West Georgia Woman Magazine 2023 Bridal Issue

Photo

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

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

Our mission is to engage, inspire, and cultivate a cohesive community for all women in West Georgia by sharing our hopes, our dreams and our lives.

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Publisher/Editor

Angela Dailey

angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor

Shala Hainer

shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer for Bridal Issue

Zachary Dailey

Bridal Guide Editorial

Shala Hainer

Cover

The Venue at Twin Oaks in Bremen, Ga.

Photo by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life

Photography

Models: Brannon Fowler and Jenna Burton

Dress: DownTown Gowns, Carrollton, Ga.

Bouquet: H&A Bloom Studio, Rockmart, Ga.

Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa, Carrollton, Ga.

Advertising Sales

Sharon@westgeorgiawoman.com

West Georgia Woman is a monthly publication of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of this issue are copyright 2023. 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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This publication is dedicated in loving memory of Tristan Alexander Brooks May 15, 1993 – September 17, 2015

To Buy, or Not To Buy …

That is the Registry Question

Part of the excitement of getting engaged is shopping for items for your registry. As you start your new life together, it’s time to get rid of his towels that look like Swiss cheese and the secondhand, mismatched flatware that got you through college.

Friends and family look forward to helping you kickstart your new life together with quality, useful items they know you’ll enjoy. How do they know? Because you picked it out! That’s the beauty of a registry – that and the fact you don’t have to buy it all yourself.

Couples used to go for items they knew they would never be able to afford all at once, such as China place settings and silverware. Newlyweds have moved more toward more serviceable items in most cases, such as everyday plates or a selection of barware.

Shopping for household goods sounds super fun until you sit down to pick the items you want. It can quickly become overwhelming trying to decide which items are appropriate for your registry and which you prefer to buy on your own, as well as which items take the highest priority in your new life together. Talk with your spouse-to-be about categories of items first, breaking it down to help you prioritize into big groups first.

Include your likes and dislikes as part of that conversation. If you both love to cook, kitchen tools might be forefront on your list. But if you both hate it, consider adding a few basics as well as a link to some UberEats or restaurant gift cards. Try to include items for each of you individually, as well as some you can enjoy together.

Think, too, about items you know you’ll use and enjoy. Couples often ask for things they think they want, but after they receive them, the items end up gathering dust for years to come. If you don’t drink tea, for example, don’t waste your time (and your guest’s money) asking for a fancy tea kettle that is likely to end up in the back of a cabinet, forgotten and unused.

Consider different price points for each of your categories to ensure all your friends and family can buy you a gift at the level they feel comfortable. Include at least a few gifts under $50, some between $50

and $100, and higher than $100. There’s no upper limit to what you can add to your registry – might as well throw that Big Green Egg on there and see if anyone bites. Close family might buy some of the big-ticket items, or some of your friends might pool their money to buy you an expensive item they know you want badly.

Kitchen Items

Fully stocking your kitchen could take a lifetime, but getting started with the basics is simple. Plates, flatware, a couple of sizes of pots and pans, a baking sheet or two and some drinking glasses are the minimum. If you have all that already, or if cooking is your thing, branch out to a knife block, some fancy gadgets or some more expensive items such as a KitchenAid mixer or Vitamix blender.

Think about some

There’s no upper limit to what you can add to your registry – might as well throw that Big Green Egg on there and see if anyone bites.

Photo: Big Green Egg

items that do double duty to maximize your space. Instead of asking for a slow cooker, consider an InstantPot that doubles as a pressure cooker and a slow cooker. If you must have a specialty item like a waffle maker, opt for one that has interchangeable plates so you can use it for other food such as pancakes or panini-style grilled cheese.

If you love to entertain, ask for cheese boards or other serving pieces and a variety of bar glass styles to accommodate different seasons and drink selections.

Tools

While tools might not sound exciting to many brides-to-be, they are something you’ll never regret having on hand when the need arises. Whether it’s you or your fiancé who does most of the handywork, get together to decide on tools you might like to receive as gifts.

When you’ve already got the basic set of hammers and screwdrivers, go for power tools you know you’ll use. Other higher-end items might include a tool chest or work bench.

Bed and Bath

Once you’ve gotten your towels and sheets in order, you can have some fun with this one. Cute storage options always come in handy, or select romantic knick knacks and other decorations for your bedrooms and bathrooms.

Most couples don’t have enough wall art for every room, so this is an opportunity to let your friends and family help you – just be specific with what pieces you want so the sizes and colors will be perfect. Don’t forget about other items like lamps and waste baskets to pull everything together.

Technology

Your new home can be a smart home! From programmable thermostats that connect to an app on your phone to smart speakers and security systems, the choices for the latest technology seem endless. Talk about which pieces will work best with the technology you already have – a Google Nest speaker might work better if you both prefer Android phones, for instance.

Maybe you want a television that looks like framed artwork when not in use, or you’d like a surround sound system. Perhaps a robotic vacuum would make your life easier. Just like with artwork, be very

Be very specific on what you want as tech items often have different sizes, colors and features.

specific on what you want as tech items often have different sizes, colors and features.

Outdoor and Adventure

Whether it’s for the outdoor of your home, like a cool new grill, or more of the wilderness type, like a hiking backpack, keep adventure on your list. If you like to travel, toss new luggage on your registry. This category could include picnic baskets or travel coolers as well as national park passes or camping gear.

Close to home, a Solo Stove might perfectly complete that fire pit area you planned in the backyard, or maybe you’re looking for a new hammock for two to enjoy on lazy weekend afternoons. Lawn games give you something to do when you have those big game-day get-togethers.

Money/Gift Cards

If what you really want is to spend money on a fancy honeymoon or to shop in person for your own items as you decide you need them, it’s acceptable to ask for money instead of gifts. Several registries give people an option to give money online, or to buy gift cards if you select certain vendors you like. Remember to include local small businesses as options because your business is essential to their success.

