OK, ya’ll, SW is about to reveal its big make-over!  In order to do this, things are going to look a little messy here for about 24 – 36 hours while our amazing site designers, Alex and Basil, in Ukraine transfer everything to the new design and we get all the kinks worked out.  Go visit some other fabulous sites while we polish, buff and put that last top coat on.  Thanks in advance for your patience and have a very happy and safe Halloween!  We’ll be back ASAP with the BIG LAUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT!

Welcome back for more from Clary + Robert. Read on to hear about how this couple met and about the day Clary found her {Vera Wang} wedding gown. To see more from the wedding weekend be sure to check out Christopher Record Photography’s blog {Post 1}, {Post 2} and {Post 3}.

How did the two of you meet? Robert first saw me in the elevator of the building where we both worked.  It was pretty much love at first sight as he recalls that he thought I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.  It wasn’t until a couple months later that we were introduced by a childhood friend of mine, after which we went on our first date and I realized he was the man I was going to marry.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress:  My mom and I made an appointment at Vera Wang in New York City, where Robert had been living for the past 18 months while I had stayed in Charlotte. My maid of honor and one of my bridesmaids, who both lived in the city, joined us in our lovely private parlor in the Madison Avenue store.  The ladies sipped Champagne while I tried on a plethora of dresses with my sales rep in the dressing room.  I hadn’t been feeling well that day, but did not want to ruin the day of dress shopping so did not mention it. The first dress I tried was perfect.  I knew this in part because my bridesmaid cried at first sight of me, my mother and maid of honor teared up as the veil was added, and everyone in the store seemed to gravitate to our parlor to look (at me, not the sobbing entourage.)  I tried on the others, just to be sure, but it wasn’t long before I was back in my dress and we were again accessorizing with a cathedral veil, hair pins and shoes.  At this point I was really beginning to feel woozy and I politely asked my sales rep if we could get me back into my own clothes.  It appeared she did not hear me as the ladies were all excited, making a fuss over my dress, so this time I said to my mom in a serious tone that I needed to get changed, I didn’t feel well.  Knowing my history of fainting, she had the sales rep get me out of the dress just in time before I surely would have fainted.  I lied on the floor, unable to move without feeling sick and dizzy for thirty minutes, before my mom, realizing I wasn’t getting any better and we had to do something to get me off the floor, ordered my bridesmaid to find medicine and fluids immediately.  She returned in nearly an instant (she had found a street vendor apparently) with Alka Seltzer, water and Gatorade.  As I lifted my head up to take the Alka Seltzer I wondered aloud if I should take this in the ladies room, just in case, but feeling so weak I decided to take it lying down.  Just as soon as I had swallowed, I jumped to my feet and was sprinting to the ladies room.  My mom recalls I was leaping over white upholstered benches, bolting through a sanctuary of white satin, silk and lace.  My bridesmaid and maid of honor couldn’t bear to watch.  Luckily, I made it to the ladies room before being very sick in their very elegant wash room.  Well I definitely bought the dress and we even sent flowers to the store as a thank you for being so accommodating.  Before leaving Vera Wang, I said to the sales rep, “things like this must happen here all the time.”  “No,” she assured me with a smile, I was the first one and they wouldn’t forget me. We look back on all of this with a good chuckle now and the tale of “Vomming at Vera” has been told and retold at showers and parties for Robert and me.
Describe your wedding cake:  Divine!  A dear friend of my family made our wedding cake that was fit for a king and queen.  She spent a month hand making each gum paste peony, lily, rose, and piece of greenery that garnished our almond and butter cream four-tiered hexagonal cake.  On top of all of that, it was delicious, truly the best cake I have ever tasted!
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration. “Happy wife, happy life.”  A family friend shared this little pearl of wisdom with Robert.
Whats next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future?  Having been doing the long distance thing for two years, we most look forward to living in the same place!  We will be moving to Cambridge where Robert begins earning his MBA this fall and we both look forward to starting our life together in a new place.

Congratulations to Clary + Robert! We wish you a lifetime of happiness!

