By Lee Ramsay, Lee Ramsay Events | Feature photo by JC Lemon Photography

Your wedding day marks a momentous occasion in your life, and the week leading up to it can feel both thrilling and overwhelming. Whether your wedding is an intimate gathering along the BeltLine or a downtown blowout bash, creating a plan for the week leading before your wedding can help ensure everything goes smoothly on the big day.

As a wedding planner, I recommend these six steps to make the most of this final week of preparation–and to ensure you have a truly unforgettable (and relaxed!) wedding.

(more…)

(more…)

Feature rooftop venue photo c/o Spaceman at Hyatt Centric Buckhead

When you choose to get married on one of Atlanta’s iconic rooftops, your love story will be punctuated by the kind of beauty only a city like ATL can offer. We’ve rounded up 14 of our favorite Atlanta wedding venues that have stunning rooftops with unparalleled views of the city, but intimate and romantic ambiances. As the city’s skyline lights up, create unforgettable memories while basking in the magic of a rooftop celebration.

(more…)

Featured Vendors

LOCATION Hyatt Centric Buckhead
PHOTOGRAPHY Tags Photography
PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT Kara Hunter Photography
STYLING Alexandra Dillard
HAIR Ashely Kelley with TheSuitesAustell
MAKEUP Ebone Nicole Makeup Artistry
GOWN SALONS A Day In June Bridal, Sākred Bridal, Laine London, Elegant Bridals
VEIL Laine London
FLORAL CM Production
SHOES & ACCESSORIES Dillard’s North Point
CAKE Shannon Turner Cakes
PICNIC & DÉCOR La Fête Picnic Co.
MODEL Candice Franqui with Ursula Wiedmann Models

By Carol Badaracco Padgett | Edited by Kristen Rouse

It’s a well-known statement that your wedding invitation is your guest’s first glimpse at your wedding. Your wedding website, however, is a very close second.

Your wedding website allows you to communicate with everyone, all in one place. It provides an online hub for details regarding the ceremony, wedding reception, any necessary travel info — and perhaps even a look at your love story.

(more…)

We have three words for you: Sofia Richie Grainge. Surely you’ve seen the world’s favorite it-girl plastered all over your phone screen. She’s inspiring fashion trends across all occasions, but most notably bridal. Everything from her effortlessly dewy makeup to her timeless wedding outfits and accessories is to die for. Here’s what to look for when curating the ultimate cool girl wedding wardrobe. 

(more…)

Photo by Rachael Schirano Photography

Starting your new life as a married couple comes with many exciting changes. One of the biggest changes is a new identity (so to speak). Let’s not make the assumption that everyone who gets married changes their last name. In fact, data analytics show that about 20-30% of women keep their maiden name after marriage. But that does leave 70-80% of newlyweds who do take their partner’s last name upon marriage.

(more…)

Cover Photo by Authentic Collective

While you are unquestionably the most important gal walking down the aisle on your wedding day, there are still some pretty special beauties who you are going to want to lead your way. Yup, we’re talking about your bridal party. From selecting your bridal attendants to wondering why you even need them in the first place – there are definitely some things you will want to keep in mind before assembling the folks to stand beside you on your wedding day. This is your complete guide to bridesmaids and bridesmen.

(more…)

By CD One Price Cleaners

Every newlywed’s wedding gown is an excellent reminder of their special day, something they will cherish for the rest of their lifetime.

Perhaps, many brides consider the wedding gown selection and purchase to be one of the most significant parts of their wedding planning. Therefore, they may wish to preserve that garment that signifies so much love, happiness and celebration. It’s unfortunate that the wedding gown is only worn once and then left untouched. But to make sure your gown doesn’t go forgotten and dusty in the back of the closet, it is essential to clean and carefully preserve this gown. With appropriate wedding dress preservation, the gown may be used by another family member – such as a sister, cousin or daughter– to wear on their wedding day too. Interested? Here’s all you need to know about maintaining your wedding gown and its importance for generations to come.

(more…)

Pictured save-the-date stationery by Fabulous Fancy Pants by Mel Made Designs | Photography by Staci Addison Photography. See more from this inspiration here. 

