My Bride Idea

2012-02-12T15:15:00.003-05:00

Are you on Pinterest?? I am so follow me!! Post the link to your board in the comment box below so we can look at your wedding inspiration.

Will You Be My Bridesmaid??

2012-01-27T10:36:00.000-05:00

I was helping a bride come up with cute ways to ask her friends to be her bridesmaids. She wanted to do something other than cards and I found several cute ideas. How did you ask your girls??

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Paper Flowers

2012-01-12T08:27:00.007-05:00

So I was doing research on origami flowers (like the first picture below) and found that there is a whole art to this and many different styles. I have gathered up a few images of the ones I like best. Several of them even come with a DIY tutorial!

Image and tutorial found here

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And if that isn't enough, a DIY rose tutorial can be found here! Happy crafting!!

Real Weddiings: Kat & Adam!!

2012-01-12T07:47:00.000-05:00

Katherine and Adam were married May 14th, 2011 at the Botanical Gardens in Athens, GA. I love this venue. The Day Chapel is stunning and the grounds are beautiful. No matter what time of year you are guaranteed to have amazing pictures.

This was an extremely fun couple with great friends. We had so much fun!

Kat wanted simple flowers and didn't want to spend a ton of money on them. I told her I would make them for her. They turned out pretty good if I do say so myself!

The reception was held in the visitors center.

Time for cake!

See, told ya they were fun!

Kat wanted simple centerpieces since the visitors center had plenty of plants and flowers already.

Bridesmaids bouquet.

Bubble exit!! They do show up in photos at night.

Congratulations Kat and Adam!! Thanks so much for allowing us to be a part of your special day. We had a blast!!

All images provided by More than Words Photography.

Hanging Centerpieces

2012-01-07T09:00:00.010-05:00

I am all about hanging centerpieces this year. I have yet to see this done so if you are one of my brides, I'll probably be suggesting this to you! Some of the images below have something hanging and a centerpiece on the table. My thought behind a hanging centerpiece is that it will keep you from having anything (besides maybe some candles) on the tables. Just think of how much money you will save (especially on flowers) and you will save even more if you can rent what you are hanging!

The first image uses mason jars with flowers and hanging votives. It looks like they have the food served family style. Loving this.

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Now this is very elegant! Tons of hanging votive bulbs are used and a low floral table centerpiece. This will add a lot of candle light and the uplighting adds that extra touch that totally transforms the room.
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This is great for an estate table set up. I can also see this in a barn type reception using sunflowers or daisies. I can also envision using different sizes/heights of mason jars with candles in them on the tables. This can be a DIY project and save a ton on the floral budget.
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Click on the link below to see the way these are hung. The "thing" they are hanging from is almost a piece of art in itself. These globes can have a flower or candle in them. Simple and beautiful!
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Love the hanging flowers combined with the globes.
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Chandeliers are covered in flowers and hung above the estate table.
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Votives hung from ribbon.
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I found this image on Etsy but the seller no longer has them listed. I did this for a bride to use during her ceremony but this idea can also be used for the reception.

Real Weddings: Amanda & Randy!!

2012-01-02T08:31:00.000-05:00

Amanda and Randy were married June 18th, 2011 at The Loft at Castleberry Hill. This was a fun, unique venue which fit my fun, unique couple perfectly! The awesome images below are from Tara Daly Jones of Greenville, South Carolina- where my fantastic couple is also from. Up first, the brides dress hanging from the ceiling of the venue. I love that the art is also hanging from the ceiling next to it.

The beautiful bride before her walk down the isle. Just breathe!!

The new Mr. & Mrs. with their friend/officiant. They are sooooooo happy!!

Love the kicks! Told ya they were fun. :)

The new Mr. & Mrs. being announced into their reception, all smiles.
The room can be separated into two rooms by an air wall. We had one side of the room set up for the ceremony and the other half set up with the tables and chairs. Once the ceremony was over we flipped the room by adding the head tables and spreading the already set up guest tables out.

We kept the centerpieces minimal since the venue had visual elements in place. There was art on the walls and ceilings and all of the lighting was unique as well.

The flowers were done by La Belle Weddings. I've worked with these ladies several times (they also rent chivari chairs, chargers, centerpieces, and more) and they are a pleasure to work with.

The brides bouquet and the brides maids bouquets were used to decorate the head table.

And what wedding isn't complete without a candy buffet?? The containers are mine so if you are on of my brides you can use them for FREE, just provide the candy!

The delicious cake was made by a friend of the couple. As you can see, their kicks were replicated and made into the cake topper!

As you can see, a fun time was had by all!

And if you travel to Atlanta all the way from SC, you have to have a picture taken with highrises in the background!

Congratulations Amanda and Randy! Thanks so much for allowing us to be a part of your special day. It was a night we will never forget!! :)

Real Weddings: Caroline & Stephen!!

2011-12-30T09:44:00.000-05:00

Caroline and Stephen were married September 17th, 2011 at Northside United Methodist Church. This church is simply stunning. I wish I could come up with another word to describe how beautiful this church is. Thankfully I don't have to come up with words because the uber talented Courtney Goldman was there to capture the day!

See what I mean?? The stained glass windows are gorgeous, the high arched ceiling makes the acoustics fabulous, the lanterns hanging from the ceiling are stunning and the ones that are on the ends of the isles are a part of the church, not rented!!A fun shot of the girls! Luann Fite designed the flowers for the wedding.
The new Mr. & Mrs!
The yummy cake was provided by Frosted Pumpkin.

The Atlanta Beat Band provided the tunes for the evening. And as you can see, they rocked!

The couple provided favors of personalized bar glasses.

Bottled water was provided for the guests as they exited for the evening. Bubble exit!

A big congratulations to Caroline and Stephen. Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your big day!!

Real Weddings: Linnet & Brendan!!

2011-10-05T17:45:00.011-04:00

Linnet and Brendan were married August 27th, 2011 at Agnes Scott College in Decatur. This was my first wedding at the women's college and I was blown away by the beauty of this campus. No wonder a lot of movies have been shot here! Robert Combier was the couple's photographer. You can see all of the stunning images from this wedding by clicking here. This first image is of my beautiful bride and her bridesmaids in the chapel.

While the ladies got ready in the chapel the guys were in a building nearby keeping the groom calm by cracking jokes! They were a great group.Instead of a flower girl the bride chose to have a "flower princess". Love this idea! Julie with Unique Floral Expressions did a fabulous job with all of the flowers.

The flower princess carried a decorative platter with rose petals that she scattered during the processional.

The Julia Thompson Smith Chapel is beautifully decorated and needs minimal (if any) additional decoration, saving you money.After the ceremony was over we lined the guests up outside the chapel in two lines to toss petals at the couple as they walked through. It was a lot of fun!The campus has a lot of great locations for pictures.

The couple changed for the reception to honor Linnet's heritage.

The couple asked to use my birdcage for their cards. If you are one of my clients you can use it for free, too!

The reception was held in Evans Hall and it is simply stunning.

The windows and lights are unlike any other in the Atlanta area.

Ring shot!

Love the henna!

The guys decorating the get away car. Told ya they were hilarious!

Your planner hard at work. Sparklers are not easy my friends.

Best sparkler exit ever!! (No kidding)

A very BIG thank you to Brendan and Linnet for allowing us to be a part of your special day. It was a day we will never forget.

Real Weddings: Mary & Miguel!!

2011-09-30T17:30:00.005-04:00

Mary & Miguel were married July 9th, 2011 at the Roswell River Landing. They wanted a festive, Caribbean feel for their wedding and they achieved that vision with the use of bright colors. Splash of Life Portraits took the wonderful images below. First up, my beautiful bride Mary! I love her turquoise jewelry.

We hung Chinese lanterns from the two big chandeliers and used stretchy chair covers with alternating pink and orange sashes. The blue table linens and yellow napkins helped pull the look together.

The cake color was an exact match to the table linens. The flowers, from Fifty Flowers, were exactly what the bride wanted to give the room the festive, Caribbean vibe she wanted.

Here comes the bride! I love how happy she looks. The ceremony and cocktail hour were held outside on the deck. The high boy tables for the cocktail hour were draped in bright colored linens with votive candles.

The new Mr & Mrs! The view of the river from the deck is a great backdrop for pictures. You can decorate this space or leave it. It's very versatile!

The attire for the wedding party was bright and fun. The flowers were ordered from Fifty Flowers and I arranged them that day. It's a great, budget friendly way to have what you want at a price you can afford!

Another great shot of the bride by the river!

Cake time! I have seen most brides have the cake in front of the fireplace but Mary wanted hers in the corner of the room by the windows. I loved the idea, especially since the sun was setting. Beautiful!

In lieu of a guest book the couple decided to have guests sign cards and drop them in the bucket. hey took the cards with them on their honeymoon to read while traveling. It's a great way to remember your wedding day for years to come.

Sparkler exit!! Thanks Mary and Miguel for allowing us to be a part of your special day. To see all of the images from this festive wedding, click here.

Real Weddings: Nicole & Chris!!

2011-09-30T16:30:00.015-04:00

Nicole and Chris were married on May 21st, 2011 at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. The wonderful Andrew Thomas Lee captured the beautiful images below. Click here to view their engagement pictures and here to see the full blog post of wedding pics. The couple decided to see each other before the ceremony and y'all know how much I love this idea.

Callanwolde has so many great places to take pictures. The grand stair case is just one of many. The window itself is stunning.My happy couple just being pronounced husband and wife by the wonderful Rev. D!A few fun shots before the reception.
Nicole knew what she wanted her wedding to look like from the moment I met with her and everything she envisioned came to be. She loved the look of vintage parasols and she rented these from Bella Umbrella.
.The reception was in side the house and Endive did a bang up job on the food. Everyone (including myself) was raving about how delicious it was.
The table decorations were exactly like the images Nicole showed me when we met. I'm telling you. This bride knew what she wanted!
Personalized matches were placed in vintage glass bowls on the tables for the guests.The cakes were provided by Celsos and were delicious as always..A big part of Nicole's vision were the flowers. Le Bonne Fleur gave her exactly what she wanted. The flowers were stunning and added the vintage touch the bride was going for.
The couple used uplighting (which was provided by their DJ, Chris Meeks with Pulse DJ) which gave the room a nice warm glow. I am a big fan or uplighting. It can totally change the feel of a room.A few more fun shots!
And off we go with sparklers!!
Congratulations Nicole and Chris! Thank you for allowing My Bride Idea to be a part of your big day.