PS…

I love this fabulous Charlotte, North Carolina, wedding. The photographer, Chris of {Christopher Record Photography} explains all the details…  “It’s August in the Carolinas and you know it’s going to get hot.  So I guess this was the perfect time for one of the coolest weddings I’ve ever had a chance to photograph.  I recently got to work with Clary when we did her bridal portrait and I photographed Clary and Robert’s rehearsal dinner Friday night.  I knew this was going to be an elegant event and both families are incredibly personable and easy to work with.  We started the day at Clary’s parents’ home as the bridesmaids got prepared. Clary’s mom, Liz, who is also a model, thought of every detail. She brought in her friend Melissa B. Melvin, who typically works on fashion shoots, to help get the dresses just right.  The day was indeed hot, but everyone stayed cool through the beautiful service at {Myers Park Baptist Church}. Our company photographer, Laura Mueller, was a huge help as she photographed the guys and preparations at the church.  {Myers Park Country Club} looked incredible, adorned with amazing floral arrangements from {The Blossom Shop}.  The ladies from Confetti Distinctive Events, Janie Sellers, Betsy Blue and intern Nicole Moody, did a great job handling all of the details with help from Myers Park Country Club social director Bobbie Eller.  One of the cooler elements at the reception was the bar, which was made of ice. {Ice Sensations} created the bar and other interesting ice features. Another unique feature was the bourbon and cigar bar, complete with a gentleman hand rolling cigars for the guests. Joe and Alex from {PVT Label Cigartainment} were on hand throughout the reception. The Maxx, a lively band from Atlanta, provided a steady soundtrack that had guests dancing all night. Kathy Allen of Cakes of Distinction created an elegant cake and the couple toasted with beautiful crystal flutes her parents brought back from a trip to Santorini, Greece.  Clary and Robert are off to honeymoon in Anguilla.”

Check back shortly for more amazing images and all the details from Clary + Robert!

PS…

This Texas Hill Country wedding took place at {Balcones Springs}, a gorgeous venue for a spectacular “lone star” fete.  This fun celebration wasn’t just a ceremony and reception… it was a three day wedding extravaganza! Guests arrived early and stayed in cabins complete with access to all the amenities of the Balcones Springs with access to the lake, zip line, horse back ridding and more. The event was coordinated by Courtney Rhode of Balcones Springs.  The beautiful bride, Mattie, was treated to pre-wedding pampering with make-up and hair by {Hues By Heather}.  Floral design by {Allie Flowers}.  The wedding cake was made by a family friend and the scrumptious pies came from Mattie’s hometown favorite, {Koffee Kup}. Photography by {Heather Thorne Photography}. Thanks so much for sending this inspiring wedding our way!  To see more, check out Heather’s {Blog} post on Mattie + David’s big day and visit Heather’s new {Blog}.

