Laura Simon: Makeup

Photo Courtesy of Kristy Odom.

I want to introduce all of you to Laura Simon. If you haven't selected your makeup artist yet, I think she might be perfect for you. She travels to the bride, and works efficiently while making sure that every tiny detail is attended to. I've worked with her multiple times, and I'm always impressed with how beautiful everyone looks, from flower girls to mothers of the bride!

The best way to get in touch with her is e-mail: laurasimonmakeup@gmail.com. I do suggest getting in touch with her as soon as possible, because she books quickly!

Rehearsal Dinner: Location

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the Southern Weddings Magazine Launch Party. And I must say, the entire time I was there, I was thinking about how great it would be for a rehearsal dinner! The restaurant is Dogwood, and it's located right across the street from Emory Crawford-Long Hospital. It's got a private room upstairs and the food is excellent. So, if you're still looking for a location, I highly suggest you try it for an elegant twist on southern cusine!

Bridal Show, This Sunday!

Don't miss it ladies! This Sunday, A Bride for All Seasons Bridal Show is hitting Atlanta. With some of the finest wedding vendors, you're sure to find a wedding vendor in a variety of categories.

The bridal show is taking place in the grand ballroom at the Four Seasons Hotel. Also be sure to check out other event areas that they have, with gorgeous views of the Atlanta skyline. You're sure to be impressed. The price for admission is $45 for the bride and $25 for each additional guest. A high price to pay, but sure to give the highest quality and results!

Date: 1/25/09

Time: 2-5pm

Location: Four Seasons Atlanta.

Have fun!

Wild Oats Catering

In June of last year, I had the pleasure of working with Terry and her staff from Wild Oats Catering. They were fabulous! The food was so fresh and had a fun new look to it. They had a delicious new twist on a fun southern menu.
They had very clean lines of service, and never ran out of food, even the most delicious of foods.(Photos Courtesy of Shannon Wright)

They had fresh biscuits with a peach barbeque sauce over pork, deliecious skewers of shrimp and pineapple in a coconut mint sauce. But this isn't all that they've got. Check out their website to see another sample menu, and to get in touch with them! If you're lucky, they may still be available. They book up quickly!

Chair Covers & Linens

On Thursday, I had the opportunity to attend a fun planning meeting at Chair Covers and Linens with Leah, one of my favorite brides. We had such an amazing time looking at different options, and we settled on some stuff that she really loved! Below you can see that they have so many options to look through when you go in, it's really phenomenal!

After going through all of their options in the blue/silver/pink combo that Leah had chosen, it was time to figure out which color combos she liked best. Here are some of the winners!

This was Leah's final decision for the guest tables. Navy satin linens with a nearly fuschia chair tie on the gold Chivari chair.

For the cake table, she's decided to go with the navy underlay with a sheer silver overlay with the swirl design and a blue sheer bunching of fabric for the cake stand to be placed on. We're also planning to put some votive candles around the base as well as some of the pink rose petals from the guest tables.During the cocktail hour, guests will be mingling in the bar area of the Signature Room, and the tables will be draped with silver satin accompainied by alternating blue and pink table runners.As it stands, I really think that Leah made some great decisions, and that she's really happy with the outcome!

Bachelorette Ides: Watson Adventures

If strippers aren't your thing, and you've got a large group interested in attending your Bachelorette Party, I think that Watson Adventures might be a really fun idea. It's a scavenger hunt that can be located throughout Atlanta (The History Center, Fernbank Museum, the Aquarium, and many more).

You can do a walking tour or a limo tour or so much more! The cost is a bit much (probably close to about $1500) but if you get a big enough group together, it could be a ton of fun!

A Unique Twist: The Not Wedding

I'm really looking forward to this weekend! I've got plans to go to The Not Wedding at Opera on Sunday afternoon. Some of the best and most creative vendors will be hosting a mock wedding to show potential brides (and the occasional vendor;) ) ideas for hosting a wedding outside of the box.

The cost is $10 either online, or cash at the door and includes some hors d'oeuvres, specials offered by the various vendors, the entertainment, and a fresh look on a timeless tradition!

Some vendors include Joshua John's Cakes, Brown Linen Goods, Event Drapery, DJ Josh Whitlock, and so many more!

I can't wait! It's going to be a ton of fun, and I get to go with the hottest date out there, Shannon Wright!

