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Maypole Inspiration from Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio + Paperlily Photography

In a perfect world, I would live inside this photo shoot.  I would frolic in the gorgeous fields, rock a beautiful gown from Ivy and Aster and surround myself with lush (+ gorgeous) blooms from Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio for every second of every day.  Because this, my friends, is the kind of wonderland you sort of dream about, with every last mesmerizing moment captured in beyond perfect images by Paperlily Photography.  See them all right here in the full gallery.

And a beautiful film from Anchor Heart Films?  Yes, please.

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From Sherry Donnelly of Gertie Mae’s Floral StudioEveryone has a dream, a vision, something magical that runs around in their brain. I decided to bring mine to life in a styled shoot with the incredible talent of Paperlily Photography. Growing up in the southeastern part of the country, I was raised with the Maypole tradition. That of lovely girls in white dresses, dancing around the Maypole, and weaving the colorful ribbons in and out until they were braided. This event normally takes place in the spring time, so I put a twist on it and created an Autumn Maypole themed shoot. Adding the rich tones and textures in the ribbons, floral crowns, organic necklaces, and table settings, gave it a lush, yet natural feel. The concept was for the ladies to gather their own flowers, create their own wearable designs, and dance the afternoon away around the Maypole. The Ivy and Aster dresses were perfect for the storyline. My dream came to life through the lense of Paperlily Photography and even more so in the magical video Teejay Heaslip of Anchor Heart Films created of the day.

Photographer: Paperlily Photography | Film: Anchor Heart Films | Floral Design: Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio | Cake: Blooming Flour | Hair + Makeup: Andrea Carter Artistry | Hair + Makeup: Brielle Brenner | Hair + Makeup: Beth Pilgreen | Venue: Glen Ella Springs Inn | China: Vintage English Teacup | Custom Ribbons: Nicholas Kniel | Furniture Rentals: Crush Event Rentals | Lead Hair Stylist: Michelle McCoy | Muffins: Homespun | Stationery + Paper Suite: Julia's Poppies | Wedding Gowns: Ivy And Aster

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
A Vintage Wedding + Tablescape Ideas from Southern Vintage

Vintage-loving brides! We’ve got just the feature for y’all today. It’s a sweet southern wedding complete with some of the loveliest vintage details, thanks to our friends at Southern Vintage, who will be breaking down some of our favorite highlights. Most of all, we love the personal touch that incorporating vintage goodies adds to a wedding and we want to know how to pull it off! Keep reading for the breakdown & tips and then join us in the gallery!

From Southern Vintage… For table numbers the bride and groom chose vintage postcards that reflected them—vintage West Point soldiers (groom West Point Army officer) and vintage Florida and Gators (the bride is from Florida and a University of Florida graduate). The post cards were displayed on wire stands on vintage door knobs and lids from Southern Vintage. The linens, vintage napkins and doily runners on the tables were vintage also.

The gift table and guest book table were set side by side on vintage wood tables. The bride wanted a vintage treasure for the guests to place cards in that was unique to let them know how important she felt their gifts were. She selected a Southern Vintage 6 drawer tool crate. The bride made the scrabble welcome sign and painted the M for Myers. The bride loves succculents so they were incorporated on to these two tables in milk glass vessels rented from Southern Vintage. The guest book was a large (huge) wood slab from the brides back yard. The guests signed their names on the slab and the groom is going to make a coffee table out of the wood slab. They rented a vintage wood table to place the slab on and a chalk board sign to instruct the guests. It was a unique guest book that all the guests had fun signing.

Tip: Pick a guest book that incorporates your style and that you will enjoy for years and even for life!

The bride and groom wanted a fun cocktail hour. They didn’t want their guests waiting in long lines, So two separate bars were created with vintage barrels with antique doors across the top for back and front bars. The back bars were created for the bar tenders to have a work area so the front bar stayed clean and pretty. Next to the two bars were unique displays with vintage stemware for the guests or bartenders to chose the appropriate stemware. Their was washi tape and markers for naming of glasses for the night. One display was a vintage garden cart and the other an oak dresser. Both had chalk board signs with the bar options and signature drinks.

Tip: Functional as well as lovely displays are important for the guests to have a good time. No one wants to wait on an hour line for a drink no matter how pretty the bar is!

The important elements the bride wanted on the table settings were vintage china, stemware, silver flatware, napkins and lace. Her florals were baby’s breath for a romantic breathy feel with other soft and pretty flowers in vintage milk glass and silver vessels, with a pop of blue and pink here and there. She chose all the elements and the day of coordinators styled the tables with all the Southern Vintage table ware on the day. The vintage floral vessels were given to the florist days before the wedding. Smaller wood boxes, rusty keys and small bird figurines were added to continue the rustic and romantic style.

Tip: Vintage table settings can get very busy in a hurray. Each piece is unique and lovely but if you overcrowd the table your guests can’t appreciate the loveliness through the clutter. So don’t send more to the venue than you want placed on the tables or it will all get set out.

Later in the evening, the dancers were given a sweet cool treat. The ice cream bar was very important to the bride because she and her dad loves ice cream. The used vintage treasures to create the ice cream bar, milk glass compotes, depression glass cookie jars, wood cheese crates, scales and ice cream churns all placed on a vintage farm table. Our vintage hoosier cabinet was used place vintage sherbet cups and spoons for the self serve ice cream bar.

The most important tip we have learned from our vintage weddings is that it’s to communicate your inspiration, style and details that are essential with the day of coordinators. We have brides that come to us to rent the vintage treasures with a clear vision in mind. On the day of the wedding, the bride should be primping and relaxing so it is essential that the day of coordinator knows her bride and her vision. Some brides are very detail oriented and some are not so make sure you pick a coordinator that fits your style and personality so all your months or years of planning are not lost on your big day! Congrats to Callie and Billy!

