This reception is filled with amazing details. From the vintage tins to the chandeliers in the tent, this wedding was ‘flea-market chic’, as Terri calls it. Terri and her mom worked very hard to plan this terrific event at {The Half-Mile Farm}. With coordination by Shay Brown of {Shay Brown Events} and floral design by {Jan’s Floral Art}, the celebration went off with out a hitch. Well, except for first dance song jitters. Read on to hear how they learned how to dance in less than a week. Thanks to our friends Brian and Gry of {Woodward + Rick Photographers} for sharing this wedding. Check out more from Terri + Sean on their {Blog}. For even more check out {Mari Kittredge’s}, the videographer, wedding highlights video {here}.
The weather on our wedding day was: At the last minute, it turned out absolutely gorgeous! For the three days preceding our wedding day – and the morning of – it was cloudy and drizzly. But about an hour before our ceremony started, the sun came out and we had blue skies with puffy white clouds. Perfect!
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? I’d describe the reception style as ‘flea-market chic.’ We wanted to coordinate with the décor and general feel of our venue, and I had planned from the beginning to display framed wedding photos of several generations of our families, so I decided that a vintage, ‘grandma’s attic’ theme would work well. We used vintage tins as our centerpieces, hung chandeliers from the tent, made our own tea-stained lace tablecloth overlays, and incorporated vintage glass vases and old family doilies in various places around the inn.
Describe your wedding flowers: Of all our décor elements, I probably fretted the most over the floral arrangements. All the planning and research were so worth it in the end though … the flowers absolutely blew me away. In fact, our wonderfully talented florist went so far beyond what I expected that I cried when I saw them! We used a variety of types of flowers in berry shades (burgundy, eggplant, raspberry) with non-floral elements such as berries, feathers, and fruits mixed in. For containers, we used the vintage tins and glass vases. The result was colorful, eclectic, and very sumptuous looking.
Describe your wedding cake: Our wedding cake was a chocolate lover’s delight … layers of rich tiramisu and Kahlua mocha chip cake with dark chocolate fondant. It actually tasted even better than it sounds! The special touch, however, was the groom’s cake. Sean is allergic to wheat and dairy products, so our baker agreed to try her hand at baking him his favorite – a gluten-free, dairy-free carrot cake with vanilla (pseudo-)butter cream. To top it, she sculpted a sugar-paste squirrel with an acorn – a surprise for Sean, because ‘squirrel’ and ‘acorn’ are our pet names for each other! Not only was the cake gorgeous to look at, it tasted so good that there were no leftovers at the end of the night.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? I’d say planning an event of this magnitude (a) without any prior experience and (b) from out of town. The venue we used essentially was a blank slate … we had to design and furnish everything that went into it. Plus, it was in a relatively remote part of the mountains, so we had to search all over the southeast to find our (wonderful!) vendors. Without the help of an event planner, it was up to my mom and me to make decisions on things we knew very little about. As it turns out, though, this challenge was one of the biggest joys of planning the wedding! I wouldn’t trade the time my mom and I spent working together for anything … it was a great bonding experience.
Were there any special family traditions you included in the wedding? Where do I begin? Our wedding really was all about family, and we included a bunch of traditions and special items. I wore my great-grandmother’s 1920s-era wedding gown for our first dance; we had songs sung for our ceremony that had been played at my parents’ and great-grandparents’ weddings; my sister hand-painted a sign for the entrance to the venue on wood taken from our childhood home; my mom sewed me a handkerchief using fabric from the wedding gowns of three generations of our family; our ring bearer pillow was made from a lace doily made by my great-grandmother; we displayed family wedding photos from several generations; and the stamps for our invitations featured photos of my great-grandparents’ and Sean’s grandparents’ weddings. That’s just for starters.
Scariest moment? The scariest but also one of the most rewarding moments was our first dance. We chose a jazzy Ella Fitzgerald tune, then realized at the last minute that we had no clue how to dance to it! So, with literally days to go before the wedding, we signed up for a crash-course in dancing. We specifically didn’t want a choreographed number, but one thing led to another, and that’s exactly what we got. We were quaking when we went out to perform it, but it turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the night! Sean and I had a blast, and our guests seem to really enjoy it as well.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Heartfelt, Meaningful, Unique
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding? I’d try to avoid saving projects – particularly involved DIY ones – until the last minute! Time flies once you get within a few weeks of the big day. Also, be sure you give equal attention to planning the ceremony as to the reception – not only is it the reason for the occasion, it also can be just as, if not more, meaningful and memorable.
Other details you want us to know about your wedding: We added a number of handmade details to the ceremony and reception, such as crossword puzzles about Sean and me (“How Well Do You Know the Bride and Groom?”) on the cocktail tables, fabric-wrapped pots with succulent plants as favors/escort cards, an “art table” and play quilt to entertain children during the reception, a digital photo station for our guest book, and customized welcome baskets for all our guests. Not only were these projects fun to work on with my mom, they also infused some of our personalities into the wedding and made it more entertaining!
Congratulations to Terri + Sean. We wish you a lifetime of happiness!
