Georgia Weddings

I am thoroughly impressed with this next couple.  The creativity they have between them is outstanding and the amount of projects they made for their adorable, al fresco wedding is quite admirable.  I’m talking about hand-sewn programs and invitations, paper lanterns, and garlands galore.  Their hard work definitely paid off because the result is a magical fairy tale full of color and lots of love!  Twin Hearts Photography perfectly captured all the details with a whimsical vibe that adds to the feeling of wonderment.  Click here to see it all!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

Twin Hearts Photography even put together an incredible film that you won’t want to miss!

From the bride… Our wedding was mostly a DIY type of wedding with LOTS of personal touches and sewing. Justin and I wanted something magical with a whimsical feel, and it was better than we had even imagined. All the hard work everyone put into this wedding paid off once we saw it all come together to create the perfect, enchanted wedding we dreamed of. Our outdoor wedding took place in the magical gardens of Cator Woolford Gardens in the heart of Atlanta, Georgia. I think it is the best kept secret in the city! It is an outdoor garden filled with beautiful landscaping and set an amazing backdrop for our big day. One thing that made it special to us was that they take 80% of the proceeds and put it towards the Frazier Center, which is a school for children and adults with disabilities. This was very near and dear to our hearts since I have a sister with disabilities. The other 20% goes to maintaining the gardens throughout the year.

We had a pre-ceremony cocktail hour with signature cocktails, and we made tons of flower stirrers out of tissue paper and floral tape for everyone’s drinks. I wanted the day to have a romantic and charming feel along with a very whimsical theme … almost fairy tale-like. I had some help from my friends at Bold American with the florals and the backdrop for the ceremony, which was so creative! We chose 4 different colors which blended so well together- heather gray, coral, Tiffany blue and a pear green. How I came up with these colors, I have no idea! I just could not decide — so I decided to use them all.

With help from my amazing and creative mom and mother-in-law, we made from the flowers in the bridesmaid’s hair to the cone-shaped lights over the candy table — and everything in between (even my hubby’s wedding present — 52 reasons why I love you on a deck of cards). We had the best time making all the things for the wedding, and most of all, watching people’s reaction to the details. It really was the best day of our lives… Of course none of this could have been done without the help of my family and Daria, our wedding planner. Daria and her assistant put together everything and kept it all in order. They also put together the beautiful candy table! I also ordered a few things from Etsy, such as the table numbers, but just added my personal touch to them by sewing on the fabric numbers. I also ordered a fabulous wooden keepsake box and had it painted and our names engraved on it. A sewing machine, fabric, ribbon, candle lit staircase, mossy branches, orchids, and great company all came together to make our special day so magical! I had a vision before we even started planning that I wanted everything to be very personal. We used one type of fabric and sewed — yes, I said SEWED — the invites, programs, seating cards, candle covers, and used tons of ribbon! I tried to incorporate the fabric we used for the invites into everything we made for the wedding. It all came out beautifully!

Wedding Photography + Cinematography: Twin Hearts Photography / Wedding Venue: Cator Woolford Gardens in Atlanta, Georgia / Flowers + Event Design: Bold American Events / Event Planning + Candy Table: Daria MacGregor of Circle of Love Weddings / Wedding Invitations: DIY + Bumblebee Press / Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero / Shoes: MIA / Wedding Cake: Mark Lotti of Classic Cheesecakes & Cakes / Catering: Endive Catering / Bridesmaids’ Hair Flowers, Candy Table Lights, Invitations, Programs, Seating Cards + Candle Covers: DIY

When both your and your groom’s families have been dreaming of your wedding day since you were children then there is bound to be a stellar celebration when that day finally arrives.  This Piedmont Park wedding by Scobey Photography is certainly one of those weddings and it’s bound to tug at your heart strings as it did mine.  Full of emotion and not lacking at all in the gorgeous details department it is a modern day fairy tale for the ages.  Click here to see it all!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Ashley and Graham of Scobey Photography… Their moms had been planning their wedding for years. Long before Nicole and Daniel were even engaged, it was their families who knew what they had to look forward to: a beautiful union and a celebration of forever. Everything was just so right, and so their moms, armed with an abundant love for their children, began praying for the day Nicole and Daniel would say “I do.” The planning and the prayer and the love all showed through in every gorgeous detail and moment of their emotional wedding day, and we were incredibly blessed to get to document it all.

Wedding Photography: Scobey Photography / Wedding Venue: Greystone at Piedmont Park Conservancy in Atlanta, Georgia / Wedding Planning: Courtney Surber Paz / Floral Design: Gramma B’s Home & Garden / Wedding Cake: Nothing Bundt Cake / Catering: Affairs to Remember / Ketubah: Louise Baum / Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza / Bride’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Bride’s Hair: Zizi and Julie of Variations / Bride’s Makeup: Cheryl Rodriguez / Groom’s Suit: Brooks Brothers / Band: U.S. Beat / Accommodations: The Westin Peachtree Plaza

It’s no secret that we love 3Ring Weddings & the stories they tell. They are fantastic at what they do, bringing wedding cinematography to an entirely new art form. And this wedding might just take the cake. It’s stunning – luxe, glamourous, modern. Just the way we’d all like to feel on a Saturday morning. Visit Three Ring Wedding’s blog to see more of this lovely story!

Photography courtesy of Esvy Photography.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/31614570 601 338]

Joer & Jobel: Cinematic Trailer from 3Ring Weddings

Click here for the full image gallery!

In the beginning, when people would ask how we met, I would say “through mutual friends.” What I didn’t say is that our mutual friend was a website named AsianAvenue.com. I always emphasized that it was not a dating site, but a social networking site. Yes, we met “virtually” in December 2002. I was living in Atlanta finishing up design school and Joer was in his third year at IBM. I recall receiving a friendly message through the website introducing himself. For the next few months, we sent emails back and forth. I’m not sure when we first started talking on the phone, but one day Joer devised a plan for us to finally meet. He bet me that if my Florida Gators beat his beloved Georgia Bulldogs in an upcoming basketball game, he would take me out to dinner. But if my Gators lost, I had to pay for dinner. The Bulldogs won 82-81.

For our first date, Joer made reservations at a French restaurant called “Ambrosia.” When he came to pick me up, he presented me with a little housewarming gift for my new apartment. It was a potted plant and said that it was also a symbol of “growing our friendship”. I thought it was the sweetest gesture. Joer was a perfect gentleman throughout our date. I think he might have gone out of his way to impress me, because I ordered escargot on a whim and dared him to try it. He gave it a try and kept smiling. Today, I’m pretty sure there’s no way I could get him to eat snails.