And for those who prefer to give back instead of receive, consider celebrating your union by asking friends and family to donate to a charitable cause you love. This enables your special day to help create special days for other people who benefit from the donations you requested, giving even more meaning to start of your adventure together. WGW

Zest for the Guests

Add some zing to your guest book

Trending among brides for the past few years are ways to keep weddings unique and personal to the happy couple. Many details play into this, from the dress to the flowers to the venue, but the guest book isn’t to be left out.

Traditional guest books usually sit on a table by themselves, possibly with a photo or two of the bride and groom. The lined ledgers give guests a place to sign in for you to keep as a record of all the people who attended to help you celebrate your union.

Make your guest book unforgettable by straying from the traditional and choosing a clever, creative option.

Holiday Ornaments

Regardless of the time of year you get married, you’re eventually going to decorate for your first Christmas together. What better way to celebrate this milestone than adorning your tree with ornaments signed by all your guests?

This allows you to reminisce together as you hang each ornament, reading the names and telling stories about the guests as you decorate. Think carefully about what kind of ornaments you might prefer, knowing you could be putting these out in your home in some fashion (if not on the tree, perhaps filling a large cylinder vase as a centerpiece) for decades to come. Wood slices and the rustic look are popular now, but will you still love that décor idea in 20 years? Standard round ornaments will always be in style, but they can be awkward for some guests to write on neatly.

Instead of having guests write on the ornaments, perhaps ask

them to write on small pieces of paper that they then insert into plain clear glass balls. Later, you can fill the balls with colored paper to match your holiday theme or a sentimental filling such as sand you collected during your honeymoon. You might choose to decoupage the name papers around the outside of the ornaments as well.

Board Games

Board games bring hours of joy to you, your family and friends. That makes them an ideal option to use instead of a guest book. Try the game of Life, for example – have your guests sign their names anywhere on the playing surface, and you’ll think of them every time you sit down to play. Monopoly is another fun choice, or consider Scrabble.

Jenga offers additional game play options. Have your guests each sign a Jenga block when they arrive. When you play the game after the wedding, add a level of difficulty by turning as many blocks as possible so the names are visible on the outside, and using a new rule that you and your spouse can only remove blocks that are signed by guests that came from your side of the family or friend group.

Jenga blocks add the option to make a craft later, if you desire. Glue the blocks on a piece of wood or cardboard with the signatures facing out, then add a

Jenga blocks add the option to make a craft later, if you desire. Glue the blocks on a piece of wood or cardboard with the signatures facing out, then add a fancy frame to create a display piece for your home.

fancy frame to create a display piece for your home. This craft idea could work with corks, too, if you wanted to use those instead of a guest book.

Polaroid Pictures

Instant photos give you more than signatures to remember the guests who attend your wedding. Assign a friend or two to man the Polaroid table with the instructions to take a snapshot of every guest, either alone or with their dates. Have permanent markers available on the table so the guests can sign their photos.

Offering silver Sharpies in addition to black means the guests can write a short personal message on the back of the photos as well.

Something Meaningful

Think about your favorite hobby, or activities you and your fiancé love to do together. Do you have a favorite movie? A favorite sport you like to play or watch? Maybe paddleboarding is your thing, or you simply love listening to vintage records together. Turn those loves into your new guest book.

For example, bring your paddleboard and display it near the venue entrance. Ask your guests to sign the board before they enter. Does your spouse play baseball in his spare time? Bring a bucket of balls and have your guests sign one as they enter – and possibly write a short message.

If you love to sew or quilt, get the guests to sign quilt squares, leaving you to create a useful masterpiece that brings you joy for years to come.

Different Kind of Book

Many people keep books for a lifetime, sometimes handing them down to the next generation. If you have a favorite book, bring it and ask guests to sign it like a yearbook – inside the covers and the interior page margins.

A Bible you and your spouse will use together would be a thoughtful choice, or Dr. Suess’s “Oh, The Places You’ll Go.”

Date Jar

Dating your spouse should be a priority throughout your marriage, but it eventually gets difficult to think of new and exciting date activities. Let your guests be your date guides! Put a large glass container near the entrance with paper and pens available, and ask your guests to write their names along with one or more date suggestions. These suggestions could be their favorite date experience, or perhaps one they’ve always wanted to try. They could be local or at different places around the world, giving you ideas on future travel destinations at the same time.

Technology

Who says a guest book has to be a physical item? Today’s technology makes it easy to set up a couple of different types of virtual guest books, including voice messages and videos.

Several companies offer a service where they provide an old-school phone for your wedding, but it’s actually a recording device. Guests “call” you when they arrive and record a voice message for the happy couple. The companies compile the recordings and provide it on CD or in an audio file for you to store and listen to for years to come.

For videos, setting up a photo booth with props is a fun way to capture the spirit of the day. Have your guests step into the photo booth area while a couple of your friends work the booth, recording short video messages from all the guests.

Let your imagination be your guide on how you’d like to document your friends and family that took time out of their busy lives to help you start your new adventure together. A clever guest book experience will be memorable for them and create a priceless keepsake for you. WGW

A Girl’s New Best Friend:

Lab-grown diamonds

Photos by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography

Venue: The Venue at Twin Oaks in Bremen, Ga.

Model: Kirby Cargal

Floral centerpiece: H&A Bloom Studio, Rockmart, Ga.

When a piece of jewelry represents love and the promise of a future together, it better be something special. The question is whether lab-grown diamonds, which are quickly gaining momentum in the engagement ring market, meet that “special” requirement.