From Southern VintageCallie and Billy vision for their wedding was a romantic vintage rustic wedding, a relaxed and happy celebration of their love and their love of their family and friends. On May 3, 2013, Billy and Callie had their beautiful wedding at the Inn at Serenbe. They had a long and obstacle ridden path to their wedding. After the wedding, Billy said the wedding was amazing and worth the two year wait! Some of the obstacles they faced were: postponement of the their first planned ceremony in March 2012 until after Billys return from deployment to Afghanistan (First Lieutenant in US Army), a stylist that promised a “deserving couple wedding, since Callie a special education teacher and Billy soldier in Army, only to steal money from them and the unexpected change of venue five days before the wedding! Flexibility and perseverance were much needed by the couple and her parents to continue to create the vision. Thanks to good friends, family and gracious vendors that went above and beyond, Callie and Billy had their magically romantic vintage wedding. The Inn at Serenbe was so gracious to allow us to have the wedding at their beautiful venue with less than a weeks notice. The beautiful venue so complimented their style and vision for the wedding. In the end, it was that love of family and friends, one of the key ingredients in the vision they had for their wedding, that made it all possible!

The style of romantic vintage was created using vintage treasures from Southern Vintage and all Callies DIY projects that kept her busy while Billy was in Afghanistan. The color palette was filled with vintage hues but mostly white, ivory, blush, gray and a touch of tiffany blue. The brides dress with its flowing chiffon and a tiny bit of bling was perfect for romantic vintage wedding. Her mother adapted her veil from her 1983 wedding using lace from her dress and bling from Callies belt (that she didnt want on the belt) to create a less 80s headpiece. Callies love of children was evident in the amount of children in the ceremony and dancing at the reception. The couples puppy, Molly, a swiss mountain dog was the most special flower girl. The grooms cake was a delicious replica of Molly. The guest book was a huge slice of an old oak tree from the brides backyard that they will use to create a coffee table. The escort cards were attached to a vintage key on very old shutters. The table numbers were on very old postcards of West Point and other important places to the bride and groom. The ice cream bar later in the night for dancers to cool off, which was also the Father of bride’s favorite food. Lastly, the send off was lavender tossed at the couple from little muslin sachets.

Photography: Noi Tran | Photography: Caroline Akins | Event Design & Planning: Southern Vintage | Floral Design: Virtu Floral Design | Cake: Blooming Flour | Invitations: Tasha Rae Designs | Ceremony Venue: The inn at Serenbe | Reception Venue: The inn at Serenbe | Catering: Tulla White Catering | Hair & Makeup: Jamie | Day of Event Styling & Planning: Vinewood Plantation | Day of Event Styling & Planning: LeAnn Hurd of Southern Flair | Menus, escort tags + favor cards: Moore Custom Creations | Vintage Rentals: Southern Vintage

Art Deco Wedding Inspiration from Sean and Amanda

The best part of Baz Luhrmann’s newest rendition of The Great Gatsby?  Well, other than the obvious fact that I have yet another reason to love Leonardo DiCaprio?  The drop-dead gorgeous wedding inspiration it has managed to inspire.  Wedding inspiration like this stunning shoot captured by Sean and Amanda, a session that manages to mix all of the glamour of the Roaring 20’s with the perfect dash of modern stylings without skipping a beat.  I guess that’s what happens when a dream team of Georgia vendors gets together to inspire… a day of non-stop beauty.  See it all here in the full gallery.

From Sean and AmandaA sweet southern interpretation of a modern Art Deco wedding. With the recent remake of F.Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” we, along with talented vendors, created an inspirational shoot featuring a mix of old and new. Our model’s hair and makeup were done in roaring twenties fashion while their styling and clothing are modern pieces. Our decor showcases a lovely mix of blush, ivory and metallics. A true gramophone from the era adorns the table alongside a swag of aromatic botanicals. Each place setting uses a unique mix-match of vintage English china. The paper products were designed especially for an art deco celebration and the cake follows suit. There is no more perfect venue for this than the Atlanta History centers, Swan Coach house which was built in 1928 for the Edward H. Inman family, heirs to a cotton brokerage fortune.

We imagine our couple as lord and lady of this fine mansion sitting down to a formal dinner followed by some dancing on the lawn.

Photography: Sean and Amanda | Cake: Sweet Sensations | Ceremony Venue: Swan House Mansion | Hair and Makeup: Raney O'Keefe | Bridal Gowns: Fabulous Frocks of Atlanta | Bridal Hair Accessory: Vanilla Hue | Bridal Shoes: Ann Roth Shoes | China: Vintage English Teacup | Floral and Design: Juli Vaughn Designs | Furnishings: Crush Event Rentals | Glassware: The Funky Shack Art Studio | Linens: Nuage Designs | Menswear: The Modern Gent | Stationery Suite: Julia's Poppies

Photography: Sean and Amanda | Cake: Sweet Sensations | Ceremony Venue: Atlanta History Center | Hair and Makeup: Raney O’Keefe | Bridal Gowns: Fabulous Frocks | Bridal Hair Accessory: Vanilla Hue| Bridal Shoes: Ann Roth Shoes | China: Vintage English Teacup | Floral and Design: Juli Vaughn Designs| Furnishings: Crush Event Rentals | Glassware: The Funky Shack Art Studio | Linens: Nuage Designs | Menswear: The Modern Gent | Stationery Suite: Julia’s Poppies | Earrings, Necklace & Bracelet: Fabulous Frocks

Behind the Scenes: Chaviano Couture

Last week we had the chance to peek behind the scenes of an adorable ceramic studio, and this week we’re doing a 180 and focusing on all things lace and lovely. Miss Annette of Chaviano Couture has become somewhat of a legend when it comes to beautiful bridal gowns. And her studio is as  sweet as you would have imagined. Captured by Buffy Dekmar, there’s a full gallery right here for you to peek at.

SMP: How did you get your start in the wedding industry?
7 years ago I could not find the gown of my dreams while shopping for my own wedding. I thus decided to design my own gown. From there the dream for Chaviano Couture was born and in the Spring of 2009 I launched the company. It has been a true blessing ever since!

SMP: What matters to you most as a wedding dress designer?
To be true to my design aesthetic. I love gowns that are romantic, full of movement, and sophisticated.

SMP: Do you have any predictions in upcoming dress trends?
It seems as though trends tend to come and go like the wind. I like to inspire my brides to create their own trend and wear something that feels beautiful to them and is true to their personality.

