If you are the middle of planning a wedding (or the beginning or the end for that matter), you know that even when you cross all your t’s and dot all those i’s – there will inevitably be bumps in the planning road. But if you are these two, you go with the flow and hire one dream team of vendors to make your day drop-dead beautiful. With Morgan Gallo Events not only taking care of those t’s and i’s but also making them beautiful, and Shannon Christopher snapping up every last bit – their gallery is proof that going with the flow has some pretty gorgeous results.
From the Bride… Mike and I decided to get married in Savannah since it was where he proposed, and we loved the idea of everything coming full circle. We originally planned our wedding for February 16, 2013; several vendors were already booked, and the save-the-dates were already printed. Then we received the wonderful news that my brother and sister-in-law were expecting their first baby. However, the doctor informed them the baby was due the exact date of our wedding! After a few hectic weeks, we were able to move the wedding up to December 8, 2012, and keep all the vendors we previously booked. I suggested we use our old save-the-dates as birth announcements. :)
Once our new date was finalized, we were so fortunate to have Morgan Gallo and her team to assist with vendor recommendations and planning. Our colors were gray and blush, and my eight bridesmaids all wore charcoal gray, full-length chiffon dresses, and they were able to pick out their own style. Harvey Designs did an amazing job with the floral arrangements. The bouquets and centerpieces were classic and elegant with a stunning mixture of white, blush and gray flowers. The ceremony and reception both took place at the Savannah Golf Club. My sister-in-law is a minister, and she was the officiant for our outdoor ceremony in the club’s picturesque courtyard. We wrote our own vows, and it was an incredibly meaningful, intimate and personal service. We were told afterwards there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. The reception took place in the ballroom with stunning uplighting from JLK Events, with the colors changing throughout the night. Our guests were dance lovers, so our DJ, Jeff Brown from All About You Entertainment, kept the dance floor packed all night. Sadly, I am one of those rare people who never developed a sweet tooth. So when we were deciding on a cake, I wanted something that I would look forward to cutting and eating as well. After we selected our traditional wedding cake (the groom’s cake) from Baker’s Pride, I started to brainstorm about my bride’s cake. I am a huge cheese enthusiast, so it was a no-brainer the type of cake I wanted. I worked with the chef at the Savannah Golf Club, and he created my dream cake of tiered artisanal cheeses, served with fig compote and honey comb.
My favorite DIY projects were our table numbers and framed map. As an alternative to standard table numbers 1-12, we used specific years from 1986-2012 with pictures of us from each corresponding year. For example, Table 1986 had our baby pictures, Table 1993 included a picture of me in my stylish Beauty and the Beast crewneck sweatshirt, and Table 2012 had pictures from our engagement photo shoot. Additionally, we used a framed map of the United States and I created map pins with flags that included each guest’s name and table number. The pin was placed on the state where each guest traveled from, and it was a fun, nontraditional way to do escort cards. We ended the night with a memorable send-off with our guests showering us with dried lavender, and now I will always associate its fragrance with the happiest day of my life.
Wedding Photography: Shannon Christopher / Wedding Venue: Savannah Golf Club in Savannah, Georgia / Event Planning: Morgan Gallo Events / Floral Design: Harvey Designs / Officiant: Reverend Dana Allen Walsh of Hancock United Church of Christ / Wedding Invitations: Tickled Ink / Save-the-Dates: loveleigh invitations / Wedding Cake: Baker’s Pride / Ceremony Music: New Arts Ensembles / DJ: All About You Entertainment / Lighting: JLK Events / Transportation: Oglethorpe Trolley Tours / Rentals: Savannah Special Events / Wedding Dress: Paloma Blanca via La Raine’s Bridal Boutique / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bride’s Veil: Teri Huang / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dessy / Groom’s Tuxedo: Jos. A. Bank / Wedding Bands: Alexander’s of Atlanta / Rehearsal Dinner: Blowin’ Smoke BBQ