Georgia Weddings

What lucky little lovelies you are this morning, because Happy Kiss Photography has just supplied us with an abundance of beauty in the form of this photo shoot at LL Farm and Event Center. Not only does it come complete with the prettiest of flowers from Creme de le Chic Events, but factor in a fit-for-a-fairy-tale horse and this shoot goes straight from sweet, rustic inspiration to downright swoon-worthy eye candy. Find the rest of the shoot in our gallery right here.

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From Happy Kiss Photography… With such a serene and peaceful atmosphere, the LL Farm makes an ideal location for a wedding celebration. Our goal was to have vintage, rustic details to complement all the decor. The bride is wearing a delicate Annasul Y gown and a vintage lace veil. The groom was looking sharp in a gray “Legend” tuxedo by Calvin Klein. The outdoor ceremony decoration was nicely done with beautiful luminaries surround by mason jars filled with flowers and wrapped in lace. The little gazebo made a special and unique place for a ceremony, with its vintage chairs and charming benches made on the farm. Hand-made body scrub favors in beautiful decorated jars with burlap made the perfect gift for the guests. The reception table was amazing and was decorated with laced mason jars, flowers, luminaries and wooden elements. The vintage couch complemented the table really well. Adding a unique twist on our photo shoot, Diesel the farm horse came into our photo shoot, making the photographs even more romantic. 

Photography: Happy Kiss Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: LL Farm and Event Center in Clermont, Georgia / Floral + Event Design: Créme de le Chic Events / Wedding Cake: Confection Perfection / Linens: BBJ Linen / Luminaries: Luminari / Favors: The Fragrant Ones / Wedding Dress: Annasul Y (2012) via Wedding Angels Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Veil: Vintage via Wedding Angels Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: ELA Cosmetology / Groom’s Tuxedo: Calvin Klein via Savvi Formalwear

When it comes to finding a perfectly romantic (+ seriously sweet) e-session location, it just doesn’t get much better than a day spent frolicking in a drop-dead gorgeous Georgia peach orchard.  And if the oh-so talented Artworks Wedding Cinema is on hand to capture every last love-filled moment in stunning photos AND film, well.  That’s a combination that seriously can’t be beat.  Add in an adorable duo and some fab vintage stylings and we have ourselves an entire weekend of all caps LOVELY.  Check out the beautiful film below and then join us in the gallery for even more pretty.

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From Artworks Wedding Cinema… After living in Georgia for over 10 years, we finally had an opportunity to visit a real-life, working peach orchard! We both filmed and photographed Becky and Tommy’s engagement film at one of Georgia’s largest peach orchards, Lane Southern Orchards. They let us have a part of the orchard all to ourselves, and it was fantastic! Normally, we focus entirely on film and cinema, but shooting with DSLR cameras, it was ridiculously easy to snap a few stills while we were filming, and we think they turned out as beautiful as the film. Not only that, but the bride and groom have both a film and photos to take away from this session. Tommy and Becky will be getting married in October, and we can’t wait to film their wedding!

Photography + Cinematography: Artworks Wedding Cinema / Location: Lane Southern Orchards in Fort Valley, Georgia / Chair, Basket + Crate Rentals: Blue Eyed Yonder / Other Vintage Items: Privately Owned / Peach Sign: Woodberry Design Studio / Music: Instrumental Recording of “Secrets” by One Republic, Licensed through Song Freedom

Ever wonder what would happen if a group of Savannah’s finest vendors joined creative forces for bundles of inspiration chock-full of romance?  Well, lovelies – look no further than this beyond stunning shoot designed to absolute perfection by Morgan Gallo Events.  Simply brimming with one gorgeous detail after another, it’s a serious lesson in Southern elegance with pretty paper goods by Emma J Design, dazzling jewels from Happily Ever BorroWED and one mesmerizing image after another captured by Azelle Photography.  Ready to bask in all of the pretty?  Click here for sooo much more.

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Oh, and we’re not done yet.  Check out this fabulous film from Jabberpics, ImageryStorm and Azelle Photography.  It’s all sorts of amazing.  Enjoy!

From Morgan Gallo Events… What inspired us to produce this project? Besides the fact that we are in love with movies and are anxious to create our own storytelling projects with still and moving subjects in them, our philosophy on working in any industry is that through collaboration of talented professionals, bigger and better things can happen. When you translate that into the wonderful world of weddings, this means that we have an opportunity to showcase Savannah as a highly unique, charming, authentic and sophisticated destination for spectacular celebrations. Savannah provides not only an authentic backdrop for such experiences through its historical relevance and raw natural beauty, but also offers an awesome sampling of services by a great number of talented professionals who are an embodiment of Savannah’s reputation for being a Hostess City. Although numerous weddings take place in this city every weekend, we want to raise national and the international awareness about the fact that Savannah is filled with talented professionals who truly are passionate about their craft and cherish the opportunities to create something original, exciting and custom-tailored. In other words, talent, innovation, art and professionalism can come together to provide a top-notch experience for the client searching for something distinctive, heartfelt and real.

Ceremony Scene:
Photography: Azelle Photography / Venue: Harper Fowlkes House in Savannah, Georgia / Event Design: Morgan Gallo Events / Floral Design: Kiwi Fleur / Cinematography: Jabberpics, ImageryStorm + Azelle Photography / Editor: Kevin Ray / Photo + Video Equipment Rentals: Lensrentals.com + Meddin Studios / Music: “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by Frank Sinatra + “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz, Licensed through SongFreedom.com / Paper Goods: Emma J Design / Rentals + Lounge Furniture: Classic Party Rentals / Wedding Dress: Liancarlo via BleuBelle Bridal Salon / Wardrobe + Styling: Jenn Reagan Wilson / Bride’s Hair Accessories: BleuBelle Bridal Salon / Jewelry: Happily Ever BorroWED / Hair: Chellie of Rob’s at Drayton Tower / Makeup: Jules DeJesus of Dollface by Jules / Men’s Attire: J. Parker Limited / Model Bride: Rachael Moore of Salon de Baile Ballroom Dance Studio / Model Groom: Mack McKenzie of McKenzie’s Professional Ballroom

Reception Scene:
Photography: Azelle Photography / Venue: Harper Fowlkes House in Savannah, Georgia / Event Design: Morgan Gallo Events / Floral Design: Kiwi Fleur / Cinematography: Jabberpics, ImageryStorm + Azelle Photography / Editor: Kevin Ray / Photo + Video Equipment Rentals: Lensrentals.com + Meddin Studios / Music: “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by Frank Sinatra + “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz, Licensed through SongFreedom.com / Paper Goods: Emma J Design / Champagne: Lanson / Chandelier: Koyal Wholesale / Umbrellas: Bella Umbrella / Cocktails + Cupcake Decor: Modern Lola + Dress My Cupcake / Linens: BBJ Linen / Dessert Bar: Addy B’s Cakes / Rentals + Lounge Furniture: Classic Party Rentals / Lighting Decor: JLK Events / Wardrobe: Rent the Runway / Wardrobe Styling: Jenn Reagan Wilson / Jewelry: Jewels for Hope + Happily Ever BorroWED / Hair: Chellie of Rob’s at Drayton Tower / Makeup: Jules DeJesus of Dollface by Jules / Model Bride: Rachael Moore of Salon de Baile Ballroom Dance Studio / Model Groom: Mack McKenzie of McKenzie’s Professional Ballroom

Sweet and simple is the name of this bride’s game and if you’re a vintage chic loving type of girl too, pay close attention because this wedding is almost too adorable for words! Each and every detail was captured perfectly by Kristy Dickerson Photography, from the cool vintage family blankets that lined the aisle to the spread the love jam favors, this wedding is filled to the brim with the cutest ideas ever. Click here for even more!

