Where to Say "I Do"

So now that you are engaged, once of the first and most important decisions that you and your fiance need to make is where you two should say, "I do". You know what they say, location...location...location.

That doesn't mean that you have to get married in a church and have your reception in a ballroom though. If your style is southern, why not try a barn? You may be surprised what rental items can do for the decor.

An outdoor wedding doesn't mean it has to be in a garden. A courtyard or in front of a tree are romantic and creative options as well. Whatever you decide, make it reflect your style.

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I Do Over Premiere

Back in July, I was delighted to be invited to Diann Valentine's I Do Over Premiere and Sneak Peek at The Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta. I Do Over finally premiers Sunday on We TV. So I wanted to show you pictures from the great party.
This is the breathtaking pink wall that lined the hallway before we entered the ballroom. Notice the flowers in the shadow boxes.




This is a great long shot of the beautiful room set up.


This is the stage and televisions where we were able to hear from the lady of the hour, Diann Valentine and be the first ones to see the premiere episode of the show.



Last but not least, this is Diann posing in her gorgeous gown in front of the We Tv wall.



I can't wait until Sunday night!


Photos by shawna herring photo
Courtesy of Atlanta Occasions

Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale

Brides if you are looking for a wedding gown and want to help a great cause at the same time, then come to Brides Against Breast Cancer Gown Sale at Atlanta Marriott Northwest this weekend. See you there!

Inspire Smart Success Experience

I am always eager to learn how to grow my business and make it better for my clients and myself. So I regularly attend conferences and networking events.



Last week, I attended Inspire Smart Success produced by Stacie Francombe. It was more than just a conference, it was an Experience. Look at all the great speakers that we got to learn from. They are top wedding and event industry planners, designers, caterers, producers, publishers, and owners of their own businesses who have been in front of or behind the scenes of television and magazines.



We took several breaks throughout the day to eat breakfast, lunch, and network with the speakers and each other.



The speakers lounged on white leather couches while taking turns telling us about their experiences and answering lots of questions from the attendees.



The view from our W Hotel ballroom was a breath taking view of Midtown Atlanta.



Towards the end of the day, we were delighted to indulge in the dessert bar.



I was so glad that I was able to be a part of this Experience!

A Venue with a View "Wish List"

We have brides who come and to us with different ideas of what they envision for their wedding day. All brides have reasons for deciding what venue they select for their wedding celebration. Even if having a venue with a view wasn't on your "wish list", when you tour a event space with a magnificent view, you may just change your mind.

The Ventanas is one of Atlanta's newest facilities. It has floor to ceiling windows that offers a fantastic view of downtown. In fact, ventanas means windows in Spanish. Let's not forget the rooftop view or the view from the helipad.



We wouldn't do this post justice if we only showed you outside views. The Georgia Aquarium has one of the best views in town and it's inside! There won't be a lack of conversation when you have whales swimming around you.



You don't have to be a member of The Buckhead Club to host a wedding there. Here is another great view of the city. This time it is of Buckhead.



The Atlanta Botanical Garden not only has the prettiest flowers in town, but it also has a great view of the skyline from the Gazebo.



Happy planning!

A Bride for all Seasons

It is time again for Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta's annual A Bride for all Seasons. This afternoon of luxury is a bride's opportunity to satisfy her 5 senses. You can see some great design ideas, hear from some of Atlanta bridal experts, taste delicious food, touch beautiful things you may have never seen before, and smell the flowers.
The event is being held at the Grand Ballroom in Four Seasons Atlanta on Sunday January 23rd at 2:00 PM. Bridal tickets are $45 and your guests pay $25. Happy planning!

David Tutera & Diann Valentine

Over the past few weeks I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet two very talented wedding and event designers while they were in Atlanta. To say they are only designer would be an understatement though, because they are each accomplished authors and television personalities.



First up in September was David Tutera who spoke to his audience at Che'ne Rouge about creating a wedding with personal style. He also talked to us about his TV show My Fair Wedding. It was great seeing pictures from his many past events and hearing funny stories about upcoming episodes of his show.



Last weekend it was Diann Valentine. One thing I noticed about her was that she never stopped smiling. Anyone near her could see how excited she was about what she does for a living. She gave the crowd great entertaining tips and told us about some of her celebrity clients such as Usher and Toni Braxton.



It was wonderful meeting two people that I really admire. They gave us a chance to ask as many questions as we liked and it was fun taking pictures with them.



David shared exciting news about his wedding gown collection and Diann showed us samples from her invitation collection. I can't wait to see what they each have planned next!

Wish Upon a Wedding Atlanta Launch Party

Last Thursday night, I attended the Wish Upon a Wedding Atlanta launch party.



