Tuesday December 20, 2011
Photos: Jessica Horwitz Photography
Mike asked Jeanette to marry him in August 2008—seven years, seven months, and seven days after the couple began dating. "He proposed after we had cooked and eaten dinner together at home, just the two of us. It was perfect," Jeanette says. The couple married in the garden at Primrose Cottage, drawing on the antebellum mansion's classic design and incorporating a palette of slate blue and spring green.
After the ceremony, the couple and their 100 guests then moved into the cottage's ballroom, where floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the surrounding forest. To create an inviting space for the reception, Jeanette and Mike selected ivory damask tablecloths and alternating low and high centerpieces of white and green hydrangeas and ivory roses surrounded by votive candles.
Follow the jump to see more from Jeanette and Mike's wedding, visit our Real Weddings page to find other great style ideas, and search our revamped local listings to find wedding vendors near you.
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Tuesday December 13, 2011
Photos: Kyle Hale
Although Michele had hoped she and Matt would marry in front of a beautiful pink sunset, Mother Nature had other plans. "I was feeling anxious about the rain," Michele says. "But when I looked out the window and saw some friends scurrying across the wet dirt road, making their way to the ceremony, I remembered that no amount of rain could change the fact that I was marrying my best friend. I couldn't help but smile."
Because of the rain, the early-evening ceremony was held under the candle- and lantern-lit Lake Pavilion at The Inn at Serenbe, an organic farm about an hour outside of Atlanta, which also hosted the reception. And after the evening's official festivities were over, "our guests wrapped up the night with us under Serenbe's Guest House cabana," Michele recalls. "We sat on the porch swing—drinking, talking, and laughing until the wee hours of the morning."
Follow the jump to see more from Michele and Matt's wedding, visit our Real Weddings page to find other great style ideas, and search our revamped local listings to find wedding vendors near you.
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In the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Brides Atlanta, we announced the winners of our first-ever Editor's Choice Awards.
It's a way for the editorial staff and me to officially recognize the amazing, forward-thinking, art-creating, call-returning, trend-making wedding vendors who inspire and delight us every time we craft an issue of our magazine. And, most importantly, we're excited to share this winning list with all of you—it's a great place to start assembling your dream team. —Julie Raimondi
See the full list of winners after the jump.
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Video: Courtesy of Elite Events
Obviously, we're big fans of using online resources to help you plan your wedding—but there's still nothing quite like meeting experts in person to soak up their advice, inspiration, and expertise. The Georgia Bridal Show on June 26 at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth is a perfect opportunity for all of you Southern belles to make some crucial decisions about cakes, calligraphers, limos, photographers, and everything in between. The event starts at noon and ends at 5 p.m., but be sure not to miss the fashion show at 3:45 p.m. (check out the preview above). To purchase tickets click here, and enter the promotion code FALL2011 at checkout to knock $2 off the price of your ticket. —Louisa Bilbrough
Photo: Courtesy of Cosabella
Looking for some gorgeous lingerie to add to your honeymoon trousseau? Visit Cosabella's newest store, which just opened in the Shops Around Lenox, across from the Lenox Square Mall. It's only Cosabella's second freestanding store, and it's chock full of some of the most fabulous lingerie around—from their signature comfy thongs to sexy chemises and babydolls (we particularly loved this sultry-but-sweet red style in our "Best of Bridal Lingerie" story). They've also got loads of pieces in bridal white (featuring their signature "something blue" bow), as well as shapewear for under your gown. The store will be offering lots of fun events for brides-to-be, so watch this space—we'll bring you all the details. Visit Cosabella's website for more information on the new store, and check out our accessories gallery for more wedding lingerie ideas.—Kim Forrest, Brides Atlanta
San Diego and Atlanta brides and their bridesmaids are invited to
BRIDES Night Out, a cocktail party hosted by
BRIDES magazine. At this free event, you can enjoy a manicure and facial, sample wedding cake flavors, win prizes, and get planning advice from wedding experts. You'll also get an inside look at the hottest honeymoon destinations and latest wedding style trends. —Mary Beth Somich, Editorial Intern,
Brides.com
The San Diego event is on May 5 at the Andaz San Diego in the Gaslamp Quarter; the event is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. RSVP to this free event by emailing BNO_SanDiego@condenast.com.
The Atlanta event is on May 12 at the W Atlanta-Midtown from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. RSVP to this free event by emailing BNO_Atlanta@condenast.com.
