earrings: Borrowed, Cousin of the Bride | Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: Cute Actually by Narin B | Garter: Garters by Kristi | Bride’s Perfume: La Vie Est Belle By Lancome | Bridal Hair & Makeup: Amber Grey + The Bride Bride’s | Headband: Icing | Bridal Party Hair: Christina Burton (Christina.Burton@nch.com) | Favors: Homemade Vanilla Extract, DIY by the Bride & Groom | Favor Labels: Vista Print | Table Numbers: DIY by the Bride | Napkin Rings: DIY by the Bride

Okay… I know I say this all of the time, but you lovelies out there in SMP-land?  You floor me.  You floor me with your serious creativity and your downright awesome crafting abilities.  And as someone who is a self-described non-DIYer, I am in a constant state of awe over your darling weddings.  Case in point?  This beyond fabulous day captured by Jayne B. Photography; a day that is boasting beautiful florals from Bloomin’ Bouquets, some crazy gorgeous orange hues and, of course, a whole lot of DIY goodness crafted by the uber-talented bride and groom, plus amazing friends and family.  Don’t miss a minute of pretty in the full gallery.  It’s a must-see.

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From the Bride… Jonathan and I had been on several romantic weekend getaways to Savannah in the past, we fell in love with the charming squares, cobblestone streets, and history of the city. So, after he proposed on the steps of a Savannah church we decided we would share the joy the town brought us with our families, and get married there.

With a small budget and a love for crafting, I decided to design and create as much as I could for the wedding on my own (and with the help of family and friends). I immediately got to work making reserved signs for tables and chairs, navy and white table runners, and mason jars with chalkboard hearts as favors. When it came time to pick out invitations, I realized that I could spend less and get exactly what I want by creating them myself. One of my favorite DIY wedding projects was the program. It showed our personalities while entertaining the guests… we hope.

The bluff of the Charles H. Morris Center was the perfect backdrop for the ceremony. Bloomin’ Bouquets, close friends and my florist, brought my vision to life. They created beautiful centerpieces using pieces of wood, lanterns, candles, wooden boxes my uncle made, and a variety of orange flowers. My sister made signs for the cupcake table and for the favors using navy frames and burlap flowers.  Jonathan and I enjoyed dancing and celebrating with our loved ones, but one of our favorite memories was a surprise. We took the party outside to enjoy the fireworks show that the city of Savannah does on the first Friday of every month.  When the night was over we exited through a tunnel of orange streamers and Auburn flags to a pedi-cab and began our journey together.

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Photography: Jayne B. Photography | Floral Design: Bloomin’ Bouquets | Event Design + Invitations: The Bride | Ceremony + Reception Location: The Charles H. Morris Center | Catering: Paul Kennedy Catering |Band: The Vistas | Cake: Gigi’s Cupcakes | Hair: B Street Salon | Shoes + Jewelry: Etsy | Wedding Dress: Allure Bridal 

This wedding is exactly the reason I love contemporary weddings.  The reason I go absolutely crazy for industrial spaces with exposed brick walls and steel beam ceilings, for chevron-striped linens and crazy beautiful ranunculus bouquets.  It’s a wedding that, put simply, screams chic with the fab stylings + florals of Juli Vaughn Designs and an entire gallery of pretty captured by Alea Moore Photography.  Join me there for every last ounce of amazing.

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From the Bride… I’ve always wanted to get married in a large open warehouse space and the Foundry at Puritan Mill was perfect. We fell in love with it’s high ceilings with exposed beams and brick walls immediately. As for the design, yellow has always been my favorite color and I wanted to incorporate it somehow into the design of the wedding. I felt, however, that since we were having a winter wedding we needed a color or two to temper the brightness of the yellow and navy and gray did just that. After that I showed Juli one picture with the colors and the hanging lanterns and she completely ran with the design. I told her that I wanted something warm, different and fabulous and she did just that. The only other thing I explicitly wanted was for my bouquet to be exclusively yellow ranunculus. It was spectacular! I was so sad that I only got to enjoy it for that one day.

