West Georgia Woman Magazine 2022 Bridal Issue

Complimentary

2022

West Georgia

TM

Bridal G uide

Bridal Flower Preservation

Themed Weddings This Year's Wedding Trend

The Dos and Don'ts of RSVPs A Wedding Venue That's Right on Track

1 Beauty and History Meet at the Train Depot on Bradley

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Beauty and History Meet at the Train Depot on Bradley Page 20

Photo by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography Model: Madison Young Venue: The Train Depot on Bradley, Carrollton, Ga. Wedding Gown: Simple Elegance Bridal, Bowdon, Ga. Bouquet: A Southern Wedding Flower, Ranburne, Ala. Hair and Makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa, Carrollton, Ga. Loveseat: The Vintage Rental Company, Carrollton, Ga.

What’s Inside...

8 New Trend to Embrace: Themed Weddings

12 Please Respond. Seriously.

15 Preserve Your Memories 18 Bride Tribe: Combining Your Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party 4

20 A Wedding Venue That's Right on Track

26 Kid-free or Kid-friendly?

28 Do You ... Take Your Friend as Your Officiant?

31 Aisle or Red Carpet?

33 Here’s to … Keeping Multiple Toasts From Getting Out of Hand

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Sharing the love

When our Bridal Guide writer, Shala Hainer, sent me this year's article topic ideas, I was thrilled. A couple of the articles were a great opportunity for me to share photos of my son, Zachary's wedding in March of last year. And, of course, I couldn't miss the opportunity of placing one of their wedding photos on the front cover!

Thank you for allowing me to share some photos of their special day with you.

Did you know that we offer a free digital subscription to West Georgia Woman Magazine and all of our special issues, including our Bridal Guide?

Become a West Georgia Woman insider and sign up for your free digital subscription today at www.westgeorgiawoman.com.

Isn't wonderful that our beautiful Bridal Guide is absolutely free for you to take home with you? The reason we can give you this fabulous publication at no cost is because of our community partners' advertisements that are included in this guide.

Please shop locally for your wedding, support our advertising partners as much as you can and let them know you saw their advertisements in our lovely magazine. Without them, there would be no annual Bridal Guide.

These advertisers are experts in their fields, so take advantage of their knowledge and skills. There are so many details involved in planning a wedding, and it can be exhausting and stressful for brides. I hope you have a wonderful support system of family and friends to help you manage the numerous details involved in planning your special day.

In This Special Issue We are so excited to provide you with our fourth annual West Georgia Woman Magazine Bridal Guide!

I hope you enjoy our beautiful guide as much as we enjoyed creating it for you.

Planning a spectacular wedding takes time, money and plenty of inspirational ideas. This issue is full of fabulous articles from themed weddings and RSVPs to kidfree and kid-friendly weddings, preserving your bridal flowers, wedding toasts, bridesmaid dresses and much more!

A Match Made in Heaven We've also included a special article about The Train Depot on Bradley in Carrollton, Ga. Located just three blocks from the City’s square, the building enables you to include a piece of pivotal local history as you look toward your future together as a couple.

Historic venues like the Train Depot offer a timeless feel, bringing an extra level of character to your wedding – which is fitting, as it’s your most historic day.

Beginning on page 20, check out the fabulous photos that Zachary took of the Train Depot and learn more about how beauty and history meet at this beautiful wedding venue.

Very special thanks to Shala Hainer for writing the wonderful articles included in our 2022 Bridal Guide. She is an amazing writer, and we are so grateful for her monthly contribution as our copy editor and for her valued contributions to our special issues.

A Match Made in Heaven.

Best wishes for a bright future, Become a West Georgia Woman insider.

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Subscribe to our free digital issue and have it sent to your inbox each month. www.westgeorgiawoman.com

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Publisher

Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.

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West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia.

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LLC., West Georgia Woman magazine or any employee thereof.

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Mail correspondence to:

West Georgia Woman Magazine P.O. Box 2782 Carrollton, GA 30112

Volume 4 2022 Bridal Guide

Follow us! @WestGaWoman

This publication is dedicated in loving memory of Tristan Alexander Brooks May 15, 1993 – September 17, 2015

Angela Dailey angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor

Shala Hainer shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer for Train Depot and Model Photos Zachary Dailey

Bridal Guide Editorial Shala Hainer

Cover

West Georgia Woman Magazine Photographer, Zachary Dailey, and Editorial Contributor, Jordan Coffman, held their vow renewal and wedding reception March 6, 2021 at the Castle at Wildwood Gardens in Waco, Ga. Photo by Corey Lance, Rebecca Marie Photography

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Sales@westgeorgiawoman.com West Georgia Woman is a monthly publication of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of this issue are copyright 2022. West Georgia Woman magazine, its logo and “Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.” are trademarks of Angel Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

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A New Trend to Embrace:

Themed Weddings West Georgia Woman Magazine Photographer, Zachary Dailey, and Editorial Contributor, Jordan Dailey, at their masquerade-themed wedding reception held on March, 6 2021.

8 Photos by Corey Lance, Rebecca Marie Photography

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typical, traditional wedding isn’t for everyone.

Sometimes, you just have to set your personality free, and it’s becoming more popular in 2022 as people plan themed weddings to set themselves apart from the norm.

If you’re wanting to turn traditional into terrific, put on your creative hat and pick a theme for your wedding that is meaningful to you.

A theme, in this sense, is different from an aesthetic style. While a rustic wedding with burlap and barn doors creates a specific feel, it’s not necessarily a theme. To take it to that level, for example, you might do the wedding outdoors in cowboy boots, with the groom and groomsmen wearing jeans and bolo ties, and travel down the aisle on horseback. You could even ask the guests to participate in the A themed wedding theme by wearing often lets your cowboy hats or boots guests feel more as well.