Real Weddings: Jessica & Phil!!

2011-09-30T12:51:00.007-04:00

Jessica and Phil were married April 30th, 2011 at the Brady Inn in Madison, GA. I wanted to start the post with a picture of Jessica getting ready. I like this picture because its so calm. Most of the time the getting ready aspect of the wedding day is crazy and hectic. This is how it's supposed to be!

The couple decided to see each other before the ceremony for pictures. I love this. It allows for more photo time and some really cool first look images.

How sweet is this?? I can just feel the love. This is the kind of shot I was talking about. A lot of couples feel that if they do a first look they will not get the "Wow" factor when the bride walks down the isle. Trust me, the "Wow" factor lasts all day.

The ceremony was held behind the house. They have a really cool arbor and plenty of space for seating guests and musicians.

Here are some of the detail shots from the ceremony. The wedding had a vintage theme and I think the brides choice of flowers and cool containers reflected that perfectly. Origami birds were also a big part of the ceremony. Sweet and unsweetened tea was provided for the guests as a pre-party refreshment, and a nice southern touch.

My beautiful bride and her dad, Ron. Origami birds also lined the isle.

The origami theme continued to the arbor where they were hung in strands from the top. I think this is a really cool idea. The different patterns and colors added a nice, inexpensive touch to the decor.

My favorite shot! The new Mr & Mrs look so happy. I just love all of the smiles during the recessional.

The Brady Inn has a lot of cool spots for pictures. They also have a lot of space to entertain your crowd. The couple made sure that there was fun stuff for the guests to do during the cocktail hour. There were games like croquet and bocce ball plus there was a beer tasting! Click here to see the full blog post from Rich Smith Photography.

Still loving the monogrammed parasol trend. This is one I hope doesn't go away!

After the pictures were done it off to bustle the dress. I love how everyone seems to be busy but the bride and groom find a moment to share in their newly wedded bliss.

The seating assignments were hung from old shutters, tying the vintage theme together. The art on the cards were taken from the invitations and even tied into the favors, a custom coozie!

The decorations for the tables were flowers in mason jars and other cool vintage bottles with the addition of antiques like sewing machines, fans and cameras.

I just love this couple!!
Not only was there cake, but the couple has several different types of pies, and a candy buffet (pictured below)!

I love uplighting but my couple went a step further and had a pattern displayed on the ceiling of the tent. So cool.

They also had a photo booth. This was a hit and tons of fun, evident by the picture below. Click here to see more images from Strut!

Congratulations Jessica and Phil!! Thanks so much for allowing us to be a part of your special day.

Real Weddings: Taryn & AJ

2011-07-17T19:45:00.001-04:00

Another real weddings post from last year! Taryn and AJ were married June 26th, 2010 at the Vines Mansion in Loganville, GA. Most of the images below are compliments of Atwell Photography and some are by a friend of the bride. The first image is from the Vines website. I didn't have one of the front of the house and wanted y'all to see how beautiful it is!

A couple of pre-wedding shots!The ceremony took place in the back of the house. I believe there used to be a pool here. There is a small building to the right (not pictured) that can be used for a ceremony. It was our plan "B" in case of rain.

Our beautiful flower girl!

My stunning bride moments away from walking down the isle. Don't you just love her veil?? I made it!!

The new Mr and Mrs!!

A couple of fun ring shots.

And a fun shot of the bride and her girls!

There are several rooms in the house for guests to sit and eat. This is one half of the front room. We used the foyer for dancing.

The bride made her table numbers using their engagement pictures.

The table setting for the bridal party was a gift from the brides Aunt.

Time for cake! I tell all of my couples that cake cutting time is also a good time for a ring shot.

Who doesn't love getting serenaded by a bunch of hotties??

Congratulations Taryn and AJ! Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your special day.

Real Weddings: Anna & Matt!!

2011-07-17T14:14:00.006-04:00

Okay. I know I have been slacking with the blog posts, sorry! So since I am playing catch up we will start with a wonderful wedding that took place at the Old Decatur Courthouse on November 6th, 2010. Anna and Matt were a wonderful couple that we just loved working with. They were so fun and full of energy. You can tell from the fabulous pictures taken by Courtney and Zara from Project Duo!

The beautiful flowers were perfect for a fall wedding. I like how there were subtle hints of fall in the bouquets.

My stunning bride, Anna!!

And her handsome groom, Matt!

We used two of these arrangements during the ceremony and then used them again (along with others) as table centerpieces for the reception.

There is a piano at the Courthouse that we placed family photos on during the ceremony. Afterward we moved the pictures to the windows and used the piano to display the cake and cupcakes.

The rings, please.

One of my favorite shots!!

The new Mr. and Mrs. Brothers!!

While the couple and their bridal party were taking pictures and the guests enjoying cocktail hour, my staff along with Bold American Catering were busying transforming the room for the reception.

After dinner and a little dancing it was time for cake!

The couple had a photo booth during the reception and the bride decided to sneak in on one of the shots with her guests!

After a long night of food and fun it was time to see our couple off with sparklers. Thankfully these were the super long kind!!

Congratulations Anna and Matt!! Thanks for letting us be a part of your special day.

Love these pictures and want to see more?? Click here to see their slide show!!

Lanterns

2011-03-13T16:50:00.000-04:00

I was in IKEA the other day and noticed they had a lot of cute lanterns for the low. Click here to see some them. The planner in me instantly thought of using them for a wedding. Below are some pictures of them being used during a ceremony. My thought is that after the ceremony you can have your awesome planner (me) move them to the reception and use them as either centerpieces or creatively displayed throughout the room. What are your thoughts??

Above image found here

Real Weddings: Elizabeth & Nathan

2011-03-13T10:51:00.000-04:00

Elizabeth and Nathan were married June 5th, 2010 at the Bona Allen Mansion in Buford, GA. It was a beautiful day for a wedding, as you can see by the stunning images below taken by Platinum Bride Photography. I know I don't usually start off with an image of the couple but I wanted you to see the front of the mansion.

The ceremony was held outside in the garden. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and will fit in with any color scheme.

When guests arrived they were offered water and lemonade to help keep cool before the ceremony started. This is a great idea and is very much appreciated by your guests! Summers in Georgia can be unbearably hot.

I love an isle that is not only lined with petals but also has petals scattered down it like a runner. We all know how I feel about aisle runners, yuck! If you are concerned that the petals will get trampled on before you walk down the isle it can be roped off. Guests enter from the ends of the isle and the rope is removed before the processional begins.

My beautiful bride! The stairs take you to the second level of the house where the bride and groom rooms are. There is also space for additional seating.

Another stunning image. I love the flowers Elizabeth chose. The colors are so vivid. Her florist was Nicole Bishop with Environmental Florals.

The bride used her grandmothers pin on her bouquet. This is a trend that I hope never goes away. It is a great way to keep loved ones close to you on your big day plus it can also be your something old or borrowed.

The happy couple! I love how Elizabeth is holding Nathan's hand. Seriously, if this shot doesn't make you feel the love something is wrong with you.

An awesome shot of the bridal party. So fun!! I love action shots.

The bride and groom about to be introduced at their reception. Love the sunglasses.

This was a fun spin on a photo booth. We set up a tripod and camera in a corner of the house with a framed sign telling guests what to do. We also provided fun hats, sunglasses, boas, and other props. It was a hit!

The delicious cake was provided by It's about Thyme.

Random shot of me! We had to break out he emergency kit to repair the brides dress.

The porch was the perfect spot for dancing. Once the sun set the temperature cooled down but it was smokin hot on the dance floor! All of the guests had so much fun dancing the night away.

Sparkler exit!! What a great way to end a perfect day. A big thank you to Elizabeth, Nathan and their families. We are so happy to have been a part of your special day. :)

Brooch Bouquet

2011-03-06T15:53:00.001-05:00

How cool is this?? I have started buying brooches and as soon as I collect about 50 I am making my own. Click here to learn how to DIY this amazing bouquet.

Freebies!!

2011-03-06T12:43:00.000-05:00

If your colors are pink and chocolate I have a great freebie for you! Martha Stewart created these cute dancing shoes tags and drink sign. Click on the link below each image to be redirected to the instructions and download page!

Click here for the shoe tags

Click here for the drink sign

Real Weddings: Carla & James

2011-03-03T17:45:00.000-05:00

Carla and James were married October 10th, 2010 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This is a great venue even if you are not a NASCAR fan! The couple had their ceremony in the clubhouse and the reception in the ballroom.
Here is the mandatory dress/shoe shot! A big thank you to Onli Ball for the pictures.
You know I love to show a picture of the couple after they are pronounced husband and wife. What I love more is a dancing couple!!
Here are a few formal shots of the bride and groom by the track.
The flowers and decor were provided by the fabulous Mirza Mirely with Events by M. Not only is she awesome but her prices are super affordable!
It's fun to watch when the couple has choreographed their first dance. I also like to hear what they chose as their song. You can tell a lot about who they are as a couple just by their song choice.
A few detail shots of the escort cards, cake and champagne glasses, ballroom, and the pool table shaped grooms cake. Both cakes were provided by Confection Perfection.
The bride and groom were very civil when feeding each other the cake. Grooms take my advice, if you plan on smashing the cake in your brides face PLEASE reconsider. Us ladies take FOREVER to get ready on our wedding day and if you ruin our hair and makeup you might find yourself sleeping alone on your wedding night!A few more detail shots. Remember when I said carnations that are grouped tightly together look almost identical to roses?? Well, what do you think about the centerpiece below??
Some venues don't allow sparklers, flowers or bubbles. Still want a grand exit?? We line up all of your guests and ask them to clap and cheer for you as you make your way to your get away car. One guest found a few left over petals and decided to throw them at our couple. The groom tried to catch them!
Congratulations Carla & James! Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your big day!