Our wedding day was a perfect blur. The moment that I saw Mike for the first time as I was walking down the aisle is crystal clear in my memory. I will never forget the look of pure joy on his face and the sweet tears rolling down his cheeks. My other favorite moment was the daddy-daughter dance. The song my dad picked was a surprise and when the band started playing “Sweet Home Alabama” I was so excited. My dad and I danced our hearts out… it was such a sweet moment for us. Most importantly though, at the end of the night, I was so thankful to being leaving with my husband as Mrs. Michael Francesconi.

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Photography: Alea Moore Photography | Floral + Event Design: Juli Vaughn Designs | Day-Of Coordination: Amanda Ready of Atlanta Event Studio | Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Foundry at Puritan Mill | Catering: Sally’s Events

This shoot makes me long for a Southern vacation.  A seersucker-infused, romance laden Southern vacation set against a beautiful garden paradise with bright pops of color surrounding me every step of the way.  (To be exact.)  And while I touch base with a little old site called Priceline, you should see just why I am craving all things Southern pretty by feasting your eyes on every last image from Michelle White Photography.  Because this, my friends, is a shoot seriously dripping with lovely from Divine Occasions and if you can’t be there in person, well… the gallery is the next best thing.  Join me there for so much more.

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From Michelle White Photography… The inspiration behind the Seersucker-inspired photo shoot was to capture the beauty of the gardens for a Spring/Summer wedding day highlighting the use of vintage furnishings and pieces, heirloom jewelry with a hint of Southern charm for our couple, Kristen and Andrew!

Our couple’s love story… Kristen and Andrew meet their freshmen year at the University of Georgia. Kristen is a true Georgia peach, who is a native Atlantan. She loves a bottle of ice cold Coca-Cola, pecan pie, the great outdoors, and all things beautiful and vintage. Her sweetheart Andrew, is a true Southern gentleman, who was born and raised in Valdosta, GA. The only thing he loves more than Kristen are his Georgia Dawgs! His favorite things in the world… sweet tea, His Grandma’s buttermilk biscuits and the great outdoors. Kristen and Andrew often refer to themselves as “Old Souls” because they spend hours talking and they both share a favorite pastime, hiking! One of the things Andrew is most proud of is giving the love of his life a family treasured heirloom, his grandmother’s wedding ring as her engagement ring. For Kristen, she has always envisioned a beautiful garden wedding in her hometown with her husband-to-be wearing true Southern gentlemen attire, a Seersucker Suit!

Inspiration behind the shoot… In this shoot, we wanted to capture all the of elements of Kristen and Andrew’s personalities, in this Spring/Summer Seersucker Photo Shoot with a hint of vintage southern charm! Our Bride’s flowing “Sweetness” Wedding Gown from Anya Bridal was the perfect compliment to our groom’s traditional Seersucker Suit by Ralph Lauren. The chosen color palette of blue, coral pink, orange, yellow and natural greenery of the garden came alive! Our selected location, Cator Woolford Gardens proved to be the perfect backdrop! The lush beauty of the gardens offered natural décor accents for our ceremony set-up as well as the reception and sweetheart table. In this photo shoot, you will see from the Wedding Cake (Ms. D’s Cakes) to the reception, we incorporated the blues of the traditional Seersucker Suit along with accent colors of Coral pink, Orange and Yellow. Hints of vintage and southern charm can be found in the linen (Tabletoppers), glass and flatware as well as furnishings (Vogue Vintage Event Rental) to bring in the vintage feel to the shoot.

The beauty of the gardens and grounds along with the historic mansion offer the southern charm. Overall, this Seersucker Shoot offers the perfect inspiration for couples seeking to celebrate their wedding day in the Spring or Summer in an outdoor setting. Our Seersucker Photo Shoot offers the perfect inspiration for the couple who love to highlight traditional southern charm and have their guests enjoy the beauty of found vintage pieces.