If you’re wanting to turn traditional into terrific, put on your creative hat and pick a theme for your wedding that is meaningful to you.

Pros and Cons Many brides choose a themed wedding because it’s more memorable than a traditional style.

Maybe you incorporate exotic food choices for a tropical wedding, for example, and ask guests to wear grass skirts over their wedding outfits.

The guests are likely to remember the uniqueness of your wedding, while they might not if you have a

involved, and more likely to remember the uniqueness of your wedding.

traditional buffet or sit-down dinner.

A themed wedding often lets your guests feel more involved – they all can’t be part of the bridal party, of course, but asking them to participate by dressing colorfully or playing games at a circusthemed wedding, for example, makes them feel like they are contributing in a special way.

However, not every theme works for every situation. Consider the venue and the season as you plan the theme.

A beach theme where you request people to arrive barefoot might not work in January, and the venue could have rules regarding acceptable attire. Some of your guests might feel awkward dressing for your theme, so make it very clear from the beginning whether participation is required or optional.

Also, some of your guests might be offended if your theme contradicts their religious or political beliefs, so be aware of this and be gracious if people decline your invitation because of the theme.

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Seasonal Themes While brides have long brought seasons into their weddings for decoration, stepping it up a notch to fit in with a theme is simple and fun. An idea for fall might be to ask everyone to dress in fall colors, and have mostly pumpkins, hay and leaves as decorations. Use galvanized buckets for centerpieces and for serving, and offer pumpkin spice everything!

You could even offer straw hats to the guests, and have a photo booth with fall-related props.

The best themes tell a story from beginning to end, so start with the invitations, and wrap it up with the reception and favors, bringing elements of your theme to every piece the guests see.

For summer, for example, instead of just going with sunflowers and beachy colors, go full nautical with a bouquet of starfish and sand dollars instead of flowers, sailor hats and sunglasses for everyone, and food like fresh fish and oysters. An anchor can serve as a decoration at the altar, and have sea nets cover the tables.

Fun Themes Some themes lend themselves more toward fun and games for you and the guests alike. Think carnival and Mardi Gras, for example. A carnival theme might be full of red and white stripes, while Mardi Gras could have purple and green.

For the carnival, offer tickets, carnival game booths, popcorn, candy and a variety of contests, such as best carnival outfit or a dance-off at the reception.

Mardi Gras themes lend themselves to beads, colorful masks, parasols, crown decorations and food straight out of New Orleans, such as beignets.

The music can match as well, with plenty of zydeco played by a live band. A silver-painted street performer could add some extra pizzaz!

With both of these themes, your guests can get into the spirit as much or little as they want, coming dressed to kill or opting to add a mask or gamewinning ribbon to their normal wedding attire.

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Period Theme For a wedding straight out of a period piece movie, think of times like Bridgerton or ancient Greece.

These work especially well when the guests are willing to play along. This might include spectacular gowns or homemade togas.

Research wedding vows from the times, and incorporate appropriate pieces into yours.

You might consider a lavish sit-down meal with a live orchestral quartet for an old English flair, while a Greek-themed wedding could include lots of blue and white, rented statuary, strappy sandals and a pita bar with various meat and vegetable choices – with plenty of feta cheese, of course.

Doing a theme wedding takes the idea of an aesthetic feel to the next level, often incorporating props and requests for guests to join in the fun.

The best themes tell a story from beginning to end, so start with the invitations, and wrap it up with the reception and favors, bringing elements of your theme to every piece the guests see.

Not only does this create a wedding story you and the guests can retell, but it creates a unique story that reflects your personality every time it’s retold. WGW

Not only does this create a wedding story you and the guests can retell, but it creates a unique story that reflects your personality every time it’s retold.

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O

ne of the most complicated, intricate events most people plan is their wedding. The wedding has a million moving pieces with venue size, ceremony seating, reception seating, food and beverage, favors, and decorations, and all these pieces change depending on how many people attend.

Knowing how many people to plan for is essential for a wedding to be successful.

and change if possible when those numbers shift.

A problem arises when too many people show up unexpectedly without notice. You might have a venue just big enough for the people you are expecting – if 20 extra people arrive, there won’t be seating, and possibly not enough food.

Sometimes even more frustrating is when people say they are coming but don’t show up.

Some cancelations are unavoidable – Importance people get sick and flights get canceled, of RSVPs for example – but in many cases, people The letters RSVP simply choose not stand for the French to attend. In that phrase “repondez, case, you already s’il vous plait.” paid for the correct That translates to size venue for a “please respond.”

certain number of It’s used in a people, which you variety of event possibly could have invitations, from downgraded – had birthday parties to you known some company meetings guests couldn’t to weddings. make it. You already From the bride’s paid for the food perspective, the as well – while the wedding budget caterer might work is a constantly with you to bring changing number additional food at until the guest list the last minute, it’s is set in stone. The unlikely they will problem is most decrease the price vendors, including for no-shows. caterers, florists and Most vendors the venue, require have a deadline to make changes, so when people a significant deposit and a guaranteed number of cancel at the last minute, you are just out the money attendees well before the ceremony – sometimes you already spent when they said they were coming. months before. It’s imperative for brides to ask for RSVPs early and stick to those numbers as best you can – that is, if people actually respond to the RSVP Guest Etiquette request.

