Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Honoring the Past (Without Pissing Everyone Off)

About ten years ago I attended my cousin's wedding. It was a very high class Southern affair with a big outdoor tent and a delicious buffet of traditional Southern delights. Even years later I still I remember that they displayed framed photos of both the bride and the groom's parents on their wedding days. I remember thinking what a sweet gesture it was, and how I would never be able to do the same thing at my own wedding.

My parents were divorced when I was 13 years old. It was mess and even 16 years later there are still a lot of old wounds and scars on both sides of the family. In fact, I am really dreading the potential drama which now looms ominously on the horizon as our wedding approaches, namely the fact that my mother has never met (nor has any desire to meet) my stepmother.  Mr. C's parents are also divorced and his parents currently coexist in an emotional stalemate. It's trouble on both sides. Trouble to the point that we are reserving room blocks at two different hotels in order to preserve the peace. But more on that later.

My mom and dad on their wedding day. I love my mom's lace dress and I love the fact my dad is very obviously checking her out!
But here's the thing -- I wish there was some way that we could honor both of our parents' first marriages, seeing as we (Mr. C and I) were the results of those unions, even if they didn't end with "happily ever after." I wish we could display the photos without opening old wounds or creating awkwardness (there will be plenty of that anyway, to be sure). This is definitely something we would have to consult our parents on beforehand to see how they feel about the issue. But something tells me it probably isn't going to be possible, which makes me sad.



One thing is for sure though -- we will definitely be displaying photographs of our grandparents' weddings and photos of the loved ones who have passed on. At least those are two things we can display without any complicated emotions.

My grandparents on their wedding day. It was a classic WWII story where my grandmother married him at the courthouse before he left with the Navy.

What do you think? Would it be poor taste to display a photograph of our parents' first weddings? Should we include only photos of their second marriages or perhaps no photos at all? Have you, or someone you know, handled this situation your own wedding?

Monday, October 29, 2012

Bummed About Bridesmaids

I have chosen six different ladies to be my bridesmaids. Four of my bridesmaids are old, dear friends, one is a newer friend who I've grown close to in the past few years, and one is my 22 year old stepsister. 

With my oldest friend Karen (on left) who is one of my bridesmaids.
I'm nearly 30 years old, so a lot of my friends have moved away and gotten married over the years. One of my bridesmaids has just had her first child and another is expecting her first this March. I feel like I'm a little behind the times seeing as I'm only now engaged, but I'm totally okay with that. We all experience life's moments in our own way and in our own time. I'm extremely happy getting married at 30 and I would not change a thing about my life or how/when I met my fiance, even if I could. 

With two more bridesmaids: Princess Leia and Darth Vader. I'm Boba Fett. Apart from my helmet, we made these costumes with crap we found in my basement. 

The issue is more that my bridesmaids live all over the US. Two are in LA, one in Colorado, one in Baltimore, one in New York City, and another close by in Atlanta. My friend in Atlanta is currently pursuing a nontraditional career and she has a highly irregular schedule. There's always some kind of schedule conflict since she is usually incredibly busy on the weekends which is usually the only time I have free. It makes me depressed because she is the one "local" female friend I have right now, and I rarely see her these days. I miss her living in Athens and meeting up for dinner or drinks just to catch up.

I guess I'm just feeling a little down and distant from a lot of the women in my life. I think movies and TV shows make weddings look like so much fun with all your girls by your side, but in reality I think a lot of people don't have that option, especially later in life when most of your college friends have moved off to find work or follow their partners.

I was lucky enough that I could go dress shopping with three of my bridesmaids in LA over the summer. It was a really awesome girl weekend that made me feel a little more connected to the people I care about. But now I'm back in the disconnected doldrums wondering how we will ever coordinate a wedding shower or a bachelorette weekend. 

What makes things even more complicated is the fact that my family lives all over the country as well and most of our guests will be coming in from out of town. Well, I guess we will just have to do the best that we can and be thankful for the few times a year that we do get to meet up and reconnect!  

Are/were your bridesmaids spread out or close by? If they live far away, how are you coordinating efforts for bridal showers or the bachelorette weekend? 

Saturday, October 27, 2012

DIY Scrapbook Paper Letters

I decided to take on some relatively easy wedding recently. If you recall, I was inspired by this image:

Image via: StyleMePretty / Photography by: Adria Peaden

I love the soft, romantic color palette and I thought the concept would work well in our Marie Antoinette-inspired wedding. I dashed off to the craft store and returned with the supplies I needed to complete this project. I bought the letters, the scrapbook paper, and the spray adhesive at Michael's. I love their teacher discount! I bought the self-healing mat on Amazon.com. Click HERE for a link to the same product that I purchased. This project is super easy and would be great for a DIY beginner!



  • wooden or papier mache letters (found at craft stores)
  • scrapbook paper 
  • spray adhesive
  •  X-Acto knife
  • self-healing mat

Step 1: Prep Your Letters

The letters I bought for the "LOVE" sign were already white. However, I bought a larger pair of letters that are black which will need to be painted white before I can attach the scrapbook paper. The second set of letters are "E" and "G" to represent our initials. I'm not sure how we will use them yet, but I'm sure they will find a suitable place in our collection of wedding decor!  

Step 2: Pick Out Your Papers

I chose to use a different paper design for each letter. I wanted to make sure the patterns looked cohesive together so I played around with each paper before settling on my final choice. You can also make uniform letters in all the same color or design. Think about all the amazing glitter and metallic papers available these days! So many incredible options! 

