Georgia Weddings

Through the great lens of The Reason I Love, we have this little number chock-full of loveliness with just the perfect splash of color. Greystone at Piedmont Park Conservancy was the flawless host in urban Atlanta for a celebration complete with striking florals and stunning details from Brette Start Floral & Event Design. Plus, who can’t love a wedding where the flower girl is referred to as the “Petal Princess?” I’ll be a Petal Princess any day.  Find even more lovely in our gallery, right here.

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From the Bride… Clifton and I are from opposite sides of the country — Los Angeles and Atlanta — and we met in Rhode Island. Seven years, bouts of long-distance and two graduate degrees later, we have friends all over the country, and we wanted to bring them all together, with our families, for a hitchin’ celebration that was fun and comfortable. To honor the memory of those who couldn’t be with us and to symbolize the coming-together of our families, Clifton carried his grandfather’s pocket knife and my grandmother’s handkerchief stitched with the word “Memories” in Italian, and I laced a light blue ribbon from Clifton’s baptismal gown into my dress with a bit of family lace and a button from my grandmother. In my bouquet, I carried a delicate lace handkerchief Clifton’s mom got thirty years ago, hoping it would one day go to Clifton’s bride.

We picked Greystone at Piedmont Park for our ceremony and reception because it was a beautiful, natural setting right in the heart of Atlanta but provided a little shelter from the February weather. Guests stayed across the street at the W Hotel Midtown and walked through the park to our ceremony. As soon as they were inside, the skies opened up, and rain showered down while we said our vows. The raindrops made the candlelight all the more sparkly. We stayed dry and warm, dancing the night away, and the rain stopped just in time to throw petals for our getaway.

We can’t say enough about our photographers, Chris and Allie from The Reason I Love, and our event coordinator and florist, Brette Start. They perfectly captured the fun, family, friends, and togetherness that we’d hoped to feel on our wedding weekend. We couldn’t have done it without them, and we now count them among our friends.

Wedding Photography + Cinematography: The Reason I Love / Wedding Venue: Greystone at Piedmont Park Conservancy in Atlanta, Georgia / Floral Design + Event Planning: Brette Start Floral & Event Design / Officiants: Larry + Cynthia Daniel / Catering: Bold American Events / Wedding Invitations: Custom Paper / Band: Loose Chain via East Coast Entertainment / Hair + Makeup: Tiffany Stone of Mirror Mirror Makeup

Oh, Savannah, how I love thee. This wedding under the Spanish moss-filled oak trees of the absolutely stunning Monterey Square has my heart all aflutter with its gorgeous setting that is what makes Savannah, GA one of my favorite places of all time. The soft and beautiful images from the lovely Mackensey Alexander Photography have truly made this one to remember and when the lovelies at Kiwi Fleur add in a few raw cotton bolls, I am simply struck with the gorgeousness of this wedding. Give your eyes a real treat by visiting the full gallery, right here.

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From the Bride… My husband and I met in Miami, lived for a number of years in D.C., currently live in Chicago, and are from New York and Atlanta, respectively. So naturally, we decided to get married in Savannah. :) We loved visiting Savannah over the years and figured that since guests would be traveling from all over no matter where we held our wedding, that we wanted to get married somewhere special. We were on a tight budget, but we tried to incorporate as many personal touches into the wedding as possible — my bouquet contained cotton as a nod to my family being from Memphis and was wrapped in my grandfather’s tie. The square we choose for the ceremony faced the third-oldest synagogue in America. Our chuppah was constructed by my father out of his cymbal stands and was topped by the tallis that a family friend had gotten married under. My husband had his favorite New York cheesecakes flown in for the reception, and we gave our guests Girl Scout cookie favors (Savannah is the birthplace of the Girl Scouts, and I was one for years). We filled an iPod with all our favorite songs for the reception. My favorite project was our cake topper, which I made to ensure our two cats were represented at the reception. Our wedding couldn’t have been more us or more perfect.

Wedding Photography: Mackensey Alexander Photography / Ceremony: Monterey Square in Savannah, Georgia / Reception: Vic’s on the River in Savannah, Georgia / Floral Design: Kiwi Fleur / Wedding Day Coordination: Molly Mahoney / Wedding Cake: Baker’s Pride / Groom’s Cakes: Veniero’s / Wedding Invitations: Checkerboard / Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo / Hair + Makeup: Brooke at Park West Salon

Tim Duncan Events is closing out this week on SMP Georgia with a photo shoot pretty enough for the big screen. Swoon-worthy, if I may say. It’s a dance between romantic and chic, and all captured beautifully by Christi Sue Photography. The team behind this photo shoot created fairytale magic, and you can see it all dancing around in the full gallery of images!

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From Tim Duncan Events… When Christi Sue of Christi Sue Photography and I first sat down to discuss our ideas for this photo shoot, we knew we wanted something that was clean and chic, with a touch of classic elegance. We knew the historic Swan House in Atlanta would be the perfect place to tell the story of our lovely bride and groom. The Renaissance-styled architecture and plush green lawns provided the perfect backdrop to the classic elements we infused into this shoot, while adding the right touch of sophistication and elegance. I reached out to some of the most talented wedding professionals in Atlanta to help bring my vision to life. In order to maintain the concept of clean and elegant, I kept the color scheme simple. Nothing screams fresh and chic more than pure white. I chose to accent it with silver, purple and sparkle (everybody loves a little sparkle in their life!).