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Photography: Michelle White Photography | Planning, Design & Floral: Divine Occasions | Venue: Cator Woolford Gardens | Models: Click Models of Atlanta | Bride’s Gown and Headpiece: Anya Bridal | Groom’s Suit: Ralph Lauren | Heirloom Engagement Ring: Groom’s Family | Bride’s Heirloom Earrings and Necklace: Bride’s Family | Wedding Cake: Cakes by DSW | Linen: Tabletoppers Inc. | Chiavari Chairs: Sweet Seats Atlanta | Vintage Rentals: Vintage Vogue Event Rentals | Wedding Stationery: Paper Cuts | Make-up Artist: Kim Kelley Blushed Makeup Artist | Hair Stylist: Kimberly Cade

I couldn’t possibly put my finger on what I love most about this wedding captured by Scarlett and Stephen. And it’s not because there isn’t plenty to love, it’s because everything blends perfectly together to make for one seriously fabulous celebration. It’s the vintage glamour mixed with the love of family. It’s the perfect planning by Emily Burton Designs. It’s the way this Bride’s boys (her son and new hubby) look at her. It’s all the sweetness sitting in this gallery. So perhaps I have put my finger on what I love most – everything. See it all here.

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From the Bride… After the proposal, we started planning right away.  One of the biggest challenges we faced was finding a venue. In my mind, I had a vision of an old Southern plantation. Such a place did not exist in our small town so I knew that I would have to create my own venue. We decided on my sister’s 30-acre farm, Maeford Manor, which was perfect for us because I grew up on a tobacco farm, and my husband and his family are blueberry farmers. Maeford Manor had a gorgeous oak tree that would be perfect for the ceremony, as well as the acreage needed for a large tent and dance floor and blueberry bushes. With that in mind we knew we had our work cut out for us and it was going to take all hands on deck to get the farm ready for the big day.

Overall, we wanted the wedding to reflect who we were as individually and as a couple. I love antiques and had a vision of vintage glamour throughout the wedding day details. I wanted to also incorporate a rustic feel that was a reflection of my husband, who is a farmer who loves to hunt and fish.  Not only does my husband farm, but he is also a musician and has a rock and roll edgy side. Trying to make all these concepts flow was overwhelming and therefore, I hired Emily Burton designs to ensure that my vision was carried out perfectly, and it was!

My mother and I share a love of antiques and visit thrift stores often. After the engagement, we began looking through our collection to see what items we could use to get me closer to my wedding day look.  I sent the word out to family and friends that I was looking for vintage china as well as antiques to display.  Everyone came together and we were lucky enough to be able to cobble together enough plates for dinner, saucers for the wedding cake and cups for coffee. The vintage china along with the lace and burlap table clothes made my vision come to life.

My husband’s family is musically talented and therefore it was important to us that everyone to play a role in our wedding. My husband’s cousin played the piano as I walked down the aisle to Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t she Lovely,” as well as sang our first dance song, “Unforgettable.”  My father-in-law’s band, The Bushmen, kept everyone moving on the dance floor during our reception. My niece, sister-in-law and even my husband were on stage singing to celebrate one of the happiest days of our lives. It was as if we were at a family concert!

We brainstormed on wedding favors for our guests and came up with two that were a hit with everyone! As blueberry farmers, we spend the majority of our time in the fields preparing our crops for the next harvest; therefore, we wanted to share our pride and joy with others by making wine with our berries.  My uncle learned to make wine from my maternal grandfather with whom I was very close so it was important to use his secret recipe for the process. My uncle prepared the wine and my husband and I along with other family and friends rolled up our sleeves and bottled all 150 gallons! Our wine labels were designed to match our wedding invites. We had heard from others that the day goes by so fast, with that in mind we decided on a photo booth in order to capture candid moments from our guests, give them as keepsake from our celebration and allow us to have an album of all our guests. The vintage photo booth with props was loved by all, especially the kids! Our son especially, he was in nearly every photo with our guests!

Some of my favorite moments included, the first time my husband laid eyes on me, as tears rolled down his face, his response was “Wow, it was so worth it!” Getting ready with my favorite girls in the world, my son running to me and grabbing me when he saw me in my gown for the first time, and hugging my maternal grandmother as she rolled up in her wheelchair only staying long enough to see me get married. My vision of walking through untouched nature to marry my best friend, while surrounded by my closest family and friends, under a beautiful oak tree came true.  My ceremony was soft and romantic and as I walked to the reception there was pops of color, chandeliers, candelabras, vintage seating areas, string lights and a rustic bar with a TV installed so that everyone did not miss out on the SEC championship game that the GA Bulldogs played the night of our wedding.  Everywhere I looked were all the details that I had imagined for so long. As we passed by the memory tree I was reminded that I truly did have everyone there that day that has made such an impact on our lives. Emily Burton designs had taken my dream and made it a reality.

