WEDDING BLOG

The Gardens Of Tuscany Inspired This Atlanta Wedding

December 1, 2022 | justine

Drawing inspiration from the gardens of Tuscany, Morgan and Chris brought the beauty of Italy to Atlanta using a romantic color palette, show-stopping florals, and timeless ensembles. These swoon-worthy details, combined with the old-world charm of the mansion and lush greenery of the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center’s historical grounds, resulted in a dreamy affair to remember.

Their garden ceremony featured elegant Louis chairs and an aisle lined with ground florals, leading to a lush floral arch perfectly framing the moment the couple said their vows. Following their sweet “I dos,” they made their way to the great hall, where a stunning reception awaited. Dramatic drapery, a floral chandelier, and cascading tablescape greenery were the standout features that beautifully tied everything together.

If your idea of a dream wedding includes a gorgeous mansion surrounded by manicured gardens, then this is the perfect inspo for you. Keep scrolling to see all the exquisite details that’ll sweep you off your feet, all captured by Hellen Oliveira.

The Couple:

Morgan and Chris

The Wedding:

Callanwolde Performing Arts, Atlanta, Georgia, United States

How Their Gardens Of Tuscany Inspired Atlanta Wedding Came To Be

The inspiration for our wedding came from our love of gardens and flowers. We thought of infusing the dreamy, chic, and effortless vibes of Tuscany into the design of our wedding. We knew Callanwolde would be the perfect place to bring our vision of a garden wedding to life. Our talented vendor team transformed the garden with Louis chairs, beautiful pink and cream flowers lining the aisle, and lush green foliage to the birch square arch. And for the reception, dramatic draping drew the eyes to the floral chandelier while the tables were adorned with greenery garlands and candles.

Going For Timeless And Elegant Attire For Their Atlanta Wedding

One of our favorite parts of the wedding was the fashion. “Less is more” was the motivation behind the fashion and beauty of our wedding. I chose to wear a form-fitting dress from Bridals by Aimee. It was ivory with stunning crystal detailing interwoven into the flowers on the top, and a veil from Mexico to live for. My “bride babes,” as I refer to them, wore gorgeous artichoke silk dresses with cowl neck halter tops—very chic and effortless vibes for the garden. As for Chris, he wore a clean, classic black tux custom-made from the Miguel Wilson Collection. His groomsmen wore a custom version of a classic black tux from the same collection.

Showcasing Their Caribbean Culture Through Music And Food

We wanted to infuse our cultures into the wedding because I am Trinidadian, and Chris is Jamaican. So we chose to serenade our guests during cocktail hour with a live steel drum player and added Caribbean dishes to showcase our heritage.

Advice: Pace Yourself And Trust Your Vendor Team

Before you start the planning process, pray over your spirit, as it will get tested for most. The idea is to make it to the altar, so you’d like to start as relaxed as possible. Understand that even with the best intentions, there are things that are beyond our control. Just realize that the most important thing is the union and the fact that you both are excited and willing to be one forever. That’s the beauty of it all. But definitely, your planner and the rest of your trusted vendor team will help you and your fiancé navigate this process more effortlessly.

The Wedding Team:

Photography + Videography – Hellen Oliveira Photography
Event Planning – Jazmine McFarlane
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Callanwolde Performing Arts
Floral Design – Britt Wood Designs
Catering – Endive
Cake – Cakes by Lameeka
Officiant – Dr. James O. Montford
DJ – Press Play Productions
Live Music – Brandon Crocker
Invitation Design – Paper Truly
Makeup Artist – Wilinda Rhodes
Wedding Dress – Bridals by Aimee
Groom’s Apparel – Miguel Wilson Collection

Congratulations to Morgan and Chris on their gardens of Tuscany inspired Atlanta wedding. And a big thank you to Hellen Oliveira for capturing all the gorgeous details couples who’ve just started on their wedding planning journey can use as inspiration.

A garden wedding like this can easily be brought to life with a beautiful venue, lush florals, and a talented vendor team. From choosing decor and color palettes to preparing for rain, check out our guide for ideas to help create the perfect garden wedding.

How to Coordinate With Your Wedding Party

November 30, 2022 | riley

There’s a lot that goes into wedding planning, specifically wedding attire. Trying to coordinate the groomsmen with the groom and the bridesmaids is quite the feat. Luckily, CON.STRUCT is here to make the job much easier. With color palettes that match some of the biggest bridesmaid dress companies out there (think Dessy, David’s Bridal, and Azazie), you and your wedding party will be dressed to the nines.

