Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Exclusive Book Signing and Wedding Etiquette Event

Williams-Sonoma at Lenox Square Mall will host an exclusive book signing and wedding etiquette event with special guest Anna Post, author and spokesperson for the Emily Post Institute and great-great-granddaughter of renowned etiquette expert Emily Post. Enjoy cocktails and light hors d'oeuvres as Anna answers your questions, shares wedding etiquette advice and signs copies of her book, Emily Post's Wedding Parties.

Special Offer:
Create your Williams-Sonoma gift registry on the evening of the event, and you'll receive a complimentary copy of the Williams-Sonoma Bride & Groom Cookbook. See the website for more details.

Space is limited! So call today.

To R.S.V.P. and/or preorder a copy of Emily Post's Wedding Parties, call 404-812-1703. Book signing, Wednesday, October 1, 6 p.m., at Williams-Sonoma, Lenox Square Mall, 3393 Peachtree Road Northeast.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Wedding Wow: Fabulous Feathers

I recently bought a fancy new headband from Bill Hallman in the Virginia Highlands. It's the cutest thing: just a plain black headband with one peacock feather on the side. I put it on in the store just for fun, but as soon as I did, it dressed up my whole appearance. It also made me feel like I was going to a British wedding or wearing a Philip Treacy hat like Sarah Jessica Parker.

This made me think about friends of mine who've said that they didn't like wearing veils because their heads were pulled backwards when they hugged people at their wedding. Of course, flowers are another option for those who aren't interested in veils, but after wearing this feather headband, I think there's something so unique and elegant about them that could really be an exciting wedding wow in the right setting like at a New Year's Eve wedding. Also, feathers will last and flowers, unless they are synthetic, are going to wither.

We'd love to see pictures of brides that have worn feathers.

Friday, September 19, 2008

This Weekend in Atlanta Wedding Events

September 20: The Wedding Planner Workshop

Join Wedding Soiree for a one-day interactive workshop for aspiring wedding planners. SPACE IS LIMITED! THE WORKSHOP - Wedding Soirée's module is comprehensively constructed; offering a unique twist on the traditional cookie cutter workshop. You will learn to unleash your inner creativity; receive one-on-one coaching, expert advice, inspiration, and luxurious swag bag full of goodies topped off with tasty culinary delights prepared by our favorite chef. THE WEDDING PLANNERS - Gail Johnson and Hester Parks have been recognized for their creative flair, professional execution and wedding expertise. Our modern, stylish, chic weddings have been featured on WE "Platinum Weddings", Inside Weddings, AJC Spring Wedding Guide, The Atlantan Brides.

Wedding Soiree Studio
Dekalb Industrial
Decatur, Georgia
770.595.1212-770.827.4050

September 21: Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show
Don't Miss out on the Biggest bridal show on the Fall September 21 from 12pm-4pm! Plan your wedding in one day with Atlanta's Top Wedding Professionals and win some amazing prizes!

Villa Christina and The Retreat of Dunwoody
Atlanta, Georgia
678-921-2914

Monday, September 15, 2008

Great Wedding Gift Idea: Original Artwork

As the bride-to-be you'll end up putting plenty of time into a gift registry. Luckily mega stores like Crate and Barrel and Bed, Bath & Beyond have registering down to an art complete with a scanner, checklist and best sellers and department stores are equally as helpful.

While a registry is a much-needed way of getting the household goodies that you'll need to start a fresh new life with your partner, may I suggest thinking about other gifts you can't get from Macy's that will last a lifetime…original artwork.

When you get married, it's often true that you combine furniture and other items, but you may find that your walls are bare. Have your family and/or close friends pool their money and buy you an original piece of artwork that you and your honey will cherish forever.

Real artwork usually isn't cheap, but that doesn't mean it has to be as outrageously expensive as you might imagine. Check out Atlanta artist Bob Ichter's whimsical pastels and his large-scale oil and acrylic works, which can be seen in fine galleries all around the states.