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Photography: Scarlett and Stephen | Coordination: Emily Burton Designs | Floral Design: Johnson’s Town and Country Florist | Ceremeony + Reception Venue: Maeford Manor, Private Home | Band: The Bushmen | Catering: McClain House | Cinematography: Joel Rozier | Makeup: Paulina Perez | Hair: Mane Objective Salon + Paulina Perez | Cake: Savannah Custom Cakes | Wedding Dress: Lazaro | Shoes: Nina | Headpiece: Maria Elena Headpieces

I get the happiest little ants in my pants when I see an engagement shoot like this one from Brita Photography. Why? Because when I see an e-sesh this adorable, I get all sorts of excited for what their wedding will be like.That thought leads my brain down a path of imaginary prettiness, and all from looking at the sweetness sitting in this gallery. It’s one adorable collection of images, and leaves me anxious to see what their wedding day has in store! See why here.

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We met in the middle of Piedmont Park and walked all around the park. Jeff and Lauren are so sweet with each other…not to mention, they were so natural in front of the camera. There were only a few minutes during the late afternoon, when the sun was setting and glowing orange on the buildings. I’m so glad the timing was right and we captured amazing, “golden light” images. It’s one of our favorite engagement sessions to date![dotted]

Photography: Brita Photography | Location: Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia

Rustic weddings make me happy.  Very, very happy.  So to say that I get a little excited when a sweet rustic soiree comes our way is, well… a serious understatement.  Especially when that aforementioned bundle of rustic goodness is a sparkling gem like this darling Starrsville Plantation affair from Holly L. Robbins and Ezell’s Studios; a day so full of darling details and smiling faces, it will brighten your entire Monday. (Seriously.)  Get your pretty on in the full gallery.

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From Holly L. Robbins Photography, Inc.… Julie met Ty when she was just a little girl while her baby sitter was taking care of her. I think that sentence alone tells you just how far back this story goes!  WAAAAAY back. They have always known each other but Julie and Ty didn’t see each other “that way” until years later.

On June 1, 2013 Julie + Ty surrounded themselves with friends and family and all of their favorite things! A day filled with love, a vintage plate collection, cotton balls, a sneak peek through an old barn wall and passing sweet, sweet notes, sorority sisters and a whole lot of heart melting goodness.

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Wedding Photography: Holly L. Robbins Photography, Inc. + Gary Ezell of Ezell’s Studios | Event Design: Southern Style with Cindy Wilborn | Wedding Venue: Starrsville Plantation, Covington, Georgia | Invitations: Party City (Printables)

Sooo… this engagement session is awesome.  Like so crazy awesome that I am kind of at a loss for words.  I guess that’s what happens when two stunning sweeties join forces with the likes of Bow Event Design and Floral and Arina B. Photography… it’s pure, unadulterated magic, lovelies.  Lush blooms, a breathtaking Piedmont Park setting and image after image of pretty?  It’s a fabulous Friday, indeed.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From Bow Event Design and Floral… Spring, vibrant colors of nature, sunshine, Christine and Dan– two people in love were just a perfect set-up for a picnic under a tree. Coral and peach colored peonies with fresh garden roses and vintage inspired vases were the choice of details for this picnic. Love and flowers were the inspiration for this engagement photo session. Rich pinks, lush corals and a splash of green filled the space with vibrant colors. Something old and something new made this picnic special. Old books, vintage trunks, and other little details were a big inspiration.

Christine’s long beautiful hair inspired me to highlight it with flowers. The soft pink ranunculuses and pink anemones were chosen for this beautiful hair piece. Ah, a little bundle of peonies made a gorgeous simple bouquet for our bride to be. Blush color balloons were tied with the vintage ivory lace ribbon (inspired by Christine’s sophisticated taste) and perfectly matched Christine’s soft mint color dress. Tender touch, soft embrace, love, and flowers made this engagement photo session simply beautiful.