Our table was draped in beautiful white ruffled linen, accented with Victorian, lilac, satin napkins provided by Connie Duglin Linens. To continue with this classic elegance, we used baroque-style silverware; silver-rimmed glassware; silver, beaded, crystal chargers and silver chiavari chairs. Blossoms Atlanta created amazingly beautiful floral centerpieces of beautiful fresh pink peonies and purple irises draped in crystals and wrapped in moss. The bejeweled, three-tier cake was provided by Sweet Sensations and the couple’s chic menu cards and invitations were provided by Poetic Twist. The bride’s gown was provided by Bel Fiore Bridal and the groom’s tuxedo was provided by Black Tie by Lori, the sister store to Bridals by Lori of “Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta” fame. Rentals were provided by Classic Party Rentals Atlanta, and the beautiful chiavari chairs were provided by Sweet Seats.

For this shoot, we imagined that our bride and groom are hopeless romantics who are modern and chic but appreciate classic style. Our couple enjoyed an intimate wedding that was enchanting and magical. The atmosphere had the perfect blend of classic renaissance with accents of chic elegance — definitely a night to remember.

Photography: Christi Sue Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: Swan House / Event Design + Planning: Tim Duncan Events / Floral Design: Blossoms Atlanta / Wedding Cake: Sweet Sensations / Invitations: Poetic Twist / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Chairs: Sweet Seats / Linens: Connie Duglin Specialty Linen & Chair Cover Rental / Wedding Dress: Calla Designs via Bel Fiore Bridal / Groom’s Tuxedo: Black Tie by Lori

The term rustic charm doesn’t even touch the surface of this gorgeous fete from Gregg Willet Photography. It is everything a good ol’ Southern Belle could ask for with the stop-you-in-your-tracks stunning golf course and grounds of Lake Lanier Islands Resort and the perfectly placed rustic elements that just make me weak in the knees. This bride’s gorgeous smile from ear to ear can tell ya, this one’s a real keeper. And you can see the full wedding right here in our gallery.

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From Caroline + Gregg Willett of Gregg Willett Photography… This Lake Lanier wedding was overflowing with southern-inspired, rustic details and plenty of DIY inspiration to boot! From the burlap table runners, to the lantern centerpieces and the custom signs, everything was purely sweet southern charm. Thomas is a greenskeeper in South Florida, so the golf course photos were a perfect touch to the day!

Wedding Photography: Gregg Willett Photography / Wedding Venue + Catering: Lake Lanier Islands Resort in Buford, Georgia / Floral Design + Decor: Your Event Solution / Event Coordination: Lake Lanier Islands Resort / Wedding Cake: Catering by Originals / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via Bride Beautiful / Makeup: Tamrin Craig

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

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

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

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

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

I’ve been wedding-obsessed for as long as I can remember. Whether the event be big or small, modern or traditional, it’s the personal touches and tear-jerking emotion that gets my heart going. And in the case of this classically charming St. Simons affair by Jenny Evelyn Photography, I can’t stop pouring over the rich sense of tradition and perfectly-appointed bridal party! Be sure to read the story behind the beautiful day and see the rest of the photos right here!

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From Jenny Evelyn Photography… Laura Beth and Jamie’s Sea Island wedding was a classic Southern affair, from the elegant lace gown to the Southern venue. Laura Beth incorporated all the classic wedding traditions — I loved her “borrowed” and “blue” jewelry. Because Laura Beth and Jamie met on St. Simons Island, they wanted to get married there. One of their favorite things about the island is the gorgeous live oak trees. So not only did I photograph them under the live oaks, but they also used live oaks on their invitations. The ceremony and reception venues Laura Beth and Jamie chose are filled with Southern tradition and style. The Lovely Lane Chapel is the oldest standing building on St. Simons Island, built in 1774. The Sea Island Resort has been the standard of Southern elegance by the sea for almost 100 years. I love the tradition of the bagpiper who plays on the 18th hole of the golf course every night at sunset. At their reception, Laura Beth and Jamie served their guests some island specialties: oysters on the half shell and shrimp. For dessert, Laura Beth’s traditional bride’s cake was lovely and delicious, but Jamie’s groom’s cake added a bit of whimsy. His grandfather owned a chain of Wendy’s restaurants, and the pastry chef at the resort recreated his favorite Wendy’s meal: a junior bacon cheeseburger, chicken nuggets and a Frosty. After dinner and dancing, the couple rode away in a vintage Cadillac as fireworks illuminated the path. 

Wedding Photography: Jenny Evelyn Photography / Ceremony: Lovely Lane Chapel at Epworth by the Sea in St. Simons Island, Georgia / Reception: Sea Island in Sea Island, Georgia / Event Planing + Floral Design: Sea Island / Catering + Wedding Cake: Sea Island / Band: Atlanta Rhythm and Groove / Wedding Dress: Adele Wechsler / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade

For each wedding I blog about, I find there’s typically an aspect or two that stands out. In this wedding by Red Fly Studio it’s the drop dead gorgeous setting of the Swan House venue and picture perfect florals by Jackson Durham, the tasty food truck, the stylish stationary, the cake, the oh and did I mention the Manolo Blahnik heels!? Did I say one or two? This entire day consistently fabulous thanks to the event planning of TOAST. Be sure to take in every detail in the full gallery.

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From Red Fly Studio… Erinn and Will’s wedding was so lovely! They were married on the lawn of the gorgeous Swan House in Atlanta. We think Erinn picked out the perfect dress and bridesmaids’ dresses to complement the beautiful scenery. Erinn and Will were so much fun to work with. At the reception, everyone had a wonderful time, and they ended the night with a fun exit with glow sticks. Before Erinn and Will rode off in a gelato truck, they served their guests scoops of yummy gelato. 