How To Coordinate With Your Wedding Party

Determine Your Color Palette

When it comes to determining your color palette, there are a few things to take into consideration. From the seasonal blooms to the venue where you’re tying the knot, these can help you determine the right color palette for your special day.

Once you have a few colors in mind, it’s time to narrow it down. Most couples typically opt for one to two primary wedding colors, which you can then use for your bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen accessories. Luckily, no matter what you end up deciding on, CON.STRUCT has a wide range of colors, from neutral to bold.

Choose Bridesmaid Dresses

Speaking of bridesmaid dresses, once you have your primary colors picked out, it’s time to think about what the bridal party will wear. Choosing these before groomsmen helps make shopping for accessories–such as ties and pocket squares–a piece of cake. CON.STRUCT has taken it a step further by matching their accessories perfectly to dresses from Dessy, David’s Bridal, and Azazie. That means you don’t have to worry about the colors looking mismatched in photos.

Solid Satin Tie; Solid Satin Pocket Square; Solid Satin Pre-Tied Bow Tie

Choose Groomsmen Outfits

Now it’s time to think about the groomsmen! Keeping it simple for the suits allows you to match easier and play with pops of colors. If the bridesmaids are doing mismatched dresses, you can even consider doing one suit color and different colored accessories to match the bridesmaid that they’re walking down the aisle with. Don’t be afraid to shy away from color if you’re looking to make your big day bright and colorful.

Solid Stretch Knit Blazer; Solid Stretch Knit Vest; Solid Cooling Performance Stretch Dress Shirt

Coordinating Wedding Party Inspiration

Dress pictured: Azazie Kalea

Dress pictured: Dessy TH087

Dress pictured: David’s Bridal GS290121

Dress pictured: Azazie Rylee

Now you’re ready to coordinate with your wedding party! For more groomsmen inspiration, check out these groomsmen suit ideas for wedding style!

Everything You Need To Know About Planning A Wedding Shower

November 29, 2022 | kailey

Image by Tova Studios. See more of this real wedding here.

From engagement parties to bachelor and bachelorette parties, the wedding planning season is packed with events that shower the soon-to-be couple with love. One of our favorites is the wedding shower. Typically taking place two to three months prior to the wedding day, this pre-wedding party gets everyone excited for what’s to come. And now that your loved ones are officially engaged, it’s time to get the planning started.

If you’re the lucky one that gets to plan the wedding shower, we’re here to help. This ultimate guide has everything you need to know–from timelines to creative ideas the couple is sure to love!

FAQs For Planning A Wedding Shower

1. Who’s responsible for planning a wedding shower?

There are so many events that take place while planning a wedding. It can easily get confusing as to who is supposed to take responsibility for the planning of each event. When it comes to the wedding party, we typically see parents or members of the wedding party taking over the planning duties. This gives the newly engaged couple a little break from the stresses of planning.

2. Who should cover the costs?

Traditionally, those hosting the event will cover the costs. But we understand this isn’t always the case, and we’re all about doing things the non-traditional way. . Perhaps the newly engaged couple wants to take care of the bill, or maybe their family members are willing to pitch in some cash. Whatever the situation, it’s important to remember this doesn’t have to be an over-the-top affair. A wedding shower should simply be a time to celebrate the couple and gather everyone before the big day.

Image by Lauren Apel. See more of this real wedding here.

3. When should you host a wedding shower?

Wedding showers typically occur two to three months before the wedding day. It’s close enough to get the couple and guests excited for what’s to come. But, it’s also far enough from the big day, allowing everyone to make arrangements to fit both events into their schedules. You’ll want to make sure to announce the date at least two months in advance so everyone can plan accordingly.

4. How long do wedding showers last?

Wedding showers typically last around 2-4 hours, offering just enough time for guests to mingle, enjoy food, play a few games, and watch the couple open gifts. The timing often depends on the number of attendees and planned activities, but a sweet spot is about three hours. This keeps the event fun and lively without feeling rushed or dragging on too long.

4. Who should be included on the guestlist?

No matter who takes on the planning responsibilities, you’ll want to consult the couple on the final guest list. While you might have a good idea of who they’ll want to attend, it’s important to ensure the couple gets the final say.

A good rule of thumb is to extend an invitation to all family members on both sides, along with your closest family and friends. Keep in mind that if the couple is eloping or planning an intimate celebration, it’s a great event to invite those that might not have made the final wedding day guest list.