Joer and I planned the entire wedding ourselves from beginning to end. I feel pretty lucky that I had a groom who was so interested in being involved. During the process, when people would ask if I had a wedding planner, I would joke that it was my fiancé. We made such a great team because he’s great at the business, project management side and I am the creative, visual side. He dealt with the majority of the vendor negotiations and I was able to focus on executing the design and branding. We approached it like a business project with my home office becoming a war room of sorts. We had a huge whiteboard with check-off lists and deadlines. It was a lot of work, but in the end, extremely rewarding. We even had a bit of “planning withdrawal” when it was all over.

Luckily we have similar design tastes with clean, modern styles. We both agreed that we wanted a wedding that was modern, elegant, and timeless. After designing our logo, I decided our tagline would be “Celebrate. Love.” It’s a simple mantra that ideally, we try to live by. Celebrating each day and all that we are blessed with. And remembering the element that is most important to us, our family, and friends, which is love. But, it also represents the special day of Celebrating Love. To emphasize the modern, city theme, I integrated a silhouetted skyline of Atlanta into our Save the Dates and stationery. Our colors were variations of gold, charcoal, and plum. As a graphic designer, it was very exciting to be able to design our entire identity.

The majority of our 150 guests were out-of-towners and we wanted to provide our family and friends that traveled from afar with an amazing weekend in Atlanta. After setting a fall date with one of the most beautiful churches in the heart of city, Cathedral of Christ the King, we knew we wanted the reception to be at a hotel nearby. Being that our reception was a formal, evening affair, we wanted the day to be seamless for our guests and knew that a hotel would be a convenient option. We had visited several very contemporary hotels in the area that seemed like great venues, but it wasn’t until we walked into The Georgian Terrace Hotel that we felt the “magic.” The moment we stepped foot in their Grand Ballroom, we knew it was “the one.” The Georgian Terrace is a historic landmark in Atlanta (it was where they held the red carpet opening of Gone with the Wind). 2011 marked their 100th Anniversary and they had just completed an $11 million renovation in 2009, which emphasized their new tagline, Modern Classic. Everything about the Georgian Terrace—the classic architecture, neutral colors, and luxurious modern touches, perfectly embodied our style.

If there’s one thing that I would tell other brides that they must do, it’s to invest in a great videographer. Great photography is a must as well, but the addition of being able to see relive the highlights from the day is priceless. Months before we had even decided on a venue, I did research on local videographers and found Three Ring Weddings. They have a genuine passion for telling their couple’s stories and are so talented in the way they capture it. Overall, I feel very fortunate to have picked some amazing vendors – my videographers, photographers, makeup artists, and florist were the absolute best. Many of them went so above and beyond to make sure our day went smoothly. Having really supportive family and friends, who will help you get through all the last-minute craziness, goes a long way, too!

Church: Cathedral of Christ the King / Wedding Guild Coordinator: Alicia Kelly / Priest: Father Bryan Small / Venue: The Georgian Terrace Hotel, Catering Manager: Dana Kicklighter / Photographer: Esvy Photography / Videographer: 3Ring Weddings / Photobooth: Shutterbooth / DJ: Kenton Myers, Spectrum Entertainment / Floral Designer: Heath Alan Ray, Jackson Durham / Stationery Designer: Jobel José / Cake: Celso’s Cakes / Dessert: Gelato from Honeysuckle / Hair and Makeup: POSH Artists / Wedding Gown Designer: Vera Wang White / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Amsale from Bella Bridesmaids / Jewelry: Diamond Chandelier earrings from Adorn

I’m sending a big shout out to all the modern ladies out there today.  This romantic Atlanta celebration is sure to make you smile and get your wedding plans a-rolling.  Nothing gets my design-loving heart going quite like a reception flooded with dreamy candlelight and sprinkled with delightful personal details.  A pair of rockin’ leopard print heels under a gorgeous lace gown only adds to my excitement.  We’re so thrilled that Paperlily Photography brought us all these goodies wrapped up in a perfectly photographed package!  See them all in the full gallery!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Vy and I met the weekend before my freshman year at Georgia State University in Atlanta. We started a friendship together and then fell in love. After being a couple for a little over five-and-a-half years, Vy finally popped the question. The plan was to take me to Piedmont Park for an afternoon stroll with one of our pups. We found a nice spot under a tree where Vy said he had a gift for me and told me to close my eyes. When I opened them, he had a new digital camera, which I needed. He told me that there was a picture already on it because he had set it up and that I should take a look. When I hit the preview button, a photo appeared that said, “Will You Marry Me?” It was such a wonderful, creative surprise!

When planning our big day we knew that there was no other place we wanted to get married then the city we fell in love in: Atlanta. It was also the perfect place for our family and friends to travel to. When selecting a venue, we had a few guidelines — we wanted a place that was naturally beautiful, big enough for our guest list, had the facilities to host both our ceremony and reception, an outdoor space for cocktail hour, and we had to love it. When we found Summerour Studio, we knew it was perfect. It was a rustic, Tuscan villa on the outside but an expansive warehouse on the inside. I was one of the lucky brides who had a groom who was willing to help with planning the entire way. I couldn’t have planned our perfect day without all of Vy’s help. Even with a large guest list, we wanted the feeling of an intimate affair with close family and friends. We chose to have candles be the main design with few flowers. I wanted the day to be simple with romantic details, and I wanted to focus on the love that we shared and celebrate with everyone we hold dear to our hearts.

On our wedding day, it began to rain as I was putting on my wedding dress, but it stopped just in time for us to take pictures outside with the sun shining through the clouds. As our ceremony began, there was a steady rainfall and as I walked down the stairs to meet my future husband, the room got dark with the beating of the rain. The room glowed with the candles just enough to highlight the reason why we were all there, to celebrate the union between two people who loved each other. I could feel the love from my future husband and the happiness from everyone who was there. It was everything I wanted and more. We are eternally grateful and thankful for all our family, friends, and wonderful vendors who helped bring our vision to life. My sweet friend and one of my maids of honor, Andrea Gallina, who created and designed my invitation suite, programs, wedding tree guest book and  “here comes the bride” sign. She is truly an amazing artist. Bold American Event Design and Catering team delivered an intimately romantic layout and food that our guests continue to talk about. Brooke Drellos and Christy Gillam of Paperlily Photography, you captured our wedding day perfectly for us to relive forever. We love y’all!