Wedding Photography: Red Fly Studio / Ceremony: Swan House in Atlanta, Georgia / Reception: Atlanta History Center in Atlanta, Georgia / Event Planning: Lindsay Pitt of TOAST / Floral Design: Jackson Durham / Catering: Bold American Events / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Stationery: Hi Note / Linens: I Do Linens

This wedding is a celebration of all things floral and vintage crafted by Design House of Flowers and Events. From the ivory lace and pearls wrapped around the bride’s gorgeous bouquet to the vintage yellow Chevy that carried the couple off at the very end, this wedding was a recipe that produced such loveliness! Full flowers with crystals draped over antique candle stands helped set the romantic mood at the reception. This couple’s happily ever after most definitely started at their wedding! Check out the full gallery of photos here, thanks to Liz Yeakle Photography.

 

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Morgan and Taylor were married at the beautiful Carl House in Auburn, Georgia. The vintage, elegant ceremony florals and decor were created by Design House of Flowers in Buford, Georgia. Atlanta based photographer Liz Yeakle Photography captured all of the impressive details. Morgan chose champagne, petal pink, and apple green as her colors. The ceremony arch was accented with curly willow vine, burlap and lace, which was perfectly placed in view of the outdoor brick altar. Guests were seated at aisles marked with flower-filled mason jars hanging from vine-wrapped shepherds’ hooks. Morgan was absolutely stunning as she walked down a center brick aisle covered in white petal designs.  The stunning bride carried a bouquet of white ranunculus, white hydrangeas and white peonies wrapped in ivory lace and pearls. Her six bridesmaids dressed in champagne, vintage-style dresses and held champagne pink mini roses accented with apple green viburnum. The reception was held in the grand ballroom of the Carl House and had a warm and classy atmosphere. Garden roses, peonies, dahlias and hydrangeas filled tall table tops of antique candle stands draped with hanging crystals. There were three uniquely different floral designs for the guest tables. A spectacular room delicately set the romantic mood for this happy couple! As the party began to wind down, Morgan and Taylor made their exit through a sea of ribbon wands. A vintage yellow Chevy carried them off to their happy ever after. Congratulations, Morgan and Taylor!

Wedding Photography: Liz Yeakle Photography / Wedding Venue: Carl House in Auburn, Georgia / Floral Design: Design House of Flowers and Events / Wedding Cake: Kline Special Occasions / DJ: DJ Tod / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via Affordable Bridal, Inc. / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair + Makeup: Karma Salon

Honing in on the unique Southern charm of Atlanta’s Candler Park neighborhood, Pretty Swell Parties teamed up with Evie Perez Photography and a few more of the city’s best vendors for this traditional (with a twist!) styled shoot. Nothing screams Georgia like peaches + peanuts, and Sugar Style Events put together the sweetest dessert bar showcasing the two! From the cherry boutonnieres to the invites + menus embellished with washi tape this shoot is adorable from start to finish! See the rest right here!

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From Pretty Swell Parties… When it comes to charm, Atlanta seems to get passed over in favor of more classic southern locales such as Charleston, New Orleans or Savannah.  But the secret of Atlanta’s charm lies in its historic neighborhoods, like Candler Park, where we decided to do this shoot. Candler Park is named for the founder of Coca Cola, and it is known for its adorable craftsman bungalows and unique local businesses. Inspired by the 100-year-old house where we shot and the charm of the surrounding neighborhood, Evie from Evie Perez Photography and I envisioned a wedding set in a bride’s family home that had a modern feel, but was inspired by the history of the setting.

Our groom, Justin Rishel, owner of J Rishel Woodworks, designed and hand-crafted the wooden ring box we used for the shoot, and it is the same one he used to propose to our bride, Michelle. He also built the beautiful table we used for desserts out of a vintage sewing machine table. Justin and Michelle are coming up on three years of marriage and they just radiate fun and love in a way that makes us all remember why we are in this industry. We were lucky to have the very talented hair and makeup artist Louie Lieberman, from Lux Studio, to create a fresh and clean look for our bride, who wore a gorgeous, two piece gown by Atlanta designer Chaviano Couture. Katie of Boukates did such an amazing job with the florals and table design. She pulled in so many cool, traditional elements, such as a bridal bouquet wrapped in lace, and then added fun and charming details like a cherry boutonniere. The traditional lace on the table was complemented beautifully by the fresh and clean menu cards created by Calliespondence. Lauren of Sugar Style Events styled the dessert table to include classic Georgia ingredients such as peanuts and peaches, but she added a modern spin on the presentation to keep things fresh. And what better place for a Georgia-themed dessert bar then on the front porch? 

We also walked around the corner to The Mercantile, a neighborhood specialty foods store, to visit their soda shop-style counter. There aren’t many places in Atlanta where you can walk around the block to a warm and friendly neighborhood shop, but in Candler Park you can. And of course we had to add a little nod to the Candler family with a Coke bottle toast!

Photography: Evie Perez Photography / Photo Shoot Locations: A Private Home + The Mercantile, Both in Atlanta, Georgia / Floral Design: Boukates / Event Coordination: Melissa Bloomfield of Pretty Swell Parties / Dessert Bar: Sugar Style Events / Invitations + Menus: Calliespondence / Ring Box + Custom Furniture: J Rishel Woodworks / Wedding Dress: Chaviano Couture via Fabulous Frocks of Atlanta / Hair + Makeup: Louie Lieberman of Lux Studio

Our Labor of Love shoots some of my favorite weddings. Magic ensues when they grab hold of a camera, and when they team up with We Tie The Knots for the wedding of a seriously stylish couple like this one – it sets off all of my SMP alarms. It’s everything I love about a personality-filled party (including that Anthropologie shrug I need to make mine ASAP), and you can see every gorgeous bit right here.