Most vendors allow a small overage or underage As a guest, if you receive a wedding invitation, number, which gives you a bit of flexibility. For read it closely to determine the best way to respond example, the caterer might make enough food for with your regrets that you can’t attend or with the 10% more people than you paid for, or the venue joyful news that you plan to attend. In some cases, might let you change to a smaller, less expensive the happy couple includes a response card along reception hall a few days before the wedding if your with an addressed, stamped envelope. Sometimes, numbers decrease by a certain amount. However, they ask you to email the wedding planner, or log you must have a “final” number set relatively early, into their wedding website.

Please Respond Seriously.

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Because a HOME is much more than a house.

Shala Hainer, Realtor Cell: 770.842.8500 Office: 770.240.2004 shalahainer@gmail.com As you RSVP, be mindful of how many people you are responding for, especially in the less traditional online environment. In most cases, you will be responding for you and a guest, or possibly your household – make sure to include the total number of people who will be attending with you. Before you respond, make sure it’s something you are confident you can do, as canceling often negatively affects the bride’s bottom line.

If you respond in the affirmative, but later discover you can’t attend, notify the bride immediately.

Explain the situation respectfully. It might not be too late for her to change her numbers with the vendors, but even if it is, being upfront and letting her know you can’t be there is always better than simply not showing up. She could possibly have more people she wanted to invite, but she ran out of space, so knowing ahead of time of your cancellation might give her a chance to fill your spots without wasting money.

Sometimes emergencies prevent you from giving the bride a heads-up that you won’t attend. If this happens, reach out to her as soon as possible after the wedding to explain the situation so she knows you didn’t disregard her most important day.

If you reply that you won’t attend, but later decide

you want to, call the bride and let her know. She might not be able to accommodate, or she might have received a cancellation she wants to fill.

If you aren’t sure you can go – which is relatively common several months before the event – be honest about that with the bride when you receive the invitation. Let her know your situation and why you can’t commit, and ask if she would prefer you RSVP with a "no" right now, or can you stay tentative. Ask her for the deadline for when you have to provide a firm answer.

If you can’t reach her, or if she isn’t comfortable with a tentative count, it’s best to reply that you won’t attend. If you discover later that you can, you can always reach back out to her and see if she has any openings in her guest count.

If for some reason the couple doesn’t request an RSVP, Emily Post suggests contacting them only if you know you can’t attend, sending your regrets.

This sometimes happens with weddings that are less formal, but the bride still appreciates having an idea of how many people to expect. At the end of the day, the bride and groom took time out of their day to prepare your invitation and send it to you – the polite thing to do is take that same kind of time to respond back. WGW

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Preserve Your Memories

Keeping Your Wedding Flowers as Keepsakes Flowers: A Southern Wedding Flower, Ranburne, Ala. Photo: Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography

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ou spend countless hours creating your perfect wedding – picking the dress, the colors, the food and the flowers. While photos and videos help keep your memories alive, there’s another way to feel like all those hours of planning created a moment that can last forever: bouquet preservation.

Unlike a dress you can keep, share and pass down to others, flowers wilt and die quickly. After all the time you spent choosing just the right bouquet, it deserves a chance to remain a beautiful keepsake.

Several preservation options exist, and most range from the free do-it-yourself types to more than $500 for high-end professional preservation.

Speed is key for all forms of preservation. Because the flowers are already dying by the time the florist creates your bouquet, it’s imperative to plan ahead and know what method you prefer before you walk down the aisle. Decide how and where you plan to display it, or where you plan to store it, to help you decide which method is best for you.

Pressing Flowers Pressing your bouquet is inexpensive and easy, but it takes some time, and the flowers tend to lose

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some color and become brittle. Ideally, you won’t press every flower in your bouquet – the group of flowers should lay flat, usually, so pick the ones with the most meaning to you. Take your bouquet apart and rearrange the flowers and greenery on a piece of wax paper, making a single layer if possible. It’s difficult to pull them apart after pressing, so try to get a shape or design you love. Or, try drying them individually and arranging them afterward for display. Place another piece of wax paper on top, then put the flowers on a flat surface under something heavy.

Traditionally, brides put flowers inside a book, then stacked other books on top, but anything heavy and flat will work. Leave the flowers for about two weeks. To display them, try a shadowbox or pressed between two pieces of glass in a frame. Although you can have your bouquet professionally pressed, this is a simple craft you can tackle on your own.

Storing in Resin To maintain the freshest look, this option needs to happen within a day of your wedding. Working with resin takes skill and practice, so although you can buy resin kits, this one is usually best left to a professional. Like pressing, you don’t normally preserve all your flowers. Instead, pick certain ones, and the mold you’d like to display them in.

770.834.2024 Some brides choose mtnoakflorist@att.net large molds that hold www.mountainoakflorist.com several flowers so you can maintain a similar look to the original bouquet, but many choose smaller options that can be made into bookends, paperweights or even jewelry.

This method tends to give you the best color and shape, preserving your memories a bit more true to life than some other preservation methods.

However, it’s often one of the most expensive.

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Drying Flowers When you want to keep your entire bouquet intact, drying often works well. The simplest way is to hang the bouquet upside down in a cool, dark place, like a closet. After about two weeks, the bouquet should be dry, but it can take longer when the humidity is high. When drying is complete, place the bouquet in a vase or a glass case to display, handling it carefully as dried flowers are fragile and crumble easily.

Another option is to use silica. This sand-like substance removes the moisture from the flowers but keeps the color and shape a bit more intact than straight air-drying. The trick is to get the flowers as completely covered as possible. Use a paintbrush to coat the interior petals of the flowers, then line the bottom of a container with silica. Place the flowers upside down in the container, and pour silica around the flowers until they are covered.

Cover the container, making sure it’s airtight, and leave it for about two weeks.