Personal photo - my fiance is doing the work here!

Step 3: Spray Adhesive on Letter

Place your letters on some scrap cardboard or another safe work surface and spray on the adhesive. It only needs a light coat. If it is applied too thick it might take too long to dry. My fiance is holding the adhesive spray a little too close to the letters in the above photo. 


Personal photo - my fiance is doing the work here!

Step 4: Attach Letter to Paper

The scrapbook paper I used was double-sided, so I made sure it was the back of the paper design I had chosen and gently laid the letter adhesive-side down onto the paper. Press gently to push out any air bubbles. 

Step 5: Let the Adhesive Dry

I gave the letters about 15 minutes to set before moving on to the next step. If the adhesive is still wet, it could cause the paper to bunch up when you cut it with the X-Acto knife.

Personal photo - my fiance is doing the work here!

Step 6: Cut Off Paper

Using a firm motion, trace around each letter with the X-Acto knife. Don't be too hasty or press to hard or else it could tear the paper and ruin your project! 

The final product! (personal photo)


Step 7: Revel in Your Accomplishment! 

And that's it! This is such an easy and simple project. But please take your time and be careful using the X-Acto knife as they are very sharp! I am going to repeat these steps with our initial letters later. I'm still deciding whether or not I want to use the same approach with the different paper patterns or something entirely different. I have a map of Paris that I might use instead!


Will you be incorporating letters like these on your big day? 


Friday, October 26, 2012

The Do-It-Yourself Itch

Guys, I'm feeling crafty. I feel like starting a DIY project (or two) so that I can cross some decor items off our wedding to-do list. Let me share a few things I'd like to make.

I saw this styled photo shoot on Green Wedding Shoes recently and I fell in love with the ombré dyed fabric chandelier. The theme for this inspiration shoot was "Underwater Garden" and I love the watercolor-like softness created by the whimsical strands of dyed fabric. A few years ago I made a costume that required the use of ombré-dyed fabric, so I think I have an idea of how to recreate this look. Actually, I think there are two different methods. I guess I will just have to see which is the easiest and most successful!

Image via: Green Wedding Shoes / Photography by: Dallas Curow / Event design by: Elyse Cragg

And what would I do with a ombré dyed fabric chandelier you might ask? Actually, I'd like to tie the fabric strips onto a rope to use for our ceremony. Afterwards we could use it as decoration behind the dessert table. I'm not quite sure yet. But I do know that it would look fabulous in our engagement photos! I'm thinking something like the last photo from the inspiration shoot above. If that's not enough to tickle your fancy here is some more inspiration for you. Imagine the possibilities!

Image via: Green Wedding Shoes / Photography by: Bryan N. Miller Photography

My next DIY project involves wooden letters. I found this image on Pinterest (imagine that) and I love that instead of being painted, the letters appear to be covered with vintage-inspired scrapbook paper. The colors and the damask patterns on these letters would be perfect for our Marie Antoinette-inspired wedding. I can't wait to try it out!

Image via: StyleMePretty / Photography by: Adria Peaden

Keep in mind that I live in an apartment building, and while I have access to a wooded and grassy outdoor area, I don't have access to a covered garage. That certainly hinders our crafting possibilities, well that a lack of power tools and wood working equipment, but I hope that I can show you that even in a small apartment with minimal special equipment, DIY weddings are possible! I will report back soon with my DIY attempt findings!

What are some projects on your DIY to-do-list? 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Guilty Pleasures

My fiance and I started to talk about marriage fairly soon after moving in together. Obviously neither of us would have made that important next step so readily if we didn't see real long term potential in our relationship.

However, just because we had that quiet understanding doesn't mean that I wasn't embarrassed about lurking around popular wedding blogs long before the official proposal. Actually, I started to do this about a month after we started dating when I just knew that we were meant to be together. Yes, I was that girl. I started to secretly save and file away images that I found inspiring. I began hoarding a massive collection of bookmarks. I would drool over antique rings online and sigh enviously when the ones I loved most were sold. I managed to avoid making a Pinterest wedding inspiration page because it was too public for my comfort.

And so I turned into a closet wedding planner and poor Gavin had no idea. I was nervous that one day he would catch me on a wedding blog and it would freak him out. Thankfully, he didn't find out about my bad habit until well after we had both had the "where is this relationship going" conversation and things were definitely headed towards an engagement. Even when I confessed my dark secret he just laughed and said that he was thinking about marriage soon after we started dating too! I was relieved!

Were you planning your wedding well before talk of engagement?

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The Siren Call of Milk Glass

I don't know how it happened, but somehow I fell into the milk glass wedding trend. I didn't even know what milk glass was a year ago and now I have quite the collection of it gathering dust on top of my bookshelves and kitchen cabinets until our spring wedding. I think that's a pretty common trend in the wedding world: the photo booth or the blue mason jars that you never knew existed before being engaged are suddenly huge priorities. You must have them. But you had never heard of them just months earlier. 

Image via: Ruffled / Photography by: Jeremy and Alicia Brown / Floral design by: Mum's Flowers / Event design by: Vintage Whites Wedding Rentals 

I blame the internet. Actually, I blame the internet for a lot of things, but especially for my milk glass obsession. Using milk glass as wedding decor is nothing new; it's definitely been around for several years. I'm also not the first Bee to obsess over milk glass. If you want to learn more you can check out Ms. Gazelle, Mrs. PretzelMrs. Archer, and Mrs. Magic's posts on the topic. I know it's nothing special or new, but you know what? It's been a lot of fun looking for milk glass. Maybe that's part of the appeal because it's fairly cheap and somewhat easy to find. It's like a wedding decor scavenger hunt! I've even gotten friends and family in on it too, even coworkers. A sweet English teacher down the hall brought me an entire box of milk glass pieces a few weeks ago, just because she thought I would like them. How sweet is that?

