Bridal Guide ~ June 2015

BRIDAL GUIDE

June 2015

Your

y r o t S g n Weddi PHOTO CONTEST

See the entire gallery at:

/wedding Top 10 winners pictured on this page.

Bridal Guide presented by:

770.781.5500

www.lancesjewelry.com 1705 Market Place Blvd., Cumming, GA 30041 Monday-Friday 10 am - 6 pm Saturday 10 am - 5 pm | Sunday closed

Like us on Facebook

2C | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015

Your

y r o t S Wedding Photos courtesy BPT

Couples are mishmashing patterns to create personal flair.

Personal style redefines tradition for couples choosing tableware (BPT) — Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. The well-known saying may seem cliche, but the adage defines tabletop trends for spring wedding registries.

Engaged couples are steering away from the conventional choices made by their parents’ generation. Experts say they are instead opting for personal style over tradition. They’re blending patterns, shapes and colors mixing old and new.

“Today’s couples are mixing a lot of different design elements on their table that traditionally wouldn’t work together,” says visual merchandiser John Griffith. “They’re pairing florals with patterns featuring wide bands or stripes; it’s a mishmash look that, quite honestly, just works.”

Griffith leads wedding tabletop design seminars at Replacements, Ltd., known as the world’s largest retailer of old and new china, crystal, silver and collectibles. He observes that vintage continues to be one of the hottest trends, whether that means incorporating a family pattern or finding one reflecting the couple’s sense of style and combining it with something new. Popular picks include those evoking the classic elegance of older fine English and French china, such as delicate lace patterns along the lines of English high teas and formal dining influenced by both the younger members of the British royal family and TV series Downton Abbey.

“Whiteware is a perennial favorite, but choosing a white pattern with more flair gives your table an identity that is yours,” says Replacements’ designer Julie Robbins. “I am seeing more embellished white patterns, both embossed and decorated with white decals. White also blends effortlessly with many heirloom patterns, and this gives the table a sense of your family’s

roots.”

Designers are seeing many wedding couples start with white and other neutral shades, then adding splashes of trending colors including Scuba Blue, Strawberry, Tangerine and Marsala, Pantone’s color of the year. Metallics, especially golds, add new dimension to the table.

“We saw a renewed interest in gold flatware and gold trim last year, but this year gold has taken off on a much larger scale,” Robbins adds. “Service plates and dinner plates with wide gold rims or heavy encrusting can take a sleek, simple pattern to an amazing level of decadence. Gold brings a rich, warm look to any table, and we’re even seeing it in casual dining setting.”

Flatware manufacturers such as Oneida and Reed & Barton offer a range of gold electroplate patterns. One throwback to tradition this season marks the return to sterling; with the price of silver dropping, Replacements is seeing an uptick in registries for sterling flatware patterns.

One challenge couples often encounter with heirloom pieces lies in the fact they may only inherit a few pieces of family china or perhaps the name of the pattern has been lost or forgotten.

Griffith suggests taking advantage of Replacements’ free pattern identification service. He notes the company also offers personalized guidance with design questions.

“Our design team works one-on-one with wedding couples looking for guidance translating their personal style to their table,” he says. “It’s easy to reach out to us with your design dilemmas by either emailing us through our website, replacements.com or posting questions to our Facebook page.”

Blended gold patterns are trending on wedding registries for Spring 2015.

Submitted by Connor and Sammantha Kelly On the Front Top row, from left: Alexandria Mayfield Bethany and Stephen Young Katie and Aaron Kingry Second row, from left: Chris and MJ Evey Koshiol

3 secrets to creating a shabby chic wedding (BPT) — Wedding trends come and go, driven by many cultural influences, but few are as enduring and romantic as shabby chic/shabby glam. With its perfect combination of elegance and softness, bright sparkles and gentle hues, a shabby chic wedding complements the individuality and beauty of brides of every age and walk of life. And, thanks to many rental stores increasing their inventory of shabby chic items, it’s also one of the easiest and most fun wedding themes to create.

