Lake Lanier Islands

This weekend was an absolutely stunning wedding at the newly renovated Emerald Point Resort at Lake Lanier Islands. Below are some of the incredible vendors I worked with!

Photography was by the talented Art Pinney .
Music was provided by Catherine Rogers on the Harp for the ceremony, Tommy McNulty on Guitar doing a solo for the ceremony and during the cocktail hour and Tripp West during the reception. All were excellent!!


Eileen Carter of Individually Designed Cakes did the beautiful Bride's cake...need I say more, we know how fabulous she is? eileenmcarter@yahoo.com

Celita at Emerald Pointe Resort was absolutely phenomenal...one of the best I've worked with. They have an incredible staff and do just a fantastic job...if you are looking for a venue, please check them out. They have completely renovated and are stunning!

- M

We've Been Published

One of my favorite couples, Katie and Matt, who were married at Fern Bank this Summer are featured as a Real Wedding in the current issue of Brides Atlanta Magazine. The stunning photoraphy is courtesy of 6 of Four Creations.

Catherine Langlois Designs

From the Catherine Langolis website:

"Graceful Gowns with Gentle Allure

Catherine Langlois is a Toronto based custom bridal gown designer. She designs wedding gowns that strike delicate balances between a desire for ease of movement and the exquisite vision each bride hopes to create.

Catherine's gowns, custom made to her clients' measurements and proportions, are elegant and refined. She specializes in pure silk fabrics from around the world. Small touches of schiffli lace, beaded chiffon or embroidered tulle enhance her designs. Delicate and rare details stimulate the eye. Even her more traditional boned and crinolined gowns are as effortless to wear as they are to put on.

Many brides may feel intimidated to have a gown custom made. Catherine allays these fears by providing a tranquil and professional atmosphere in her studio. "My clients find the experience creative and rewarding", she says, "this allows their ideas to really blossom into exactly what they want - something that can't always happen in a store."



The Designer

Catherine grew up in Montreal, where from an early age she displayed a fascination with fabric, historical costume and fashion. She received a diploma in Creative Arts from John Abbott College and was a finalist in the Hamil Textile Awards. Catherine was accepted to both Concordia University in Montreal and Ryerson University in Toronto. She chose Ryerson to pursue her love of Fashion design and completed a four year program with a fourth year collection of several bridal gowns and flower girl dresses.

Catherine furthered her experience by initially working for Sally Fourmy and Associates, a design firm in Toronto, before launching her own bridal design career. She is a founding member of The Canadian Professional Sewing Association, www.canadiansewing.com, and exhibits at The National Bridal Show in the spring and Metro Convention Center in the fall. Recently one of her gowns was displayed in a fashion show at The Design Exchange / Princess Diana Exhibit.

Catherine is consistently chosen by Ryerson University for her discerning eye to judge and critique fourth year Fashion degree students and their graduating collections. In this way she is shaping the way graduates see and instilling her eye into the next generation of successful designers.

Below are some of her designs of her clients:





Catherine Langlois Bridal Design Studio is located in the Christie and St. Clair area in downtown Toronto.

For an appointment, please call 416.652.9587 or send an email to brides@catherinelanglois.com.

Kenzie Kate Invitations

Mackenzie Sala of Kenzie Kate Invitations and Something Old Something New Blog has introduced some truly lovely new invitations! They are all charmingly named for different places!



(From Top: Casablanca, Oslo and Palm Springs)

Stunning Jewelry

I am completely obsessed with this line of jewelry by Jeanine Prayer....absolutely exquisite! I am hoping to convince my husband to get me something from there for my birthday...or Valentine's Day...any time!!! Here are some of my favorites:





PLEASE check out the Jeanine Prayer site ... it's stunning!

Super Bowl Party Ideas

If you are planning a super bowl party this year may be the year to step it up a notch... like the centerpiece above featured on The Hostess Blog as found in the InStyle Parties book. "The centerpiece is created from a flat of wheatgrass (available from florists for about $20) and miniature plastic football players and goal posts."

Martha Stewart's Wedding Cakes

Compiled in one beautiful hardbound book are the gorgeous cakes from past years of Martha Stewart Weddings . It retails for $60....but is available on Amazon.com for $37.00. it is a stunning book full of delectable inspirations!

Elizabeth Fillmore Bridal Trunk Show

While perusing the In Style Weddings Magazine I came across a dress from Elizabeth Fillmore that really just caught my attention. I visited her website and found that they have been creating this incredible line since 1998. I really loved what I saw...truly modern designs that were classic and beautiful. Take a look:

Madea: Pleated ivory satin ribbon and roses over tulle and silk satin.


Alexia: Fitted strapless Faille taffeta gown with a soft Faille Taffeta Gown in soft white.


