Ciara + Will

In the midst of a crazy wedding season, we are lucky to take a few minutes today to share an incredibly wonderful wedding with you. Shot by the always amazing duo, Kendrick Brinson and David Walter Banks, from Our Labor of Love, we're sure Ciara + Will's wedding at Dunaway Gardens will turn your hectic Monday around and leave you spellbound.

Mesmerizing, right?  Dunaway Gardens is one of our favorite venues: There are so many little nooks and crannies to get lost day-dreaming in, and every inch of the grounds is filled with lush beauty. We could just spend all day there! And who better to capture Dunaway's enchanting charm than Kendrick + David? Like a breath of fresh air, their images make us feel invigorated and refreshed. We are always blown away by their work, and Ciara + Will's wedding images did not disappoint. We were also thrilled to work with Corrie at Signature Weddings and Blooming Flour Bakery again, always a pleasure.

Ciara + Will chose a tapas style menu for their wedding celebration, blending some traditional and southern fare with a few fun twists. The biggest hit of the night was the shrimp + grit station, where guests could customize their toppings on our delicious cheese grits with sautéed shrimp served in adorably small mason jars. We also put a new twist on the ever popular Carolina pulled pork + purple slaw appetizer, serving it deconstructed with sweet potato biscuits and fried jalapeños. Other stations included a soup station featuring several soups and accompaniments like tomato soup and mini grilled cheeses,  and a more traditional station with our miso glazed salmon and roasted vegetables. We loved that Ciara + Will were willing to get creative and have fun with menu, it is always a treat to have a bride and groom that embrace something new and different.

Best wishes to this lovely couple, and a huge thanks to the incredible vendors who made Ciara + Will's wedding an unforgettable evening. 

Cheers,

SIMB

The NotWedding 2013

We feel tremendously lucky to be surrounded with creativity, beauty and love on an almost daily basis-- it's one of the greatest pleasures of the wedding industry, and The NotWedding is one of our favorite ways to showcase all of these things, and more. The NotWedding, which launched in 2008, is a fake wedding designed to inspire real brides (and grooms!), promote small businesses, and encourage strong, solid marriages. We're big on all of these ideas, so for the forth year in a row, we were honored to be asked to be a part of Atlanta's 2013 The NotWedding. Take a look at some of our favorite images from this year's The NotWedding from Kaitie Bryant, O'Studios + Whitney Huynh Photography and White Dress Media's gorgeous video below.

The NotWedding | Atlanta, 2013 from White Dress Media on Vimeo.

Complete with an emotional ceremony, featuring a real married couple as our bride + groom, a delicious dinner and a full-on dance party,  The NotWedding is not only a refreshing reminder that a wedding can be FUN, but it also is a great way to see some of the best vendors in the industry in action. We are always in awe of the vendors that The NotWedding supports-- seriously these ladies and gentlemen are the best in the biz and make the whole experience a dream come true!

Drawing inspiration from multi-cultural menus and a vibrant color palate, we served a mix of healthy, fresh fare that isn't your "typical wedding food." Hors d'oeuvres included a yummy crab + grapefruit ceviche with avocado + sesame and a shredded duck mole tostada with grilled pineapple salsa. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a buffet dinner including  Moroccan orange + honey chicken tagine over minted basmati rice,  miso grilled salmon over cilantro + cashew couscous, coconut sauteed japanese eggplant + sweet peppers, and grilled artichokes + asparagus spears in lemon caper butter. See what we mean? Different, but delicious, and a great way to let the little foodie in you shine on your wedding day. 

We are so proud to be a part of The NotWedding again, and are excited to see it grow each year. Find out more about The NotWedding, the AMAZING Atlanta vendors, and what cities it will be coming to soon, here.

Cheers,

SIMB

Brittany + William

This wedding makes us melt! Brittany + William are just the sweetest, and their wedding was breathtaking. Foxhall Resort was the ideal location for this rustic + romantic wedding, and every detail of Brittany and William's wedding day fit together so perfectly. The clear fall day was the ideal weather for an outdoor ceremony, and as the temperature dropped later in the evening, guests kept cozy near Foxhall's impressive fireplaces. Of course, we always love working with the ladies of Amy Osaba,  but this pairing seemed especially perfect. It was a delight to work with them throughout the planning process, and as always, they delivered the goods the day of. Check out the gorgeous arch they constructed for Brittany + Will to be married under-- soooo good!

Throughout the wedding, Brittany + Will's love for each other was so apparent, and the amazing eyes at 6 of Four, captured so many emotional and tender moments between this sweet couple, it gives us goose bumps.  We are in awe.

Such a wonderful wedding celebration and an amazing start to their marriage, congratulations Brittany + William. Wishing you the very best!

Cheers,

SIMB

Yvonne + Jesse

Meet Yvonne + Jesse. They are incredible, they are in love, and now, they are married. 