Vintage wedding gowns, repurposed items and a wide inventory of thematic rental items can all work together to create a shabby chic wedding that is unique, memorable and affordable. To create a wedding theme that is the perfect marriage of shabby and glam follow these three simple steps:

1. Flowers and lace are the perfect marriage.

Lace isn’t just for your wedding gown and flowers aren’t just for your bouquet. Touches of lace added throughout the ceremony and reception underscore the air of nostalgic elegance that’s essential to shabby chic. This can be as easy as adding lace touches to wedding invitations or using pieces of lace as placemats or coasters on reception tables.

Or, it can be as grand as a lace tent liner that evokes a romantic, bygone era. Florals are key to creating a shabby chic look. Whether the bride and groom stand beneath a bower of pastel blooms while exchanging vows, or floral accents throughout the bride’s couture, flowers and floral patterns lend romance and grace to every aspect of a shabby chic wedding.

2. Light the way.

Light plays an important role in any

Tate House Wedding Venue & Special Events

Third row, from left: Colette and Chuck Clineff Josh and Ana Garmon Fourth row, from left: Brandon and Alexsia Spence Kristen and Bradley’s wedding Rex and Lyndsey Goeckeritz

shabby chic themed event. For weddings, vintage-looking chandeliers, candelabras and hurricane lamps act both as decorative items and sources of romantic light. It’s easy to add thematic lighting to any wedding, even if your reception will be in an ordinary hall or tent. Rental companies offer an array of lighting options that can be temporarily outfitted to any venue. Adorn tables with classic silver candelabra or add a stunning crystal chandelier to an outdoor tent.

3. Layers of texture.

The pleasing union of diverse colors and textures is at the heart of a shabby chic wedding. Soft colors are the perfect foil for sparkles, and distressed wood complements the beauty of aged metals like silver and pewter. All these elements come together to evoke the grace and comfort of bygone times.

Look for creative ways to harmoniously incorporate these touches into your wedding.

For example, display your wedding cake, adorned with real flowers, atop a rustic wooden table. Decorate an antique metal birdcage with lace and ribbon and use it as a holder where reception guests can deposit cards for the bride and groom. Add petite crystal and pearl accents to bouquets and centerpieces. For a rustic food table, rent wooden barrels, top with an aged wooden plank, and present food on vintage serving plates.

Tate House

WEDDING VENUE & SPECIAL EVENTS

Elegant Southern Weddings The beautiful pink marble mansion is a full-service wedding and event venue, recently named one of the top “must see” places by Georgia Magazine. This Southern mansion offers full service indoor or outdoor weddings. Brides will work with our staff, comprised of Wedding Specialists and a Wedding Director, to custom design their dream day. The venue can accommodate weddings from 50 and up to 200 guests.

www.tatehouse.com • 770.735.3122

forsythnews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 3C

SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015

Your

y r o t S Wedding

Submitted by Kate Tate

Carl House will cater Hampton Golf Village is to all the brides needs now hosting weddings Award winning Carl House! The home of “Extraordinary. Memorable.

Events.”

Why all the buzz? A sterling reputation, lavishly appointed interiors including a dramatic 4,000-square-foot grand ballroom with classic curved staircase, ten working fireplaces, exquisite gazebo, lush private gardens, dramatic covered porches, 30-plus acres of tranquil pasture land, a charming rustic barn, exquisite culinary prepared in-house chef, in-house Florals, and custom vendor services all designed to assist a busy bride.

Carl House also features unique bride and groom suites, as well as inside and outside ceremony options.

And now, Carl House is offering offsite catering where we will bring the party to YOU! Carl House boasts a host of awards, including “Best of Weddings” from

The Knot Magazine, “Best Place for a Wedding” from Gwinnett Magazine, “Best of Atlanta Bridal ” from atlantabridal.com, “Brides Choice Award” from weddingwire.com and “Best of and True Love” from mywedding.com to name a few.

Our team of experts will help you with as much or as little of the planning of your wedding, guiding you step by step. We begin with a relaxed, private planning session with our inhouse planner to best understand your vision, spending and menu preferences and a review of what other services you will be needing.

