Wedding Hair

It's the ages-old conflict:  hair up or hair down?  Flying solo or with an accessory?  Curly or straight?  It's like being faced with a giant menu at an awesome restaurant.  No matter what you get, you'll love it, but it feels like you can't pick just one thing.  The bottom line, and thing to remember throughout your wedding beautification process: your partner wants to recognize you as you walk down that aisle. If you are a "always wear my hair up" person, consider an elegant version of that. If you always wear your hair down, do a version of that. If your signature is a braid, consider this...

Photo from love Maegan.

The waterfall braid, pictured above, is becoming super popular, like a lot of other intricate braid hairstyles.  I'm kind of obsessed with this style... I do think it would look great if you want to go for a fairly basic style with a little twist.

From Tumblr.

Then there's the classic twisty bun thing.  (You can tell I'm a hair expert from all of my super-technical names for these styles.)  I feel like this style will never get old.  It keeps your hair out of your face, it's beautiful, and you can vary it however you want.  And you can always, always find a gorgeous pin to add for some loveliness; Etsy is a good place to start looking.

Photo from Cup of Jo.

If a pin isn't your thing, you can always play around with flowers to add color and texture.  My friend and I always talk about the lovely mountain wedding she will invariably have someday, and she loves the idea of a little flower crown.  This is also very versatile--you can go big or small, make the flowers a focus or just an accent.

Photo from Tumblr.

Photo from Pinterest.

I love to see all the vintage styles that are coming back.  Nothing better than a flapper, right?  A lot of these styles are popping up on blogs with handy how-to tutorials, so you can even do them yourself or get a friend to learn rather than getting your hair done.

Photo from Something Old, Something New.

Photo from Pinterest.

There are just so many ways to go with your hair.  For more inspiration, check out pinterest. Create a board and just pin the styles that appeal to you. Before you know it you'll have a theme and your stylist can customize it just for you.  

Leave us a comment, we'd love to hear your thoughts!

Megan

Music Monday: Reception Playlist

Ok. I am pretty much obsessed with this song. How perfect to play during your reception?
Darius Rucker - "This"

THIS rocks.  So true.

Wedding Hair

It's the ages-old conflict:  hair up or hair down?  Flying solo or with an accessory?  Curly or straight?  It's like being faced with a giant menu at an awesome restaurant.  No matter what you get, you'll love it, but it feels like you can't pick just one thing.  The bottom line, and thing to remember throughout your wedding beautification process: your partner wants to recognize you as you walk down that aisle. If you are a "always wear my hair up" person, consider an elegant version of that. If you always wear your hair down, do a version of that. If your signature is a braid, consider this...

Photo from love Maegan.

The waterfall braid, pictured above, is becoming super popular, like a lot of other intricate braid hairstyles.  I'm kind of obsessed with this style... I do think it would look great if you want to go for a fairly basic style with a little twist.

From Tumblr.

Then there's the classic twisty bun thing.  (You can tell I'm a hair expert from all of my super-technical names for these styles.)  I feel like this style will never get old.  It keeps your hair out of your face, it's beautiful, and you can vary it however you want.  And you can always, always find a gorgeous pin to add for some loveliness; Etsy is a good place to start looking.

Photo from Cup of Jo.

If a pin isn't your thing, you can always play around with flowers to add color and texture.  My friend and I always talk about the lovely mountain wedding she will invariably have someday, and she loves the idea of a little flower crown.  This is also very versatile--you can go big or small, make the flowers a focus or just an accent.

Photo from Tumblr.

Photo from Pinterest.

I love to see all the vintage styles that are coming back.  Nothing better than a flapper, right?  A lot of these styles are popping up on blogs with handy how-to tutorials, so you can even do them yourself or get a friend to learn rather than getting your hair done.

Photo from Something Old, Something New.

Photo from Pinterest.

