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The Florals Were The Star Of This Upstairs Atlanta Wedding

January 14, 2023 | justine

When a couple’s fully committed to the look and feel of their big day, you can be sure that it’ll be one to remember. And Ryann and Tim planned their big day just in that way. With a bold romantic color palette, show-stopping floral arrangements, and the perfect rustic industrial venue—the pair’s Upstairs Atlanta wedding combined unexpected elements with thoughtful touches. This celebration was one-of-a-kind, dreamy, and unforgettable!

For the ceremony, they transformed the raw open space into a romantic setting with eye-catching overhead blooms. But they didn’t stop there. They added a floral-lined aisle leading to a statement-making backdrop adorned with lush ground arrangements and disco balls. The same set was repurposed for the wedding cake display as the space was flipped for the reception. They elevated the vibe further with tablescapes filled with lush florals and taper candles in glass sleeves.

Savanna Sturkie captured every meticulously planned detail that made this flower-filled soiree one for the books. Are you ready to steal lots of gorgeous ideas? We guarantee this Upstairs Atlanta wedding has all the inspo you’ll be excited to share with your vendor team.

The Couple:

Ryann and Tim

The Wedding:

Upstairs Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Working Together As A Team To Bring Their Upstairs Atlanta Wedding To Life

This was a really collaborative process for us. Tim is a brand designer by trade so he was able to create a color palette and theme based on inspiration photos we selected together. We wanted an in-town Atlanta wedding and a venue that had plenty of natural light. We were excited to be having a late summer wedding, so the color palette and florals could be bright and vivid. Once we toured the Upstairs, we knew the space could take a lot of florals, one of my must-haves!

The Moment They Knew They Found The Perfect Venue

We looked at a lot of venues, but some of our nice-to-haves like natural light and a modern setting were harder to find. Our photographer, Savanna Sturkie, recommended The Upstairs to us, and it was perched on top of a hill over Grant Park. Inside it had these beautiful windows along the side and windows at top of the vaulted ceilings, with this window behind the altar. The light was beautiful, and we knew immediately it was the place we wanted to get married. It was modern and it wasn’t a completely blank canvas.

DIY Ceremony Backdrop Customized In Their Wedding Colors

Our dad built the ceremony backdrop in our backyard on a Sunday afternoon. It was a great bonding project and helped us save on rental costs. Plus, we were able to paint its colors in our color palette so that the altar matched our overall look.

Personalizing Their Ceremony Through Music, Handwritten Vows, And Having Loved Ones Involved

Our band was able to learn a few tracks with a three-piece version of their band to play, so we had them play Jose Gonzalez’s “Heartbeats” on the intro, Van Morrison’s “Sweet Thing” as Ryann walked down the aisle, and The Rolling Stones “She’s a Rainbow” on the exit. We each had written our own vows to read to each other. They felt personal, funny, and really impactful in the moment. We asked Tim’s cousin to perform the ceremony and he truly knocked it out of the park. He was funny, thoughtful, and really worked with us to personalize the ceremony. We also had Ryann’s sister-in-law do a reading of Pablo Neruda’s love poem, “Your Laughter.”

Establishing Priorities At The Beginning Of Wedding Planning

We both have strong visual opinions and our own must-haves, so it was making sure we accommodated both. Our advice: figure out your must-haves early on. For me, it was florals and for Tim, it was the invitations and signage. Those were pieces we knew we wanted to invest in. Second, do your best to find vendors you can really trust to help see through your vision. Your vendors also have a wide network and can recommend other great people they’ve worked with.

Stationery And Signage Designed By The Groom

All of the printed elements were designed by Tim and printed at a local Atlanta print shop, Press Shop. Tim designed almost 50 unique pieces for the wedding, drawing custom illustrations of their dogs and unique patterns of their time in Atlanta on a risograph-printed map of Atlanta. Everything from invites, signage to matchbox favors were consistently designed.