Once your planning is mapped out, you’ll be on your way to putting together the wedding you’ve always envisioned. Visit www.carlhouse.com for more information. Contact us at (770) 586-0095 or info@carlhouse. com

Hampton Golf Village is peacefully set on the gentle terrain of Forsyth County. This unique setting lends a tip-of-the-hat to a much simpler time. Hampton Golf Village Hall is a historically designed neighborhood landmark m o d e l e d a ft e r a n o l d N ew E ngl and t own hall.

We h a v e h i g h l i g h t e d a f e w points of interest: Services: Consultation on your entire event needs, full layout and set-up of reception areas, timeline creation and adherence. Hampton Golf Village’s events are individually designed for you, allowing for the greatest flexibility possible in planning your event.

Beverage Service: Hampton G o l f Vi l l a g e i s a ful l y l i censed facility, which can service all of your beverage needs. We can help you to determine which package is

right for you and your budget.

Staffing: Hampton Golf Vi l l a g e ’s s t a ff i s c o n fi d e n t a n d enthusiastic, professionally trained and tuxedo attired for your event.

Floral: Buffet and tabletop presentations may be arranged by Hampton Golf Village or handled independently through a florist.

B r i d a l C a ke s : H a m p t o n G o l f Village encourages brides to competitively shop for their bride and groom cakes and does not impose any additional charges for cutting or serving cakes purchased from other sources.

Menus: Hampton Coast 2 Coast catering, led by Hector and Gerard, will meet all your needs.

Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t Katrina at (770) 825-3251 or katrina@hamptongolfvillage.net.

presents

Weddings on the

Green

Award Winning - Sterling Reputation • Lush C olorful Gardens • Elegant 4000 square foot Ballroom with a Classic Cur ved Staircase • Exquisite Food Prepared by In-House Executive Chef • In-House and Of fsite Floral Design and Catering S er vices • S eparate Bride and Groom Suites

www.carlhouse.com 770.586.0095

We invite you to experience a

Hampton Dream Wedding Let us be a part of your big day. It is our goal to exceed all of your needs and make all of your wedding day dreams come true.

Event Venue Catering Florals

Extraordinary. Memorable. Events.

Photos by: Blume Photography, Julie Anne Photography, Gambol Photography, Brides & Dolls, and jaxonphoto

The Hampton Lakeview Club is truly a charming place, overlooking the Village Green … a perfect place for that romantic exchange of vows!

Come see why Forsyth’s newest wedding venue is a perfect fit for you.

6310 Hampton Golf Club Dr. | Cumming, GA 30041

(770) 825-3251 | www.hamptongolfvillage.net

4C | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015

Your

y r o t S Wedding Wedding favors and gifts everyone can feel good about

Submitted by Sarah Stowers

6

(BPT) — You faithfully recycle at home, use a refillable BPA-free water bottle and charge your smartphone with a solar recharger. When it’s time to choose wedding favors for your own nuptials, or a gift for someone else’s wedding, do you find environmental awareness taking a backseat to style? It doesn’t have to.

It’s possible to give wedding favors and gifts that are natural, responsible and useful — items that everyone can feel good about giving and receiving.

Kitchen-related products commonly appear on many wedding registry lists.

For gifts that are sustainable, creative and practical, look beyond the pots, pans and dishes to the food itself.

Food-inspired wedding gifts

“Must Knows” When Picking Out a Tux

Many newly married couples will be setting up their homes together for the first time. They may already have the basics, but you can help them round out their kitchen with some useful utensils they may not have realized they need.

For example, every cook can benefit from a well-stocked spice rack. Purchase an attractive spice rack and fill it with sustainably sourced, natural spices.

Choose basic spices like versatile organic basil, cinnamon and garlic, then add in some exotic options such as garam masala (an all-purpose Indian spice), Himalayan pink salt or black sesame seed.

Making pizza at home can be a fun, easy meal for busy newlyweds. Put together a pizza-making kit, complete with a quality pizza cutter, a pizza stone for baking, a wedge of Parmesan, some baking yeast, and pizza seasonings like oregano, basil and garlic powder. Place everything in a basket and complete the gift with a book of pizza recipes.

Gardening is a popular activity, and if your newlywed friends will be trying

their hand at it, they may find themselves with lots of leftover produce. Giving canning supplies as a wedding gift can be a great way to encourage their love of growing their own produce, while helping ensure nothing goes to waste. Fill a canning pot with supplies like canning funnels and jars, and canning and pickling spices like bay leaves, peppercorns, celery seed, cumin, dill, mustard and salt, or even a Pickling Spice Blend.

Wedding favors they’ll savor If you’re planning your own wedding, food favors can excite guests and fulfill your desire to be eco-friendly and creative.

Tea is a soothing and sophisticated beverage that can make a great wedding favor. Simply purchase heart-shaped tea infusers and fill them with a variety of loose teas, such as chamomile, peppermint, Darjeeling, Earl Grey, or black, green or white teas. Accent the favor with a ribbon in your wedding colors.

Pepper is a ubiquitous seasoning in numerous cuisines from around the world.

For a useful, welcome wedding favor that will expand guest’s culinary knowledge, why not give different gourmet peppers of the world? Peppercorns come in a variety of shades and heat levels — and even shapes!

Present guests with a small peppermill and a selection of gourmet peppercorns.

Grilling is a great American past-time. If your wedding will take place in spring or summer, grilling spices and seasoning blends can be a fun wedding favor that will turn into your guest’s go-to item when they grill. Look for a variety of seasonings that work with steaks, fish, fowl and even vegetables.

Organic, sustainably sourced food gifts can be creative, fun and useful wedding favors and gifts — and a great way to show Mother Nature some love while you’re celebrating your own love story.

Scan for Early Bird Specials

1. Scheduling: Finalize ALL measurements, deposits, and details no less than 30 days before your Big Day. (April, May, and June weddings avoid prom chaos and finalize by March 15th.)

2. Style: It’s the groom’s day, too! Spare no expense to chose the style that looks and feels best on you. It’s OK for the dads and groomsmen to spend less and still look great

3. Pricing: What is included in the price you’re quoted? It’s an important question.

“Add-ons, Add up”

4. Colors: When matching colors, fabric swatches are more reliable than your phone screen.

5. Pick Up: Renter beware: No one should leave the store without trying on his tuxedo. Avoid surprises on your wedding day.

6. Returns: A nice touch to make life easy: Suggest the best man or a volunt­eer return all tuxedos on the appropriate due date.

FREE

Groom’s Tuxedo Rental* with rental of 5 or more tuxedos. *with this ad when order placed

www.TuxWearHouseWeddings.com

forsythnews.com | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | 5C

SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015

Choosing the right jeweler is an important decision

Forsyth Conference Center offers great versatility The Forsyth Conference Center is the perfect location for all events north of Atlanta. The center offers a versatile floor plan to host corporate meetings, expos, conferences, special events and weddings ceremonies and receptions.

Located just 30 miles north of Atlanta off of Ga. 400, the Forsyth Conference Center is a great alternative to downtown Atlanta.

A two-story foyer with Italian tile and natural wood accents welcomes visitors. The lobby provides an open atrium with comfortable seating areas to host cocktail receptions and receive your guests. The ballroom offers 14,000 square feet that can be customized to fit your needs on your special day. Our flexible wall system allows for a ceremony and reception to be held here so your guests do not need to travel between venues.

Here’s a big question to consider: Should a couple pick the venue before having a guest list or should they get a guest count and then pick the venue? It is not easy to have a guest count two weeks into the wedding planning process but if you don’t have an idea of what size wedding you are going to have, you will not be able to pick a venue confidently. No firm count is needed to look at venues, but one of the first questions we will ask a couple is how many guests you’ll be hosting. Having a rough idea of your wedding size — whether it 125, 300 or 400 guests — will allow us to

Customer Reviews: “It was a pleasure to work with the Forsyth Conference Center team. The facilities are excellent and the friendliness and hospitality of everyone we worked with was outstanding!”

