Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. That goes for everyday life and it goes for planning your wedding. Like when this darling duo found the perfect venue… a gravel lot under construction with gorgeous surroundings and beautiful plans. Take a leap of faith? Yes. They. Did. And the result was a beyond beautiful affair held at the brand spankin’ new Ashton Gardens in Atlanta, complete with gorgeous florals from Wedding Designs and an entire gallery of lovely from Three Pennies Photography. See it all right here.
From the Bride… Daniel and I had been together for just over 4 years when we got engaged at Jekyll Island on a short weekend getaway. My family’s soul food restaurant made it impossible for me to leave for longer than a weekend, so poor Daniel had to plan our trip around me. We stayed in Savannah, the same city we took our first trip to as a couple, and decided to take a day trip to the beach. After dragging me around the Jekyll Island resort while it was hot and humid, we finally stopped by the beach to relax before heading back to Savannah. While on the beach, I was being incredibly cranky and having a hard time relaxing while I thought Daniel was napping next to me. I was just about to tell him I was ready to leave when I heard him rustling around next to me. I turned my head and started to prop myself on my elbows when I saw him get up to stand. I was looking up at him and then I saw him reach into his pocket and get something out and as he started to get down on one knee, it dawned on me what was about to happen and Lordy, I started bawling like a baby. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect moment for us, taking a stressful and not ideal situation and turning it into something so beautifully special.
I think we were able to enjoy the being engaged for a total of two days before all the frenzy kicked its way in! After deciding to have a Spring wedding, the venue hunt began. I was feeling so overwhelmed trying to incorporate the wants of both our families and still plan the wedding I envisioned for us. Daniel and I wanted an outdoor wedding because we wanted Daniel’s pit bull Tyson to be able to participate in our wedding but worried about the chance of rain and Georgia’s high pollen count! We happened to stumble across a new venue that had not even been built yet, but had other locations in Texas. We took a chance and visited the gravel lot of the soon to be built chapel and ballroom, and using lots of imagination and risk we decided to sign on for our April wedding with the estimated completion date set for the end of March. Ashton Gardens was exactly what we had hoped for, having a beautiful rustic style chapel that let in a flood of natural light with its floor to ceiling glass windows. The chapel also gave us the desired outdoor feel but with the protection of an indoor venue and they would let Tyson participate in the ceremony.
I am a very detail-oriented individual and tend to get focused on the small details. Luckily Daniel has the keen ability to help me step back and see the big picture, which was crucial to our planning.
Both of us having been raised in the south, wanted a Southern-inspired wedding with some rustic touches, that I wanted to help create. I contacted my florist and personal friend Yuri Kim, of Wedding Designs, to help me execute my vision. Daniel and I agreed that we wanted the sunlight and natural beauty of our venue to be the main focus during the wedding and decided to keep indoor decor to a minimum. This was definitely the case for the rustic Texan inspired chapel, with the dark colored wooden beams and looming windows. I loved how the sunlight was able to flood thru the windows and illuminate the altar where we were standing. Yuri knew I wanted a sweet and romantic setting for the reception, and pulling in the Southern vibe she came up with her own vision of the multi-vase centerpiece I fell in love with. I also had a mission to sneak in my not-so-secret passion for Hello Kitty into our wedding without it appearing childish. I found a porcelain Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel figurine I used as a wedding cake topper and a very subtle Hello Kitty lace ring pillow, but I felt those who knew me best would be looking for something Hello Kitty in our wedding and I could not disappoint. I loved how everything just looked so tied together and harmonious yet not overly girly or childish.
The accents of pink in the reception ballroom perfectly complimented the lush greens and streaming sunlight creating the garden feel we originally wanted with the comforts and glam of an indoor venue. I know there must have been things we missed and mistakes made, but to us it went off without a hitch and I don’t think we could have asked for a more perfect day!
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Wedding Photography: Three Pennies | Ceremony Location: Ashton Gardens, Atlanta, Georgia | Cinematography: Wu-Wee Productions | Event + Floral Design: Wedding Designs | Event Planning: Wedding Designs + Ashton Gardens | Wedding Cake: For Goodness Cakes | Invitations: New, Borrowed, & Blue | Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Wedding Dress: Anne Barge