The thing I’m loving most about this Athens garden wedding from Jason Thrasher Photography is the complete and utter adoration the bride + groom have for each other. Their love is pouring out of every single image, and it’s a beautiful sight to behold! Add in perfectly crafted florals from Buzzy Craftery and a too-pretty-to-eat sweet table by Cecilia Villaveces Cakes and we’ve got a wedding day that dreams are made of. See the rest right here!
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From the Bride… Aziz and I met in Spain while studying abroad during college. We fell in love in the gardens, playgrounds and romantic pathways of Seville, and we continued dating in Athens, Georgia. Two and half years later, Aziz took me on a date, and we ended up chatting away on a bench at a playground in Athens. To my surprise, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes. He had invited my best friends and parents (from out of state) to my house to celebrate with us that night. It was a whirlwind of happiness, love and family, and it was a surprise I will always cherish.
We began looking for the perfect spot to get married. We wanted to go back to Spain, but instead we found a tucked-away garden on our university’s campus. I had stumbled upon The Founder’s Garden before but never knew you could get married there. We were thrilled and decided to have a totally outdoor garden wedding and reception in the fall. We were working on a budget, so instead of having one big fancy wedding cake, we ordered nine cakes from our favorite bakery in Athens and a friend made two more for us. We also wanted a kid-friendly wedding since we are both teachers, so we picked up some cupcakes from Trader Joe’s for the wee ones. My friend was our DJ, my dress from the sale rack at David’s Bridal, and the bridesmaids and I did our own makeup.
It was a perfect day, and everyone commented on the European, relaxed and romantic feel of the day. My best friend read “i carry your heart” by E.E. Cummings at the ceremony, and we wrote the words onto tiles to make coasters for our favors. This poem is very meaningful to us because on the last day in Spain, I hand wrote it and tucked it in Aziz’ suitcase so he would find it when he returned to America. It was a beautiful day that really represented us and our story. We felt more joy, love and happiness than we ever had, and we hold the memories of that special day close to our hearts.
Wedding Photography: Jason Thrasher Photography / Wedding Venue: The Founder’s Memorial Garden in Athens, Georgia / Floral + Event Design: Buzzy Craftery / Event Planning: The Bride / Wedding Cakes: Cecilia Villaveces Cakes / Other Cakes: Hope Cymerman, A Friend of the Bride / Cake Toppers: DIY by the Bride & Groom / Wedding Invitations: Buzzy Craftery / DJ: Adam Galatioto, A Friend / Wedding Dress: David’s Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: YagmurShop