When you remove the flowers, gently brush off the silica sand, and spray a fixative spray or stronghold hairspray on the flowers to help them retain their shape and color.

Freeze Drying Technique Although not cheap, freeze drying is another way to preserve your flowers and have them look fresh instead of dried. You’ll need to hire a professional for this technique. That person will use a type of starch on the flowers, then freeze dry them slowly over about three months.

Other Ideas When you’re not sure you want to save the actual flowers but you want more than just the wedding photos, think outside the box for creative ideas to recreate your bouquet. If you like to paint, design some artwork for your home showcasing flowers used in your bouquet. Another idea is to create a cross-stitch or embroidery piece to match your bouquet. Or, buy silk flowers that match the flowers in your bouquet and create a wreath for your door – if you have ribbon left from you bouquet, add that for an extra touch to create a keepsake that suits your personal style. WGW

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Bride Tribe

Combining Your Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party

P

art of the fun of getting married is having your friends celebrate you at your bridal shower and bachelorette party. The latest trend of combining the two opens a whole new avenue of fun as you prepare for your wedding.

Why Combine Them?

Traditionally, bridal showers last just a few hours.

Bachelorette parties, on the other hand, can last from a few hours, to overnight, to a week-long event.

The maid of honor and bridesmaids often plan both, so combining them allows the bridesmaids to do the planning just once.

Combining the two events makes even more sense if people are traveling out of town for your wedding. Having a bridal shower and bachelorette party a day or two before your wedding brings everyone into town just once, saving on travel fares.

It also saves on decorations, favors and other party expenses. Combining the two means you can double dip a bit, perhaps keeping one venue past the time the bridal shower ends, for example.

Do You Need Both?

The short answer is no, you don’t have to do both.

Many people skip a bridal shower if it’s not their first

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marriage, or if they already have most of what they need for their household.

With destination weddings, brides sometimes prefer their guests spend money only on travel, not on gifts.

Or, maybe you don’t really like being the center of attention, so you’re happy to save most of the attention for your big day.

As for bachelorette parties, it can be a logistical issue if you have people coming in from different areas, which sometimes puts more of the planning in your lap – and you don’t always have time when you’re also planning a wedding. Movies make us believe all bachelorette parties are wild, and it’s possible you’re afraid some of your friends might take that route with yours when you prefer something small and quiet.

It could also be a budget issue, where you don’t want your bridal party to have to spend more than they already will for your shower, their dresses, and other wedding expenses.

While you don’t need either or both events, most brides choose to have at least one, even if it’s a couples’ shower instead of a bridal shower. Your family and friends are excited for you, and it’s likely they want to celebrate with you in a more private, intimate way than just at your ceremony, where you’re likely to be understandably distracted.

Who to Invite The one hiccup with combining the two events is that you don’t necessarily invite the same people to both. For a bridal shower, you typically invite a wide swath of people – it gives you the best chance to get the most gifts, some of which you need to combine homes and start your new life together with your spouse. But a bachelorette party is usually more intimate – often just the bride and bridesmaids, with possibly an extra friend or family member in the mix.

To host both at the same time, create shower invitations that have a start and end time, so the guests know what to expect. If the bridal shower ends at 2 pm, they won’t be offended when you thank everyone for coming and start handing out favors.

Chances are they won’t even notice if a few people stay behind – it’s common for the bridesmaids to stay to help you get your gifts organized and clean up.

You can tell the bridal shower guests that you’re having your bachelorette party immediately afterward, but there’s no need. It might lead to some hurt feelings from some people who weren’t invited. Instead, the best idea is to simply usher everyone out politely before you get started on the bachelorette party.

Dailey Life Photography

Ideas on What to Do Doing one event right after the other might start at the same location, or they could be completely different. If your shower is a brunch or tea, the venue might let you continue to use the room into the evening for a series of events, such as a group craft (think paint and sip class!) or wine tasting.

Nothing is stopping you from leaving your bridal shower and heading out for an evening – or a few days! – of fun with your friends.

This could be a spa day, a night on the town, an Airbnb of a super cool house with a pool, or a class to try something you’ve never done before, such as glassblowing, candle-making or even a yoga or spin class.

If most of your bridal party is coming in from out of town, plan ahead for transportation (not every area has Uber yet!) and book any reservations early, including hotels and restaurants.

Many businesses are still running short-staffed and can’t handle as many events as they used to, so planning early ensures you can enjoy the activities you want. WGW

Zachary Dailey, Photographer for West Georgia Woman Magazine

Call us today for your wedding photography needs!

404.444.9072

daileylifephotography@gmail.com @DaileyLifePhoto

@DaileyLifePhotography

www.daileylifephoto.wordpress.com 19

The Train Depot on Bradley in Carrollton, Ga. Photos by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography Model: Megan Peterson Dress and veil: DownTown Gowns, Carrollton, Ga. Bouquet: A Southern Wedding Flower, Ranburne, Ala. Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa, Carrollton, Ga. 20 Loveseat: The Vintage Rental Company, Carrollton, Ga.

A Wedding Venue That’s Right on Track

Beauty and History Meet at the Train Depot on Bradley21

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f you’re looking for the perfect “something old” for your wedding venue, it’s sitting right in downtown Carrollton – the Train Depot on Bradley. Located just three blocks from the City’s square, the building enables you to include a piece of pivotal local history as you look toward your future together as a couple.

Historic venues like the Train Depot offer a timeless feel, bringing an extra level of character to your wedding – which is fitting, as it’s your most historic day. Instead of giving in to short-lived fads you might regret someday when you look back at your wedding photos, choosing a historic venue means the backdrop of your pictures will remain timeless instead of looking dated.