Wedding Photography + Photobooth: Brooke Drellos + Christy Gillam of Paperlily Photography / Wedding Venue: Summerour Studio in Atlanta, Georgia / Wedding Flowers + Event Design: Michelle Leyden of Bold American Events / Catering: Bold American Catering / Wedding Dress: Enzoani via New Natalie’s Bridals / Going Away Dress: BCBG / Bride’s Shoes: Betsey Johnson + Steve Madden / Bridesmaids Dresses: Ivy & Aster via Bella Bridesmaid / Tuxes: Savvi Formalwear / Hair + Makeup: Ellen Park of Hi-Tech Hair Salon (678-530-0039) / DJ: Shane Holden of Pure Entertainment / Wedding Cake: Blanchard’s Bakery (404-366-0267) / Hotel Accommodations: TWELVE Atlantic Station / Koozies: Discount Favors / Sparklers: Sparkle / Invitations, Programs, Table Numbers, Guestbook + “Here Comes the Bride” Sign: Andrea Gallina, A Maid of Honor / Day-Of Coordinator: A Family Friend

Mmm… is it too early to mix up a cocktail to enjoy with this Mad Men inspired engagement shoot? This session, captured by Our Labor of Love, is cool, mod, and ultra sexy. The Atlanta couple wanted something completely different – but equally fabulous – from their upcoming nautical nuptials, and I’d say the result is smashing. Click here for the rest!

Engagement photos were such and important part of the wedding planning process to me – when else in life do you have an excuse to be professionally photographed in a stylized, romantic, intimate setting with the person you love? Since our wedding (this summer) is going to be a super casual, nautical affair on a marina, I wanted our engagement photos to be the opposite: indoors, more formal, and a little sexy.

As I brainstormed about possible themes and locations, I found myself drawn to classic-Hollywood photo shoots and Mad-Men era sleekness and style. (This came as no shock to my fiance, since I’m a big classic film nerd AND made him dress up as Don Draper to my Betty last year for Halloween.) I just love the richness and darkness and vintage feel of that time, the simmering elegance of men in suits and women in cocktail dresses meeting in hotel lobbies.

With this idea (and an unbelievably good sport of a fiance), I started shopping for photographers. Heidi Geldhauser of Our Labor of Love (based here in Atlanta, but traveling all over the place if you’re interested!) had photographed a friend’s wedding and her photos were some of the loveliest I’d ever seen. As you can tell, we are extraordinarily lucky to have found Heidi — she took my little kernels of ideas and locations and made them into these fantastically beautiful photos. She suggested things we’d never have thought of in a million years, like abandoning the marble staircase to take tons of photos in an empty office in front of some white plastic vertical blinds! It totally worked, and those are the best photos we have.

As a final note, since we were paying homage to a bygone era, I wore jewelry in each setting owned by either my mother or my grandmother. The white bracelet, the black beaded necklace, and the tri-color gold necklace are my little tokens of the women who lived (and dressed) like classic movie stars for real.

Photographer: Heidi Geldhauser, Our Labor of Love / Orange Dress: Zara / Black Dress: Ralph Lauren / Green Dress: Studio M by BCBG

Just when I thought I couldn’t love a modern wedding more than I already do, this gorgeous Atlanta affair pops up on my computer screen… and oh.my.goodness, is it AMAZING.  The combination of the industrial backdrop of Ambient+Studio, clean, sophisticated stylings and vibrant purple blooms by Le Bonne Fleur is enough to make any contemporary lover giddy.  And with It’s All in the Details Event and Wedding Planning behind every fabulous moment and Matt Miller of Our Labor of Love on hand to capture all of the lovely, the gallery is literally bursting with pretty, pretty inspiration to peruse.  Join me there, won’t you?

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… We love very DIY, romantic, rustic, and modern… I also have a strange obsession with butterflies and sticks, so we knew those had to be involved. Sticks are close to my heart — when I was little, my stepdad and I would go play in the park and pick up sticks big enough for walking with and make up songs about them… it sounds weird, but it’s sentimental. We are both designers, so we knew what we wanted, right down to the last detail. We also wanted to make sure our vegetarian/vegan friends had options, so we used Whole Foods catering to create a wonderful menu of food for our guests … some firm meat-eaters, even to this day, say how much they loved our food! We also had vegan cupcakes, so no one had to feel left out. We also didn’t want it to be stuffy, too “done,” or too fancy … we wanted everyone to feel comfortable.

In our engagement photos, our photographer set us up in a field with some mason jars and striped straws. We carried that through to our cocktail hour by making a sweet tea vodka lemonade drink as our specialty drink, which also helped us save money. We used purple and gray striped straws, since purple/silver/gray/white were our colors. We framed a photo of us from our engagement photos and put it in between all the drinks — it looked so nice. We also made sure to design, screen print, and assemble all of our wedding invitations. We had someone use calligraphy on our envelopes for invitations, and that made it look really special. I designed our wedding website with all the info on it. I think my favorite part of the wedding though was when we had pictures taken with my giant mascot Hello Kitty head and his storm trooper helmet from Star Wars — I think that really personalized it. People seemed to get a kick out of those as well.

I loved spending time with my friends and family and new husband. It sounds SO cliche to say that, but it will probably be the first and only time almost every single one of my loved ones were in a room together … and they blended so nicely. It was overwhelming to see everyone I loved ALL on the same day. I also loved the honeymoon — nothing better than getting to relax for such a long time (not long enough!) with the love of my life/best friend after all of it was said and done. Bliss!!