SMP: The biggest mistake brides make when selecting their dress?
Not trying on every style of gown. Many times a bride will have a vision of what she wants and will not give other options a try. I always encourage brides to try on the gown they’re sure they won’t love as you might be surprised in the end.

SMP: The best part about your job? 
Seeing my brides happy and making some amazing friends in this industry!

SMP: The worst? 
I get really nervous when I do a first fitting because I really, really want the bride to love her gown. I invest a lot of heart into them and the possibility of rejection can be a bit stressful at times.

SMP: Three things every bride should know when choosing her dress?
Comfort, quality, and color.
Comfort- wear a gown that you feel beautiful in yet able to move and be yourself in. If it’s too tight, or showing off too much, you ultimately will not feel happy about your gown.
Quality- Sometimes spending a little more on a gown is worth it. You can customize elements of the gown, get fabrics that breathe and move better, and even have a completely custom gown made to you.
Color- Not everyone looks good in white. Let me clarify. <ost people don’t look good in the traditional bright white color of a wedding gown. Go for shades of ivory, champagne and even nude. It will complement your skin tone so much better, and really help you shine on your wedding day!

SMP: The greatest lesson in business you ever learned?
Always, always be true to yourself. Do not emulate someone else or their brand. Be authentic and go that extra mile for your clients. It will pay off, trust me.

Photography: Buffy Dekmar Photography | Bridal Gowns: Chaviano Couture

Jacquelyn Clark

Atlanta Engagement from Elton Anderson

When you meet in Atlanta, fall in love in Atlanta and plan to build your home in Atlanta, making your favorite city a huge part of your engagement session is pretty much a no-brainer.  Especially since Atlanta happens to be chock-full of amazing (+ breathtaking) backdrops seriously perfect for those pre-wedding snapshots.  Case in point?  This darling sesh captured by Elton Anderson, aka, a love-filled ode to The ATL with two seriously stunning sweeties taking center stage.  See it all in the full gallery.

From the Bride… We first met at a lounge in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael and I currently live in the heart of the city in Midtown Atlanta, so of course we would took our engagement photos here. We wanted to capture all the different aspects that we love about Midtown, i.e., city backdrops, parks, restaurants and shopping. The look we were going for is fun and classic. We met in Atlanta, fell in love in Atlanta and are now planning our Spring 2014 wedding celebration in Atlanta! Our photographer, Elton with Elton Anderson Photography, captured perfectly our happiness and excitement for our upcoming nuptials.

Photographer: Elton Anderson

Garden Wedding from It Takes Two Events + The Long Farewell

I may have mentioned a time or two that I am completely obsessed with all things British, but now feels like the perfect opportunity to repeat the sentiments.  Because this, my friends, is an English garden-inspired masterpiece planned to perfection by It Takes Two Events with colorful DIY details, an extra dash of romance courtesy of a little drizzle and a beyond beautiful Cator Woolford Gardens setting.  See it all captured by The Long Farewell right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… We are known by our group of friends to throw dinner parties and get-togethers, and this was the ultimate dinner party for me. I’m a DIY’er by heart (my friends call me Asian Martha Stewart), so I knew I wanted our wedding to reflect both my DIY aesthetic and Richard’s English heritage because I, too, am an Anglophile. To incorporate this vision, we had an America versus England corn hole game that Richard built and I painted by hand, created fun directional signage that showed everywhere our out of country guest were traveling from and how far they had come, painted chalkboard signage for our signature drinks – Mine a Pimm’s Cup and His a Myerita, and of course we had rain, pure English, but not handmade by me. I dyed our ombre linen napkins, painting our gold dipped wine glasses, assembling our tissue photobooth backdrop, creating our pinwheel desert table art installation, cutting and stringing together our bunting and poms, making our save the dates and wedding invites and hand stamping the seating chart. If it was at our wedding, I probably created some part of it and that makes me smile.

I got my amazing MARISA dress (another unique brand that I knew no one else would have and at the time they didn’t even show their dresses on their website, so no one saw my dress until the day of) from Bridals by Lori. My dress was a full lace mermaid gown, perfect for an English garden wedding. The cream Chantilly lace was vintage inspired with a cafe underlay, buttons down the back that lead to a French kick pleat. My aunt sewed my belt. When I tried on my dress, Montie “jacked me up” as they say with a gorgeous Lazaro belt that was above what we budgeted for the dress, so I started my search for the perfect belt. After a trip to another country and countless hours on Pinterest, I finally came across an appliqué on Etsy and purchased some ribbon from a local paperie store – Samflax, my aunt sewed them together and voila! My veil was Italian lace and came from Korea along with my fascinator that I wore at the reception… I know, Italian lace from Korea, what? But it was beautiful and ended up being my favorite piece. And with the perfect dress, perfect belt and favorite veil, I needed THE shoes, right? Well, I didn’t get my shoes until the week before the wedding.

Our wedding was inspired by a vintage English Garden. Although it rained, no poured, we were still able to create the perfect English aesthetic with our garden florals and potted table seating herbs (pronounce the H if you’re English), clean white table settings, bunting, and a Union Jack here and there. Everything at our wedding had a purpose, every little detail related to a point or part of Richard’s and my relationship, whether it was evident to our guests or not, we were able to take in, enjoy, and smile because we knew.

Our vendors were AMAZING. Since I was the last one of my friends to get married, I was determined to use vendors that no one else had… I wanted our wedding to be unique, special and create an atmosphere that no one else had experienced before. We carefully handpicked our vendors and had a connection with each of them. For example: our videographer’s wife is Korean and has the same name as my aunt; one of our photographer’s is half Korean too; Richard saw our acoustic guitarist play once with friends years before and I could go on and on with the connections, but the main point is that we were connected to these vendors as they were a part of our family and friends and we loved that and hope we made as much of an impact on them as they did us.

Photography: The Long Farewell | Videographer: Iris Films | Event Planning: It Takes Two Events | Wedding Dress: Marisa Bridals | Catering: Sun In My Belly | DJ: DJ MadFlip | Ceremony Music: The Armonico String Ensemble | Transportation: The Trolley Guy | Bridal Boutique: Bridals By Lori | Ceremony and Reception: Cator Woolford Gardens | Cocktail Hour Music: Todd Wells | Floral: Candler Park Flowers

Atlanta Autumn Wedding From The Studio B Photography

I only recently discovered my love for the color lavender. It’s such a soft alternative to pink and SO romantic. So when you cover a gorgeous venue like  Barnsley Garden Resort in this sweet color, needless to say, you’ve got my attention. The Studio B Photography captured the day – the gardens, the love, and the beautiful bride (who looks phenomenal thanks to Brushworx) – and we’ve packed it up nice and pretty for you right here!