Baby's Breath

2011-03-03T12:35:00.000-05:00

Sat what you want about baby's breath but all I can say right now is WOW!! The images below are simply stunning. Baby's breath on it's own is whispy and romantic. Now, I will still pluck it out of an arrangement but if I were getting married right now I would totally do this.

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So have I changed your mind, too?? :)

Real Weddings: Allison & Donald

2011-02-02T12:35:00.003-05:00

Allison & Donald were married at the Old Decatur Courthouse on October 17th, 2010. Jeff Roffman was the couples photographer. Let me say how much I love a daytime wedding. It can save money with your vendors, but the best part is the pictures turn out amazing! To see more images click here.

The courthouse and the surrounding area is beautiful. There are so many great places to take pictures. The image below was taken inside the courthouse.

My beautiful bride, Allison!

The flowers were created by Julie Coffin with Unique Floral Expressions.

Another stunning image of my beautiful bride. This was also taken inside the courthouse in the Harrison Room. This room can be used for the ceremony if you have a small crowd.

We used the main ballroom for both the ceremony and reception. Flipping the room isn't a big deal. Just make sure you have an awesome planner (ME!) and a caterer who's staff has been notified that they will be assisting in the room flip. My couple used Endive and I highly recommend them. Not only is the food AMAZING, but everyone is wonderful to work with.

I love the look on Allison's face. She is the happiest bride!!

Yay for awesome pictures!! The first one was taken outside of one of the neighboring shops. The one below it was taken in front of one of the entry ways to the courthouse.

The delicious cake was provided by Celsos. The couple chose love birds as their theme. There is a working piano in the main ballroom. Some couples like to have their cake to sit on top of it but my couple chose to decorate it with family pictures.

Allison and Donald live close by so they decided to ride their bikes home! Congratulations! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your big day. :)

Fun Centerpieces

2011-01-30T22:08:00.008-05:00

While looking for candle centerpieces (like the one below) I came across a few images I wanted to share with my readers. I love anything offbeat and these just seem to fit that style perfectly! I love this first one because it is only candles and no flowers. I have a bride who is getting married at the State Botanical Gardens in Athens, GA. It is so pretty naturally that it doesn't need much decorations. I think something like this would be a nice centerpiece and would add warmth and romance to the atmosphere.

And you know I love this idea! Mini cupcakes are grouped to look like flowers in a pot. I think this would be cute on a candy buffet. Or a kids table.

The simplicity of hydrangea and limes is so beautiful. Hydrangea can get costly so a budget friendly idea would be to use carnations.

This is another cute and easy to DIY centerpiece. Loosely grouped daisies and lime slices are a great way to add color. I guess I am all about limes this season!

Above images found here

Real Weddings: Ashley & Spencer

2011-01-19T16:00:00.006-05:00

Ashley and Spencer were married May 28th, 2010 at Greenforest Community Church in Decatur, GA. The flowers were done by Nina at Bella Blooms and all of the images are courtesy of Aragon Photography.

Now you know I love to show the happy couple during the recessional but I thought this picture was too cute not to share. Ashely was so excited that she jumped into Spencer's arms! I also love all the smiles from their bridal party.

The couple held their reception at The Piedmont Room in Midtown. The Piedmont Room has fabulous views of the Midtown skyline and is just beautiful at night. There is a fabulous gate that is a great photo op. The following three pictures were actually taken a few days after the wedding. This is a great idea! You can kinda do a trash the dress session with your hubby and get more pictures, and who doesn't love taking more pictures!!

The couple found a coffee table book with great pictures to use as their guest book.

The bride chose a classic bouquet of red roses for herself ans a small clutch of calla lilies for the bridesmaids. The reception centerpieces were a mixture of low and high vases that carried the red theme throughout the reception.

The high centerpieces, seen below, had a "ball" of red carnations perched on top. When carnations are clustered tightly together they resemble roses. This is a great way to help cut your floral bill. The bride also chose to have a candy buffet for her favors.

Cake!! Celso's made both cakes and they were yummy. The grooms cake is made to resemble his fraternity's crest.

The bride DIYed the paint and red crystals on her monogram. I think I like this better than the I DO letters more commonly seen on the cake table.

Sparkler exit!! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day. Congratulations Ashely and Spencer!! :)

Ice Cream!!

2011-01-16T13:14:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I know we are still thawing out from the snowpocalypse of 2011 but I am thinking about summer weddings and nothing screams summer like ice cream!! I love the idea of having an ice cream station which puts a great spin on the candy buffet. Laura & Kevin had one at their wedding and I would love to see more this summer. I found a great post about this on Eat Drink Chic's blog and thought I would share it here. Not only is it visually appealing but it taste great, too! Hop on over to her blog and check it out. There are free downloads, too!!

Real Weddings: Lindsay & Andrew

2011-01-08T14:17:00.008-05:00

Lindsay and Andrew were married May 29th, 2010 at the Thompson House and Gardens in Bogart, GA. We have done three weddings here and really love this venue. There are so many great spots for pictures. Alea Moore was the couples photographer. You can click here to see more stunning images from this wedding.

One tradition that we don't see very often stems from Turkish wedding culture. There, it is a tradition to have all your single girlfriends sign the soles of your wedding shoes. It is said that the person whose name fades the most after the shoes have made their way down the aisle and seen their time on the dance floor will be the next to get married.

The ceremony was held at St. James United Methodist Church in Athens, GA. The ceremony flowers were done by Jennifer with Georgia Blooms.

The flowers at the reception were done by On Guest with the Thompson House. On is a fabulous florist! I think it is great that she offers florals as part of her services. It is also nice to have as few vendors as possible on your wedding day. Having too many can cause confusion!

For their favors, the couple offered guests take home cookies and nutty buddies along with Starbucks coffee.

I love the look on Andrew's face! I also like that he is oblivious to the fact that he is stepping on Lindsay's dress.

Congratulations and thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day!!

Real Weddings: Meredith & John

2010-11-18T10:17:00.009-05:00

Meredith and John were married September 18th, 2010 at the Thompson House and Gardens in Bogart, GA. This is our third time at this venue and we love it! Molly and Christina from Red Fly Studio took the stunning images below. We love working with these two ladies. Not only are they super talented but they are so nice and a pleasure to work with. Please click here to see more stunning images from this wedding.
The above image is the back of the house and it's where the cocktail hour was held. It's also a nice spot to go when you need a break from dancing or if you want a quiet spot to chat.

The favors were seed paper (above) and candy from the yummy buffet. I am a big fan of the seed paper favor. Your guests plant it and something pretty grows to remind them of your wedding day. And who doesn't love candy?? There are several different types of candy buffet variations. Click here to see a post I did about it! I also rent candy buffet containers to my brides. All you do is provide the candy!

And if you are a fan of my blog you know I love a shot of the new Mr. & Mrs. during the recessional. They always look so happy. It's one of my favorite shots!

Instead of the typical guest book Meredith and John did a wishing tree. I took a copy of their invitation and scanned it. I took the floral image off the bottom and uploaded it to Vistaprint. I used business cards and matched the font to one of the flower colors. Punch a small hole in one corner, thread ribbon through it and viola!
The happy couple's first dance. Always a teary moment!

Sparkler exit! We don't need to discuss my feelings about sparklers. If you read my blog, you know how I feel. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your big day. Congratulations Meredith and John!!

Cascading Bouquets

2010-11-09T22:43:00.013-05:00

BRING BACK CASCADING BOUQUETS!!!! I love the simplicity of the hand tied bouquet but seriously, everybody is doing it. I want to bring back the cascading bouquet but make it more modern. Ladies, forget about the image you have in your head. The 80's might be back in fashion but not when it comes to weddings. Just look at the beautiful images below.

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You can find more images by clicking here. Ruffled blog has a few pictures of cascading bouquets but also gives you a brief history on this style of bouquet and how to hold it.

FREEBIE!! Fleur di lis tags

2010-09-28T12:04:00.004-04:00

Dang! I have been so busy this summer that I have neglected my blog. Sorry!! I had a few minutes today and wanted to share these cute tags with you. Click here to be directed to the site and download away.

Aisle Tiles

2010-07-01T14:07:00.003-04:00

I am not a big fan of aisle runners. They never stay put and by the time the bride walks down the isle it is nothing but a white mess. One wedding I had recently the tape on the underside of the aisle runner got stuck to the father of the brides foot while walking her down the isle! HORROR!!!! So, as an alternative I have found aisle tiles. Click here to see the full story and instructions. This is perfect for a grassy isle but might work on carpet. After the wedding they can be displayed in your home or garden. :)

DIY S'mores Kit!!!!

2010-07-01T12:47:00.003-04:00

How much do I LOVE this idea?!?!? You can use this for any party, not just a wedding! Click here to see more images from this project and to download the label and how to instructions.

Wire Name Hangers

2010-07-01T12:34:00.002-04:00

I found this fun DIY project on Project Wedding and thought I would pass it along to my crafty brides. If anyone makes them please let me know how they turned out. They are super cute but I am not sure how labor intensive they are and at this point in my life I simply don't have the time!

Candy Bar Escort Cards

2010-07-01T08:38:00.002-04:00

I love it when wedding items do double duty. In the image below, Hershey bars were used as favors and escort cards! Click here to see the full post from In This Instance.