Wedding Photography: Matt Miller of Our Labor of Love / Wedding Venue: Ambient+Studio / Wedding Coordinator: It’s All in the Details Event and Wedding Planning (Now based in Seattle) / Florist: Le Bonne Fleur / Makeup: P3 Lab / Hair: Luxe Beauty Co. / Officiant: Rev. Gale York / Rentals: Unlimited Party Rentals / Cupcakes: Dulce Vegan / Catering: Whole Foods / Wedding Dress: Enzoani / Bridesmaid Dresses: Watters / Groom’s Tuxedo: J.Crew / Groomsmen Rental Tuxedos: Men’s Wearhouse

If you looked up “timeless wedding” in the (imaginary) International Dictionary of Wedding Terms, this wedding by Harwell Photography would most certainly appear. My heart just does leaps when I see such a timeless fête! Perfectly classic with the most elegant touches, it’s impossible to not fall in love with each and every fairy tale-like image. With the likes of Le Bonne Fleur, Table 6 Productions and Bella Figura all giving their talents to make this day a dream come true, it’s no surprise the gallery is FULL of timeless perfection!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… I wanted my wedding to be the fairy tale from my dreams when I was a little girl. I wanted the colors of my wedding to remind people of the holidays — rich jewel tones that create warmth. I tried to find a location that had these colors in the decor already. My colors were dark teal, champagne and silver and were inspired by the deep teal velvet fabrics the Ritz Carlton, Atlanta has. My dress was blush and I wanted to mirror that in as many places without it making it a standout color. The table clothes are a soft pale blush color and it really brought warmth to the cool bright colors of teal in the chargers. Candlelight was everywhere to make a soft glow.

There were some very special touches that made the day for me. My mother passed away three years before my wedding, and I wanted her in every moment. I had her locket with her wedding photos on my bouquet, I had a memory table with not only her but my other passed-away relatives, and we played her favorite music during the ceremony and reception. Ave Maria was the most important detail of the day and was to play during the ceremony. Our ceremony music messed up and kept playing while we were waiting at the altar, but Ave Maria still played loud and clear. It was my centering moment while I was looking at my soon-to-be husband. It was like she was telling me she was right there with me.

My invitation stationary was from Bella Figura and I thought it set the tone for the day. It was simple, unique, and classy. We DIY’d the rest of our paper goods (table numbers, menu, program) by replicating the design, buying card stock, and printing at home. As we did them, I really tried to pay attention to the fonts we used and I think it made them stand out. They looked great! Another favorite detail were my favors — because both the ceremony and reception were at the Ritz, I thought it would be nice to give a breakfast box for the guests as they left late at night.  There were seasonal flavors of donuts and scones, along with jam and cream cheese. Highland Bakery supplied both the cake and the breakfast box favor.

Photography: Harwell Photography / Flowers: Le Bonne Fleur / Event Design + Planning: Mary Whalen of Table 6 Productions / Venue: The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta / Invitations: Bella Figura / Shoes: Steve Madden / Dress: Lea Ann Belter / Cake + Breakfast Boxes: Highland Bakery / Cake Topper: Simply Silhouettes

A lovely outdoor venue can transform an entire wedding with one glance at its pretty tree-lined gardens or a peek of sunny blue skies and the best part? All that’s needed is a few fabulous details to really make it sparkle. Cator Woolford Gardens is just such a venue and this Atlanta wedding is spot on with it’s effortless details that only add to the beautiful surroundings. Then there is Laura Leslie Photography and her dreamy, light-filled images. It’s a whole other layer of gorgeousness that we could literally get lost in for an entire afternoon but alas this little blog doesn’t run itself so while we get back to the grind, you should take a little break to enjoy the knock out views in the full gallery.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… I had initially wanted an extremely small, simple and intimate wedding. My suggestion for a destination wedding with only our immediate family and closest friends was quickly turned down by Carl and our parents. My biggest challenge was coming to terms with feeding, entertaining, and being in front of 100+ guests for an entire night. Throughout the entire planning process, I was very worried about the number of people we had invited and was still dreaming of a simpler wedding. Now that it’s all done, I am so glad to have no regrets. We had the time of our lives and felt so blessed that we were able to celebrate with so many wonderful people who love us as much as we love them!

We wanted our flowers and cake to be very understated and natural. We wanted to take advantage of the beauty of the gardens and didn’t want to down play the gorgeous setting with lots of large flowers and different colors. Unfortunately, I know nothing about flowers and had only found about two pictures of bouquets and boutonnieres that I liked. After meeting our florist, Dawn, I just felt that she totally understood my vision. I showed her some of our other details and explained my idea for mostly white flowers with green accents and lots of texture. Dawn exceeded all my expectations and built our florals just how I imagined. The bouquets, boutonnieres, and centerpieces all had the organic feeling I had wanted but were still timeless and traditional. She wrapped the bouquets and boutonnieres in twine to match our rustic theme and played up all of the different sizes and shapes of our antique bottles with a wide variety of flowers and greenery. Our cake was another easy decision. We knew we wanted a fairly simple, round design and chocolate. Our baker showed us a picture of a recent one cake she had made, and my mom and I both loved that the subtle, vertical lines were reminiscent of the pleatings in my dress. It turned out lovely and was, most importantly, delicious!

Our cocktail hour and reception had lots of personal details starting with our “signature cocktail,” PBR tall boys. Carl is known for his love of PBR among all of our friends, and the butler-passed cans of PBR were the perfect welcome to our laid-back garden reception. Our guests were also able to enjoy our favorite yard games, including a monogrammed corn hole set made by Carl. We highlighted some of Carl’s carpentry skills with our homemade signs, rustic menu chalkboards, wood bowls, and wood tags. I put lots of my flea market finds to good use by re-purposing plantation shutters for a photo display and vintage milk bottles for our centerpieces. My mom made all of the burlap runners to continue our rustic theme to each table, and I used the extra fabric to make a few burlap wreaths for extra decor. We added string bulb lighting across the dance floor that created the perfect glow for our late summer/early fall dance party. We decided to give monogrammed, reusable aluminum water bottles as favors. We can’t live without ours and thought it would be a great sustainable gift to match our garden wedding. We wanted our dinner menu to include some “Sunday Supper” classics. Some of our favorites included the mac n’ cheese, BBQ pork tenderloin, blue cheese potato chips and cole slaw. Near the end of the night, we served boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts, a true Atlanta staple, with individual cartons of milk.

