You know what I love? This wedding. This wedding with all of its crazy beautiful details and fun-filled memories. From the gorgeous State Botanical Gardens ceremony to the laid back, yet elegant reception at the uber-hip Transmetropolitan Restaurant to every last moment in between captured by Kathryn Kimmel Photography, I am head over heels for this sweet, sweet soiree. Oh, and the adorable duo saying I do? I love them, too. Click here for so much more.
From Kathryn Kimmel Photography… Stephanie and Zach had a very laid back, modern, and intimate wedding. They got married at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia Day Chapel in Athens, Georgia and had their reception at the top of Transmetropolitan; a popular restaurant in the heart of downtown Athens. They supported many local vendors from the Athens area including Town Center Salon and Spa, Cecilia’s Cake, and Elizabeth Ann Flowers. They also made this wedding happen on an amazing budget! They bought flowers for the reception from Trader Joes, her Vera Wang wedding dress from David’s Bridal, jewelry for the bridesmaids from a shop on Etsy, bridesmaid dresses from Target, their cardigans from Kohls and the guys’ ties from Amazon, and the Bride’s brother designed the invitations! Stephanie got super creative to have the day she always dreamed of within a budget that didn’t break the bank. The Day Chapel has a very natural feel and natural beauty and is set back in the woods of the Botanical Gardens and has the quaint feel of an intimate chapel. Stephanie chose yellow and grey to be the colors of her day.
The bridesmaids wore gray dresses with a pop of yellow for their shoes. And the groomsmen wore very sleek looking gray suits with yellow ties. Zach, the Groom, also wore some funky mustache socks. The Bride and Groom rode away in Zach’s grandfather’s teal, ’55 BelAir. It was the perfect compliment to the style of their day. This couple loves the city of Athens, Georgia because it played a special role in their relationship. They love the atmosphere, the culture and the people of Athens; so they wanted that to play a huge role in their wedding day. Having their reception in downtown Athens, at the top of a restaurant that is an Athens staple, was such an awesome way to do that! It was rustic meets modern. They had burlap runners lining the tables, mason jars with an array of spring flowers, a bar where guests could grab a beer or a glass of wine, pizza galore (the restaurant’s staple), three different Cecelia Valencia Cakes, CD’s burned with their favorite love songs as favors, a photo booth and a laid back casual time.
The Bride and Groom could walk around and socialize with their family and friends, sit down and have a beer, and just enjoy their celebration. They avoided the norm of the hustle and bustle of large receptions with a lot of people they have never met, split second introductions and congratulatory waves. They actually got to spend quality time with the people most dear to them. I thought it was such a great way to truly celebrate and enjoy the people that were there to share their special day with them. And the atmosphere of one of the most popular restaurants in downtown Athens, Ga was the perfect place to enjoy the heart of their favorite city, the food, their family and friends, and to celebrate their new life together!
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Wedding Photography: Kathryn Kimmel Photography | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Chops & Hops in Watkinsville, Georgia | Ceremony Venue: Day Chapel, State Botanical Gardens in Athens, Georgia | Reception Venue: Transmetropolitan Restaurant in Athens, Georgia | Officiant: Jared Bryant | Bouquets + Ceremony Floral Design: Elizabeth Ann Flowers | Reception Floral Design: Trader Joes | Catering: Wesley Russo from Transmetropolitan Restaurant (wesleyrusso74@yahoo.com) | Wedding Cake: Cecilia’s Cake | Music: Laurel Haislip, Anna Gatch + Carly King (laurelanne282@gmail.com) | Decor: Hobby Lobby | Wedding Invitations Design: Matthew Stutzenberger (matthewstutz8@yahoo.com) | Invitations Printing: Sam Flax | Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal | Wedding Rings: Shane Company | Bride’s Shoes: The Dessy Group | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Target | Bridesmaids’ Cardigans: Kohls | Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse | Hair + Makeup: Town Center Salon & Spa