From We Tie The Knots… Sarah and Kevin tied the knot on May 6, 2012, at Empire State South restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia. This venue was so naturally them, and everything just fit together perfectly with their theme. We helped in the designing/decor aspect of this wedding, and I must say it turned out beautiful and was so much fun. Their ceremony took place outside on the bocce court/lawn area with all different style vintage chairs for the guests. The front rows of the aisle had vintage furniture for family seating, which also made for some great photos. We brought in a chandelier and had it hung over the altar, along with a multicolor ribbon backdrop. The tablescapes had a real personal touch with vintage medical prescriptions with the table numbers stamped over them, along with music sheets used as the table runners.

Wedding Photography: Julia of Our Labor of Love / Wedding Venue + Catering: Empire State South in Atlanta, Georgia / Wedding Design + Planning: We Tie The Knots / Floral Design: Bloom Floral Design / Pie: Pie Shop/ Wedding Invitations: Dapper Paper / Vintage Rentals: Four Inch Fold / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bride’s Shoes: Vince Camuto / Bride’s Shrug: Anthropologie / Bride’s Earrings: Alexis Bittar / Bride’s Bracelets: From Her Mother / Groom’s Suit: Sid Mashburn

 The only thing that beats this oh-so-perfect, rustic inspired backyard wedding is the collection of portraits of the bride and groom. Oh. MY. The wedding day portraits of this couple are breathtakingly beautiful, and the best part is that they look so natural and comfortable! Red Fly Studio really delivered a masterpiece of images, and the details that this couple infused into their celebration (their love for the outdoors, old bikes, etc.) are tremendously fun. Click here for the FULL gallery of images! 

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From Red Fly Studio… Josh and Bailey’s wedding has been one of our favorites this year. Their wedding is the kind of wedding that we hope to shoot all the time — we love a sweet bride and groom, welcoming families and fun friends who are there to celebrate! The ceremony and reception took place on the groom’s family farm in Eatonton, Georgia. Bailey and Josh are a very outdoorsy couple, and we think they did a good job in incorporating their personality into the wedding. They used their old bikes, some neat wooden signs and old quilts. We loved that the groom and groomsmen wore Chacos, and even the bride decided to wear a pair for part of the day. How great is that?!

Wedding Photography: Red Fly Studio / Wedding Venue: The Groom’s Family Farm in Eatonton, Georgia / Floral Design: Designs By Kent / Wedding Cake: Publix / Wedding Dress: Allure Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Men’s Shoes: Chaco

Nothing gets my heart fluttering quite like this sophisticated, stylish Sea Island wedding by Brooke Roberts Photography. All of the elements at play, like the classic floral arrangements and mouthwatering cake by Sea Island, are right on point.  I keep going back for one more glance of the The Cloister at Sea Island ceremony location – pure beauty! There’s more to love in the full gallery here. 

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From Brooke Roberts Photography… This event was a wedding weekend rather than just a wedding day. Tanja and Chris planned a three-day celebration for their families and guest that included a river cruise, fishing trips for the men, spa treatments for the women, a beach-side welcome party and cocktails, a stunning outside ceremony, a jaw-dropping reception and a sparkler fountain grand exit.

When looking for the perfect location to hold their wedding, Tanja made appointments at four of the finest venues the east coast had to offer. Sea Island was the first on her list to visit, and after driving up to the Cloister, she told her family they could cancel the other appointments — this was the venue. When walking through the garden with the Sea Island wedding team, they listed all of the wonderful details the wedding could include, and she said that they had her when they mentioned they could hang crystal chandeliers from the trees. Tanja’s inspiration for her wedding design was soft elegance. She wanted feminine touches without being too girlie or stuffy. Using a mixture of baby’s breath, delicate pale pink and cream roses and peonies to decorate the arch for the ceremony, the theme was carried through to the bouquets and table centerpieces.

The river cruise was held the first night for family and the wedding party as a fun and relaxed icebreaker event. The Cloister has it’s own beautifully restored 71-foot vintage yacht, The Cloister Belle. Everyone enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres while relaxing in the warm summer breeze, accompanied by dolphins swimming at the boats bow. The evening before the wedding, as more guests arrived, Tanja and Chris’s families hosted a welcome party at Sea Island’s Beach Club overlooking the water. Set up on the ocean terrace under strands of glowing white paper lanterns, everyone was treated to an array of mouth-watering desserts, cocktails and music from a Jimmy Buffet-style band.

For the main event, Sea Islands event team had designed a ceremony site fit for a fairytale. In the glorious Cloister Garden, set under towering oaks hung with crystal chandeliers, was a green lawn filled with white chairs, the baby’s breath arch and an aisle decorated with cream rose petals and crystal candelabras. After the ceremony, guests were escorted to the Cloister Black Banks Terrace overlooking the tidal river and marsh to enjoy drinks before dinner. They mingled on the grand terrace that was decorated with large potted trees and watched as the sun set in the south Georgia summer sky. The final stage for the wedding celebration was perhaps the most elegant as the party moved into the Cloister Club Room. This glittering ballroom with massive crystal chandeliers opens up to yet another outdoor terrace that was also decorated with soft furnishings so that guest could mingle both inside and out. And for their grand exit, Tanja and Chris left in Sea Island style with a stream of sparklers that lined the long Cloister drive.

Wedding Photography: Brooke Roberts Photography / Wedding Venue: The Cloister at Sea Island in Sea Island, Georgia / Event Planning, Floral + Event Design: Sea Island / Wedding Cinematography: iMint Media / Wedding Cake: Sea Island / Wedding Invitations: Salutations / Wedding Dress: Unknown / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Hair + Makeup: Stephanie Adams + Ashley Edenfield / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale / Men’s Attire: Zegna

I could seriously hug Melissa Schollaert Photography for sending this breathtaking Wimbish House wedding our way.  And not just any hug – one great BIG bear hug.  Because not only is this one of the most gorgeous affairs I have ever laid my eyes upon, it also happens to be chock-full of heartwarming moments and classic inspiration that will you have swooning from the get-go.  All planned and designed by Lindsay Pitt of TOAST, this, my friends, is traditional elegance at its very finest.  Click here for more.