Erica and Wes were married at Barnsley Gardens, one of the most gorgeous wedding venues in all of Georgia. Instead of doing a first look, Wes and Erica exchanged gifts from opposite sides of the front door to her cottage. It was a great alternative to avoiding each other completely, because they still got to chat and laugh together before the ceremony began.

Their ceremony featured a very special ring bearer, their son Clayton! He charmed all the guests and had a wonderful time throughout the day. The couple honored their relatives who had passed away with two beautiful floral installations created to “come alive” out of the ruins.

The clear tent that was used for the reception literally allowed the guests to spend their evening dancing beneath the stars.

Photographer: The Studio B Photography | Videographer: The Reason | Floral Design: Bold American Events | Cake: Classic Cakes And Cheesecakes | Bride's Shoes: Navy/Tan Sperry Topsiders | Catering: Barnsley Gardens Resort | Catering: Barnsley Gardens Resort | Hair + Makeup: Brushworx Hair & Makeup | Calligraphy: Calligraphy Atlanta | Band: Rhythm Nation | Bride's Dress: Bridals By Lori | Bride's Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Barnsley Gardens Resort | Custom Tire Swing: Honey Bee Invites | Stationery Suite: Foglio Press | Wedding Planner + Stylist: Susan Graham Signature Events

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Atlanta Wedding from Caroline Fontenot Photographer

One thing I know for certain about this darling Atlanta duo: they really know how to have a good time. From their epically awesome First Look to their smile-filled ceremony to their seriously fun (+ seriously beautiful) reception held at the amazing Monday Night Brewing, you can tell these two really know how to throw a party.  Even better?  They do it all with a love that seriously bursts from the computer screen. See it all captured by Caroline Fontenot right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Jeff is from Indiana, I’m from Texas, but Atlanta has meant a great deal to each of us, so we knew we wanted to have the wedding in Atlanta. Monday Night in particular, was the most obvious choice. The owners are our good friends and some of the first people we each met when we moved to Atlanta. The three guys all started out going to the same church Jeff and I were members of there. Monday Night beer is probably responsible for most of Jeff’s friendships and many of mine…in many ways…Plus, the beer’s really great!

Photographer: Caroline Fontenot Photographer | Floral Design: Stems | Wedding Dress: Romona Keveza | Reception Venue: Monday Night Brewing | Bridesmaid Dresses: Monique Lhuillier | Caterer: Simply Catering | Band: PLATINUM | Pre Ceremony Location: Georgian Terrace

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Atlanta Biltmore Ballrooms Wedding from Artstar by Laura Stone

There is something so magical about a ballroom wedding. Don’t you agree? The gowns, the chandeliers, the elegance – it all tends to make me swoon. So when I come across a wedding like this one by Artstar by Laura Stone, I feel like I’ve hit the wedding jackpot. Because not only is it filled to the brim with lovely, but it’s also overflowing with love…and it doesn’t get better than that. See every gorgeous moment here.


From the Bride… We met at a mutual friend’s house at a party back in 2009, and then a couple of days later at a concert– where he said we would marry one day. I, of course laughed it off, and said he was crazy! We had a our first date at a Braves game, where again he got on one knee and had a mock proposal. We have been inseparable ever since.

Colby proposed on Christmas day 2011. We had talked about getting married earlier that year, and went and looked at rings a few times. Christmas came around and I thought it maybe would happen on or around Christmas. Christmas day came and we visited both sides of the family and soon it was ten o’clock at night (I was thinking, “Maybe next year.”) I went into our room to unpack our things because we were just settling into a new house. When I came out he had all the lights out and candles lit. He had a 3 Musketeers bar on the table, and I said, “What the heck is this? I am confused?” He started to talk about our lives together, and one of the first times of us meeting how he asked me to marry him, how “he meant it then and means it now”. The 3 Musketeers bar represented the movie, which had marry me on the back. The Holiday-our favorite movie at the time, which we watched ALL the time. Jude Law told his family that they are the 3 musketeers. “We are in our first home and soon our first child. I want us to be the three musketeers”. Of course I said yes.

Colby is very rare. He is the kindest person I have ever met. He tells me I am beautiful every day, even when I am not acting that way. We welcomed our first child in April of 2012. It was not easy having a newborn, going to school, and planning a wedding at the same time. Luckily I found an angel, my wedding planner, Nicole Fantz. She was a dream, and so was everyone who was part of our special day.

When we first looked at the Biltmore Ballrooms, we thought it was gorgeous — the architecture was amazing! I wanted a glamorous, white/clean, romantic feel for our wedding. I happened to spend a lot of time on Style Me Pretty, Etsy, and Pinterest. That is how I came across Style Me Pretty. I spent a lot of time on the web due to school and the baby…..and the fact that I was all the way in Phenix City.

We had a lot of special touches. I couldn’t even begin to say which one was my favorite! I LOVED the thank you note that we placed on every charger at each table setting. Loved our monogrammed “book signing” and our advice box-both from Etsy. My brother walking our son down the aisle in his Army Blues, and the dedication we had to all of the family members we have lost. Our food was amazing and we had Cake Pops wrapped in cellophane for our guests. Everyone that we worked with just played such a big part in all if it. I think they put in their special touches and made it what it was.

My favorite memory is probably how calm the whole weekend was. How you hear that all you see when you walk down the aisle is your future husband, and how very true that is. How unbelievably gorgeous the day was-flowers, lighting. THE BAND!!! Honestly, EVERYTHING continues to be a vivid memory from that day because of how absolutely beautiful and wonderful it was. I am still amazed. My favorite photos are the reception photos of Colby and me and our son. I really loved all of the detailed pictures as well. The slide show that Laura, our photographer made, was amazing. She really captured the whole day and night very well, enough to make the slide show as good as any video. I cry every time I watch it.