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From Kristy Dickerson Photography… Jeremy and Lindsey tied the knot under a oak tree in the North Georgia mountains, surrounded by their closest friends and family. No detail was overlooked — hay bales with family vintage blankets lined the aisles, the bride’s bouquet was made using her mother’s brooches, and the couple “spread the love” with homemade jam favors. It was one of my favorite weddings to date. We had a gorgeous sunset and they got to enjoy their first sunset as husband and wife on a nearby lake.

Wedding Photography: Kristy Dickerson Photography / Wedding Venue: Stowers Farm in Dawsonville, Georgia / Floral Design: Lanierland Florist / Event Design: The Bride / Event Coordination: Jinny Tidwell / Wedding Invitations: iheartstationeryshop / Wedding Dress: Ella Rosa / Bride’s Shoes: Kelly & Katie

Maybe it’s because my own wedding happened in a converted industrial space, but this pretty little number held at The Cotton Warehouse from Kaitie Bryant Photography is hitting all the high-notes in my book! Styled impeccably by a bridesmaid + the mother-of-the-bride, the couple’s love for music and reading was highlighted through DIY-touches and charming details like the sheet-music guest book. See the rest of this sweet event in the full gallery.

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From Kaitie Bryant Photography… Brent and Rachael’s day was lovely in every way. Rachael’s friend and bridesmaid, Britney Ray, offered to style the wedding and do the flower bouquets (with Britney’s super-talented mom) and they did an AMAZING job. Britney made everything for her wedding and it was incredible, so I knew Rachael’s wedding would be quality style too. Brent and Rachael are avid readers, and they read together as a couple, so books played a unique role in the decor. Books they had read or were currently reading were spread throughout the venue with the story behind the book. Also, there were favorite books of Brent and Rachael’s parents arranged next to pictures of family members on their wedding days. Along with their love for reading, both Brent and Rachael love music, so guests were given sheet music to write notes on for the couple. One of my favorite unique elements of the wedding was the table numbers — each table in the reception was given a number that had special significance to Brent and Rachael. One table had the number of days they would spend in Jamaica for their honeymoon, another was 88 for the number of keys on a piano (one of the favorite instruments) and other significant numbers like their birthdays and their first date. Each table also had a list of conversation questions for guests to ask each other during dinner. I LOVE these types of questions and thought that it was such a good idea to do! I know I’ve been at weddings where guests awkwardly sit at tables and don’t know what to talk about, so I thought this was such a creative and fun little help for guests to enjoy each other more. The wedding was at the Cotton Warehouse in Monroe, and this venue has so much charm. It is located in a long series of warehouses that are now mostly vintage stores selling all sort of treasures, so we made sure to get some quick pictures in one of the stores with some of their old cameras and lovely decor. 

Photography: Kaitie Bryant Photography / Assistant Photography: Alyssa Alig Photography / Wedding Venue: The Cotton Warehouse in Monroe, Georgia / Floral + Event Design: Britney Ray (A Bridesmaid) + Julie Harper / Wedding Invitations + Programs: Katuschka Rakovec of selah (your life) / Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal

These college sweethearts kept their St. Simon’s wedding understated and simple to showcase the beautiful details of their church and reception venue, the Frederica Boat House, both of which were designed by the bride’s architect cousin! Beautiful white and green hydrangeas from Vine Garden Market accented the natural elements and it was all captured by Kelli Boyd Photography. See the rest of this beauty right here!

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From Kelli Boyd Photography… Leigh Ann and Tommy met in college through mutual friends attending Auburn University. They attended a formal together, and they have not been apart since. With both of them having strong roots in St Simons Island, Georgia, they could not think of a better place to get married. They chose Wesley Methodist Church for the ceremony and the Frederica Boat House for their reception because the bride’s cousin, Keith Summerour, an architect, designed both buildings and that the groom’s grandfather helped get Wesley started years ago. They wanted the decor to be simple to show off the beauty of the buildings.

Wedding Photography: Kelli Boyd Photography / Ceremony: Wesley United Methodist Church in St. Simons Island, Georgia / Reception: Frederica Boathouse in St. Simons Island, Georgia / Floral Design: Vine Garden Market / Wedding Cake: Sugarbakers (912-554-1880) / Rentals: Beachview Event Rentals & Design / Music: Heart to Heart Band via Music Garden / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely via Bridals by Lori / Bride’s Shoes: J.Crew / Hair: Blake Van Donkelaar of Uberzoot Salon (912-268-2643) / Makeup: Judy Crouch

If this couple isn’t the cutest ever, then I don’t know who is! They planned and DIYed their little hearts out and created one heck of a pretty wedding. Held at the beyond pretty White Oaks Barn and photographed beautifully by Ben & Colleen Wedding Photographers, this wedding has tons and tons of charm. From the rainbow of green and blue bridesmaid dresses to the glittery gold cupcake signs, this wedding will have you swooning in the full gallery all weekend!

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From the Bride… I married my best friend, Chris Fenner, a month ago in Dahlonega, Georgia, at White Oaks Barn. Our photographers were Ben and Colleen of Pure Gold Photography. I got each of the bridesmaids a kimono as their gift to wear while we were getting ready day-of! My dress was a champagne ballgown, and my birdcage veil was homemade. Each bridesmaid got to pick out their own dress in a color palette ranging from mint to teal. During our first look, Chris gave me a very special necklace made from the diamonds from my mother’s engagement ring The sweet little junior bridesmaid is Chris’s youngest sister. My dad married us, and my mom was my matron of honor! Chris’s dad was his best man as well. I painted a re-creation of the mountain and house from the movie UP! (one of our faves!), and the guests put their thumbprints on it like balloons. The reception was in the barn and the ceremony was outside on the hills. I made each centerpiece by hand by vintage postcards with cute sayings (example: “We’re having and H— of a time!” There really were dashes after the “H!”) and hand-dipping each bottle. I got the milk glass vases at thrift stores, along with the succulent pots. Friends volunteered to make cupcakes instead of us having a cake. My grandmother, Julia, my namesake, made our little cake to cut: red velvet from scratch. I made the cake plates from vintage plates from Goodwill and candlesticks! I made hearts on the cupcakes and the big “F” too! In the reception shots, you’ll see the ribbon chair backs I made for Chris’s and my chairs. I painted small mirrors black and wrote “bride” and “groom” on them with chalk! I got “FOREVER” engraved into his ring because that’s what he texted me the night we got engaged. :)