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From Melissa Schollaert Photography… Angela and Matt were the sweetest couple ever — so in love and so excited for their wedding. The day was designed and planned by Lindsay Pitt of TOAST and had a very elegant feel.  The reception was held at the historic Wimbish House, the home of the Atlanta Women’s Club.  The old mansion is already so beautiful on its own, and Toast enhanced its beauty with very elegant decor, including lots of whites and gold accents. The patterned white and gold linens on the dinner tables were gorgeous! Andy Beach provided the florals and did an amazing job with all-white flowers and accents of green in a variety of vases and vessels. The main part of the house, as well as the ballroom, was filled with candlelight that gave a very romantic feel to the evening. Angela and Matt danced the night away to the sounds of the Coconut Groove Band, who rocked the reception. They left on foot to the glow of sparklers and headed off into the cityscape for their honeymoon!

Wedding Photography: Melissa Schollaert Photography / Ceremony: The Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta, Georgia / Reception: The Wimbish House in Atlanta, Georgia / Wedding Planning + Design: Lindsay Pitt of TOAST / Floral Design: Andy Beach & Associates / Catering: Bold American Catering / Wedding Cake: Frosted Pumpkin / Wedding Stationery: Hi Note / Band: Coconut Groove Band via East Coast Entertainment / Transportation: Georgia Trolley Services / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Joan Pillow Bridal / Hair + Makeup: The Moore Agency

Saddle up, SMPers, because this wedding from Stephie Hicks Photography is full, I mean full, of gorgeous details you are sure to love. It has everything you could want from the beautiful, beautiful florals from Apple Blossom Flower Shop, to the most perfect of venues, to the sweetest bride and groom chairs at the flawlessly rustic reception. You’ll be asking for more, but don’t fret, we have the full gallery right here for even more eye candy.

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From Stephie Hicks Photography… Travis and Brittany’s wedding was one of my favorite weddings to date!  I go absolutely gaga over weddings like this!  Brittany and her family left no detail untouched.  They diy’ed and handmade everything they could.  I can’t get over how beautiful everything was – even something as simple as the bridesmaid bouquets made out of baby’s breath!  The Brittany and her bridesmaids started the day getting ready at the York House in Rabun Gap, GA.  The ceremony and reception were across the road on the property of a close family friend.  The ceremony was held in from of a gorgeous pond with the North Georgia mountains in the background and the reception was housed inside a really fantastic barn. 

Wedding Photography: Stephie Hicks Photography / Wedding Venue: The Home of a Friend in Rabun Gap, Georgia / Floral Design: Apple Blossom Flower Shop / Catering: Oinker’s BBQ (706-782-7010) / Wedding Cake: 211 Main Street Restaurant & Bakery / Printing: He Saw Sparks / DJ: Ray McKnight + Larry Nelms / Tent: Mountain Party Tents & Events / Wedding Dress: Impression Bridal via New Natalie’s Bridals / Maid of Honor’s Dress: Light in the Box / Bridesmaid’s Dress: The Red Dress Boutique / Flower Girls’ Dresses: Bailee Boo’s Boutique / Hair + Makeup: Laura Edwards of Cloud 9 Salon (706-782-9990) + Kristen Mote / Men’s Tuxedos: Jim’s Tuxedos via Cannon’s

It is easy to recognize the ever-frequent utterances of “oops,” “sorry,” and “excuse me” heard throughout all newlyweds’ kitchens that so accurately explain those first few months of marriage. This couple decided to use the kitchen as their backdrop as they baked “save-the-date cookies” for this simply sweet and utterly adorable engagement shoot from Jessica Williams Studio. While baking some seriously delicious-looking confections, these two cuties also conjured up one of the most charming engagement shoots. Click here for even more darling photos.

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From Jessica Williams Studio… Meet Laura and Eric, high school sweethearts that are promised to marry each other in May of 2013. When Laura contacted me about working with them, she said she wanted to “do something” during her engagement shoot but wasn’t quite sold on what she wanted that “something” to be. After we discussed a few ideas, she decided that she wanted to bake “save-the-date cookies” and plan a sweet picnic together afterwards. Laura loves baking, and Eric has learned a lot from her over their years together — the two seemed to flow perfectly together throughout the kitchen. Laura was prepared for this shoot doing what she referred to as “tapping into her inner Martha,” and Eric seemed to know what steps came next without having to be so much as nudged. I think a couple who can cook together with that kind of smoothness is headed for a long life of happiness. 

For the wedding, Laura and Eric have expressed they want their colors to be the colors of berries, as they both very much like berries. Fitting for such good bakers! I suggested that for the picnic, we take some berries along with us to help incorporate their desired theme. Everything was perfectly planned … then we got the weather report. Much to our dismay, the high for the day of the shoot was 108 in Georgia, a record-breaking high temperature. Laura and Eric were troopers and stuck it out in the heat and we pulled off what I think is a beautifully romantic picnic. You’d never guess it was 108 out, would you?!

I cannot wait to shoot their wedding this coming spring. Here’s to a long, happy life for Laura and Eric!

Photography: Jessica Williams Studio

Atlanta weddings have got IT.  And by IT, I mean that downright prettiness that leaves you feeling all gooey/happy/lovey-dovey.  They are always, always chock-full of gorgeous – and this fab Canoe soiree is certainly no exception.  From the uber-stunning details to the whimsical garden vibe to a gallery simply brimming with to-die-for images by Alecia Lauren Photography, this, my friends, is a serious lesson in Peach State lovely.  See so much more right here.