Photography: Artstar by Laura Stone | Event Planning: Peachtree Weddings & Events | Floral Design: Blossoms Atlanta | Cake Pops: Sweet Sensations | Wedding Location: Georgian Ballroom

Atlanta Rehearsal Dinner by Bre Sessions for Scobey Photography

I love rehearsal dinners. The air is full of excitement and everyone wears smiles as if it is their most prized accessory. So when I come across such a dinner like this one snapped up by Bre Sessions, Scobey Photography, I get a little giddy. Ok a lot giddy. Because when you combine happiness and prettiness, it doesn’t get any better to me. See it all here.

Colors
Settings
Eatery
Styles
Modern

From Bre SessionsThis exquisite rehearsal dinner that took place at the amazing Restaurant Eugene in Atlanta. I could tell the moment I walked in the door and saw all the beautiful tablescapes that it was going to a spectacular night. An adorable couple, surrounded by their closest family and friends, and dining on some of the best cuisine Atlanta has to offer! It doesn’t get much better than that.

Photography: Scobey Photography | Floral Design: Le Jardin Fracais | Location: Restaurant Eugene

Peachtree City Wedding from Claudia McDade Photography

You know why I love Georgia weddings?  This darling Peachtree wedding right here, aka, the perfect example of Southern awesomeness all wrapped up in beautiful imagery by Claudia McDade Photography. Because this is the kind of wedding that just screams Georgia elegance with lush florals from Sheridan’s Designs and a Flat Creek Country Club setting that will literally make your heart sing.  Oh, and the darling “can’t stop smiling” sweeties?  They’re amazing.  See so much more in the full gallery.

From the Bride… My husband Patrick and I met at Presbyterian College in small Clinton, South Carolina. We are both so proud to call ourself Blue Hose! Some of our fondest memories will always be playing college basketball and volleyball. After college we moved to Augusta, Georgia to pursue our masters degrees and continue to find Gods plan for our lives. Once we both finished school Pat finally popped the question and I couldn’t wait to start planning my dream wedding.

We decided to have a Spring wedding on a beautiful golf course in my home town of Peachtree City, Georgia. I have always wanted an outdoor wedding and after visiting the country club we both knew this was our venue. We loved the intimate feeling of the beautiful veranda over looking the golf course and the party to follow in the club house. Our wedding was a classic style with purples, pinks and grays. I was so blessed to have amazing vendors, and my talented mother, to help me make my dream wedding come to life.

Saturday was finally here! The weather was absolutely perfect, we could not have asked for anything better. The white wisteria hung over the venue and set the stage for a beautiful ceremony. Our family and wedding coordinators made the day go by so smoothly, it was stress free, and allowed us to take in every moment and focus on our love and commitment. Our families traveled from all over the country for our big day, so it was very special to have such a great celebration with everyone. We both had the best times of our lives, we wish we could do it over and over!

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Wedding Photography: Claudia McDade | Cinematography: Bobs Eye View | Wedding Venue: Flat Creek Country Club, Peachtree City, Georgia | Floral Design: Sheridan’s Designs | Cake: Sweet Sisters Creations | Wedding Coordinator: Weddings by Elain | DJ/Music: Beat House Productions | Makeup: Shakuwra Norwood | Hair: Robin Melton | Shoes: Toms

Atlanta Ballroom Wedding from Belle of the Ball Events + Matt Yung Photography

I want to live inside this wedding.  Like cozy on up forever just so I can spend every single day soaking in every fabulous detail planned to perfection by Belle of the Ball Events.  And I am not kidding.  Because this is the kind of wedding that is sooo amazing and sooo full of beautiful moments, it deserves its very own virtual dance party.  One we’re starting right here, right now in the full gallery captured by Matt Yung Photography.  Join us there for all of the pretty.

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From Belle of the Ball EventsWith the expertise of Atlanta-based planner, Eva Clark (Belle of the Ball Events), Pennsylvania residents, Monique and Dan, spared no attention to detail: gracefully syncing their deep-rooted traditions with their charismatic, yet poised, dispositions and style. The end result being a special keepsake, not only for themselves but the guests, who were fortunate to experience such a lovely affair.

The Georgian Terrace, a setting rich with history, modern refinements and romantic details proved the perfect atmosphere for Monique and Dan’s fun and lavish Jewish wedding. A night rich with tradition and sincerity easily transformed into a night of celebration for all. There’s was a deep, palpable affection between these two, providing intimacy and allure. This kind of love is the cornerstone of any great wedding.

The happy newlyweds traveled to South Africa, the bride’s home, the following weekend, for an intimate, outdoor Christian ceremony.

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Wedding Photography: Matt Yung Photography | Wedding Venue: Georgian Terrace Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia | Wedding Cinematography: Artworks Wedding Cinema | Event Planning: Belle of the Ball Events | Floral Design + Runner: Jade Lee Events | Wedding Cake: The Frosted Pumpkin | Specialty Linens: I Do Linens | Band: Rupert’s Orchestra | Wedding Dress: Allure | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Fernbank Museum of Natural History Wedding from Drew Newman

You know what’s sweeter than a Southern-inspired (+ drop-dead gorgeous) wedding?  A Southern-inspired wedding held at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History with a cuter than cute dinosaur theme.  That’s what we call sweet and then some, and when it’s all paired up with lush blooms from Petal’s Edge Floral, fab paper goods from Simply Honest and J.Crew bridesmaid frocks in the loveliest of navy blue hues, it takes it to entirely new level of pretty.  See it all captured by Drew Newman in the full gallery.

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From the Bride… We met at Georgia Tech in 2010, and started dating after a trip to New Orleans together, so it only made sense that he would take me back there to propose.  We got engaged in August 2011, and set our date for June 2012. Fernbank was the perfect venue for us as it had that unique science/engineering touch that really resonated with us. It inspired us to use a subtle dinosaur theme in a few places, especially our paper goods, which are my favorite detail.

My something old was my pearls, which belonged to my great grandmother. They are one of my most treasured possessions. My something borrowed was my diamond bracelet, borrowed from my aunt who also gave me the center stone for my engagement ring.