Choosing A Color Palette That Tied Everything Together 

I worked with the print vendor to select the perfect shades of pink to compliment the floral palette. Our floral designer was given minimal direction minus the colors and a mood board but delivered a unique, stylistic floral setup of our dreams. We were proud to work with so many vendors whom we could give very little direction and able to let them do what they do best and it really came out spectacularly.

Letting Their Personalities Shine Through Their Wedding Fashion

Wedding dress shopping was one of the first things I did. I took a small group with me, just my mom and my maid of honor. I knew I wanted something classic but with tons of personality. The streamlined silhouette of my ceremony dress by Laudae was perfect, and the fun confetti sleeves allowed us to carry a subtle polka dot motif into Tim’s ties and socks. I also knew that Atlanta in August would be warm, so I opted to change my dress for the reception into a short Carol Hannah dress that featured both sequins and ostrich feathers. It was the perfect way to set the party vibe. Tim wanted to embrace those warm colors of our palette and his personality and have a saturated color suit, so we settled on this dark maroon. We had a little vintage nod with the squared-off ties.

Custom Wedding Favors Designed By The Groom

We gave our guests custom matchbooks designed by Tim. We love to collect matchbooks from our favorite restaurants and hotels. And we wanted guests to leave with a small, useful token to remember our day. We also had a photo booth with custom photo strips.

The Wedding Team:

Photography + Videography – Savanna Sturkie
Event Planning – Drake Social
Ceremony Venue – Upstairs Atlanta
Floral Design – Caroline Worth
Catering – Low Country Catering
Cake – Lush Cakery
Live Music – Emerald Empire Band
Makeup Artist + Hair Styling – Jade Jamrozy
Wedding Dress – The Sentimentalist
Rings – Anna Sheffield
Transportation – Atlanta Wedding Car

 

Congratulations to Ryann and Tim on their Upstairs Atlanta wedding, where the florals were the star. And a big thank you to Savanna Sturkie for beautifully capturing every gorgeous detail and moment this couple will cherish forever. 

One of the most exciting parts of planning a wedding is figuring out the florals. So, how do you go about picking the perfect arrangements  for your big day? Take a deep breath and relax, we’ve got you covered. With our florals checklist—and of course, talented florists—deciding on which blooms to pick will be a fun and special process for you and your partner.

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Engagement Party Favors Your Guests Will Love

January 12, 2023 | kailey

Bust out the champagne, it’s engagement party time. You’ve said “yes” to your forever partner, sent out your announcements, and now you’re ready to celebrate. All your loved ones will gather, toast to your love, and help kickstart your engagement season the right way—that’s a lot to be grateful for. 

While party favors aren’t required, it might be something you want to consider. If you want to show your appreciation to those that attended your engagement party, we’re all for it. It’s never too early to show your favorite people a little love with these engagement party favors. 

Engagement Party Favors Your Guests Will Love

1. Wedding Favors Luggage Tags

A luggage tag is a useful gift your guests can take with them on their world travels. It’s also a thoughtful gift for couples that love travel or for those planning a destination wedding. Adding a fun saying like “and so the adventure begins” is vague enough that it allows your loved ones to continue using their tags long beyond your engagement party. 

2. Perfect Blend Coffee Bags

Maybe you and your partner met at a coffee shop. Perhaps your local brewhouse is your favorite weekend date spot. Or maybe you’re just big coffee drinkers. If any of these represent you, keep your guests caffeinated and excited for the big day to come with a “perfect blend” coffee bag. Since the bags come empty, you can fill them up with beans from a spot that’s special to you. 

3. Honey Jar Wedding Favors

There is an abundance of super sweet favors you can purchase from the comfort of your own couch—oh, honey! And if you’re a lover of sugary treats, this party favor is meant to bee. These mini honey jars come with personalized labels and are filled with 2.25oz of premium pure raw clover honey. 