From the Bride… David and I met through our jobs as physicians, and when we first started dating, he had already accepted a one-year fellowship in Sacramento, California. I was really nervous about him leaving only five months into our relationship, but we decided to give the long-distance thing a try. My dear friend Sandra was having a 40th birthday party celebration in Napa, so we planned to meet up then. That week ended up being really important for us. We had talked every single day since he left, but I think we didn’t realize how much we missed each others’ company until we were back together. We also did a good bit of traveling together that week and had a good bit of fun, both with our friends and with each other. I think you really learn a lot about someone from traveling together, and for me, after that, I just knew. One of the reasons why we asked my friend Sandra to officiate our wedding was because it was her 40th birthday weekend that really helped us to understand that our relationship was really something to hold on to. After his year of fellowship was finished, David moved back to Atlanta so we could be together again. It wasn’t too long after that that he proposed. Unbeknownst to me, he had been secretly looking at rings and discussing with my mother and sister what I might like. When he found the right one, on a typical, quiet Friday night, we went out to dinner, then came home to make a fire in the backyard fire pit. David proposed right there, at home, with our beloved dachshund, Monday, as a witness. I remember us being so happy and warm together in front of the fire. We called our friends and family the next day to share the happy news.

My 3-year-old twin nieces were the flower girls. They were so excited to throw petals for me and had practiced for days to get it right.  Then when it came time for their big moment, they were so enthusiastic about their job, they ran out of petals after five steps. Then they didn’t know what to do so they just stood there, frozen — probably noticing for the first time that all eyes and cameras were on them. David walked over to them from his spot in the ceremony, took their hands and walked them over to their dad. Every mother’s heart melted when they saw David do that, and I’m still hearing about it. So sweet.

I have always been crafty, and I was so excited to do a few DIY things to personalize our day, as well as save a little money. For our invites, I purchased bulk, ivory paper from Paper Source, had a calligrapher from Etsy create digitized files of our invite text and designed an invitation suite with Sam Flax with gold lettering. I edged all the paper elements in blush pink with an inkpad, and the return envelopes were in pink as well. I used a gold baker’s twine from Etsy to tie the invitation suites together with a sweet bow, and David lent me his steady hand to hand-cut envelope liners out of a vintage, gold, floral paper. I really owe him for that one – he didn’t complain once.  Our welcome bags were reuseable, canvas bags that I printed with a customized message, typeset like an eye chart  — a play on David’s job as an ophthalmologist. We try to be pretty healthy eaters, so we stuffed the bags with some homemade maple pecan praline granola, fruit, gummi bears and a few other things.  Wedding menus, programs, etc. were all typeset by Sam Flax and stamped by me with a gold floral rubber stamp to maintain the gold/ivory theme. I ended up purchasing a calligraphy font that I liked, which maintained uniformity between the program and menu text, as well as all the wedding day signage, which I made and printed at home. Escort cards were these huge, cool lollipops I had found on Etsy that came in customizable flavors and colors. So each guest received a lollipop with their table number, and I used the same calligraphy font to make name flags to attach to each of the lollipops. It was a nice, whimsical surprise for our guests. I also wanted to make sure that our younger guests were happy and entertained for the evening, so we set up some coloring books and fairy wands for our little guests, as well as some mad libs books for our older guests. They helped to keep everyone’s faces happy.

Wedding Photography: Alecia Lauren Photography / Wedding Venue: Canoe in Atlanta, Georgia / Floral Design: Your Flowers by Isabel / Officiant: Sandra Zaky, A Friend of the Bride & Groom / Catering + Wedding Cake: Canoe / Wedding Invitations: Sam Flax, Etsy + The Bride / Entertainment: Drivetrain / Wedding Dress: Modern Trousseau / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Hair: Murray Briggs of Salon Briggs / Makeup: DIY / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Men’s Ties: Burberry

It could be my Southern roots coming out here, but this wedding sure has knocked me off my barn-lovin’ feet. Nothing can put my heart aflutter more than the rustic barn at Chukkar Farm with amazing green, green farmland that goes on for days or the lovely images from Photographs by Anjuli that capture so perfectly the soft palette and atmosphere of this vintage-inspired wedding. With every moment of the day flawlessly expressing the personality of this creative couple, Laura Birney Events has really enchanted and delighted this Southern blogger. Click here for even more vintage wonderfulness in the gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Laura Birney Events… Church pews in a field? Chandeliers hanging in a rustic pavilion? Sign me up! This wedding had all the elements of a perfect event and, oh, the fabulous details! Christina and Dan envisioned a vintage, rustic affair, and Chukkar Farm was a beyond perfect backdrop. For the ceremony, guests sat in church pews set in an open field. The altar was decorated with a vintage, four-pane window set adorned with hanging vases of beautiful blooms. A dear friend of the couple, Dwight Haymon, delivered a beautiful and touching ceremony.

Guests then made their way up to the farm’s pavilion area for the reception, and there was no detail left undone! Christina is an artist and a graphic designer, and she custom-made the invitations and all the beautiful paper products. She tied everything together perfectly, from the seating chart placed on vintage window panes to the table numbers to the hand-painted welcome signs. The pavilion was decorated to perfection with chandeliers, burlap and beautiful drapery. We used a variation of round and long tables and dressed them with clean, white linens. Christina provided a variety vintage bottles, vases and bowls that were set atop burlap squares. They were filled with beautiful blooms of ranunculus, anemones, godetia and astible in shades of pink, peach, coral and ivory.

