Beth + Brian

The new year is almost here, but we've got one more wedding from 2014 that is sure to please. We trekked up to Highlands, NC, one of our favorite spots, for Beth + Brian's wedding celebration earlier this year, and it was well worth the trip. Beth + Brian pickedThe Bascom: Center for Visual Arts  for their ceremony and reception, one of the neatest places we've ever been. Do you remember Kendall + Patrick's wedding from a few years ago in Highlands? That was our first trip to The Bascom, as K + P picked this gorgeous backdrop for some of their wedding pictures. But his time, we got to spend the whole day there, and soak up all of the good things The Bascom has to offer.  

We love all of the sophisticated spin on rustic that Beth + Brian had going on in their wedding celebration. From their venue, to their flowers, to little natural accents throughout the evening, Beth + Brian's taste is top notch! Of course, they did have a little help in the form of their amazing wedding coordinator, Michelle with Occasions by Emily. Plus, we were WILD about Beth's bouquet and all the sweet arrangements from Fern Studio. But our jaws really hit the floor when we saw the arbor at Beth + Brian's alter. It's so perfect, I mean really?! And of course, none of these show stopping details could be appreciated today if it weren't for the man, the myth, the legendary Jeremy Harwell, of Harwell Photography. His photos are always spot on and spectacular!  For cocktail hour, Beth + Brian chose passed items like our bleu cheese shortbread with candied figs,  bloody mary soup shots with sesame spiced lump crab, pomegranate glazed chicken skewers, and our fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese. Beth + Brian's buffet dinner featured our venus salad of baby field greens with lemon scented artichoke hearts + roasted red peppers + crumbled gorgonzola +  black walnuts drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. For proteins, they picked the grain mustard + aged balsamic roasted pork tenderloin and fresh mountain trout with pecans + fresh basil with yellow tomato beurre blanc. And as side items, Beth + Brian selected our mac-n-cheese and our roasted seasonal vegetables with maple glaze + sea salt. 

There is something light and airy about Beth + Brian's wedding celebration that just makes us pause, even during the busiest days, and feel calm. We loved being a part of this wonderfully talented team of vendors, and are so lucky to share some memories with this exceptional couple! 

Here's to 2014, hope you had as much fun as we did! And to 2015, let's make it another memorable year! 

Emily + Jim

After all of these years, the variety of weddings that come our way still surprises us sometimes. From bold and dramatic, to quirky and fun, and everything in between, our brides and grooms are all over the spectrum. Emily + Jim's Atlanta Botanical Garden wedding is simple and sweet, in the very best way. 

There are a ton of elements that we love about this wedding, but one of our absolute favorites? It might be that lavender bouquet. We're a sucker for anything lavender, but that just made us SWOON!  Check out more details of Emily + Jim's "best day ever!" below, shot by Andrew Thomas Lee Photography. And after you're done checking out his photos from Emily + Jim's celebration, jump over to his blog or site to see more of this talented man's genius work! 

Of course, where would a wedding be without a wedding planner? We were lucky enough to call Ashley Baber Emily + Jim's coordinator, a serious vet on the Atlanta wedding scene who always has her ducks in a row, creating a stress free occasion for all involved. Emily and her girls' bouquets, and the floral arrangements were done by Unique Floral Expressions, and the simple cake topped with rosemary was a Highland Bakery creation. After the I Dos and the dances, guests took advantage of Smilebooth, there to snap tons of silly photos through the night. What a great vendor team! Some other fun facts that Emily passed along to us: The invitation included artwork done by the groom himself, and were letter pressed by the matron of honor, talk about sentimental meaning.

Emily + Jim stuck to a cocktail themed menu, featuring finger foods and small plate stations throughout Day Hall. The Atlanta Station included coca-cola glazed ham served with miniature sweet potato biscuits + grainy mustard, our mac n' cheese (which if you haven't tried before, is out of this world!!), and a goat cheese torta with sundried tomatoes + basil pesto + pine nuts. The Carving Station featured a prime rib of beef with yellow onion confit + horseradish sauce, our fanta se salad with valencia oranges + avocado + spicy pecan with chile vinaigrette, and grilled asparagus with lemon butter drizzle. And finally the French Quarter Station served up low country shrimp + sausage over three cheese grits, garlic + shallot sautéed haricot vert with grape tomatoes + toasted pine nut, and beef steak tomatoes + red onion + charred corn with balsamic vinegar. And to round out Highland Bakery's cake, Emily + Jim went for a super fun confection... COTTON CANDY! The inner child in everyone could not get enough.