The short answer is, in most cases, yes. Labgrown diamonds appear identical to naturally created diamonds to lay people and most jewelers. Usually only jewelers with powerful microscopes or gemologists with specialized equipment can tell the difference.

What are They?

Lab-grown diamonds, also known as cultured diamonds or engineered diamonds, are just what they sound like – diamonds created in a laboratory. Naturally occurring diamonds are shaped by the immense pressure and heat in the Earth’s mantle. Similar techniques create diamonds in a lab, only the extreme pressure and heat come from machines.

The technology to grow diamonds in a lab first appeared in 1954. These days, producers use two main technologies to create diamonds. The High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) method

uses a tiny sliver of a diamond, known as the seed, surrounded by graphite carbon. The carbon is exposed to incredibly high temperatures and pressure – about 1500 degrees Celsius and up to 1.5 million pounds of pressure per square inch.

The more modern technique is Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), which seals the seed in a chamber filled with carbon-rich gas. The chamber heats to around 1000 degrees Celsius, causing the gases to stick to the seed.

How Do They Look?

Lab-grown diamonds are chemically identical to naturally created diamonds, so they look identical to diamonds. If you’re interested in finding a certain score on the 4-Cs scale (cut, color, clarity and carat), you can find the same characteristics in the labgrown versions.

They also come in some colors, such as yellow, pink and blue, making them easy to personalize to your preference.

Jewelers cut these cultured diamonds exactly the same way as regular diamonds, so you can find them in your favorite shapes including princess cut, oval, round and pear-shaped.

How Much Do They Cost?

This is one of the main reasons people are excited about lab-grown diamonds – they are significantly cheaper than the naturally created versions. The price difference fluctuates, but the engineered diamonds can be as much as 50 to 60% less than a similar mined diamond.

That’s where one of the main downsides comes in. Because these are man-made diamonds, the jury is still out on whether they will hold their value as well as natural diamonds, which are in limited supply. Or are they?

Naturally created diamonds may not be as rare as the public is led to believe, according to the International Gem Society, who says gemologists consider diamonds one of the more common gems. The De Beers Corporation took over basically all the diamond mining operations in the 1930s and started an incredibly successful marketing campaign touting diamonds as precious and rare. Because De Beers owned the mines, they had single-handed control over how much of the diamond supply was released, which means they also maintained control of diamond pricing.

That started to change in the late 20th Century, when countries like Australia and Russia ended their contracts with De Beers and started selling diamonds independently.

In the early 2000s, De Beers agreed to stop stockpiling diamonds and pled guilty to federal pricefixing charges.

The company still controls nearly 40% of the world’s diamond supply, and while they can’t fix the prices like they did when they had a monopoly, other diamond sellers continue to follow De Beers’ pricing strategies for the most part.

The fact that prices for naturally created diamonds was artificially inflated for decades makes the future value of those diamonds uncertain.

Are Lab-grown Diamonds Good for the Environment?

There’s no clear picture about any potential negative impact of engineered diamonds on the environment, outside of energy use. Lab-grown diamonds require the use of energy to be created, which means they likely produce greenhouse gases. However, they are considered considerably more environmentally friendly than mining naturally created diamonds. Some lab diamond manufacturers are starting to seek sustainability certifications, enabling them to promote their products as climate neutral.

The same can’t be said for diamond mining. The mining process requires energy as well – the BBC reports an estimated 250 tons of earth is moved for each carat of diamond mined, with more than 100 million carats mined in 2021. Pollution of water sources that people use has been connected to the acid mine drainage from diamond mining.

Where’s the Main Value?

Budget-friendly lab-grown diamonds may never carry the same financial value as regular diamonds, but their main value lies in the emotion behind the engagement ring. When you wear a ring you love that was given to you by the person you plan to spend your life with, it no longer matters whether the diamond was mined or created in a lab – what matters is the sentiment behind it. WGW

Budget-friendly lab-grown diamonds may never carry the same financial value as regular diamonds, but their main value lies in the emotion behind the engagement ring.

Shaking Up the Processional

Walking down the aisle your way

Expectations for weddings have definitely (and often thankfully!) taken a more modern turn. Making the details of your special day reflect who you are as a couple has become paramount to many brides who choose to stray from convention. This includes the bride’s walk down the aisle.

Brides choose creative processionals for various reasons. Maybe you’re an introvert who isn’t comfortable with all that attention directed your way. Perhaps your family circumstances don’t make sense for a father-daughter walk. Or, you could want the groom to be more involved rather than taking a second seat by waiting for you at the front.

There’s no right or wrong way to walk down the aisle – in fact, you don’t even need an actual aisle, if that’s not your thing (think ceremony circle for a small gathering). Find your own groove to get to the altar, keeping your venue in mind as well as your personal preferences.

Group Effort

If it doesn’t feel right to have just your dad walk you down the aisle, many options exist to include

family in that special moment. Maybe you want it to be both your mom and dad, or possibly your father and your stepfather. It could be your brother, sister or a favorite uncle. Make it a group effort by asking your entire immediate family to join you on your journey to marital bliss.

If family dynamics don’t allow for those options, enlist your best friend, or friends, for the job. Or, give the groom the honor of starting out your lives together at the beginning of the aisle instead of at the end.

Music

Music is a deeply personal choice, and many brides struggle with musical selections for the ceremony.

The traditional wedding processional is recognizable across the country, but you have unlimited options for the song you choose.

Classical music fits more formal-style weddings, such as “Ode to Joy.” More casual events allow for choices such as your favorite song, a popular modern love song, the song you and the groom

Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography

claim as your own or an unexpected dance number. Yes, you can dance your way down the aisle. It is the happiest of days, after all! And not just you –give the bridal party some leeway to get their own grooves on as they make their way to the altar.

For a touch of surprise, seat the bridal party among the guests, and orchestrate a flash-mob style dance with the bride joining in partway through. Coordinate the choreography so you all end up at the front as the music ends.