Real Weddings: Courtney and Chris

2010-06-30T13:43:00.007-04:00

Courtney and Chris were married April 17th, 2010 at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation in Atlanta, GA. I drive by this beautiful church all the time and have always wanted to see inside. It is so cool! If you have wondered, too stay tuned. First I want to show you two of my favorite "little" things. If you know me, you know I super puffy heart purple shoes (and Manolo's). ****Swoon****
And you know I love it when a brides makes things personal. Each of the bridesmaids had a small framed picture of her with the bride on their bouquets.
Here is the inside of the church. The first picture is a "fish eye" view so you can see the hand painted image on the ceiling. Click here to read more about the iconography.
The new Mr. and Mrs. :) One of my favorite shots from a wedding is the bride and groom during the recessional. So happy!!
Bubbles!! The bride provided a bubble machine to ensure there were a lot of them when they exited the church. We don't see too many bubbles these days (sad). The majority of my brides do sparklers during their get away since it happens at night. If your venue won't allow sparklers I promise you, bubbles show in pictures at night! I have also seen bubbles used during the recessional.
The uber happy couple! I swear I have the best looking clients, ever. Agree??
The reception was held in the Garden Tent at Piedmont Park. I had a wedding a few weeks ago in the Piedmont Room, so stay tuned for images from that wedding. The tent is beautiful and can be heated and cooled.
I wish I had more images of the tables, they were so cool. The bride gave potted violets as favors which were placed at each table setting. Different sized glass containers that contained gold fish were used as centerpieces.
The brides cake was made by Frosted Pumpkin.
The grooms cake was an Elvis themed cake made by the Baker's Man.
The groom had no idea about his cake. We stood in front of it so the bride could do a big reveal. It was a hit!
The Midtown skyline at night. I love this city!
Sparkler exit!!!! Congratulations Courtney and Chris. :)
All images courtesy of the bride and were taken by Bella Pictures. To see more images from this wedding click here.

Cute Seed Packet Favors

2010-06-09T23:46:00.004-04:00

Another great idea from Martha Stuart! These cute seed packets look like matchbooks and is completely DIY. I love this idea for a spring or summer wedding with a floral theme. The file is in a pdf format so you can add your own names and wedding date. Cute, economical, and eco-friendly. Tres chic!

DIY Projects from Martha!

2010-06-08T09:48:00.005-04:00

I found a few DIY seating cards from Martha that I wanted to share with you today. The first one uses fabric. My initial thought was to use a damask print but the possibilities are endless with this creative idea.

Patterned Fabric Seating Cards

I love the simplicity and elegance of the ribbon belt. This is also a great project for the not-so-crafty bride.

Ribbon Belt Place Cards

Love this idea for a small garden wedding. I had a bride use something like this for her 200+ guest reception. It took forever to hang them all on the champagne flutes!

Butterfly Place Cards

More great ideas to come so stay tuned!

New blog shout out!!

2010-06-07T20:51:00.008-04:00

So if you are a follower of my blog you know I like to share DIY projects and other pretty things to make your day special. I also like to give a little love to my curvy girls. As a curvy girl myself I know how hard it can be to find what you want in your size. So when I find awesomeness I like to share. Today I came across a new blog dedicated to helping "plus sized" brides find fashion and beauty tips for her big day. Plumage has directories for both bridal and bridesmaids dresses in sizes 18-32/34. Checkout the blog today and add it to your faves!! And since I can't do a blog post without a picture, here is a beautiful Alfred Angelo dress I found on this discount site. Swoon. :)

Fall Head Over Heels With Crystal Couture

2010-05-11T11:41:00.004-04:00

Fall in love with occasion footwear all over again courtesy of Crystal Couture. Specializing in wow-factor wedding shoes with a scattering of Swarovski crystal rhinestones, they’re the glamorous antidote to the uninspiring plain versions currently flooding the market.

The motivation behind Crystal Couture is company MD Yona Armstrong’s desire to bring rock ‘n’ roll attitude within reach of modern brides and bridesmaids alike. Identifying that wedding shoes have a tendency to be either a complete compromise or a snap decision, despite possessing the power to make or break the total look, Yona’s ambition has been to create sparkling examples perfectly suited to taking those first floating steps into married bliss.
The Crystal Couture range represents affordable luxury at its very best. Demure satin goes seriously sexy reflecting high fashion’s fascination with high-octane glamor. Leather and lace look and feel decadent. A broad spectrum of color options includes soft pastels and bold primary shades to complement every wedding gown from the conventional to the unconventional, couture to cut-price, and provide the perfect background to the clear crystal embellishment. Whether the bridal ensemble demands sparkling court shoes, provocative peep-toes, Victoriana style lace-ups or spike heeled knee boots Crystal Couture has it covered. Heel sizes range from a modest ½ inch to a vertiginous 31/2 inches and a variety of styles covers cones to stilettos and anything in-between. From the pretty to the playful, the range boasts unlimited aisle-appeal and will light up the dance floor at the reception celebrations.

Crystal Couture shoes and boots are also perfectly suited to strutting your stuff at special and social occasions including prom nights and hen nights, office parties and garden parties. One of the high points of the collection is a hen night peep toe in scarlet satin with ankle strap and feather detail. A capsule collection of matching crystallized clutch bags double the impact of these alluring accessories.
To emphasize the luxurious nature of the Crystal Couture experience every purchase is gorgeously gift wrapped in crystallized pink tissue paper accessorized with a thank you ribbon. The company also offers a tailored service where new life can be breathed into a treasured pair of old favorites with the introduction of well-placed Swarvoski crystals to cover the worst of any wear and tear.

UK sizes from: 1-9
Prices from: £50 - £250

For further information regarding Crystal Couture please contact 07976 573 881
www.iwantcrystalcouture.com

Article written by Crystal Couture

Freebie: Invitations

2010-04-27T11:52:00.005-04:00

I found the following invitations on this website. Best of all, they are free!!! Just download and plug in your information. There are several designs to choose from and can be used for birthdays, weddings, bridal/baby showers, etc. Enjoy!!!

Real Weddings: Lauren & Chris

2010-04-11T18:59:00.000-04:00

I love all of my couples, but some of them I work with so closely that they become like family to me and I to them. Lauren and Chris were no exception. The week before their wedding I told Lauren that I wasn't ready for the wedding to happen because I didn't want to lose her! Seriously, I wanted the O'Keefe/Sands family to adopt me!

Lauren and Chris were married at Chateau Elan on August 8th, 2009. This was my first time to the vineyard and it was simply breathtaking. The entire weekend was a pleasure. The staff and accommodations were nothing but spectacular. Drew (one of the catering managers) made my assistant and I feel like family and not like we were stepping on their toes. I love, love, love this venue and hope I get the chance to work with them again. I really like it when a couple plans to see each other before the wedding. Especially when you have so many spots to take wonderful pictures. I tell all of my brides that photography is one of the areas you need to invest in. Great photography is key. You will be looking a these images the rest of your lives, so make sure you hire a great photographer! Ron Jones Photography took all of the beautiful images you see here. One of my favorite shots of a bride. Make sure you provide your photographer with a list of "must take" shots.
The ceremony was held in the Atrium of the Hotel. It is not private, any guest or hotel staff member can pause and watch your ceremony. In my opinion this is not an issue. Weddings bring people together and make everyone happy! And how great is it that guests will go home and tell their friends about the beautiful wedding they witnessed.
The bridesmaids bouquets were made from vendela roses and standard roses. In an effort to save a few $$ I made them (vases came from the dollar store). We ordered the standard roses form 3 G roses. When they arrived they were beautiful but super small. I ran to the farmers market and bought the vendela roses. My assistant and I bought a bottle of wine from the vineyard shoppe and made bouquets the night before the wedding! The results turned out beautifully.
Rich with Creative Events designed the florals for the ceremony and reception.
This was my first wedding with a band and Party Nation rocked the house! It was like being at a concert. In between sets we used a song list from the couples ipod.
The cake was made by a family friend and was very good. The cake is just as important as dinner. Guests will talk about how good (or bad) the cake was at your wedding.
Sparkler exit! The after party was held at the winery's pub, Paddy's.
Congratulations Lauren and Chris! You two deserve all the happiness in the world!! :)

DIY Monogram Canvas Tote

2010-04-10T22:25:00.004-04:00

While blog searching tonight I came across this cute DIY canvas bag project from Ashley Ann Photography. It is a great idea for a bridesmaid gift! You can buy totes in fun colors or natural tan from any craft or hobby store. Paint using your wedding colors and fill it with whatever you like. I suggest giving them to your maids at the rehearsal dinner.
This is another DIY project I will definitely be making for myself!

Win a FREE Dress!

2010-03-23T19:04:00.004-04:00

I was asked by one of my Facebook friends to tell all of my brides about a contest her company is having. You can win a wedding dress for free! Read the info below to find out how to enter.
All fans of fushopping page now have a chance to win a dress or gown of her choices. (No hidden costs whatsoever!!!). When we say win, we mean you get it for 100% free, including the shipping cost! (Only available to the countries we currently ship to, for more details, please see “shipping and handling” on http://www.fushopping.com)

HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST

1. BECOME A FAN OF FUSHOPPING FAN PAGE HERE
http://www.facebook.com/pages/FUshopping/108832173115?ref=ts

2. PICK WHAT YOU LIKE ON OUR OFFICIAL WEBSITE
http://www.fushopping.com/
AND PICK A DRESS OR A GOWN YOU LIKE THE MOST UNDER WEDDING AND SPECIAL OCCASION CATEGORIES.

3. SHARE YOUR PICKS
SHARE THE PRODUCT LINK ON OUR FAN PAGE, IF YOU GET THE MOST “LIKES” DURING THE TIMELINE, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU WILL GET THIS DRESS OR GOWN FOR FREE! YES, IT’S YOURS.

4. ARE YOU KIDDING?
ABSOLUTELY NOT! WE SUGGEST YOU SHARE PICS OF YOU WEARING THAT DRESS OR GOWN WITH ALL OTHER FANS (IT'S AN OPTION, NOT AN OBLIGATION THO)

But don't forget to ask our own friends to LIKE it, all the other fans can be your competitors here, I highly doubt they will LIKE your picks:) you know what I mean (Please note: your own LIKE does NOT count ! )

5. WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNER'S FACEBOOK NAME ON OUR FAN PAGE (WE WILL HAVE TO DO THIS. JUST TO BE FAIR AND SQUARE!)