When I have some time, I will take some photos of my collection. Until then, there's plenty of milk glass inspiration available online.


1) Image via: StyleMePretty / Photography by: Chenin Boutwell
2) Image via: 100LayerCake / Photography by: Erin Hearts Court
3) Image via: Ruffled / Photography by: Jeremy & Alicia Brown

Interested in starting your own milk glass collection? Here are some places to start looking:
  • thrift stores
  • flea markets
  • antique stores
  • yard sales
  • eBay
  • vintage shops 

The cheapest places to find milk glass are definitely thrift stores like Goodwill. They sell most items for dirt cheap, but it might mean picking through a lot of random odds-and-ends to find what you are looking for. I once bought seven milk glass vases from our local Goodwill for a total of $3.50.

Buying some of the more generic pieces for cheap meant I could splurge on nicer pieces at antique stores, pieces that I will most likely keep after the wedding. But going to antique stores means wading through lots of weird stuff, like clown memorabilia. And creepy naked baby dolls. Seriously guys, I want to collect all the clown memorabilia of the world and throw it into the sun.

The stuff of nightmares. Personal photo, unfortunately. 

Anywho, where were we? Ah yes, milk glass. Blue milk glass is definitely the hardest to find. If you've got to have the blue, I would definitely check antique shops and eBay. I found a few nice pieces in California, one here in Georgia, and I bought three on eBay. I want one blue piece for each table, so I will need to add a few more pieces to my collection before May. I think that's a job I can handle!

Are there any wedding trends you are buying into for your wedding? If it involves clowns, I don't want to hear about it.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Two Years

Today is our two year anniversary and our very last "dating" anniversary before we are married in May. I can't believe the next anniversary we celebrate will be our first year wedding anniversary! Even so, October 22nd will always hold a very special place in my heart.

The last two years have flown by. Being with Gavin is as simple and easy as breathing. He's easily the most amazing thing that's ever happened to me. He is kind, sweet, compassionate, and totally selfless. He is always supportive of my dreams and even some of my hair-brained schemes. I couldn't ask for anything more in a future husband.

In life we are partners, adventurers, explorers. I can't wait to find out what the rest of our lives bring, the memories we will make, the places we will travel. There are so many new places and experiences left to discover and I'm glad I can embrace the future with my best friend by my side.


Here's to a lifetime of anniversaries! <3

Sunday, October 21, 2012

All About Dresses

When I first started browsing the internet for wedding dresses, I was drawn to whimsical gowns with unique details. Unfortunately whimsical gowns with unique details are often very expensive. I made this sad discovery early in my dress hunt and it forced me to temper my expectations. But looking around online gave me a good feel for what I was looking for in a wedding dress. It also gave me a feel for what I didn't want in a wedding dress, namely a dress that is "sexy," form-fitting, trumpet, mermaid, or fit-in-flare. While these dresses are beautiful, they simply do not suit my style or personality. I was looking for dresses that were playful, fun, and a little different with minimal beading, lace, sequins, or crystals. Well, let's take a look at what tickled my fancy:

My first love was Amy Michelson's "Grace." I love the romantic, ethereal look of this gown. It looks like it is made of light and air. And this wedding? One of my absolute favorites. I think this is the wedding that got me really excited about actually planning my own wedding.

 Amy Michelson:"Grace." See the rest of this wedding HERE

For a while I was a little obsessed with a 1920's style wedding, complete with a 1920's style wedding dress by Jenny Packham. I'm not usually one for bling, but I love the beaded details on these gorgeous gowns. I desperately would love to pull off a sheath dress (so many of my favorites fit this silhouette), but alas they do not flatter my pear-shaped body.

Jenny Packham: "Foxglove" and "Willow" 
Then I turned my sights to the classically clean designs of Saja. I love the natural simplicity of these gowns and they remind me a little of stepping into a Jane Austen novel. Can't you imagine these lovely dresses at an outdoor wedding, with a messy bouquet of wildflowers and a halo of blooms in the bride's hair? Sigh.

Saja: VN6609 and HB6979

And for a few days I had a moment of total insanity where I was obsessed with Ian Stuart's "Bluebird." Could it be my insatiable desire for a Marie Antoinette-themed wedding? I have no idea, but I still love this over-the-top gown. It goes so much against all things I thought I would love, but tell me you wouldn't feel like royalty wearing this!

Ian Stuart: "Bluebird" 

But the dress that came the closest to being "THE" dress was BHLDN's "Cascading Goddess" gown. In fact, I only viewed dress shopping as a formality because my heart was so set on the "Cascading Goddess" with its romantic wispy skirt and layers of soft ivory silk. If I hadn't randomly found a dress I fell in love with (which incidentally reminds me of an "amped up" version of BHLDN's dress) -- this definitely would have been my top choice.

BHLDN: "Luella" and "Cascading Goddess"
If you didn't know, BHLDN is Anthropologie's sister company. I have a closet full of Anthropologie dresses, skirts, and blouses (I have a problem, ask my fiance), so when I found out about their foray into the wedding world I was thrilled. I love their collections so much, especially the bridal accessories and even the guest or bridesmaids dresses. Every time I visit their bridal hair accessories section I want to spend an inordinate amount of money. It's like they have tapped into the fairy world of my bridal imagination and pulled out everything I've ever wanted. And seriously, I was incredibly close to owning one of their wedding gowns. Love, love, love.