Photography: Laura Leslie Photography / Event Planning: Erin Stroup of It’s All in the Details Event Planning (now based in Seattle) / Venue: Cator Woolford Gardens / Florist: Candler Park Flowers / Wedding Cake: Chef Nancy of The Flour Shoppe / Catering: Bold American Events / Paper Products: Wedding Paper Divas / Hair + Makeup: Ashlee Kidd and Lindsey Byrom of Renee Paige Salon (770-632-5999) / Wedding Gown: WTOO (Holly) via J. Andrews Bridal / Bride’s Hair Accessories + Veil: DIY by mother of the bride / Bride’s Shoes: Kelly & Kate via DSW / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff, Watters + WTOO via J. Andrews Bridal / Groom + Groomsmen’s Ties: Tommy Hilfiger / Groom + Groomsmen Attire: J & R Clothing

 

When tradition and elegance meet a touch of whimsy that’s when real magic happens.  This Atlanta wedding by Kate-Belle Photography is an urban chic dream with a pretty-as-can-be bride and buckets of organically stylish details.  It has everything we love about weddings from this great Southern city – sophistication and grace, loads of charm and a lovely natural feel.  There are so many details to gawk over so head to to the full gallery to see them all!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Curtis and I both moved to Los Angeles after college to work in the entertainment industry. At the time, Curtis was working for the actor Hugh Jackman and I was working for the restaurateur/entrepreneur Sam Nazarian of SBE Entertainment. A mutual friend of ours suggested that we meet, which is typical for executive assistants in the industry. Thinking nothing of it, we got together for drinks after work one day at the Thompson Hotel in Beverly Hills. Three hours, a bottle of wine, and a bizarre number of similarities later, we knew we were meant to be. After a job change and a six-month long distance relationship, Curtis whisked me away to Atlanta by proposing with my family in tow over a Thanksgiving holiday in the North Georgia mountains.  

Both of our families are scattered across the nation, so we decided to have everyone come to us for the big day. Atlanta has the world’s busiest airport so we figured it wouldn’t be too difficult for our love ones traveling from afar to attend. We wanted the wedding to evoke a rustic sophistication and to focus heavily on the divine cuisine that JCT Kitchen offers. The evening was elegant, organic, and whimsical – just what we had hoped for. Two non-traditional elements to the wedding that I conjured up were our smoked salt favors, which were made for us by one of our favorite Atlanta chefs, Chris Hall of Local Three (where our rehearsal dinner was held), and our cheesecake cake. Two elements that Curtis contributed were a surprise gift of one dozen six-foot-tall “long” stem roses flown in from Brazil and our send-off in a red helicopter.  And thus, my fairytale ending came true!

Photographer: Kate-Belle Photography / Flowers: Le Bonne Fleur / Wedding Coordinator: It’s All in the Details Event and Wedding Planning (recently moved from Atlanta to Seattle) / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang via Joan Pillow Bridal Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Watters via Bridals by Lori / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Hair + Makeup: POSH Hair & Makeup / Venue + Catering: JCT Kitchen / Cake: Classic Cheesecakes & Cakes / Smoked Salt Favors: Chris Hall of Local Three

I loved my wedding. It was the happiest day of my life. But ask either my husband or I if we have any regrets, and we will both tell you we wish we would have hired a cinematographer. Wedding cinematography has come so far in the last decade. It’s a true art form. It’s such an emotionally charged account of your day. At SMP, we all LOVE wedding cinematography as much as we love the weddings themselves. And we love Three Ring Media. They have a unique way of looking at a wedding and including the couple’s story. Because that is what a wedding is, right? Part of a couple’s story. A big part. So we asked Suzanne & Jeremy of Three Ring Media to sit down with us to learn more about the team behind these amazing films. And as a special treat, we’re also sharing THREE of their phenom Cinematic Trailers with you lovlies!

1. Who is Three Ring Media? You, and a team? What do you do?

Three Ring Media was started by my wife, Suzanne, and I in 2006 with the goal of creating wedding videos that were more compelling than what was available at the time. As I was already working in the video and film production field, the transition to producing cinematic style wedding videos was a natural step. It ended up being a great thing for us since we inadvertently ended up being on the cutting edge of the cinematic wedding video trend without realizing it! Suzanne and I got married in 2005 and were unhappy with the options of wedding videos at the time, so we designed a wedding video format that was both entertaining and beautiful with the goal of preserving a couple’s story as a token for themselves, their children and grandchildren.

We’ve been very blessed and have grown to include a team of ten highly creative & talented people who have a passion for telling story. And we’re lucky because we really love each other and get the opportunity to work with people that are also close friends – it is an incredible blessing!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/30126948 601 338]

Rob & Karin’s Cinematic Trailer

2. So what first peaked your interest in the world of Wedding Cinematography?

Filmmaking has always been a passion of mine! I was twelve when I created my first short film – it might not be worth mentioning today, mind you, but it ignited a love in my heart for the craft! Suzanne has a background in theatre and many of our early dates led us to the movies where we watched stories and then dissected what did or didn’t make them great. Through the years, I have learned how emotion and compelling stories go hand in hand and the best stories are ones that happen in real life. Capturing the love that a couple shares and the journey that led them to the decision of marriage is one of the life’s richest stories. So it was a logical step for us to combine storytelling with wedding cinematography, especially after seeing first hand the great need for it.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/30901975 601 338]

Brendan & Nicole’s Cinematic Trailer

3. What is the very best part of your job?

Honestly, interviewing our clients! That is why we do what we do! We enjoy listening and learning about them so that we can find the most appropriate way to tell their story. We believe that every person is significant and we define success as illuminating what that distinction is in our couples through storytelling.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/32205185 601 338]

Rai & Jen’s Cinematic Trailer

4. What kinds of videos do you make for your clients? And of course, what’s your favorite?

While we offer all of the video segments that you would expect with a traditional wedding video (ceremony, reception, etc) our focus is on the story pieces (cinematic trailer, story and same day edit). We love the creative opportunities that those segments produce for us and get fired up about using our creativity to share our couples’ uniqueness.

5. What’s your best advice to the newly engaged?

Get a wedding video! Whether you prefer a story-based, cinematic style, or traditional wedding video, you will regret not having a record of the sights, sounds, and emotions of your special day.

We totally agree! How much do you love Three Ring Media now? I think their fan club is about to receive an influx of applicants. Seriously though, the work Jeremy, Suzanne and their team does is the perfect way of capturing your story as a couple. As you can obviously see through Rob & Karin’s, Brendan & Nicole’s, and Rai & Jen’s Cinematic Trailers.

Cinematography: Three Ring Media

Happy, happy Wednesday, lovelies!  If you couldn’t already tell, I am beyond excited for our day here on SMP Georgia… and I could barely wait to share the good news.  Yep, the oh-so-talented Artworks Wedding Cinema has gifted us with not one, but TWO lovely films today… and trust me when I tell you that you’ll be madly in love with every last second you spend with this darling duo and their sweet, rustic affair.  Plus, with all of the gorgeous details designed with love by the stunning bride (Wrennwood Event Design), you’ll want to prepare yourselves for some VERY happy tears!  So, enjoy every moment of wedding goodness and then stay tuned for their darling newlywed session and a special treat from Shauna Veasey Photography below!

