Spring Weddings

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Real Atlanta weddings • Enter the AJC Great Bridal GiveawayAlso inside:

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Countdownto your wedding day

Choose a date. Because your budget will determine just about every aspect of your wedding, sitting down and determining what you can spend should be �rst and foremost. Book the reception and ceremony locations as early as possible. Start compiling the guest list.

This is the time to start booking some services, such as a �orist, a caterer, a DJ/band and a photographer. Some of the more experienced vendors might be booked a year in advance, so you might consider doing this shortly after you choose a date. Send �save-the-date� cards to guests who will be traveling. The earlier your guests can book �ights, the better. Order bridal and bridesmaids gowns; some manufacturers require a few months to ship to bridal shops. Pick an of�ciant for the wedding, and start planning the honeymoon. The earlier you book, the more money you will save.

Pick wedding invitations. Now is the ideal time to start hunting for a wedding cake by sampling different bakeries and their styles of cakes before making a decision. Con�rm that all of the bridesmaids have ordered their gowns, and start looking for tuxedos for the groom and groomsmen. If you haven't done so already, purchase your wedding rings, and line up anyone you'd like to ask to participate in your wedding, such as ushers and readers during the ceremony.

Finalize your guest list and mail the invitations. If your guest list includes a lot of people who live out of town, mail the invitations as close to 12 weeks out as possible. This is also a good time to �nalize your reception-menu choices and to �nd wedding accessories, such as the ring pillow, candles, etc. Purchase gifts for the wedding party and the parents of the bride and groom. Con�rm that all groomsmen have ordered their tuxedos, and �nalize all transportation to and from the wedding and to the airport for your honeymoon.

Schedule the �rst bridal-gown �tting. Finalize the readings for the ceremony and mail them to anyone who has agreed to participate. If your family plans to host a small gathering for close family and friends after the wedding rehearsal the night before the wedding, this is a good time to order any food or drinks you will serve that night or to make a restaurant reservation.

Con�rm honeymoon arrangements and see if your wedding rings are ready. This is also when you should get your marriage license and check the guest list to see who has responded. Contact those who haven't responded so that you can get a better idea of the head count. Prepare and order your wedding program.

This is mainly when you rehearse for the ceremony and make any �nal con�rmations. Also, make sure to get some sleep so you'll look good in your wedding photos.

6 to 9 months before

10 to 12 months before 4 to 5 months before



1 to 2 weeks before

3 to 4 weeks before

The day before.

To help you get a better understanding of how to plan a wedding and when to make certain decisions, here's a timeline you can follow. It should ensure that your wedding goes off smoothly.

¨Metro News Service

This publication is produced by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's AdvertisingSpecial Sections Department,72 Marietta St. N.W.,Atlanta, GA 30303.

Editor: Rebecca Little, 404-526-5951 or [email protected]

Special Sections staff:Martha Foster, manager; John Brieske, managing editor; Fran Casselman, Bill Boykins, Amy Schneider, editors

Advertising contact: Amanda Phillips, [email protected] 770-509-4036

Spring Wedding Guide

Give a �nal head count to the caterer as soon as you know it, and provide a �nal seating chart. Pick up the wedding gown and groom's tuxedo. Make sure all members of the wedding party pick up their attire. Finalize your vows, and con�rm all wedding-day details, such as transportation, photo schedules and venue addresses. And don't forget to pack for the honeymoon.

ON THE COVER:

Model: Kayla Andrews

Dress: Alfred Angelo

Flowers: Fuji Floral Design

Photo: Barry Williams

Location: Atlanta Woman's Club/Wimbish House

➤ For more bridal coverage and a comprehensive list of metro Atlanta wedding and reception venues, go to www.ajc.com/celebrations.

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By Pamela A. KeeneFor AJC Wedding Guide

Every bride has a vision of the perfect wedding, the one that captures her essence and sets the stage for the rest of her life with the man she loves. Whether she's a Southern belle who wants an elaborate celebration or a no-nonsense businesswoman who treasures simplicity, wedding locations across Georgia offer choices to suit every personality.

�Georgia is one of the few states in the country that has both seashore and mountains,� said Betsy Adams, a tourism marketing consultant who lives in Gainesville. �The scenery in our state is as diverse as our population, and bridal couples can choose a location that re-�ects their lifestyle and values.

�In the tradition of true Southern hospitality, many facilities make weddings a part of their business, and they work to accommodate a wide range of requests.�

Love among the vineyards

Wolf Mountain Vineyards just north of Dahlonega spe-cializes in weddings. Owner Karl Boegner, who has been in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, has built a spacious wedding pavilion that overlooks the vineyards and foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Each year, Wolf Mountain hosts about 50 wed-dings and can accommodate up to 200 guests.

�The views are breathtaking, and the setting is truly one of a kind,� said Lindsey Smith, hospitality manager at Wolf Mountain. �Imagine a wedding in an Old World, European-style environment, surrounded by vineyards. What could be more romantic?�

Wolf Mountain offers several settings: the pavilion; a ga-zebo; and a rustic, yet elegant, timber-built lodge �lled with antiques. The cask room and winery are beneath the lodge; wedding guests often are given tours and have a chance to talk to the winemakers.

�It's a wonderful way for

Photo courtesy of Lake Lanier Islands ResortThe wedding pavilion at Lake Lanier Islands Resort’s Summer House Gardens is on the lake.

