Georgia Weddings

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

Welcome back to another gorgeous week here at SMP Georgia. If you’re a farm girl at heart then you’ve come to the right place this morning because we’ve got a super sweet fete by Amy Arrington Photography to kick start your wedding gazing festivities. From the tire swing to the rooster to the sweet and simple cake, this wedding is all about keeping it natural, fun, and easy. And what’s not to love about that? Click here for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Amy of Amy Arrington Photography… October is such a nice time of year in the South. Flowers are blooming, the weather is nice, and we photographed a beautiful southern wedding on a farm in Madison, Georgia. The scene was so pretty with large oak trees, green fields, flowers, barns, and an old plantation-style home. There were even barnyard animals there including goats, and roosters! Katie and Chad were married underneath the most breathtaking large oak tree. The tree sported a tire swing, which was so much fun. The ceremony was so romantic with the golden sunlight beaming through.

Photography: Amy Arrington Photography / Wedding Location: Farm House Inn / Wedding Dress: WToo Brides via Bride Beautiful / Groom’s Suit: JoS. A. Bank / Jewelry: Grandmother / Bride’s shoes: Dillard’s / Flowers: Fifty Flowers / Floral Design: Mary Hall / Catering + Food: Mike McSherry Catering (706-474-4139) / Bride’s Cake: Publix / Music: Roger Smith of SuperSonic Events and Production / Hors d’oeuvres Table: Kim Bouy, bride’s aunt / Ceremony Guitar Music: Trey Balfour (donald.balfour@yahoo.com) / Umbrella Lights, Paper Lanterns, Windows for Signing, Table Numbers, Placecards, Burlap Tablecloths, Napkins + Dancing Shoes: DIY by bride and her mother

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!

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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.

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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.

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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

There’s just nothing like a sweet, sweet love story to fill the weekend with happy and this darling Savannah affair by Cheryl Joy Miner Photography is sure to leave you smiling ’til Monday with a bundle of heartwarming moments and one VERY adorable bride and groom.  Yes, these two lovebirds have most definitely captured our hearts with their sweet as can be proposal story, plus a wedding day that is filled to the brim with pretty details and vibrant blue and pink hues.  We’re LOVING every last fabulous moment planned by Posh Petals and Pearls and, trust us, you will, too!  Join us in the gallery for more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… I met my husband over five years ago and it was as close to love at first sight as it gets. Dan is a pilot and amazing at pulling romantic surprises out of nowhere. Once for my birthday, he rented a plane and flew me to a small island in Georgia for lunch. When he planned a trip to Savannah, Georgia as another surprise, he had no idea how madly in love we would fall with the city. As soon as we got there, we knew our wedding would have to be there, and that we would plan to live there one day. When Dan was ready to propose, as he told me later, he knew he would have to do it there. He proposed in Chippewa Square.

Being so completely in love, I just happened to find my dress before Dan and I were engaged. I tried on several others after his proposal, but I kept coming back to the one. It is blush, not traditional white, with a beaded lace-style overlay. It fit perfectly into the romantic, Southern theme of our wedding. My something borrowed was the jewelry. My aunt let me borrow her pearl and diamond drop earrings that she had designed for her own wedding. Another aunt let me borrow a vintage 8-10 carat diamond watch that was owned by my great aunt. I didn’t even know the watch existed until my aunt asked me if I would like to wear it for the wedding. The brooch on my bouquet, which my mother let me borrow, was also vintage and owned by another great aunt of mine. The borrowed family jewelry helped me stay on a budget and the family heirlooms are so special to me.

My younger sister studied art and went above and beyond to create beautiful, thoughtful signs and special details, like our ring bearer pillow with number pins from a vintage store in Savannah. My advice to future brides would be to find creative pieces and resources to make your wedding more special to you. You don’t necessarily have to buy something new for your wedding to be gorgeous. My sister’s hand painted signs, aunt’s earrings and my friends’ music meant so much more than anything I could have bought. Incorporating a bit of family history and vintage finds along the way will only make your day that much more special.