THAT'S IT ?
YES, THAT'S IT.
WAIT...MAKE SURE YOU GET YOUR FRIENDS TO "LIKE" YOUR PICKS:).

Contest Term
The Contest will begin on March 14th, 2010 at 12:00 a.m. and end on April 14th, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. (the “Contest Term”). Administrator’s computer is the official time keeping device for the Contest.

For detailed official rules, see here
http://www.fushopping.com/index.php?target=pages&page_id=Sweepstakes

DIY Triple Duty

2010-03-19T19:48:00.005-04:00

I found the image below on my DIY wedding day. I love the endless possibilities you have with this idea. I like that is serves as a favor, escort card, and centerpiece all in one. Simply paint a terra cotta pot with chalkboard paint (they can make it match your wedding color) and use chalk to write the name and table number of each guest. Plant the flower of your choice in the pot. You can also add ribbon or rhinestones to give it an extra bit of flare. I picture them being placed on the tables around a cluster of candles in various heights. I might have to DIY this one too, just to get an image of it!Click here for the original post!

Featured Weddings

2010-03-19T18:54:00.003-04:00

A new feature to my blog will be what I call Featured Weddings. There are so many beautiful weddings that take place all over the world and I want to share them with my readers. Not only will you see fabulous photos but there will also be a Q&A with the happy couple. If you would like you wedding day a part of our Featured Weddings please submit photos (or a link to your photos) to mybrideidea@gmail.com. I am not looking for anything in particular, just some of your favorite images. Please include the following information:

Your names
Wedding Date
Ceremony Location
Reception Location
Photographer
Florist
Other Vendors

Once I receive your information I will email you the Q&A form to fill out. I look forward to seeing all of the beautiful images from your big day! The image below is a sneak peak of my first Featured Wedding, Stacey and Jeremy. Blog post to soon follow. :)

Super cute DIY project

2010-03-18T21:03:00.003-04:00

So let me start off by saying that I plan on doing this project myself this weekend. My husband and son are leaving me alone this Saturday so I will actually have time to so something fun just for me! I have no idea where I will put this, maybe it will be my first blogger giveaway! When I finish mine I will also include the cost. If it is cost effective you might be able to use this creative idea in several areas of your wedding. Here it is used over the cake table. Click here to see the original post by The Bride's Cafe with full instructions and more images.

(Both images from The Bride's Cafe)

Fun new website!!

2010-03-18T20:10:00.005-04:00

I found a fun new website today! It allows you to play with different table linens, flatware, glassware, chargers, and plates. The virtual tabletop can be found at Rentals-Unlimited and is hours of fun. You can set a table for any event, not just a wedding. I did the one below using a purple and silver color scheme.
I thought this one would be nice for a bridal shower or bridesmaids brunch. See, I told you this was way too much fun!
Okay, last one. I would totally add a chair sash to the chiavari chair in the same color as the napkin. I like to weave them through for a dramatic look.
Now go check it out for yourself! Really, the only thing I can thin k of to make this any more fun is if it were more true to size (like being able to put the right number of chairs and place settings at the table) and if you could play with centerpieces. Hmmmmm, maybe I should find a way to do that!

Ostrich Feather Centerpieces

2010-03-12T20:29:00.005-05:00

Ostrich feather centerpieces have become wildly popular lately for several reasons. It is cheaper than floral centerpieces. You are basically renting the items from your florist. It is also something unexpected. You can incorporate the feather look into the ceremony by having a few in the bouquets and boutonnieres. Guests will then be wowed by tall, full feather centerpieces when they walk into your reception, like the ones below. It is also something that can be a DIY project.

(Above photos from here)

(Photo from here)(Photo from here)

Use the above photos as inspiration. There are so many options that it is fun to create your own signature look. Click here to see how to make your own!

Double Duty

2010-03-12T19:23:00.005-05:00

So I was checking out Project Wedding today and came across this gem. Votive candle holders used as place cards! I love the idea of using them as escort "cards". Not only is it super cute but it will add decor to your tables. You can purchase peel and stick labels and print the names and table numbers on it. The flowers used here are primroses but you can use pretty much any flower you want. Click here for the article on PW.

Something Old, Something New.......

2010-03-02T13:35:00.008-05:00

We all know the old saying "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, a Sixpence in Her Shoe" but do you know the tradition behind it?? Well let me clue you in on why we do this on our wedding day. The famous phrase dates back to the Victorian era hinted at in the rhyme by the silver sixpence. Each item in the poem represents a good luck token for the bride – if she carries them, it is said her marriage will have good fortune and be fulfilled with happiness.

Something old is meant to symbolize continuity from the bride’s past. It represents a desire to stay connected to your own family even after you established a family of your own. The ‘something old’ theme also represents the tradition of passing down family values. Things you can use for the something old theme are: jewelery from your mother, grandmother or great-grandmother.

For my something old I removed the tulle from my mothers veil, added beading to the edge, and attached it to a clear plastic comb.
Something new is meant to symbolize optimism and hope for the future. It represents good luck and success for the couple’s future married life. It conveys the message that you and your husband are creating a new union that will endure the test of time. This tradition is pretty much covered by the time you have chosen your wedding gown, flowers or rings!

My something new was my beautiful dress.
Something borrowed symbolizes good fortune in marriage. It can also represent that family and friends will be there for her when she needs them. This borrowed item should be loaned from a happily married woman, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. Anything can be borrowed, but it must be returned to after the wedding. Again, a piece of jewelery, a pair of shoes, anything can be borrowed.

My something borrowed was the broach I wore at the bottom of my corset. It belonged to one of my bridesmaids. The broach was given to her by her grandmother.
Something blue in ancient times is the symbol of faithfulness, purity and loyalty. Often a blue item is the garter and in olden times the couple wore blue bands on the border of their wedding attire to denote, love, modesty and fidelity. Another way to wear something blue is to include a blue flower in your headdress or theme your wedding flowers in blue.

My something blue were my killer shoes. I knew they would be killing my feet after the ceremony so I had my toes painted a light blue!(All above images from Shannon Wright)

Sixpence in her shoe represents luck, fortune, wealth and financial security. A sixpence is a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967. It was made of silver and worth six pennies. For optimum fortune, the sixpence should be worn in the left shoe. Many companies now sell keepsake sixpence pieces for weddings.

I didn't do this but wish I had. I think we all could us a little luck, fortune, wealth, and financial security!! The image below comes from Silver Sixpence where you can buy the coin for under $10.
Brides have been honoring the something old, new borrowed, blue tradition for centuries. Although these items are supposed to bring good luck to the bride, they are also just a fun tradition that gives the bride an opportunity to honor people close to her on her wedding day.Source from here and here

Share your story with me! What are you using (or did you use) as your something old, new, borrowed, and blue??

Real Weddings: Rachel & Kinan

2010-03-01T12:40:00.011-05:00

Rachel and Kinan were married August 15th, 2009 at the Old Courthouse on the Square in Decatur, GA. I live in the Decatur area and have always wanted to be involved with a wedding here. My couple used the gazebo for their ceremony and the Old Superior Courtroom for the reception. Bold American provided the decorations and food. I highly recommend this vendor!! The food was delicious and the flowers and decor were beautiful. Kelly, Michelle, and Jacqueline were such a pleasure to work with. I also highly recommend their photographer, Raul from Studio 519 Photography. Not only is RC super talented, but he is also easy to get along with. You hardly know he is there!
The bride made her own pomanders and provided the shepherds hooks.
I can't say enough great things about this space. It is naturally beautiful and needs little decorating. There is a piano in the room that can be played during dinner.
The cake was provided by Publix.
The favors were sugar coated almonds in cute tiny jars with the couples names on a sticker on the top. Guests love favors they can eat!
I love her beautiful flowers!!
We moved the pomanders inside after the ceremony and placed them in the windows with a few tea light candles. I like to reuse the ceremony decorations when possible. It kinda feels like a waste of money to me if we don't reuse things!
A few more fun shots of this fun couple!
One last shot of your fabulous planners after a long hard day of making a beautiful wedding happen!

Real Weddings: Phillipa and Wesley

2010-02-19T10:56:00.005-05:00

Phillipa and Wesley were married on January 16th, 2010 at the State Botanical Gardens in Athens, GA. This was my first time here and it is absolutely gorgeous!!! Even an a rainy winter day it is a beautiful venue for a wedding. A big thank you to Shawna Herring of Shawna Herring Photography for all of the images below.
One of my favorite things about weddings is seeing the brides dress. Sometimes I don't see it till she is in it. When this is the case my assistant and I try to guess what we think she will wear. I am pretty good at getting it right! I like how Philly's dress is fitted yet flowy. This shot also shows you the ornate door that leads from the foyer into the chapel.
All of the flowers for this wedding were created by Tamela at Southern Bouquets. They were the best smelling (and looking) flowers ever. The chapel is beautiful on it's own but was transformed into a winter wonderland with all of the white flowers.
The reception was across the way in the Terrace Room. The food was provided by Trumps Catering and was delicious, as always.
Philly used You DJ It for her music. This is a service where you use your Ipod and their equipment. I was the MC for the evening. This was fine with me, but next time I will make sure to have a speech written. When I was doing the introductions I announced them as Mr. and Mrs. Gates, which was her maiden name! They were a fun couple and laughed it off, as you can see in the picture below. Sorry!! I love cake. Both the wedding and grooms cake were yummy Celso's Cakes.
Instead of sparklers, bubbles, or petals our fun couple used shakers with bells for their send off. Congratulations Philly & Wesley!!!

Centerpiece Alternatives (Part 2)

2010-02-18T22:11:00.001-05:00

So this is part two of my centerpiece alternative post. I found so many great ideas and had a few sent to me by the fabulous photographer, Tom Smarch. If you remember from part 1 I was highlighting centerpieces that use little to no flowers. Flowers can get pricey and some people are allergic to them. Don't get me wrong, I love beautiful huge fragrant arrangements but sometimes it just can't be done or doesn't go well with the overall theme of the wedding. Every bride is different and it is my job to help her achieve her look.