How did the two of you meet? David and I met at a work related happy hour in downtown Austin.  We both worked in the political arena and had several mutual friends.  As soon as we started talking there was an instant connection and the conversation came easily.  We can thank the Koffee Kup in Hico, Texas (my home town) for a common connection. 
Describe the proposal:  When I proposed to Mattie I wanted it to be a special moment in a place that meant the most to her.  She grew up on a small ranch in central Texas so with the help of family and friends, I organized a gathering the day after Thanksgiving.  Thinking it would be romantic, I lured her out into the middle of the property where we could be alone.  The proposal was fantastic and we were both incredibly excited, until nearby hunters fired a shot from their deer blind.  We weren’t sure if they were shooting at us or to congratulate us, so we decided it was time to get back in our car!  Our families orchestrated arriving when we got back, which was another great surprise for Mattie.  
What attracted me to my husband was: His beautiful smile and his sense of humor.
Why do you love your husband? It didn’t take long to realize what a giving and compassionate person that David is.  No matter what life has thrown our way, David is my number one supporter and companion.  My life’s aspirations have become David’s dreams as well.  We are best friends and we have so much fun together. 
What attracted me to my wife was:  Eye contact, genuine conversation and small town values with big city smarts.
A date we went on that we’ll always remember: A wonderful night we went to dinner at a restaurant in Santorini, Greece.  It such a remarkable place with an incredible view! 
The weather on our wedding day was: Absolutely perfect!  Texas is infamous for the heat, but we were blessed to have a cold front come through the week of our wedding, making the wedding day amazing!
What was the design inspiration for your wedding? The Hill Country.  Balcones Springs was a perfect fit for our wedding location because it gave us a laid back atmosphere with a beautiful setting all at the same time.  It was important for our guests to have a wonderful weekend, and travel home feeling relaxed. 
Favorite design element of your big day:  The rustic centerpieces and the finishing touches that my florist provided
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: It was actually a very easy process.  I went to one store in Austin and had an idea of what style I was going for.  My maid of honor and mom were there to help me find the perfect dress.  Once I found my dress, I knew it fit my style perfectly. 
Describe your wedding flowers: Amazing!  I wanted to incorporate fall colors in the green landscape at Balcones Springs and Allie did a fantastic job.  The white hydrangeas were a wonderful addition because they added elegance to the evening. 
Describe your wedding cake:   A long-time family friend from my hometown made the 5-tier wedding cake, designed after my engagement ring.  Each layer was placed in different directions, and it alternated between a round and a square shape.  We decided to place flowers at the top of the cake and cascading down the side.  It was an Italian crème cake with crème cheese icing.  Delicious! 
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The Koffee Kup pie!  Everyone was thrilled! 
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding?   Balancing work and wedding planning.  It can be a bit overwhelming. 
Were there any special family traditions you included in the wedding? David’s mother, Quixie loaned me a beautiful family heirloom that belonged to her mother, a vintage cameo ring.  We pinned it to the sash of my dress and it was the perfect touch. 
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? The moment just before my bridesmaids walked down the aisle.  I remember looking at each one of them and feeling so blessed to have every one of my very best friends there with me to share in our celebration. 
Scariest moment? Putting on fake eyelashes! 
Funniest moment? Watching our flower girls getting prepped for the big day.  They were much prissier and high maintenance than me or my bridesmaids. 
The most unexpected event on our wedding day was: Seeing David’s tears as I walked down the aisle.  Normally, I am the emotional one.  It was an incredibly special and touching moment.   
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase/verse/or line?  We did not. My grandfather (Mattie) delivered the ceremony and he had a wonderful service that delivered a message and spoke to our relationship perfectly. 
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding?   Just relax and remember that it all goes by very quickly. 
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration.  “This moment is for you and David, focus on him and the wonderful lives you have to look forward to.” 
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future?  We both feel so blessed to have a wonderful partner to share our lives with.   We are looking forward to spending the holiday season with friends and family and eventually buying a house.
Other details you want us to know about your wedding:  Balcones Springs gave up the perfect “weekend wedding”.  Our guests stayed in cabins onsite and we had two days of fun and laughter.  Swimming at Lake Ted was a great way to spend part of the afternoon on our wedding day.  Guests enjoyed swimming, paddle boats, a wonderful lunch and of course the most popular attraction, the “Blob” water toy.

Congratulations to Mattie + David.  We wish you a lifetime of happiness and joy!

ps…

Atlanta brides, there is an amazing event coming up called {Tie the NOT}. I know what you’re thinking, “what is this?” Well, it is quite possibly one of the most genius events we had ever heard of in the bridal business.  This event is a new twist on the old school bridal shows. First and foremost, those in attendance will be guests to five “NOT” weddings during the evening. These weddings will be ‘mock’ weddings that cover a wide range of bridal styles. Think rustic, elegant, chic, modern and more. Guests will get to be a part of the ceremony and reception for each. We can only imagine all the inspirations and great ideas brides will collect from these fab five weddings. I wish we could be there too, but you will have to go and enjoy for us!!

Save the date for November 16th at 4pm at Atlanta’s famous Opera Nightclub.  Doors open at 4 and ceremony begins at 5 sharp.   RSVP to {The NotWedding Blog} to be placed on the guest list (Tickets just $10).  For more information check out the {Tie the NOT} website.

PS…