Wedding Photography: Cheryl Joy Miner Photography / Cinematography: Savannah Wedding Films / Flowers: Garden on the Square / Event Planning: Posh Petals and Pearls / Wedding Ceremony Location: Whitefield Chapel / Wedding Reception Location: The Olde Pink House (912-232-4286) / Wedding Dress: Sottero & Midgley / Bridesmaid Dress: Bill Levkoff / Praline Favors: River Street Sweets / Cake Topper + Other Creative Details: Cathy’s Concepts

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)

I can’t help but get excited for a new week to begin here at SMP Georgia. Where else can all you Georgian brides to be find gorgeous inspiration right in your own back yards? And speaking of backyards, we’ve got quite the pretty little number to brighten up your Monday morning. Captured brilliantly by Amy Arrington Photography, this laid back wedding has me wishing for a yard as pretty as this one. Click here for even more!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the bride… Our special day was perfect for us! We didn’t have the added stress of will he or won’t she say “I do” because, well, we already had. Russ and I eloped about a year prior to our wedding day and I couldn’t have planned it better myself. Once we made the announcement to our families, the planning began immediately. His parents’ backyard was the perfect location for us and things organically fell into place after we made that choice. Our “Save the Date” was a playful postcard that explained our story and set the tone for the good times to come!

We had a ceremony, with close friends and family, under two old oak trees in the backyard. The  ceremony was light-hearted and laid back. Exchanging our vows with those closest to us made the whole experience complete. Acoutic versions of songs we love, such as Van Morrison’s “Crazy Love” for the processional and exiting to Outkast’s “Hey Ya,” were played. A cocktail hour was the perfect transition from ceremony to reception, and as the remaining guests arrived, they were greeted with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the garden. An amazing dinner was served; afterwards, the first dance at sunset with the farm in the background and string lights overhead was purely magical. We hardly wanted to stop dancing and visiting with everyone to cut our beautiful carrot cake wedding cake or for the send off. In fact, we faked the send off and came right back, in our comfy clothes, to hang out until the night came to an end. The perfect ending to a long but wonderful day was our beautiful cabin awaiting us at Barnsley Gardens just down the road from the reception.

We were told in the planning process “if you can make it through planning a wedding, you can make it through anything.” I’d say we made it!  In fact, I think it enabled us to focus on the happiness we’ve found together and to enjoy the day. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Photographer: Amy Arrington Photography / Florist: The bride, William Towne + Evelin Garcia / Venue: Groom’s parents’ home / Band: The Dam Band / Caterer: Theresa Corcoran / Shoes: Laredo / Jewelry: Family / Cake: Perfect Wedding Cake / Dress: Vera Wang / Catering: Theresa Corcoran

If you follow the blog of Ginny Branch Sterling (and if you don’t you should immediately) then you know that she is the cutest, most charming and creative stylist and florist.  The proof doesn’t get much clearer than in this Glen Ella Springs Inn wedding complete with giant LOVE balloons, mason jars and vintage vases painted fuchsia and red and adorable details that you won’t find anywhere else. You can see Kate Byars‘ photographs at Southern Weddings but we have the delightful film by Nora Figlia in all its quirky and colorful glory.

From the bride... Our wedding was held in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains on October 1^st. It was important for us to find a venue that could accommodate all of our friends and family, while still feeling intimate and charming. The Glen Ella Springs Inn was the perfect choice for us as it is the most adorable bed and breakfast, owned & operated by the nicest family.

We wanted to use local vendors for everything we could, as it was so important to us to support local small businesses. We spent a lot of time hand selecting everyone that helped with our wedding and it paid off. We were so lucky to find the “wedding dream team” to pull everything together! The big day was attended by 140 of our closest friends and family and was absolutely perfect.

Our wedding video was taken by my amazingly talented childhood friend, Nora Figlia, who has recently started her own videography business. We are thrilled with how it turned out!

Film: Nora Figlia / Photographer: Kate Byars / Day-of coordinator: Misty Paige / Stylist: Ginny Branch Sterling / Venue: Glen Ella Springs Inn / Florist: Ginny Branch Stelling / Wedding Cake: Terri Watts of Watts Farmhouse / Caterer: Glen Ella Springs Inn / Rentals and Linens: Glen Ella Springs Inn / Paper Products: Ginny Branch Stelling / Bride’s Dress: Matthew Christopher via Gabriella New York / Bride’s Hair Accessories + Veil: Gracylu Originals and ban.do / Bride’s Shoes: Butter / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Accessories: Bloomingdales and vintage / Invitation Suite: Christy Thiessen / Hair & Makeup: Scoobie West / Photobooth Design + Props, Reception Garlands, Aisle Runner + Love Always sign: Erica Loesing / Groom’s Suit: Sid Mashburn

We may still be donning sweaters and sipping hot cocoa but that doesn’t keep us from looking ahead longingly towards spring.  We love weddings from all seasons around here but spring might be our favorite seasons especially with all the gorgeous springtime flowers blooming.  And who better to create a fairytale spring wedding than the floral goddess herself Amy Osaba.  This Dahlongega beauty by Kristen Alexander Photography is overflowing with some of our most beloved blossoms – peonies, anemones and sweet peas.  The gorgeous bride created all the sweet details herself and the outcome is absolutely divine!  See it all in the full gallery!