“Everything went really well last weekend and I wanted to thank you and Jeff and the entire conference center staff for making it such a wonderful and memorable wedding weekend for both our families.” accurately estimate the space you will need and provide a quote.

Our professional event management team is ready to help assist you in creating a perfect event. Our staff will provide guidance in planning your event and the decorating resources to create your custom look. We provide state of the art audio visual equipment with personnel on-site to assist you with multimedia event needs. A warming kitchen is available for approved caterers to provide you with appetizers, buffets or plated dinners.

The Forsyth Conference Center is a flexible and versatile venue to decorate, cater and customize to make it your perfect event.

When the time comes to purchase new jewelry, such as an engagement or graduation, the choice of which jeweler to go to is an important one.

In order to get the best deal, the consumer has to weigh many different options, balancing all of one’s options with what is wanted and for what price.

This problem is made more difficult by the large number of jewelers active in the market today. While most jewelers have some merit, making the right choice requires knowing not only one’s own wants and needs, but also how the jewelry business works.

While different jewelers possess different skill levels and qualities, there are a few things that jewelers should offer their customers, and without those things a customer is at a disadvantage. Essentially, consumers who are seeking out the right jeweler should find someone who is skilled, attentive and reasonable.

The most important quality to look for is skill. Not all professional jewelers are equal in terms of their skill, and some of them will have more ability than others. This makes it very important for the consumer to search for a jeweler who has continuously demonstrated great skill.

The best jewelry professionals are those who can create pieces with their own hands, and they are the ones who can fix just about anything without any problem.

These kinds of jewelers understand every part of the process, and they are capable of performing their work on their own, from start to finish. The consumer who finds a jeweler with these kinds of skills will be pleased with their results.

However, the jeweler’s business is not entirely about skill and expertise. Instead, a jeweler’s skill is coupled with how much care is offered for to each customer for his or her specific needs and wishes. When an individual makes a purchase, the product should be more than just a ring or a necklace.

In addition to skill and service, the consumer should expect a guarantee.

The top professionals in the industry will offer free repairs and unlimited service for their work. This means that if it breaks, it can be taken back to the jeweler repairs.

This guarantee can create a personal relationship with the jeweler, which is the best situation for consumers.

Some jewelry purchases are a considerable financial and sentimental i nve s t m e n t . Fo r t h e bu y e r, t h i s means that they will want to know that the jeweler is going to create the best possible work.

For those who have created a personal, working relationship a jeweler, it is possible to have faith in finished product. However, these relationships cannot be forged without first choosing and working with a jeweler for a long time.

While price is an important factor to consider, choosing a jeweler on the basis of price alone is not always the best idea. While a jeweler may offer a solid price, they might not deliver in terms of quality or other important factors.

When choosing a jeweler, the consumer should be assured of getting the best deal possible without any fear of being cheated. Many jewelers can provide this type of price assurance, while also providing a level of quality and service that is worth the investment.

The good thing is that a large n u m b er o f r el i ab l e j ewel er s ar e active in the market, but choosing the right jeweler is a process that should involve a long period of personal research.

Deciding between all the available options can be a challenge, but by focusing on finding a skilled, experienced, and attentive jeweler, the process is certain to be a success.

By demonstrating these qualities, jewelers become well-known in the industry, so figuring out who they are should not be difficult once you know what to look for.

6C | FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS | forsythnews.com

SUNDAY, JUNE 28, 2015

For Eternity And A Day

Where

Forsyth County has purchased symbols of Love for over 25 years.

• Locally Owned and Operated for Over 25 Years • Custom Jewelry Design & In-store Jewelry Repair • Appraisals, Graduate Gemologist on Staff • We Buy Gold, Diamonds, Silver and Watches

BRING IN THIS AD FOR

200 OFF

$

THE PURCHASE OF YOUR BRIDAL SET OR GOLD WEDDING BANDS.

770.781.5500 • www.lancesjewelry.com 1705 Market Place Blvd., Cumming, GA 30041 Monday-Friday 10 AM - 6 PM Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM I Sunday closed Like us on Facebook