Bridal Portrait Sessions

What is a bridal potrait session?  Well, I'm glad you asked :-).  It's simply when the bride has pictures taken in her wedding gown before the wedding day.  Yes, I know.  Sounds a little crazy.  But it can actually be helpful in many ways.  Here are a few advantages to taking bridal portraits before the wedding.

1.  Get comfortable with your photographer:  The bridal portrait session will allow you to get to know  your photographer better and get used to his or her shooting style.  

2.  First Look: It's a perfect opportunity to test your bridal hair and makeup.  If you're not pleased with the first look, you have an opportunity to get it right for the wedding day.

3   Get creative:  Have your photos taken at a different location besides your wedding and reception venue.

4.  Save time:  Taking bridal pictures in advance will shorten the photo session on the day of the wedding, leaving you with more time to enjoy your new husband and wedding guests.

Happy Planning!

Raven J.

It's Girl's Nite Out!

I'm so excited to announce this event that I've been planning for months!  Ladies, if you are in the Atlanta area, grab your girlfriends and join me for "Heart over Heels", a Girl's Nite Out Event, on Thursday, February 21, from 6pm-10pm at the Solarium, near downtown Decatur.  Come shop with local fashion, jewelry and beauty vendors, and sip cocktails while doing so!  Best of all, admission is free.  So RSVP today at www.heartoverheels.eventbrite.com .  I'll be featuring the vendors here on my blog over the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more details.

 

Fancy Fashion Fridays

Happy Friday to you!  The weekend is here and I am glad about it.  I've decided to dedicate my Friday posts to all things fashion.  Friday marks the beginning of the weekend, when most events take place.  Whether you are off to brunch with friends, a wedding or a birthday party, a special event is a great excuse to get dressed up!  Since I have brunch plans of my own this weekend, I'll share some inspiration for what to wear.  Remember, brunch can be casual to dressy, depending on the atmosphere, so keep that in mind when choosing your outfit.

Be Bold in Blue

Go classic in black and white

Mix Animal print with Leather

Make a statement in hounds tooth

Get dressy in Turquoise and Sequins

So which outfit would you take inspiration from?  Tell us in the comments below.

Have a great weekend!

Raven J. 

Images: Essence and Glamour

 

Wedding Photography: The Photo List

Hello out there!  Today, I would like to talk about wedding photos.  No doubt, your photographer will capture many moments throughout your wedding day.  But to make sure that he gets your favorite shots, create a photo list.  Be sure to include shots that you would like taken while getting dressed, during the ceremony, cocktail hour, and the reception.  Here are a few of my favorite shots below.

1. Bride's dress hanging or over a chair

2. Groom getting ready and tying his tie

3.  Bride in gown checking herself out in a floor length mirror

4.  The kiss

5. Wedding party dancing at reception

6. Bride and groom in backseat of limo


Happy Planning!

Raven J.

Cozy up to COZE!

On last week I had the pleasure of touring one of  downtown Atlanta's newest small venues, COZE.  And boy, was it everything I thought it would be.  COZE is perfect for showers, birthday parties, and other intimate celebrations.  It's a loft style space, and features brick walls and 14 ft. ceilings.  Particularly, I love the splashes of orange throughout the venue, which I find to be inviting, warm and modern at the same time.  Take a look inside below.

Dessert Inspiration: Is the HOT sign on?

Yes, I'm talking about the HOT sign at your local Krispy Kreme!  Who can resist, a sweet, and warm donut when you're in the mood for something sweet? If donuts are your thing, serve them at your wedding, or special event.  They make great favors, or late night snacks. You can have them passed or displayed as a donut bar. See below for inspiration.

Source

The Signature Cocktail: Ciroc Lola

Most couples opt to serve some type of alcoholic beverage at their wedding, and some even have a full bar.  Alcohol can easily become expensive, depending on the size of your wedding.  Save money and serve beer, wine, and just a signature cocktail, instead of a full bar.  Choose a drink that includes your favorite liquor and matches your wedding colors.  Not only will it taste good, but look good too.  If tangerine is your color, consider the Ciroc Lola.