The Train Depot creates a unique atmosphere for your special day with several elegant barn

With rustic brick, wood flooring, barn doors and historic touches, the venue looks beautiful without needing much decoration.

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Models: Left, Madison Young.

Dress: Simple Elegance Bridal Bouquet: A Southern Wedding Flower Right, Kirby Cargal and Megan Peterson.

Dress and veil: DownTown Gowns Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa

doors, original exposed brickwork, high ceiling and reclaimed hardwood floors. The design allows for a variety of floorplan options, making it an ideal location for small and larger-sized weddings.

History Carrollton’s railroad history traces back to 1852, when the Carrollton Rail Company began, hoping to bring trains to the City. The Civil War got in the way of those plans, but rail travel became a reality for the City in 1874. Before the rail line was completed, it hit a snag, making it uncertain whether it could continue out to Carrollton – as they were grading for the rail line, workers ran into a large rock layer. Because it was going to take quite a while to overcome the obstacle, many Carrollton rail workers moved closer

to the work, ending up in Whitesburg.

After the rail line finally reached Carrollton in 1874, many of those workers returned, and new residents began to arrive. Carrollton’s population skyrocketed, and the City quickly advanced as a leader in the area cotton market with the ability to easily transport fertilizer in and cotton out.

However, there was no building at the Carrollton train station, leaving people and merchandise out in the open and victims of the weather.

The Central of Georgia Railway Company built the freight depot in 1881, one of the largest of its day. A new section of rail travel was started soon after, designed to follow Model: Megan Peterson. Dress and veil: DownTown Gowns. Floral centerpieces: the Georgia-Alabama state line A Southern Wedding Flower. Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa Inset photo provided by the City of Carrollton. to Tennessee. When the track was finished, the Carrollton freight depot The City renovated the structure between 2010 and housed a celebration in honor of the completion.

2013 so it could be a historic landmark and event After the depot was decommissioned, Norfolk venue for residents and travelers alike.

Southern considered demolishing it because it had The Train Depot has two separate spaces that fallen into disrepair, but the City of Carrollton worked were renovated. One is the Grand Hall, which is the with them for several years to acquire the property. wedding and event venue space. The other space is the smaller Ticketing Booth, with future plans to use that space to showcase memorabilia from the City and the railroad.

Est. 2007

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“The depot’s natural charm makes the venue special,” says April Saunders, City of Carrollton marketing and communications director. “With rustic brick, wood flooring, barn doors and historic touches, the venue looks beautiful without needing much decoration.”

With about 5,000 square feet of space inside the Depot, there is room for both the ceremony and the reception, or just the reception, if couples prefer. It seats about 200 people comfortably. The space is completely enclosed and covered, making it an ideal venue year-round.

For couples who prefer more natural lighting and an outdoor feel, the Depot offers several sets of large barn doors that create a breathtaking flow from indoors to outdoors when opened. Each side is lined with porches, which can be used for photos, a cocktail reception or extra gathering areas.

While the City asks that no permanent fixtures like nails or screws be used to decorate so they can

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The newly renovated suites have bright lighting and beautiful finishes to help you relax and get ready in style. The venue also offers a private restroom adjacent to the bridal suite.

maintain the historic preservation, you can easily add drapes, flowers, lighting and other decorations using removable adhesive strips. They have vendors they recommend who have worked at the Depot previously and who are familiar with the space, but they don’t limit your choices to just those vendors.

The City allows you to decorate the space yourself and bring in your choice of food, or book vendors of your choice.

What is Included “The event space is very flexible, and the floorplan is customized to work for each individual’s needs,” April explains. “The venue rental comes with use of our tables, chairs and other items.” The other items include use of the catering warming ovens, a rolling bar, customizable accent lighting, easy parking and access to the bride and groom suites. The newly renovated suites have bright lighting and beautiful finishes to help you relax and get ready in style. The venue also offers a private restroom adjacent to the

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Frequently Asked Questions Can we take photos on the tracks?

The railroad is not part of the Depot’s property, so they can’t approve photos on the tracks – brides should call the railroad company for permission.

The Depot staff recommends caution – always be aware of trains, and stay a safe distance away from the tracks if a train is present. There are several stunning locations indoors and outdoors for photos, showcasing the venue’s historic brick walls, the porches, the barn doors and the indoor staircase.

Does your pricing include linens and decorations?

No, couples can purchase or rent these – the Depot can recommend vendors who can help if the couples need guidance.

Can we schedule a tour?

Yes. Contact the Depot at 770.832.6901 or depot@carrollton-ga.gov.

bridal suite.

Renting the Depot for a weekend wedding costs $4,000 in February 2022, and you get tons of bang for your buck. For a Saturday wedding, for example, you have access to the facility on Friday for decorating and a rehearsal dinner, if you choose.

“Depending on the set-up, we can accommodate a variety of sizes from 50 up to 200,” says April. “We have had events with more than 200, but we feel it’s ideal to stay under that amount of guests for optimal flexibility in your floor plan.”

What to Love Part of the facility’s charm is that it’s located on a working rail line – trains still pass by the station.

“Most brides aren’t bothered by this, and some actually have said it adds to the event,” April shares.

Brides who have previously used the Depot on Bradley exclaim about the beauty of the facility, the flexibility to choose vendors and a floor plan, the accommodating scheduling and friendly service.

They also enjoyed the confidence of knowing their wedding plans didn’t need to change if the weather decided not to cooperate. Because the Depot is in downtown Carrollton, the celebration can keep going – guests enjoy the ability to continue the celebration at local businesses after the wedding.