There are just so many ways to go with your hair.  For more inspiration, check out pinterest. Create a board and just pin the styles that appeal to you. Before you know it you'll have a theme and your stylist can customize it just for you.  

Leave us a comment, we'd love to hear your thoughts!

Megan

Pre-wedding Relaxation

A question I often get asked is, "Other than getting my nails done the day before the wedding, what do brides do to relax?"  My number one answer is: MASSAGE!  It's amazing what 60-90 minutes in a warm, candle-lit room with classical music playing in the background can do. Let alone the physical stress relief of a massage! 

Here is a Living Social coupon for half price of a 90 minute Hot Stone Massage from one of my favorite places - Tranquil Spirit Center in Marietta, GA. That's right! Only $50 for a 90 minute Hot Stone Massage! My friend, Priscilla Holman, is the licensed massage therapist. She's aaahhhmayzing.  Trust me. 


Here's the link.  90 minute Hot Stone Massage at Tranquil Spirit Center 


You're welcome. :)


-Erica

Indian Wedding at The Fabulous Fox Theatre Video

We had the awesome opportunity to work with Tejal and Bobby, both busy professionals in the medical world, for the past six months. The goal was to create a wedding that was a fusion of Hindu and Christian cultures, Indian and American foods, and lots of dancing.  We chose Piedmont Park as our location for the ceremony, then The Fabulous Fox Theatre in Midtown Atlanta for the reception. We utilized the Grand Salon at The Fox for the cocktail hour and the Egyptian Ballroom for dinner and dancing. 

See for yourself. Awesome, eh?

We were privileged to work with a rock star vendor team. 

Nicki with Bold American Catering : food

Steve and Kristine with Bold American Decor : table linens and floral decor for ceremony and reception

Jay with Indaglow Productions : lighting and sound service for the ceremony

Cindy with The Fox Theatre : reception venue and bar service

Barbara with Piedmont Park Conservancy : ceremony venue

Paul with Walk on Water Video Production : videography 

Nadia with Nadia D Photography : photography

Mark with Ruperts Orchestra via Sam Hill Entertainment : band

Reverend Dawn : celebrant

Erica with A Big To Do Event : full service planning

Holiday Workshop by Former Director of Decor and Events at Tavern On The Green in NYC!

Have you signed up for this class yet? If you're in Atlanta and have run out of ideas for your home decorating for the holidays, you've got to attend this class! 



This is taught by the former bon vivant of Tavern On The Green in NYC! Paul Brummer is a good friend of A Big To Do Event (and me personally). You'll learn how to create professional-looking tablescapes, centerpieces, and wreaths. Thanks to this fruitful seminar, you'll also pick up holiday decorating tips and tricks -- good for your stairway, Christmas tree, and every other area of your home. 


See you there!



LINK FOR THE CLASS: http://share.livingsocial.com/deals/169987?rpi=34919926&ref=personalized-link-box-34919926&rui=1746669

Rooms in Bloom

Three-Hour Dazzling Holiday Design Workshop

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Last Thanksgiving, your sister created an absolutely amazing fruit basket to adorn her dining room table. But if it's your turn to host the family for the holidays, make sure you meet everyone's grapeexpectations with today's deal from Rooms in Bloom in Roswell. Pay $39 for a three-hour Dazzling Holiday Design workshop held on select dates in November (an $89 value). With the help of renown designer Paul Brummer -- who decorated New York's famous Tavern on the Green -- you'll learn how to create professional-looking tablescapes, centerpieces, and wreaths. Thanks to this fruitful seminar, you'll also pick up holiday decorating tips and tricks -- good for your stairway, Christmas tree, and every other area of your home -- just in time to show up your sister's berry beautiful centerpiece.

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location

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Music Monday: First Dance Song

"It Had To Be You" by Billie Holiday

This has to be one of my favorite first dance songs.  Her voice is just so honest and soulful - exactly as couples feel during their first dance.



What do you think?

Best Maids and Dudes of Honor

Most brides picture their wedding and one of the oh-so-important questions to answer is which of my friends I would cast as the bridesmaids and maid of honor.  It occurred to me that I would really want for my brothers, who I'm really close with, to be in the wedding party.  I mean, I could always bully my fiance into adopting them as groomsmen, but why not just stick 'em on my side of the altar, where they could mutter sarcastic remarks to me and pretend not to be crying during the ceremony?

I don't know if anyone else remembers this movie, but it's probably a bad example to use because Patrick Dempsey is actually plotting to make the bride his own, or some romantic comedy shenanigans like that.  Regardless, this is the general concept I'm after today: using men as bridesmaids, and women as groomsmen.

Photo courtesy of Cate Misuraca.

I think this is a great idea!  Why stick your best friend on the other side of the altar just because he's a guy?  One of our brides asked her best guy friend to be her "dude of honor."  It's a growing trend, and I think that getting away from typical gender roles in weddings gives us a lot more freedom.

Photo from Dadiva Shop.

This diagram pretty much explains it all.  And I think it's great and fun that we're getting away from the standard, you-must-do-this rules of a wedding.  If something fits for you and your life but doesn't fit with the "rules," why not change it?  After all, your wedding should be a reflection of who you are.

Photo courtesy of Cate Misuraca.

So, if your best friend is of the opposite gender and you were thinking about making him or her your right hand man (so to speak), don't hold back!  Why shuffle around the bridal party when you can just have everyone where he or she would feel most comfortable?

Got any fun man of honor/best woman stories?  We'd love to hear them!

Megan

Sky Lantern Grand Exit

Ever since I saw the movie Tangled, I have been dying to visit Taiwan during their Sky Lantern Festival!

Thousands of people travel to the country each year to experience the sixteen-day-long festival during which they write a wish on a piece of paper, attach it to a lantern, light the lantern with a flame, and allow it to float to the sky.

What struck me is how this would look for a grand exit.  Lovely, huh?

 Photo from  Wikipedia.

I am so obsessed with this idea.  I've done it once before for the 4th of July, and it was a beautiful experience.  The effect is especially grand when the moon is out and it's a clear night.  Your guests will absolutely love it; they each get their own lantern and write down a wish your you and your new spouse.  When it's time for the grand exit, your family and friends light their lanterns and let them float to heaven around you.

Photo from Maureen Murray.

The concerns are, of course, that the lanterns will inadvertently burn down your reception site.  But so long as there's not a strong wind (above 5 mph) and you're not near an airport or dry crops, the lanterns are perfectly safe.  As with anything involving fire, there are safety guidelines to follow closely.  (And if any of your relatives have been hanging around the open bar all night, you might want to just give them some rose petals to throw.)

Check out Wish Lantern to find these lanterns for your special day.

They even offer 100% biodegradeable wish lanterns!

If you decide to make this your amazing Grand Exit I would love to hear about it!

Leave us a comment below and let us know how it goes.

Megan



Smash Cakes

In one episode of How I Met Your Mother, Marshall talks about the best wedding cake he ever tasted, saying, "It haunts me."  That's how I feel about this cake:  it's not technically a cake, but more of a chocolate shell in the shape of a cake.

Photo from The Chocolate Fetish.

Isn't this brilliant?  If you're not a cake person, you can opt out of the standard issue multi-tier white wedding cake and go for a smash cake instead.  When it's time to cut the cake, the couple pulls out a little hammer instead of a knife and smashes apart the cake!

Photo from Cocoa Pod Chocolates.

Everyone gets a shard of chocolate.  If you choose to stuff the cake with something like candy or chocolates, your guests can pile some of that onto their plates, as well!  It's like the wedding version of a piñata!  Isn't that fun?  I love the idea of a bride and groom whipping out a hammer at the reception and making all of their guests do a complete double take.

Got any other nontraditional cake ideas?  Tell us in the comments!  We'd love to hear from you.

Megan