5. Are guests required to bring gifts?

Gifts are welcomed at a wedding shower but are not necessary. If you want to shower the newly engaged couple with gifts, you’ll want to think of something that is useful for both since this is a joint celebration.

Image by Jordan Jankun Photography.

Wedding Shower Planning Timeline

The key to a stress free planning season is having a solid timeline to guide you along the way. If you want to plan the perfect wedding shower, use this timeline as a reference.

3 to 4 Months Before the Wedding Shower

Compile a guest list with contact information
Discuss all ideas, dates, etc. with the couple
Finalize a date and time
Establish a budget
Reserve location (as needed)

1 to 2 Months Before the Wedding Shower

Order and send invitations
Purchase decor, party favors, etc.
Prepare games and activities
Finalize the food and drink menus
Delegate a team to help with clear responsibilities (as needed)

2 to 3 Weeks Before the Wedding Shower

Make follow-up calls to guests and confirm their attendance
Confirm any vendor arrival times
Touch base with your food and drink team or make a grocery list for your shopping trip
Buy a notepad or book to record gifts received for the couple

Wedding Shower Day

Arrive early to the wedding shower location to prevent rushing (you should enjoy this day, too)
Decorate the venue space
Prep any food or drink items
Welcome guests
Help write down and record gifts (as needed)
ENJOY!

Image by Ash Gabes Photo.

Creative Wedding Shower Ideas

Now that your questions have been answered and you have a rough planning timeline, the real fun begins. Hosting something a little different for your newly engaged friends will surely make them feel loved. And if you’re looking to plan a unique wedding shower, these creative ideas will help kickstart the planning process.

Take Over A Coffee Shop

Instead of hosting a backyard celebration, consider hosting a morning party at a local coffee shop. Guests are sure to love the experience of having their own personal barista. Bonus points if they can make personalized designs on friends’ and families’ lattes.

Host A Movie Night

If your couple loves movies and snuggling on the couch, they’ll love the idea of hosting a movie night surrounded by all of their loved ones. Order some pizzas, play a few wedding party games, and then let the movie-watching begin.

Schedule A Wine or Cocktail Tasting

If you’re looking for an unforgettable wedding shower idea, a wine or cocktail tasting might be the move. It makes for a unique way to toast to the upcoming wedding day. Plus, it makes planning easy for you—say goodbye to the set-up and clean-up duties.

Plan A Themed Party

You can’t go wrong with hosting a more traditional backyard wedding shower. And by adding a themed twist, you can pack the party with personality. Here are a few of our favorite wedding shower themes to get your creative juices flowing:

Fiesta
Garden tea party
Luau
Decades theme (think roaring 20s or hippie 70s)
Sitcom (ex: The Office, Friends, Parks & Rec, Seinfeld)
Charity (animal shelter visit, anyone?)

Image by Tova Studios. See more of this real wedding here.

Lawn Games Tournament

There’s nothing more fun—for some couples—than a little healthy competition. If you’re hosting an event at home, a lawn games tournament can be an awesome way to create memories and re-live your favorite childhood games.

Wedding Shower Games

Cheesy (in the best way) games are a classic part of every kind of shower. While they may seem silly to some, they’re great icebreakers and a way to lighten the mood. Here are a few of our favorite wedding shower games:

The Shoe Game

See if the couple is “on the same page” with silly questions via The Shoe Game. With this game, you’ll seat both partners back-to-back, have them hold one of each of their shoes, and then the MC will ask questions while the couple raises the shoe of who they believe fits the question.

Find the Guest Bingo

If you’re bringing together a lot of strangers, a game of Find the Guest Bingo may be a great idea to get everyone mingling and learning a little more about each other. Each person will have a Bingo card that requires them to find another guest with certain qualities like being left-handed, being a bridesmaid, being engaged, etc. We know it can be a bit intimidating to plan a wedding shower, but this game will get everyone enjoying each other’s company!

Couple Trivia

Find out who knows the couple best by playing a round of couple trivia. Before the event, come up with 10 to 20 questions about the couple and have them answered in advance. Whichever guest has the most correct answers gets a prize and bragging rights at the wedding.

Date Ideas Jar

For something a little more subtle, have every guest put a date idea into a jar or basket when they arrive. By the end of the event, the couple will have a ton of creative date ideas for their first year of marriage.

With these tips on planning a wedding shower, we are sure you’ll be on your way to creating the most memorable celebration for your newly engaged loved ones. Already dreaming of your wedding-day outfit? You’re sure to fall head over heels for these wedding guest dresses fit for every style of celebration.