Rafaela: ivory or white strapless empire waist in Silk Taffeta.

The collection can be viewed at their trunk Show on February 8th and 9th at Saks Fifth Avenue 3440 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30326 3rd Floor 404.467.5451. elizabeth or one of her representatives will be there to assist you! The show is by appointment only and it's recommended that you book early!

Elizabeth Fillmore Bridal can be contacted at:
www.elizabethfillmorebridal.com
212.647.0863
meridith@elizabthfillmorebridal.com

Winter White and Spring Green

After the rich orange and yellows of the fall and the reds and golds of christmas...I love the clean simple feel of this late winter, early spring story board from Style Me Pretty.

Cool winter white and warm chocolate tones contrast beautifully with the stark bright spring green accents. The monochromatic Cake and Cady Bar along with the simple centerpieces are a beautiful statement to simplicity. There's a warmth and sparkle as well as a nod to vibrance and life all at the same time! It is an excellent example of an elegant 'transitional season' event...think the end of February and early March.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

I hope you all had a wonderful day. We enjoyed our first Christmas with our daughter, Raleigh. It was so much fun to watch her...and her grandparents!

This year, my holiday event was so lovely. We had beautiful pepermint and poinsettia centerpieces, similar in idea to the one below. The feature of the evening was a hot chocolate bar...a fantastic winter addition to any winter party. Offer an array of liqours and stirrers to spice things up!

Christmas Wreaths

I love wreaths. I always have one on my front door. They change with the season, but are always bright and inviting. Here are some of the gorgous and unique ones I've found.

From the HGTV blog:

clockwise:
Magnolia Leaves from Pottery Barn
The Fabulous, previously featured, Alphabet wreaths from Ballard Designs
Succulent Wreath from Viva Terra
Birch Wreath from Wisteria

I love this lovely holiday wall decor idea from Pottery Barn:


From Country Living

A colorful array from The Company Store


Directionss for replicating this one can be found on the DIY Network

A "Home For The Holidays" Event

It can be easy sometimes to get carried away with a 'theme'. At Christmas...I see way too many events that take the christmas theme too far. The above picture is too me, an incredibly beautiful example of a "Home For The Holidays" theme christmas event! I love the rich homey feel of the chocolate color in the chivari chairs which pops with the bright red. Soft lighting and the garland hung from the ceiling makes this event feel like a warm and inviting Christmas at home!




There's something really beautiful about this "Christmas Present" Cake Idea. I love the idea of having tree banches and glass ball ornaments decorating the tree as well. It becomes a lovely little centerpeice to the room. I would have used more greenery on the table and a rich red linen.

Centerpieces:




Photos courtesy of The Knot.

Shannon & Andy

I had the honor of both planning and officiating the wedding of Shannon and Andy. It was an incredibly intimate and chic wedding held at Chocolate Pink Cafe. They were so much fun to work with and it was an honor to be a part of their day.


Shannon's dress was absoultely stunning on her...the bow on the back was incredible!


Guests were sent home with a sweet little treat from the cafe!


The beautiful flowers were courtesy of On Occassions of Atlanta.


You can see more images on Sky & Carla's blog here.

Black Friday Sale

The always incredible Sky & Carla are offering the following special:



check them out here.

Happy Thanksgiving

In honor of Thanksgiving, these are the Top 5 things I am most Thankful for:
1. My beautiful perfect daugter and her handsome Daddy.
2. My family: My 5 sisters and 3 brothers, Madeline, Ed, mary Katherine, Mackenzie, Elizabeth, John, Anne and Michael...I love you!

3. My incredible clients...You each inspire me everyday! You allow me to do what I love and for that I am grateful!

4.Jack...the best dog ever!

5. My friends...You know who you are. I love you all for the support and encouragement, the love, the good times and alllll the laughter :)

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
M

Style Me Pretty "DIY Contest"

Once again, Abby at Style Me Pretty is running a fabulous contest: Here are the details:

"Just send me three to five photos of your best DIY project, along with a brief list of "how-to" tips and your sources where we can find the materials. I know that not everyone is graphic design savvy, so really...let your imagination run wild. I will post the top two projects in each category, then you guys will vote. Simple as that! The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to the online store of their choice!

All entries must be emailed to me (abby at style me pretty dot com) by December 15th, 2007. We will vote the following week, so the winner will receive their gift just in time for the holidays!"

Below are a few of the DIY projects from my wedding:




Top to bottom: 1. Centerpieces made with orchids, sea fan and Giant Murex shells with a 'reserved' sign printed at home 2. Home printed place cards tied to green sea urchins. 3. Personalized coloring books for the kid's table. 4. Handmade buckets for the flower girls!