The Cake Lady!

I'm so excited to post about my first tasting with Eileen Carter, aka "The Cake Lady." We met where she works her magic! People always wonder, "What happens at meetings with vendors?" So here's your inside scoop on the meeting with the baker!

When we arrived, it was first and foremost important that we look through albums of past cakes to pick the design. Leah and Christian decided to go with a petal design which is so new and exciting!

From there, Eileen actually put together styrofoam cakes so they could visualize which one they liked best. It was so cool!

Then it was time to try the cakes flavors. We got to try so many, and the bride and groom had fun coming up with different combinations for each layer.

The best part, Eileen is creating a stadium for the Groom's cake. She's quite excited about this one, and I can't wait to see it!

Oh- and she's blogging now, check out Eileen's Blog.

Vendor Spotlight: Illuminated Videos

I had the pleasure of working with Kelley Hammock with Illuminated Videos on Marva & Pascal's Unforgettable Soiree! It was my first opportunity to work with her, and I can't wait to do it again! She's got a great sense for what she's doing and she manages to not be in the way like so many brides are afraid of! You can check out their website for demos, and they'll even send you one for free! I just got mine in the mail today and let me just say that it's phenomenal! Their prices are very reasonable for the services they provide! Oh- and people will think you have a movie star filming you wedding because Kelley looks just like Reece Witherspoon!

Venue Preview: Signature Events, Dunwoody GA

Monday I had the pleasure of visiting Signature Events in Dunwoody GA. It's a beautiful site that can host ceremonies and receptions for up to 300 guests.
As soon as you enter, you are in a large open space that serves at the cocktail hour room or ceremony room. The bar is in the back and the ballroom is to the left. During cocktail hours, they place high boys out for guests as well as sometimes put some food displays. They've also got some pretty comfortable lounging furniture!
Judy mentioned that they usually move the highboys out of the immediate bar room because of the clutter, but that they can always keep a few in there if requested.

The ballroom is large and has a pretty good sized dance floor. In the picture below, the room is only set for 100, but you can imagine that there would be enough room to fit quite a few more tables and chairs. It really is a beautiful place, and a clean slate, so a lot can be done with it by simply using some imagination!
Their packages are very reasonably priced and they also have many different bar packages available. The Chiavari Chairs come with any event and they're in really good shape. Check them out!

Vendor Spotlight: Shannon Wright

Shannon Wright is one of my favorite photographers to work with. We've worked together so many times that I know that brides are in good hands with her. She is able to capture every emotion of each bride's wedding day. I can't wait to work with her again!

I was able to catch up with her and ask some questions so we can all know her just a little bit better:)

So what first inspired you to be a wedding photographer? I was in school at the time and assisted a wedding photographer and knew (even though I was just carrying equipment) that's what I had to do!

What keeps you coming back? My desire to be a part of couples happiest days and well I just absolutely love photography.

What is your favorite picture to take? Hmm, tough question I guess my fave would be the one I take at he reception in a dark place lit with intense light. It's a very funky shot!

If you had to provide one picture to win a client, what would it be and why?? How about two? I love shoes and it's kinda of a signature shot and I just love this one at Piedmont! If I have extra time to do creative formals this is what I can produce!
If you had one word of advice for future brides, what would it be? Don’t forget how and why you fell in love in the first place…… The wedding day does not have to be perfect but your life together just might be…..

What is Project 42 and how is it going? Wanna share a picture or 2? Project 42 stands for Love (4 letters) Is(2 letters).... This session is for couples that are already married. The idea is .....what does love mean to you? Let me capture that for you in pictures to show others. The picture I am going to share has to do with their love for their children. We went to Piedmont Park and had a great time. It is obvious in this picture that they love each other, and their children, very much.What a great photographer to have capturing your wedding day. Book her early!

Reverend Deanna Lancaster

I've had the pleasure (and I do mean true pleasure) of working with "Rev D" on three occasions at this point. I honestly can't wait to work with her again! Each ceremony is individualized to the couple, and said with a heartfelt voice. She grows attached to all of her couples, which can be seen in the occasional tear. She also smiles, and occasionally laughs with each ceremony.

Pricing you ask? Last I heard she started at $250- which is SO reasonable these days!

Above Photograph thanks to the amazing Shannon Wright!