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.
Click here for the FULL wedding!
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