Pets

Not to be left out, let your favorite pet be your aisle partner. Not only will this make for some unforgettable photos, but having your furry friend close to you might help you focus away from your nerves and onto her instead.

Ask the venue about their pet policies before making this your top choice. And remember that you’ll need to hand your pet off to someone after you reach the altar, so have a friend or family member ready to take that responsibility. It’s a good idea to practice walking down the aisle a couple of times so it’s not a surprise to your pet, just to make sure she doesn’t get spooked during the moment of truth.

No Center Aisle

Some venues have two side aisles instead of one center aisle. This leads to a couple of conundrums – should the bride enter down one aisle, and exit down the other? Should the bridal party walk down one side while the bride walks down the other? There’s no right or wrong way to handle this scenario, but there are a couple of more modern options.

Instead of just the bride walking down the aisle, what if the groom does, as well? The bride and groom can walk down the separate aisles at the

same time, meeting together at the altar. Another option is to skip the aisles altogether, and instead come in from the sides of the altar – the groom and groomsmen on one side, and the bride and bridesmaids on the other.

This is especially attractive if you aren’t comfortable being the center of attention and prefer to share that with the groom.

Bouquet Building

A touching idea is to build your own bouquet as you walk down the aisle. Cut the flowers you choose to the correct length, and have a friend hand them out to strategic people of your choice. Decide on the people either randomly based on where they are sitting, or strategically place the people of your choice – such as aunts and cousins – along the aisle from the back to the front.

As you enter the venue, stop at each person with a flower so they can give it to you. They can all be on one side of the aisle, or you can bounce from side to side.

By the time you get to the front, you should have a lovely handheld bouquet. Stick to one or two types of flowers, such as just red roses or white lilies mixed with roses.

You shouldn’t have to think about arranging them as you take them – they should all look good together when they are randomly placed in your hand.

Ask your maid of honor to have a hidden hair elastic with her – she can quietly wrap it around the stems when you hand your bouquet to her, making a secure bouquet for you to carry with you after the ceremony.

That’s the beauty of a special wedding procession – you have the opportunity to mix tradition with modern trends, adding a dash of your unique personality, to create an unforgettable experience for you, your groom and your guests. WGW

Let your favorite pet be your aisle partner.

Bridal showers tend to bring groups together who have never met before, usually mixing the bride and groom’s families and friends. Whether you plan a couple’s wedding shower or a bridal shower just for the ladies, chances are you need a way to get people to mingle a bit – and kill a little time. That’s where bridal shower games come to the rescue.

Bridal Shower

A good guideline is to plan one to two games for every hour of the shower. This keeps guests from feeling overwhelmed, but it gives them enough entertainment to keep the shower fun and interesting for everyone.

Not everyone enjoys games at bridal showers, so make them all optional. Spread them out in case someone is a bit nervous to join at the beginning, but decides later to be part of the fun.

Do you have to play games at the shower? Not at all! But offering different types of games brings a bit of whimsy to the day and ensures everyone who wants to participate can find at least one game they want to join in.

Ice Breakers

This game style requires your guests to interact with each other. You typically do these games near the beginning of the shower, helping guests who don’t know each other find a connection so they feel more comfortable.

Find the Guest is an easy game that helps everyone mingle. There are a couple of ways to play it.

One is to make a list of characteristics you know about the guests. Write one characteristic per slip of paper, and drop the slips in a bowl so guests can pick one. Guests have to walk around and ask people if they have that characteristic. These might be that the person raises Frenchies, or that they have five children. Use some characteristics that might apply to multiple people, such as being married for at least five years or working from home.

The second way is kind of like a scavenger hunt. Each guest gets a paper with a list of characteristics, and they have to find the people who match the items on the list and write their names beside them. The first one to finish the list wins.

Activity Games

Getting guests up and moving helps them meet new people, and watching the games can be just as entertaining as participating in them. The toilet paper wedding dress game is a classic, where you break guests into teams and have them wrap a dress of toilet paper around one of their teammates under a tight time constraint.

Another idea is a couple of rounds of bride trivia. Create some categories and answers ahead of time, and have three contestants at a time try to raise their hands the fastest to answer the questions they know.

You can also create a version of a ring toss game, where you have either large gold circles (think bangle size) or circles made of nautical rope. Have guests toss the rings over a crate holding nine long-neck bottles. Have two people competing at once –whoever lands three in a row first is the winner of that round. As an added bonus to this game, ask your guests to bring their

Games to the rescue

favorite bottle of wine as a shower gift, and use those bottles for the ring toss.

Passive Games

This type of game allows everyone to participate without much interaction – try to include at least one or two of these games so even your most introverted friend can jump in and have some fun. Most of these require paper and pencil and are completed individually.

One example is gift bingo – but instead of writing “BINGO” at the top, spell “BRIDE.” Ask the guests to fill in the boxes below the letters with ideas of what gifts they think you’ll be receiving at the shower, such as towels, baking dishes or money. When the bride starts opening gifts, guests can check off the items they listed until someone gets five in a row.

Or, try Name that Tune, using only love songs the couple has picked out. Have guests write down the name of the song and the artist, and whoever gets the most right is the winner.

A Which One? game usually ends in laughs. Write down a list of relationship-oriented statements, and ask guests to mark whether it applies to the bride or the groom. It could be who said “I love you” first,

or who’s most likely to hog the covers, or which one is the better cook. The guest with the most correct answers wins.

Prizes

With any game you choose, doling out prizes for the winners adds an element of competition to the fun. Bring at least two prizes for each game you plan, since it’s possible you could have a tie. The gifts could be coffee shop gift cards, novelty socks, cute reusable water bottles or beauty products such as bath bombs or face scrubs. These don’t have to be expensive – even a $5 gift card is enough.

