Bridal 2014 by Clayton Tribune

Bridal

2014 Northeast Georgia

A publication of Community Newspapers, Inc.

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Bridal

2014 Northeast Georgia

Features 6 First-class wedding

College classmates discover lasting love

10 Peach Brandy Cottage

Rich history makes unforgettable weddings

14 Focus on family & friends Tanners host intimate wedding

18 A 'gorgeous' affair For Melvin-Poss wedding

22 Couple connects in ancient tradition

26 A twist of fate

brought two together

30 Appalachian high

Destination weddings in the South

34 Riverfront wedding

flows smoothly for Habersham couple

40 Elegant setting on Betty's Creek

44 A laid-back occasion

Couple's wedding both casual and comfortable

Extras

38 Wedding checklist 48 Index of advertisers

About the Cover Alto newlyweds, Kasey and Marshal Nichols, originally from Clarkesville, savor a quiet moment after their Oct. 19, 2013 wedding ceremony. The couple were married on banks of the Soque River at Jackson Creek Lodge in Clarkesville. Photograph by E. Lane Gresham

About this Publication This publication is produced by the five newspapers of the Northeast Georgia Region of Community Newspapers Inc., based in Athens. Papers in this region are The Northeast Georgian in Cornelia, The Clayton Tribune, The Dahlonega Nugget, the Dawson News & Advertiser and the White County News in Cleveland. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from the publisher. For more information, call 706-778-4215, fax to 706-7784114, email anesmith@thenortheastgeorgian.com, or write to Northeast Georgia Bridal, P.O. Box 1555, Cornelia, GA 30531. Also visit northeastgeorgiabridal.com or visit our Northeast Georgia Bridal Facebook page. 2014 Northeast Georgia Bridal

The perfect day

Jessica Dusik married Merric Huffstutler Sept. 28, 2013, at The Hills at White Oaks in Dahlonega. Photo/Michael Cottrell/Cottrell Photography

firt - class wed ding

College classmates discover lasting love

hen Merric Huffstutler returned to college after serving his country overseas, he had no idea he would find more than a degree in mathematics. After he had been in multiple math classes with Jessica Dusik at the University of North Georgia, the two finally found themselves working on a group project. “We were instantly drawn to each other,” said Jessica Huffstutler, who recently exchanged vows with her beau during a beautiful ceremony at White Oaks Barn in Dahlonega. Their math project gave them a chance to get to know each other.

“We began dating almost instantly,” said Merric, “and a year later we were engaged.” A perfect proposal “I love this story,” Jessica said, remembering the day Merric proposed. The couple visited a small island off the coast of Charleston so Jessica could show her sweetheart the place that held so many fond memories for her, as she and her family had visited Kiawah Island every summer since she was a child. “We spent the day riding bikes around the island,” Jessica said, “and then we decided to take a walk on the beach.” The couple didn’t get far before Merric got down on one knee and asked his

sweetheart to marry him. She recalled how a bunch of women had seen Merric propose and rushed over to congratulate the newly-engaged couple and take pictures for them. “It was a perfect proposal,” she said. “I couldn’t have planned it better myself.” A rustic wedding For the couple’s special day at White Oaks Barn, they chose a relatively small and intimate ceremony with about 100 guests in attendance. “We wanted our closest friends and family there with us on our special day,” Merric said. Although they aren’t usually the decorating types, the couple knew they

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2014 Northeast Georgia Bridal

Photo/Michael Cottrell/Cottrell Photography

wanted lanterns and other rustic elements to be incorporated into their ceremony. The venue fit their rustic style, Jessica said, and the views were beautiful from every angle. When it came to planning the perfect ceremony, the couple was happy to relinquish most of the preparation to Lisa Stueve, she added. “We could not be more thankful to Amy Wins-

lett, my godmother, and Lisa,” Jessica said. “There is no way that this wedding would have been so beautiful or even possible without them and their group of ‘Hens,’ as they call themselves.” Deciding on the minister for their wedding gave them a little trouble at first, the bridegroom said, since they grew up with different pastors. Their solution, with a little inspiration from an

▲ The Hills at White Oaks in Dahlonega provided beautiful views from every angle during Jessica and Merric Huffstutler’s wedding on Sept. 28, 2013. Photo/Michael Cottrell/ Cottrell Photography

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episode of “Friends,” was to get their very close friend Zack Garner to serve as the minister. “This was a perfect compromise,” Merric said. “Zack [who got ordained so that he could marry us] did an amazing job. It was personal and touching and it surprised a lot of people.” A dress to impress Choosing a wedding dress can be a daunting task. But the bride found out that once the right dress comes along, a bride will know it’s the one. “Everyone always says that when you find the right dress, you will just know and I didn’t believe it until I tried on my wedding dress.” After trying on many dresses, Jessica immediately realized how comfortable she felt in the next one. “I walked out of the dressing room and my bridesmaids and family members just

gasped and told me how beautiful I looked,” she said. When she turned around to see herself in the mirror, she knew this was the perfect dress. Happily ever after After earning their degrees in mathematics, their careers led the couple to Charleston where Merric became a software engineer. Jessica soon was offered a position with the same company and works as a consultant. A math class project brought them together, and as the newlyweds settle down, they still find time to work on projects, even though they have demanding work schedules. “Merric and I are both pretty handy and we like to start projects all the time,” Jessica said. “We have about four projects going on in the garage right now but who knows when we will finish them.” – John Bynum

Their story begins

Merric and Jessica Huffstutler live in Charleston where they work for the same software engineering company. Photo/Michael Cottrell/ Cottrell Photography

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2012 Northeast Georgia Bridal

Picture perfect Bride Hollie Neighbors and husband, Michael Neighbors, were married at the Peach Brandy Cottage in Dawsonville. Photo/Bonnie Jean Photography

Peach Brandy Cot t age

Rich history makes unforgettable weddings

ocated in the heart of downtown Dawsonville, the Peach Brandy Cottage is a unique wedding venue on six lushlylandscaped acres. Complete with a lake, gazebo, contemporary barn and two beautiful swans, owners Caroline Christi and Alan Metzel have made their cottage a destination spot for weddings, including a group of 140 that flew in from Australia for a wedding at the cottage. Christi and Metzel were married there as well. “This is a really special place to us,” Caroline said. “Alan even brought his roses into our marriage, and we have them planted on the property.” She was referring to unique roses called Chrysler Imperial. In addition, the landscape includes several hundred knock-out roses, a unique, spiral willow tree, and a camilla bush dating back to the 1930s. The venue includes a home listed on the historic registry. Built in the 1930s by Boyd and Sallie Gillelane, wood for the home was carried by mule and wagon from the family farm and milled by hand on the property. Local folklore tells of secret passages and a secret room on the second floor where moonshine was made. Evidently, it produced enough income for

the family to have one of the first telephones in the county. “The Peach Brandy Cottage is a place where memories are made to last a lifetime,” Caroline said. Couples can be as thrifty or as extravagant as they choose. The cottage has complete wedding packages that allow access to all facilities and include food, linens, photographer, DJ, floral arrangements, tables and chairs and bartender. The cottage and grounds are a photographer’s dream. “You can use the swans, lake and gazebo,” local photographer Bonnie Jean said. “When the flowers are in full bloom, they offer a lot of nice colors and foliage.” Jean, who has shot numerous weddings at the cottage, said she likes that she can easily get around to all sides of the couple without intruding on their special moment. “And, Alan and Caroline were so easy to work with. They know what they’re doing.” A contemporary barn on the property has seating for 200 guests and includes wooden floors and plenty of room for dancing and a band or DJ. A large kitchen on-site allows food to be prepared and served at its freshest. The property is located on Shepherd’s Lane in Dawsonville, and Caroline likes to tell the story of when she was an actual

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shepherd. “We used to have white dorset sheep here,” she said. “I really was a sheep herder, and that’s why the road is called Shepherd’s Lane.” ➛

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Hollie and Michael Neighbors enjoyed dancing the night away inside the large, contemporary barn at the Peach Brandy Cottage. Photo/Bonnie Jean Photography

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Although the sheep are gone, Caroline enjoys tending to her brides. “Some brides have spent thousands of dollars on their event, while others have spent about $1,000 and had a potluck supper,” Caroline said. “No matter what their budget is, we will ensure their special day is truly unforgettable.” In 2013, Peach Brandy Cottage was voted best wedding venue by readers of the Dawson News & Advertiser. For more information on Peach Brandy Cottage, call 770-490-3833 or visit peachbrandycottage.com. For more information on photographer Bonnie Jean, call 678-3005557, or find on Facebook at Bonnie Jean Photography. – Kimberly Boim ▲

Hollie Neighbors’ bridal party show off their matching sneakers for their guests. Today’s brides enjoy having fun as much as being fashionable. Photo/Bonnie Jean Photography

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focus on family & friends Tanners host intimate wedding

family wedding in a rustic, “organic” setting is what Demorest residents Christan and Craig Tanner wanted, and on April 13, 2013, they achieved that dream. On that day, Christan Dawe Tanner was escorted down the outdoor aisle of Glen-Ella Springs Inn and Meeting Place in Clarkesville by her grandfather, Larry Earle. She was given away by her father, Mike Dawe, her stepfather, Darrin Johnston, and her son, Mason Dawe, 9. “They all had a part in raising me to some degree or another,” Christan said. “It wasn’t going to be right unless everybody had a hand in giving me away.” Other family members involved in the wedding were the Tanners’ daughter, Riley, who was only a year old at the time, Craig’s parents, Sonya and Ricky Tanner, Christan’s mother, Leigh Johnston, and her grandmother, Gwendolyn Earle. Christan said they pushed the date of the wedding up because her grandfather was ill, and “we really wanted him to be there. He’s a father-figure for me, and I wanted him to walk me down the aisle.” As it happened, Christan said, Luci and Ed Kivett, owners of Glen-Ella Springs, had a date open in April, when blooming flowers and bright spring greenery made the outdoors a perfect place for a wedding. “It was outdoors and gorgeous, and we could have the whole family there to spend the night [at the inn] and kind of have the facilities to ourselves,” she said. “It was the right choice for us.” With the location decided, Christan, her mother and grandmother began to plan. “My favorite type of anything is a cross between primitive and shabby chic,” she said. “My mother and grandmother own Homestead House in Clarkesville, which is primitive [style] and antiques, so I’ve grown up with that my

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Five cakes rest in a handdecorated setting in the pavilion at Glen-Ella Springs Inn and Meeting Place, ready for guests at the wedding of Christan and Craig Tanner April 13, 2013. Photo/E. Lane Gresham

A family wedding in a rustic, “organic” setting is what Demorest residents Christan and Craig Tanner achieved at the couple’s April 13, 2013, wedding at Glen-Ella Springs Inn and Meeting Place in Clarkesville. Photo/E. Lane Gresham

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whole life. I fell in love with that style and when I met Craig, he’s along the same lines as I am.” Christan, who is employed by Blossman Gas, has made a hobby of wedding planning, having coordinated about 22 events herself. She sat down with her mother and “decided the style I wanted and how it went along with [items from] the shop. [Homestead House] had some things at the store we could use as backdrop pieces.” “We decided to do it all ourselves, from handmade invitations, to handmaking every floral arrangement, every bouquet and boutonniere the morning of [the wedding],” she said. “We cut every strip of burlap and hung it on ceilings and walls the week of [the wedding]. We really did the whole nine yards ourselves, down to the hand-painted aisle runner. We wanted everything as authentic and natural as possible. We wanted a very organic wedding.” Christan said they enhanced the rustic look with “highlights,” such as “sparkly pins for the girls that had their initials on them; the guys wore suits to

The bride’s shoes hang on a rustic fence in the garden at Glen-Ella Springs Inn and Meeting Place during a pre-ceremony photo shoot April 13, 2013. Photo/E. Lane Gresham

step it up a notch, so it wasn’t too, too casual. And of course, my dress was not casual at all. It was very over the top, but it still stuck with that antique look that I love.” Leigh Johnston said the togetherness while creating her daughter’s dream wedding was what made it special, though it was “stressful and time-consuming.” Their help included bridesmaids, with two of the six being friends Christan played softball with, in addition to family members. “I wouldn’t recommend it for the faint-of-heart,” Leigh Johnston said. “But during that process, we included grandmothers, the groom’s mother, friends and the like … normally at a wedding you get together with the women at the last minute, or at a bridesmaid’s luncheon, but we had continued time throughout the process with everybody. It was extra time [together] we wouldn’t have gotten.” “It came out so gorgeous,” Christan said. “We got a little frazzled trying to do everything ourselves, but it could not have been a better experience to have me, my mother, my grandmother and

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16 Northeast Georgia Bridal 2014

my aunts, and his mother, work together to make things together. You could walk around the wedding and see things you had your hand in. It made it very much ours.” The rehearsal dinner was held at The Torch Worship Center in Demorest, and the ceremony itself was held in the gardens at Glen-Ella Springs. Afterward, the reception was held in the pavilion at Glen-Ella. Music for the reception was provided by a local band, Chattahoochee Chain Gang. “They were fantastic,” Christan said of the band. “They’ve played at A Taste of Clarkesville and other places. Craig and I fell in love with their country, folk-art type music. It’s a bunch of young guys about our age, in their 20s. They pick and play songs like Wagon Wheel and it was really a great time.” The wedding was photo-

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graphed by local photographer Alex Haynes. Food was Stubborn fat catered by the Kivetts, and has met the cakes – five small cakes in different shades of white its match. Stubborn fat and of different flavors – were made by Linda Monroe of has met Ain’t B’s Bakery in Sautee its match. Nacoochee. “I literally sketched out what I wanted, and she did an incredible job,” Christan said of Monroe. About Glen-Ella Springs, Leigh Johnston said, “I wouldn’t change that [location] for anything in the world, because the difference in using Glen-Ella and other venues … Luci and Ed seem to have a family touch to what they’re doing there. Stubborn fat So we felt like they coddled has met our family as well. It was like its match. they took us in for a week. The feeling they gave us while we were there was like the final perfect touch.” – Transform yourself without Kimberly Brown diet, exercise or surgery.

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2014 Northeast Georgia Bridal

Inspiring in white Sarah Methvin Poss is radiant in her wedding portrait. Photo/Steffi Smith, Cariad Photography

Sarah Methvin and Jordan Poss enjoy their June 15, 2013, wedding. Photos/Steffi Smith, Cariad Photography

a ‘gorgeous' affair

for Methvin-Poss wedding

hen Sarah Methvin and Jordan Poss became engaged, they embraced not just a new phase in their lives, but the challenge of remaining fit and trim for their June 15, 2013, wedding day. “I kept in shape for my wedding gown by doing the stairs at Tallulah Gorge,” Sarah Poss said. “We love hiking and we especially love going to the gorge. It’s one of our favorite places and we tried to see how many times we could do the steps. “We would go to the gorge, do the steps

and then have lunch at the Universal Joint in Clayton. We loved it,” she said. For more than 100 years, Tallulah Gorge has been a popular spot for both group outings and couples in love. The dramatic vistas and thundering waters of the natural wonder pull people from around the world to appreciate its beauty. Jordan Poss, of Clayton, remembers that it was during an early visit to the gorge that he and his future bride, of Greenville, S.C., formally decided they would date one another. It was a decision that took the couple a bit of time to reach. Though the couple is the same age, 29,

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and attended Bob Jones University at the same time, they didn’t know one another there. It was several years after graduating, when Jordan Poss was doing graduate work at Clemson University and she at Furman University, that mutual friends set them up. “There was a get-together and we were conveniently put in the same car to ride together to the Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg,” he said. “The ones who set us up had their first date at the Beacon, and they were hoping some of that good juju would rub off on us.” It worked. Afterward, the two ➛

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Engaged to be wed Jordan and Sarah Poss posed for their engagement photo in a Rabun County apple orchard. Jordan was reading Dante’s “The Divine Comedy,” his favorite book, and Sarah “The World’s Great Romances,” which they thought was engagement appropriate. Photo/Kayla Gipson, Gipson Photography

began talking and occasionally getting together whenever he was in Greenville. When Jordan invited Sarah up to his North Georgia home in November 2011, they made that momentous visit to Tallulah Gorge. “That’s where I asked her out on our first real date,” he said. “Up to then we had been ‘just talking.’” After that, the couple spent as much time together and especially in the Clayton area as they could, Sarah getting know Scott and Pat, Jordan’s parents, and hiking and exploring in the North Georgia mountains. “It was very special to be there,” she said. When the couple became engaged, they began looking for a good spot for their ceremony. Jordan’s Clayton connections pulled for a Rabun County wedding and his fiancee’s friends were hoping for Greenville. They chose the historic St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Walhalla, S.C., halfway between. The bridegroom-to-be’s Rabun County connections helped in other aspects of the wedding. The couple registered with Reeve’s Gifts in Clayton and used The Dillard House for catering its rehearsal dinner. “Reeves had great selection and service and they helped us a lot,” he said. “Most of the gifts we got from our Clayton friends came from there. And of course the rehearsal dinner food from The Dillard House was great.” The couple chose Steffi Smith and Cariad Photography from Clayton as their wedding photographer. Sarah said she was very happy with Smith’s work. Clayton Baptist Church Pastor Joey Thompson did the couple’s pre-marital counseling and performed the ceremony. Sarah said it is important for brides to maintain balance and perspective during

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the hectic months of wedding planning. “Relax with it,” she advised. “Enjoy the time you get to spend with your mom and sisters and friends planning. It can be stressful, and you don’t want to lose friends, so just have fun. “When it’s over you will remember the good times,” she said. She said it is also very important for the couple to spend time with their future in-laws. “Get to know and love them,” she said. Her advice for prospective bridegrooms: “Be relaxed, supportive and helpful, and not too opinionated,” she laughed.

“Focus on planning the honeymoon.” Her husband agreed, but had a slightly different take. “Now that the wedding is in the rearview mirror it seems minor, but at the time it consumed Sarah’s life,” Jordan said. “You should give her help as she needs, because you don’t want her entering the church that day stressed out from months of preparation. “She is the bride; it’s all about her. But if there was something I could do and I could see a solution and a way to help, I was glad to pitch in.” The couple said their wedding day was

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a joy, but Jordan remembered one hitch on the way out of town to their St. Simon’s honeymoon. “We fretted so much about the marriage license in premarital counseling and making sure we did everything right,” he said. “Sarah and I leave the reception and are on the road and we both realize we didn’t get the pastor to sign the license. “We called him and he had stopped on the way back to Clayton, so we met him in the parking lot at Ingles in Westminster (S.C.) to get it signed. We had quite the roundabout journey on the way to our honeymoon.” – Michael Leonard

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he setting sun cast a warm glow on the couple standing before family and friends on Oct. 19, 2013. The string quartet had silenced their instruments, but birds settling into evening perches added gentle chirps to the romance of the moment as Elizabeth Grizzard and Ryan Knowles of Marietta pledged to be a constant friend, partner in life and the true love of each other for the rest of their lives. When Ryan asked Elizabeth to marry him in March 2012, she knew she wanted a fall wedding. Wedding venues were already booked for October by then, so the couple decided to wait until the next year. “I really wanted to have an outdoor wedding in the Northeast Georgia mountains,” Elizabeth said. She had previously attended a wedding at Neverland Farms between Cleveland and Dahlonega, so she took Ryan and her parents there to try to imagine her dream wedding.

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“When we all saw it, we knew it was the perfect place,” she added. The couple met on eHarmony. A co-worker and close friend, Jessica McKibbon, had given Elizabeth a month’s membership as a birthday present. “He was the first one I was matched with and the only one I went out with,” she said. That was five years ago. She said they knew within a few months of meeting that they wanted to be married, but they waited five years to do it absolutely right. The wait was worth it. The fall colors of the beautiful hardwoods at Neverland Farms were enhanced by the royal blue the prospective bride chose for bridesmaid gowns and groomsmen vests. The brilliant red, gold and burnt orange of the flowers provided by Gertie Mae’s Floral Studio in Clarkesville highlighted the backdrop provided by the hardwoods in their autumn dress.

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Left, following the hand-fasting ceremony, the couple holds hands as they leave. Right, Elizabeth Grizzard and her mother, Barbara Grizzard, share a moment before the wedding. Photos/Slava Slavak Photography

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Guest chairs were set up outside, facing an arbor dotted with the blooms of chrysanthemums, roses, impatiens and begonias. Bright fall leaves carpeted the aisle. A bagpiper welcomed the horse-drawn carriage that brought the bride and her father down the lane to the waiting bridegroom and guests. The bride wore a princess-

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wedding. Father-of-the-bride Stephen Grizzard wore full Scottish regalia to escort his daughter down the aisle, then joined his wife in the front row. She wore bright red with a flowing tartan. Other family members wore kilts and tartans. The pastor, Suzy Tebor, welcomed all to the ceremony, recognizing the bride’s parents and Amy and Steven Knowles, the bridegroom’s parents. Rather than traditional vows, the couple chose a hand-fasting ceremony. The ritual binds them together to share laughter, health, burdens, pain and dreams as the matron of honor and best man wrapped colorful ropes around their joined hands. When the ceremony was complete, they slip out of the actual knots, joined symbolically as one. When the carriage took the couple away down the lane, guests entered the 8,000-square-foot reception hall. Rustic with a touch of elegance, the ▲ Newlywed Elizabeth Knowles prepares to toss the bouquet to the single women pavilion is decorated with antiques, custom furni- at the ceremony. Photo/Slava Slavak Photography ture, hundreds of candles and twinkle lights. given enough mead (a drink made from fermented honey) As a personal touch, the couple set up a photographic to last for a month, ensuring their happiness, virility and display of their parents’ and grandparents’ weddings. fertility. The wedding cake, made by Memorable Creations Cake Guests took home tiny bottles of honey as mementos of Shop in Gainesville, had two cats on top, representing the the two lives now joined. – Linda Erbele two cats the couple own. Guests dined, danced and enjoyed traditional Celtic toasts Right, the royal blues of the wedding party of the couple. contrasted perfectly with the bright fall colors At a table, a sign explained the traditional origin of the at Elizabeth and Ryan Knowles’ wedding. term honeymoon, in which a newly-married couple are Photo/Slava Slavak Photography

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Memory in the making Newly-married couple Mr. and Mrs. David Walton pose for a photograph to memorialize their special day. Photo/Rayen Studios

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t was “fate” that brought David Walton and Ann Gage together, David said. The two knew each other on a professional level for years. Ann was a sales representative for Kraft food and serviced the Walmart store David managed. “He was the kindest manager. He stuck out from all the rest,” she said, “and everybody felt that way. He was the coolest, kindest person; very genuine.” When Ann elected to go part-time and took a job at Macy’s, and David retired, the two did not see each other again until fate intervened. “I never go to the malls, but my sister gave me some money for my retirement, and I went to Northpoint [Mall],” he said. ➛

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The vineyards at Dahlonega’s Wolf Mountain offered a sunny setting for a fall wedding. Photo/Rayen Studios

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That’s where he saw Ann again and got her phone number. With some trepidation – dating, he said, “doesn’t get any easier the older you get,” – he called and asked her out to dinner. After that first date, he said, “We knew it was good.” Ann remembers their first rendezvous down to the day (Friday) and date (July 26), where they went and what they did without even having to think about it. “We had dinner, walked in the park and held hands. We drove back to the restaurant parking lot so I could pick up my car, but then he stopped at his car. I didn’t know what he was doing, but he got out, opened his car door and pulled out a dozen red roses.” In less than two months, on Sept. 22, 2013, at Dahlonega’s Wolf Mountain Vineyards, David, in his 70s, and Ann, in her 50s, tied the knot. Wolf Mountain was where David took Ann on their second date. Their wedding invitations used a photo they had taken while there. This was a second marriage for both of them. Both lost their spouses and both have two children from their first marriages.

Love can be just as lovely the second time around. The former Ann Gage, widow, wed widower David Walton at Wolf Mountain Vineyards Sept. 22, 2013. Photo/Rayen Studios

“They were happy for us, but we were going to do it anyway even if they weren’t,” David said. Ann’s first wedding was a large one, so she was ready for all the planning a formal ceremony entails – the guest list, the seating, the DJ, the food, the cake, the photographer and on and on. But her

bridegroom got married by a Justice of the Peace the first time around. “It was a new experience for me. And you worry about it until the day it happens – when you see the preacher and the DJ show up, you think, yeah, it’s going to happen. But Linda (Boegner) was great – top notch. She made us feel at ease,” David said. “She simplified everything,” Ann added. Boegner is part owner of Wolf Mountain, along with her family. She is the wedding coordinator and oversees all the details to help make a couple’s day memorable – for all the right reasons. “It was a good experience and a beautiful place,” David said. The couple honeymooned at nearby Amicalola Falls State Park. “You know, you get older and you’ve been through so much. You don’t think you’ll ever find love again,” Ann said. “When I think of David being in my life and all the love we have, I feel so undeserving. I am blessed David walked into that store that day. And I’m glad I wasn’t in a dressing room cleaning up!” – Sharon Hall

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especially beautiful at sunset. The park is also famous for being the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. An 8.5-mile trail connects the visitor’s center with the beginning of the 2,175-mile-long Appalachian Trail. Guests will thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to experience the best north Georgia has to offer. And, after a busy day, they can retreat to the comforts of “home” while staying in the lodge or in one of 14 private one-, two- or three-bedroom fully-equipped cabins with wood burning stone fireplaces and air-conditioning. A backcountry wedding - Len Foote Hike Inn Amicalola State Park is also home to one of Georgia’s only backcountry inns — the Len Foote Hike Inn. Accessible only by foot along a 4.8-mile wooded trail, no one has been able to pull off the logistics of having a backcountry wedding, until Sarah and Michael Hafner. “We decided that we wanted to get married at the Len Foot Hike Inn because we wanted to have a small and unique wedding,” Sarah Hafner said. “We both love hiking and had stayed at the Inn before — loved the place and wanted to share the experience with our families. It was a great experience, and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.” During check-in, wedding guests receive sheets, blankets and towels before settling into their rustic private rooms. A pleasant bathhouse provides hot showers and shampoo; books and musical instruments are kept in the communal Sunrise room. For information about the Hike Inn and Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge, call 706-344-1500 or visit amicalolafallslodge. com. – Kimberly Boim

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â&#x2013;˛ Above, Alto newlyweds, Kasey and Marshal Nichols, originally from Clarkesville, were married on the banks of the Soque River Oct. 19, 2013. Above right, Kasey Krippner poses on a hammock before the wedding ceremony. Middle right, bridegroom Marshal Nichols shares a quiet moment with his mother. Right, table decor featuring natural elements. Below right, detail on Kasey Krippner Nichols' wedding dress. Below, the Soque River, at Jackson Creek Lodge, provided background music for the outdoor ceremony. Photos/E. Lane Gresham

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inally.” The single word expressed by Alto newlyweds Kasey and Marshal Nichols to describe the moment they exchanged “I do’s,” Oct. 19, 2013. It – their love – was fate, they said. “Of course, it had to be,” Kasey said, as sure of another person as one could be. But what the couple ultimately grew to realize, wasn’t the reality they had in the beginning. Former Clarkesville residents Kasey, 24, and Marshal, 27, first set eyes on one another in the hallways of Habersham Central High School. But as a freshman

and senior, respectively, neither considered the potential connection at hand, at least not at first. “I knew who she was. … I knew of her in school, but we were never friends or anything,” Marshal admitted. “I definitely had a crush on her, but I didn’t think it would be OK for a senior to date a freshman.” “My parents probably wouldn’t have been OK with it at that point,” Kasey laughed. But in May 2008, post-high school graduation, life intervened, and at a church league softball game, they were reunited. Kasey had just returned home for the summer from the University of

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West Georgia when she attended the softball game to watch her father, John Krippner, representing Clarkesville United Methodist Church, play against Level Grove Baptist Church. Coincidentally, Marshal was also playing – against CUMC. “He saw me at the game and then messaged me on Facebook, and we went out on a date. I was excited,” upon receiving the message, Kasey said. “Me and a couple of my friends had thought he was good-looking.” It was three dates later, at his sister’s wedding, Marshal knew he had found something worth holding onto. “Just having her there with me and seeing her interact with my friends ➛

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ing or get it (ring) sized and family, I just knew I’d and I said get it sized, so we like to date her, [but] she never actually went fishing,” was going two hours away to Kasey laughed. West Georgia,” he said. Wedding planning was However, a short sumunderway that week, she mer together was all the said, a coral-, gray- and couple needed to know long navy-accented affair for 400 distance would be well worth guests scheduled to impress the wait, and alternating at a friend’s cabin, on the back-and-forth road trips. Soque River in Clarkesville. “When you know, you “The wedding venue know,” Kasey said. “It was couldn’t have been a betfine. We’d switch pretty much ter place,” she said. “It was every weekend; I would outside, [but] with as much come home or he would rain as we had this year, we come there.” were kind of stressed” about Marshal had already gradKasey Krippner takes a moment to savor the last few moments of the weather cooperating. uated in 2007 from North time with her bridesmaids and special friends before walking down The threat of rain linGeorgia Technical College a grassy aisle to meet bridegroom Marshal Nichols on Oct. 19, gered throughout the day, with a degree in construc2013. Photo/E. Lane Gresham she said, until just minutes tion, and the two endured before her walk down the the 135-mile distance behis knee,” Kasey said. “I was in shock. I aisle. tween them until Kasey completed her said, ‘Is this for real,’ I think.” And in a satin-y mermaid-style frock, education degree in 2011. “And then she said ‘finally,’” Marshal before friends and family, Kasey took And on March 30, a proposal of a said. Marshal to be her lawfully-wedded huslifelong commitment was extended. “I was just a nervous wreck. … I “He took me to a lake behind his par- kinda knew she was going to say yes, but band, and she, his lawfully-wedded wife. It was a beyond “happy” moment, she ents’ house where we’d always go fishing, it was still nerve-wracking, just the act said. “It was like, ‘Finally … we made and I thought we were going fishing … of doing it and the build-up,” he added. it. ’ ” [until] I turned around and he was on “He asked me if I wanted to go fishWhere You Can Be Married In The Sanctity Of The Chapel Or In The Cathedral Of The Great Outdoors...

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Preceding a five-day honeymoon in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the couple celebrated in the company of loved ones over dinner – pasta and barbecue provided by Hawg Wile BBQ and Catfish House – and cake, a confectionary creation of alternating strawberry- and chocolate-flavored layers, and an additional key lime cake. They moved in together, Kasey said, and with their dogs Dylan, a long-haired Chihuahua, and Copper, a chocolate lab, became a happy family of four. “It was definitely worth waiting for, and I think [a longer courtship] was a good thing because we got to know each other, we had been through the ups and down, and [came to] understand each other and know that we really wanna be with each other,” Marshal said. Kasey said if anything,

marriage is “better” than expected, though it’s not without its hangups. “He leaves his clothes hanging out of the drawer when he closes it,” she laughed. “Nit pick,” Marshal retaliated. But all joking aside, the Nichols understand the blessing that is their new union. “You help each other out and you have each other 24/7,” Kasey said. “There’s going to be arguments and disagreements, but you know you can work through and handle them.” She is currently a math and remediation teacher at South Habersham Middle School, and is the daughter of John and Kimberli Krippner of Clarkesville. Marshal currently works in construction. He is the son of John and Joy Nichols, also of Clarkesville. – Christina Santee

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wedding checklist

A timeline of things to do before the big day Many brides find it helpful to keep a wedding checklist timeline of things that still need to be done before the big day. Outlined below are some of the most crucial tasks as well as a general timeframe for when they should be completed. 11-13 Months Before The Wedding q Choose a Wedding Date q Decide on a Budget q Run Announcement in your Local Newspaper q Plan an Engagement Party q Hire a Wedding Consultant q Select A Ceremony Site q Choose A Reception Location q Choose Your Bridesmaids and Groomsmen q Begin Shopping for the Wedding Gown 8-10 Months Before The Wedding q Choose your Wedding Officiant q Select a Caterer q Hire a Band or DJ q Hire a Wedding Photographer q Hire a Videographer q Finalize Guest List and Gather Addresses q Decide on Bridesmaid Dresses 5â&#x20AC;&#x201C;7 Months Before The Wedding q Sign Up for Wedding Gift 38 Northeast Georgia Bridal 2014

â&#x2013;˛ Dale Jones married her husband, Josh, on Sept. 28, 2013, at the YWCO Camp. To celebrate their union, a live band played old country classics, sweet tea was flowing and fall was in the air. Owner of All Occasion Flowers in Clarkesville, Dale put together all her own bouquets and arrangements. Her color choices were the perfect mix of bright spring colors and the warm tones of fall. Photo/Brooke Buffington, Studio Blue

Registry q Purchase Wedding Stationery q Order Custom Postage Stamps q Select your Wedding Cake q Arrange Accommodations for Guests q Decide on a Honeymoon Location

q Apply for Passport q Begin Marriage Counseling Sessions 4 Months Before the Wedding q Send Save the Date Cards q Book your Wedding Florist

q Purchase your Wedding Bands q Reserve a Limousine 3 Months Before the Wedding q Select Tuxedos q Arrange for Rental Items q Finalize Costs and Menu with Caterer q Order Wedding Favors

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2 Weeks Before the Wedding q Call Guests Who Haven’t Responded q Give your Caterer a Final Guest Count q Pick Up your Marriage License q Design Seating Plan for Reception q Confirm Rental and Floral Deliveries q Book a Nail Appointment

2 Months Before the Wedding q Send your Invitations q Choose your Wedding Songs q Confirm with DJ and Other Vendors q Shop for Bridal Party Gifts 1 Week Before q Make Plans for Wedding the Wedding Rehearsal q Pack for Honeymoon q Reserve a Rehearsal Dinner Venue q Confirm All Reservations q Book a Hair Appointment q Book a Makeup Appointment 1 Day Before the Wedding 1 Month Before q Get a Manicure and Pedicure the Wedding q Give Rings to Best Man q Design your Wedding Program

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Visit Our Themed Rooms For Unique Gifts! Seasonal & Collegiate Gifts Christmas Gifts Year Round Gourmet Cookies, Coffees & Teas Gourmet Dips, Sauces & Jellies Designer Bags, Jewelry Fashion Accessories

Catering Wedding Cakes Cupcakes • More! 270 East Main St., Dahlonega, GA

706-864-3391

706-768-7911

137 east morgan street clarkesville, georgia

2014 Northeast Georgia Bridal

Photo/Meredith Elise Photography

elegant setting

on Betty's Creek

ordan and Samantha Dixon wanted a setting that matched their rural way of life. Jordan Dixon is a cattle farmer, and the Rabun County natives did as much locally for their wedding as they could. They were united as a couple in May at a barn on Betty’s Creek Road. “It’s just gorgeous up there,” Samantha said. Her family had held a reunion at the barn, and the isolated setting matched their country theme and pocketbook. “It’s just an open barn,” she said. “You can do whatever you want with it. It’s just a plain old barn.” Jason Brown, who is managing the land where the barn sits until a website gets launched in January, said he had six weddings already scheduled for the site in 2014. Samantha said her boss, Lisa Harris, planned the wedding, and friends and family pitched in to help set up for the May 25, 2013, ceremony.

40 Northeast Georgia Bridal 2014

Table settings consisted of white tablecloths with a burlap table runner and glass bowls containing Granny Smith apples and hydrangeas. The wedding party brought in hay bales for decorations. Samantha was experiencing the common problem of indecisiveness during the planning stages, but she immediately settled on the table decorations when she saw how the apples looked in the bowl. “We’re simple. We don’t want anything fancy. This is us,” she said. About 200 people were fed barbecue plates by local caterer Jane Tomlin. The bride’s mother made sweet tea and lemonade. “It was very cost-effective,” she said. “We didn’t spend a lot of money.” One way Samantha saved money was buying things months in advance of the wedding. She purchased the bridesmaids’ dresses and shoes in the fall, when spring clothing was on sale. She borrowed tablecloths, chairs and tables from Tiger

Samantha Butcher, center, and her bridesmaids are shown at the Amara Center the morning of her wedding to Jordan Dixon. Photo/Meredith Elise Photography

Baptist Church. The bride’s aunt, Kathy Welch, bought her bridal gown before she passed away from cancer in October 2012. Welch also picked May as month for when they got married because she thought it was a pretty time of year. Samantha thought of everything in getting prepared for the wedding, but she had to sit back and hope for the best with the weather. It rained every weekend and most days in May but the clouds cleared off the day of the wedding for a warm and sunny afternoon.

The bride said Harris gave her sage advice during the planning part: Make a decision and stick with it. “She’s just amazing,” she said. “If it hadn’t been for her, it wouldn’t have went as good as it did. She gets most of the credit.” The day of the wedding, the bride and bridesmaids went to the Amara Center where they got dressed and had their nails and hair done. Samantha said the price was reasonable, and spa director Irene Bynum let Samantha’s hairstylist

come to the spa. Having one place to get ready was relaxing for the women instead of having to bounce around different places in town. The wedding invitations were made at Clayton Printing, and All Occasion Flowers in Clarkesville provided the bouquets. Samantha Dixon said her husband was heavily involved in the preparations, and he helped her glue the invitations on paper matting. Staying with their rural theme, Jordan and Samantha took their wedding trip to

For reservations, call 706.219.0258

Platinum Limo Service for all occasions Hourly • Daily • Weekend

2014 Northeast Georgia Bridal

Sugarcreek, Ohio, which is in the middle of Amish country. Jordan and his grandfather went there when he was a young boy. They actually ran into someone who remembered his grandfather, and the couple got a rare inside look at an Amish farm. – Blake Spurney

Roy Butcher stands with daughter Samantha just before he walks her down the aisle at a barn on Betty’s Creek Road. The couple picked the barn for its seclusion and costeffectiveness. Photo/Meredith Elise Photography

Samantha and Jordan Dixon are pictured at a barn on Betty’s Creek Road through a frame held by ring bearer Tyler Chappell and flower girl Paisley Davidson. Photo/Meredith Elise Photography

i t w h us! r e t s i g e R

Your wedding is no ordinary day...

Why do ordinary favors? Complement your affair with

• China

• Crystal

• Flatware • Giftware

\ We’ll gift wrap your selection for free, and you are welcome to leave it for the bride to pick up if you’d like.

Service, Convenience, Great Choices ... at The Gift Garden!

•13 Varieties Of Heavy Cream Truffles •Select From Over 80 Delicious Chocolates Made In Our Dahlonega Shop •Rehearsal Trays & Platters •Customize Your Own Chocolate Bar As A Wedding Favor Or Thank You •Large Variety Of Customized Boxes To Choose From

Please Call And Schedule A Complementary Consult And Tasting Visit Our Web Site At www.paulthomaschocolates.com Located On The Historic Dahlonega Square In The Hall Block Building

102 Public Square North

706-864-6333 QuALITY HANDMADe CHOCOLATeS SINCe 1975 232 Larkin Street • Cornelia, GA 30531 • (706) 778-2224

42 Northeast Georgia Bridal 2014

Watts Farmhouse Wedding Cake Design

Wedding Cake Design

w w w. w a t t s f a r m h o u s e . c o m Watts Farmhouse, LLC 705 Watts Mill Road Clarkesville, Georgia 30523

706-947-1417 Frank Gibson Photography

BR-47808

an upscale boutique and yarn shop in clarkesville featuring not only yarn, notions, and classes, but gifts, jewelry, toys, dĂŠcor and cosmetics. one block off clarkesville square 1345 washington st. 706.754.0462

bumbleberry yarn & gifts

www.shopbumbleberry.com

2014 Northeast Georgia Bridal

Celebrating the moment The bridal party celebrates the newlyweds. Photo/ Devin Stapleton

a laid-back occasion

Couple's wedding both casual and comfortable

alia Wade felt she had so many supporters: friends and family. When she began to plan her wedding, she wanted it to be a relaxed event that everyone could enjoy while being comfortable. And in planning the day, she was able to utilize the talents and gifts of those friends to make the wedding memorable while achieving a thorough lack of “stuffiness.” She and Eric Gray met on eHarmony five years ago. They dated for a while, then took a break for a number of months, then got back together. “We just loved each other and we couldn’t stay apart,” she said, laughing. “We had to work on some personal issues – I had to grow up a little bit.” Gray had a private talk with her father, then planned a date to the University of Georgia campus. Both he and Talia had

44 Northeast Georgia Bridal 2014

graduated from UGA, so it was a special place to them. “I didn’t understand why we were walking around so much,” she said. “I guess he was getting up his nerve.” When he popped the question, ring in hand, she said she was really, really surprised. But it’s a beautiful memory for them. They knew they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but took their time planning the wedding, which was held June 22, 2013. They selected the Black Bear Lodge and Resort in Sautee Nacoochee and began getting organized. (Editor’s note: The Black Bear Lodge and Resort has been sold and is no longer operating as a resort.) “I really just want it very laid back and rustic,” she said. She liked the idea of natural decorations, so she had log slices as centerpieces on the tables, brightened with baby’s

breath and hydrangeas in antique bottles. They served barbecue sliders, kettle-cooked potato chips, slaw, potato salad, fruit and cheese. “I’m 36,” Talia said. “There were people who thought I’d never get married. Everyone was so excited and wanted to pitch in. It was such a joyous thing.” Her mother, Vicki Wade, did most of the food preparation, and her mother-in-law, Virginia Gray, created the hoop-framed burlap signs listing the menu and the happy couple. Friends of her parents tended bar and served as deejay. Flowers were arranged by All Occasion Flowers in Clarkesville. The cake, an Italian cream cake with butter crème icing, was wrapped in burlap ribbon and topped with a spray of baby’s breath. It was made by Sweet B’s Bakery in Clarkesville. The bridegroom wore a blue seersucker suit and the groomsmen were in beige. They all sported Chuck Taylor sneakers. “I’ve been in dozens of weddings,” Talia Gray said. “We wanted people to be able to dance and walk around and not have sore feet.” Her dress was sleeveless and princess-style, in champagne with beadwork and a white lace overlay and train. Her best friend, Mary Beth Horton, and the bridegroom's 15-yearold daughter, Peyton, were her attendants; Horton's children, Caroline and Jack, served as flower girl and ring bearer. A special part of the ceremony was Talia Gray vowing to “always be there” for her new stepdaughter, Peyton, just as she will be for her husband. ▲

Talia Wade is radiant as her father, Curtis Wade, escorts her down the aisle. Photo/Devin Stapleton

Pratt & Associates Realty Samantha Crawford

Real Estate Professional

Committed to Excellence, Dedicated to Service

4330 South Lee Street, Suite 100-B Buford Ga 30518 Cell: 706-499-6952 Office: 770-831-7701 Www.pratt-realty.com

Kingwood

Country Club & resort The professionals at Kingwood Country Club and Resort have created a variety of wedding packages sure to suit your needs. Contact our wedding staff to begin planning your special day.

eraymond@kingwoodresort.com • www.kingwoodresort.com

2014 Northeast Georgia Bridal

46846

Clayton, Ga.

706-212-4100 • 866-546-4966

The bride had three handkerchiefs embroidered with special messages of love to her mother, father and new motherin-law. She presented them before the ceremony, and yes, a few tears were dabbed on those special gifts. The couple honeymooned in New Orleans and will live in Gainesville, where Talia Gray teaches school and Eric Gray has a political consulting business. Asked if there was anything she would do differently, the bride had some wise advice. “I just wouldn’t worry about everything so much,” she said. “Little things are going to go wrong – but it will still be perfect.” – Linda Erbele The Italian cream cake with butter crème icing was wrapped in burlap ribbon and topped with a spray of baby’s breath. It was made by Sweet B’s Bakery in Clarkesville. Photo/Linda Erbele

The ceremony over, the couple indulge in a relaxed kiss. Photo/Devin Stapleton

Bernie’s Restaurant Ain’t B’s Let’s Go to

at Nacoochee Valley Guest House Serving the valley since 1989

Bakery & Confectionary Arts Studio Wedding Cakes

Specializing in Bridal luncheons, rehearsal dinners, and intimate receptions.

Linda Monroe owner/chef

706-878-5308 www.aintbs.com

706-878-3830 • 2220 Hwy 17, Sautee • letsgotobernies.com

Art-Full Frames

All Framing~Simple to Heirloom Preservation Artful Framer Monday-Saturday 10-5:30

706.754.1247

107 LaPrade Street Clarkesville, GA 30523

www.artfullframes.com artfullframes@gmail.com 10586-G

50883

Greg Kimsey

info@blue-willow-floral.com

46 Northeast Georgia Bridal 2014

•

BEST WESTERN PLUS

FOR ALL YOUR BRIDAL NEEDS

Riverpark Inn & Conference Center, Alpine, Helen, GA

• Comfortable, Spacious Guest Rooms and Suites • In Room Jacuzzi/Fireplace Suites with Balconies • Upgraded Bedding and Guest Amentities • Hot Breakfast Buffet • 24 Hour Complimentary Snacks, Newspaper and Lobby Computer • Full Service Group Planning and Catering • Award Winning Hotel for Guest Relations & Cleanliness • Group and Seasonal Rates – Please Call Our Sales Office

info.bestwesternriverpark@gmail.com

Group sales: carolpowel@gmail.com

8220 South Main Street, Helen, GA 30545 706-878-2111 1-800-435-3642 www.helen-georgia-hotels.com

York House Inn Georgia’s Oldest Bed and Breakfast since 1896

416 York House Road Rabun Gap, Georgia 30568

Bridal Invitations Save-The-Date Invitations Rehearsal Dinner Invitation Reception Cards Napkins www.designsunlimtedpapers.com and MUCH MORE! designsunl@gmail.com 2480 Limestone Parkway Gainesville, GA 30501 770-530-8848

Sheep Hollow

Joy for your home Cathy Roberts Owner

138 E. Water Street Clarkesville, Ga 30523 706-968-4060 706-746-2068

www.yorkhouseinn.com

800-231-YORK (9675)

Wedding Gifts & Decor

Like us on Facebook!

Georgia’s Largest Selection of Certified Diamonds Experience Counts Mobile entertainment DJ

- Northeast Georgia and surrounding areas We work with you to make sure we play all the music you and your guests want to hear. We also take requests.

References • Extensive music library • Worry free Fun • High Energy • Accommodating Local • Professional

Clay Christy | 706.878.6786 BrickHouse Mobile DJs

www.brickhousedjs.com

GIA Educated Appraiser on Site. 100’s of Diamond & Gemstone Semi-Mounts Available.

12 Month Layaway Available

Wells Fargo Financing Available

Up to $25,000 same as cash option available

1020 Jesse Jewell Pkwy.

770-532-2592

2014 Northeast Georgia Bridal

2014-47138

Parties, dances, wedding receptions, birthdays, high school dances, graduations, business parties, car shows, and corporate functions. Weddings are our specialty.

Photo/Michael Cottrell/ Cottrell Photography

Index of Advertisers Ain’t B’s Bakery & Cafe.............................................................. 46 All Occasion Flowers................................................................. 19 Art-Full Frames ......................................................................... 46 Amara Center, The..................................................................... 45 Attic Restaurant, The ................................................................. 27 Babyland General ...................................................................... 37 Barry’s Menswear ...................................................................... 52 BBC Photography....................................................................... 49 Bead Dazzling............................................................................. 28 Bella Musica, a string ensemble ............................................... 29 Bernie's Nacoochee Valley Guest House................................. 46 Best Western Motel.................................................................... 47 Betsie Poinsett............................................................................. 32 Bigg Daddys Restaurant & Tavern........................................... 13 Blue Willow Floral...................................................................... 46 Brickhouse Mobile DJ’s.............................................................. 47 Bumbleberry Yarn & Gifts ........................................................ 43 C&N Cakes.................................................................................. 50 Cafe Cancun................................................................................ 31 Cariad Photography................................................................... 21 Carolyn’s Fine Jewelry ................................................................. 3 CeNita Vineyards......................................................................... 7 Cha Cha’s Event Hall.................................................................. 15 Chota Falls................................................................................... 49 City of Clarkesville..................................................................... 21 City of Cornelia.......................................................................... 16

48 Northeast Georgia Bridal 2014

Clermont Venue.......................................................................... 23 Cleveland Florist......................................................................... 33 Copper Pot, The.......................................................................... 20 Cornelia Florist & Rentals ........................................................ 20 Cottage Vineyard........................................................................ 13 Cottrell Photography................................................................. 43 Dahlonega Market Place............................................................ 13 Dahlonega Spa Resort................................................................ 43 Densmore Farm, The................................................................. 31 Dermatology Associates of Northeast Georgia...................... 17 Design House.............................................................................. 30 Designs Unlimited...................................................................... 47 Diamond Jewelry & Loan ......................................................... 50 Erin Knight, Harpist.................................................................. 13 Fancy Doodle.............................................................................. 25 First Impressions Laser Skincare.............................................. 21 Food Factory on Main .............................................................. 14 Fudge Factory, The .................................................................... 39 Gabby's Cabins............................................................................ 50 Gainesville Jewelry .................................................................... 47 Gigi's Cupcakes............................................................................. 7 Global Escapes ........................................................................... 33 Grace's Garters............................................................................ 43 Habersham Chamber of Commerce ....................................... 35 Habersham Event Center.......................................................... 50 Habersham Hardware & Home Center .................................. 42

Hanners College Shop............................................................... 17 Hansel & Gretel Candy Kitchen............................................... 12 Hayes Family Dealerships......................................................... 13 Hillside Orchard Farms ............................................................ 23 Hofer's Bakery............................................................................. 50 Homestead House...................................................................... 17 I Do I Do Bridal.......................................................................... 25 Jazzercise...................................................................................... 30 Jewels of the Mine ..................................................................... 28 John Megel Chevrolet ............................................................... 51 Juliette Chapel & Events............................................................ 32 Just Peachy Weddings................................................................ 31 Kathy Blalock & Associates ...................................................... 30 Kingwood Country Club & Resort.......................................... 45 L7 Events (Elf School).................................................................. 9 Lake Rabun Hotel....................................................................... 31 Lavender Cottage, The............................................................... 31 Lanier Tent Rental ..................................................................... 36 Lawton Place Manor.................................................................. 23 Lily Creek Lodge ........................................................................ 37 Mark of the Potter ..................................................................... 32 Mountain Laurel Farm............................................................... 33 Neon Beach................................................................................. 31 Nest, The ..................................................................................... 35 North Georgia Catering............................................................. 29 North Grove Hall Reception Cottage...................................... 37 Origami Owl............................................................................... 49 Paul Thomas Chocolates ........................................................... 42 Platinum Limo Service.............................................................. 41 Pratt Realty Associates .............................................................. 45 Rabun County Convention & Visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bureau........................ 4 Rabun Manor.............................................................................. 12 Red Door, The............................................................................. 11 Reeves Furniture & Gifts .......................................................... 19 Robson Event Center................................................................... 4 RX Hair........................................................................................ 29 Sautee Resort............................................................................... 37 Sheep Hollow.............................................................................. 47 Smith House Management........................................................ 31 Smittyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spirits ............................................................................ 11 Southern Glam.............................................................................. 8 Studio Blue.................................................................................... 8

Tanglewood Cabins.................................................................... 33 Tiger Lily Invitations.................................................................... 4 Tina Turner, Realtor................................................................... 50 Valley Cafe................................................................................... 29 VIP Alpine Tours........................................................................ 31 Waterfalls Club........................................................................... 24 Watts Farmhouse ....................................................................... 43 White Birch Inn.......................................................................... 27 White County Chamber of Commerce................................... 23 Wishing Well, The...................................................................... 39 Woods Furniture, Inc................................................................. 27 Unicoi State Park & Lodge.......................................................... 2 York House Inn........................................................................... 47

Please call for an appointment.

hota Falls, a secluded, waterfall, mountain wedding venue. Nestled in the mountains of northeast Georgia, Chota Falls offers an ideal setting for outdoor and vineyard chapel weddings and receptions.

chotafallsweddings.com

706-490-5557 2014 Northeast Georgia Bridal

C & N Cakes

HabersHaM

Custom Designed Wedding & Special Occasion Cakes Cookies & Chocolates

Event Center

Cindy Erbele 706-969-0445

A VENUE FOR ALL OCCASIONS

EvEnts • CatEring • BounCy PartiEs Join us on Facebook

706-754-3541

583 grant street. Clarkesville, ga 30523

info@habershameventcenter.com www.habershameventcenter.com

Cleveland, Georgia

Gabby’s Country Cabins

Tina Turner REALTOR

Home of the Heart Shaped Jacuzzi!

1070 Historic Highway 441 Demorest, GA 30535 (706) 499-6944 Cell (706) 778-4171 Office tina_m_turner@yahoo.com www.TinaTurnerSells.com

Perfect outdoor stage venue for weddings and family events with a Mt. Yonah backdrop Pets Welcome • Free WIFI 10 cabins on 18 acres, some creekside

706-865-6772 3083 Helen Hwy. Cleveland, Ga

A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC.

www.gabbyscabins.com

HOFER’S OF HELEN

Find the perfect ring at

Bakery • CafÉ • Biergarten

Your wedding cake is the centerpiece of your wonderful reception Select the experience and expertise of Hofer’s Bakery using ipes, redients c e r y l Fami e finest ing h y l n o t

Y& JEWELR LOAN

nce perie

Over

s ex year

3840 State Hwy 365 Baldwin, Ga.

706-894-2274

50 Northeast Georgia Bridal 2014

120613-48688

North Georgia’s Pawn Super Store

Located just past the gazebo at 8758 North Main Street www.hofers.com • 706-878-8200

2014-47577

Norma Barger 706-865-3460

“Where price sells cars and service keeps customers.”

2014 Chevy Camaro

Start your life together with a new car from John Megel Chevrolet 2014 Chevy Malibu

2014 Chevy Cruze

2014 Chevy Impala TTB2013-R

2014 Chevy Traverse

2014 Chevy Silverado

SaleS HourS: Mon. - Fri. 9 a.M. - 8 p.M. • Sat. 9 a.M. - 7 p.M. • Service HourS: Mon. - Fri. 7 a.M. - 6 p.M. • Sat. 8 a.M. - 4 p.M.

MegelChevy.com

visit us online at: www.

Hw y. 5 3

706-265-5400 1-800-347-5930

1 Mile South of the North Georgia Premium Outlets on GA 400

Sta

1392 Hwy 400 SoutH • DawSonville, Ga 30534

400

Dawson Forest Rd. E

Dress Better

on Your Big Day

Why Rent? Tuxedos from $9999

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115 Year Anniversary Sale!

Serving Gainesville for over 40 years 125 John M. Morrow Pkwy. Suite 242B Gainesville, GA 30501

770-534-7685

$149.99

tuxedos & 100% Wool suits

115 up with Coupon*(Elsewhere $400) Offer good with this coupon. May not be combined with any other offer. Offer expires Feb. 28, 2014