My bridesmaids processed to a string arrangement of “I’m Yours,” while I processed to Wagner’s “Bridal March.” After a short-but-sweet Methodist ceremony, we recessed to a string arrangement of “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”

I loved everything about my flowers. I adore hydrangeas and peonies, and wanted a just-picked kind of look. For dinner, we had slightly upscale Southern fare – the fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and roasted red pepper aioli were my favorite! After dinner, toasts, and parent dances, we partied the night away until our sparkler exit where the Ramblin’ Wreck picked us up. Riding to our hotel in the Wreck was one of the coolest experiences of our lives.

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Photography: Drew Newman Photographers | Bride’s Dress: Priscilla of Boston | Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Flowers: Laura Southern of Petal’s Edge Floral | Cake: Gabriel’s Desserts | Location: Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta, GA | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew | Hair: Shannon Lang (shannonvanityhair@gmail.com) | Makeup: Kristy of The Moore Agency | Catering: Steve Moore of A Divine Event | Getaway Car: Ramblin’ Wreck via Georgia Tech Alumni Association | DJ: Jay Page of D Street Entertainment | String Trio: Kazanetti (kazanetti@mindspring.com) | Programs + Escort Cards + Menues + Save-the-Dates: Kelsey Blevins of Simply Honest | Day-of Coordination: Allison Giddens of Weddings Imagined | Invitations: Paper Source | Jewelry: Bride’s Own | Wedding Bands: Blue Nile

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Atlanta Wedding from Amy Arrington Photography

It’s not the first time (and it won’t be the last), but this breathtaking Atalanta affair is blowing my mind. That probably has a little something to do with the beyond beautiful images of Amy Arrington Photography, which are like one mesmerizing moment after another, all gathered in one seriously awesome gallery.  Also blowing my mind?  The gorgeous location that is the The Trolley Barn, a historic meets garden party paradise perfect for marrying.  See it all right here in the full gallery.

From the Bride… Our wedding took place at a venue nestled in Inman Park called the Trolley Barn, an old housing facility for Atlanta’s street railway line back in the late 19th century. The venue has wonderful space both outside, which is where we had our ceremony, and inside, where most of the reception took place. Our ceremony was non denominational and very personal. We wrote our own vows and letters to each other that were only then shared with one another for the first time. During the ceremony, the guests all were given a rock to make a wish for our marriage. The rocks were collected into a single vase and we now have them as a keep sake of these wishes. The Barn did not require too much decor, and we went very light on flowers. My mother made the centerpieces for each of the guests tables, which were stained glass vases that we used as candle holders. The theme of the reception was very laid back, and with the guest count being only around 100, it felt pretty intimate.

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Photography: Amy Arrington Photography | Venue: The Trolley Barn | Coordination: April Huckaby & Tiara Lord | Floral Design: Peachtree Petals | Cake: Perfect Wedding Cake | Caterering: Zest Atlanta | Band: Sweetwater Junction | Officiant: Reverend Dawn Smith | Hair + Makeup: Bombshell Creations | Photobooth: Classic Photobooth | Ceremony Music: Keith Gehle | Trolley: The Trolley Guy

Atlanta Wedding from Arina Borodina Photography

Days like this are the epitome of all things pretty; the kind of day you dream about when you think “wedding.”  Maybe that has a little something to do with the drop-dead gorgeous location (Summerour Studio), the fab stylings of Amy Osaba and a custom gown designed by the bride that will literally take your breath away (seriously).  All I know is that it’s one beyond beautiful moment after another captured by Arina Borodina… and the gallery?  THE place to be.  Join me there for all of the pretty.

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From the Bride…The most memorable part of our wedding day was when I walked down the aisle with my father and saw my soon to be husband for the first time that day. It was a very special and emotional moment where time seemed to have stopped. The rest of the day and evening were absolutely magical.

For our wedding favors, we had honey jars with handmade doily covers. My grandma and my aunt hand crocheted over 300 doilies and we tied them on with different pretty ties. My fiancé and his father built the white birch arch that we used at the ceremony. My florist brought my vision to life with the arch. My fiance’s grandparents made all the stamped cloth napkins and all the burlap runners with lace trim. Also, all the lace table cloths are vintage and were collected by the bride and her family. We also made the moss covered letters on the front doors of our reception.

The inspiration for our wedding day revolved around the beautiful blooms of spring, the rustic feel of Tuscany, and many vintage touches. I love spring and beautiful gardens so we tried to bring the gardens inside. My husband did architecture school and we both enjoy the industrial, rustic look of Summerour Studio. The beautiful laces, vintage glass bottles, hand crochet doilies, vintage typewriter, and my handmade French lace wedding gown all added to the vintage details we love.

I remember the day I found out that Adelin’s mother had worked for some wonderful designers in the wedding dress industry. It was any girls dream come true to be able to design my own dress. I knew right away that I’d want a vintage looking lace gown. I traveled to NYC twice to pick out the perfect French alencon lace. My father made the final decision with the lace, and I am very proud of that. The dress construction started with Carmen, my fiance’s mother, and we stayed up many nights working on tweaking it to fit and flare perfectly. The color of the dress was crucial for me. We used a powdered blush silk for the lining and a cream taffeta silk for the dress. The lace was ecru, a darker ivory, giving the dress a very vintage look. I wanted it to be modest, yet beautiful. We designed a lovely bateau neckline that was continuous with the sweet cap sleeves and the open v-line back. We re-designed the lace with the contours of the curves. This took hours but it was well worth it making the dress appear to be made out of one piece of lace. I also wanted a long train and we made sure to make it as long as possible. The entire process was very special as I saw my dream come true with each step. The veil was very simple with small lace details to match the gown. I would love to pass this dress on to my daughters and keep it in the family as an heirloom.

