Monthly Archives

August 2014

OUR REGISTRY

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Selecting home goods has definitely been one of my favorite parts of wedding planning! I’ve only browsed online but Dustin and I plan to visit the actual stores we are registered at to see the items in person.  So far to the two stores we like and feel are well-rounded are Macy’s and Crate and Barrel.  We agree that the registry needs to be refined and tailored to a criteria of need versus want.  I’ve read some good advice in regards to not getting too “appliances happy” and to really think about what you’ll use. Here are the reasons why we’ve added the above to our registry right off the bat-

“China” set: We both want our dishes to be clean and simple and want to go with a bone white. Not sure the above is the exact set but something very similar is what we’re leaning towards.

Cutting board: I have only plastic ones at the moment and would like to upgrade to a wooden board that could double as a cheese platter- the above would is perfect!

Knife set: Back in college I was given a set and since added mismatched pieces but all of them could be tossed due to not properly taking care of them or rust along the handles.

Crock pot: We’re both big fans of soup and stew but haven’t had the room to store a crock pot in our tiny kitchens. This will definitely come in handy!

Toaster: True story, I still own and use a Hello Kitty toaster I bought in 2004 from Target. Yep- I need an upgrade!

Copper mug: Been eye-balling the Moscow Mule mugs for a while, they are one of the “want” items more than the “need” items but will surely get used.

Mixer: This was a no brainer to add because I’ve wanted one for a least a decade but finally feel like it’s the right time to own.

Towels: Both of our towel sets need to be tossed. I like the idea of white towels but with makeup and hand drying I just feel like they’d get too dirty, so grey is a neutral compromise that I don’t think will soil as fast.

Drip coffee maker: Dustin is a huge coffee drinker and while we have a newish coffee pot I think I’d like the smoothness that this style maker yields. Plus you can make iced coffee-my favorite!

These are my favorite items from the ones we’ve picked so far. We’re still shopping, thinking and planning our future home together. I can’t wait to shake off the college and early 20’s clutter of my home and get a more refined, simplistic home!

INSTA-FAVES | Wedding Arbor

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Since our wedding date is over a year out, there’s plenty of time for planning. A fair amount of details I’m flexible with and others I feel firmly with incorporating. For example, having a floral covered arbor that’s all our own! The owner of our venue has several rod iron frames that are up for grabs and there was one with chipping white paint that I especially liked. I didn’t think I was that gal that would buy wedding magazines and follow wedding sites on Instagram but here I am, buying and following! One of my favorite sites, that has an equally good IG account is Style Me Pretty.  I went far back on their thread to find my favorite arch inspirations —
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I like the idea of adding fabric, gives movement.
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Imagine strung flowers instead of paper swans, that’s what I’m thinking! Fan of using magnolia leaves, it’s a Southern staple.
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Theme so far is white flowers with greenery, but if you see below, I also wouldn’t mind a pop of color.
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Couple different options, one is to just decorate the corners or the other is go all the way around–that’s to be decided!

Like I mentioned there’s a good bit of time and as fast as my style changes, who knows I may want something different, but I doubt it, these rule!
All photos via Instagram/@SMPweddings

PICNIC + BIKE RIDE

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This time last week Dustin and I were planning to hit the gym after we finished our work day but then decided a sunset picnic at Piedmont Park sounded better! In order to make it somewhat exercise we opted to ride our bikes to Wholefoods for the groceries and then take the Beltline to the park. We picked up wine, cheese, chicken salad, fruit and tabouli salad. On the way we stopped at this in-progress mural that Hense is working on, it’s changed a little bit since then but still the same concept. Found this sweet little leaf that was given a makeover during the process —
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Wearing — Anthropologie top, Citizen jeans, Birkenstocks, TOMS shades

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We set up the picnic at a dock on the pond. We didn’t know that shortly after assembling everything we’d be ambushed by ducks but they ended up leaving us alone.  That was until these two Turkish women brought bags of old bread and started feeding them, then it was a frenzy! Even a catfish and turtle showed up to get in on the crumbs, that was pretty darn cute!

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Cheers! Does this look inconspicuous since it’s in a coffee cup?!

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After finishing dinner and enjoying the sunset we hopped back on the bikes and headed home. I just love the convenience of my current location to everything and being able to travel on bikes!

Have a great weekend!

OUR VENUE

On Sunday, Dustin, mom and I set out to visit our top three wedding venue picks. The first was Vinewoods Plantation in Newnan, GA, second was Sweet Meadows Farm in Talapoosa, GA and third was The Farm in Rome, GA. Let me explain how we came to choose Georgia for our wedding destination in the first place–

Since I grew up all over the US and don’t have a traditional hometown Atlanta has become my home base city. I consider Tuscaloosa, Alabama to my stand-in hometown since I went there for college and my parents moved there in 2008. Dustin and I have family in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Florida and wanted to have the location somewhere in the middle. Being a city dweller I went back and forth on an urban-industrial wedding versus a farm wedding. In the end the venues we were most attracted to ended up being farms with lots of land.

After narrowing down the venues, next it was the fun part! The first Vinewoods was my top choice from the beginning. It’s got a beautiful plantation home and a barn. I was thrilled for the visit and left thinking “this is it.” That was until we visited Sweet Meadows farm. It’s not as plastered all over the web as Vinewoods so I didn’t really know what to expect as far as inside the barn and the various site options. I won’t even go into detail about the third visit because between the long drive there, basically having our minds made up and the terrible tour guide-it’s not worth talking about. If you want a more detailed opinion on each of these venues for your wedding, email me and we can talk!

In regards to documenting the visits, I actually brought my camera along but got caught up with questioning and answering so I ended up snapping very little. Here are photos from Sweet Meadows webpage to give you an idea as to why this decision, for me, was a no brainer:

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These are all things that were important to us and this venue nails them all! Not pictured is a rustic grooms suite with a gun safe, deer head and other super manly decor ;)  Also the home in itself is pretty cool with a connected green house, vintage family photos and decorated with rustic Southern vibes (owner has great taste!)

A little about the family of Sweet Meadows Farm–
Melanie, the owner and wedding coordinator, has been living on the land for 31 years with her husband and three boys. Prior to farm life her and her husband both had very different lives working for Delta until they retired and went into the beef cattle industry. Melanie started Celebrate! Wedding and Events in 2011 doing offsite events and is now concentrating on weddings and socials on her land. She’s currently expanding the barn and renovating a few other structures on site. She’s basically a Southern Martha Stewart who can decorate, garden and DIY just about anything!

Dustin, Mom and I are so excited for not only finding the perfect venue for us but also nailing down a date! We will be getting hitched on November 7th, 2015!  Never did I ever think I’d be getting married in November but the idea of cool temperatures and Fall foliage, I’m so down!  Feeling blessed and excited. Lets get this party started!

weekend wear 05

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I know it’s almost a new weekend but I have a good excuse for just now getting my ‘weekend wear’ up; my laptop has died. I keep holding out waiting for it to turn on but sadly, I think it’s gone for good. I mean I bought it in 2007 so it’s been a darn good computer! Now I’ve got to extract everything off, most importantly my programs! Ugh, don’t even want to think about that headache right this second so onto my outfit!
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Target overalls, Free People hat, Bar III shirt, Madewell bag, Birkenstock sandals, Toms shades.
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This week’s been pretty laid back and after a packed weekend it’s definitely what we needed!

On Sunday we have three venue visits; 2 barns and the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center-so excited to get the ball rolling!