Wedding Photography: Ben & Colleen Wedding Photographers / Wedding Venue + Catering: White Oaks Barn in Dahlonega, Georgia / Decor: DIY by the Bride / Cupcakes: Friends / Wedding Dress: Wtoo via Bride Beautiful / Bride’s Veil: DIY / Hair + Makeup: Friends

This minimalist bride and her eclectic Southern groom combined their styles for a wedding theme dubbed “Modern Farmdustrial.”  Both the church and reception venue, Le Fais do-do, were blank-slates and the couple took full advantage, creating a black+ white fête with rustic touches that was uniquely them! Throw in a stunning tiered Rivini gown, some adorable DIY elements and we’ve got a recipe for wedding success. Be sure to check out the gallery full of pretty from Jamie Howell Photography!

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From the Bride… A co-worker nicknamed the style of our wedding as “Modern Farmdustrial.” Indeed, our overall style was a mashup of our personalities. I’m the introverted one with a very modern, clean, minimalistic style. Matt is the southern Army dude whose eclectic style would find a place in your grandmother’s home.

Both the ceremony and reception took place in two different industrial warehouses in midtown Atlanta. Our church is a clean slate, which we lit up with hundreds of pillar candles. Clean and simple, nothing else. No attendants, just us making a commitment to each other in front of God. It was a joy to serve communion to our guests as our first act as a married couple. We also didn’t introduce any color into our palette, just black and white with some gray, ivory and cream. To compromise with Matt and bring in some of his southern style, I did use wood as an organic element throughout. Wood planks down the tables. Some burlap. Wood signs painted with chalkboard paint. The only “flowers” were dried cotton or stems. We even kept our cake clean and simple with no frosting or other embellishments. My favorite part of the wedding were the countless DIY projects I tackled. I made our own wedding logo into a stamp and we DIYed all our print materials. We created an “I Spy” Instagram game for our guests, which turned out to be a huge hit! Matt and I really enjoyed thumbing through all the tagged photos the day after our wedding. Matt even brewed all the beer for the wedding! And so much more. 

Matt and I are avid motorcycle riders, so we made our bikes part of the reception space, and we surprised guests with a motorcycle send off! And since Matt is active duty Army, we enjoyed the traditional military honors after our ceremony. Finally, my dad and I surprised our guests with a hilarious father-daughter dance. My dad came up with the idea, mixed the music and even did the choreography! One of my favorite splurges of the wedding was my custom Rivini gown. I also purchased a beautiful black Rivini statement necklace. One of Matt’s favorite parts of the wedding was walking around with a sword all day and even cutting our cake with it!

Wedding Photography: Jamie Howell Photography / Ceremony: Trinity Anglican Mission in Atlanta, Georgia / Reception: Le Fais do-do in Atlanta, Georgia / Floral Design: Petals A Florist / Officiant: Kris McDaniel / Wedding Cake: Gabriel’s / Cake Topper: My Cherry Tree / Wine: Bota Box / Beer: Home-Brewed by the Groom / Ceremony Music: Amati Chamber Music / Band: Band of Gold / Wedding Invitations, Save-the-Dates, Ceremony Programs, Wedding Website, I Spy Instagram Game, Chalk Board Signs, Cornhole Boards + Photo Booth Backdrop: DIY by the Bride / Honor Guard: Georgia Army National Guard / Candles: The Candle Depot / Table Decor: The Bride + Le Fais do-do / Table Numbers: BHLDN / Origami: Nikki Cross Applesauce / Heart Chalkboard Labels: Bradens Grace / Drink Signs: GL Concepts / Sparklers: Sparkle / Wedding Dress: Custom Tulipe by Rivini / Dress Alterations: Bridals by Lori / Bride’s Necklace: Rivini / Bride’s Earrings: Nervous System / Bride’s Black Clutch: Yensew / Hair: Ashley Walters of Toni & Guy / Makeup: Brielle Brenner of Duet Styling / Groom’s Attire: Marlow White / Father’s Tuxedo: Men’s Wearhouse

It’s safe to say that brunch weddings are here to stay, and this celebration by Nina Barrow Designs {a.k.a the bride} has raised the bar for hosting a chic, sophisticated soirée before high noon. The bride wore Vera Wang . . . aah, music to my ears. The couple’s incredible taste in fashion carried over into the floral arrangements by A to Zinnias and the captivating cake by Two Cakes. Be sure to check out all of the eye candy by Alimond Photography in the full gallery here.

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From the Bride… It was fate the day Matthew moved next door to the my childhood home. Just a short year later, we would be engaged and planning a dreamy brunch affair. Having a deep love of history, fine foods and British style, we we wanted something different then the average wedding. I spent much of her childhood traveling through Europe and developing an appreciation for grandeur and elegant taste and wanted to tie it in with the strong southern roots I share with Matthew. Not soon after our engagement was announced, we stumbled upon The Olde Pink House. It was the perfect place.

I was given away by my brother dressed in his dress blues as a trumpet voluntary began to play. Following the ceremony, guests were greeted by the passed mini-pancakes with maple syrup served with their choice of three signature drinks: kir royal, a mimosa or a bellini. Cocktail tables were dressed with vintage teacups and lace. Escort cards, stamped with a wax seal and the wedding monogram, laid on vintage, beveled mirrors filled with peonies and a towering arrangement of peonies and ostrich feathers. Following the cocktail hour, guests re-entered the transformed ballroom filled with tapered candles, crystal candle holders and arrangements of peonies, hydrangea, dahlias, roses and gardenias filled the room. Each guest received a personalized menu with the wedding monogram offering a choice of crème brulee French toast, quail eggs benedict with crab cakes, a Savannah southern fried omelet, southern quiche or shrimp and grits.

All of our paper products were inspired by vintage, European papers and featured a wax seal and a traditional English marriage wreath. Each branch of the wreath represents a family joining together. As owner and designer of Nina Barrow Designs, it was important to showcase my work. Guests were asked to leave a message for us using a traditional quail pen on framed notecards. The labels on the dessert bar were hand-rolled.

Following the three-course brunch, guests were offered a mini-praline almond basket in honor of Savannah’s most famous dessert and a selection of sweet treats from the Laduree-themed pastry bar. The spread featured a French raspberry torte, macarons, cupcakes, truffles, éclairs, gilded brownies, napoleons and louver domes. After the guests were filled with sweets and yummy treats, they made their way outside to wish the newlyweds off as they escaped to their London honeymoon in a vintage 1937 Rolls Royce.

Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Aliyah Dastour of Alimond Photography / Wedding Venue: The Olde Pink House in Savannah, Georgia / Event Planning: Simply Savannah Events / Floral Design: A to Zinnias / Event Design, Wedding Invitations, Escort Cards, Dessert Labels, Table Numbers + Guest Book: Nina Barrow Designs (The Bride — ninabarrowdesigns@gmail.com) / Wedding Cake: Two Cakes / Cupcakes: Tier Luxury Cakes / Macarons: DIY by the Bride / Truffles + Gilded Brownies: Jeff’s Candy Kitchen and Bake Shoppe / DJ: Rock Jock DJ / Transportation: Timeless Motorcoaches / Boutonnieres: DIY by the Bride / Rehearsal Dinner: Blowin’ Smoke BBQ / Bride’s Hotel: Andaz Savannah / Wedding Dress + Veil: Vera Wang / Bride’s Head Piece: J Picone / Makeup: Beyond Beautiful by Heather / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Wedding Bands: Thomas Hill Jewelers

Peanut butter and jelly, ice cream and hot fudge and St. Simons Island and downright magical weddings.  All things that are totally meant to be.  Case in point?  This stop-you-in-your-tracks Villa de Suenos affair captured by Meghan Stewart Photography.  Equal parts seriously elegant and DIY fabulous, it’s the kind of soiree that will take.your.breath away one uber-glamorous moment at a time… all while filling your day with some serious happy.  Care to join me in the gallery for all of the pretty? Click here for more.

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From the Bride… I loved planning every detail of our wedding day. I wanted the day that Joey and I had looked forward to for so long to be meaningful and timeless with a vintage, romantic style. We live in Kentucky but chose to have the ceremony and reception at Villa de Suenos in St. Simons Island, Georgia. It is a gorgeous, Mediterranean-style beach house with great ocean views and beautiful architecture. We invited only our closest family and friends.

The décor was a huge DIY project by my mom’s best friend. The colors I chose were pink and gold, and we added a lot of lace, crystal and brass accents. The flowers were mainly roses, but she also used hydrangeas, peonies and ranunculus. She created a beautiful floral backdrop for the wedding ceremony, flower balls that hung from the ceiling of the pavilion and several other beautiful floral accents. The centerpieces were tall floral arrangements in antique brass candelabras and beautifully-decorated boxes that my mother made. Several of our family members contributed making our wedding day meaningful.  One of my aunts married us. My great-grandfather, who could not be at the ceremony, recorded a very special prayer that was played during the ceremony. My mother-in-law made her homemade peach preserves for all of the guests. Another one of my aunts made the ring bearer’s pillow using a lace handkerchief that my mom bought in Venice, Italy. And yet another of my aunts did my hair and makeup.

It rained on our wedding day, so we had to have the ceremony under the pavilion instead of in the yard as originally planned. I had worried for months that it would rain and ruin the whole day, but it actually turned out perfect! The ceremony was so intimate under the pavilion. Joey and I felt like we were the only people in the room. It was a wonderful feeling! The day turned out to be more wonderful than I had ever imagined. Now Joey and I can look back at the breathtaking photos by our photographer Meaghan Stewart and remember this day forever.

Wedding Photography: Meghan Stewart Photography / Wedding Venue: Villa de Suenos in St. Simons Island, Georgia / Floral Design: Janie Tomek, A Family Friend / Officiant: An Aunt of the Bride / Catering + Wedding Cake: Straton Hall / Wedding Invitations: Beacon Lane / DJ: Joe Willie Sousa / Ring Bearer’s Pillow: An Aunt of the Bride / Peach Preserve Favors: The Mother of the Groom / Rentals: Beachview Tent Rentals / Wedding Dress: Lazaro via Bridal and Formal / Bride’s Shoes: Pour La Victoire / Hair + Makeup: An Aunt of the Bride / Groom’s Suit: Calvin Klein

This pretty little world we live in offers some of the most splendid settings, and the beautiful thing is that all you’ve gotta do is step outside. Of these, the forest provides the most brilliant of backdrops, with its bajillion shades of green bursting through the leaves as the sun shines through. And this wedding from Laura Deas Photography, filled with Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio’s exquisite blooms, has every bit of wonder and majesty that the land of timber brings, all wrapped up in one amazing day at the brides’ parents’ home in the woods. See every moment of this backyard wedding right here in our gallery. 

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From the Bride… Gannon and I first met each other in high school when we were 15 and 16. For Gannon’s 30th birthday, I was invited by a mutual friend to celebrate his birthday. At the time, I did not know it was Gannon’s birthday. I remember walking up and asking, “What are doing here?” (in a good way). Within a month of seeing each other again, we started dating. We dated for longer than most couples before we got married, but I always knew he was the one when we started dating. After we got engaged, we started on a new adventure in Atlanta due to my job. As you can imagine, it made wedding planning a challenge in a new place.

When Gannon and I were trying to pick the perfect place to have our wedding, we wanted an outdoor setting. We thought about the beach, but it just did not seem like the right fit for us. A small wedding with family and close friends was a must. As we were celebrating my parent’s 46th wedding anniversary, we were still looking for the perfect place. My parents suggested we have it at the cabin they were purchasing in the beautiful mountains in Ellijay, Georgia. At that point the planning began. With the fabulous help from my family, we had the cabin ready for the perfect wedding. Gannon even built the our altar.

Everything just started to come together once we picked the perfect photographer. After that came all the rest, including a florist who took my vision and turned into some of the most beautiful flowers I had ever seen. It was the perfect day to bring together our family and friends to celebrate our wedding.

Wedding Photography: Laura Deas Photography / Wedding Venue: The Bride’s Parents’ Home in Ellijay, Georgia / Floral Design: Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio / Catering: Catering by Cindy / Cupcakes: The Sweet Shoppe of Blue Ridge / DJ: Espeute Productions / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm via Wedding Angels / Bride’s Shoes: Coloriffics / Bride’s Jewelry: Lorren Bell / Hair + Makeup: Serenity in the Mountains

We kind of have a favorite color here at SMP and that color is overwhelmingly pink. It’s perfectly girly, soft and romantic, and it can be the perfect punch of vibrancy a wedding needs. Needless to say, when a wedding like this comes along, with so many pretty in pink moments, we immediately put it on our favorites list. Especially when it’s captured so utterly fabulously by Artstar by Laura Stone. Click here for even more!

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When Ryan and I started planning our wedding, we decided our top priority was to throw a really fun party. We wanted good food, a great band, and to be surrounded by our family and friends all spending a fantastic evening together. When all was said and done, we truly felt that we had succeeded.

I had always wanted an outdoor wedding, so soon after we got engaged, the search was on for the perfect venue. I grew up a few miles from historic Roswell, home to almost a dozen historic, southern homes turned into event facilities. We chose the Gardens at Great Oaks because we loved the grounds and the ballroom was perfectly sized for our 130 count guest list.