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Photography: Arina B. Photography | Floral Design & Styling: Bow Event Design and Floral | Location: Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Georgia

When a description starts with the words “wow… just wow,” you kind of know you are in for a little something special.  And when it’s a darling University of Georgia wedding captured by Melissa Pepin Photography, it’s an all caps kind of WOW… and then some.  Because when a Southern gem like this joins forces with pretty pink hues, white bridesmaid frocks (love) and beautiful florals from European Floral Design, it’s epically good.  Click here for sooo much more.

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From Melissa Pepin Photography… Wow….just wow. This couple and their day was sheer perfection! The weather surrounding their wedding day was disastrous. But rain, crazy strong winds, and even hail couldn’t stop the celebration that was coming this couple’s way. A few hours before everything was supposed to start, the skies cleared, the sun came out, and the perfect day was handed to us!

Haley’s dress was full of amazing detail and Todd looked so dapper in his black tux and white bow tie. From the white peonies and deep coral spray roses to the basil and rosemary lemonade, this day was a Southern brides dream come true. Haley broke tradition and selected white for her bridesmaids to wear. They were all so beautiful and when coupled with the groomsmen’s mixture of tuxes and military dress blues, the background was set off to be even more beautiful.

Every single detail of this couples day was so fitting for them. Awesome Prada shoes for Haley and a wedding cake designed to replicate the stunning white leaves on her dress, a custom groom’s cake that was sculpted to reflect Todd’s time as a diver for UGA, and a boutonniere crafted from an antique tie clip that belonged to the groom’s grandfather… it was all just so wonderful! Haley even had a a hand crafted glass charm made by a dear friend that was supposed to be a bridesmaid at the wedding (but was due to have a baby the same day so she wasn’t able to be there). It was sweet little touches throughout the entire day that made this wedding so brilliant!

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Wedding Photography: Melissa Pepin Photography | Wedding Venue: University of Georgia, Founders Memorial Garden | Floral Design: European Floral Design | Catering: Trumps | Day-Of Coordination: Molly McKinley for Chancey Charm | Invitations: Plain Janes Design | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge | Bride’s Shoes: Prada | Makeup: Eli Jana Cosmetics | Hair: Republic Salon | Band: Band X | Rentals: Oconee Events Inc.

I think in another life I was a Southern belle.  That would explain my complete obsession with all things Southern weddings.  Or maybe it’s because every single soiree you lovelies send our way has the ability to send me into a complete wedding loving frenzy.  Either or.  And in the case of this sweet affair from B. Moore Events, it’s an obsession that will most definitely fill my Tuesday, from the fab stylings of Lucky & Lovely to the darling duo saying “I do” to the gallery of pretty from Todd Baugh Photography.  See it all in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… I knew from the day that Mike proposed what kind of wedding I wanted. I wanted a wedding day that would reflect the type of people we are and what is most important to us: friends, family, and having fun. We both decided on every detail together. Our theme was a mix of rustic chic and Southern charm, and our colors were peach and gray. We wanted our guests to relax and be comfortable so we chose a simple and unpretentious setting, which was an old renovated cotton warehouse with a vaulted wood beam ceiling. The way every one we loved came together to give us everything we wanted was amazing. It was the most perfect day ever, and I can’t help but smile every time I think about it!

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Wedding Photography: Todd Baugh Photography | Wedding Venue: 550 Trackside | Event Coordination: B. Moore Events | Event Design: Lucky & Lovely | Catering: Mother of the Bride | Officiant: Brother of the Bride | Videographer: Babacar Ndiaye | DJ: Antowin Clowers | Makeup Artist: Makeup by Canicka

You know how we liven up a Tuesday morning here on SMP Georgia?  With a big ol’ dose of inspiration. A big ol’ dose of inspiration that happens to weave a dreamy ballet fairytale with a stunning wedding wonderland… a pretty, pretty masterpiece, if you will.  And when the team behind that inspiration happens to include the oh-so-talented Signature Weddings & Events, Carla Gates Photography and White Dress Media, well… we spend our entire day swooning in the gallery (but of course).  Join us there for more.

And a beyond beautiful film from White Dress Media for even more pretty… enjoy, lovelies. xo

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From Signature Weddings… We dared to dream, as little girls often do, about ballerinas, sweet treats and the one day we would merge reality with dreams to create a fantasy wedding. Designer gowns, dazzling jewels and stunning flowers awaited this bride as she drifted into the fairy tale that took her from childhood to a stunning bride. This gorgeous photo shoot was inspired by the Signature Wedding’s team but took the collaborative efforts of many gifted professionals to create. The film details our visionary tale and the photos reflect the evolution.