Photo: Courtesy of Priscilla of Boston
If you're a total fashionista who wants a gown that's hot off the New York bridal market runway, check out these "sneak peek" trunk shows at the Priscilla of Boston salons in Atlanta and Dallas, which run from Thursday, April 21st through Monday, April 25th. You'll be able to see the newest gowns from perennial favorites Priscilla of Boston, Melissa Sweet, Platinum for Priscilla of Boston, Jewel by Priscilla of Boston, and Vineyard Collection—they're so new that we just have one sneak peek photo of the Melissa Sweet collection, a gown called "Pearl," to show you (we'll have the full collections on the site later this week). But if this gorgeous style is any indication, the new collections will be definitely worth checking out. Visit Priscilla of Boston's website for more information on the trunk shows, and check out our Runway Index to see all of the newest wedding dresses.—Kim Forrest
Photo: Robb Cohen
Lace up those sneakers, because it's time again for Filene's Basement Running of the Brides in Atlanta. The annual wedding dress sprint kicks off Friday, March 18 at 8am and lasts until 9pm at Lenox Marketplace. The final sale includes more than 2,000 gowns sizes 2 to 26 in discounted prices ranging from $249 to $699. Brides looking for the best deals (and the best selection) are encouraged to line up by 6:30am, but those of you with a less competitive streak should aim to arrive any time after mid-morning. For a first-hand sneak peak at the excitement, check out our video from the New York ROTB last month.—Phillip B. Crook
Photo: Courtesy of Atlanta Botanical Garden
With temperatures finally starting to rise, we are swooning over spring. What better way to kick off the season than with an explosion of 200,000 blooms? On March 22, Atlanta Botanical Garden kicks off its Atlanta Blooms! event, featuring thousands of springtime flowers. As you walk through the garden, which will provide great ideas for your color palette and your bouquet, vibrant colors will abound from tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses. The gardens will also feature giant topiaries made of violas and other annuals—including a five-foot owl with a nine-foot wingspan. Imagine having that as a wedding centerpiece! You can enjoy all of the flowers along with champagne on April 7 from 6-9 p.m. as the garden hosts "Blooms and Bubbly". Atlanta Blooms! will continue through May 1; visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden's website for more information, and be sure to visit our flower gallery for more wedding flower ideas.—Carly Totten, Brides Atlanta
Photo: Courtesy of Elite Events
If you're ready to start planning your Atlanta wedding but don't quite know where to begin, (aside from checking our our "Start Button"), visit the Georgia Bridal Show on Sunday, March 13th from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. You'll meet dozens of vendors face-to-face, view the latest wedding dresses, sample cakes and hors d'oeuvres, and get lots of wonderful decor ideas—it really serves as a one-stop-shop for wedding planning. You can also enter to win an all-inclusive honeymoon! Tickets for this event are $10 cash only at the door, or you can purchase discounted tickets online. Visit the Georgia Bridal Show's website for more information or to buy tickets, and don't forget to check out our Atlanta page for more information on planning your Georgia wedding.—Kim Forrest, Brides Atlanta
Photo: Thayer Allyson Goudy
If your complexion is feeling the effects of winter (meaning, you're paler than Edward Cullen), get ready to visit the new RAW Bronzing Studio, which offers spray tans using a 100% organic, all-natural and odorless sunless tanning solution. RAW's new studio opens this month in Historic Inman Park, Atlanta, and is a chic alternative to your typical spray tan studio. The new two-story loft location is adorned with black and white decor and vibrant red accents, and is equipped with three tanning rooms, a beverage bar, and local art available for purchase. Plus, they provide complimentary umbrellas if it rains so your tan stays perfectly intact. Visit RAW Bronzing Studio's website for more information, and check out this story for more modern wedding beauty ideas.—Mary Beth Somich, Brides Atlanta
Photo: Courtesy of the Ultimate Wedding Planning Showcase
Did you get engaged on Valentine's Day? Here's a great event to jump start your wedding planning. The Bridal Extravaganza of Atlanta is hosting the Ultimate Wedding Planning Showcase at the brand-new Forsyth Conference Center in Cumming, on March 6 from 1-4 p.m. You'll meet a variety of wonderful vendors, including top planner Susan Graham, who will be sharing tips and DIY ideas in a seminar. Plus, many of the vendors will be offering great deals, freebies, and discounts on their products and services if you book them at this event. You'll also find table décor ideas, cake and hors d'oeuvres tastings, door prizes, and the chance to win one of five bridal gowns from Anya Bridal. And you can pick up a copy of the brand new issue of Brides Atlanta! Tickets are $8 in advance, and $10 the day of the show. Visit the Ultimate Wedding Planning Showcase's website for more information, and don't forget to visit our Atlanta page for more ideas and resources. —Kim Forrest, Brides Atlanta
Photo: Courtesy of OKA b.
If you're looking for a pair of comfy and cute shoes for your beach wedding, Atlanta-based company, OKA b. Footwear, has got your number. All OKA b. flip-flops and slides contain massage beads and ergonomic foot beds for maximum comfort and they're waterproof, so they won't get ruined during your spur-of-the-moment post-reception frolic in the ocean. Made from recyclable Microplast material, they're also an eco-friendly choice. And these shoes aren't just limited to plain old white—OKA b. Footwear has a variety of color choices like vanilla, pearl, salt, and ivory with fun decorations like bows, flowers and studs. And at under $30 per pair, the price is surely something to rave about, too. To learn more about these shoes you can visit the OKA b. Footwear website, and don't forget to visit our accessories gallery to see more fabulous wedding shoes. —Mary Beth Somich, Brides Atlanta
Wednesday February 23, 2011
Photo: Shari Zellers Photography
I always enjoy seeing the table design that wins the Table Trends competition at the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) Atlanta event. This year, Event Design Group took home the prize, with this gorgeous tablescape. Love the white/metallic color scheme, the candle holders of different heights—and I especially love those unique draped chair covers. Visit our reception gallery for more ideas and inspiration. —Kim Forrest, Brides Atlanta
As the third season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta comes to an end, we're all invited to watch as one of the newest castmates, model Cynthia Bailey, weds. So far, we've seen her and her fiance (now husband) Peter through their arguably awkward engagement and the financial woes that have affected their wedding. We sat down with Cynthia to get the details on her offbeat wedding style, how she stayed true to herself throughout the planning process, and what last minute trick she used to cut her budget. —Cari Wolfert
As a model, you've been wearing fabulous designs for years. How did you choose your dress?
I knew that I wanted something different and non-traditional—definitely not a white dress. I ended up with a platinum-colored gown custom made by New York designer Rubin Singer. The inspiration came from my wedding venue, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History in Atlanta. It's a really modern venue with huge dinosaur bone installations, so the unique feel of the dress made sense to me—although I can't take full credit. My fantastic stylist Kithe Brewster helped develop the vision and the final look was a collaboration between him, myself, and Rubin—it was Kithe's vision, Rubin made it happen, and I got final say.
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