A newlywed film just might be the greatest idea of all time… and this sweet session has me head over heels.  I mean, what’s better than donning your wedding attire one more time and spending the day with your hubby in total bliss?  LOVE.

And we couldn’t leave you for the day without one last treat!  These gorgeous images from Shauna Veasey Photography will have you swooning all.day.long… and are filled with inspiration for your upcoming day!  And how very fabulous is that?!?

Click here for the entire gallery!

From Artworks Wedding Cinema… Landon and Amberly had an absolutely gorgeous October Wedding at Muscadine Vine in Georgia.  Amberly, who is quite a talented artist, crafted most of the details herself … and I must say, they made me all giddy inside when I got my camera on it all (I’m a rustic wedding girl at heart myself).  The day was bright and full of sunshine despite being a bit on the chilly side, however, nobody noticed the cold much because the warmth these two share is quite contagious!  The ceremony was held beneath an enormous tree alongside the property’s lake, and just as the minister gathered the group together to say a prayer over the couple, the sun peeked out from behind the tree and illuminated the ceremony as if God was truly present in the moment.  Captured on film, it was beautifully breathtaking and something film-makers like me only dream of!  The ceremony was followed by a lovely outdoor reception and yummy food provided by Dustin Claypool.  Following the dinner, guests enjoyed the “Barn Dance” which went well into the night with fabulous live music by 7 Sharp 9.  To culminate the evening, the couple made their grand exit through sparklers and took off into the night with their trusty dog (and ringbearer), Tyson, in tow.

But it doesn’t end there.  About a month after the wedding, Amberly and Landon joined us back at the farm for a casual and relaxed Newlywed Session.  They played under the tree with Tyson, sat by the lake, and reminisced about their wedding day all over again.  We had a great time, and I’m certain that the two (or, three if you include Tyson!) will have a wonderful life together! 

Cinematography: Artworks Wedding Cinema / Wedding Photography: Shauna Veasey Photography / Wedding Venue: Muscadine Vine / Catering: Dustin Claypool (404-441-1681) / Event Designer + Invitation Suite: Amberly Odom of Wrennwood Event Design (The Bride) / Band: 7 Sharp 9 / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals / Makeup: Brittany Norman (beautybybrit@yahoo.com) / Hair: Brittany Haynes (404-935-8971) / Cakes: Publix / Grooms and Groomsmen Suits: JCPenney / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Tables and Chairs: Atlanta Table and Chair, Inc. (770-458-2757) / Table Linens: Linen Tablecloth / Flowers: Mai Xiong of Summer Fresh Flowers (md-xiong@hotmail.com)

We hope you all had a fabulous New Year!  We know that 2012 is just going to be amazing especially since we’re kicking it off with this gorgeous winter wedding inspiration by The Studio B Photography.  Taking a cue from the classic, romantic look of the 1940s, Jamie Elliott McPherson mixed high style with a warm vibe for the perfect vintage winter celebration.  The adorable game night theme, using vintage playing cards and poker sets, brings some coziness to the glam setting that we are just wild about.  Get snuggly in the full gallery and see each and every perfect detail!

Click here to see all the images in the full gallery!

From The Studio B Photography…This photo shoot was inspired by the 1940’s. After much research was done by owners Jamie and Tra to get Vinewood listed on The National Register of Historic Places, they discovered that the minister that once owned Vinewood from 1941-1946 officiated many simple weddings there.

During this time Vinewood was lovingly known then as “The Wedding House” by the local community. During WWII most weddings were kept simple and understated. So after Pastor Young would perform the intimate ceremonies that usually only consisted of the Bride & Groom and immediate family a large picnic for family and friends would be held on the front lawn of Vinewood.

The “Perfect Pair” themed shoot was inspired by the “game night” concept for a reception.  A perfect pair being two aces in a hand of cards, otherwise known as a Top Pair. Everything from vintage playing cards, real clay poker chips to bakelite dice are all from the 40’s era.

One of the most authentic details was the Malmaison bouquet crafted by Virtu Floral and Event Design. A Malamaison bouquet is made to look like one giant rose. Ours was 9 inches in diameter! The bouquet is actually made of individual rose petals being pinned and glued in al concentric circle and creates the illusion of one large natural bloom.

Photography: The Studio B Photography / Venue: Vinewood / Stylist: Jamie Elliott McPherson /Asst. Stylist: Maria Fabre Hickman / Flowers: Virtu Floral & Event Design / Tablescape Design: Southern Flair Events / Wedding Dress: Fabulous Frocks of Atlanta / Accessories: Fine & Fleurie / Tuxedo: Celebrate Tuxedos / Hair and Make up: Claudia Mejerle / Desserts: Blooming Flour Bakery / Drapery: Quest Drape / Candles: Luminari Rentals / Vintage Furniture: Irvin Antley / Chiavari and Ghost Chairs: Sweet Seats Atlanta / Farm table: Something Borrowed Vintage

There’s just something so romantic about a winter wedding. Maybe it’s the lush textures, the snow on the ground, and the chill in the air that gets us all warm and fuzzy inside. But whatever it is, there’s no denying that this pretty wedding by Melissa Schollaert Photography has it all. We’re loving all the fun textures in the tablescapes and the perfect winter palette of blue, white and purple. Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Melissa Schollaert Photography…The week of Lydia & Ben’s Wedding, there was a freak snow & ice storm in Atlanta.  The city was completely shut down all week while a thick blanket of ice & snow covered the city.  But, towards the end of the week the ice started melting, but we were lucky enough to have some snow left which really added to this festive winter wedding.  

The wedding was held at the very modern High Museum of Art.  The bride was so elegant in her Priscilla of Boston gown with delicate fabric flowers and a fur shawl to complete her look.  The bridesmaids wore stunning teal, floor length gowns while the gentlemen donned their own tux’s for the occasion.  The decor was beautiful and included florals in whites and icy blue’s to complement the modern design of the museum.

