Welcome Baskets

By: Emily Shearer

Welcome Baskets are baskets that bride's put in their guests hotel rooms to make them feel comfortable and welcome. They should have little food goodies, information about the local city and something cute to represent the state in them. Example: Old Fashioned Coca-Cola bottles since Coca-Cola is based in Atlanta. Please use the checklist below for the full list of items that should go in a welcome basket!

Checklist

1) 2 Water Bottles
2) 2 Sodas/Juice
3) Something Salty
4) Something Sweet
5) On-the go Snack (Ex. Granola Bars)
6) Something Healthy (Ex. Apples)
7) Something to represent the State
8) Information about the local City
9) A Thank You note specific to each room’s guest
10) Invitation(s) to the Rehearsal Dinner and/or Sunday Brunch
11) O...and of course a basket :)

Meet and Greet with Mindy Weiss
By: Emily Shearer

Mindy Weiss, social event maven, was in Atlanta to unveil her line of invitations that she designed for Inviting Company and I got to meet her!!!

For those of you who don’t know, Mindy Weiss is a nationally recognized event planner who has created amazing events for clients such as Heidi Klum and Seal, and Eva Longoria and Tony Parker. She also orchestrated and planned the nationally televised “The Bachelorette” Wedding of Trista and Ryan Sutter in 2003. Mindy has been featured in dozens of bridal magazines and newspapers.

As well as owning her own company, Mindy Weiss Party Consultants, Mindy has an exclusive line of giftware with Two’s Company, an invitation line with Inviting Company, a book called The Wedding Book, and even owns Owen’s Market in Los Angeles (an organic food market). Mindy is the ultimate entrepreneur for the event planning industry.

Mindy was at Swoozie’s in Midtown Atlanta for a meet and greet Wednesday July 8th. I hitched a ride with Amanda Gerhardt, the events director at Atlanta National Golf Club, down to Swoozie’s. (Thanks again for the ride Amanda!) If you have never been to Swoozie’s, GO! They have so many awesome invitations and the cutest gifts for all different occasions! I suggest going there for all of your invitations and bridesmaids gifts!!

I had a blast getting to meet Mindy. She was down to earth and so sweet. She talked about new trends for weddings. Namely: comfort food. Mindy believes that guests will be more comfortable eating food they actually know and enjoy. Even celebrities have been taking her advice about comfort food. Mindy was featured in a recent article in the New York Times discussing this new concept of comfort food. In the article, she explained that another new way to incorporate comfort food is to have trays of mini hamburgers, French fries and warm chocolate chip cookies passed around at the afterparty, which is another growing trend. Mindy signed autographs and mingled with all her fans! You can bet I got her autograph!!

People We Love, Volume 1
Devon Morgan- Photosynthesis Studio

By: Emily Shearer

• What’s your story? How did you get started in your field?

Devon was a student at UGA pursuing a writing degree and music minor when she decided to take a photojournalism class. Two days into her photojournalism class, Devon changed her major and never looked back! The Dean of the journalism school saw her work in the newspaper and asked her to be the photographer at his daughter’s wedding. Devon said “yes”, even though she had never photographed a wedding before. The Dean loved her work and kept referring her to his friends. So after college what else was left to do but form her own business!?! Photosynthesis Studio was Born!

• What’s your favorite part of an event?

Devon really believes that her favorite part of an event changes with the couple. With some couples, she loves the party before the ceremony. Watching the bride enjoy every second of getting ready with her bridesmaids inspires her. With another couple she loves the party at the reception. She described to me a dance off between a bride and groom and the amazing shots that she took of them enjoying the best day of their life.

Does Devon have a least favorite part? Yes. The hardest part is getting the family pictures done in 20 minutes that should really take 2 hours.

• What’s your favorite past event?

Devon’s favorite past event was a charity event she did at Chukka Farms. She was asked to come and take photos of a Polo match then edit them to make them look like old photos. They were sold in an auction a few days later. This was a defining moment for Devon because people were bidding over $500 on her photos.

• When guest’s leave an event what do you want them to say about the service you provided?

Devon wants her client’s guest’s to think that she was a part of the family or a family friend and fit right in. When Devon is enjoying herself at a wedding and her guests are comfortable it shows in her photos.

• What’s something about you/your company that most people do not know?

When Devon is taking photos she tries to view them how she wants them to look after edited. She always thinks about what her clients can do with them. Devon views this as working backwards and believes this will produce the best pictures possible.

3 Common Misconceptions About Marriage Licenses in Georgia
By: Emily Shearer

Common Misconceptions #1: “Blood Tests are required in Georgia.” The real answer is no. As of July 1, 2003 blood tests are no longer required in the state of Georgia.

Common Misconceptions # 2: “You have to register in the county you are getting married in.” If either the bride or groom is a Georgia resident you can get your marriage license in any probate court in Georgia. If neither the bride nor groom is a Georgia resident you do have to get your marriage license in the county you will be married in.

Common Misconceptions # 3: “You can just show up at a probate court and get your license.” Come Prepared. Here’s a quick checklist for things to bring with you: both the bride and groom’s birth certificate, driver’s licenses, passports, and social security cards. Original forms of all of these things are required.

Fees for marriage licenses range from $50 to $100. Make sure you call the probate court you are planning to go to well in advance to determine the specific requirements for that county. In Georgia if a couple completes a premarital education program the marriage license fee will be waved. Check out the Georgia probate court website for more information on requirements for premarital education and other information.

Probate Courts in Georgia:
Clayton County: 21 South McDonough St.
Jonesboro, GA
770-477-3301

Cherokee County: 90 North St. Suite 340
Canton, GA
678-493-6160

Clarke County: 325 E. Washington St.
Athens, GA
706-613-3320

Cobb County: 32 Waddel St., Bldg D, Probate Court
Marietta, GA
770-528-1921

Coweta County: 22 East Broad St.
Newnan, GA
770-254-2640

Dekalb County: 556 North McDonough St., Rm G1B
Decatur, GA
404-371-2601

Douglas County: 8700 Hospital Dr.
Douglasville, GA
770-920-7249

Fayette County: One Center Ave.
Fayetteville, GA
770-716-4225

Forsyth County: 112 West Maple St., Suite 101
Cumming, GA
770-781-2140

Fulton County: 136 Pryor St., Suite C230
Atlanta, GA
404-730-4692

Gwinnett County: 75 Langley Dr.
Lawrenceville, GA
770-822-8250

Hall County: 225 Green St.
Gainesville, GA
770-531-6921

Henry County: 99 Sims St.
McDonough, GA
770-228-7600

Newton County: 1132 Usher St., Room 107
Covington, GA
770-784-2045

Rockdale County: 922 Court St., Room 107
Conyers, GA
770-929-4057

Oconee County: 23 N. Main St
Watkinsville, GA
706-7699-3936