At Signature Weddings & Events we work alongside a wonderful group of talent each weekend but we are rarely given the opportunity to create inspiration from our own creativity. We are subject only to the visions of our brides and their goals and though we do love each one of our brides, dearly, it was fun to design and create our own project. We hope you find it refreshing as we stepped outside the “box” from the conventional photo shoots.

Signature Weddings has grown and now offers a power house team. The project unveiled here is the celebration of our newly launched planning, styling and floral trio. Senior Coordinator and owner, Corrie Kirk, had a vision of bringing together the three, under one roof, over 14 years ago when she began planning weddings. Leslie Wacker is our floral design expert and comes to with over years 8 years of experience. She works wonderfully with our stylist, Lori Harris, who majored in interior design and has such an eye for details. Corrie wanted this shoot to not only mark the bringing together of these beautiful three elements but also use it as a chance to work with top wedding industry professionals. We lovingly called our project the “Dream Unveiled”.

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Photography: Carla Gates Photography | Cinematography: White Dress Media | Event Planning: Corrie Kirk of Signature Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Leslie Wacker of  Signature Weddings & Events | Event Design: Lori Harris of Signature Weddings & Events | Photo Shoot Location: Privately Residence | Dress: Fabulous Frocks of Atlanta  | Hair + Makeup: Claudia Mejerle | Bakery: Blooming Flour Bakery | Jewelry: Mucklow’s Fine Jewelry  | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals, Atlanta +  I Do Linens

Tybee Island weddings are insanely beautiful; the kind of insanely beautiful that would compel you to travel from Alaska to Georgia just to hold your “I Do’s” against its sandy beaches, endless blue waters and breathtaking scenery.  In other words, it was the perfect destination locale for these two sweeties who craved an intimate, elegant, joy-filled celebration with their closest friends and family.  See every last gorgeous moment captured amazingly by Amy Arrington in the full gallery.

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From the bride… This was a destination wedding for everybody involved, for us included. Neither of us had been to Tybee Island before, and all of the planning was done through email; lots of email! I chose the chapel for its beauty and simplicity. It was a blank canvas we could do whatever we wanted with, or nothing at all. Coming all the way from Alaska, I wanted to keep it simple. My mom made our cutting cake, and we tied the bouquets ourselves the day before. Decorations were kept to a minimum, to highlight the simple elegance of the chapel. We chose the colors aqua, mint, peach and coral, and my dress and accessories to create a modern vintage feel to the day. It was a beautiful, intimate, joy-filled celebration! I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

My favorite memory of the day was our first look, walking up to Sean on the boardwalk and tapping him on the shoulder. The look on his face when he saw me in my dress for the first time. The accumulation of months of planning and stress just fell away. The rest of the day flew by, but it felt as if time had slowed during that moment.

Our wedding was a week-long vacation for our family and closest friends. Family played a big role in our celebration. My brother performed the ceremony, and Sean’s sister read a passage from the children’s book, “I Like You.” My niece was an adorable flower girl, she was on the dance floor the whole night.

Our guestbook was the hardest item to choose. We shopped the day before the wedding to find something that was really us, and the whale was perfect! We met while working as deckhands on a whale watch tour boat in Sean’s hometown of Seward.

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Wedding Photography: Amy Arrington Photography | Wedding Venue: Tybee Island Wedding Chapel | Day of Coordinator: Raven with Everlasting Occasions | Catering: Savannah Event Catering | Cakes: Mother of the Bride + Fresh Market | Flowers: Sam’s Club | DJ: All About You Entertainment | Hair + Makeup: Beyond Beautiful by Heather  | Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo, Modern Vintage Collection | Shoes: Mojo Moxy | Groomsmen’s Attire: Calvin Klein

Rustic soirees?  I love ’em.  Especially when they are bursting with sweet shabby chic details, a crazy beautiful bride and groom and one heartwarming moment after another, a little combo that this gorgeous day from Janet Howard Studio has in spades… and then some.  It’s a Southern affair with enough inspiration to last a lifetime… and it’s all sitting pretty in the full gallery.  Join me there for more.