For 12 months, I pictured our ceremony in the gardens on a beautiful spring day. Unfortunately, the weather forecast did not cooperate, and two days before the wedding we decided to move the ceremony inside to the chapel next door. Planning a wedding is a major lesson in how to “go with the flow!” Fortunately, our guests could walk from Great Oaks to the chapel, so no announcement of the change in plans was necessary. In the end, it did not rain, and we still had a beautiful cocktail hour in the garden (complete with cornhole, bocce ball, and a jazz quartet), and the perfect indoor/outdoor reception that I had pictured.

Photography: Artstar by Laura Stone / Venue: The Gardens at Great Oaks / Wedding Planner: Erica Prewett, A Big To Do Event / Floral Design: Rittenhouse Designs & Events / Band: Nelson Brownstone / Officiant: David Gilleland, Heart to Heart Ministries / Cake: Douceur de France / Caterer: Talk of the Town / Dress: Casablanca Bridal from Wedding Angels / Bridesmaids dresses: Alfred Sung from Bel Fiore / Groom: custom suit / Groomsmen: Jos. A Bank / Hair and Make-up: Aura Hair and Make-up / Bride’s jewelry: Sorrelli / Cake topper: Country Squirrels R Us / Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Programs: The Green Kangaroo

Savannah is number one on my cities-I’m-dying-to-visit list, and this incredibly romantic wedding by Dixie Pixel Photography pretty much sums up all of the reasons why! An effortlessly beautiful bride donning Martina Liana, groomsmen in gingham and incredibly tasteful touches throughout speak to the southern elegance + charm that make Savannah so special. The icing on the cake (quite literally) is the sugary masterpiece by TIER Luxury Cakes. There’s so much more pretty in the full gallery!

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From the Bride… I wanted our day to be completely romantic and totally about us. Our love is simple and sweet. At our chapel, I chose to make fabric wreaths because I don’t like small flower arrangements on the pews. At our reception, I chose candelabras that were covered in moss and added a few flowers throughout. I knew wanted a butterfly/bird theme, so I bought an array of small butterflies and bumble bees to be placed on all of the arrangements. It was totally unique and made the arrangements come to life. Julie and the team at Garden on the Square did a wonderful job. The butterfly/bird theme came from a cake I chose as a model for ours. I was inspired by bird cages during the planning and saw a picture of a wedding cake inside of one. I just didn’t like the idea of “caged birds.”  Finally, I found a picture of a small cake online that was a pale pink bird cage with a blue bird and butterfly on top. That was it! After meeting with Ashlee at TIER Luxury Cakes, I knew she could make our dream cake. Ashlee sent us a sketch of our cake, and that is where all of my inspiration and planning began!

I knew I wanted my girls to wear pale pink with the boys in navy suits. I love blue seersucker, so we chose that for the boys’ ties. I had a large blue seersucker bow to go around my bouquet. We also bought packs of hankies in shades of blue for the groomsmen’s gifts and had them monogrammed in Kingston by the Striped Giraffe. Our invitations were printed on hankies. I bought my mother one for the big day on our first trip to plan the wedding in Savannah, and we surprised Jo’s mother and sister each with one the day before the wedding as well. We knew many tears were going to be shed, and we wanted to be prepared!

Wedding Photography: Dixie Pixel Photography / Ceremony: Whitefield Chapel at Bethesda Academy in Savannah, Georgia / Reception + Catering: The Olde Pink House in Savannah, Georgia / Floral Design: Garden On The Square / Officiant: Pastor Wayne Cobb / Wedding Cake: Ashlee Perkins of TIER Luxury Cakes / Wedding Invitations: Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence / Calligraphy: Holland Wilson Calligraphy / Music: All About You Entertainment / Wedding Dress: Martina Liana / Bride’s Shoes: Vince Camuto / Hair + Makeup: Rebecca Wash / Nails: Milan Day Spa / Bridal Party Attire: Alfred Sung / Men’s Attire: Savvi Formalwear Knoxville / Men’s Ties: The Tie Bar

 I think this couple (and their family and friends) need to go into the wedding styling business stat — What an unbelievable DIY delight this wedding is! I can’t get over the lovely garden grid made out of branches and greenery that stood as the ceremony and reception backdrop. Natural and gorgeous! And don’t even get me started on the tablescapes — The white doilies create the perfect vintage chic vibe. I love everything! It’s as simple as that. Thank you, Kate Belle Photography, for capturing this garden masterpiece in the full gallery of photos right here.

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From the Bride… After we got engaged, we couldn’t wait to get married! We sat down to think about what we wanted for our wedding and immediately set three goals: to get married by the end of the day, unite our family and friends, and do it all in a stress-free and fun way. We decided to have our wedding in David’s parents garden so we could revisit the spot we started our life together year after year. We had so much amazing support from our families and friends during the planning. Our dear friend Julie Harper and her daughters, Stephanie and Britney, helped plan and hand make every perfect detail of the romantic and rustic garden wedding. 

We found some old brass chandeliers in David’s parents’ basement, which we cleaned them up and painted white. I loved the idea of creating an outdoor living room for our family and friends to visit in. We kept the colors simple, knowing we would be outside in the garden, so we wouldn’t compete with the natural beauty of the garden. We decided to use neutrals and peach — I’m a Georgia girl, born and raised, so peach was perfect! Not to mention having peaches everywhere smelled so delicious! For our flowers, we ordered many from Costco and rounded them out with a few more from Trader Joe’s so we could create our own arrangements (Julie, Stephanie and Britney, really). The day before the wedding, the bridesmaids and I put together our own bouquets. We picked table names (instead of numbers) that reflected special moments and places in our relationship. For dessert, we had to have Blue Bell ice cream at our wedding! We both love Blue Bell so much and had to share it with our family and friends. Our salted caramel and chocolate wedding cake was made for us by a co-worker of mine (who had never made a wedding cake before!). We also had a beautiful, white coconut cake made by my mother, which is one of my favorites! Everything was pieced together perfectly. And my sash! I have to mention it because I loved it so much. I found my dress at a wedding dress consignment store in Atlanta. The sash it came with swallowed me whole, but my best friend’s mother, Julie, created the tiniest, most beautiful sash with the perfect amount of “ooh la la” and feathers! Our wedding was perfectly romantic in every way.