Wedding Photography: Melissa Schollaert Photography / Venue: High Museum of Art / Hair + Make-up: Van Michael Salon / Cake/Desserts: Frosted Pumpkin / Caterer: Legendary Partners / Wedding Coordinator: Watermark Weddings / Band: Party Nation / Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston / Floral Design: Tulip / Groom’s Attire: Personal Attire / Jewelry: Bride’s Personal Vintage Collection / Lighting: Active Lighting / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Stationery: Martha Stewart for Crane & Co. / Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston / Bride’s Earrings: Bride’s Personal Vintage Collection / Bride’s Clutch: Kate Spade

The only thing better than a bridal shoot is a shoot featuring the Bride AND Groom to be in a pre-wedding haze of happiness. Mike Colón photographed this Atlanta gem that’s offering up a mega-dose of lovely Fall inspired details by Eliana of Elly B Events along with cheeky paper goods by Miss Pickles Press  and some steal-worthy fashion to boot. The best part? You, my dears, have a front row seat and you can catch even more of the festivities right here!

Click here to see the FULL wedding gallery!

From the Bride to Be… I have been an established wedding/portrait photographer since 2007 and running a business where I shoot mostly across the Southeast but I do travel nationally and internationally for some of my commissions. In the summer of 2010 I took a brief stint at Ralph Lauren in their creative department and as a stylist (while still running my photography business) where I met Matthew (who coincidentally started on the same day as me) as a stylist for a vintage (RRL) line for Ralph. We were both living and working in Atlanta at the time. I stayed with the company for a brief period but when they offered me an extension and the chance to move to NYC with my job I turned it down and decided to stay in photography and keep styling shoots when I could. Matthew stayed with RL and then left in May of 2011 to run the business with me full time which is what we currently do. He has accepted another job however, in custom men’s clothing and we will be moving us and my business to Charlotte NC after the wedding in April.

Head Photographer: Mike Colón / Participating Photographers: Rosanna Marie , Rustic White Photography, Magdiel Sanchez + Henry Rivera Photography  / Creative Direction: Eliana of Elly B Events / Location: Waters Mill / Paper Goods: Jen of Miss Pickles Press / Rentals: Mao of Four Inch Fold Rentals / Floral Design: Jackson Durham Florals / Desserts: Shamsi Bakery / Linens: Connie Duglin Linens / Gown 1: Winnie Couture / Gown 2 + 3: Zara / Couple: Karlin and Matt

We’ve got a fantastic Georgia wedding film from Three Ring Media this morning – and it’s bound to get your toes tapping, your faces smiling, and your heart beating like no cup of coffee can. Perfect for a sleepy weekend morning, right? This couple is super cute, and wed in a great vintage charm meets modern romance wedding, captured by Harwell Photography. I’m betting you’ll want to spend a little extra time with this couple, after seeing the great highlight film, so make sure to swing through the gallery for a nice jumpstart to your day!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/30428265 601 338]

Angela, after travelling and living abroad, moved to San Francisco, due to a close friend’s strong recommendation, and met Zheng while he was living a humble graduate student life in Berkeley. We joke that there were several “first- time” meetings because we were both unsure of whether or not an impression had been made on different occasions; we had noticed, unbeknownst to the other.

We were so different, there was no denying it. Angela was born in Atlanta to Korean Immigrants, has a nice southern side with a fiery twist, and was spontaneous, free-spirited, and borderline reckless. Zheng, was born in China, moved to the US when he was 11 and grew up in Chicago, focused, systematic, and careful. It wasn’t until Zheng visited Angela in China, while she was studying abroad, that they knew it was real.

Once Angela came back to San Francisco, our first date was at the aquarium in San Francisco. (That’s why we decided to have our reception at the GA Aquarium.) An ideal place for both of us because for Zheng, it was a controlled environment and he knew what to expect, but for Angela the fish and other sea creatures represented the oceans where they freely swam and traveled. It was through times like these we discovered that though we had stark differences in the way we approached and perceived life, it is what made us great…… we were a compliment of each other. And at the root of the both of us, we worked because we upheld the same values, faith, and principles.

The result is us, A+Z. A fun-loving, goofy, happy-go-lucky couple that challenges each other to practice restraint in our own tendencies.. but never to forget to add a dash of hot sauce to everything! Zheng moved to Portland after he graduated and proposed to Angela in a festively lit garden there a few days after Thanksgiving with a group of our closest friends that had come up from San Francisco.

What we hoped to achieve during the wedding, above all, was that it was meaningful to the guests that attended and that they FELT the love by the incorporation of romantic and vintage elements but also bits of our goofy and sometimes childlike personalities. Our colors were gold, silver, champagne, ivory and muted pink. So it was cute & modern meets a little romantic vintage.

We had a koala and owl that represented us on the invitations, programs, and as our cake topper. Angela is the koala, because people have said her nose is shaped like a koala, and come to find out they actually sleep a ton, which used to be a hobby of hers. Zheng is the owl, it befits him, because he has big eyes for an Asian man, operates best at night, and is a very wise man. Angela also loves animal prints, so we asked everyone to incorporate some sort of animal print into their attire.

Photographer: Harwell Photography / Videographer: Three Ring Media / Ceremony Venue: Perimeter Church / Reception Venue: Georgia Aquarium / Catering: Wolfgang Puck / Floral Designer: Your Event Solution / Event Designer & Planner: Bride with friend, Sandra Chong / Stationery: Bride / Cake: Publix / Cake Topper: Kikuike Etsy Studio / Wedding Gown Designer: White from Vera Wang / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: Monique Lhuillier

A southern gentleman meets his Georgia peach, they fall in love and have one of the most darling weddings you ever did see. It seems like a modern day fairy tale, but Light Love Laughter Photography captured all the lovely to prove that it isn’t all make believe. Filled with fabulous pops of pink, bow ties and nods to their southern heritage, the only thing missing in this fairy tale is the Once Upon a Time. Click here for even more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Light Love Laughter Photography…Chris is a Southern Gentleman and he found his Georgia “peach” while hanging out with his friends at a special event hosted by Sweetwater Brewing Company. She was “the cute girl in the plaid coat” and she’ll admit that Chris also caught her eye too. Lucky for them they had some mutual friends and were able to meet.

Their wedding was bright and beautiful. They have a group of amazing friends full of personality and energy who were all excited and having a great time celebrating their wedding day.

Beth is one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met and she wanted to keep things simple yet elegant so the day was about them and not about the extravagant details and decor. Mixing simple yet very pretty floral arrangements with candles and peaches wasn’t only simple and elegant but full of Southern charm.

The dance floor was full beginning to end and these two spent a week relaxing and getting used to their new names, “husband and wife” in the beauty of St. John.