 

Recipe

1 ounce(s) Cîroc Vodka

1 1/2ounce(s) pomegranate juice

1 teaspoon(s) elderflower liqueur

1 splash champagne

1 orchid blossom

1. Stir all the ingredients over ice to chilled and strain into a prechilled cocktail glass.
2. Top with splash of champagne and garnish with a Sonya orchid or, if unavailable, another food-grade edible flower.
3. ENJOY!

Photo and recipe courtesy of Delish.com



 

2013 Wedding Trend : Mint

Mint green is slated to be a very popular color for weddings in 2013.  This color pairs well with a number of colors including, gold, taupe, pink, yellow and tangerine.  If you're thinking of using mint in one of your celebrations, see below for some inspiration.

Which color would you combine with mint?  Tell us in the comments below.

Photos courtesy of Pinterest

5 Reasons to Hire a Wedding Planner

If you are recently engaged, you're probably wondering whether you should hire a wedding planner, or go at it alone.  Since engagement season is in full swing, we've come up with 5 great reasons to help you make your decision. 

1.  Experience:  Planning weddings is what wedding planners do.  They have the experience to lead you in the right direction, and help you make those important decisions, whether it be related to your budget, selecting the appropriate venue, or coming up with a menu that is sure to satisfy all.

2.  Vendors:  Wedding planners have great relationships with reputable vendors which will take the guesswork out of it for you.  A planner will not only be able to recommend trustworthy vendors, but those that fit your budget too.

3.  Creativity:  You probably have your wedding colors in mind, and maybe even a theme, but a wedding planner will take your ideas to the next level, helping you to have the wedding of your dreams.  Wedding planners will share all of the latest trends, plus help the bride and groom to incorporate their personalities into the wedding design, making it a one of a kind affair.

4.  Stress:  Who needs more?  With planning a wedding, it's normal to become stressed.  It only makes sense.  You're working by day, and trying to plan an event, with hundreds of details that you have never considered before.  By hiring a planner, you can outsource those tasks that stress you, allowing you to relax and focus on other things.

5.  Day of Coordinator:  If you decide to plan your own wedding, we highly recommend that you hire a planner to coordinate during the weekend of your wedding.  The planner will normally direct your rehearsal, and supervise your ceremony and reception.  This ensures that everything goes according to plan, and the bride and groom can relax, knowing that a wedding pro is handling all of the details.    

Happy Planning!

Atlanta Venue: 3109 Piedmont Estate and Gardens

Can you say love at first sight? Now don't get me wrong.  Atlanta has plenty of fabulous venues to host your special event, but 3109 Piedmont Estate and Gardens is absolutely breathtaking!  As a member of ISES, I had the opportunity to tour this new venue soon after it opened.   The design is perfect, clean and simple, yet sophisticated. I think it's great for weddings, rehearsal dinners, parties, you name it.  See for yourself below.      

Main Dining Room

Wine Cellar

Outdoor Space

Upstairs Lounge

Second view of the lounge

Foyer (Don't you love the sofas!)

Upstairs Sitting Area

Upstairs Bar

Stairwell

Front of the venue at night



Atlanta Venue: Aurum

Recently I had the pleasure of touring a chic and trendy venue in Midtown Atlanta by the name of Aurum.  This venue is well known for it's party scene, but what most don't know is that Aurum can be rented for private events too.  Such is the case for my client's upcoming birthday celebration.  She's celebrating the last year in her twenties, and requested a venue that's grown, but glamorous.  Aurum, with it's luxe touches of gold, and glam, will definitely fit the bill!

He proposed, you said yes, now what?

It's the most wonderful time of year! What time is that you ask? Engagement season of course.  I don't know about you, but couples around me have been getting engaged left and right.  How exciting!  Check out Glamour magazine's list of things to do once you say yes.  Did you get engaged recently?  What did you do first?  Tell us in the comment section.

You're Engaged! Now What? The 12 Things You Need to Do Right After You Get the Ring: Weddings: glamour.com



Image Via Glamour.com

Happy New Year!

It's a new year, and I'm feeling good!  Welcome to my blog where I will take you on a journey of the pursuit of my passion and business of wedding and event planning.  I've been planning and coordinating parties and events since I was a young girl.  What may perplex most, comes naturally to me.  I love all of the details, the ability to be creative, the idea of getting people together, and of course a great excuse to get dressed up!  With this blog, I will share my events and experiences throughout the year, and hopefully inspire others to pursue what they dream about most.  Here's to an eventful year!