In the end I didn't pick a dress by any of these designers! In fact, my dress's designer is known for more modern-styled wedding dresses. He just happened to have this one dress in ivory silk chiffon that reminded me of a swan princess. And in that moment I was utterly and completely sold, even if the price tag said, "NO WAY." Combine some of the common themes in the dresses above: soft, ethereal, ivory, and dramatic and you have a pretty good idea of what I will be wearing in May. 

Did your wedding dress vision evolve over time or did you start and end your search with one specific style in mind? 

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Everything Happens for a Reason: Finding the Venue

After unexpectedly losing our first wedding venue (as described in my previous post), Mr. C and I were forced to start our search anew. It was frustrating to start over, especially because Mr. C and I were about to start the new school year. We definitely don't have a lot of time during the school year to drive around and interview vendors.

After touring three venues we did not visit during our first search, we decided to check out a lead on a brand new venue in our area. In fact it was so new that at the time it didn't have a website nor had it held any weddings! One of our good friends is married to an event planner at a local hotel and she heard through the vendor grapevine that a catering company had recently purchased a property about 20 minutes from our home. It sounded very promising.

The venue is called Cloverleaf Farm and it is owned and operated by A Divine Event catering which is based out of Atlanta. They own several properties in Atlanta and Northeast Georgia which they use for weddings and other events. Cloverleaf Farm is their latest acquisition and when we visited them in July they were busy landscaping, painting, and fixing up an old barn on the property. We were given the grand tour and I saw limitless potential! There are so many amazing options and it meant we could get married outside, under the trees and hold the reception inside the sprawling 150 year old home. No need for tents! I loved all the fields and trees, the rambling wooden fences, the sweet silence of the countryside. We loved the look inside the house too -- worn wooden floors, high ceilings, a dramatic staircase, and stunning chandeliers. The event coordinator was awesome. I could tell she loved the property and she was so excited to show us around and explain their plans.

Image via: Cloverleaf Farm / Photography by: ZoomWorks

At first I did not like the idea of having tables and guests spread throughout the house and not grouped together in one room or under one tent. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how lovely it would be to attend a wedding with that type of layout. You could wander and mingle about the house. You could sit and have a private conversation in one room, or sip a cocktail out on the lawn to escape the hustle and bustle inside. We could have the dance floor in the large main room and the cake table in the entryway. I also thought about our families - both my fiance and I come from families of divorce. Our moms are not exactly friendly (or even on speaking terms) with our stepmothers. The more spread out the guests, the better! In fact, I was dreading having both of our families crammed under one tent. This seemed like the perfect solution. And if for some reason we change our minds, there is plenty of space on their property to set up a tent.

Cloverleaf Farm also met our other requirements: it was close by, we could serve our own alcohol, and choose our own vendors with the exception of catering. Obviously a venue owned by a catering company would want you to use their catering services. A Divine Event is known for locally obtained and seasonal  ingredients. They also take pride in simple and classic food presentation. When we consulted our friend's wife about this company she told us that they are one of the best in Athens. I was so excited to hear that! You see, initially catering wasn't one of our top priorities, but because we got such a great deal on the venue rental, we were able to fit this classy caterer into our budget. We went from settling with mediocre food to booking one of the best caterers in town. This is when I realized that just as they say, all things happen for a reason. The previous venue snafu was justified in our finding Cloverleaf Farm and all the amazingly professional people we've worked with through them.

Image via: Cloverleaf Farm / Photography by: ZoomWorks

Not long after our first visit to Cloverleaf Farm Mr. C and I signed a contract and mailed in a deposit check. It felt great to simultaneously check off both the venue and the caterer. I was also relieved to have finally settled our venue drama once and for all and with a set date and location I could finally move forward with booking our other vendors.

Right now I'm excited because Cloverleaf Farm is holding their first wedding this fall and I can't wait to see pictures on their Facebook page! To think that we will be there in just eight short months, pledging our lives to each other, is just too good to be true. 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

The Venue Drama Llama

(Source) Edited by me. 

After a few weeks of research, Mr. C and I had a small selection of local venues from which to choose. Our top choice was Tucker Plantation, a restored barn located on a historic farm about 20 minutes from where we live. Even though it was close to our home, being there gave us the feeling that we were hundreds of miles away. I say barn, but really the place looks more like a restored factory with exposed brick walls, wooden floors, and high rafters supported with thick wooden beams strung with rustic chandeliers.

At some point people stopped booking ballrooms and started booking barns and lofts for their weddings. I don't know when this shift occurred but I'm going to be cool and pretend that this is something I would have wanted even if it wasn't so popular right now. Seriously though, ballrooms just aren't my thing but they are awesome if you are going for the sleek, modern look. There's nothing sleek or modern about Mr. C or me, so it's off to the barn/field/warehouse for us!