As you check off your wedding planning tasks, one of the first big decisions will be sending out “Save-The-Dates.” These crucial pieces of snail mail not only inform guests of the upcoming nuptials with a request to attend, but they also set the tone for your wedding. Such pieces of stationery are the first part of your wedding that your guests will see, and therefore will set the stage for the theme, tone and experience your big day will take on.

But what does it take to create a beautiful and functional Save-The-Date? Here are 10 key things to keep in mind when designing and sending out wedding save-the-dates.

(more…)

While weddings are often associated with lavish receptions and free-flowing drinks, the idea of having a dry wedding is becoming increasingly popular among couples. A dry wedding is a celebration where no alcohol is served – and we aren’t talking about BYOB events either!

While some couples may feel that serving alcohol is an essential part of the celebration, there are also several benefits to having a dry wedding. Here are five reasons why you might want to consider making your wedding day alcohol-free.

(more…)

Every year, fashion enthusiasts eagerly await the Oscars award show red carpet to see what formalwear styles are showcased by the stars. This year’s Oscars red carpet fashion took inspiration from wedding attire, with many celebrities donning white gowns and glimmering textiles. From intricate beaded detailing to flowing trains, the fashion choices nodded to elements we love most about wedding attire. Keep reading to see some of our favorite wedding-inspired looks from the 2023 Oscars red carpet and get dreaming about your own wedding looks!

(more…)

Contributed by Ancient Lore Villages | Written by Carrie McConkey
Cover Photo by Kelsey Shea Photo 

There’s a reason destination weddings have been growing in popularity for decades. In addition to exchanging their vows, engaged couples want something more: to create an unforgettable experience for themselves, their family members and their special friends. A destination wedding comes complete with accommodations, planning assistance and a built-in honeymoon retreat. The event can provide a true getaway containing all of the romance and none of the hassle. Sound like your kind of nuptials? Read on for tips on how to choose your perfect wedding location – curated by dreamy destination experts, Ancient Lore Villages.

(more…)

Written by Gloria Schulz, Gloria Schulz Events | Photography by Glorianna Chan, Glorious Moments Photography

If you opted for a diamond for your engagement ring gem, you probably are familiar with the 4Cs of diamond shopping. The concept of the 4Cs was created in the 1940s by Robert M. Shipley, the founder of GIA, as a way to characterize a faceted diamond. These four tenets being: color, clarity, cut and carat weight. This amalgamation of the four characteristics then determines the overall quality, and therefore price, of a faceted diamond.

I’ve developed a similar 4C methodology to consult when planning your wedding. It doesn’t gauge overall value and isn’t universal across the globe, but it can help serve as a guide on how to approach your wedding planning. Likely, you haven’t planned a wedding before, so let this framework give you a starting point for how to approach your wedding decision making. So without further ado, I present to you my 4Cs to consider when wedding planning.

(more…)

Venue Pictured: Ventanas | Feature Photo by Authentic Collective

When planning their wedding, many couples start with selecting and securing their venue. After all, your venue will ultimately influence the mood, logistics, and design choices for your celebration. From the rehearsal dinner to the ceremony to the reception, there are a lot of options for what your wedding landscape will be. Keep things simple and streamlined by planning all your festivities in one spot or treat your guests to several locations. Whatever you choose as your venue(s), take into account the aesthetics and overall vision, but also think about these important aspects:

• Location — How easily will guests be able to arrive and exit your venue? Is the venue located near hotels? Do you want something within the city or in the suburbs? How far are you willing to travel?
• Cost — Will you have to move around other items in your budget to accommodate for a certain venue? Does your desired wedding date have a higher peak-season rate?
• Amenities & Decor — How much will you be provided by the venue and how much will you need to bring in? How many restrooms are there and what are they like? Is it handicap accessible? Is there a catering kitchen?
• Size — What is the maximum capacity? Will the venue be too large or too small for your guest list?
• Preferred Vendors — Does the venue have a list of preferred vendors that you’re limited to?
• Privacy — How private or public will the venue be? Is there a risk of strangers and passersby stumbling into it? What is security like?

(more…)