Friday, December 30, 2011

New Years Nuptials!

When I found out we were having a winter wedding, I was DYING to have a New Years Eve Celebration! Can you imagine how fantastic it would be to say "I Do" as the ball drops?! Of course, this can be a pricey endeavor as far as renting a place, and to stay that late would be a pretty penny, but if you've got the hook up check out my ideas for New Years Nuptials!

NYE is all about bling and sparkle, and with vintage brooch bouquets so popular you're sure to stand out with one that's all about silver and gold! With libations flowing (as I assume they will be), you won't need a way to break the tension-- or the ice! I adore the arctic ice cubes, they're a great way to add a little bit of humor to a fun but classy event! What I adore even more is the idea of a mini champagne bar... pick up the champagne or prosecco "splits" (the mini bottles) and stick them in plastic cups filled with ice and a bendy straw. Perfect for that midnight toast to the happy couple!

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I could go on and ON about a NYE wedding, so check out the rest of it on my Winter Weddings Pinboard at Pinterest! 

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Amore Abroad!

This is Irene and Robert...

(courtesy of Joanna Steege)

They were married Nov. 26th in England, and Agape Events looks forward to wresting control for their American reception away from over-worked parents next year! But as exciting as their nuptials may be, for the case of this post they were a mere backdrop for big news for one of the co-owners of Everything Nice Photography, Agape's partners in crime!


This is Adam and Joanna, and they're pretty much perfect for each other-- they're both hilarious, they have an adorable bunny named Bruno, and an eclectic house that suits them so well! 

We've all been waiting for quite some time for this to happen, but when they were in England for Irene and Rob's wedding...


Adam proposed and Joanna said yes!



I couldn't be happier for these two and can't wait to see how their wedding turns out! 

 (Engagement photos courtesy Richard Miles)

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas Clearance!

So, this is another sorry excuse for a Markdown Monday, which is why I want to know why you're reading this blog... you should be out shopping the clearance aisles at Target, Michael's, Big Lots, and (yes, I shudder at the thought, but...) Wal-Mart!

If you're getting married in the next year and you'll use red, white, green, blue or silver in your decor now is the time to stock up! We used Christmas clearance to buy linens for the tables, vases, trinkets, ribbon, and favor boxes at a deep price cut, so get out of the house and hunt down some deals-- your wallet will thank us both six months from now.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Seasonal Shindig

One of the things that I wanted so hard to avoid was having a Seasonal Shindig-- we got married less than a week before Christmas and by golly, I had no intention of having a Christmas-y wedding!




I frequently say things emphatically and then end up having our goddaughter/flower girl dressed in red and white, favor boxes that look like wrapped presents, and a gift table with a tulle-wrapped Christmas tree...

But you know what? It was so. cute! People loved the favor boxes (which were filled with mini York Peppermint Patties, thank you Sam's Club!) and adored the Christmas tree table! Again, this is all about perspective; if you do your Christmas wedding and mean it, you won't come off looking cheesy, instead it will be just the opposite!

Think how cute black or Christmas green bridesmaids dresses would be with candy cane tights! Or a cute little flower girl in a Christmas dress? And, instead of the popular pom bouquets with flowers, have them made with tulle and ornaments instead!

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You want to know something else awesome about getting married at Christmas? Most places, especially churches, will have decorations provided! One less thing to worry about/spend your money on!

Poinsettias? Perfect! 

Christmas tree? Sparkly!

There are loads of ways to stay seasonal with your wedding while still keeping it classy-- from vintage Christmas to modern merriment, keep track of these items and more on my Winter Wedding Pinboard on Pinterest!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Happy Anniversary!!

Today is my second wedding anniversary, so Markdown Monday will come on Wednesday!

My husband Jeremy and I 

(warning: nostalgia and pictures ahead!!)

Our wedding had everything I could want and more, and inspired me to start this business! 

We had...