Because of its central location, the Depot is close to several hotel options. “The Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Carrollton is usually where

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Kid-free or Kid-friendly?

Your Wedding, Your Way

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hen many imagine weddings, they have visions of the iconic child ring bearer in an adorable tux walking down the aisle with the dolled-up young flower girl. Kids can bring joy and fun to weddings, but not everyone sees their dream day the same way. Whether you prefer a kid-free or kid-friendly event, make it clear in the invitations to set the expectations early.

Kid-Free You might choose a wedding where children aren’t invited for many reasons – but don’t feel like you have to explain yourself. It’s your day, and your choice. Maybe most of your friends don’t have children yet – or most of their children are grown – so you prefer an adult-style party where the grownups can relax. Perhaps you have a tight budget, and the kids’ meals cost just as much as the adult ones.

It’s possible you want to keep the focus on you as the happy couple without crying babies or loudly talking children interrupting the ceremony.

Wanting a kid-free wedding doesn’t make you selfish, although some parents might feel hurt or excluded. Others will rejoice at an excuse to get a babysitter and hang out with other grown-ups for the night. How you deliver the news helps set the tone.

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For the invitation, address it just to the adults, not the “Smith Family,” for example. Instead of saying “No Children” on the invitation, include an RSVP card that either says you’ve reserved two seats for them – and list their names – or have a line that says, “_____ guests over 21 will be attending.” Don’t give an option for under 21.

Try to spread the word verbally, but this is a great way to utilize your wedding website. Guests look there for event details and your registry, so add the information about the wedding being kidfree prominently on the home page and where guests RSVP. Use firm but polite wording, such as, “Although we love your little ones, this an adultsonly affair.”

If you’re inviting a few children, like your own kids or family members to be a ring bearer and flower girl, send a quick email to the guests who have children, letting them know the children attending are limited to yours or those in the ceremony. Giving them a heads-up early helps keep hurt feelings at bay.

You can always tell them how excited you are to celebrate your wedding personally with them and their children at a later date when you can interact with the kids more closely than you could on your wedding day.

If you have guests traveling in from out of town,

coordinate with them separately to help connect them with childcare for the time they will be at the wedding. If a guest tries to RSVP for a child, call them immediately to have the adults-only conversation, and respect their decision if they choose not to attend. They are the ones who will be missing out!

Kid-Friendly If you prefer to include children at your wedding, keep it fun and exciting for them as well – expecting them to sit still and quiet, especially while dressed in unfamiliar, uncomfortable clothes, is often asking too much. Embrace their curiosity to add an extra level of flair to your event.

Keeping the ceremony short helps keep kids in check, but handing out activity packets can help.

This might be a word find, a visual scavenger hunt (with items they can easily see and circle without getting up, such as flowers, the groom or candles), or simple coloring pages, all put together on clipboards with crayons tied to strings.

When the reception starts, the real fun begins.

Create a kids’ area with colorful tablecloths (or tablecloths the kids can color on), mylar balloons,

paper plates and their own juice bar. If weather allows, design an outdoor area for the kids with lawn games (think corn hole and giant Connect 4), bubbles or a projector screen showing kids’ movies. Offer arts and crafts or activity stations such as Legos, bead jewelry making, wedding-themed temporary tattoos or cupcake decorating.

Kids might appreciate food designed specifically for them as well. While the adults might enjoy a prime rib carving station, make it fun for kids by creating beef sliders instead. Stick to other finger foods like chicken nuggets, which are always a hit, French fries, a variety of sandwiches, and sliced fruit.

Desserts might include cookies, rice cereal treats or brownies.

After the reception, treat the children to their own favors. These can be themed to coordinate with the adult favors, or just a large treasure chest of various inexpensive toys for the kids to choose from, such as bouncy balls, small puzzles, glow sticks or plush key chains.

If the kids aren’t having a good time, their parents won’t be, either, so keeping them happy and engaged makes your special day enjoyable and memorable for everyone who is there to help you celebrate your new life together. WGW

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Do you

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...

take your friend as your officiant?

I

t’s become common practice to have a close friend or family member officiate your wedding, rather than a minister or a judge. The process of becoming ordained is usually quick and inexpensive now, so it’s a more reasonable option than it was decades ago.

Couples choose family or friends to officiate their weddings for many reasons. For some, it’s cheaper to pay for the person to be ordained than it would be to hire a minister or judge. For others, it’s more about the connection with that person. Sometimes couples choose this route because they want to stay away from tradition as much as possible, and make their ceremony as unique as they are as a couple.

Regardless of the reason, there are pros and cons to having someone you know serve as your officiant.

Pros It’s personal. Rarely will a minister or judge know you as well as a parent, sibling or lifelong friend. When you have someone you know officiate your wedding, they know you as a person, and they’ve traveled you and your partner’s romantic journey with you. They can share short but personal anecdotes as part of the ceremony (like saying how when you were a kid, you always talked about dressing like a princess at your wedding, and how you look even more beautiful than a princess ever could), for example. Or, they can cater the ceremony to what’s important to you as a couple, even things outside the norm. Maybe you two met singing karaoke, and you want the whole ceremony performed in song – you might have trouble finding a minister or judge to accommodate, but a friend would jump at the chance.

You can honor someone. There might be someone who was instrumental in a phase of your life or relationship, and having them make your marriage official is one of the highest honors you can bestow. This shows that person you not only want them to be a part of your special day, but that you want to remember them for the rest of your lives – they will forever be shown off in your wedding album and social media photos.

You retain control. When the person conducting the ceremony doesn’t have any expectations for how the ceremony will go, you can set the timeline, the script, the order, the cadence – everything – with Photo: Zachary and Jordan were married in their church during a small, private ceremony on March 5, 2021. They were honored to have family friend and surrogate grandfather, Dr. Fred Richards, as their officiant during their vow-renewal/wedding reception held on March, 6 2021.

Photo by Corey Lance, Rebecca Marie Photography

little to no pushback from them. This enables you to control the length of the ceremony and exactly what is said in what order, which can make your day everything you’ve dreamed of without compromise.

Cons It’s more work. With absolute control comes additional work for you and your significant other, which often causes additional stress you don’t need as you’re trying to plan the wedding.

Instead of having someone give you a proposed schedule and script, now you’re all on your own to create it from scratch. In addition, you must verify your officiant has applied for the correct licensure in time, that they have filed it properly (or have the necessary documentation), and that they know what legal documents to bring to the ceremony.

You must research how to file the documents with the court to ensure your marriage is recognized, and in what timeframe. In Georgia, you typically must sign your marriage license with the probate court at least 24 hours before the ceremony, then you need the officiant, both parties and two witnesses to sign the marriage certificate, which you must turn back into the probate court within 30 days. Always check

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well in advance with your local probate clerk because exact requirements vary between counties.

It’s more unpredictable. When it’s a friend or family member who has never performed a wedding ceremony before, you never know what might happen. They might get super nervous and faint, for example – while that’s an extreme example, it’s common for the new officiant to freeze up, stumble over the ceremony, talk very softly, laugh nervously or forget to read all the sections of the script. Also, what is your backup plan if that person is sick and can’t perform the ceremony?

It can create controversy. What you and your partner choose for your wedding is completely up to you. However, not everyone is likely to agree with your choice to stray from tradition and have a friend or family member perform your ceremony. Be prepared to walk away from conversations like that rather than engaging in them – just for your sanity – or have a simple statement prepared about how that person doesn’t have to attend if they can’t accept your decisions.

Also, it might hurt someone’s feelings if you ask a different friend or family member to officiate, when they think they should be the chosen one. While you don’t need to explain your decision to anyone, it’s worth a gentle conversation with the hurt friend to make sure she knows how important she is to you – and possibly give her some responsibility with the planning or at the ceremony so she feels more included.

Best Practices When you ask a friend or family member to become an officiant, help them through the process.

There are many ways to be legally ordained, but many people go through Universal Life Church or American Fellowship Church, which can all be completed online for a fee – although sometimes those churches offer ordination services for free.

Work with the officiant so they understand what

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you want the ceremony to look like. Show them the script, and let them know whether the tone should be serious, funny, light-hearted or romantic. Practice privately with them before the rehearsal dinner so they are completely comfortable with their part.

Discuss outfit options as well. You don’t want your officiant showing up in a tux if it’s a sundressand-shorts type of ceremony. Some officiants might be so excited they go overboard with their outfit selections, so rein in their choices early.

Give them a list of their duties, so everyone is clear – specifically the legal side of signing and submitting documents after the ceremony, as well as certain things that must be said during the ceremony, if necessary, to make the union legal.

Setting all these expectations early helps the officiant feel more comfortable in their new role.

When all is said and done and the ceremony is over, send your officiant a nice gesture of your appreciation. Depending on the person, this could be a thoughtful card, their favorite bottle of wine, or a framed photo of them performing their officiant duties.

This person is important to you, or you wouldn’t have chosen them to stand up for you on your special day, so share with them how much you appreciate their time and effort. WGW

Aisle or

Red Carpet?

Photo by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography Model: Left, Megan Peterson, blue dress: DownTown Gowns Model: Right, Madison Young, green dress: Simple Elegance Bridal Venue: The Train Depot on Bradley Floral centerpiece: A Southern Wedding Flower Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa

Picking the Right Bridesmaid Dress That Can Be Worn More Than Once

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ridesmaid dresses – it seems inevitable that the bride will love them, and the bridesmaids will hate them. You have the power to break that cycle by reviewing your color palette and considering your bridesmaids’ tastes and budgets when deciding on the outfits they’ll have to wear.

Picking something that fits in with current trends helps ensure your bridesmaids can enjoy their outfits more than just the one obligatory time at your wedding. They can feel better about spending the money on the dress, and you can be the wedding hero.

in with the flowers and possibly smaller touches, such as the earrings. Another option is to go for patterned dresses, such as a floral, and incorporate bold colors in small doses.

Cost

Traditionally, bridesmaids pay for their dresses.

That’s usually not their only expense related to your wedding.

Many purchase you a gift, help pay for your shower or bachelorette party, and buy accessories to wear with the dress. One option is to ask the bridesmaids individually (and privately) what budget Color they are comfortable with. Or, opt for a dress you Changing your preferred color scheme isn’t an know won’t break the bank. option, but picking carefully within that palette might Another option adds variety to the ceremony. make your bridesmaids happier. Say, for example, Instead of picking the outfit for them, give the bridesmaids one or two colors, and ask them to pick your colors are lime green and pink. Not many bridesmaids need a rather formal lime green dress their own attire – making sure they know you have to approve the purchase before they walk down the outside of your wedding – either the color washes out their complexion, or they simply don’t have the aisle. Even if you don’t particularly like their choice, opportunity to wear that bold a color elsewhere. don’t veto it unless it is truly inappropriate for some reason. If you give bridesmaids the autonomy to Instead, opt for pink dresses.

It still matches your palette – even if it’s your make a choice, embrace their personal styles as best secondary color – and you can bring the lime green you can.

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Patterns Patterned dresses gained popularity a couple of years ago, and they are still a giant trend in bridesmaid dresses. Florals top the list of favorite patterns, and this ranges from small, subtle floral patterns to the big and bold.