Door Prizes

If your budget allows, offer a couple of door prizes as well. These prizes can be the same as the gift ones, but ask the guests to complete a task to qualify.

This might be writing words of advice, or it could be the guests sharing a favorite memory of the bride or groom. They put these on slips of paper they drop in a bowl to be drawn out as door prizes. This gives the bride a memorable gift to take with her while adding a sense of anticipation to the day. WGW

WE CATER TO NEWLYWEDS AND THEIR FAMILIES • IN-HOUSE CATERING SERVICES PERFECT VENUE FOR FAMILY GATHERINGS • SPACIOUS SPLIT BANQUET ROOM FULL ACCOMODATIONS FOR PARTIES AS FEW AS 25 AND UP TO 150 GUESTS OVER 3,000 SQUARE FEET OF BANQUET SPACE AND SO MUCH MORE!

Background: The Chapel at The Venue at Twin Oaks in Bremen, Ga.

Photos by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography

Models: Kirby Cargal, Madison Young

Dress: Simple Elegance Bridal, Bowdon Ga.

Bouquet: H&A Bloom Studio, Rockmart, Ga.

Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa, Carrollton, Ga.

The Venue at Twin Oaks Local Luxury:

Most people don’t look at a barn and see its incredible potential, but Steven and Katie Sapp did. When they bought the 53-acre property now known as The Venue at Twin Oaks, there was a working horse barn, a onestory, two-bedroom house and a large lawnmower shed.

They had a powerful vision for the property, which today features their updated house – now a twostory home – the renovated shed that serves as the Cottage, the climate-controlled, 5000-square-foot barn to host receptions, the new Cave, the Chapel and a Treehouse. They also have a greenhouse, creek, pasture and wooded areas on the land.

Working Through the Unexpected

The Sapps bought the property with the idea of creating a wedding venue. The first wedding onsite was in 2019, and in February 2020, they brought on Director of Events Delena Massey.

The next month, the world shut down for the pandemic, leaving the new venue with some difficult decisions.

“Steven and I met, and we agreed to leave it up to the brides on what they wanted to do,” Delena shares. “The beauty of Twin Oaks is there is lots of outdoor space so we could space people out.”

Initially, they gave brides the option of continuing with a smaller wedding, often just immediate family, or to come back at later date. “We wanted them to

be happy, and we talked it through with each bride,” she says. “Weddings were smaller for a while, but with so much outdoor space, we left it up to the bride. We would adapt to meet their needs.”

The venue is built to accommodate up to 200 guests. The number of guests dropped across the industry during the pandemic, but it’s started to rise again. “There used to be a rule we’d follow for planning purposes that 70 to 75 percent of guests would attend,” Delena explains. “Up until last summer, the wedding count had really reduced. Starting about July, we started seeing good sizes on the guests lists again, which is nice – the bride does all that planning and invites special people, and we want bride to have what she wants, so we want as many of them to come out as possible.”

The Venue

Delena says each piece of the property has something special about it. “The Cottage is such a quaint, intimate space for the bride and her girls to get ready, and for mom and bride photos. The Cave is masculine, and you get really good manly photo opportunities up there. We just reworked the Chapel last January, and the modern, unique features are breathtaking to me. Steven has an amazing eye for design,” Delena comments. “He is constantly upgrading the venue, keeping ahead of the trends, keeping it modernized and adding new things.”

She explains that the barn’s décor enables it to be

The Venue at Twin Oaks has a renovated shed that serves as the Bridal Cottage, a climate-controlled, 5000-square-foot barn to host receptions, a Man Cave, a Chapel and a Treehouse. Twin Oaks also has a greenhouse (inset photos), creek, pasture and wooded areas on the 53-acre property.

Models: Kirby Cargal and Jenna Burton Dress: DownTown Gowns, Carrollton, Ga. Bouquet and floral centerpiece: H&A Bloom Studio, Rockmart, Ga. Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa

flexible to meet the bride’s design ideas. “It can go rustic or modern and contemporary, whatever the bride wants. The bride can decorate over the top or be minimal on décor, and it still looks beautiful,” she shares.

There are two ceremony

There are two ceremony sites – indoors in the Chapel (left), or outdoors at the twin oaks right outside the barn (photo of barn on page 26). The climate-controlled chapel can seat up to 200 people.

sites – indoors in the Chapel, or outdoors at the twin oaks right outside the barn, which is where the name of the venue came from. The barn serves as the reception area.

When a couple books a wedding at The Venue at Twin Oaks, they get the entire facility for their whole wedding day, from 9 am to 11 pm. They receive an extra hour the day before for the rehearsal, and the couples have the option of renting the barn for a rehearsal dinner if there’s no event scheduled for that evening.

Staying Overnight

An extra service The Venue at Twin Oaks offers is the ability to stay the night before the wedding. The Cottage and Cave sleep eight people each. Overnight stays are an additional expense, but it allows the wedding party to enjoy each other’s company the night before the wedding, straight on the heels of the rehearsal.

“Steven came up with that idea,” Delena shares. “His whole goal is they get this day one time. This

The Venue at Twin Oaks has a climate-controlled, 5,000-square-foot barn to host receptions. Top left: The barn's outdoor dance floor. Top right: Couples can make a grand exit in front of the barn. Bottom left: The barn's indoor dance floor and bar area. Bottom right: The barn's reception area. Models: Brannon Fowler and Jenna Burton. Dress: DownTown Gowns, Carrollton, Ga.

An extra service the Venue at Twin Oaks offers is the ability to stay the night before the wedding. The Cottage (above) and Cave (right) sleep eight people each. Overnight stays are an additional expense, but it allows the wedding party to enjoy each other’s company the night before the wedding, straight on the heels of the rehearsal.