You have the following:The Ballroom at 12The BiltmoreThe Opera
I would suggest Opera– the "Not Wedding" recently took place there and it is a great event space. The Fox Theatre is also nice & they have a number of ballrooms that might work. Magnolia Hall at Piedmont Park is also a good one. If your event is really big, try the King Plow Arts Center– chic loft space. Good luck!
OK I thought of more. The High Musuem would be perfect as well. Here is a list:Atlanta History Center — Atlanta, GA The Biltmore Ballrooms — Atlanta, GA Castleberry Hill Events Facility — Atlanta, GA Cator Woolford Gardens — Atlanta, GA Crowne Plaza Ravinia — Atlanta, GA Fernbank Museum of Natural History — Atlanta, GA The Fox Theatre — Atlanta, GA Fulton County Atrium — Atlanta, GA The Foundry at Puritan Mill — Atlanta, GA King Plow Arts Center — Atlanta, GA 103 West — Atlanta, GA The Piedmont Room — Atlanta, GA Rhodes Hall — Atlanta, GA Villa Christina — Atlanta, GA The Vinings Club — Atlanta, GA
I would check out the new W hotel in Buckhead. I was there for an event last month and they have a great, funky space. Good luck!
I sent you a long list. Let me know if you need more, or an intro to any of the managers. Happy to help!!
Have you tried either on of the 12 hotels? One in Atlantic Station and one is downtown. There is a new W. Also if you go on the King Plow website, it also features a couple of private homes that you can rent. Very neat.
http://www.sundialrestaurant.com/This restaurant is at the top of The Westin Hotel on Peachtree.
For a gathering of 150 that would be fit to host a Southern Wedding I’d reccomend:The ballroom at the Mansion on Peachtree103 WestThe Swan Coach house at the Atlanta History CenterThe new Buckhead ClubGood luck, we are thrilled you are bringing the party here!
If you like the urban vibe, The Foundry at Puritan Mill (mentioned above) is a great space with good parking. It’s a big, blank canvas though, so you would definitely need to think about the decor.I also second the King Plow suggestion because Bold American catering might be interested in partnering, which would be great.
Those are all great venues. The Mansion on Peachtree is a new Rosewood Hotel that looks gorgeous. Might be neat b/c it is new and different…I have not been to an event there though..
I absolutely love the Carter Center’s feel and look or the Botanical Gardens. These may not be what you’re in the market for though. Other people have suggested these, I think, but the Opera is a cool space. Also, either the Piedmont Room at Park Tavern, Fernbank, or maybe the Magnolia Room at Piedmont park would work well. Good luck and I want to come!!!
Rhodes Hall is a great place. Can’t wait. Will shoot you some more suggestions soon.
Here are a few suggestions !1) I have been to wonderful events at Canoe Restaurant in Vinings. They have beautiful tented events (yes heated) and it’s located directly on the Chattahoochee river. One of our favorite places btw. It can hold several hundred people and the surroundings are natural and gorgeous.2)Another cool venue would be the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Very cool site and have been to cocktail parties there many times..(martinis and imax). Can hold several hundred people and it’s a very interesting place!~3)….AND MY FAVORITE..BEST OF ALL.. The Georgia Aquarium in the Oceania Ballroom..can hold several hundred people, and of course there is the amazing sea life surrounding you. It would be an amazing and stunning venue..a real showstopper!~That would be imho, a great way to show the world that Southern Weddings Magazine is ready to dive in head first and become the premier wedding magazine!Congratulations and best wishes..I hope to be there. As an encore bride to be, I am always delighted with the articles and lovely photography here on this site. I CANNOT WAIT for the magazine to debut!
So sorry..it is the OCEANS ballroom at the Georgia Aquarium.Here is a jaw-dropping picture taken in that ballroom..and oh my goodness? Could it be? It was a photo taken AT A WEDDING :) http://www.vsphotography.com/James/Cover.jpgIs this site just too perfect or what?
Congrats on the big launch!Can’t wait to see how things play out for you!We wish you the best!Anne
Hey gals!I’m in Nashville so I’m no help with venues, but if you need extra manpower for the party, let me know. I’d love to come down and help with the celebration!
Mason Murer Fine Art -gallery, clean modern, beautiful, transformed into a SW wonderland of lovelinessPark Tavern: Piedmont Garden Tent-overlooking piedmont park with city light view, stunning..picture twinkling lights and all the bells and whistles you gals will bringSerenbe-its outside of Atlanta but breathtaking organic farm with amazing event spaceI agree Georgia Aquarium Ocean Ballroom is an excellent choiceBiltmore also stunning as Eliana mentioned above
I was also going to suggest King Plow or http://www.masonmurer.com/events.htm.
There are endless venues! Depends on the look & feel you are going fortheres "The View" @ KingPlowBuckhead Room had a fire incident upstairs, but htey have the Piedmont RoomCW Lofts… etc etc.I’m a coordinator and if you need help with setting up, or branding the business I have connects all over.Including Ice sculptures, wait staff, decorating see our site dbdeventsatlanta.com Congrats! look forward to keeping posted