Wedding Photography: Kate Belle Photography / Wedding Venue: The Groom’s Family Home / Styling: Julie Harper, A Friend (Jh0559@gmail.com) / Flowers: Trader Joe’s + Arranged by Julie Harper, The Bride + Bridesmaids / Entrees: Macaroni Grill / Other Food: Made by Family & Friends / Chocolate Cake: Megan Reynolds, A Friend of the Bride / White Cake: Tracy Erickson, The Mother of the Bride / Chairs: Tables & Chairs in Chamblee, Georgia (770-458-2757) / Fans: DIY by the Groom / Milk Glass: Thrift + Antique Stores / Couch: World Market / Barrel Table: Half-Barrel from Home Depot + Round Glass Placed on Top / Chandeliers: Found in the Basement + Spray-Painted White / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Le Dress Boutique / Bride’s Sash: DIY by Julie Harper (Jh0559@gmail.com) / Bride’s Veil: Borrowed from A Friend of Bride / Bride’s Jewelry: Givenchy via Macy’s / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: H&M / Men’s Suits: Tommy Hilfiger via Macy’s

When I look (and when I say look, I mean gaze in awe and wonder at every click) through the pretty pretty pretty photographs from the lovely Artstar by Laura Stone, I’m caught up in all of the beauty and splendor of these two gorgeous lovebirds at the Montaluce Winery & Estates. The talents behind Lovelee Affairs have made this pink, yellow and gray color palette one that I simply can’t.get.enough.of. From the invitations from Alee and Press to the to.die.for Vera Wang number, this wedding is all things charming and splendid. Take a look at the full wedding in our gallery, right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I often call David my better half. He’s got traits I sometimes lack: patience, athleticism and a sense of humor that makes me giggle every day. We met less than a year after I graduated from Northwestern University in Chicago. I had moved to Atlanta for my first-ever real job as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, and I didn’t know a soul. Little did I know, two years prior, my future husband graduated from Virginia Tech and moved to Atlanta to work at a software company. After our first date over fondue and South African wine (we both had spent some time there and loved the country), the chemistry was instantaneous. We’ve talked every day since that date four and a half years ago, and he has become my best friend. David proposed on October 3, 2010, after work on a Friday. He tried to convince me to go on a walk to Piedmont Park. He had planned to propose at our favorite spot we like running by, a small spot overlooking the water where you can see the Atlanta skyline. But I was tired and stubbornly made my way upstairs where I found champagne and rose petals everywhere. The next thing I knew, David was on one knee asking me to marry him. The answer was obvious!

Because our family and friends live all over the world, we thought it would be the most convenient to host the party in Atlanta. Of course, we also selected Atlanta for its sentimental value: It’s where our relationship deepened and evolved, both as a couple and personally as we transitioned into grownups. This wedding meant so much for our families; especially mine since I am the first of all my siblings and cousins on both sides to get married. My parents came to the U.S. from Taiwan, so this was their first American wedding. I wanted to create a romantic but modern feel for the wedding by using vintage items. I’ve also always had penchant for details, so we made sure to add vintage family photos of ourselves and families, as well as incorporating a homemade map that reflected the adventures we love in our lives. I selected yellow because it reminded me of warmth and happiness and added gray to balance out the brightness. The shades of pink satisfied my girly side, and I had always wanted pink in my wedding! I worked with our florist to pick out gorgeous pink peonies that really added to the softness I wanted in the wedding. I’m also a huge fan of simple, clean lines and fonts. The letterpress invitations I designed were all hand-pressed by David at a local vendor with a great old-fashioned machine!

We wanted to bring a bit of both of our cultures (Taiwanese and Italian) to the wedding. We incorporated a Taiwanese tea ceremony during the reception and used my great-grandparents’ tea set. It’s customary in Taiwanese culture to pass tea to your elders, and in return, they hand you a red envelope with your wedding gift and give you a piece of advice for your life ahead. We also selected Montaluce, which featured Tuscan architecture, to add in David’s Italian roots. We served an assortment of fresh Italian pastas and dishes for the main course. My most vivid memory from the wedding day right after our officiant pronounced us husband and wife. The moment of walking back down the aisle with David, hand in hand, was a sweet memory I’ll have forever. I can remember our friends and family smiling at us, the music playing in the background and how the best party of our lives was about to begin. David and I both spent three years volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, and the experience really meant a lot to us. We decided to donate to the charity, and we had the kids come help us assemble all the favors.

Wedding Photography: Artstar by Laura Stone / Wedding Venue: Montaluce Winery & Estates in Dahlonega, Georgia / Wedding Planning, Floral + Event Design: Jade Lee of Lovelee Affairs / Wedding Cake + Desserts: Publix / Wedding Invitations: Alee and Press / Menus: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Earrings: Tiffany & Co., Borrowed from Her Sister-in-Law / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Ceremony Music: Lark Chamber Music

This gorgeous photo shoot, captured entirely on film by Odalys Mendez Photography, has such a dreamy and romantic feel to it I could seriously stare at it all morning long. The amazing flowers, elegant tablescape and the delicious tower of sugarplums all add to the fabulousness of this photo shoot. We’re loving each and every inch if its organic, rustic vibe! See the whole story right here!

Click here for the FULL photo shoot!

From Odalys Mendez Photography… This styled photo shoot was created around the ancient sport of falconry. We wanted to bring the mystery and beauty of these birds into a setting with a touch of medieval flair. We imagined a lady training her bird of prey in the overgrown fields surrounding her castle, pausing to take a rest in a table beautifully set with silver and wild flowers.

The setting for our photo shoot was the new area of “High Meadows” at the breathtaking Vinewood venue located south of Atlanta. Lush trees amidst fields of tall grass were an idyllic backdrop for the organic theme of the shoot. The flowers by Virtu Floral and Event Design were a juxtaposition of delicate blooms and wild berries picked right from the venue by the florist. Twigs and wildflowers were also incorporated to further enhance the natural, rustic feel of the bouquets, giving them a hand-picked essence. The simple table was set with antique, sterling silver goblets and candelabra worthy of a princess. In lieu of a cake, we chose to display a tower of frosted sugarplums adorned with sprigs of wild berries. The photo shoot was done 100% on film to create a natural, organic, and dream-like palette of colors.

Photography: Odalys Mendez Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: Vinewood in Newnan, Georgia / Floral Design: Virtu Floral and Event Design / Silver: H.G. Robinson Silver & Gifts / Fine China: Fragile Gifts / Falcon: Georgia Falconry Association / Wedding Dress: Fabulous Frocks of Atlanta / Wedding Dresses: Eve of Milady (Cap Sleeved Dress) + Azura (V-Neck Dress) / Hair + Makeup: Sarah Park

It’s no secret that we have a real love around here at SMP for weddings that include dogs, but this beauty at a sweet little park in Whittier Mill Village also comes with one of my most recent obsessions: a food truck. Ibiza Bites catered this wedding right out of their adorable orange truck with delicious plates all nestled in the delightfully rustic Big House. And when you bring homemade pies into the picture, we can’t help but fall hopelessly in love with this entire day perfectly captured by Alex the Photo Guy. See the rest of how this sweet couple started their “happily ever after” in our gallery, right here.

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From the Bride… After attending a work teambuilding event in a pretty public park, I decided it would be the perfect place to get married! My fiancé, fearing heat, or worse, rain, made his only wedding-related request that the reception be inside. So I finally found a loft downtown with a cool, open feel with brick walls (I love old brick!) that was perfect. I decided I liked the casual, fun feel of a food truck and found one that served amazing food (and saved money on renting plates, glasses and serveware)!  This is the part of the post that I tell you not to listen to everyone’s comments… Lots of family and friends didn’t “get” my casual, food-truck, mismatched-bridesmaids, park wedding, and their comments and concerns definitely wore on me at times. But I knew what I wanted and tried to remind myself that they would love the final product when it all came together. I was running out of steam searching for a photographer (one of my priorities!) within budget when one of my bridesmaids recommended a guy we graduated with who had a photography business. I checked his website and portfolio and was relieved when he said he still had the date open and loved the idea of working with someone I actually knew!  This wound up working perfectly because he did a great job keeping us comfortable and laughing in front of the camera — neither of us are naturals!