4. Succulent Party Favors

Plant lovers, when it comes to your engagement party favors, mini succulents are the way to grow. They are the gift that just keeps giving—as long as they’re taken care of, of course. Your guests can grow at home, and your love continues to blossom. 

5. Take a Shot We’re Tying the Knot

Forget the champagne. We’re celebrating with shots. These “Take a shot we’re tying the knot” shot glasses are the perfect way to toast to the newly engaged couple. The best part is that they also double as party favors your loved ones can take home with them once the celebration is over. 

6. Wooden Bottle Opener Party Favor

Crack open a cold one with a personalized wood bottle opener. Custom-made with your name and wedding date, these long-lasting party favors will surely bring a smile to your guests with every drink. 

7. Wedding Favors Soap

Pamper your engagement party guests with the gift of personalized soaps. With natural, dried florals and organically made soap, it’s the perfect thank-you gift that lasts. You can also take it to the next level by choosing a custom smell or flower that authentically represents your love. 

8. I’ll Drink To That – Custom Wedding Can Coolers

You’re officially engaged, “I’ll drink to that”—and your guests can too with these personalized can coolers. The best part? This useful party favor doubles as engagement party decor that your guests can use time and time again. 

9. S’More Love Laughter and Happily Ever After Tag

Set the mood and express your gratitude with these adorable, personalized s’more tags. If you’re hosting an outdoor engagement party with fire pits, pack your bags with graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. What a sweet way to celebrate your engagement.  

10. Rustic Jam Wedding Favors with Personalized Labels

Engagement party favors are all about spreading love, and you can do just that with mini jam jars your guests can use to spread on all their favorite baked goods. From the personalized stickers to the variety of flavor choices, Miss Shelley’s Southern Jams & Jelly are sure to add a little touch of southern charm to your event.

Celebrating with an engagement party is only one task that follows getting engaged. While you might be floating on cloud nine, there’s still a lot of work ahead of you. To help kickstart your planning journey and make the most of your engagement, check out these things you should do right after saying “yes.”

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This Millwick Wedding Was Complete With Breakfast For Dinner and Tattoos

January 11, 2023 | kailey

This Millwick wedding had guests coming to celebrate love, leaving with the ultimate wedding keepsake—tattoos! Carly and Kirby wanted a laid-back celebration that represented their playful kind of love. With the help of event planner Two Tree Events, they nailed every detail–from the creative wedding favors to vibrant florals by Whit Hazen. 

This couple realized that tradition and uniqueness are not mutually exclusive when it comes to weddings. You can have both. That’s why they kickstarted their day with a private first look and sharing hand-written vows before walking down the aisle. They also incorporated traditional Jewish influences into their ceremony, like getting married under a chuppah and wearing pride-embroidered yarmulkes. 

After their tear-jerking “I dos,” the real party began. We’re talking about arcade games, a breakfast cereal bar, and a tattoo station with local artist Beth Mitzer. And lucky for us, Junebug Photographer Apollo Fotografie was there to capture the utterly cool inspo we dare you to incorporate on your big day.

The Couple:

Carly and Kirby

The Wedding:

Los Angeles, California, United States

A Memorable First Look Complete With Vows At Their Millwick Wedding

Our first look was definitely the most memorable part of our Millwick wedding. We wrote the vows we said during our ceremony together, saving our individual vows for our first look, just the two of us. Reserving these vows for our first look allowed us to be fully in the moment and emotionally raw with one another. Our first look was a sacred space for us, not a spectacle. After this moment, we felt incredibly connected to one another, and it really helped us to put into perspective what the day was really about.

Carly and Kirby’s Wedding Planning Advice

The best advice we can give is to try and remember that the single most important thing is the love you share and the life you’re building. On the actual day, all the decisions, details, and stress fade away when you’re able to center yourself in each other and the people who have come to support you.