Model: Brannon Fowler

Truck: Richard Turnbull, UK2U Discos and Events, Carrollton, Ga.

is pretty much the only time the groom and his best friends, and the bride and her best friends, are all together. Odds are it won’t happen again. His idea was to make places they can all stay together and make it memorable for longer than just the ceremony.”

The Treehouse is a secluded place for the bride and groom to scoot off to after their send-off, and it has everything they need for their honeymoon night, including the peaceful sound of the creek below.

“You don’t know you’re in Bremen – you think you’re in the mountains somewhere,” Delena mentions. “We offer a couple of packages for the Treehouse, from basic to ultimate romance. The package you choose changes the ambiance when the bride and groom come in.”

Overnight stay options after the wedding depend on whether there is another event scheduled for the next day. “Since the venue is available at 9 am for the next wedding, we want to give that couple the

option to stay over the night of their rehearsal as well,” she says.

Brides are Not Alone

The staff at The Venue at Twin Oaks take their time to ensure brides feel as comfortable as possible. They take them on an initial tour, and then do a 30-day-prior walkthrough with the brides.

“On the walkthrough, it’s almost like another tour, so we go through details like how the bride wants tables arranged, what arch they want in the chapel, if they want the cornhole boards out, where they want the welcome table, what their plan is for dancing (inside or outside) – all the fine little details,” Delena explains. “Most brides come in nervous and confused, not sure how to put the whole day together, then have a smile on their face when they leave because they can start to see what their day will look like.”

The Cave

The Cave is the perfect place for the men to relax the day of the event, or for the entire wedding party to hang out the night before the wedding.

Models: Top left: Brannon Fowler, center, Kirby Cargal and top right, Madison Young. Dress: Simple Elegance Bridal, Bowdon, Ga. Madison's hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa, Carrollton, Ga

The Venue at Twin Oaks' Cottage is a quaint, intimate space for the for the bride and her bridesmaids to get ready before the wedding.

The Cottage

Models: Top left, center and bottom right: Madison Young, Simple Elegance Bridal, Bowdon, Ga.

Top right and bottom left: Jenna Burton, DownTown Gowns, Carrollton, Ga. Bouquet: H&A Bloom Studio, Rockmart, Ga Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa, Carrollton, Ga.

Delena says the initial tours can be overwhelming. Many brides bring their parents, and they often ask similar questions.

“Many want to know if they have to clean up, where their cake will be, and what the day-of coordinator does,” she explains. “They want to know how the bride and guests get to the chapel – we have carts and staff who greet guests and can give rides to the chapel, or guests can follow the concrete walkway with arches to the building.”

She shares that her being available is key to helping ease brides’ concerns. “I keep the venue phone at all times and will help brides throughout the entire process if they have questions – they can call, text or email me anytime, and I’ll answer as quickly as possible.”

As an extra level of service, the venue sends each bride who signs a contract with them a large packet that answers most questions brides have, including information they didn’t know they needed.

“The packet includes information on what size the stage is for the DJ and where his outlets are, how long the aisle is in the chapel, and other questions brides don’t think to ask on the tour. Between that packet and my accessibility, which I think is very important, they’re going to get answers to all of their questions.”

What It Costs

Pricing includes an hour for rehearsal prior to the wedding, the use of the entire facility the day of the wedding, the expertise of a day-of coordinator, one bartender, and setting up the tables and chairs. The staff also wipe down the tables and chairs at the end of the night – family members don’t have to stay and clean.

Friday pricing starts at $6500, and the venue can book your wedding any day of the week – weekdays are often cheaper.

The venue provides a list of preferred vendors, who are vendors that have worked well at either The Venue at Twin Oaks or their sister property, The Venue at Buchanan Square. This includes florists, caterers, transportation, photographers and DJs, among others.

“We want every vendor, including ourselves, to make a positive impression on the bride and groom,” Delena states. “We want every vendor to sell themselves, and not be routine – we want our staff to make it feel like it’s the very first wedding they’ve ever worked on because that positive attitude rubs off on bride and groom.”

Twin Oaks offers décor packages as an additional paid service. There are several packages available

Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography

that the staff will set up and clean up. These might include table runners, dried floral centerpieces, and various table decorations. “I think we’re a high-end venue, but the pricing is very budget-friendly for everything they get,” she says.

Delena says if she had to pick one favorite thing about the venue, it would be the people she works with. “We have an amazing staff. We train our staff well. We have several staff the day of the wedding

to assist, and they are very hospitable. Between the day-of coordinator, team leader and other staff members, we try to cover anything that could come up so the bride and the family are stressed as little as possible. Many times, they don’t even know issues come up – we just solve them.” WGW

To learn more about the Venue at Twin Oaks, or their sister venue, the Venue at Buchanan Square, visit www.thevenueattwinoaks.com or call 470.420.9429.

The Treehouse is a secluded place for the bride and groom to scoot off to after their sendoff, and it has everything they need for their honeymoon night, including the peaceful sound of the creek below. Models: Brannon Fowler and Jenna Burton. Dress: DownTown Gowns, Carrollton, Ga. Bouquet: H&A Bloom Studio, Rockmart, Ga. Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa, Carrollton, Ga.

Finding Your Perfect Match –Of Outfits, That Is!

You’ve picked your perfect match, the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, and picking out ways to match on your wedding day brings an element of whimsy to the event. At the same time, if it’s done right, the coordination shows not only how close you two are, but how well you can photograph together – because there will be a never-ending stream of picture taking going on.

The idea isn’t to match perfectly. If the bride is all in white and so is the groom, neither can really stand out. Instead, try to coordinate colors, textures and accessories so you appear united – not just in matrimony, but also aesthetically.