Christina and Dan served amazing Korean and Thai food, which was delicious! The meal was complete with yummy vanilla and chocolate cupcakes for dessert. The guests partied on the dance floor and took pictures in the DIY photo booth until the couple’s grand exit through a sea of sparklers. The evening was filled with joy, laughter and lots and lots of love for this beautiful couple.

Wedding Photography: Photographs by Anjuli / Wedding Venue: Chukkar Farm in Alpharetta, Georgia / Wedding Planning: Laura Birney Events / Floral Design: Design House Weddings & Events / Event Design, Wedding Invitations + Paper Products: Christina Yoo Ketmayura, The Bride / Officiant: Dwight Haymon / Bakery: Publix / Ceremony Musicians: Quartet Led by Courtney Dow, A Friend / DJ: Matt Keller, A Friend / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Makeup: Veronica Sitterding

If there’s a wedding with any hint at peach cobbler, sign.me.up. There is nothing I love more, except maybe these stop-dead-in-your-tracks gorgeous photographs from Laura Deas Photography, or the swoonworthy florals from The Vine that have made this St. Simons Island wedding so stunning. Everything from the groom’s seersucker pants to the bride’s timeless Ramona Keveza gown, each detail of this wedding is quintessentially Southern and especially beautiful. Click here for the full wedding in our gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Laura Deas Photography… This wedding was special to me as a photographer because I’ve known the bride all of my life. I have to say Reagan is one lucky guy! Julia is indeed beautiful inside and out, and I feel extremely fortunate that she chose me to photographically document her wedding weekend in St. Simons. While everything from the rehearsal dinner to the reception was extremely elegant, the atmosphere had that casual, laid-back feel that you find at the beach. Congrats, Julia and Reagan!

From the Bride… Even though we both attended The University of Georgia and were in some of the same circles, our paths did not cross until some time after college. We hit it off in the summer of 2010 at a friend’s birthday party and never looked back! St. Simons Island is a special place for us and in looking for reception spots, we fell in love with the simple beauty of the Frederica Boat House. We loved the idea of arriving to the reception on a boat, and it was a magical moment when we pulled up to the dock with all of our guests watching from above. We are truly blessed to have found the perfect match in each other, so we chose “More than Everything” by Rhett Akins as our first dance song. Reagan loves surprises and surprised me when our first dance was introduced by a personalized audio message from Rhett Akins himself! For our reception food, we stuck to our Georgia roots and went with a southern theme — complete with a mashed potato bar, fried chicken, and green beans. We decided to forego the wedding cake tradition and instead serve southern cobblers — blackberry and peach — in mini mason jars, topped off with homemade vanilla ice cream. They were a hit! The next day, we were sad that our day was over, but we are lucky to have some amazing photos to remember what a special day it was for us!

Wedding Photography: Laura Deas Photography / Ceremony: St. Simons United Methodist Church in St. Simons, Georgia / Reception: Frederica Boathouse in St. Simons, Georgia / Wedding Planning: Caroline Carter Events / Floral Design: The Vine / Catering: Frederica Golf Club / Band: Mo’ Sol Band / Spa: Island Day Spa /  Golf Club: Sea Palms Golf and Tennis Resort / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza via Bridals by Lori / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Bride’s Jewelry: Bridals by Lori / Hair: Amy Jenkins / Makeup: Judy Crouch / Bride’s Dress Hanger: Etsy / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Children’s Clothing: J.Crew / Flower Girl Halo: Designed by the Bride’s Mother

Does it get any sweeter than a southern wedding with mason jars filled with sweet tea on top of lace and burlap at the wedding of a sweet southern belle and her handsome beau? If it does, we haven’t come across it yet. Stella Harper Events sat down with the most adorable couple (EVER) and planned a wedding that was perfectly Georgia chic. The gallery is like a cool breeze on a warm southern day thanks in full to 375 Photography!

Flash back to 2004… University of Georgia… Sorority rush has just ended. And Bid Day meant experiencing my first fraternity band party. That night I met several of these fraternity boys… but one in a red hat stood out from the rest. As we left the pre-party, that boy escorted me, with an umbrella in hand, through the pouring rain and in to the taxi. Some front row dancing, several fist pumps, and hours of conversation later, I was hooked on this boy in the red hat… Travis.

With two bachelors degrees, a master’s degree, a law degree, and moving to three new cities, the seven years leading up to our engagement were full of highs and lows, but those years laid the foundation of our relationship and ultimately our marriage. Having a summer birthday, I always felt like I missed out in grade school… never being able to take cupcakes, pass out invitations or have a party where all my friends were able to come. So as the big 2-5 was quickly approaching, I had asked Travis SEVERAL times what we would be doing hoping he had something planned. Well my actual birthday went off without any big surprises. All I got was that we would be celebrating the next day. But then my controlling nature took over… he had planned for us to go to the Botanical Gardens, out to dinner and then stay in Atlanta. Of course I had to have my input… we would get up, go to the Gardens around 9 or 10 am, and then head to maybe Park Tavern for lunch, go to our hotel and get ready for dinner. Travis had other plans in mind for our little schedule of events… 

We made it to the Botanical Gardens the next day and over to the Canopy Walk… one of the things on my Atlanta Bucket List. We made our little walk through the trees and the scorching heat, ending up in one of the many gardens. Travis insisted we walk over to the side of the waterfall, but the way he was pointing was straight towards the Visitor’s Center and Exit… exactly where we had just come from. Me being the planner, pulled out my map and tried to explain to him that he was going the wrong way. He continued to walk over to the side of the waterfall and then insisted that I take a picture of this waterfall. At this point, we were in direct sunlight. I was burning up and sweating and not too happy. So he kept insisting. And I turned to walk away. I was going to find shade. As I turned around, he grabbed my hand, pulled me around, and said “But I have a question for you…” So there was a question. A ring. Laughter. Tears. An engagement. After walking around for about 15 more minutes, we were both hot and ready to just enjoy the moment… in air conditioning. 