Similarly, you may find a nice sculpture or photograph that is meaningful to you or speaks to you and your future spouse if you take the time to stroll through local galleries. Of course, this does is more work for the bride and groom, but it's important for you to pick out the artwork that you'd like to have in your house since you'll be the one looking at it daily.

Just remember that family and friends want to spend money on you to commemorate your marriage – so give them the opportunity to buy something special for you that will last even longer than a stainless steel fork and will be much more of a conversation piece.

What artists' work can you recommend to newly engaged couples?

Friday, September 12, 2008

Spare the Wad


Weddings can be a magnificent display of colors, flowers, food and elegance, but they can also be an enormous expense for ladies and gentlemen who don't have a wad of cash to spend.

When planning your nuptials, consider allowing your bridesmaids to choose their own dresses. You can give them specifics on what to wear like: a dress that is a solid color of pink and short with gold jewelry and gold shoes with it. You can give your grooms a break by allowing them to wear their own suits or tuxedos. Of course, some of your wedding party might still have to purchase an outfit, but they would also have the option to borrow one or buy from a less expensive store.

Bouquets and boutonnieres can help to add uniformity to your pictures. Allowing your wedding party the option of choosing their own clothes also ensures that they are likely to wear their garments again. If you'd like more uniformity for the men and women, give the women jewelry to wear or ask that they wear their hair up or down. Give the guys a tie, or have them buy one from a place with an online store.

A wedding should be exactly as you want it to be and this kind of flexibility of choices isn't for every bride, but I've seen it done well in the pages of Martha Stewart's brilliant magazine and in a quaint summer wedding, too.

What other ways can you spare your wedding party?

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Wedding Wow: Seating in the Round

I recently attended an outdoor wedding at the amphitheater of a park in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Because the amphitheater was round, with a lake on one side and lush green park on the other, the bride decided to set the chairs "in the round" so that some of the guests would have a view of the scenic lake and others would have a view of the bride and groom's faces and the park.

The bride told me that several guests took pictures before, during and after the ceremony, resulting in all different angles and many fabulous shots of the idyllic scenery. For instance, while the bride was reading her vows, guests and the photographer took pictures of the back of the bride, the front, the grooms face and the two family's reactions. The bride is now going to frame a panorama of her wedding and frame pictures of the same moment together, so she can always remember how her guests viewed her special day.


As an attendee, I can say that I loved being able to see my friend's face and her new husband's as they took their vows. Of course, it did draw a few tears out of me, but I have to admit, I usually cry a little from happiness at every wedding I attend.

What other unique ways can you seat your guests during an indoor or outdoor wedding? I'd love to hear new ideas and see pictures!!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Book Review: Wedding Chic


Wedding Chic: The Savvy Bride's Guide to Getting More While Spending Less by Nina Wildorf, author of City Chic: An Urban Girl's Guide to Livin' Large on Less is a must buy for newly engaged brides.

This book will give you straightforward advice and a list of costs to keep in mind when wedding planning. Wildorf speaks from her own experience planning a cheap chic wedding and from numerous friend's experiences. She gives straightforward tips about how to keep costs low like buying high-end makeup, getting a lesson from the makeup counter, practicing and doing it yourself instead of paying a makeup artist the exorbitant fee for a day-of makeup application.

Through the pages of the book, brides will learn how to avoid getting bullied by professionals, find the best planner for their pennies, get the most bloom for their buck, make saving on their photographer a snap and create a booze budget and wedding menu at palatable prices.

And we personally think that Wildorf would have been wild about AtlantaOccasions.com especially since she's cost conscious and looks for ways to get the most out of her money. We give this book two bouquets way up!

Welcome Brides!

This blog is for you! I'll be posting ideas, opinions, news and interviews all about Atlanta weddings here. If you have a question or want to contribute to this blog, feel free to email me.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

New Info Coming Soon!

Hello All....info coming soon!