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Photography: Arina Borodina | Floral Design, Ceremony: Hacman Floral | Floral Design for Reception, Personal Flowers + Design: Amy Osaba | Ceremony Venue: Lawrenceville Romanian SDA Church | Reception Venue: Summerour Studio | Cakes + Cupcakes: Anne Kathleen Cakes | Macarons: Mozart’s Bakery | Catering: Endive Fine Catering | Rentals: Settee-Event Décor Rentals | Cinematography: Dragos Photography and Videography | Makeup + Hair: Ann Tecu | Head Band: Cecille Boccara for BHLDN | Bridesmaids Dresses: BHLDN | Groomsmen Suits: J.Crew, H&M | Grooms Suit: Ben Sherman | Grooms Tie: Billy Reid | Grooms Shoes: To Boot New York | Flower Girls Dress: Baby Gap | Wedding Dress: Designed by Bride (Cindy Olteanu-Tanasa and handmade by mother-in-law Carmen Tanasa) | Bride’s Shoes: Coco Chanel

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
WIUP + Atlanta Wedding from Ashley Baber Weddings + Winners!

Bidding adieu to a week at SMP is never, ever easy. So we decided to kick things up a notch by squeezing in one last totally gorgeous “I do” before we send you off into the weekend. With Ashley Baber Weddings working hard behind the scenes and Our Labor of Love capturing the results, there’s one thing that’s for darn certain — this color-happy affair was an absolute hit.

From Ashley Baber Weddings…Erin and Rich were married in the Spring just outside of Atlanta at Barnsley Gardens. The bright + fresh color palette and endless creative details make this wedding truly memorable. Some of our favorite details:

+vibrant color palette
+maids in different color and style dresses
+stunning florals and lots of decor details– see the massive collection of vintage hanging bottles with colorful blossoms hanging from the tree at the ceremony site
+pre-ceremony drink cart
+chalk board ceremony program
+the bride’s dramatic entrance on a vintage rickshaw driven by her father
+the bulb light fixture over the dance floor in the reception tent
…and so much more!

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Photography: Kendrick + David for Our Labor of Love | Cinematography: Wages Films | Floral Design: Amy Osaba | Event Design: Amy Osaba + Erica Loesing | Event Planning: Ashley Baber Weddings | Ceremony + Reception Location: Barnsley Gardens | Invitations: Miss Pickles Press | Calligraphy: Moya Minns of MM Ink

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Time to reveal this week’s lucky duck winners!

Big hooray for Justine Farrow who will receive a BHLDN gift card allowing her to order the dress or item(s) of her dreams! 

And congrats to Vanessa who won a two-hour portrait session at Chateau Cocomar!

If you didn’t snag a prize this week, fear not lovelies, because there’s still time to enter Domaine Carneros’ “Sparkling Ever After” sweepstakes. What’s at stake? A $500 kate spade new york gift card, a signed copy of Style Me Pretty Weddings by our very own Abby Larson$545 in Paperless Post credits AND four cases of Domaine Carneros for kate spade new york special-edition sparkling brut rosé! Get all the entry how-tos right here!

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Enjoy every second of this sunshiny weekend — we’ll meet you back on Monday! xoxo

Atlanta Wedding from 3Ring Weddings + Scobey Photography

I love 3Ring Weddings… and not just because they know how to capture the pretty.  No, it’s more than that.  It’s their ability to really dive into the wedding; to share the real essence of the duo getting married. And when you combine their talents with a breathtaking day like with this sweet Atlanta affair held at the stunning Crowne Plaza Ravinia, it’s like the best three minutes you’ll ever see.  (Literally.)  Press play for every last second of lovely, and then stay tuned for one devastatingly gorgeous image after another from the amazing Scobey Photography.  Happy, happy Friday, indeed.

From 3Ring WeddingsIntroduced long distance via family friends, Geetika and Peter were friends first because, as Peter told her during their first phone conversation, he wanted “no strings attached.” They talked once per week after that. Geetika said she enjoyed the pressure-free friendship and they were comfortable in the friend zone for quite awhile.

Peter traveled from Georgia to Arizona to meet Geetika face to face. He visited her a couple more times before meeting her parents. At this point, even though they were still just friends, they began talking and texting almost every day. And while Peter is the one who initiated the “no strings attached,” he admits he knew from day one that they were meant to be together. But he also knew that Geetika needed more time and so he waited. “His perseverance to really rough it out and to never give up” is one of the qualities about Peter that Geetika admires most.

“She has a lot more kindness in her heart than I’ve seen in most people,” Peter says. “She doesn’t like to hurt anybody and she won’t say anything bad against anybody. That takes a lot… She’ll say, ‘Well, it’s not for me to put somebody down.’ That’s a big quality that I like in her. A quality that I don’t have.”

The couple had very different childhoods and thus they see the world differently. Yet Peter asserts, “Different people can come together.” The more Geetika and Peter talked, the more they felt they had a great deal in common. “Sometimes, even though we are so different, our differences can actually make it stronger,” Geetika explains. “We’ve learned a lot in these last six months. It makes the relationship even more stronger. You do have to work in every relationship, but it should come naturally and I think at this point it does come naturally.” They strove to make the most of their differences and work through them. When you look at life with “no strings attached” to your biases, you can overcome just about any obstacle.

“I think we all have dreams, but then… with him, I saw much more than I expected, in so many ways. It was more; it was never less,” Geetika muses. “Yes, we have our differences, but we can overcome them. They’re really insignificant when you take the whole picture. He was more than what I would dream of – in a lot of ways. You can’t get it all, but what you get is kind of priceless.”

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Photography: Scobey Photography | Cinematography: 3Ring Weddings | Ceremony Venue: St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Atlanta | Reception Venue: Crowne Plaza Ravinia, Atlanta | Event Planning + Hair + Makeup: Scoobie West | DJ – DJ Jaz | Event + Floral Design: Charles Vance of Jackson Durham

Atlanta Wedding from Artstar by Laura Stone

Every once in a while, a classically elegant wedding comes along and sweeps me off my wedding loving feet. Like Prince Charming, it’s traditionally stunning with ball gowns and roses, a white cake and candles, and I just eat it right up. Artstar by Laura Stone captured said wedding and tied it up in a pretty blue and green bow. It’s perfect for a day like today.

From the beautiful bride… Our meeting was pure happenstance, as we had been working in the same office complex for several years before we ever met. A chance meeting in the cafeteria, and the rest is history! We soon learned that the stars had aligned in our favor. We discovered that we had many similarities. For example, our fathers had worked for the same company for many years, we each had a brother named John (Jim’s brother John was ironically married to a woman with the same name as me), and we both had a sibling with special needs. The coincidences continued to pile up until it became clear that we were truly meant to be.