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

From the bride… Planning the wedding was a very exciting time, but challenging as well. My mom has always been my best friend, but she was my saving grace during this time. Jarod, my husband, was on deployment in Iraq the entire year prior to the wedding. I wanted to make it special for him as well, and my parents were there to make sure that I could do that. We were able to have a wedding that was better than we dreamed.

I wanted a vintage-style wedding, and it all started with the dress. I fell in love with a Pronovias laced dress I found at Elegant Bride in Dublin. To continue with the old world charm, my mom found crystal broaches and old tie pins from antique stores. She thought the broaches would be great for all the bouquets and the pins would look nice in the men’s boutonnieres. My mom and I tried to find broaches and pins that reminded us of the person who would wear it. We also found some headbands with black feathers, and my mom and I added some vintage pieces to them. A few of the bridesmaid’s headbands had my great grandmother’s earrings added to them. Each piece added to that vintage charm, and made it feel personal.

Jarod and I love the outdoors so an outdoor spring wedding was perfect for us. My parents and I found several venues, and I e-mailed the list to Jarod so that he could have some input even while in Iraq. I chose my favorite, but did not want to bias him, so I kept it a secret. He e-mailed back with several stars next to the name Montaluce Winery, saying he really wanted to have the wedding there. Montaluce was my favorite as well. It could not have been more perfect.

I truly wanted to capture spring throughout the entire wedding. We had fresh field-picked looking flowers, bright colors, and birds throughout. My adorable cousin has been a flower girl in several weddings, and she was unsure about carrying a bird’s nest instead of flowers. I fell in love with the idea, something spring-like yet different. When she saw the nest, she gave me the smile that meant she liked it too. My mom and I had so much fun coming up with different ways to marry the vintage and the spring together. We found antique looking bird cages online, and she found vintage postcards with birds on them. We took the idea to Peabody Papers of Columbus, Ohio, and they printed up birds names and the guests tags. This allowed us to place the names on the vintage post cards and create a unique way to name each table after a bird. We placed the bird cages on each table throughout the venue.

The wedding was more than Jarod or I could ever imagine. It went smoothly thanks to the help of Crevolyn and Emily at Wonderful Events. The horse drawn carriage ride to and from the ceremony, provided by Black Magic Carriages, allowed me to include my love for horses. The final touch to make the day so special and romantic was Paul Douglas. His guitar and vocals were beautiful. He learned “Marry Me” by train just for when I walked down the aisle. It all made for an incredible day.

Wedding Photography: Kristen Alexander Photography / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Wedding Venue: Montaluce / Wedding Cake: Frosted Pumpkin / Stationery: Peabody Papers / Floral Design: Amy Osaba / Horse Drawn Carriage: Black Magic Carriage / Event Planners: Crevolyn and Emily Wiley at Wonderful Events and Celebrations

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

Wow, I can’t believe this is the last post for 2011! What a pretty, pretty year its been here at SMP Georgia and we are going out with quite a bang. This gorgeous vintage chic garden wedding by 13:13 Photography will literally knock your wedding socks off! And wait til you see the adorable succulent-tea cup place settings…a new favorite for sure! Click here to see even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From 13:13 Photography…Laurel and Blake’s elegant garden wedding held at the breathtaking Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Getting the chance to shoot in different surroundings and to see things new and for the first time is an opportunity we always jump at. So needless to say we’ve been anxiously awaiting this wedding to get here already!

The weeks leading up to the wedding we were in contact with Laurel’s mother, Hope. Every phone call or email from her was like tearing off a small piece of wrapping paper and getting a sneak peak at their vision for the wedding. Hope is an artist and that creativity and meticulous energy came through in every single beautiful detail.

We could not have asked for a more beautiful day, location, and couple. It was a real treat to be apart of it all and can’t thank them enough for choosing us!

Wedding Photography: 13:13 Photography / Venue + Catering: Callaway Gardens / Wedding Dress: Bridal Bliss / Wedding Coordinator: Sharon Jones of Callaway Gardens / Musicians: Paul Tallehany + Sally Chambliss / Reception Music: The Southern Gentlemen / Flowers: Denise Reynolds / Stationery: Bella Figura / Wedding Cake: Liz Justice / Bridal Hair + Make-up: Spa Prunifolia at Callaway Gardens / Pillbox Hat: Violet Bells

All of you Georgia Bulldogs fans are going to go gaga over this next engagement session by Studio B Photography – because it is as cute as they come! Complete with custom Save the Date jerseys and loads of SEC charm, it’s easy to see why we fell in love with this duo. After sweetening up Sanford Stadium, the couple then went took it to the farm so their pup could join the party, and if I said it couldn’t get cuter – well it just did. Click here for more!