Tucker has the perfect romantic, casual setting that we were looking for. It also met all of our other requirements in that we could choose our own vendors, serve our own alcohol, and hold the ceremony and reception at the same site. The building is divided into two sections: one for the ceremony with a gorgeous large window overlooking the fields and trees, and a second larger room for the reception. It has a groom's barn for the boys to get ready in, and a lovely bridal room with large mirrors and vanity lights. It is a blank slate that can be adapted based on the vision of the bride, groom, and/or wedding planner. Even after visiting the other venues on our list, we kept coming back to Tucker Plantation. It was actually the first place my fiance really seemed to love. Check out these amazing photos:

Image via: StyleMePretty / Photography by: Laura Leslie Photography / Venue: Tucker Plantation

By May we had made our choice. We signed the contract and eagerly made our first deposit. This is when things started to go downhill. It's pretty bad when things go downhill immediately after making your decision.

Weeks went by and the venue did not cash our deposit check. I started to worry, but several friends and co-workers told us that this was sometimes common practice for venues, especially during the busy summer wedding season. Still, I had this strange pit of doubt within me and my gut instinct was telling me that something wasn't right. I was also having issues contacting the venue's wedding coordinator. This lady was constantly MIA. Both my fiance and myself sent a couple of e-mails and left numerous voice mails over a period of weeks asking for an explanation or at least some assurance. What I hated most about this experience is that the coordinator made me feel like a crazy ex-girlfriend. If you don't receive a response, what is the appropriate amount of time to wait before sending another e-mail? In my world, where I'm freaking out about our venue, it's a week. Sometimes less. My point is that no vendor should ever make you feel crazy like that.

After several weeks we finally received an e-mail from the coordinator. She assured me that our date had been reserved and that the owners probably hadn't cashed the check because of a recent holiday weekend. This explanation didn't convince me because it had been six weeks since I had mailed the check and one holiday weekend would not have made much difference. It seemed a bit fishy. We had also been told that we would receive a copy of the signed contract from the venue attorneys, but nothing arrived in the mail. I was terrified to book any additional vendors because I was not confident that things were going to work out with Tucker Plantation.

It wasn't until the end of July that we finally had some answers to this venue mystery. At this point we had been busy traveling all summer and I had shifted my venue worries to the back burner. That all changed when we returned from a visit to Michigan to find a letter from the Tucker Plantation attorneys waiting for us in the mailbox.  Finally! The venue contract! Uh, no. It was something I had been secretly dreading for weeks.

Inside was a voided copy of our deposit check and a letter of apology from the attorneys. The letter stated that all weddings booked after October 2012 had been cancelled.

Cue crying.

Apparently the owner of the venue and surrounding farmland passed away the previous fall and there is some dispute as to who has control of the property. The property might also be in the process of being sold. I've also heard rumors of foreclosure. I thought that maybe the venue would have a new owner in time for our wedding in May, but when I contacted the coordinator she said that the venue owners had lied to her up until the very last minute. Apparently they told her via a text message the day they mailed out the apology letters so she didn't even have time to contact any of her clients. Just days later she was already working as wedding coordinator for another venue in our area so she had zero information on what (if anything) would be happening to Tucker Plantation after October.

The whole situation obviously left me distraught. We lost a really amazing venue. But really, we were lucky because our deposit was returned and we had plenty of time to find an alternate location. I felt so incredibly sorry for brides with November or December weddings who were just months away from their dates only to have their venue pulled out from under them. The news about Tucker Plantation spread quickly around the Athens wedding vendor community. Everywhere we went we heard about the "Tucker brides" who had been left venue-less.

I went through a few days of mourning. For several weeks I had imagined and re-imagined our wedding at Tucker Plantation. All of my inspirations and plans had developed around the look and feel of that venue. I'll be honest, when I opened the letter from the attorneys it felt as if someone had punched me in the gut. I felt physically ill and yes, I cried. I gave myself time to mourn but I also knew that being upset would not change reality. A few days later my fiance and I picked ourselves up and began the venue search anew.

This story has a happy ending though. We ended up finding a venue that we LOVE and that I think suits our aesthetic a little better. We love all of our vendors and the people we are working with now, which is something I'm not sure I would be willing to admit if we had stayed at Tucker Plantation.

And just to follow up on this story in case you have fallen in love with Tucker Plantation: they have recently transferred ownership and have reopened for wedding and event bookings. Honestly though, the whole fiasco left me feeling so bitter that even if we had not booked another venue, there's no way I'd want go back.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Where Can I Marry This Guy?!

Mr. C and I have family scattered across the country. I actually grew up in Georgia, but after my parents divorced in 1996, my dad moved out to California and ten years later my mom relocated to Illinois with my stepfather. My mom's side of the family is from New York and my dad's side of the family lives much further south around Brunswick, Georgia. Mr. C's  family is from Michigan and Ohio. Luckily I still have my brother in Atlanta and Mr. C has his sister and brother-in-law who live about 45 minutes away from us. Without them we would be practically on our own here!

When it came time to decide where to hold the wedding, it made the most sense to have it in Georgia, which would be a neutral territory for all family members involved. Both of our families are split by divorce (this requires its own super special entry) and so it was important that everyone feels that they have an equal role in the wedding. Plus, with our busy schedules, we had no desire to plan a wedding from across the country. Destination brides you have my most humble respect!

Image via: Green Wedding Shoes / Photography by: Once Like a Spark / Venue: Ashford Manor

We also knew that we wanted to have our wedding close by; I didn't want to be driving all around Atlanta or North Georgia searching for the perfect wedding venue. And let's be real, interviewing vendors or checking out venues is a serious time commitment. So in order to preserve our sanity I wanted us to create a somewhat narrow list of possibilities, investigate them, and make a choice. 