Color. Coordinating colors is one of the easiest ways to pull your outfits together as a couple. If the bride’s dress has a colored sash, match the groom’s tie or pocket square to that color. When the bride is all in white, the flowers or ribbon in her bouquet

Made

can match the groom’s tie. Maybe the groom prefers a different color tuxedo rather than black – bring that into your ensemble by wearing shoes the same shade (who says the shoes have to be white?), or for a more subtle touch, add that color into your eye shadow palette.

Style. Coordinating your styles is more about the overall feel of the outfits. If the bride is ultra formal complete with a veil and train, having the groom arrive in jeans and a sport coat might seem out of place. Instead, the bride could wear a short headpiece and knee-length dress that offers a more casual feel. Say the bride is wearing a flowing boho dress that has a 70s vibe. Maybe the groom wears a more casual linen suit, or no jacket at all – just a dress shirt, bow tie and suspenders to round out his look. To add a little touch of fun, stray a bit from the ultra-formal and pick out a pair of Converse sneakers for both of you. These come in a variety of colors, including lacy white versions.

Texture. Coordinating textures is a subtle, gentle way to match your mate on your wedding day. Is there a vine of ivy pattern in the lace of the bridal gown? The groom’s suit can include a vest that has a similar pattern, either in a different color than the vest or as a tone-on-tone look. Matching fabric styles helps bring cohesiveness as well. A shiny dress, such as silk, could be reflected in the groom’s tie fabric, for example. If her dress has a tulle skirt, ask the florist to add a touch of similar tulle to the groom’s boutonniere. Ask the groom whether he’s wearing patent leather shoes or ones that are more of a matte finish, then match the finish of your own shoes with his.

Jewelry. Grooms don’t often wear much jewelry to their weddings, but if there’s a piece he wants to wear, it’s easy to match something of your own. His gold watch can be reflected in a gold bracelet for you. Or, his cuff links with small sapphires might help you pick something blue of your own, such as earrings. Your wedding rings, of course, can match if you like. These serve as symbols of your love and commitment for the world to see, and it’s one way for the two of you to match long after the wedding festivities end. WGW

How to coordinate the bride’s and groom’s clothes on your wedding day

Proposal, Then Paperwork

How and when to get your marriage license

Before you can start the fun part of having a wedding, you must first make it legal. While this may seem trivial, getting your marriage license before the ceremony is required in all 50 states. Georgia makes getting a marriage license simple, but laws vary in other states.

License vs. Certificate

A marriage license and marriage certificate are two different documents. A marriage license gives you legal permission to get married – it’s basically an application you file with the state. It has places for you to sign in front of the court clerk, as well as for the officiant to sign at the ceremony. In some states, a witness or two must sign as well, although that’s not required in Georgia.

When your wedding is complete, the officiant will sign and submit the license to the court. The court clerk processes the completed license and prepares the marriage certificate, which is your proof that you are legally married. They typically mail you the marriage certificate a month or so after receiving the completed license.

How to Get a License

In Georgia, couples must go in person to a Probate Court office to apply for a marriage license.

If one of you is a Georgia resident, you can apply in any county in the state. This is handy if you live in Carroll County but are planning a destination wedding to be married in Savannah, for example. If the bride and groom are both non-residents, they must apply in the county where they plan to be married.

Each county has its own method of applying for a marriage license, so call the Probate Court ahead to be sure you know the process. Some counties allow walk-ins during business hours, which means no appointment is necessary, but it can also mean long wait times on occasion.

Other counties require you to call and make an appointment to come in, while others ask that you mail in the application first, and the court will call you when they receive it to schedule your in-person signature.

Documents You Need

Georgia requires relatively basic information to award you a marriage license. You need:

• Identification. This could be a driver’s license, passport, or similar document that counts as a photo ID. You must be 18 to get a marriage license in Georgia, so they will be checking your birthdate. Review the list on the county’s

website where you plan to apply for your license to ensure you bring the correct form of identification.

• Proof of dissolved previous marriages. If you’ve been divorced or widowed, this applies to you. Bring official proof of your divorce, typically your final divorce decree, or if you’re widowed, the death certificate of your previous spouse.

• Premarital counseling certificate. Check your county’s Probate Court website to see if the county offers a discount on marriage licenses if you complete their premarital counseling course. Carroll County does, for example – their marriage license fees are $36 if you have completed the counseling, and $76 if you haven’t. Fees vary across the state but tend to stay below $100.

• Payment. Some counties only accept cash, money orders or checks, while others accept debit cards or credit cards. Not all counties accept personal checks or certain credit cards, so make sure before you go.

What’s not required anymore? Blood tests. Georgia required them until 2003, but the law changed in July of that year. The State recommends that couples obtain their own blood tests for sickle cell disease prior to obtaining a marriage license, but it’s not required.

Waiting Period

Georgia has no waiting period for you to obtain your license – some states require you to apply, then wait a few days before you can come in and sign. There’s no waiting period after you obtain a license in Georgia, either – you can go get married that same day, if you like.

Georgia marriage licenses never expire. You can plan ahead and get your license as early as you want so you don’t have to feel rushed closer to your wedding day.

Other States

Laws vary, so check the requirements in the county where you plan to be married if you’re going out of state. Some states make you wait three to five days after you’ve signed the marriage license in person before you can legally wed, which means you’d need to be there several days early.

Like with Georgia, the application process differs

– they might require you to start an application online, mail one in, or wait in line as a walk-in.

Some require you provide additional documentation, like a Social Security card or birth certificate, as well as your photo ID.

Some states, like North Dakota, also require you to have witnesses with you when you apply for a marriage license. If you don’t know anyone in that state, call the county Probate Court to ask their advice – they likely have people in their office that will sign as witnesses for you. Other states, such as Delaware, require witnesses at the ceremony itself.