Personalizing Their Ceremony With Music, Their Dog, And Jewish Traditions 

Our ceremony was incredibly personal. The ceremony began with “More Than a Woman” by Bee Gees, and our dog kicked off the whole thing by walking himself down the aisle. We were married by a friend and mentor who has known us both since the beginning of our relationship. She wrote a beautiful ceremony for us and even incorporated the words of some of our closest friends and family. Our ceremony had elements of Jewish tradition without being a full Jewish ceremony. We were married under a chuppah, under the tallit Carly has had her entire life, and guests wore yarmulkes embroidered with pride flags. Finally, we walked back down the aisle to what we deem as a classic love song, Smash Mouth’s “I’m a Believer.”

Working With Photographer Apollo Fotografie At Their Millwick wedding

Despite how much we adored our photographer Apollo Fotografie, we were very uncomfortable with the idea of having our photos taken and even struggled a bit during our engagement shoot to “act natural.” When our photographer suggested we photograph our first look and private vows, we were a little bit anxious. However, Liv could not have been more right about it being the best idea. Welcoming her as the photographer into our intimate moment together made us extremely comfortable with her and the camera for the rest of the day. Liv made us go from camera shy to excited to have our photos taken. Liv was also a champion at making us laugh, dealing with our large wedding party, and was super efficient with posed photos.

Wedding Favors That Last A Lifetime (Literally)

While we didn’t give out traditional wedding favors, some guests walked away from our wedding with a new tattoo! An amazing, local tattoo artist designed a handful of flash designs in honor of our wedding and tattooed guests from the start of the cocktail hour until the end of the night. And for those who were less inclined to get a permanent tattoo, we had the cutest temporary tattoos. Of course, we walked away with matching marigolds in honor of the beautiful flowers at our ceremony.

Breakfast for Dinner And A Late Night Taco Bell Snack

Our menu was breakfast for dinner. We started the cocktail hour with a cereal and milk bar followed by passed hors d’oeuvres of mini avocado toasts, french toast sticks, breakfast sandwich sliders, and hashbrowns. For dinner, guests enjoyed a breakfast buffet and different made-to-order stations, including an omelet bar and fried chicken and waffles. Finally, at the end of the party, we served late-night Taco Bell.

A DIY Wedding Cake Bet That Helped A Charity Dear To The Couple  

Carly made our wedding cake with no prior baking experience. Because our breakfast-for-dinner menu incorporated many treats, we had not planned to have a traditional wedding cake. When one of Carly’s friends heard about this, she was shocked, and Carly made the mistake of saying, “if you want there to be cake so badly, I’ll just make you one.” This digressed into a bet about Carly being able to make a wedding cake for all 160 guests from scratch. The bet became quite large, and a community pool of friends and family joined in. The proceeds from the bet went to supporting Experience Camps, a non-profit organization that provides free sleep away camp for grieving children, where Carly volunteers each summer. Carly made three practice cakes before the wedding and watched several Youtube videos about baking and frosting to pull it off. Kirby was a 10/10 taste tester.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Apollo Fotografie
Event Planning – Two Tree Events
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Millwick
Floral Design – Whit Hazen
Catering – Plants + Animals LA
DJ – Crystal Sparks
Tattoo Artist – Beth Mitzer
Makeup Artist – Angeleno Beauty
Hair Styling – Citlaly Arreola
Wedding Dress – Monique Lhuillier
Rings – Oscar’s Design Jewelry and Diamonds
Rentals – Town and Country Event Rentals
Video game rentals – Arcade and Party by GEMS

 

Congratulations to Carly and Kirby on their utterly cool Millwick wedding. And big thanks to Junebug photographer Apollo Fotografie for capturing all the casually cool wedding details that’ll take Pinterest by storm. To see more of their work, check out their profile in our directory of top wedding vendors from around the world. 

If you’re dreaming of a one-of-a-kind celebration like Carly and Kirby, odds are you’re on the hunt for inspiration that’s not plastered all over your Pinterest. If that’s the case, kickstart your wedding planning journey by reading our how-to guide for planning a unique wedding.

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