Wish Upon a Wedding is the first non-profit wish granting organization that provides weddings for terminally ill individuals. The organization was founded in January by Liz Guthrie of California. Since then, many chapters have started in cities all across the United States.



The Atlanta chapter's launch was at The Mansion Elan. The board of directors put together a very entertaining event for attendees. The entertainment included aerial artists.



The guests, which included industry pros, volunteers, and future wish recipients, were also entertained by fire artists, and stilt walkers.



There were so many choices of hot food to eat as well as some great desserts. Including this tempting smores station.

ABC at Georgian Terrace Hotel

I love it when it is time for our Association of Bridal Consultants meetings. This time, we decided to go the the Georgian Terrace Hotel in Midtown Atlanta.

The busy hotel was recently renovated, but still remains a classic in Atlanta.

There are several ballrooms in the hotel and private dining rooms in the hotel's restaurant the Livingston to choice from for your next event.

A big part of our meetings is education. This week, our guest was Maxine from Edge Design Group who did a wonderful emergency flower demonstration for us.

Atlantan Bride at Mortons

I was delighted to receive an invitation when The Atlantan Brides Magazine asked the top wedding planners in Atlanta for an exclusive preview. Last Wednesday, we enjoyed a delicious three course dinner in the private dining room at one of Atlanta's finest rehearsal dinner venues, Morton's The Steakhouse.







Here are pictures of our dinner menu, our bouquet centerpieces, the cutest DJ I've ever seen (the cake), and the great view of outside seating by the fountain.

Artmore Hotel Midtown Atlanta

Last Thursday, I attended the Artmore's Night Under the Stars Event and Venue Showcase. The hotel invited local wedding and event industry professionals to tour their newly renovated suites and meeting spaces.

I must say that I loved the courtyard. The fire & water pit was a great place to hang out and socialize. When I took a peak in one of the guest's rooms, I had to resist taking a nap on one of the inviting beds.

The Artmore seems like a great place for an intimate stay or a reception right in the heart of Midtown, Atlanta on West Peachtree.

Venue Tour

Last week, I had the pleasure of going on a venue tour of Windermere Country Club with Notable Weddings. Here is just a little taste of what we saw.

We rode in style in a pink Hummer with a group of lovely brides and their maids of honor and had a great time learning what Windermere has to offer for weddings. The food, cupcakes, and music were all great!

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Tablescapes

As a member of ABC (Association of Bridal Consultants) I get to participate in wonderful educational and networking meetings. At our March meeting, we had an exciting tablescape competition at 550 Trackside.


If you are environmentally conscious, you can do great things with a green themed table. Notice the cute party crashers at the table?

In February, I had the pleasure of being invited to Get Married A Toast to the South Soiree at Opera. There was a breathtaking mirrored table designed by Bold American Events & Catering.

As you can see from these great designs, you don't have to have a boring standard table design for your wedding, rehearsal dinner, shower, or any other event in your plans. Be creative!

How Important Is A Rain Plan?

Planning an outdoor wedding for next spring or summer? It is very important that you don't forget to plan for rain. They say that rain on your wedding day is good luck. But honestly, who wants it to rain on their wedding day?

Is it your dream wedding to get married outside with nature as your background decor? An outdoor wedding is a dream for so many brides, especially in the south. But the fact of the matter is a gray sky, soggy ground, or an all out rain storm can put a damper on the day that you have dreamed of your entire life!

I can't begin to tell you how important a rain plan is. It is your Plan B in case Plan A is not on option. If you are planning to have the ceremony or your cocktail reception outside, remember to ask your wedding venue, "What if it rains?" Do they have space for you to move inside or do you need to be proactive and rent a tent for the day "just in case"?

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Atlanta Occasions Launch Party

Last night, I attended Atlanta Occasions launch party. A great group of not just wedding, but event professionals where there to celebrate the new luxe guide to planning wedding, corporate, and social events.

Heather Vreeland, Publisher & Editor-In-Chief, took a special moment to thank everyone for attending the party and showing her so much support in the process.

I loved the way the room was divided up with sheer at The Foundry at Puritan Mill. I haven't been back since I did a wedding there in September.

The extra long bar and of course the complimentary drinks were a big hit. I admit that I enjoyed my favorite......champagne of course.

The flowers and the illuminated tables were beautiful. As you can see by the empty glasses on table, a good time was had by all.

Happy Birthday ISES!

Last week I attended the Atlanta Chapter of ISES 20TH birthday celebration at Hotel Palomar. It was wonderful to see 19 of the 20 presidents in attendance. I have been a member long enough to see three of them in action.

We rolled out the delicious birthday cake and watched the first president and the current Atlanta chapter president blow out the candles to call an end to the awards, dinner, and dessert celebration downstairs. Then it was time to head up to the rooftop for the rest of the night.

I absolutely love the hotel's fire pits and cabanas!