Virginia & James

October 20

Monroe, Georgia

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Q&A with the Bride

What was the one thing about your venue that made you know it was the one?

The venue felt incredibly warm and intimate. We live out of state, but wanted to have our wedding in Georgia so that my grandparents would be able to attend. When we visited the location, the wood, brick, and lighting gave it a romantic and intimate feel, which is what I was looking for. Although Monroe is a bit out of the way in what was already a “destination wedding”, we felt the venue was worth it. We got a lot of feedback from guests that the venue, combined with the personal touches and toasts of the wedding, all lent an intimate and warm atmosphere, where guests truly felt they held a special part of our lives.

Which details from your wedding were your favorites?

Emily from Stella Harper Events took on a lot of the design elements. I love the DIY feel, but had none of the resources of talent, time, or proximity to the locale, so Emily was a lifesaver. She created an adorable banner that hung across the mantlepiece on which family photographs, mostly from weddings, were displayed. She made an identical, tiny banner for our wedding cake, all using unique fabrics that fit our wedding colors. She also found different vintage containers that also fit in our color scheme, and worked with Stems Atlanta to create unique, adorable flower centerpieces with them. Finally, I really loved that my bridesmaids all wore different blue dresses. It’s cheesy, but they were all different but beautiful, just like them.

Give us the one moment in your wedding day you can’t stop thinking about.

When James looked at me and said his vows, everything else went away, sped up, and slowed down at the same time. 

Photo: Sea Studio

Next on our “don’t forget” list is guests. Their enjoyment throughout the wedding day is just as paramount to you and your fiance’s experience. That’s why it’s important to keep them happy and pre-empt any complaints from the moment the ceremony starts until the last song of the night ends.

1. Spread the Love - As a token of appreciation for their undivided support and love, have welcome bags with personalized notes waiting for them at their hotel room and give thanks to each table during the reception.

2. Seating Arrangements – Don’t separate tables of family members and friends–mix it up! A good rule of thumb is to give your guests enough space both at their table and in between tables. Remember to choose centerpieces that are at a conversation-friendly height. No one wants to be crammed or blinded. Especially be considerate to those older guests and seat them away from the band or DJ. Tip: Use WeddingWire’s seating chart tool.

3.  Climate Changes - Keep in mind the weather conditions and guests’ attire on your wedding day. If it’s hot, provide chilled beverages, fans or umbrellas and if it’s cold, provide warm beverages, shawls or heaters.

4.  Entertainment - Play music that appeals to all ages and pump the volume when it’s appropriate. Tip: Search WeddingWire’s database of songs to build your playlist. Also, consider those guests, who don’t like to dance. Add a photo booth with props or lawn games.

5. Food and Drinks –  Inform guests how you’ll be serving food and drinks (i.e. buffet, hors d’oeuvres, sit-down, cash or open bar) and ask about any food allergies or dietary requirements ahead of time.

Have you checked these items off your list? Share in the comments below!

Rachel & Chris

June 8

Beaufort, South Carolina

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Q & A with the Bride:

1. What was the one thing about your venue that made you know it was the one?

Chris and I live in Beaufort, and we wanted to show our guests why we love the area. Having the reception space overlook the historic downtown accomplished that goal — plus, it gave guests easy access to places to go after the reception. The ceremony and reception were within a block of each other, which meant we could all just walk over. It worked out great!

2. Which three details from your wedding were your favorites?

This is kind of cheating on this question, but I loved the way all our DIY decor worked together so well. When we were working on the individual items — or I discussed them with my mom and grandma — it was kind of hard to imagine just how the bunting, the hand painted wall hanging, the photo booth area, the flags and ribbon streamers, etc. would all come together with the curtains, table runners and centerpieces Southern Graces created. But in the end it was perfect — when we walked into the reception, I was so amazed with how it looked and could barely believe it was our own wedding!

Our stationery, which I designed myself, was a labor of love. From the save-the-dates to the invitations, the Quaker marriage certificate all the way to the table numbers and our guide and map in our welcome bags, it was more work than I thought it would be, but it turned out great. Designing it myself cut costs, gave us something truly unique, and let us really create the vibe we wanted for our wedding from the beginning. Plus, it gave me a chance to discover that I really enjoy expressing my creativity through paper goods. I’m trying to figure out how to keep that outlet now that I’m not planning our wedding!

The barbecue sauces! We loved our food in general (we keep talking about how we want to eat it every week forever), but the “his” mustard sauce, “hers” KC style sauce, and “theirs” Cheerwine sauce was such a fun way to nod toward both our backgrounds and our combined present, and let our guests customize their meal. I even had a few Midwest friends say the KC sauce tasted like Gates’. If you know Kansas City barbecue, you know that means it was amazing.

3. Give us the one moment in your wedding you can’t stop thinking about. 

Eating ice cream between the ceremony and the reception. It was a spur of the moment decision. We walked past one of our favorite ice cream shops while taking some photos, and Chris — somewhat jokingly — asked if I wanted some. I said (a very emphatic) yes, and Paige was on board, so we did it. The whole day had been so crazy; this was one nice bit of normal for us. Sharing a scoop at a place we went during one of the first days we spent together when we started dating was also very sweet. Plus, you can’t beat ice cream when it’s 90 degrees outside!

Photo by: Reese Moore Weddings

This week on the blog, we’re reminding you to make a list and check it twice because you never know what you’ll forget. For example: vendors, who are with you ALL day long.

1. Check In and Confirm - Reiterate directions, emergency contact numbers and day-of schedule.

2. Prepare Final Payments - Pay your vendors ahead of time so you don’t have to remember what is owed to whom on your wedding day.

3. Save Receipts - After your vendors have collected your final payments, ask each of them to provide a receipt for your files.

4. Create Tip Envelopes  - Instead of pulling out a wad of cash from someone’s wallet, create envelopes with each vendors name on it and insert the correct amounts.

5. Don’t Let Them Go Hungry or Thirsty – Make sure your caterer can feed and hydrate your vendors, in addition to your guests, at a specific time. Normally, this is included in your contract, but double-check.

6. Thank Yous  - Let your vendor know that you appreciated their services with a review on WeddingWire.

Have you checked these items of your list? Share in the comments below!

We often forget about the events leading up to the wedding, especially the bridal shower. Why? Because you’re not supposed to plan it! You get to be the guest of honor as your closest female friends and family gather to girl-talk, eat and lavish you with gifts. Lately though, brides have been steering away from the age-old tradition and choosing their own steal-worthy theme. We love how this bridal shower is an interactive picnic. Guests were able to pick their blanket to sit on and basket to place their food in. It almost makes us want to take a trip down the rabbit hole from Alice in Wonderland. Grab a cup of tea, point your pinky and join this charming celebration: