Baby Asher Comes Home!

Baby Asher Comes Home!!

by:Erica Prewett

"Trish and Owen are first time parents. You know the kind. Beaming. Excited. Nervous. The only difference is that Trish and Owen have already seen Baby Asher in person. He's currently living in an orphanage in Ethiopia. The entire family is so excited to see him."

Many of you will remember the baby shower we created this past June. Each event we prepare for our clients touches our heart, however, some of them touch us so deeply we are changed forever. This is one of those events.

Baby Asher is home.

On August 5th, the judges in Ethiopia finally made the adoption official. Trish went to Ethiopia on August 19th and stayed for about three weeks to give time for mother and son to bond. Owen went to meet his new son on August 29th. They returned as a family on September 4th.

This is Trish and Owen with their new son, Asher

Trish, Asher, and Grandpa!

Grandma Paula could not be happier.

Welcome home, Asher!!

People We Love-Volume 3

Amanda Gerhardt- Atlanta National Golf Club

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

Amanda attended Florida State University and was originally a music major. A friend who knew she was interested in changing her major came across the event planning major and thought it would be perfect for Amanda. Amanda took her advice and quickly made the switch to event planning and never looked back. She started working with events a month later. After graduation, Amanda moved to Atlanta for an internship. When she completed her internship she applied for the catering and events position at Atlanta National and got the job! She has been there since 2008 and could not imagine being anywhere else!

• What’s your favorite part of an event?

Amanda’s favorite part of an event is when the bride, groom and all of their guests arrive the day of the wedding and seeing the clubhouse all decked out just for them. Amanda waits at the entrance to the clubhouse so she can see their faces light up and hear the “oohs” and “ahhs” coming from the couple and their guests.

• What's your favorite past event?

Amanda believes that every event is unique. She believes the best part about working with events is getting to work with new clients everyday. Amanda enjoys hearing their stories and really becomes attached to her clients. She invests so much time and interest into their all her events it is so hard not to become personally committed to each event.

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

Atlanta National Golf Club is well known for their outstanding service. They expect the best from their staff and anything less is not accepted. She wants each guest to feel like they are the only guest being taken care of at the moment. Amanda also added that the service director, Leonard, is always there and mingling with the guests to ensure that they are enjoying their time there. Leonard is always friends with the guests by the time they leave. Amanda wants her clients and guests to know she is always there until the end of the event and they never have to search for her during an event.

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

There are two big misconceptions about Atlanta National. 1st, you do not have to be a member to host a private event at the club. You also do not have to be member sponsored. 2nd, most people do not realize how breathtaking they grounds at Atlanta National. There are numerous gorgeous spots for wedding photos to be taken. As the saying goes “Pictures speak a thousand words” check out these examples of beautiful weddings at Atlanta National Golf Club.

Lulu’s Bakery

By Emily Shearer

We love Lulu’s Bakery. They have never failed us! I met with Lisbeth (the owner) to get more information on how Lulu’s was born.

When Lisbeth graduated from college she took started nannying for a family who moved to Roswell. While cooking for the children, she realized that cooking was more than just part of the job description; it was her passion. She decided to make a bold move to New York City to study at the French Culinary Institute as a pastry chef.

Lisbeth worked in a few different kitchens in New York City and Las Vegas before realizing her true passion, designing wedding cakes. After talking to the family she used to nanny for in Roswell, she decided to move back and open up a bakery! Lisbeth opened Lulu’s Bakery in August 2007.

As well as wedding cakes, Lulu’s offers a variety of different cakes and cheesecakes for other occasions. Lulu’s can also help with non-traditional alternatives to the wedding cake.

You can find Lulu’s Bakery at 900 Mansell Road, Roswell, GA 30076 or online at http://www.lulusbakery.biz

Here are some of the reasons that we love Lulu’s Bakery:

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!!