What a fun night and what a lovely couple. Wishing Emily + Jim, and all of SIMB newlyweds a very happy 1st married holiday season together!   

Cheers,

SIMB

In Full Bloom- Featured in Southern Wedding

Okay, so it may be just a tad chilly outside, but have no fear, this southern inspired styled shoot is about to warm you right up! Rich in romance and pretty petals, this visionary shoot, photographed by Ali Harper at the beautiful Serenbe Farms, was recently a part of Southern Weddings V7 and we're sure it will melt any frost away instantly.

You may remember us bragging about another shoot for Southern Weddings down at Serenbe last year, well this is another brain child from some of the very same folks! Once again, our darling and ever so mind-blowingly talented friend Krista at Blue Eyed Yonder took the reins, styling the details of the day, blending soft textures, dusty rose hues, and the wonderful whimsy of wildflowers. She never ceases to amaze us, and we're lucky that Ali Harper's amazing eye (and lens) were there again to fantastically frame each moment of this day. 

The wild spontaneity of wildflowers is perfect for a summer time wedding, and we couldn't be more thrilled with the way Victory Blooms' dreamy bouquets and centerpieces meshed with all of our seasonal stories. And to top it off, the lovely Mrs. Loesing, from Yes Ma'am Paper Goods, lent her skills for the the super sweet invitation suite and table runner menu. 

We think the lovely ladies over at Southern Weddings have the greatest taste, so flattered doesn't even skim the surface when we were selected to be a part of one of their features for the second year in a row! If you are a soon-to-be bride searching for some serious inspiration for your wedding, you've got to get yourself a copy of Southern Wedding V7. Even if you're nowhere near planning a wedding, do yourself a favor and get one anyways. It's PACKED with all sorts of pretty things! 

Check out the behind the scenes video from Before Your Eyes, and read more about all the fun we had making this dream come to life on Southern Wedding's site.

Cheers,

SIMB

Behind The Scenes With Southern Weddings Magazine from Paul Moody on Vimeo.

Credits | Photography- Ali Harper | Styling + Set Design- Blue Eyed Yonder | Floral Design- Victory Blooms | Paper + Calligraphy - Yes Ma'am | Food + Drink- Sun in my Belly | Cake- Sugar and Slate | Hair + Makeup- Claudia Mejerle + Raney O'Keefe | Venue- Serenbe | Videography- Before Your Eyes 

Coloring Outside The Lines- Styled City Shoot

Aren't there some days you go to work, and you struggle to get through every minute of it? Well we've got that in common then. But then there are also days that you look around and think-- Wow! Is this really my job? How did I land this gig?!? The latter happens on days like this one; When we get to go "work" with our darling friends in the industry, dance across brightly painting walls, and are surrounded by vibrance from all angles. Pinch us, we must be dreaming! 

We headed to Weside Cultural Arts Center, where inspiration is begging to be found, and met up with a few top notch vendors including the absolutely remarkable Juli Vaughn, who was mastermind behind  the event design, floral design and styling with this delightful day. It should come as no surprise that Juli was responsible for this shoot; it screams Juli's name. Vibrant, fun, full of energy! Inspired by Atlanta's Living Walls project, Juli and Genya at Vue teamed up and started brain storming on ways to celebrate the city scenes that we sometimes take for granted. Well guess what? They've got our attention. Coordinated by the marvelous Melissa of Pretty Swell Parties, and photographed by one of our most talented Studio1658 photographers, Vue Photography, this shoot is so full of life, it explodes off the screen, and we cannot get enough! Are you ready for a little more razzle-dazzle now too?

For our menu, we supplied eye-catching and mouth-watering morsels. Mission figs stuffed with soft brie + wrapped with honey bacon and drizzled with honey, check. A gorgeous and fresh heirloom tomato stack with Buffalo mozzarella + baby arugula + avocado vinaigrette, check. And an amazing Vietnamese green curry lobster over black risotto with purple basil shoots, check. Just like the other elements of this styled shoot, this menu was a great way to breathe life into what can sometimes seem like same ol' thing. Every piece of this photo shoot is a breath of fresh air, and a great reminder that traditional weddings, although they are beautiful and timeless, aren't for everyone, but that are some great alternatives out there!  

Such an incredible way to spend the day!  Check out Ruffled's feature on our sweet little city shoot, and for more details about the contributors on this shoot, be sure to take a look at the credits below. 