From Studio B Photography…When Megan asked if I’d be willing to head up to Athens to do part of their engagement shoot at Sanford Stadium (which, if you’re from another state or not into sports, is where the UGA football team plays) I was definitely up for it! Tripp played football at Georgia, and with all of the great memories that the stadium held for both of them, it was the perfect place for photos.

Megan had the fantastic idea of having custom jerseys made for them to wear in a few pictures so they could use them for their Save the Dates. It was fun roaming around the stadium while Tripp told us stories about his time on the team. After pictures at the stadium we went over to Tripp’s friend’s farm, where we were able to include their sweet dog Cody in some pictures. The rustic farm atmosphere lent itself to some great photos featuring the beautiful property and the adorable animals that call it home.

Photography: Studio B Photography / Custom Save The Date Jerseys: Epic Sports

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 have the prettiest way to start your Monday thanks to Ali Harper Photography and this lovely Athens affair.  The.prettiest. With the deep blue hues and that timeless elegance that never fails to grab my heart strings and play the sweetest of songs – it’s would be hard to not adore every bit of this post. There is more lovely where this came from – have no fear – the gallery is full of so much more! Happy Monday Georgia!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Ryan and I met in Athens nine years ago, as freshmen at the University of Georgia. We’ve been together for eight years, but not always actually together. After graduating, he lived in Boston while I lived in Atlanta. After three years of long-distance dating, we met in the middle–Indianapolis, where we live now. We considered six or seven different cities to get married in–everywhere from Chicago to Savannah to San Juan (we love to travel and have been fortunate to take many trips together). But something about Athens, going back to where it all began, just felt right.

I come from a big Italian family but didn’t want a big traditional Italian wedding. We both wanted a simple celebration that was close-knit and comfortable, with lots of good food and lots of dancing. And that’s exactly how it turned out! The Foundry was the perfect venue because it’s like a small village with everything you need in walking distance. Our ceremony was inside the historic foundry space, and our reception was outdoors on the pavilion and lawn. The weather couldn’t have been better–mid 70s and not a cloud in the sky in late September. It was like a perfect “Indian Summer” day, which is what we’d hoped for all along.

Wedding Photography: Ali Harper Photography / Day-of Coordination: Dawn Gahan / Venue + Catering: The Foundry Park Inn / Floral Design: Gardenia / Music: Black Tie Events / Hair + Make-up: Bella Salon / Wedding Dress: Private Label / Tuxedos: JoS A Bank / Bridesmaid Dresses: Alfred Sung / Bride’s Shoes: Gianna Bini / Jewelry: Vintage

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!

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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!

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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 are doubling…make that quadrupling…up our usually dose of inspiration today.  We’ve combed through all of our main page posts to find you a few of our favorite Georgia posts.  Make sure you visit each post and gallery to see all the fantastic details!

To kick things off we have a gorgeous Atlanta wedding from Harwell Photography and Ashley Baber Weddings full of rich colors and classic, romantic details.

Whimsical and fun doesn’t even begin to describe this adorable library-themed wedding from Aharon Hill Photography.  The details are plenty and perfectly styled too.

We continue things with a contemporary celebration by Melissa Schollaert Photography.  It’s a big, beautiful breath of chic and modern fresh air.

We’ll end things on a sweet note with this lakeside wedding.  It doesn’t get much better than cute, country details and amazing photography by Our Labor of Love.

We’ve curated quite the collection of inspiration for you today with a little bit of something for everyone from classic to contemporary to country.  Pick your favorite and make sure you spend sometime in the full galleries!

If I looked this cute the day after my wedding, I definitely would have had a fabulous photographer like Haley Sheffield snap images of me and my hubby frolicking in a field with flowers and doily garlands. This couple is seriously cute and basking in the glow of their post wedding day bliss. If their day after shoot was this amazing, I can only imagine how gorgeous their actual wedding was! Click here for even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From The Photography of Haley Sheffield…Matt and Abbie’s day after session was incredibly special. There are some FABULOUS Southern vendors involved in the making of this session, in addition to the lovely Jannie Baltzer headpiece that Abbie wears for the second half of the session. Vintage rentals, fresh flowers, handmade paper goods… it has all sorts of charm.

Location: Private Home + Barn / Photography: The Photography of Haley Sheffield / Vintage Rentals: Four Inch Fold / Floral Design: Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio / Paper Goods (Doily Envelope, Hand-stitched Initial Invite, DIY Doily Bunting): A Darling Day / Bridal Headpiece: Jannie Baltzer / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew / Wedding Dress: Enzoani