Yvonne + Jesse are some of our favorite regulars at the neighborhood cafe, and we feel lucky to have known them for so many years. When they got engaged, Yvonne + Jesse immediately knew who they wanted to cater their big day, and we were thrilled to be their pick. The ceremony was held outside the Solarium in Oakhurst, where Jesse + Yvonne read personal vows that inspired and moved their families and friends--dry eyes were pretty uncommon.

The talented minds behind the cameras at Altmix captured some dreamy images of the couple + their guests throughout the day. During cocktail hour, Yvonne + Jesse's guests nibbled on miniature crab cakes with ancho chile aioli, sweet potato croquettes with country ham and mustard butter and coriander beef skewers with a carrot and ginger dipping sauce. Miso glazed salmon + asparagus with chili oil + grilled corn + zucchini with thyme butter were big hits on the buffet. After dinner, guests danced up a storm- and Yvonne made a quick change into her adorable short dress, to show off her dancing moves. 

Check out the video GuestBox from Yvonne + Jesse's wedding celebration too!

The GuestBox: Yvonne & Jesse from TheGuestBox on Vimeo.

Congratulations, times a million.

Cheers,

SIMB

Kathryn + Brian

Kathryn + Brian's wedding at Cator Woolford Gardens was one for the books. Located in the heart of Atlanta, Cator Woolford Gardens is certainly beautiful enough on its own, but Kathryn imagined their wedding celebration under a "tent" of mini lights. So the talented folks at Bold American Design made it happen, and goodness gracious, what an amazing backdrop for a wedding. Julia + Amber at Our Labor of Love shot these extraordinary images of the happy couple and the unique scenery of their wedding.

Rustic farm tables from Four Inch Fold completed the look for Kathryn's wedding vision, and nestled under the magical lights, guests enjoyed a buffet dinner, including a local apple salad with pancetta and local greens, grilled chicken breast with bourbon + pecan butter sauce, and of course, our infamous zinfandel + rosemary marinated filet of beef, with an incredible gorgonzola sauce. Yum!

We are smitten with Kathryn + Brian's rustic, with just a smidge of whimsy, wedding and wish them every happiness.

Cheers,

SIMB

Theresa + Jay

We love, love, love this wedding at the Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center. Theresa + Jay are a vibrant, effervescent couple who were totally laid back about their nuptials. They wanted their wedding to feel natural, and to encourage the mingling of their families and friends in a casual and fun atmosphere. Done and done. These captivating photos, shot by David + Kendrick of Our Labor of Love, are just a glimpse into Theresa + Jay's relaxed and tender wedding celebration.

Theresa + Jay were married by a dear friend of the bride, under the pavilion outside the Atlanta Contemporary Arts Center, one of our favorite Atlanta gems. They mingled in and outside during cocktail hour, while enjoying passed appetizers like fried mushroom ravioli with a gruyere sauce and fried green tomatoes with a citrus sauce + caramelized onions. Guests were invited back under the urban pavillion as the sun set, to find their seats at one of Four Inch Fold's beautiful farm tables, then chowed down on family-style hermes salad, miso glazed salmon with a blueberry compote and rosemary + zinfandel marinated beef tenderloin with gorgonzola sauce.  The couple opted to forgo a traditional wedding cake, and instead indulged in mini desserts and a s'mores station over a fire pit. We are obsessed with this idea for a crisp fall evening wedding-- it was a huge hit. David + Kendrick hit it out of the park with these amazing images. We're in awe of the way they capture light in every magical moment, and we are in love with the way Theresa + Jay's personalities pop right off our computer screens in all of their photos. Just lovely. 

We're mildly obsessed. Congrats you two, wishing you all the best.

Cheers,

SIMB

Great Expectations Shoot at Lullwater

We were recently asked to take part of this collaborative photo shoot, and we just about jumped for joy when we discovered the details and the creative minds working together for this Great Expectations inspired shoot. Our ultra romantic venue, Lullwater Acres, served as the perfect backdrop, and Modern Luxury assembled an all-star cast to put a twist on the Charles Dickens classic, and the upcoming blockbuster hit. The results? Well, we think they're pretty phenomenal, but you can take a look at these brilliant images from Heidi with Our Labor of Love,  and decide for yourself. 

From vintage glassware, to paper runners on the table, the Victorian details and luxurious accents of this shoot still have us oohing and aahing! Studio1658's vendors came together in a wonderful way, reminding us how amazing vendors can make our jobs that much more worthwhile.

Cast of Characters:

calligraphy + paper goods- Erica Loesing | coordination- Simply Charming Socials | bridal gown- Kelly's Closet | floral design- Amy Osaba | styling- Ginny Branch | furnishings- Settee Event Decor | photography- Our Labor of Love | cake- Anne Kathleen Cakes | cinematography- Dekmar Films 

Pssst--- check out this amazing, behind the scenes video to see how we made this magic happen and to see our sweet Henry + June steal the spotlight. 

Cheers,

SIMB