Jim’s proposal was heartfelt and personal. On a Wednesday evening in August, he arranged to arrive at my apartment before I got home from work where he had flower petals everywhere, roses and champagne waiting, and most importantly a ring tied around my pug, Bella’s neck. When I walked in from work that night, Bella ran right to me and I knew as I saw the pink ribbon around her neck, with a shiny diamond ring attached, what was coming. Jim got down on one knee and of course I said yes!

So, let the planning begin! We knew we wanted a ceremony and reception that was classic, elegant, and traditional but also with some unique elements. We decided to get married in Atlanta because it had meaning to us. Jim grew up here and this is where we met and now call home. For the ceremony, I chose a variation of my favorite color scheme: blue, green and white. We worked with a local vendor on our invitations to incorporate our colors and taste. The bridesmaids wore blue dresses with green and white flowers and I had an off white dress with traditional flowers. I wore my grandmother’s garter as my something old. We had a small wedding party that consisted of our close friends and family. Our ring bearer and flower girl were the son and daughter of my bridesmaids. We had our cousin’s hand out the order of worship. We decided in lieu of traditional wedding favors to make donations to organizations in honor of our brothers with special needs.

We were wed in the church by which we both belong (Peachtree Presbyterian) and by our minister, whom we hope to have baptize our kids someday! It was a beautiful traditional service in a warm and familiar setting. This was the easy part of our planning!

Finding a reception venue proved much more difficult as there were so many choices in so many different styles. Jim and I wanted something with indoor-outdoor access, city skyline and water view (not to much to ask, right)?! We happened to stumble upon what we believe to be the best venue in the city – Greystone at Piedmont Park. A hidden gem within one of the cities most beautiful parks, set in a picturesque section bordering a small lake, a pool and the midtown skyline. We knew the second we saw it that this was the place for us.

Looking back on our wedding day, we think of many wonderful memories. One that we will cherish forever is walking down the aisle and seeing each other for the first time, since we chose not to do a first look. We had a gorgeous, classic Rolls Royce drive us through the city to our reception, bag pipes lead us in to be introduced as husband and wife, King of Pops (a local popsicle vendor) on the outside balcony overlooking the pool, and spending time with our family and friends as we danced the night away. Couldn’t have been a more perfect day!

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Photographer: Artstar by Laura Stone | Videographer: Ryan Rodinis | Floral Designer: Tulip Blooming Creations | Event Designer/Planner: Nicole Fantz of Peachtree Wedding and Events | Invitation Designer: Avie Designs | Calligraphy: MM Ink | Desserts: Classic Cheesecakes and Cakes and King of Pops | Wedding Gown Designer: Amsale | Bridesmaids’ Dress Designer: J.Crew | Hair Brooch: Scott Antique Market | Hair and Makeup: Formal Faces | Venue: Greystone at Piedmont Park

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Atlanta Engagement Session from Altmix Photography

In case you hadn’t noticed, we take this whole “wrapping up the week in style” thing very seriously here at SMP.  So serious, in fact, that we thought we’d send a little something extra special your way this lovely Friday morning.  A little something we like to call “engagement session perfection” with a totally adorable Atlanta duo and an entire gallery of pretty captured by Altmix Photography.  Start your weekend off right in the full gallery.  It’s beyond lovely.

From the Bride-to-Be… Josh and I met at work. We had little interaction for almost a year until he commented on some pictures I had taken at an abandoned warehouse that a friend took me to when I got my “fancy” camera. Josh asked if I could take him there and one Sunday afternoon in July, I did. That afternoon is what we consider our first date. When Josh said he wanted to go back to the warehouse to take our engagement pictures, I was nervous about how pictures of two people in love in front of dilapidated and graffitied buildings would turn out. I asked him why he wanted to take pictures there and he recalled that during our first photo shoot, he was looking through his viewfinder at me and there was a moment where he “knew he was in trouble.” It was so romantic that I had to agree and I’m so glad I did. Our amazing photographers, Kate & Matt of Altmix Photography, loved the idea and ended up loving the warehouse venue. We spent hours wandering around the buildings and uncovering new places to shoot. Before we lost the light, we were able to hop over to the bridge by Josh and my house, which has the best view of downtown Atlanta. This shoot represents not only our style, as a couple but also the lesser known and more interesting places Atlanta has to offer. I hope that it inspires others to explore their neighborhood to find unique places to take pictures.

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Photography: Matt + Kate Altmix, Altmix Photography

Atlanta Wedding Film from 3Ring Weddings + Ashley Baber Weddings

I’m about to show you what can only be described as the cutest couple. They way they just adore each other is my favorite. The love is so transparent, the chemistry so strong, but that adoration? Man, I’m weak in the knees over the way they look at each other. 3Ring Weddings captured the essence of this couple, and their gorgeous wedding from Ashley Baber Weddings… I’m so excited to share it with you!

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From the cinematographer… Whether Emory and Katie are sitting at their favorite neighborhood bar or listening to the Avett Brothers as they cook, it is evident they simply love spending time together. From the moment they met both of them recognized they had something truly special. Katie commented, “I didn’t have any expectations for him and then there he was…he naturally became my fairy tale.”

Emory was also enchanted by Katie. “I never knew I would feel so confident about finding someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with…Yeah it’s just truly special.” Although Katie and Emory have a “happily forever after” essence to their relationship, they define it by hard work and communication. From the beginning they took a no nonsense approach by asking difficult questions and really seeking to see one another for the person they are. They quickly saw their romance had fire and self awareness in it and that they were intrigued, challenged, and simply enjoyed being with each other at all hours of the day.

It is evident this couple loves each other for who they are. Emory mentioned he loves how opinionated and enthusiastic Katie is and how she approached their friendship from a “take it or leave it” mentality. Happy as a bride can be, Katie explained, “For all the ways that he knows life is not perfect and people are not perfect that makes him perfect to me…that allows me space to really just be myself.”

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Venue: White Provision | Planner: Ashley Baber Weddings | Photographer: David Christensen Photography | Videographer: 3Ring Weddings | Band: Mo Sol