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From Janet Howard Studio… I’m so excited to show you this gorgeous Georgia country wedding with tons of rustic details. The wedding took place at a private residence in a newly-built barn, and it’s a casual, fun day that features sunflowers, hay bale seating and decor, cowboy boots, and games of cornhole. Instead of a signature book or frame, guests signed custom corn hole boards. Lots of the decor was either DIY or done by family friends or local vendors in nearby Madison, GA where the wedding took place. The bride’s goal was for a rustic shabby chic decor and for everyone to be comfortable and have a great time!

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Wedding Photography: Janet Howard Studio | Wedding Venue: Private Residence, Madison, Georgia | Officiant: Chad Cheatham | Floral Design: LePetit Jardin | Catering: Cheryl Gaines | Cake: Cecilias Cakes | Signs: Misty Autry | Sunflower + Hay Bale Linens: Madison Mall Market | Cookies: Baby Cakes | Favors: Oriental Trading | Corn hole Boards: Hammerhead Backyard Games | Cups: Ballard Designs | Invitations + Programs: Zazzle.com | Paper Products: Party City | Wedding Rings: Jared | Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: David’s Bridal  | Men’s Attire: Perno’s Formal Wear | Landscaping + Wood Blocks: Jack’s Creek Farm | Rentals: Madison Rental | Hair: Jennifer Johnson of Classic Hair and Spa Athens | Music + DJ: Chad Cheatham | Transportation: Big Dog’s Tire and Service and Limousine Service

We hope you all are preparing for a big day full of fireworks and cookouts and loads of sunshine. Before we head off to do the same, we wanted to share this sweet as can be Savannah wedding sent to us by LeeAnn Ritch Photography. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the 4th of July; with a family affair complete with home baked pies and an American flag. Head to the gallery for so much more and, of course, be sure to have a wonderful holiday! xoxo

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From the Bride… To be honest I was never one of those girls who spent hours a day dreaming about her perfect wedding day… In fact I had never really thought about planning a wedding until Ryan and I got engaged! Initially we were considering an elopement.. We knew we were going into this on our own financially and we wanted to figure out the simplest way to save money. However the more we thought about it, the more we saw the wedding as an opportunity to bring our favorite people back together in a beautiful Savannah, Georgia and have a party!

Ryan and I have lived in New York City ever since we moved from Savannah in 2007. Our families live all over the place and since Savannah has a warm place in our hearts, we thought it was fitting to go back to where it all began! We wanted our wedding to be an expression of ourselves and celebrate that expression with an intimate group of family and friends. Savannah is a series of squares and I knew I wanted to use the city as my processional isle since we weren’t getting married in a church. I was nervous about the weather, but like they say, make a contingency plan and you won’t have to use it! And to my surprise the weather was perfect!

All the women in the Bridal Party walked through the city from our town home at Forsyth Park to the venue downtown. Our venue was a converted German Fire Station, Garibaldi’s. It was so rich in Savannah flavor it didn’t require much design overhaul – which was great since we were over 800 miles away! Our vision for the evening was that of an upscale dinner celebration with southern inspired cocktails, delectable food, and of course our closest family and friends!

We knew we wanted an intimate ceremony with limited moving parts – good food, wine, plenty of dancing and touches of wedding tradition. Ryan and I are both designers in NYC, so planning and creating a moderate DIY list for our wedding day seemed simple. We divided and concurred. I took the lead on most of the DIY and (what I call) project management coordination and reached out to some key family members to chip in. Our goal was to keep it simple and cost effective. Our venue was beautiful; tall ceilings, cast iron details, wood floors, antique plaster walls clad in mirrors… We had the ceremony and reception in the same space. One great element we made was a long ribbon backdrop where we had our exchange of vows, and later where we had our Bride and Groom table. Since the venue was clad in mirrors, this was a nice way to obscure any camera flash or unwanted reflection. Our color scheme was full of soft ivory, navy blue, burnt orange-red, and mint. Gold and silver was incorporated into elements such as the picture frames, chairs, and mercury glass candle votives to tie in the gold leaf ceiling.