Some brides expand this to leaves and tropical patterns, and feathers or arrows continue to make their appearance.

A newer trend is the Countrycore, also called Cottagecore, designs. These dresses tend to be long and flowy with faded floral patterns, ruffled sleeves and gently tiered skirts. This style leans toward the romantic, and it often involves tulle underneath to add some fluff.

Instead of picking the outfit for them, give the bridesmaids one or two colors, and ask them to pick their own attire – making sure they know you have to approve the purchase before they walk down the aisle.

Lace Patterns appear in many varieties. In 2022, expect patterned lace to be popular throughout the year. While floral lace has been around for decades, look for more boho-style patterns like basic circles and diamond shapes – or even different patterns mixed across the dress, such as one for the waist, a different pattern for the sleeves, and another for a dress Photos by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography tier.

Models: Kirby Cargal and Madison Young Tropical leaf patterns abound this year. Many Venue: The Train Depot on Bradley dresses leave the edges looking unfinished, Dress: Simple Elegance Bridal where the Bouquet: A Southern Wedding Flower Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa dress ends Bottom left photo: Model: Megan Peterson along the Dress: DownTown Gowns edge of the lace pattern, Jumpsuits not in a straight line, or have cutouts Who says bridesmaids must wear dresses? as part of the lace Instead, personalize your wedding even more by pattern. choosing trendy jumpsuits. The wide, flowing legs Many brides of many jumpsuits add an elegant and formal touch, are choosing making jumpsuits appropriate for any venue. colored lace to Bridesmaid jumpsuits tend to have a fancy help accentuate element or two – perhaps a criss-cross back with the pattern, or wide straps, wide sleeves that are split all the way shimmery lace to down, or matching tie belts that accentuate the bring out tonewaist. Jumpsuits can be strapless, have spaghetti on-tone lace straps, cap sleeves, long sleeves or one shoulder, patterns. This just like bridesmaid dresses. They come in various works remarkably fabrics and patterns, and you can flatter nearly any well when the lace figure by choosing fitted or flowing versions. pattern reflects part Just like dresses, some jumpsuits are difficult to of your wedding get in and out of, so consider your bridesmaid’s theme, such as bathroom needs as you choose the style – they will sunflowers. thank you later. WGW

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Here's to

...

Keeping Multiple Toasts From Getting Out of Hand

L

et’s be honest. No one, not even the bride and groom, want to sit through a long line of toasts that drag on and on. At the same time, family and friends have traveled this journey of love with the happy couple, and they deserve the chance to share their heartfelt stories.

When you have multiple people who want to speak, set some clear boundaries to ensure they feel heard without the guests feeling bored.

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wedded couple, and their parents who speak at the reception. Many couples prefer to narrow the number of speeches to just one. In that case, it’s usually the best man.

If other people approach you about presenting a toast, it’s acceptable to say time limits require you to allow only a small number of people to speak, but you would love to hear their comments at the rehearsal dinner.

The rehearsal dinner is typically where other members of the wedding party have their moment.

It’s more informal than the reception, so the rules are more lax.

How to Keep Them Short To keep the guests engaged, many couples choose to limit the number of toasts at their wedding, often to just one or two. If you prefer to allow several people to speak, clarify with them how short their toasts should be – most brides prefer no longer than three to four minutes each. Some brides ask the DJ to time the speeches, and as they start to run long, start playing music softly – Oscar Awards style! – and raise the volume gradually until the speaker sits back down. The DJ can be your best friend as well by holding tightly to the microphone, and only handing it out to people on the “approved” toast list.

Another idea is to spread the speeches out, so they aren’t back to back. Perhaps have one before dinner, one after dinner and another after you cut the cake. This works well because you can give each speaker a job, such as announcing that dinner is served or that you are headed over to the bridal cake.

The Schedule At the rehearsal dinner, which the groom’s parents typically pay for, it’s customary for the groom’s

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parents to toast first followed by the bride’s parents, after which others can toast the couple if they choose.

At the reception, the bride’s parents usually greet the guests with a welcome as they are seated, followed by a greeting by the groom’s parents. The best man and maid of honor typically toast either just as dinner is served or near the end of the entree, followed by the bride and groom toasting each other. If you’re spacing out the toasts, you and your new spouse can toast after you cut the cake instead.

What to Say Wedding toasts tend to either be funny, nostalgic or encouraging words about the couple’s future.

As the bride, it’s acceptable to ask to hear the toasts prior to the ceremony, or to ask that the speakers share their proposed toasts with someone else in the family, such as your mother or a bridesmaid.

This helps cut down on embarrassing stories, inappropriate language and general comments you would rather not be made on your special day.

Rarely would people close to you do those things on purpose, but they often become nervous when they

prepare their speeches and don’t hear how their topics might sound to people outside the family.

Ask the speakers to avoid stories about your past relationships, religion, politics and overall embarrassing topics.

What to Drink While champagne is traditional for toasts, not everyone enjoys champagne, especially if you’re having multiple toasts back to back – the guests are supposed to raise their glasses and drink at the end of each toast, after all.

Offer a variety of beverages, and encourage guests to drink what they prefer, including water or soda instead of an alcoholic option.

Some couples opt for a signature drink, which might be a cocktail they drank on their first date, or what they were drinking when the groom proposed.

Include non-alcoholic versions of the drink for guests to choose if they prefer.

This also allows children to enjoy the toasts – for many, this might be their first opportunity to raise their glasses and feel grown up, maybe even envisioning their own future weddings for the first time to keep the toasting traditions alive. WGW

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