Cheers,

SIMB

Credits | Photography - Vue Photography | Event Design + Floral Design + Styling - Juli Vaughn Designs | Coordination - Pretty Swell Parties | Venue - Westside Cultural Arts Center | Food - Sun in my Belly | Cake - Sugar & Slate | Hair + Make Up - Andrea Carter Artistry | Paper Goods - Fresh Love & Co. | Rentals - Event Rentals Unlimited | Linens - I Do Linens | Bride's Attire - The Sentimentalist | Grooms Attire - The Modern Gent | Videographer - The Reason | Art/Canvas Place Mats - Renee Bouchon

Lauren + Christian

Soaked in Southern charm, Lauren + Christian's wedding is one that we'll never forget. This was such a fun day, full of energy and picture perfect moments, and we're thrilled to share it with you today. Working with Simply Charming Socials on one of our first weddings together was an incredible experience, and set us up for a continued vendor-friendship that we've enjoyed for a long time now. Remember when we gushed about SCS in August? Well, here's further proof of their amazing abilities to tie together ideas, accents, and atmosphere to create a truly wonderful wedding.

Nestled away in Monroe, at Fair Weather Farms, Lauren + Christian's celebration was every ounce of perfection seen here, thanks to 35 Atlanta, and then some. This family owned and operated property is magical. Saying "I do" under a 200 year old oak tree, surrounded by rustic beauty and shimmering water, Lauren + Christian had the right idea. Throw in beautiful bouquets and stunning stems from Gardenia Floral, and you have your self a storybook wedding. Not to mention the Southern chicness of Lauren + Christian's wedding. The vintage rentals from 4 Inch Fold and preppy pink pops against burlap and seersucker were just darling!  

Before the ceremony, guests enjoyed fresh lemonade and fruit infused chilled water on the lawn, where they also nibbled on medjol dates wrapped in proscuitto with soft goat cheese, mini corn muffins topped with our notorious pimento cheese, and fried green tomatoes with horseradish sauce and caramelized onions, post ceremony. After collecting Lauren + Christian's custom made koozies, and a few cocktails, guests made their way inside the screened in pavilion. There they found our fried green tomato napoleon salad, with fresh goat cheese, smoked trout + wild rocket greens, drizzled with a green goddess dressing at each setting at 4 Inch Fold's farm tables. Lauren + Christian's buffet menu was made up of a balsamic glazed free range chicken breast with caramelized onions + fresh rosemary, grain mustard + aged balsamic roasted pork tenderloin, and fresh vegetables, including sautéed haricot vert with grape tomatoes and toasted pine nuts. Deeeee-lish. After dinner, whoopee pies from The Cookie Studio and lots of dancing were on the agenda, desserts and dancing... sign us up!

Pinch us, we must have been dreaming! 

Cheers,

SIMB

Wendy + Chris

October is here already! Which just goes to show that time flies when you're having fun, because it doesn't seem too long ago that we were enjoying a spring wedding celebration in Piedmont Park for Wendy + Chris. Their ceremony was super sweet and sentimental, as their closest family and friends gazed at the happy couple with Lake Clara Meer in the background. There was something so special about being in the heart of Piedmont Park and Midtown Atlanta for this wedding. It's like the whole world was spinning right outside, but Wendy + Chris made time stand still. We just loved it, and we know you will too, so take a look at all the delicious details of Wendy + Chris's wedding, shot by the skilled Anna and Spencer Photography.  

After their dockside ceremony, Wendy + Chris and their guests mingled on the lawn as our fried green tomatoes with horseradish sauce + caramelized onions, miniature grilled cheese sandwiches on brioche, and cocktails were served. Then guests moved inside the dockside visitor center to find rows of farm tables, sprinkled with candles and pretty pastel flowers from Holly Bryan Design. Wendy + Chris kept their menu casual and fun, featuring some of their favorite finger foods, including out pistachio + coconut chicken satay with lime + cilantro coulis, Alison's famous meatloaf sliders on buttery brioche rolls, and wild mushroom + gruyere crostini with fresh thyme. Their buffet menu also included a beautiful antipasto display, cumin + sriracha spiced chick pea hummus, and basil laced roasted salmon with lemongrass creme fraiche.   

For dessert, we provided Wendy + Chris with a dessert bar that will make your mouth water. Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese icing, raspberry + lemon parfaits with oatmeal crumbles, and a fruit + cheese display featuring strawberries, dates, and artisan cheeses. Instead of a traditional wedding cake, Chris has a blueberry pie "groom's cake" and a simple, but spectacular almond pound cake. 

It's no surprise that we were crazy about another wedding at one of the many Piedmont Park venues, and we are pleased as punch to have been a part of Wendy + Chris's wedding celebration. Here's to the happy couple! 

Cheers,

SIMB