Wedding Photography: Light Love Laughter Photography / Wedding Dress: Bride Beautiful / Rings: Bradley T. Harris / Bride’s Shoes: Tory Burch via eBay / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Angelo / Tuxedos: Savvi Formalwear / Floral Design: Katie Loyd of Boukates / Hair: Jo of Three-13 / Make-up: Kat of Three-13 / Venue: Chastain Horse Park / Caterer: Courtney Lukow of Avenue Catering / DJ: Harrison of Avalanche Entertainment / Wedding Cake: Amy Lampert / Wedding Coordinator: Tammy Johnston of Chastain Horse Park

We all know I’m a huge sap when it comes to wedding films. They get me every time. And I know that I can’t be the only one. The SMP offices are filled with saps like me – and judging from your comments on films of the past, a lot of you have the same sentimental gene. So when we received this Atlanta wedding film from Artworks Wedding Cinema, it was obvious that we had to share the smile-inducing, heart warming film with all our favorite people. But first – a little preview of the gorgeous wedding from Lamar Gee Photography. Click here for more!

Are you ready for your smiles to grow tenfold? Here is the film from Artworks Wedding Cinema!

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/29732306 601 338]

Photography:  Lamar Gee Photography / Cinematography: Artworks Wedding Cinema / Flowers: Darryl Wiseman Flowers / Event Design and Planning: B. Moore Events / Ceremony and Reception Location: King Plow Arts Center / Invitations: Luxe Expressions / Catering: Bold American & Motherland Kitchen / Wedding Dress & Tuxedo Rentals: Bridals by Lori / Cake: Sugar Plum Visions / Transportation: At Your Service / Accommodations: Atlanta W Midtown

We absolutely adore a traditional fête here at SMP and these stunning Biltmore nuptials by Lovelee Affairs have us literally jumping out of our seats.  From the sweet pink and blue color palette to the tables filled to the brim with beautiful blooms to the uber-adorable bride and groom, we are loving every last moment of pretty.  And with each and every gorgeous image captured by Dana Eason Photography filling our gallery, we can’t think of a better way to spend your Friday.  Click here for more!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Lovelee Affairs…Valerie and Paul got married on the most perfect September day, the weather was just right and the timeline couldn’t have gone any smoother. Our planning process was disrupted just two months before the wedding, a music festival was coming to town and would take over our venue for the weekend.  

Luckily, The Biltmore (An Atlanta Landmark) had an available ballroom so in just a few short weeks we were able to move the wedding, it turned out to be everything Valerie + Paul had wanted. The vision for the wedding was more traditional with sweet southern accents. We used a mix of silver and glass on the tables and decked the room with romantic candlelight. During cocktail hour, guests enjoyed spiked lemonade in mason jars – they were a HUGE hit. The entire room danced the night away to a fabulous local band, Ascension. 

Wedding Photography: Dana Eason Photography / Event Planning + Floral Design: Lovelee Affairs / Wedding Ceremony  + Reception Location: The Biltmore / Invitations: Paper Daisies / Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman / Wedding Cake: Eileen Carter Creations / Band: Ascension

For all of you who are lucky enough to attend (and maybe even throw) an Atlanta wedding – consider me jealous. Everything I see from the ATL has got me a little closer to packing my bags and stealing an invite to a fab soiree. Like this one. Forget that the bride is so beautiful in her white, lace gown that she could give the Duchess of Cambridge a run for her money, the entire affair (planned beautifully by the lovely Table 6 Productions) was beyond gorgeous, and this cinematic trailer from Three Ring Media? Perfection.

[iframe http://player.vimeo.com/video/31249943 601 338]

From Three Ring Media…Wesley and Allison are both Howard alums. And while they both knew of each other during school, they had no relationship. But Wesley had taken notice of Allison, and he had begun to set his sights on her. A friend of his ran interference at a party so he could get to know her a little bit better. At the end of the conversation Wesley had convinced Allison to have dinner with him at a Ruby Tuesdays. They talked for hours, sharing their thoughts on family, faith and love and eventually closed the place down.

It was very soon that they had come to realize it was time to close down all other options, and focus their romantic pursuits on the other. So while Wesley was in Atlanta for a teaching conference, he asked to have dinner with her parents. And at another Ruby Tuesday’s he told them how much he had fallen for their daughter and asked for their blessing to marry her.

With Allison’s parents on board, Wesley plotted a Thanksgiving day proposal, so her entire family could witness the beginning of their new life together.

Wedding Planner: Mary Whelan of Table 6 Productions / Venue: Ritz Carlton Midtown / Wedding Videography: Three Ring Media

This adorable couple didn’t let the threat of rain or a chill in the air ruin their beautiful, outdoor wedding. The pops of bright yellow flowers courtesy of Le Bonne Fleur certainly brightened their already happy and upbeat day. The Studio B Photography captured all the pretty DIY details and there’s so much more in the full gallery. Click here to see it all!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From The Studio B Photography…Every now and then a weather miracle occurs on a wedding day. Such was the case for Shannon and Eric’s big day, which was held entirely outdoors at the stunning Cator Woolford Gardens in Atlanta. As long as the extended forecast had been available for the wedding day, it called for rain. There was a backup option in case of rain, but the beautiful grounds of the garden were precisely what made Shannon fall in love with the venue, and it would be sad to give that up. Enter the miracle.

It rained the day before the wedding, and then the clouds disappeared. They left behind a slight chill in the air, the perfect weather for an autumn wedding which was highlighted by the lovely changing colors on the trees. Shannon and Eric opted to see each other before the ceremony, allowing them to have some time together to share their excitement, as well as have time for portraits of just the two of them.

The ceremony was lovely, and on their way back up the aisle after getting married, Eric scooped up his new wife and carried her across the lawn. Shannon is a graduate of The University of Florida and showed her team spirit with her blue and orange garter and his and her coozies. The chilly weather made the reception atmosphere cozier, with guests snuggled up in blankets that the bride and groom had provided for them. The couple surprised their friends and family with a choreographed first dance that the whole bridal party participated in. The happy couple exited through a line of guests blowing bubbles.

Wedding Photography: The Studio B Photography / Venue: The Cator Woolford Gardens / Wedding Coordinator: Occasions by Charlotte / Floral Design: Le Bonne Fleur / Catering: Bold American / Wedding Dress: Lis Simon via LaRaine’s Bridal Boutique / Bridesmaid Dresses: Jasmine via J. Andrew’s Bridal Salon / Stationery Graphic Design: Stephanie Gomez / Stationery Printing: Paper Affair