These are a few of the "non-negotiables" that we were looking for in a wedding venue: 
  • no more than one hour from our house (preferably less than 30 minutes away) 
  • a relaxing, natural, non-pretentious atmosphere 
  • beautiful gardens, fields, and/or trees 
  • the ability to choose our own vendors
  • the ability to serve our own alcohol 
  • ability to have the ceremony and reception on the same site

The last two requirements on our list immediately cut down our number of options. A lot of the fancier venues in our area are full-service venues or require that you use their in-house caterer or in-house florist. Since we want to DIY the flowers, use my brother as our DJ, and serve our own alcohol, choosing a venue that allowed us total freedom in vendor choice was definitely the right move. Serving our own alcohol was especially crucial because it is the most cost effective way to offer an open bar, something that was very important for us to offer our guests.

Photography by: Twin Hearts Photography / Venue: Tucker Plantation

My first instinct was to turn to the internet to research venues. I checked all the usual places (blogs, search engines), but I didn't see much that interested me. That's when I started to ask around in person. I spoke to photographers, caterers, friends, and coworkers. The wife of one of our coworkers gave us some great suggestions as well as a caterer that we were interviewing. In fact, all of my favorite venues came through word of mouth, not the internet, so keep that in mind if you are still in the planning stages of your own wedding. Don't trust the internet: ASK AROUND!


Image via: Southern Weddings / Photography by: Our Labor of Love / Venue: Fair Havens Plantation

Soon we had narrowed down our list to four or five different venues in our area (three are listed in the photos above). All but one of them were either stately homes or bed and breakfasts. The last was a beautifully restored barn out in the country which ended up becoming our top choice, especially after we had a chance to visit it in person. Unfortunately, things weren't going to be so easy for us in the venue department. Find out more about our venue drama in the next entry!

How did you narrow down your venue search? Did you have certain "non-negotiables" when looking for a venue?

Monday, October 15, 2012

One Ring to Rule Them All

What's an engagement ring post without a Lord of the Rings reference? Actually, it's funny I should mention that because apparently when Mr. C first showed his brother-in-law the ring (it was sent to their house for secrecy) - he remarked that it looked like the ring the "elf lady" had in Lord of the Rings. This should have been Mr C's first indication that he had chosen well.

Anyway, at last I have the big engagement ring reveal! I will have a separate entry (or two) about the actual proposal, but for now here is the ring:

Personal Photos

It has a .56ct diamond set in platinum. The diamond has a clarity of VS2, F color, and it is an Old European Cut with big facets that were hand cut. It also has four smaller accent diamonds around the main diamond followed by two half moon emeralds. It is considered an art deco style and is most likely from the early 1920's. According to the appraiser, as far as they could tell the entire ring is still in its original state (i.e. nothing has been replaced or changed since it was created).

It was purchased from an antique and vintage jewelry store in Largo, Florida called Gesner Estate Jewelry. Mr. C purchased it from their website and had it privately appraised after it arrived. Of course, this was all in secret. He kept it hidden for weeks before he proposed! But later I found out that he left school early one day to have it secretly appraised. He carted it down the hallway showing it to some of my coworkers who were awesome about keeping it all a secret. It makes me so happy to think of Mr. C showing off this monumental purchase.

I love the delicate open scroll work on the sides. I think my ring really suits my personality. I'm not a flashy person, so something modest is definitely more my style. Something else I love about my ring is the fact that if it has survived 80 years, I'm sure it will last 80 more.

Personal Photos

I like the emeralds but I wish they carried a little more light than they do. They appear pretty dark when the ring is on my finger. Mr. C and I have discussed perhaps replacing them with diamonds or sapphires down the road as an "upgrade" but I'm not sure I will ever want to change my ring. I love the colored stone accents that were so popular in early 20th century engagement rings so if ever do decide to make any changes I'd want to stay true to the look of that era.

I remember the first time I saw when my fiance presented it to me. It was only last March, but it already seems so long ago. We were outside and it was sparkling like crazy in the sunlight. I thought it seemed so perfect and delicate. After spending months and months searching for rings online and never being able to see them in person, you must understand how anxious I was to have this ring finally on my finger.

Interested in owning your own antique or vintage engagement ring? These are a few of my favorite sites:
And just to make a few distinctions while you are looking:

Antique =  Around 80-100 years old
Vintage = At least 20 years old

Happy hunting! (It never hurts to look, right? Right??)

Friday, October 12, 2012

The Antique Ring Obsession, Part II

In my last entry I was explaining my love for antique engagement rings. Because of the unique nature of antique or vintage engagement rings (no two are exactly alike), I knew that I wanted to play a role in choosing the ring.

I began browsing antique rings online not long after our first talk of marriage. Okay, I might have begun "browsing" antique rings a month after we started dating. Yes, I was that girl. Thankfully, I kept it a secret until I knew that we were both on the same page concerning our relationship. But there were definitely some shameful lunch breaks where I would scroll wistfully through pages of antique engagement rings. I might have even pinned some into a secret Pinterest under a decoy e-mail address. I regret nothing!! In fact, it was helpful because it gave me a good idea of what I was looking for in an engagement ring.

All antique rings from The Three Graces


In my weeks of searching I learned that finding THE antique engagement ring is easier said than done. Each one is unique, so it took some time to find rings that had all the right characteristics. There is also the danger of  falling in love with a ring that is suddenly bought by someone else and gone forever or loving specific qualities of many separate rings and being unable to find them all in one ring. At times I felt frustrated with my search, especially since I could not see or try on the the rings in person. This meant that we needed to find a store that carried antique engagement rings. Alas, there are not many in our area.

Initially Mr. C and I visited a few modern jewelry stores to check out their vintage-inspired options. We were often told that we could custom design our own vintage-inspired ring, but nothing really "spoke" to me. I wanted the real deal. After a while we managed to find a few jewelry stores that carried a smattering of vintage or antique rings, but I never found anything I loved. I started to feel more and more frustrated in our options.

Our next stop was a once-monthly antique mall in Atlanta which was recommended to us by several people. It's the Scott's Antique Market in case you are in the Atlanta area and looking for a vintage engagement ring. They have loads of other amazing finds as well, so it's worth a visit either way! We were surprisingly overwhelmed by the selection of antique and vintage rings. Once again, the issue was that each ring was one-of-a-kind. Some I loved but the diamonds had very obvious inclusions. Others were way out of our price range. We started to take pictures just to keep track of all the different rings I tried on throughout the day. We ended up spending hours there, but once again we didn't find anything we loved. We left empty-handed but the trip helped me determine what look I had in mind and what looked best on my finger.  It was becoming clear that perhaps buying online was the way to go.

Some phone photos of the rings I tried on at the antique mall. (all personal photos)

A few weeks passed and I decided that maybe a Pinterest board of rings that I loved would be a good idea. Thankfully, I already had one that I had been keeping secret for months (yup, no shame)! The Pinterest board gave Mr. C a feel for what I loved most. The selection online from reputable antique jewelry shops is hard to deny so within a few days I had 20+ different rings chosen for price and characteristics that I loved -- things like colored accent stones, delicate filigree work, and a low-lying profile. By showing him a wide variety of what I loved I knew that the ring would still be a surprise and I could rest assured that he would pick a ring that I would love. Then I waited. And waiting is always the hardest part.

I had so many questions: Which ring would he choose? When would he buy it? When would he propose? How would he propose? Did he have a plan or was he just thinking over his strategy? You will have to find out in my next post!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

The Antique Ring Obsession

I don't know when it started, but at some point I decided that I wanted a vintage engagement ring. I came to this realization in my early 20's, well before I met Mr. C. I guess I've always had this vision that I would wear something with a bit of history, something with an ornate art deco or art nouveau style, something different.

I'm enchanted with the idea of wearing a ring that once witnessed a great love. Maybe the ring eventually fell into the hands of a relative who sold it. Now it has the chance to know true love once more. But sometimes I wonder what if the opposite occurred -- what if the ring is from a failed or rocky marriage? What if it has seen a great tragedy? In that case, I believe that  we would be giving the ring a fresh start for love. I wonder where my ring has traveled, where it has been. Who once looked down at their hand each day to see that ring gleaming on their finger? Can you tell that I'm stupidly sentimental?

All antique rings from Erie Basin

When Mr. C and I first started talking about marriage, I told him that I wanted to play a role in finding the ring. I struggled with this choice because ideally I wanted the whole process to be a surprise. In a perfect world the entire engagement would be a surprise and the ring would be everything I had always dreamed it would be. But in reality it must be incredibly overwhelming for a man to walk into a jewelry store and try to predict which ring his girlfriend would love for the rest of her life. That's a lot of pressure and I've seen it set some couples up for disappointment. Besides, I know myself well enough to know that I often have unrealistically high expectations. I didn't want to set my poor fiance up for failure. I want to be clear that I wasn't worried about being disappointed in the carat size -- we're both hard working teachers after all. We don't exactly make a lot of money. I was more concerned about the wide range of styles found in antique engagement rings. Even on my own I was having trouble narrowing down what exactly I wanted.

Did you play any role in choosing your engagement ring?

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

The Wedding Colors Chose Me

Do you ever feel like wedding planning is turning you into someone unrecognizable? I look in the mirror and I hardly know myself these days.Okay, maybe it's not quite so dramatic, but I do want to state for the record that I've never been a big fan of the colors pink or orange. Then one day I was browsing one of the big wedding blogs when I saw an inspiration shoot that awoke all the silly girlishness within me. Suddenly I had to incorporate the color pink into our wedding. PINK. And peach. And salmon. And a lovely cornflower blue I'm a little obsessed with at the moment. Who was this person who wanted pink and orange tones popping up on her wedding day?

Our color scheme! (personal photo) 
So what images inspired this about-face in color preference? Well, let me share them with you!

Image via: StyleMePretty / Photography by: Corbin Gurkin / Event Design by:  Maine Seasons Events

This image has it all -- gorgeous ruffled garden roses in peachy, pinky hues, and that pop of blue from the delphinium. When you see the rest of the inspiration shoot, you will weep silently to yourself. At least, that's what I did when I first saw them. You see, they seem to be the perfect inspiration for my Marie Antoinette countryside wedding theme. 

Let's ogle some more images, shall we? Mmm. . . wedding inspiration. . . 

Image via: StyleMePretty / Photography by: Corbin Gurkin / Event Design by:  Maine Seasons Events
These images sent me on an insane hunt for the elusive blue milk glass you see in these photos. I now have a collection of around six or seven pieces. Ideally, I'd like to have one blue piece for each table. These images also had me second-guessing my choice to avoid using gold in our wedding palette. I am going to try to switch the gold out for small silver accents, but I'm worried it won't have the same rich glow that these images evoke. Either way, gold is one of those colors you have to treat carefully. I don't think I have the designer skill to balance it right without it looking garish. Besides, I think stepping away from the gold allows more of that casual countryside feel to shine through and less of the rococo gilded opulence you often think of when you think of Versailles. 