Uncles and Aunts

Fathers, Mothers, Grandmothers, and Grandfathers

Godmothers

Godchildren

Bagpipes and Drums

Sorority Sisters

College Friends

and the people who knew us before we were dating.

New Friends and Old Friends

Family we haven't seen since before Amelia was born!

An AMAZING wedding party...

And a wedding photographer assisted by my oldest friend all combined...

For a wedding we couldn't have dreamed!

Whether it's a birthday, a wedding, or a BBQ you can't get lost in the details-- the people you love will be there and will love you no matter what happens! The most amazing thing is that almost every single person in this crowd shot has been not only a continuing support for us as a couple, but have cheered me on in my endeavor to start my own business-- Agape Events Atlanta!

Thank you to the amazing people who celebrated that amazing day with us, and those who celebrated our first year together last year and who will celebrate with us tonight for our second year. And thank YOU, dear readers, for coming here and reading my blog and supporting my business!

First Anniversary, 12/19/10

Friday, December 16, 2011

Woody Winter Wedding

If you're a child of nature and you've always dreamed of an outdoors wedding with flowers and garlands, a winter wedding may sound like a death knell for your dreams of partying au naturale (and I don't mean nude!) with friends and family. But wait, there's plenty of nature to be had in the winter, you just have to change your perspective!

Berries and greens make a festive bouquet that is inexpensive and unique, and pine cones and wooden letters can be sprayed with clear coat to seal them or edged with gold and silver paint to make them a shimmering accent! Greenery abounds this season, and you can get it cheap and easy from Christmas Tree lots, grocery stores, and even chain stores like Michael's and Target if you're OK with faux flowers.

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Keep up with these items and more on my Winter Wedding Pinboard on Pinterest!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Dessy's Next Trick

Dessy 1019

Dessy Dresses are a tricky business-- a lot of times you can find a similar look for a little less elsewhere, and my final verdict on their LBD experiment stands: you have to be careful or you're not really getting a deal! They have a new program called Sample on Loan which boasts one upside for the busy bride on the go; they will send you a sample to try on at home! 

There are a few ways this could be a total rip off, so let's check out the details.

The Premise: You pay Dessy $35 to ship you a sample that may or may not be the proper size so that you can hang on to it for 2 days, try it on, wear it around the house, take it to dance lessons, what have you. 

The Ins and Outs: You get the dress (from the After Six Collection) and a pre-paid adhesive shipping label in the mail, you keep the dress for 48hrs. If you haven't returned it in time you are charged an extra $20/day. Dessy MAY be able to send you more than one dress at a time, for another $35. Your size may also not be available, so they will send you the "closest" size possible-- no word on whether that's one size up or one size down, but I would assume one size up.

The Ups and Downs: If you're planning on a budget, $35 to rent a dress for two days may not be the best investment. If you're not planning on a budget, and you're a busy gal, it might be worth it to you to not have to find your nearest Dessy (which for me is anywhere from roughly 8-20mi, ranging 30-120 minutes in travel time one way) and go in to the store, deal with people, etc. If you're going to be wearing a dress from Dessy's After Six collection and you have it in hand and you'd like to do a bridal shoot before the big day, you could always rent a sample to do the shoot in. Though I'm sure major damages would result in an extra fee, it would be a safe way to do your shoot and not worry about getting dust on the hem.

As with the NewlyMaid program, I would suggest really looking around and checking your budget to see if this is the right program for you. You should also contact the Dessy Customer Service BY PHONE to ask if there are any partial refunds available, and what happens if you rip the hem while seeing if your heels work with the gown. I emphasize BY PHONE because I e-mailed them and got a form response which was copy and paste from the website. No extra information, no effort put in to the response at all.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Warm and Fuzzies

Another feel you can go for with your winter wedding is the Warm and Fuzzies take-- something that oozes comfort and down home warmth! And what says that better than a s'mores bar and a hot chocolate bar? Drape the tables in tea lights, drape yourself and your bridesmaids in little faux fur capes, and put out some mac and cheese or apple tarts and your guests will adore your warm and fuzzy wedding!