When it came time to plan our wedding, Travis and I knew we wanted a place that would be comfortable and reflect our personalities. We chose the Athens area because it was where we first met and our relationship began. My senior year of college, we had a sorority formal at Carl House and so it made the list of places to check out. As the planning process progressed, all of the pieces were falling perfectly in to place for our wedding at Carl House. The only date they had available in June was the 23rd… and it was at this moment I knew that this number would become so special. Travis’s birthday is the 23rd. His brother was married on the 23rd. We were engaged on the 23rd and would soon be married on the 23rd. So Carl House it was… and from there our wedding vision was quickly coming to life.

Southern. Burlap. Mason Jars. Soft candlelight. Lace. A mix of family heirlooms – all of the candlesticks that lined our estate table were collected from family members. A veil made from my mother’s wedding dress. In the 11 months leading up to our wedding, DIY projects were constantly being dreamed up and then made a reality… from our programs, table runners, cake topper and koozies, to the décor, flower girl tutu, guest book and wreaths honoring my grandfathers… It all came together in a way that was more personal and meaningful than we ever could have imagined.

Photography: Justin Wojtczak + Justin McGough for 375 Photography / Event Planning + Design: Stella Harper Events / Floral Design: Stems / Cinematography: Illuminated Videos / Venue: The Carl House / Entertainment: Spectrum Entertainment / Cake: Cecilia’s Cakes / Rentals: J & L Party Rentals /Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Dresses: Wedding Angels

The bride went barefoot; bluegrass music played, and sunshine and suspenders were the name of the game! I absolutely love an honest-to-goodness southern country wedding which is EXACTLY what this wedding was in every shape and form. Many of the details, including the flower bouquets, masen jars AND the bride’s wedding dress (amazing, right??) were homemade. The couple picked the perfect venue for this intimate and laid-back affair, The Barn at High Point Farms, and you can pretty much feel the warm sunshine radiating from the full gallery of photos, courtesy of Claudia McDade Photography. Absolutely lovely!

From the Bride… Will and I met the very first day of college in our very first class as freshmen at Berry College. I walked into the room, and he walked up to me, shook my hand and introduced himself. It was weird but sweet, so I sat next to him. Will claims he fell in love with me right then and there — but we both had significant others at the time so I would say we became friends…. and initially I could not really stand him! Over the years, we became close friends and started dating our senior year of college. He proposed to me on Halloween at a String Cheese Incident concert in Virginia in 2010! We spend a lot of our time going to concerts, volunteering and making artwork out of various media!

I really love the feel of a southern country bluegrass wedding. I just knew that I wanted mason jars and bluegrass music to be involved, and I wanted to be barefoot and outside. I got a lot of ideas from blogs, magazines, Pinterest and, of course, from my family and friends. My art teacher from high school, Deb Sumpter, as well as my mother, Laurie Cerretani, played a big role in creating signs and coming up with ideas for decorating the inside of the barn. My “second mom,” Mary Kay Parry, made all of the bow ties the men and ring bearer were wearing! My mom and I picked out the fabric, and Mary Kay Parry made them! My mother-in-law, Susan, and her best friends put all my flowers together as well. I told her my favorite flowers, sunflowers and daisies, and she went from there! She and her friends grew a large amount of the flowers, and they also selected some from the Atlanta farmers’ market. Erin Coughlin, Will’s brother’s girlfriend, MADE my wedding dress, and our bakery actually GAVE me the cakes as a gift because I used to work there in high school. Most of the decorations were found in antique stores, including the window pane for the menu and vases.

Just like everyone predicted the whole day went by so incredibly fast, but I have to say I did enjoy every minute of it. My sisters, Maria Cerretani and Elise Broz; my bridesmaids; my sister’s boyfriend, John Russ; my dad, Jerry Broz; and my mom all worked their tails off on the hottest day of the year to put everything together that morning!! The ceremony was simple and sweet. Will and I created it together with the help of a dear friend, Kathleen Rife. Our minister was a close friend of Will’s family, as well as the religion professor at Berry, which made the homily very sweet and personal. I think my favorite part was when my mom read an Apache wedding prayer that my grandmother had in her diary. It was so beautiful. Not to mention the fact that it was my grandparents wedding anniversary as well! There was just a buzz of positivity and happiness all around even though we were all melting from the heat! After the ceremony, the reception started, and we had the King of Pops come with their DELICIOUS local and seasonal popsicles! Bluegrass music was playing and family and friends were all over the place looking at the goats, playing games, eating popsicles, or just trying to stay cool. I danced my heart out with family, friends and the flower children! My father-in-law, Jim Watkins, played with the band, which was a big highlight of the night for me! My dad, my sister, and my brother-in-law all made beautiful speeches that I will never forget. It was such a wonderful day! I had so many people tell me it was the best wedding they had ever been to (even the caterers said that) and that truly made all the hard work feel worth it! Anyway, we had a nice sparkler send off and hopped onto a party bus with our best friends and partied the night away!

Wedding Photography: Claudia McDade Photography / Wedding Venue: The Barn at High Point Farms in Flintstone, Georgia / Floral Design: Susan Watkins, Karla DesPrez, Kathie House + Sandra Morris (The Groom’s Mother + Her Friends) / Catering: Famous Dave’s / Wedding Cake: Bill Rhodes Bakery / Popsicles: King of Pops / Music: The Allen Tolbert Unit / Wedding Dress: Erin Coughlin (The Groom’s Brother’s Girlfriend) / Hair + Makeup: Hairbenders / Bow Ties: Mary Kay Parry