Right now our centerpieces will be a mix of white milk glass, blue milk glass, and little tarnished silver pieces made up of sugar and creamer containers, and a few odds and ends I've found at local antique stores or the flea market. I've also collected some vanity trays and mirrors to use as a base for our centerpieces. 

Oh, and did I mention we are going to DIY our flowers? Yeah, that too. Because apparently I am insane. I'm hoping the whimsical country feel of the wedding will mask my lack of experience when it comes to flower arranging.

So while the above inspiration images are my ideal, my Holy Grail of inspiration so to speak, I think the reality will look something more like this (obviously with more blue and less yellow): 

Image via: StyleMePretty / Photography by: Amie Schroeder / Floral Design by: Hana & Posy

I am actually quite proud of the collection of white and blue milk glass Mr. C and I have amassed over the past few months. That collection will require an entry of its own soon!

Did you find that wedding planning caused you to seek out colors or inspiration that you would have otherwise ignored or disliked?


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Wedding Inspiration Fit for a Queen

In my last post I described my wedding vision: Marie Antoinette at the Petit Trianon. But how exactly does that translate to wedding decor? I think it's time for a montage. Yes, a wedding inspiration montage. (cue inspirational 80's music)

Sources: Cakes, Cupcake Toppers, Flowers, Art, Tablescape
This is where I started, with some of the classic colors associated with Marie Antoinette: bright pinks and sky blues. Unfortunately I think it would be way too easy to go over the top with pinks and blues, so I decided to find a way to tone these colors down and get back to my original inspiration. Here is the result:

Sources: Ribbon Garland, Milk Glass Vases, Bouquet, Marie Antoinette (personal photo), Tablescape
As you can see, I added softer pinks and blues and found images that included peach and cream tones as well. I keep coming back to that iconic portrait of Marie Antoinette--the slate blue of her dress, the delicate cream lace, that blushing pink rose in her hand which echoes the color of her cheeks. It evokes all the lovely colors I hope to represent at our wedding. And with that, here is our wedding color scheme: 

Color scheme by me!

I never would have imagined that I would include any pink or orange tones in my wedding, but one inspiration shoot changed everything and set me on a mad hunt for blue milk glass. But I will save that for another entry!

One thing that will definitely not show up in any of our decor, paper goods, or signage is the phrase, "Let them eat cake." Marie Antoinette never uttered this famous phrase so often associated with her, but she has been branded with it in every high school history text book. In fact, as soon as you mention Marie Antoinette, people immediately think of the spoiled, out-of-touch queen of the French Revolution, snubbing her nose at the starving peasants by insisting that they eat cake if they can't find bread. You can read more about it here

How did your wedding inspiration evolve over time? 

Monday, October 8, 2012

Inspiration from Versailles

Now that you know a little about the quirky Camels, I think it's time to start talking about the wedding!

First of all, you should know that I'm a huge history nerd. One of my favorite time periods is 18th century France and the history of Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Louis XVI - which of course includes Marie Antoinette and the palace of Versailles. Throw in Sophia Coppola's stunning film (and not really accurate) Marie Antoinette, and you have a good idea of what has inspired many elements of our wedding.

I first visited Versailles over the summer of 2011 with my stepsister. We were on a whirlwind tour of Paris when she was on her way to study abroad in Madrid. As soon as I found out we were going to Paris together I knew we were going to have to visit Versailles.

Visiting Versailles for the first time and extremely happy to be there with my bag of macarons. (personal photo)

I was totally smitten by the palace and the history surrounding it. Take the famous Hall of Mirrors for instance -- not only is it steeped in the history of the kings of queens of France, but this room also saw the end of the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 where William I was declared emperor of Germany. The Germans returned to the Hall of Mirrors in 1919 to sign the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I. So much history in one place!

The Hall of Mirrors (personal photo)

After my first visit in 2011 I returned  home and immediately bought several books on the palace and Marie Antoinette. After all my research I knew I had to go back someday. That opportunity came when my fiance and I traveled to Paris this past March. It was honestly one of the most magical days of my life but that might have something to do with a surprise proposal on the grounds of the palace! So you can imagine that incorporating Versailles and Marie Antoinette into our special day seemed only natural.

Details of Versailles (personal photos)

 But I didn't want too much rococo influence, with its gilded golden opulence. This level of formality and excess just isn't our style. We're down-to-earth people who enjoy all things informal. This meant that we were drawn to images of the peaceful countryside but with a touch of aristocracy. Luckily, I knew just where to look for inspiration.

In order to escape the rigid court life of Versailles  Marie Antoinette had a idyllic country-style village created at the Petit Trianon, a short 30 minute walk from the main palace. The Queen's Hamlet is open to tourists and you can stroll through the fields and view her farm and quaint country cottages. It is now maintained as a sort of living museum with livestock and vegetable gardens, much as it would have appeared over 200 years ago. I've traveled all over the world and I think the Queen's Hamlet is one of the coolest place on earth. It's as if someone peeked into my imagination and created a playground for adults with all the whimsy of childhood dreams. Seriously, check out these images and tell me you haven't fallen in love!

Marie Antoinette and her entourage at the Queen's Hamlet in Sophia Coppola's Marie Antoinette. (source)
The Queen's Hamlet (personal photos)

And so we have built our inspiration from there, along with the help of some trusty wedding blogs. After many, many moths of planning I have assembled a wealth of inspirational wedding images that I hope you find inspirational as well!

What unlikely places have you found wedding inspiration?