The day was filled with personal touches such as stamped cotton goodie bags filled with Savannah salt water taffy (which also served as the name tags for guests). Our guest book was a Fuji Instant camera, with torn black paper and white pens suggesting you to leave a message and photo. All of the tables were named after a place where Ryan and I have lived – and trust me there were a lot, we’ve been together for nearly 8 years! Ryan’s mother made our wedding cake; a gradient colored red velvet with pointillism inspired icing. Ryan and I made the silhouette cake toppers of our own profiles from black laser cut acrylic – it was so Savannah! Is now the time to mention we both went to the Savannah College of Art and Design? I was super lucky to have my sister design and arrange the flowers. She’s a florist and the look I was going for was effortless, a little vintage, and seasonal. I was so pleased with how they turned out! As the night progressed guests hit the dance floor fueled by signature bride and groom cocktails and entertainment by our talented DJ, Eric Smith from Coastal Entertainment. We had such a great experience with all of our vendors, but music was key for Ryan and me. We worked with him closely to schedule the evening. We also provided him with most of the music, so it was nice to hear him riff off our songs too! It’s not a party without good music!

We really never knew how much was involved in planning a wedding, especially doing it from so far away. A piece of advice would be to pick your top 3 things you must have, and then let everything else fall into place naturally. It will be more enjoyable for you and your partner and help you both keep perspective that the day is about you and your love. One other thing, designate key players to help out, who you trust and trust have your best interest! We sincerely couldn’t have pulled it off without the love and help of our amazing family and friends! I never thought I would hear myself say this (since I’m such a perfectionist) but this wedding was about Ryan and me, and our family and friends, and it was more perfect that I could have planned for! I wish I could rewind time and play it over.

Procession Song: Badly Drawn Boy, I love NYE | Recession Song: Prince, I would die 4 you | Welcome Song: M83, Midnight City | First Dance: Talking Heads, This Must Be The Place | Father Daughter: Cee Lo Green, Old Fashioned | Mother Son: The Beach Boys, God Only Knows | Last Song: David Bowie, Under Pressure | Goodbye / Release Song: The Smashing Pumpkins, Tonight Tonight
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Photographer: LeeAnn Ritch Photography, Cole Whitworth assistant | Floral Design: Melissa Hurst (sister) | Venue: Garibaldi’s | Officiant: Will Shelburne | Cake: Mary Townsend (Mother in Law) | Invitations: Bride  + Groom | Hair: Brook Lynes of Park West Salon | Makeup: Anne Wood (friend) | DJ: Eric Smith, Coastal Entertainment | Wedding Dress: Va Et Vien, BHLDN | Shoes: Kelly & Katie | Accessories: Anthropologie, Tiffany & Co | Fascinator: Fiber & Stone | Veil: La Blanc Fleur | Groom’s Suit: Suit Supply | Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Essere, BHLDN | Bride’s Ring: Megan Thorne | Groom’s Ring: Tomas Martin

I think I share my love of rainy day weddings on pretty much a daily basis, but honestly… I can’t help it. There’s just something about a little bit of drizzle mix and mingling with a whole lot of pretty that sends me over the moon.  I love them.  So, when Alea Moore Photography sent along this rainy day Dublin affair, I got all kinds of excited.  It’s sweet classic details meets lush florals from Brooks Services meets a gallery chock-full of lovely.  Join me there for so much more.

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From Alea Moore… On the rainiest Saturday Georgia has seen in a while, this couple didn’t skip a beat when it came to celebrating their “I do’s.”  Their wedding was still a stylish Southern affair at an amazing Dublin home despite all that rain! Coming prepared with matching umbrellas for the entire wedding party, this couple was able to get the outdoor wedding they always dreamt of.

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Photography: Alea Moore Photography | Venue: Private Residence | Floral Decor: Brooks Services, Dublin, Georgia | Catering: Dublin Country Club | Cakes: Betty Williams + Cake Art | Wedding Dress: Pronovias | Shoes: Kate Spade | Jewelry: Bride’s Pearl’s + Sister’s Pearls | Men’s Attire: The Sir Shop | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: LulaKate | Monogrammed Sign: Little Pink House Studios | Umbrellas: IKEA | Band: Infinity Show Band, Atlanta, Georgia