The first image is of a submerged flower (looks like hydrangea) and four single rose buds in a small vase that actually looks like a votive candle holder. The first five images are courtesy of Tom Smarch Photography.
The next two images are of calla lilies. The first one has a few submerged with a floating candle on top and the second one has three in varied heights surrounded by vases filled with clear stones and floating candles.
I love this idea for a Christmas wedding. It looks like this bride used the ornaments as a guest book alternative. Not only is that a great idea, but I like this as a centerpiece. Vases in varied heights filled with different colored Christmas balls is super cute.
Cute and simple! A lot of venues (especially hotels) offer hurricane vases,, mirrored tiles, and votive candles complimentary. All you have to do here is buy apples.
I found the following picture on the blog of August and After. This is a great way to incorporate some of your engagement pictures and even ones of you two growing up. Cori used Mason jars, black and white photos, vegetable oil, and dried flowers. It makes the pictures look vintage and will be a conversation starter with your guests.
I so want to do a wedding at Turner Field, home of your Atlanta Braves! This would be a super fun idea to use for centerpieces.

(Image found here)

Having a green wedding?? Then the last two images are for you. I love the idea used below. You find aluminum cans with fun graphics and fill them with flowers. You can grow your own flowers if you have time or even try herbs!

(Image found here)

Wheat grass is an inexpensive way to green your wedding. Support your local farmers and buy your flowers from them. Most larger cities have a local farmers market.

(Image found here)

Whatever you decide to use as your centerpiece just make sure it is something you like and fits within your budget!

Seating Charts

2010-02-18T14:40:00.003-05:00

I follow Wedding Wire on Facebook (if you're not a fan of MBI on Facebook yet, do it NOW!!!) and they posted the best planning tool ever today. A detailed interactive seating chart. I know, I know- it is super fabulous, but how does it work?? Well......

First you need to be a member of wedding wire, it's free to join. After you have created your account hover your mouse under my wedding and click on seating from the drop down menu. You will then be taken to a screen that looks like the one below minus the tables. From the icons at the top of the screen you can choose the size and shape of you tables as well as how many it will seat. After you have arranged all of your tables and dance floor you can start adding guest names to the seats.

You do this by using their guest list tool. It is also super easy and you can import your list from most emails like google and yahoo or from an excel file. The names of guests are on the right hand side of the screen. You simply click on the names and an icon like you see below pops up. You drag the icon over to the desired table and click on the table. The computer adds them to that table.
When you are finished you click on the printer icon and a screen like the one below comes up. You are able to perform the following options to make sure the right parties (like your caterer and wedding planner) have your seating chart. See, super easy and a big stress reliever. Thank you Wedding Wire!!!

Real Weddings: Shannon & Ben

2010-02-08T17:30:00.005-05:00

Shannon and Ben married September 12th, 2009 at the Densmore Farm in Cleveland, GA. I love unique venues and this fabulous place is no exception. Carl Nelson with Nelson Photography provided all of the images below. Click here to see more from Carl and here to see more images of the barn from the venues website. The picture below shows the back of the barn. We had the guys come down the outside stains and the ladies come from the inside lower level. It is a short walk from the barn to the outside ceremony space.
I like how lush and green the space is. I also love a clean slate. You can do so many things with this space if desired, but it is also beautiful just the way it is. Those are paper airplanes lining the isle. The bride folded them in her colors of green, white, and yellow.
Here are a few fun pictures of the couple after the ceremony. The first photo shows the front of the barn and Shannon's beautiful bouquet.
Shannon died her crinoline to match her wedding day colors. Super cute idea!For centerpieces our bride made origami flowers out of green, white, and yellow paper. We placed them in various sizes and colors of bottles (wine, beer, soda, etc.) and added a few around the cake. Bonnie Heath provided the "photo booth". The bride purchased hats, glasses, and other fun props to add to the fun.
Congratulations Shannon and Ben. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your wonderful day!

Centerpiece Alternatives (Part 1)

2010-02-07T17:39:00.001-05:00

I love flowers and think they can transform a room, but sometimes the budget doesn't allow us to have as many as we want or someone is allergic. In an effort to help all my budget savvy and allergy ridden brides I have scoured the net and complied a few photos of budget friendly mostly flowerless centerpiece ideas. The first ones are of centerpiece ideas that contain mostly contain fruit.

Photo found here

Photo found here
Photo found here

Photo found here

I love how the above photo uses different color tomatoes in baskets that double as favors. The bread sticks and olives also double as a snack for guests as they wait for dinner. The photo below uses different sizes and styles of vases and various single flowers as centerpieces.

Photo found here

The image below uses colored water with sticks (can also use flowers). Not sure if there are floating candles but that would also look nice.

Photo found here

I love the photo below. The room is so dramatic with the draping and tall centerpieces. Silver trumpet vases with branches and feathers are very budget friendly. You are basically renting items from the florist.

Photo found here

I really love how the photo below uses cylinders with various heights of water and alternating colors. Flowers are submerged with floating candles. This is awesome!

Photo found here

I am stealing this flowerless tabletop candle display idea from iDIY who found it in the December 2009 issue of Elle Decoration UK, via Happy Mundane. I love the mix of same-height clear water/wine bottles with the candle lengths varied.
Let your imagination run wild and have fun with it!

Linens

2010-02-06T23:52:00.000-05:00

I have been helping a bride with linens and it inspired me to blog about it. I realized that not everybody knows what size linen goes on what size table. I also want to inform you about price. Some brides freak out when they find out that the average cost to rent a table linen is $20 a piece. So, lets start with a brief run down on table sizes:

72" round- seats 10-12 comfortably- a 132" tablecloth will touch the floor

60" round- seats 8-10 comfortably- a 120" tablecloth will touch the floor

54" round- seats 6 comfortably- a 120" tablecloth will puddle slightly on the floor

48" round- seats 4-6 comfortably- a 108" tablecloth will touch the floor

36" round- seats 4 comfortably- a 108" tablecloth will puddle slightly on the floor

30" round- seats 2 comfortably- a 90" tablecloth will touch the floor

Highboy- a 132" tablecloth is perfect if cinched with a sash
- a 120" tablecloth will touch the floor if a sash is not used

(Image from BBJ Linen)

Now on to cost. I have three linen companies that I like to recommend in the Atlanta area. Classic Party Rental, BBJ Linen, and Kings Chair Cover. Prices will vary with each company but I wanted to give you an idea of what they cost. Classic Party rents their 132" tablecloths from $16-$32, depending on style and size. BBJ rents their 132" tablecloths from $18-$40, depending on style and size. Kings Chair Cover rents their 132" tablecloths from $10-$16. Why is Kings so much lower?? They only offer solid colors in polyester or silk where the other companies offer a wide range of styles, colors, and fabrics. There are lots of internet sites that you can rent from and several other local places (Table Toppers, Cover Ups). Make sure to shop around and don't be afraid to negotiate on price. The worst they can say is no!

AWARD!!!

2010-02-06T21:27:00.002-05:00

Guess what?? I was awarded a Brides Choice Award from Wedding Wire for the second year in a row!!! Woo-Hoo!!! A big thank you to all of my 2009 brides. I am looking forward to another year of wonderful weddings. :)

Freebies

2010-02-04T09:58:00.005-05:00

So I thought I should post a few freebies today and take a break from all of the real weddings updates. I have a few more in the works from last year so stay tuned. Today I have chosen two fabulous freebies I found on Wedding Chicks. The first one is a favor goodie bag. Super cute! Click here to see the instructions and get the download.

Next we have a manzanita wishing tree. I have had a few couples use this in lieu of a guest book. You can see one in this post. It is a super cute idea and ties in very well with a fall themed wedding. You can use regular shaped cards or ones that look like leaves. Click here for instructions on how to do this crafty project.

Real Weddings: Laura & Kevin

2010-02-02T13:41:00.003-05:00

Laura and Kevin were married July 25th, 2009 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Decatur with the reception at the Solarium. The Solarium is a great place for a wedding. If you have not seen this venue yet I encourage you check it out. I have had two weddings here (other post to come) and both have been unique to the couple. Heidi with Our Labor of Love is the creative genius behind all of the beautiful images below.
You know I love the picture after the couple is pronounced husband and wife. It is the happiest memory they will have of their wedding day. I made Laura's veil. You can see the detail of the edging in this photo. Her centerpieces were floating candles in mason jars and a variety of wild flowers in mason jars. The fabulous Anik provided all of the beautiful flowers. Laura and Kevin are big into books so it was only fitting that their favors were handmade bookmarks. The gourmet cupcakes were delicious! It was hard for guests to keep their hands off of them before the cake cutting. Just keep in mind that this might happen if you have cupcakes instead of a traditional wedding, especially if there are kids present! Congratulations Laura & Kevin!! Thanks for allowing us to be a part of your big day!Click here to see Heidi's blog post about this fabulous wedding and here for pictures from the Smilebooth! Below are some non pro pics (obviously) by me.
They cut the above cake since cupcakes were provided. One of the kids stuck their finger in it so we had to do a little reconstructing but nobody noticed!There was a bar located in the back room on the right and one outside. Small tables with chairs and high boys were outside along with the second bar. This provided a quiet place for guests to talk.
The guest book was super cute (Scrabble!) and two digital photo frames showcased pictures from the couples childhood, dating, and their engagement session. A hot new trend is having an ice cream buffet! Guests were served their choice of ice cream in a martini glass and then were able to top it off with a variety of toppings. Super fun and yummy!!

Real Weddings: Davina & Broderick

2010-01-26T14:09:00.000-05:00

Davina and Broderick were married September 5th, 2009 at the Atlanta Marriott Northwest. This couple was a lot of fun and so were their bridal party and guests. A fun time was had by all. Dawn with Everlasting Memories captured all of the days events and provided the images below.