I saved additional cash by buying my dress as a sample (but then spent $700 getting it cut down three sizes, so some things may have equaled out…), buying loose flowers and creating the bridesmaids bouquets, my bouquet, boutonnieres and having my bridesmaids put together the table flowers. I bought the tablecloths (for the same price as renting), and my fiancé and friends decorated the day before (and morning of). We had friends and family bring homemade pies, and I ordered four round cakes for the dessert table. The bridesmaids picked any dress they wanted in yellow; I made my dog Satchel’s leash, collar and bow tie; and the groomsmen wore their own grey suits. We skipped a limo and had (our wonderful) friends drive us and brought in beer, wine and a signature cocktail. There are TONS of moving parts in planning an event (Did you know you need sound amplification for the ceremony (duh)? Did you know you need a generator in a park to run it? Did you know you need a special generator permit in a public park??? Gah!). Just try to write everything down and handle it as it comes up. Talking the event through to friends and family can also help you find the holes and areas that need attention.

We didn’t have a coordinator, though looking back I think I would have sprung for a day-of coordinator to handle the little things that came up. Thankfully my fiancé’s (amazing, beautiful, fantastic) cousin stood in as a volunteer coordinator who saved us on so many fronts! Thank you, Angie! Our friends and family were AMAZING. They helped set up, decorate, serve cake, break everything down and generally were supportive and wonderful in every way. The day went by in a whirlwind but I can say that I have never felt so loved and so blessed as I did that weekend when all of our friends and family came together and did everything in their power to make the day everything that we had dreamed of. It truly is a surreal experience to have every person you love in one room at the same time. Enjoy it!

Wedding Photography: Alex the Photo Guy / Ceremony: A Park in Whittier Mill Village in Atlanta, Georgia / Reception: Big House in Atlanta, Georgia / Flowers: Hall’s Atlanta + Arranged by the Bride & Bridesmaids / Catering: Ibiza Bites / Wine: Whole Foods / Wedding Cakes: Piece of Cake / DJ: Andrew Wroblewski / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bride’s Veil: eBay / Bride’s Hair: Van Michael / Groom’s Suit: Jos. A. Bank

Let me start by saying I couldn’t possibly fit all of the heart-stoppingly romantic photos by Paula O’Hara into one short post and thankfully we’ve got an entire gallery overflowing with beauty! This Atlanta-born bride met her Irish groom while traveling abroad, and since their future would bring a move to Europe for her, they decided on a Georgia wedding surrounded by family and friends. Southern charm + rustic details in the most perfectly muted palette can be found everywhere in this stunner of a celebration designed by the bride with the help of some incredibly creative vendors. See the rest right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I’m Alise and I’m originally from Atlanta, Georgia. Conor and I met in Ireland July of 2011 while I was traveling around Europe. We locked eyes in a pub on my last night there, and I was instantly smitten with his accent and good looks! We never thought we’d see one another again because I was flying out to London the next day. I’ve always believed that if something is meant to be, it will be. We ended up seeing one another again and after months of skyping and emailing, I flew back to Ireland for two weeks the following October. During those two weeks, we fell crazy in love. We knew we could make this relationship work, no matter the distance. Conor shockingly proposed in December of that year and the wedding planning began! After a whirlwind romance and months of being separated, we finally tied the knot on April 28, 2012!

At the start of the planning process, we held two things very important: photography and the incorporation both of our cultures and traditions. We decided that since I was moving to Ireland, we would have our wedding in Atlanta, where I’m from. Our wedding was a mixture of ‘old world’ southern elegance mixed with a bit of Irish charm. I was the events planner at our reception venue for over two years, so I witnessed many weddings there, and I knew exactly how I wanted mine to look. I’m a very detail-oriented person and wanted everything at our wedding to have special meaning. With the help of Style Me Pretty and other wedding blogs out there, I decided to take on most of the decorating and details myself. The women in my family are all antique lovers, so I had quite a collection to choose from to create our centerpieces. I am also immensely blessed with very talented friends who devoted much of their time helping me make all the DIY elements of our day. One of my favorite details are the jam jar favors, which I handmade and put together with my dad and sweet grandma who wasn’t able to attend the wedding due to her health. I also wore my mom’s veil that she wore on my parent’s wedding day 29 years ago. The planning itself was stressful at times, but in the end it was worth it to see all the hard work come together for such an amazingly beautiful day. I’m actually now a budding wedding stylist here in Ireland, hoping to bring America’s fresh and beautiful creative ideas to this side of the Atlantic!

After being apart for so long, our wedding day was a perfect beginning to the rest of our lives together, but also a heartbreaking goodbye with all my dearest family and friends as I just moved to Ireland. The pure joy and love that surrounded us that day was incredible. It was truly like a dream, and we couldn’t have wished for anything better! None of that would have been possible though without our amazing family and friends, we are truly blessed and thankful for them! Also, Paula O’Hara made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and is such a joy to work with. She truly captured the beautiful and emotional moments of our day, as well as the in-between ones too. She has given us such beautiful images that we will always hold dear!

Wedding Photography: Paula O’Hara Photography / Ceremony: Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta, Georgia / Reception: Windermere Golf Club in Cumming, Georgia / Floral Design: Laurens Norton of Laurens “Floral Art at its Finest” / Wedding Design, Planning + Decor: The Bride / Wedding Cake: Natalie Roth of Cake Envy / Cake Topper: Weddingstar Inc. / Wedding Invitations: Maggie Dunstan, A Friend of the Bride / DJ: Matt Osbourne of Spectrum Entertainment / Favors + Ring Bearer Pillow: DIY / Wedding Dress: La Sposa via Sweet Elegance Bridal / Bride’s Veil: Her Mother’s / Bride’s Shoes: Antonio Melani via Dillards / Hair: Analea Murray, A Friend of the Bride / Makeup: Jasmine Farahdel of Collage Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Groom’s Tuxedo: Kenneth Cole

Everything inside of me fills up with happiness, joy and total awe when I pour through the images from Andrew Thomas Lee of this absolute stunner. Every moment of this day was perfectly picturesque and it’s all thanks to this bride and groom that are, oh, just the cutest things I’ve ever seen. The florals and decor from Beyond Details at The Cotton Warehouse make this wedding ultra rustic chic and the video at the end here from Rodinis Films had tears welling up in my eyes at the moment where this groom saw his bride walk down the aisle. It just doesn’t get better. Take a gander at the full wedding, right here.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/31941413?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff 600 337]

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… People kept asking why we decided to get married in a little town like Monroe, Georgia, but once they saw our venue they understood why. The Cotton Warehouse is a restored 1890’s warehouse with authentic beamwork, flooring and exposed brick walls. It was exactly what we were looking for. We lucked out that they had just started booking weddings around the time we got engaged, so it was much more reasonable than other venues in Atlanta. We got married on Sunday over Labor Day weekend, which saved us some more money as well. I’ve always loved antiques and Gabe has recently discovered a knack for refinishing vintage furniture. We quickly decided on a vintage theme, with all the appropriate Southern fixins’. As creative as our families and friends all are, I didn’t want anyone to have to lift a finger on our wedding day. That’s where Jakob, from Beyond Details, and Laura Godfrey, my wedding day coordinator, stepped in to help bring our vision to life. They allowed our family and bridal party to relax and enjoy themselves.