Destination: GeorgiaWedding delights can be found from the mountains to the coastline

the guests to mingle and enjoy themselves while the wedding party is being photographed af-ter the ceremony,� Smith said. �This is such a relaxing and unique setting. It's like being in another world.�

Destination dreams

The new Summer House Gardens wedding pavilion at Lake Lanier Islands Resort overlooks the main channel of the lake.

�The views of the lake pro-vide a wonderful backdrop for weddings,� said Celita Fritch, senior catering sales manager for the 1,100-acre resort. �Al-though lake levels are down, there is still plenty of water here. Plus, we have an array of choices for people who want to have a destination wedding.�

Emerald Pointe Hotel has 220 renovated rooms, and the hotel's new facade captures the look and feel of a mountain

resort. There are 30 two-bed-room lake houses, plus new six-bedroom villas. Other ame-nities include boat rentals, the Tranquility Spa, an equestrian center and a golf course.

�There's something for everyone here,� Fritch said. �Many of our wedding parties extend their time together by coming to the resort for several days [and] enjoying golf, spa treatments and pre-wedding parties.�

In addition to land-based nuptials, Lake Lanier Islands

beautiful at Christmas, and our Discovery Center overlooks the lake,� Crumbley said.

The facility's full-time wed-ding planner assists with site selection, catering and other details.

�We have a resource list of seasoned local vendors ¨ from �orists to pho-tographers ¨ who are familiar with Callaway and can maximize the wedding experi-ence,� Crumbley said. �Working

offers on-the-water houseboat weddings on the 150-passenger Island Princess or the 65-pas-senger Island Queen.

�These excursion yachts are truly special ¨ either for pre-wedding festivities or for the ceremony and reception. It's a very unique setting,� Fritch

said.

Into the deep South

On the western side of the state, Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain hosts about 150 wed-dings each year.

�There are so many venues here to choose from that no two weddings are alike,� said Rachel Crumbley, corporate relations manager for the 2,500-acre resort.

The Sibley Horticultural Center has year-round, indoor and outdoor gardens, and the Ida Cason Callaway Cha-pel provides an intimate setting for ceremonies, she said.

�The Lodge and Spa is

➤See Trip, page 16

Photo courtesy of Callaway Gardens

The Ida Cason

Callaway Chapel at Callaway Gardens provides

an intimate setting for

ceremo-nies.

Duluth Festival CenterOutdoor beauty. Indoor charm.

3142 Hill St. • Duluth, GA. • 770.497.5291

Weddings • Receptions • Rehearsal Dinners • Bridal Parties

Special Events Facility

The Duluth Festival Center is the perfect setting for large attendance events using both indoor

and outdoor area combinations.

[email protected]

Please visit www.duluthfestivalcenter.net for our full color brochure.

The Perfect

WeddingFacility

AJC GREAT BRIDAL GIVEAWAY

Hawaiian retreat sets stage for proposal

By Patricia NewmanFor AJC Wedding Guide

Exactly one year to the day

after mutual friends introduced Kelly Gannon and Raymond Escorpizo in Maui, Hawaii, the couple returned to the island to enjoy a vacation together. Much to Gannon’s surprise, Escorpizo got down on one knee and proposed to her dur-ing a moonlight dinner at an oceanside restaurant.

Since the August proposal, the couple, who live in differ-

ent cities (Gannon in Atlanta and Escorpizo in Manassas, Va.), have been busy planning their spring nuptials without the help of a professional wed-ding planner.

“We’re doing it ourselves,” she said. “It’s coming along. We still have a few more details.”

With the help of family, friends and the prizes she won in the AJC Great Bridal Give-away, Gannon has planned a ceremony to be held in April at All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody. The reception will

➤ Bridal luncheon from McCormick & Schmick’s, valued at $250

➤ $500 off a wedding gown from Priscilla of Boston

➤ Engagement ring from Jewel Tech, valued at $1,000

➤ Cosmetic laser procedure from Tuxedo Cosmetic Laser and Surgery, valued at $500

➤ $500 off a wedding reception at La Grotta Ristorante Italiano

➤ $500 toward a wedding cake from Henri’s Bakery

➤ Bridesmaids’ dresses from Jé Belles Formal Boutique, valued at $500

➤ $300 gift certificate to Hill Street Warehouse

➤ A bridal shower at Chocolate Pink Pastry Café, valued at $500

For information on entering the next AJC Great Bridal Giveaway, see the ad in this section or go to www.ajc.com/celebrations. The deadline to enter is March 16.

PRIZE LIST

JERMAINE COOK/Special

be at the Dunwoody Country Club.

“Each individual prize is so much fun to use,” said Gannon, who entered the contest on the suggestion of her roommate’s mom. “It’s been such a great experience.”

Although Gannon is enjoy-

ing all the prizes, she said she and Escorpizo are looking forward to the three-night stay at the Ginn Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Fla.

The couple will begin their honeymoon at the Florida re-sort. From there, they will head to St. Lucia.

Dazzling treatsGuests will have fun with these hand-dipped, glitter- and cocoa- powdered (yes, they’re edible) chocolates. They come in a variety of colors, including “gorgeous gold” and “ravishing red,” and are sold in boxes of four, eight or 12. $12-$25. www.bedazzlemybonbons.com.

In the bagAside from getting their dresses and showing up on time, bridesmaids should be required to carry the C.L.I.C.K. bag (i.e. cellphone, lip gloss, identifi cation, cash and keys). The trendy silk wristlet by Moë can be custom-ordered to coordinate with almost any wedding color scheme, and it makes a great gift for attendants. Moë bags are available at Tooties. Custom orders: www.moebags.com.

Don’t get married without some of our favorite things

the

By Rebecca Little/[email protected]

Red-hot yellowGlam up your nuptials with a yellow cultured- diamond pendant by Renaissance Diamonds. The stone provides all the bling of mined diamonds, but at a fraction of the cost. Set in 18k gold or palladium. $9,999. J.W. Dorton Co., www.dortonco.com.

Scent-sationalThe green fl oral in Bond No. 9’s Union Square eau de parfum has feminine and seductive qualities to enhance the wedding day. The design on the bottle was inspired by Andy Warhol’s “Flowers” silkscreens. $135 for 50 milliliters. Saks Fifth Avenue, www.bondno9.com.

We’ll drink to theseStart the morning off right with coffee or tea served in oversized Mikasa porcelain fl oral mugs. The set of four 15-ounce mugs are from the Cocoa Blossom collection. $69.99. Macy’s, Belk and Dillard’s, and www.mikasa.com.

Magical weddingsNew York-based event planner Jung Lee shares her modern and unexpected approach to producing weddings in “Fête: The Wedding Experience.” (Stewart, Tabori and Chang, $45.)

Stay in stepAvoid achy feet on the big day with Just for Her Slim Fit Arch & Heel Cushion by Life Fitness. $9.99. CVS stores and www.cvs.com.

fi leStyle

Color it upStuart Weitzman’s fuschia pump with bow detail and Swarovski crystal ornament is the perfect accessory for a spring wedding. Also in white. $325. www.stuartweitzman.com.

Seams like no linesThe Bandeau Thong by MMK Brands combines the best of a body shaper and a thong. Brides with close-fi tting dresses get no panty lines, and the 5-inch spandex band provides support in front. $20. Intimacy, Phipps Plaza, and www.mmkbrands.com.

Bedazzle My Bonbons

MMK Brands

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Moë Bags

CVS

Bond No. 9

Stewart, Tabori and Chang

Renaissance Diamonds

Couple starts new life in tuneBy Grace GreenFor AJC Wedding Guide

When Hiari Imara went dancing with her sister and brother-in-law in February 2006, she wasn’t looking to meet anyone.

But as she was grooving to the calypso and reggae tunes that night, a tall, handsome man strode to her table and asked her to dance. Imara thought that Alpha Jabbie was a nice guy — with a nice smile.

He told her he was a native of Sierra Leone in West Africa. He was well-traveled and had an appreciation for music from other cultures, so she asked him if he knew of any good African music venues in Atlanta. He said he knew of a place and handed her his business card.

She called him a few weeks later. They talked for two hours.

“I found him easy to talk to, and we found we had a lot in common,” she said.

They met for lunch for their first date in March. By sum-mer, Jabbie proposed. Imara was starting to to feel that he may be the one, but she said she wanted to take some time to think about it. By October, she had made up her mind.

“I called him up and told him that I would definitely marry him,” she recalled. “So he called his relatives.”

They had an engagement ceremony in January 2007 to bless the commitment. Then she got busy planning the wedding. Her first task was to reserve the venues.

She selected the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in College Park, which could accommodate their 220 guests. The hotel near the airport was convenient for out-of-town guests and not too far from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, where they had the ceremony.

Next, she started working to line up a videographer, a florist, a photographer, entertainment and a seamstress. She bought her lace, mermaid-style dress at Splendid Things Bridal at Camp Creek Marketplace in East Point.

“A lot I did on my own,” she said. “My husband found the

INSIDE ATLANTA WEDDINGS / HIAR I IMARA AND ALPHA JABBIE

THE DETAILS

Photos courtesy of Saidou PhotographyAlpha Jabbie and Hiari Imara were married Nov. 10, 2007 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta.

The wedding party included five bridesmaids, five groomsmen, four flower girls and two ring bearers. The men wore gold garments from Africa; the women’s dresses were custom-made.

Date: Nov. 10, 2007

Flowers: Willis’ Flowers & Memoirs Inc.

Photography: Saidou Photography

Videography: Anthony Fuso, Divine Provision Video

Venues: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Sheraton Gateway Hotel

Dress: Splendid Things Bridal

Entertainment: Carlton Hughes, disc jockey; Mausiki Scales, keyboardist; and Mamaniji Azanya, bass player; Rakaba West African Ballet.

Wedding Cake: Publix Bakery

Wedding planners: Mary Scott, A Royal Affair

The couple’s mothers,

Saburi Imara (left) and Khadija

Jabbie, wore traditional

African garments.

photographer, DJ and limo.” With so much to do, Imara

and Jabbie decided in July to hire a wedding coordinator, Mary Scott of A Royal Affair.

“By the time I got her, I’d done a lot of the work. So she coordinated the wedding from the rehearsal dinner on,” Imara said.

and peach rose petals on the tables and around the cake at the reception.

“Everything worked out in the end. We had the limo. The food was delicious. Everyone was dressed up and looking good in their African clothes and their American clothes, and they had a good time,” she said. “It turned out nice. It was a lot of money, but worth it.”

Although they went over budget, Imara said she would

advise against skimping on photography.

“If you’re going to spend money anywhere, spend it on pictures because it’s the only thing you’ll have that captures the day of the wedding, and it goes by so fast,” she said. “I don’t remember a lot of the day. I was nervous and excited. So the pictures help me to recall what happened on that special day.”

The newlyweds went to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, for their honey-moon. Finally, she could relax.

“It was great, the best part for me,” Imara said. “I didn’t have to work. I could lie on the beach and have someone bring me food.”

The Jabbies are settling into a new life as a blended family that includes her 11-year-old daughter, Kidist, and his 13-year-old son, Ibrahim, from their previous marriages. “They are getting along for the most part, co-existing nicely,” she said. “It’s not always easy, but we’re strong and we’ll make it.”

A dancer from Rakaba West African Ballet performs during the reception.

The wedding colors were gold and maroon. The African attire for the groomsmen and ring bearers was made over-seas; she hired a seamstress from West Africa to make the bridesmaids’ and flower girls’ dresses from a gold-and-maroon African fabric.

She placed maroon, gold

From high school friends to college sweetheartsBy Grace GreenFor AJC Wedding Guide

Talia DeLuca and Adam Rykowski had a few things in common when they were students at Chattahoochee High School in Alpharetta: They both had older brothers, and their families were good friends. They had hung out a few times but never dated.

“I don’t think we were thinking about [dating] then,” DeLuca said. “We just always had a good friendship.”

The friendship evolved in 2003, when Rykowski was a junior at Georgia Tech and De-Luca was a sophomore at the University of Georgia. Rykowski ran into her brother and asked him to tell her hello. Then Rykowski called her.

Their phone conversations led to a first date during the Tech-Clemson University game that fall. The following week-end, they went to see the band The String Cheese Incident at the Fox Theatre.

“We were pretty much exclu-sive after the first date and saw each other every other week-end after that,” DeLuca said.

Two years later, on Dec. 23, Rykowski escorted DeLuca into a room at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Buckhead. The room was filled with six dozen roses, champagne and chocolate-cov-ered strawberries.

“The moment I walked in the room, I knew [a proposal] was coming. I was in shock,” DeLuca said.

She said “yes,” and the cou-ple spent the next hour calling family and friends to give them the news. Her parents already knew, because Rykowski had asked for their permission before proposing.

For the next year and a half, DeLuca juggled school, work and wedding planning. She wanted to earn her degree before getting married. So they set the date for Aug. 4, 2007, three months after her gradua-tion from UGA.

Two early decisions were easy: the venues. DeLuca al-ready knew that she wanted the ceremony to be at Cathedral of Christ the King in Buckhead

and the reception at The Bilt-more Ballrooms in Midtown. She bought her dress in June 2006 and hired a wedding plan-ner to help with other details.

It took a while to find a flo-rist to capture the unique look she wanted for her reception: 20th-century modern, with a lounge feel. Then she met with the Event Design Group of Atlanta and was thrilled.

“They really understood what I wanted and had great ideas to make my dream wed-ding a reality,” DeLuca said. “I wanted to make it feel like a lounge, relaxed. I wanted it dramatic but like a party. They were very open to my ideas and trying new and different things. They brought a lot of creativity to the table.”

The nuptials were scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Earlier that day, DeLuca and the women in the wedding party got into a

INSIDE ATLANTA WEDDINGS / TAL IA DeLUCA AND ADAM RYKOWSKI

THE DETAILS

Photos courtesy of Liana Lehman PhotographyTalia DeLuca and Adam Rykowski were married Aug. 4, 2007 at Cathedral of Christ the King. The evening reception was at The Biltmore Ballrooms.

Date: Aug. 4, 2007

Flowers: Event Design Group

Photography: Liana Photography

Venues: Cathedral of Christ the King and The Biltmore Ballrooms

Dress: Melissa Sweet

Entertainment:The Atlanta Beat

Cakes: Baker’s Man

Wedding planner: Kim Davis, Individual Expressions

Catering: Bold American Catering

The wedding party took pictures on the Fifth Street Bridge before the ceremony.

Guests took Georgia Tech trolleys to the ceremony.

celebratory mood at Stan Mil-ton Salon, where they enjoyed champagne while getting their hair and makeup done.

“It was very nice. It helped take the edge off,” she said.

Her bridesmaids wore gray-

ish-taupe Vera Wang dresses. The groomsmen wore black tux-edos with black vests and ties.

DeLuca wore a Melissa Sweet lace strapless gown. It had a drop waist with a silk sash.

“The dress was unbelievably comfortable and easy to move in,” she said. “I was trying to go for a classic look that was consistent with the location of the reception, The Biltmore Ballrooms, which were original-ly constructed in the 1920s.”

Once dressed, the wedding party headed to the Fifth Street Bridge near the Biltmore for

photographs. Guests had rid-den Georgia Tech trolleys from the hotel to the church. Not willing to leave her alma mater out, DeLuca had a few UGA “G’s” and bulldog decals added to the Tech trolleys.

Her favorite part of the wed-ding was taking the pictures.

“The photography was absolutely amazing,” she said. “I got lots of compliments on the photography. I was very im-pressed with [Liana Lehman’s] product.”

DeLuca, who is an interior designer, also had fun working with Event Design Group to create a unique, mod look for her wedding.

“I really enjoyed designing concepts for the floral arrange-ments. Some were really mod-ern, others had bleached pea-cock feathers,” she said. I also liked planning for the unique lounge section we had at the reception, where we brought in white leather Barcelona chairs and ottomans.”

One of her favorite memo-ries from the day was when the couple danced to “Tu-pelo Honey” by Van Morrison. “Liana took an amazing picture of Adam dipping me with one hand and a beer in the other. It was very much us,” she said.

Aside from the honeymoon, Rykowski’s favorite part was the band at the reception and the couple’s first dance to Chica-go’s “Make Me Smile,” which the band learned just for them.

The couple went to Capri, Italy, on their honeymoon.

“It was an unbelievable trip — once in a lifetime,” DeLuca said. “We took a private boat ride around the island, swam in the Mediterranean, were con-stantly eating amazing food. We took 700-plus pictures.”

By Jenny ZhangFor AJC Wedding Guide

Legally changing your name from Ms. to Mrs. may not be as joyful an affair as your wed-ding day, but it will make your life easier if you get it done quickly.

“It’s just sound practice to go to all of your state agen-cies, federal institutions and banking institutions and have your name changed legally as soon as you get your marriage license,” said Susan Sports, spokeswoman for the Georgia Department of Driver Services.

The basics

For a newlywed, the first two steps in changing a name are getting a new Social Security

After wedding, change is name of the game

card that shows the married name and going in person to Driver Services to get an updated license. Georgia law requires you to update your license within 60 days of chang-ing your name by marriage.

Next, you should contact other institutions (the bank, your employer, credit card companies, etc.) that need to be informed of the change.

It might sound like a chore, but failure to follow the first two steps could lead to worse headaches.

For the last four years, Driv-er Services has been checking its records against those at the Social Security Administration.

➤See NAME, page 12

If your head’s spinning with all the legalities and paperwork required for changing your name, don’t panic. Here’s a quick guide to help you through the process. (Compiled with information from www.thenest.com and the Georgia Department of Driver Services.)

➤ Get your marriage license. You’ll need it (or a certified copy) to change your name.

➤ Get a new Social Security card. Go to www.socialsecurity.gov.

➤ Get a new driver’s license. In Georgia, you must go to a Driver Services customer service center to get an updated, free replacement license within 60 days of your marriage. You’ll need a certified copy of your marriage license. For more information, go to www.dds.ga.gov.

➤ Update your passport. Go to www.travel.state.gov/passport.

➤ Alert voter registration. Go to www.declareyourself.org. Click “register to vote” and

NAME-CHANGE CHECKLISTcheck the box that says you’re changing your name.

➤ Change the name on your bank account and order new checks.

➤ Change all credit cards, including ones from retail stores.

➤ Update any stocks, retirement accounts, mortgages, leases and other financial accounts.

➤ Order an annual credit report to ensure that all your old accounts are closed and that no one is opening accounts under your maiden name. Check out www.annualcreditreport.com.

➤ Change human resources paperwork at your office, get a new e-mail address and alert your contacts about the change.

➤ Update insurance cards and policies.

➤ Change your name on utility bills.

➤ Contact any organizations to which you belong about the change.

Marquis diamond bridal set. Two carats, 14-karat white gold. $5,200. Belk, Phipps Plaza. Carolee pearl bracelet. $42, Dillard’s.

FlowerpowerIt’s springtime. How do you like

your fl owers? Bridal designers know there are

as many answers to that question as there are brides. Lucky brides. That means that whatever your preference, the choices are endless.

Floral motifs of all kinds — from dramatic, couture shoulder accents to embroidered gardens on the skirts — are fl ourishing this season, popping up in designs from Claire Pettibone, Alfred Angelo, Carmela Sutera and Ann Taylor, among others.

So whether you prefer them on the hip, at the waist or all over your gown, some perfectly placed petals can add a beautiful dimension to your walk down the aisle — and help pay tribute to the prettiest season of them all.

—Rebecca Little, [email protected]

Embroidered empire-waist gown with fl ower appliqués by Claire Pettibone. $3,300, www.clairepettibone.com. Renaissance Diamonds 2.85-carat, yellow cultured

diamond earrings. $11,999, J.W. Dorton Co., www.dortonco.com.

Photography:Barry Williams/Special

Location:Atlanta Woman’s Club/Wimbish

Mansion, Midtown

Flowers:Fuji Floral Design,

Atlantic Station

➤ Go to www.ajc.com/celebrations to see more spring bridal gowns.

PHOTO GALLERY

FRESH PICKS

The solid perfume ring is a playful fragrance accessory with a vin-tage feel. A mod, gold daisy ring twists to reveal Daisy Marc Jacobs solid perfume inside. $30. Available at Sephora and Bloomingdale’s.

Three-stone diamond ring (left) in 14-karat white gold. Two carats. $9,600, Belk. Carolee bracelet. $65, Dillard’s.

The story of Fiona can help your fl ower girl discover how exciting it can be to participate in a wedding. The book, written by editors at The Knot, includes tips for parents, plus a fl ower-shaped necklace. Chronicle Books, $15.99. For ages 3 to 9.

A collection of luxurious, fl oral-scented products by Lush adds a touch of springtime to the bathroom. The 10 goodies include Go Green solid fragrance, Lily Savon soap and Pop in the Bath bubble bath. $92.95. Lush, Lenox Square; Macy’s Lenox Square; and www.lush.com.

Alfred Angelo iridescent satin gown (above) with gathered bodice, re-embroidered lace, crystal and pearl beading, sequin details and trumpet skirt. $799, www.alfredangelostores.com.

Ann Taylor silk gown with fl oral lace overlay and covered buttons along the back center. $1,200, www.anntaylor.com. Pearl earrings, bracelet and necklace by Carolee. $30 to $65, Dillard’s.

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Security card, the license will be canceled.

“We send a notification and

➤Continued from page 8

Name her Social Security card and driver’s license with no trou-ble. When she moved back to Atlanta, however, she couldn’t get a license in her new name.

“I found out that, in Geor-gia, you have to present your birth certificate to get your license, and your first name has to match the first name on your birth certificate,” Harrell said.

“Every document I had, except for my birth certificate, said my name was Kathryn. But all that mattered was the birth certificate, and they wouldn’t issue me a license with Kath-ryn as my first name. It was very frustrating.”

Eventually, Harrell had to go to court to get a legal name change.

“There was no other alter-native. Even the judge was kind of shocked that this was a policy,” she said.

Jennifer Ammons, legal counsel for Driver Services, confirmed that a bride who wishes to change her first name needs to go to court.

“Marriage has no impact upon first name or middle name. Georgia law only allows for the changing of a surname as a result of a marriage,” Am-mons said. “If a woman wishes to drop the first name listed on her birth certificate and make her middle name her first name, she would need to petition for a name change in the Superior Court of the county of her residence.”

For more information, go to www.namechangelaw.com/states/ga/georgia.htm.

give people 90 days to clear up [the discrepancy] with Social Security. Typically, records weren’t matching because people got mar-ried and didn’t change their name [on driver’s licenses or Social Security cards],” Sports said.

Problems also occurred when people didn’t get the notifications, which are sent by U.S. mail. Sports stressed the importance of keeping your information up to date with Driver Services.

“If a bride changes her name and moves, she needs to make sure we have her most current permanent ad-dress,” she said.

Changing first names

More work is involved for a bride who also wants to change her first name.

Kathryn Harrell, a chem-istry teacher at Chamblee High School, went through the process. The name on her birth certificate is Mary Kathryn Pirkle, but she goes by Kathryn, not Mary.

“I dropped my first name, since it was so confusing for anyone who met me for the first time, because they thought my name was Mary. I wanted to keep my maiden name too, so when I got married, I said I wanted to be Kathryn Pirkle Harrell instead of Mary Kathryn Har-rell,” she said.

After her wedding in Atlanta, Harrell moved to Virginia, where she updated





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Veils have been an impor-tant part of wedding-day attire for centuries, dating back to the ancient Greeks and Ro-mans, who believed veils could fend off evil spirits.

Though veils are optional, many of today's brides still take part in the tradition.

Veils typically are the same color as the wedding gown. They can be simple and un-derstated or extravagant and detailed. They come in varying lengths, from as long as the train, to the bride's elbow or cascading beyond the wedding

Uncovering tips for choosing a bridal veil

➤See VEILS, page 19

train.No matter what you choose

in a veil, it's important for it to complement your look and that it doesn't compete with your gown.

A fancy veil will be too much for a detailed gown, but you can embellish a plain dress with a detailed veil.

Here are some other tips for choosing a veil.

➤ Have an image of your gown in mind. Some dress shops also specialize in veils, so

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1. Showcase what you’re passionate about. Incorporating a little bit of your personality into a reception could be as simple as serving coffee and doughnuts at the end of the night because that’s your favorite thing to do, said wedding planner Ashley Baber of Ashley Baber Weddings. Or,

if you’re a cigar aficionado, you might want to hire a professional to hand- roll cigars for your guests, said event planner Kiersten Pierce of Gooseberry Creative Events. She has received several requests for onsite cigar rollers from grooms.

7. Supplement the wedding cake with a dessert bar.To give guests an alternative to eating wedding cake, more couples are adding dessert bars to the menu, Johnson said. “You may see a little bit of everything, from ice cream or candy bars to popcorn or desserts with different tarts and pies.” Some of Conway’s clients have requested coffee bars complete with cappuccinos, lattes and espresso at their receptions. “That’s bigger than serving a cup of coffee,” he said. “It’s like bringing Starbucks into the wedding.”

5. Replace buffets with interactive food stations.

Instead of having people wait in line for the buffet, Pierce said some of her clients set up different food stations throughout the room. “This allows your guests to move around so they’re not standing in line as much,” she said. Food

Gone are the days when the bride and groom had all the fun at their reception while everyone else sat around eating cake. Today, more couples are considering their guests when planning the big day. “It

had gone away for a while,” said Tony Conway, president of A Legendary Event. “But it’s so turned around right now to where our brides and grooms are talking about the comfort of their guests.”

Couples are getting more creative and catering to their guests because they have more choices than in the past, said Gail Johnson of Wedding Soi-ree. “It used to be you get this or that. And that was it. But now couples are able to customize their receptions to their personalities,” she said.

Today, couples are engaging their guests with interactive food stations, specialty drink bars and other elements that entertain throughout the recep-tion. To leave a lasting impression on your guests, follow some of these top reception trends.

Catering to the guests

3. Make cocktail hour fun.For one of her clients, Baber had the caterers create a champagne bar complete with Chambord, Midori and all types of fruit purées, allowing guests to create their own cocktails. For an upcoming daytime reception, one of Baber’s clients has requested a bloody mary bar. “It’s more fun and interactive,” Baber said. “That way, your guests can choose what they want, and it makes it more entertaining for them.”

4. Be creative with tabletop décor.

Instead of one centerpiece, consider a composition of four or five flowers arranged on the table at once, Conway said. For one of his receptions, he created floral arrangements in silver containers

collected over the years by the bride and her family. “We had urns, mint julep cups and buffet things,” Conway said. “All the florals were done in these silver pieces. It was exquisite.”

Christine Gallagher/Special

Lauren Rubinstein/Special

Christine Gallagher/Special

By Patricia Newman/For AJC Wedding Guide

Who says the wedding reception hasto be only about the bride and groom?

Lounge seating with furniture is very popular in weddings these days. Even if the reception has a seated dinner, couples are having lounge areas where people can get up from their tables and mingle with other guests, Johnson said. “It’s just a good way for people to relax so they don’t have to sit at the table all night.” One of Johnson’s clients brought in white leather ottomans with special pillows for their reception.

2. Create a lounge area.

4.Lydia M. Dull/Special Shawna Herring/Special

6. Get creative with the entertainment.

Sure, DJs and bands are still popular choices. But couples are bringing in other interesting elements to engage their guests. One of Johnson’s clients brought in a professional dance troupe to perform at the reception. “That was the most breathtaking, because of the professionalism of the dance company. It was something unique,” she said. Baber is seeing more couples renting photo booths for guests to take pictures with friends and family. “Some people will have the pictures printed immediately so they can use that as a sign-in book, while others will just use it as an entertainment aspect where their guests can go online to see all the pictures.”

White almond individual pound cake (left) and edible flowers in champagne.

stations also allow people to order exactly what they want to eat and mingle with other guests. “We did that for a wedding with 400 guests,” Conway said. “The client was a little bit concerned with timing. But it went great. The guests loved the interaction.”

Clockwise from left: Reception lounge area; wedding party in photo booth; berry sorbet cone.

with people who know Callaway is a big bonus.”


Trip Weddings take place all year at Callaway, but the spring and fall are the most popular times, Crumbley said. In the spring, the gardens are filled with thousands of azaleas in full bloom. In the autumn, leaf

colors paint a scenic backdrop for outdoor ceremonies and receptions, she added.

“From casual and intimate to formal and elegant, the choices [at Callaway Gardens] are limitless” and can accom-

modate any couple’s style and personality, she said.

Oceans away

Undeveloped beaches covered with driftwood, his-toric homes and inns, and the 15,000-square-foot Atlantic Hall in the Jekyll Island Convention Center offer an array of loca-tions for weddings.

“Driftwood Beach is very popular, because it is so acces-sible and picturesque,” said Jan Powell with the Jekyll Island Convention and Visitors Bu-reau. “There’s just something about being on the beach that’s so romantic, and this location makes a beautiful setting for photographs.”

Jekyll Island’s Driftwood Beach offers a natural setting for destination weddings.

Photo courtesy of Jekyll Island

Jekyll Island is home to the Jekyll Island Club, a historic hotel that was built in the late 1800s as a retreat for some of America’s wealthiest families. It offers more than a dozen venues, including the elegant Club Ballroom and the Faith Chapel with Tiffany stained-glass windows.

All of the island’s hotels offer wedding services and can provide lodging for parties of all sizes.

“The beauty of getting married here is the wide choice of settings,” Powell said. “From the very traditional and luxurious to the casual bare-foot-on-the-beach wedding, Jekyll Island is truly a wedding paradise.”

By Pamela A. KeeneFor AJC Wedding Guide

Oozing with elegance, steeped in history or rich with memories, three nearby loca-tions attract brides and grooms.

Asheville, N.C., Charleston, S.C., and Ponte Vedra/St. Au-gustine, Fla., offer distinct wed-ding packages and are within a six-hour drive from Atlanta.

•••Asheville’s Biltmore House

is nestled on a 125,000-acre estate surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The home, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1895, features four acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 34 bed-rooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. The landscaping was designed by Frederick Law Ol-msted, who created New York’s Central Park and Atlanta’s Piedmont Park.

The Biltmore House frequently hosts weddings. Biltmore was awarded the Best Wedding Event of the Year in 2006 by the National Asso-ciation of Catering Executives. www.biltmore.com.

The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa has long been a favor-ite of metro Atlantans for week-end getaways. The inn offers more than a half-dozen wed-ding packages. Built in 1913 of granite mined locally, the resort overlooks the Asheville skyline and the Blue Ridge Mountains. www.groveparkinn.com. •••

With dozens of choice wedding venues, Charleston’s charm is known worldwide. From a formal garden wedding at a historic plantation to a seaside ceremony followed by a roasted seafood supper, the options in this 18th-century city are limitless. Go to www.charleston.com for a full list of wedding-planning resources.

•••Farther down the coast in

northeast Florida, couples can choose the elegance of the early 20th century at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club on the Atlantic Ocean or a simple ceremony in historic St. Augustine, founded nearly 450 years ago. Ponte Vedra was long a hideaway for the rich and famous; the

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club re-creates that posh atmosphere. www.pvresorts.com.

•••St. Augustine’s many historic

churches are complemented by dozens of intimate bed-and-

breakfast inns. Casa Monica, St. Augus-

tine’s only AAA four-diamond hotel, re-creates the elegance of the 19th century. Built in 1888, it was renovated in 1999 and features lush gardens, a

luxurious ballroom and easy access to the historic city and nearby beaches. It was named the No. 1 reception site in Florida by The Knot’s Best of Weddings 2007 magazine. www.casamonica.com.

Romantic settings a short drive away

Expert advice: Avoid wedding pitfalls

SUSAN GRAHAM, owner,Bella Sera Weddings and Special Events

Car trouble: The bride’s family had contracted with a shuttle company to drive 100 guests from a downtown hotel to the ceremony site. However, the prearranged pickup time came and went, and there was no sign of the shuttle.

Resolution: Graham immediately began calling the shuttle company, but there was no response. She switched gears and called the valet service at the hotel, spoke to the person in charge and asked them to call every cab they could

to shuttle the guests. “It all happened on the fly and we had to pay the cabs in cash, but we started the ceremony within five minutes of the original start time,” Graham said.

Lesson: “Always hire a professional, reputable, experienced company. It’s critical to work with a company that’s actively interested in making sure it has all the up-to-date information and that will give you the drivers’ names and cellphone numbers so you can contact them directly. For a no-show vendor, she recommends: “Act quickly, be in touch with someone at the pickup site and event site, and don’t let the bride know; it’s important to shield her and the family from this kind of stress. Also, arrange for guests to be at a hotel [with a high level of service] so you can call the valet to pull something together for you quickly.”

By Jenny ZhangFor AJC Wedding Guide

Cake, flowers, band, catering, guests — you can check and double-check them, color-code the reception seating chart and micromanage the musicians. But something can still go wrong on the wedding day: A button pops off the back of the satin designer gown; the officiant gets stuck in afternoon traffic; or the table linens catch fire from the candles. From the minor to the disastrous, things that can go wrong on the big day can overwhelm even the most prepared bride.

Luckily, there is help. Four wedding experts from metro Atlanta share their stories of wedding day (near) catastroph-ies and offer advice on how to keep your day picture-per-fect.

RHONDA EGGERT, owner, My Wedding Planner

The way the cake crumbles: A few minutes before the wedding, a waiter walked into the reception site with a large tray and bumped into the table where the cake was sitting. The four-layered cake toppled over, and one of the layers was

completely cracked and crumbled.

Resolution: “We put it back together as much as we could. We took it to the caterers and the chef used pieces from the destroyed layer to reconstruct the cake. We smoothed it over, decorated it with additional flowers, and cleaned

the linens underneath. Most people didn’t even realize it was ruined, and they thought it was just a three-layered cake,” Eggert said. If there’s time, however, it may be possible to call the bakery and have someone come in and fix the cake, she added.

Advice: “Be aware of the surroundings and put the cake in a place where there’s not a lot of traffic. Or you can roll out the cake later; you don’t want to leave it exposed to the crowd, so get it in a safe place. Designate someone who is not a member of the wedding party as a go-to person for anything that goes wrong. Have them be on the lookout for you and check and watch things. They don’t necessarily have to watch the cake, but they can watch the reception, keep track of the guests, etc.,” Eggert said.

ELAINE SLAUGHTER RAKOCZY, catering and special events manager, Glorious Events

Short on time: The hotel booked two weddings back-to-back for its outdoor courtyard, and the bride found out two days before the wedding that hers was the second one. The first ceremony was to end just half an hour before guests arrived for her ceremony. The florist, in particular, was in trouble, since the bride had a major floral budget; even with additional labor, she needed at least an hour to set up the décor — not 30 minutes.

Resolution: Cocktails, anyone? Rakoczy pulled together a mini-cocktail reception inside the

hotel before the ceremony so the florist could have a full hour to set up. Because she had been notified of the scheduling crisis 48 hours earlier, Rakoczy worked with the catering company and came up with passed hors-d’oeuvres to treat arriving guests. “We posted signs in the parking lot and had the hotel attendant direct guests inside to the hors-d’oeuvres. It went off without a hitch. The [ceremony site] looked beautiful, and the guests never knew what happened,” Rakoczy said.

Advice: “It’s important to work the best you can with the given circumstances. Know there’s always a solution,” Rakoczy said. It’s also important to work with good people — whether florists, bakers, caterers or wedding planners, who can be flexible in responding to your needs regardless of what happens, she added.

NICOLE FANTZ, owner, Peachtree Weddings and Events

Pesky guests: It was an outdoor wedding in October, unseasonably warm with clouds that were threatening rain, but the weather held and the ceremony went smoothly … until the mosquitoes showed up. Worse, the bride was allergic to insect bites, and large, red welts began to form on her back.

Resolution: Fantz had come prepared with a comprehensive wedding-day emergency kit, so when a groomsman told her about the situation, she was ready. “I ran out with my can of Off and sprayed the bride with mosquito repellent. Having big red welts all over her was not something she wanted for her wedding pictures. The bug spray prevented future welts,” Fantz said.

Advice: Fantz recommends hiring a wedding coordinator with a complete emergency kit (bug spray, first aid, small toys for unruly children, pins and needles for mending tears or sewing buttons). “There’s just so much that goes into the day of a wedding— no bride could possibly be responsible for everything, and with a coordinator, she doesn’t have to be worried about the details or logistics,” Fantz said. For allergies, Fantz advises, “Come prepared with an EpiPen [emergency treatment for allergies] or make sure a trusted friend or family member, if not a coordinator, has one on hand.”

Brannon Combs/Special





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you may be able to try on your gown with different veils to compare looks.➤ Style your hair and makeup similar to how you will wear it on your wedding day. This way you can experience the full effect.➤ When trying on veils, use a full-length mirror, and view yourself from all angles. A veil may look �attering from the front, but it may not comple-ment the back of your gown.➤ Practice walking in your veil, especially if you are choosing a long one. You can walk around


Veils

Metro News ServiceChoose a veil that complements your wedding gown.

the house or the dress shop to get a feel for it➤ If you decide not to wear a veil, consider other headpiec-es and accessories, including tiaras, barrettes and hats.

¨ Metro News Service

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