Flowers provided by A Bevy of Blossoms.
With the right lighting any room can be transformed. The picture below is of the couples sweetheart table with sheer drapery, crystals , and a gobo with the couples initals hanging behind them.
Davina and Briderick had a Tiffany's theme for their wedding as evident in the wedding cake.
I love the pool table grooms cake!
Congratulations Davina and Broderick!

Real Weddings: Ebony & Nathan

2010-01-20T20:47:00.010-05:00

Ebony and Nathan were married August 29th ,2009 at Villa Christina. I love this beautiful venue. You might remember me talking about it in an earlier post. There are so many great places for photos, the food is amazing, and the entire staff is friendly. You also know how much I love shoes and Ebony's Kate Spades were perfect!

Creative ring shots are so fabulous! They have really become popular with photographers over the past few years. It is definitley a shot you will want to have.

The bride and grooms recessional is one of my all time favorite shots. The look of love and happiness gives all in attendance the best feeling ever.

The following pictures are just stunning. Please click on the slideshow at the bottom of the post for more images from this awesome wedding. Also check out Jessica's blog for images of the rehearsal and bridal shower. All of the images are courtesy of Peachtree Photography and the flowers were by Anik Designs.

Move your mouse around until you see the play show option. The screen is black so it is hard to see it on my black background!

Heart Shaped Sparklers

2010-01-20T13:32:00.003-05:00

I opened my email this morning and saw the cutest thing, heart shaped sparklers!! Click here to be redirected to the sellers website. :)

Real Weddings: Stephanie & Ed

2010-01-08T19:52:00.004-05:00

Stephanie and Ed were married October 17th, 2009 at the Evergreen Marriott in Stone Mountain, GA. The wonderful Tom Smarch took all of the beautiful images below. I met the bride and her mother for lunch at the Marriott (excellent buffet buy the way) and went over all of her wedding day details. The bags below were one of her fantastic finds. Stephanie used them as welcome bags for her out of town guests.
I love a bride with "dancing shoes". If you know you are having the type of reception where you will be dancing away the night, I highly suggest slipping out of those beautiful heels and put your feet into something more comfortable. You will thank me later!
The flowers were gorgeous! Rich with Creative Events by Sunflowers did an excellent job (as always) with the florals for the wedding.
I love tears of joy packets. The couple used images from their engagement session to wrap around the tissues. These are also a great favor for your guests. The wedding was supposed to take place outside but mother nature had other plans. It was so cold that we had to move the ceremony inside. Plan B worked out just as nice. The couple exchanged vows under a custom built arbor.
Escort cards in the couples color palate. The three different colors represented Chicken, Beef, or Vegetarian. The idea behind escort cards is not only to help guests find their seats but for the wait staff to know what dish that guest requested without having to "take their order".
The sweetheart table was stunning. On top of the table were scattered rose petals and LED candles with a glass top. The menu card had the couples monogram behind the text and the name of the guest in the small square at the top.
The arbor was moved during the cocktail hour to house the bridal cake. The topiaries were used during t he ceremony at the ends of the isle. It is always best to find another place for any ceremony decorations to help your budget stretch.
War Eagle! I love fun grooms cakes. Both cakes came from Frosted Pumpkin and were de-lish! The mother of the bride shared something special with me during the reception that I thought was super sweet. She took the knife from her wedding day cake cutting set and had Stephanie and Ed's names and wedding date engraved under hers and her husbands. When her son marries his wedding day info will be engraved under Stephanie and Ed's. This is the second wedding I have had that has used this spin on a signature mat. It uses a special engraving pen. It is seriously cool.I love a gobo and a DJ with lights!
And you know how I feel about sparklers! These were very long and lasted forever. Luckily there were not any super intoxicated guests for me to babysit. Thank you!!!
Congratulations Stephanie and Ed! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day.

Real Weddings: Beth and John

2010-01-02T22:28:00.026-05:00

We had so much fun with Beth & John throughout their planning process. I really like when I work with the couple from the beginning. Even if you only need a coordinator to help on the big day it is still good to have them involved from the start. The happy couple married at Lake Lanier Islands on June 28th, 2009. Vada with Visions by Vada was the photographer.

Beth and John were married outside at the Summer House Pavilion. The bride decided to DIY the flowers for the entire wedding. She chose a variety of silk flowers in her two favorite colors, pink and blue.

Beth and John love their fur babies Catie and Cocoa so much they included them in the wedding! The DIY flower project was a bit of a task for Elizabeth so she asked me to step in. With the help of m y assistant Katie I made all of the bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, and everything else silk flower related.
Beth wanted a heart shaped bouquet and that is exactly what she got!
I love love love her dress. David's Bridal does it again! See below for a detail shot.
Here a few of my favorite fun shots!Instead of your regular chair covers and sashes Beth chose ones that pulled back and tied in a knot. This gave me the idea to use some of the items Beth had bought as chair decorations. She purchased some fun "hearts on sticks " so I put them in the knot! The favors (handmade soap) doubled as escort cards. The names of the tables were states that the couple had visited together. For the centerpieces Beth purchased pink, blue, and white lamps. I took the light bulb out and put floral foam in. I added a variety of flowers and a few "blingy" things and came up with the unique centerpiece below! We also scattered silk petals and crystals on the table with a few tea lights.Yummy candy buffet!!
Both of the beautiful cakes were provided by Juanita of Sweet Infinity. Not only were they tasty but they were like nothing I had ever seen before. Two of the most creative cakes ever! Maxwell Taylor is the best DJ ever!!! Not only is he a great DJ but he performs too. Below he is singing a Michael Jackson song (that's a wig). I swear, he is like hiring multiple performers. Congratulations Beth and John!! Best wishes for a long and happy marriage. :)

Real Weddings: Amanda & Max

2009-12-26T09:56:00.007-05:00

Amanda and Max were married June 20th, 2009 at St. Stephens Church in Athens, GA. It was super hot that day and I was happy that both the wedding and reception were taking place indoors. Brides, please do yourself and your guests a favor a consider the weather while planning your wedding. If you are getting married in June in Georgia you know it will be sweltering. A brief outdoor ceremony is fine but please have your reception in an air conditioned room. Alcohol plus a few hundred of your closest friends and family equals heat!!

St. Stephens is a beautiful catholic church but you do not have to be catholic to be married here. There is a huge pipe organ and beautiful stained glass windows that will easily hold over 100 guests. Courtney Goldman was the couples photographer. I love this first image of Amanda and her father right before walking down the isle.

Seriously, I love seeing the couple walking back up the isle after being pronounced husband and wife. The look of love in each others eyes is priceless.

Amanda and Max had a sand ceremony during their wedding ceremony. I like to take the container of sand and place it on the guest book table during the reception. I also like it when couples take pictures from their engagement session and incorporate them into the reception. It makes your guests feel like they are a part of your new family.

The reception took place immediately following the ceremony in the fellowship hall of the church. The flowers were done by Betty Alice Fowler and were simply beautiful.

Cake!! Before getting into the wedding planning business I didn't think the cake was all that important. Heck, for my wedding I told the baker to do whatever she wanted. Now that I have been a part of numerous weddings I can tell you that the cake is seriously one of the most important reception decisions you will make. Not only is it one of the focal points of the reception it needs to taste good, too. The Bee's Knees Bakery in Athens provided both of the beautiful and tasty confections below.

For favors Amanda and Max had matchbooks with their monogram, names, and wedding date on them. They also gave guests Hershey Kisses wrapped in tulle.

The church would not sparklers so the bride and groom left in a shower of bubbles. Honestly, I like bubbles much better. The are much safer, especially if you are serving alcohol at your reception. As you can see here, they show in pictures.

Congratulations Amanda and Max!!! You can see more of their wedding and engagement pictures here.

3 Featured Weddings

2009-12-20T21:59:00.005-05:00

A big congratulations to three of my beautiful brides for having their weddings published in The Knot Georgia Magazine!!! Jessica and Dele, Rachel and Grant (also here), and Amanda and Ryan's weddings are all featured in the mag. Run out today and buy a copy. :)

Real Weddings: Jessica & Dele

2009-12-20T21:48:00.013-05:00

I am going to focus on updating my blog with all of the fabulous weddings I have been a part of this year over the holiday. Today I am going to share with you one of the weddings that is featured in the current issue of The Knot Georgia magazine.

Jessica and Dele were married March 29th, 2009 at the Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta. You can read a little about it here and here and can also read Jessica's blog. The ceremony was held in the Imperial Ballroom. The beautiful flowers were created by Anik Designs.

The cocktail hour was held in the pre-function room of the Georgian Ballroom. Endive catered the affair. Although I didn't get to eat much the food looked and smelled delicious. The chef even learned some new recipes for the couple to reflect the grooms heritage.

The pre-function room also housed the lounge area. We rented six white couches from The Bash! and purchased small tables from IKEA. This was a big hit with guests later in the evening. It provided a quiet space to relax and talk.

After the cocktail hour guests were moved into the Georgian Ballroom where they were greeted by the beautiful cake made by Chocolate Pink Cafe.

I love this venue. It is beautiful and timeless. The staff here is also a pleasure to work with. All of the beautiful images in this post were taken and provided by Karen Nickel Photography.

Jessica and Dele's wedding was featured in the Knot magazine. Click here to see their online spread.

Real Weddings: Susan & Jason

2009-12-18T21:05:00.007-05:00

Susan and Jason were married November 8th at Villa Christina. I absolutely love this venue. I have had one other wedding here (blog post to come) and have nothing but wonderful things to say about the food, staff, and venue. The ceremony for both weddings have been held outside with the reception in the restaurant. They also have a ballroom that can accommodate over 200 guests.

It really helps a wedding day come together when you work with top notch vendors. Susan and Jason's team were a joy to work with. Lorin with LSC Photography provided all of the beautiful images below.

Pat with MG Floral did a stellar job with the flowers and draping for the ceremony.