Gabe and I are definite foodies, so choosing the right menu to go with our tastes and theme was really important. We went with Southern-inspired comfort foods, such as BBQ pulled pork sliders, a shrimp and grits station and lots of sweet tea. Since I’m an avid baker and blogger, I couldn’t skimp on having scrumptious desserts for our guests. I decided to do cupcakes since it was more budget-friendly, plus I’d found some amazing vintage pieces that I thought would look adorable as cupcake stands. Lesson learned: the more cupcake flavors you have, the more cupcakes people will want to eat. We had way more cupcakes than people but the cupcakes disappeared in a matter of minutes. I didn’t even get to have one myself — we should have done a “cupcake cutting,” I suppose.

Even though it was a good bulk of our budget, the best money spent was definitely on our wedding photographer, Andrew Thomas Lee, and cinematographer, Ryan Rodinis. They were both absolutely phenomenal to work with and were able to capture every moment of our special day impeccably.

For favors, I found a great tutorial on Bake it Pretty for vintage button candies but completely underestimated the amount of time they would take to make. My sweet mom helped slave over them for an entire day, and my maid of honor made an assembly line to put them together. Its the one thing that no one happened to get a picture of, but you’ll have to trust me that they looked adorable. The thought of my dress getting ignited by sparklers was enough for me to consider alternatives for our exit. I decided to make ribbon wands after finding some ribbon on sale at Michael’s and Hobby Lobby. Little did I know that these ribbon wands would take 8+ hours to make, but since my adorable niece (and flower girl) Ava still likes to twirl around with them, I’d say it was time well spent. For the ultimate cost savings, instead of driving off in a classic car or a limo, we walked to our hotel. Sure it was raining, but I had a bottle of wine in one hand and my husband in the other, so I couldn’t have asked for more. Looking back, everything came together wonderfully. I am so thankful for all of the help from my amazing husband Gabe, our parents and bridal party, plus our ever so talented vendors.

Wedding Photography: Andrew Thomas Lee / Wedding Venue: The Cotton Warehouse in Monroe, Georgia / Floral Design, Decor + Catering: Beyond Details / Wedding Day Coordination: Godfrey Wedding Design / Wedding Cinematography: Rodinis Films / Cupcakes: Atlanta Cupcake Factory / DJ: Hans Daniels of Nice Guys DJ / Bridal Party Hangers, Table Numbers + Cupcake Display: DIY by the Bride / Wedding Dress: Tara Keely via Bridals by Lori / Bride’s Reception Dress: Allure Bridals via Sweet Elegance Bridal / Bride’s Veil: Sweet Elegance Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Endless / Bride’s Hair Flower: Nicholas Kniel / Bride’s Sash: Bride Beautiful / Hair + Makeup: Rachael Hoch of Face of Makeup / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy / Bridesmaids’ Hair Flowers: Anthropologie / Groom’s Attire: Macy’s / Rings: Palas Jewelers

You could say that I am slightly obsessed (read: totally obsessed) with all things Jane Austen, so when I first read that this darling Atlanta wedding was inspired by a scene from Emma, I knew I was going to love every.last.second of wedding bliss.  And, oh my goodness, do I ever.  From the oh-so-romantic purple hues to the sweet stylings of Juli Vaughn Designs to the beyond glorious images captured by CWF Photography, this, my lovelies, is a vintage-inspired masterpiece.  And totally Jane approved.  See so much more right here.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… For our wedding, Ryan and I wanted to embrace the idea of relaxed romance, so we decided to go with a vintage-inspired picnic theme. My initial inspiration came from a picnic scene in the movie Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow, where they bring along tables, china and beautiful linens. This seemed like such a wonderful idea for a wedding: an elegant, upscale picnic. Once I had this vision, everything else started falling into place. 

Our venue, the Retreat at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, was one of my first choices, and the minute I stepped into the beautiful room, with its exposed beams and mason fireplace, I knew it was the perfect place. The gardens were a gem hidden in the big city of Atlanta and gave us the picture perfect, romantic vision we were seeking for the ceremony. Because the garden was so beautiful and naturally decorated, we didn’t need to add much. As far as the reception site, we rented beautiful farm tables from Four Inch Fold and placed burlap runners and vintage lace (from a trunk in my mom’s attic) on top, then used heirloom silver pieces and vintage books to bring it all together. For our sweetheart table, we used a pub table that my parents bought 20 some years ago when traveling. Initially, our invitations were going to be simple white invitations bought from a website. However, as with everything else, I wanted something unique and special, so with the help of my mom, we designed our own custom invitations. They turned out amazing, printed on canvas with a button attaching all the pieces together. In addition to the invitations, my mom and I made the place cards, napkin rings and our favors, which were Farkle games (a dice game similar to Yahtzee). For the favors, we found plastic containers, made custom stickers for the top and wrapped the outside with burlap, purple ribbon and a vintage safety pin holding it all together. Our families are big gamers, so instead of dancing at the wedding, we decided to play a round of Apples to Apples and ended with Farkle.

One of the most important (and personal favorite) aspects of the wedding was the fashion. My dress was actually the second dress I bought because the first one did not have the vintage feel I was looking for. So I went back to Bride Beautiful and found a great dress that fit me perfectly. The only problem was it was about 18 inches too long and had the wrong neckline! I customized the dress to be the perfect tea length, changed the neckline to a deep sweetheart and added a Swarovski studded belt. For my matron of honor, I found an adorable, cream-c0lored, Nanette Lepore dress that she will surely wear again. The men were dressed in tan suits, and Ryan wore an amazing purple and gray Burberry tie. The most adorable aspect of the day were my five nieces and nephews. The girls wore frilly cream dresses with stylish gladiator sandals, and the boys were decked out in tan and white seersucker pants, vests and newsboy caps. In addition, the boys wore purple ties that my wonderful sister-in-law made just for this occasion. I’m afraid that the kids stole the show!

In the end, our wedding was a beautiful day that really captured our love for life, for our family and most importantly, our love for each other.

Wedding Photography: CWF Photography / Wedding Venue: Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in Atlanta, Georgia / Styling: Juli Vaughn Designs / Catering: Talk of the Town / Vintage Rentals: Four Inch Fold / Matron of Honor’s Dress: Nanette Lepore