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Keep up with these items and more on my Winter Wedding Pinboard on Pinterest!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Luscious Libations

Whether it's a wedding, BBQ, birthday party, or shower everyone needs a beverage handy to sip on while the guest of honor or host opens presents, gives a toast, or grills the burger to perfection!

I love the idea of signature cocktails and have found recipes galore, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, for every taste and age!

Sherbet Punch, perfect for a baby shower or girls' birthday!
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Winter Wonderland Martini for a Holiday Party or Winter Wedding!
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And for a BBQ or Summer Wedding, you can NEVER go wrong with a margarita bar!
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Check out these ideas and more on my Libations Pinboard on Pinterest!


Monday, December 5, 2011

Filene's Closes Down

OK, Atlanta brides, here's your chance to experience the Running of the Brides without the potential to be trampled! Earlier this month, the AJC Biz Blog reported that Filene's Basement is shutting down operations! So, this is a bit of a cheat for Markdown Monday, but if you're looking for a dress don't count them out. I'm sure that the closer they get to closing (I'll update when they announce a closing date) the better the deals will be!

Filene's Basement in Atlanta is located at Lenox Marketplace:

3535 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 869-4466
Hours
Mon-Sat: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Friday, December 2, 2011

Winter Wonderland

Happy December, y'all!

Winter weddings are close to my heart after my own accidental winter wedding, and I think there is SO much you can do to make it anything you want!

For starters, decor-- the first thing I thought of when I knew I would be having a December wedding was a Winter Wonderland with soft, cozy lighting and frosty looking centerpieces. There's so much more to it, though, depending on where you have your wedding/reception, what time of day, and what kind of couple you are!

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With soft icicle lighting draping the ceiling, beautiful epsom salt luminaries on the tables, and snowballs greeting your guests at the door, elegance awaits at a beautiful winter wedding!

I'll do a few of these winter wedding pieces, so to start here's the "classic" Winter Wonderland with a bit of a twist! Keep up with these items and more on my Winter Wedding Pinboard on Pinterest!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Halloween Dream

I. Love. Halloween! AND Thanksgiving, so my fall roots go a lot deeper than I ever thought. When I was a girl, I couldn't decide if I wanted a Halloween wedding or a Springtime wedding. I ended up with neither, but I had decided that a spring wedding would be easily decorated and way prettier. Now, however, I'm not so sure!

The number of pumpkin-based crafts and decorations out there are ENDLESS! From using stockings to spray painting, our favorite gourd is quite the scene-stealer, and with a spray of bleach and water it will even keep a few days. The other amazing thing is the number of colors they come in naturally-- there are white pumpkins at a nearby church every single year! Combine them with other natural elements for some beautiful nature-iffic touches on your tables.

Check out the centerpieces below and more on my Fall Wedding Pinboard at Pinterest!

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Monday, November 28, 2011

Simple Centerpieces

Today's Markdown Monday is a referral to a DIY tutorial for the prettiest centerpieces I've seen in a while! I feature these in my post on Friday, but I think they would be amazing year round-- I'll be trying them out soon so look for an update on their real-life ease and beauty.

To find out how to make them yourself, head over to Crafty By Amanda!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Fall-ing in Love!

Yes, yes, way to come back from an extended absence-- with a bad pun! But, really, I am becoming more enamored of fall weddings as I find bouquets and other cute ideas on Pinterest. I used to be much more of a Spring Wedding kind of gal, but how could you not love these flowers?!

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I especially love the berries in the bouquet-- you can find them just about everywhere, so they're a beautiful and inexpensive way to dress up any floral decoration you have.

With so many rich colors to add to your palate, how could you go wrong? And the weather is bound to be perfect! Thanksgiving in Indiana was even beautiful, so double check your area's historical temperatures and gear up to fall for fall! 

(plus, who doesn't love saying "autumnal"?)