I have always been a fan of alternatives to some the traditional wedding items. The guest book is one area where you can really branch out and do something fun. Susan decided to make a wishing tree to go along with her fall themed wedding.

Publix provided the wedding cake.

Here are a few of Lorin's creative images. I love a photographer who comes up with great poses that you don't see everyday.

Aren't they one of the best looking couples ever?!?!

You know I love a good sparkler exit! FYI, if any of your guests are too intoxicated I will not give them a sparkler. I have had a few incidences where some guests were almost set ablaze.

Congratulations Susan and Jason!!! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your special day.

Napkin Rings

2009-12-12T23:43:00.017-05:00

I love the tiny details that many brides are incorporating into their weddings. One of my newest faves are napkin rings! These can be super expensive to buy (maybe not for a small wedding but if you are expecting 200+ guests it can get costly) but are a fun and inexpensive DIY project. While researching for this post I came across six fun and unique napkin ring ideas. Click on the link under the picture to be redirected to the site for more images and instructions.

The first napkin ring is not only cute but eco friendly. It can be made from a recycled toilet paper tube or paper towel tube. To spruce it up a little more you can glue on rhinestones or feathers. If you are using a monogram it can also be used here.

Image found here

The wrap below I found on Style Me Pretty. You can download it here. I am not sure if you can customize it but if you are computer savvy I am sure you can figure it out.

Image found here

And it wouldn't be a DIY post without something from Martha! It doesn't get any easier than this! To help cut cost look for sales at your local craft stores.

Image found here

What a great idea!! I love the vintage buttons and raffia used here. Simple, elegant, and nothing your guests have seen before. You can use any type of button (as long as it has a loop back and not the holes) and swap ribbon for the raffia.

Image found here

I love how simple and elegant this is. I also love how you can make this your own by changing the ribbon and bead color. If it were me, I would have every other seat in one color and the rest in a different color.

Image found here

As you all know, I love purple and am totally feeling these napkins. A little ribbon and rhinestones can go a long way to spruce up a table!

Image found here

Awesome Bridesmaids Dress!!!

2009-11-29T21:36:00.006-05:00

One of my lovely brides had the most awesome bridesmaids dresses for her wedding. They are from a company called twobirds and are made to flatter all shapes and sizes (ranging from 0-24). The best part?? It is one dress that can be worn 15 different ways!!!

(Click image to enlarge. Image from SMP)

You can find written and video tutorials on their website for the many ways to wear the dress. The price is a little steep so make sure all of your bridesmaids are on board before demanding they drop $300 for a dress! The designer of this dress gave some great tips that I wanted to share with you.

Our lovely friends and family come in all shapes and sizes so allow your bridesmaids to choose a silhouette that works best for their body type so that they are glowing as they walk down the aisle.

Pick a color and/or fabric that’s consistent for all the girls, providing consistency for the pictures but enable them to show their individual styles (of course with your approval!)
Pick a dress that your friends can wear again after the affair. In this economy what’s better than buying a fabulous dress for your friend’s wedding and then wearing it again for the perfect cocktail party!
Aim for comfort. Your bridesmaids will be in the dresses for hours celebrating your love so try to find something that they can breathe in and dance all night in!

This is dress is totally something your girls will want to wear again and again. I especially love that the dress allows your ladies to express their own individuality. A happy bridal party makes for a happy bride! :)

Setting the Tone with Romantic Honeymoon Jewelry

2009-11-18T16:24:00.002-05:00

You've packed the bags for the honeymoon, but did you pay attention to the jewelry box? Your honeymoon will be one of those “once-in-a-lifetime” occasions, and you can expect both of you to take lots of pictures. Why not help to set the stage for romance with the choice of jewelry you take along with you? There's not much difference between diamonds and gemstones of color. They all light up a room and make it a special occasion. It will add some great details to pictures, create memories, and make you feel like a million bucks!

Where Do You Plan On Going?

Match the jewelry to the venue. Going to Hawaii? Why not pick out some flirty gold anklets to seduce him on the dunes? If you have piercings, that's the time to flaunt them with diamond studs. Maybe you'll want to put your hair up? Take along some jeweled hair combs. They not only look great, but they keep you cool.

Maybe your ideal honeymoon is a cruise. Take along some elegant pieces like pearls and tiered bib necklaces to wear. Dress up for dinner, just because you like it. Go dancing, if that's your thing, and be sure to wear jewelry that sparkles as much as your dress. Live it up and have fun, that's why honeymoons exist.

Sexy Jewelry for the Private Room

Just like lingerie makes anyone look good, so do a few pieces of well-placed jewelry. Play around with some sexy looks and see what sets him on fire. Lace and diamonds go well together and really make your intimate times special. Add a sexy pin to a garter, or just tempt him with your toe rings. It's not about being appropriate, it's about being playful.

Give Her a Special Gift

Husbands, want to see her eyes light up during the honeymoon? Just add some jewelry. Gift it in a fancy box with the date of your wedding. Pick up something that will remind you of where you visited and how much fun you had. It will be the start of many wonderful memories to come that she can revisit when she opens the box or puts on that particular piece of jewelry.

This post was written and paid for by Abazias Jewelry

Real Weddings: Susan & Mike

2009-10-22T13:00:00.009-04:00

Susan and Mike were married on a beautiful October day at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center. This was my first wedding there and I can't say enough great things about it. It really is a must see place. There are so many great places for photos!! The ceremony took place under a covered pavilion and was officiated by the wonderful Rev. D.

I love flowers and these beauties were no exception! Nina with Bella Blooms did a wonderful job on the bouquets and boutonnieres. I made a few small arrangements to tie on the ceremony chairs with the leftovers.

The bride ordered extra flowers from Nina to put in small vases on the reception tables. Susan used large pieces of round wood for the centerpieces. We then added the vases, candles, and pumpkins to finish the look. Susan had this great orange sparkly fabric that she loved but couldn't figure out where to use it. After a minute of deliberation I decided to use them and table runners and think it turned out great!

Here is one of those great photo ops I told you about! I love how the sunlight is illuminating their faces. Rhonda with Life to Image Photography did a fantastic job at capturing all the images from their special day.

As a courtesy to their guests the Bride and Groom rented a trolley through Georgia Trolley. The walk from the ceremony site to the reception was not far but Susan was definitely thinking about the ladies. We all love beautiful shoes but they start to hurt after a little while! The trolley was a huge it and made for some fabulous pictures.

I love cake! Who doesn't?? This beautiful cake was not only eye catching but tasty, too. "I Do" Cakes provided this tasty treat.

A big congratulations to Susan and Mike! Thanks so much for letting us be a part of your wedding day.

Fun Trend

2009-10-19T22:15:00.003-04:00

Something I am seeing a lot of lately are what I like to call photo share cards. It is a business card that asks guests to share their digital photos with you after the wedding. It can take weeks to receive your professional pictures and this will allow you to get a sneak peak through the eyes of your guests. I am a fan of vistaprint but there are lots of online printing sources out there to achieve the look you want. I have seen some with coordinating monograms, color schemes, and even with pictures of the couple from their engagement session. All you need is an account with a photo sharing site like Snapfish or Shutterfly.

The text on the card above reads:

Share your Photographs!
We would love to see all of the photos that you take
today. We have set up a site where you can add and view
photos from our big day!
Simply go to:
http://armstrongwedding52007.shutterfly.com/
To upload or view photos

The cards can be placed throughout the reception on tables, by the guest book, at the bar, etc. Sign up to receive emails through vistaprint and you can get 250 cards for free plus shipping!

Boudoir Photography

2009-10-17T09:42:00.009-04:00

Boudoir photography is fun, sexy, sensual images of yourself. Most ladies give this incredibly romantic gift on their wedding day, anniversary, Valentine’s Day, or as a holiday gift. The session produces images like those you might find in a fashion magazine, lingerie ad, or upscale men’s magazine — yet for his private viewing only. It is fun and empowering. Finding a photographer you trust and feel confident with is very important. I did a session a year ago and my husband loved the images. My photographer no longer does this style of photography but I have found a very talented lady who not only takes beautiful images but is super affordable. Her name is Carla and she is one half of the fabulous Sky+Carla wedding photographers. I have heard wonderful things about her boudoir photography, Unzip, and reached out to her to find out more.

Carla offers two types of sessions, a Mini session for $199 which includes:
1 hour of camera time
3 outfit changes
30 plus final photographs
Pre- shoot consultation
Password protected online gallery for 3 months
CD including all edited shots with copyright release so you can make all the prints that you want :)

And an UNZIP session for $450 which includes:
2.5 hours of camera time
Unlimited outfits within time
100 plus final images
Pre- shoot consultation
Password protected online gallery for 6 months
CD including all edited shots with copyright release so you can make all the prints that you want :)
FREE 2x3 sexy book with session.

One of the things I like most about Carla is that you have your session in her studio. This way you do not have to pay for a hotel room, saving you hundreds. If you are thinking about doing a boudoir session please check out Carla's site for sample images. I normally include images in my blog posts but felt it might not be appropriate without asking. I will, however, leave you with an image of me from my session (PG, of course). Oh, and when you contact her (and I know you will because she is awesome!) tell her Kristina sent you. :)

(Photo by Shannon Wright)

My Etsy Store

2009-09-06T14:57:00.004-04:00

When planning my wedding I was shocked at how much veils cost. I did some research and decided to make my own. It turned out better than I imagined and everyone raved about how beautiful it was. Since then I have made several veils for my brides and decided to offer my skills to any bride on a budget. I started my own Etsy store and have listed 5 veils I currently have in stock.

What I really want to do is work closely with brides to create a one of a kind custom veil. If you are in the Atlanta area I will meet with you at a local fabric or craft store to choose the materials that best fits your style and dress. If you are not in the Atlanta area you can:
1. Email me a picture of your dress and I will choose the edging.
2. Chose the edging of your choice and mail it to me (I will provide you with the measurements).

Take a look and let me know what you think! Click here to be redirected to my store.