Popular Destinations

Whether you’re planning to elope or have a small, out-of-state ceremony, a few destinations are popular for people from West Georgia.

• Gatlinburg. Only a few easy hours away, Gatlinburg offers adorable wedding chapels and scenic views. Sevier County, Tenn., encourages you to fill out the marriage license pre-application online before you head into town. They have three locations that provide marriage licenses – currently on a walk-in basis, but check ahead to be sure appointments aren’t required – and one of the locations offers Saturday hours. There’s no waiting period, so you can be married the same day you receive your license, but it expires after 30 days. If your wedding happens more than 30 days after your license is issued, you’ll need to reapply and pay the fee again.

• Florida. The beach offers an element of relaxation and peacefulness to your wedding. If you’re going to the beach in Florida, the laws differ depending on whether the bride or

groom is a Florida resident. If both are nonresidents, there is no waiting period, and you can be married the same day you receive your license. If one is a resident, you must either take a premarital counseling course or wait three days after you receive your license to be wed. You can apply in any county in Florida, regardless of where in the state you plan to marry. Licenses are valid for 60 days after issuance. In Bay County, where Panama City Beach is located, you have two options: in person or virtual appointments. All their documents are on their website, allowing you to fill them out and email them

to the Probate Court. They’ll contact you to set up a video conference, or you can come to the court in person on a walk-in basis.

• Vegas, baby! While you can’t just walk into a Vegas chapel and be married right away like Hollywood leads us to believe, it is incredibly easy to obtain your license in Vegas. There’s no waiting period, and the license is valid for one year. Fill out the application online (which stays in their system for a year, so you can submit it before you hop on the plane), then go in person to one of the several marriage license centers as a walk-in. The centers have various business hours, but the main Clark County Marriage License Bureau location is open 365 days a year from 8 am-midnight, including every holiday. The state requires at least one witness sign the license at the ceremony in addition to the officiant, so if you’re eloping, ask your venue if they can provide a witness for you.

WGW

It’s the Journey … and the Destination!

Adding transportation to your budget takes your wedding to the next level

Making a grand entrance can start before you even reach your venue, depending on the transportation you choose. This item is often overlooked as you dig through your binder of cake flavors, dress options, flower choices and venue selections, but the transportation you choose for before, during and after your wedding helps make your day that much more special.

Depending on your venue, arriving in style makes sense. When it’s a local wedding that’s outdoors or has a space the guests can wait outside before the ceremony, brides can choose to arrive dressed and ready for the ceremony, so the first glance anyone has of you is as you exit the vehicle. If it’s a destination wedding, setting up transportation ahead of time could be even more essential because you won’t have your own car.

Many couples choose venues that serve double duty, housing the ceremony and the reception. But if your ceremony and reception are in two different locations, transportation for you and the guests should be on your radar early.

Also, when you have guests staying in hotels, shuttles help them get to and from the wedding

safely and easily.

After the reception, the guests enjoy offering last-minute well wishes as they send you off on your adventure as a married couple. All eyes are on you, making it an ideal time to fancy up the getaway vehicle.

There might be more transportation options than you think, so add this piece to your wedding planning binder.

Limousines and Shuttle Services

This classic option never goes out of style, although the style is changing. It still exudes luxury and sophistication, and it enable you to bring all your bridesmaids and guests with you. Instead of thinking stretch limo, though, think more about a luxury vehicle, recommends Bolt Transportation General Manager Shawn Attison.

“People see ‘limo’ and think stretch limo,” she explains. “But the industry itself is moving away from the stretch limo. In addition to being limited on where it can go, it’s not as safe as sprinter vans or party buses. If you want the nostalgia of a limousine,

Photos: Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography. Models: Brannon Fowler and Jenna Burton. Luxury vehicle: Bolt Transportation, Carrollton, Ga. Dress: DownTown Gowns, Carrollton, Ga. Boutonnière: H&A Bloom Studio, Rockmart, Ga. Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa, Carrollton, Ga.

try an executive-style van with comfortable captain’s chairs and flat screen TVs. That’s happening more and more. Some mini-buses have wraparound seating like stretch limos, but they are overall much safer.”

Shawn says so many venues in West Georgia are farms, and stretch limos typically aren’t able to navigate dirt and gravel roads, or uneven surfaces. But other luxury vehicles offer the same high-end comfort and experience with more safety and versatility.

“We offer luxury SUVs, including a Yukon and Escalade, which both seat four to five passengers. We also have sprinter vans and executive vans, which give you the option of captain’s chairs for all six to 14 passengers, or bench seats that fit up to 10 passengers,” she shares. “You can step up into them, which makes getting in and out easier, and enjoy flat screen TVs, snacks and drinks. We’ve been so busy that we’re about to buy a 25-passenger bus to provide the best possible service to our customers.”

Shawn says they offer several types of services for weddings, including shuttle services for bachelorette and bachelor parties, wedding guests and exit vehicles for the happy couple.

“So many weddings in West Georgia are destination weddings,” she explains. “Even if you’re somewhat local, like from the other side of Atlanta, you don’t want to drive that far late at night to get home. That’s why brides provide shuttle service to and from the wedding, and let their guests basically have a mini-vacation. If you’re going to have an open bar at your reception, especially, it’s best to have transportation for the attendees to their hotel. Spend your budget on allowing friends and family to completely enjoy your celebration by providing that transportation for them.”

For couples who want an exit vehicle, Bolt Transportation provides the luxury Yukon and Escalade SUVs. Shawn estimates it’s nearly three times as expensive for couples to rent a stretch limo for an hour than it is to rent one of Bolt

Transportation’s luxury SUVs. She recommends saving that money to transport family and friends so they can fully celebrate and get safely to the wedding and back to their hotel.

“For West Georgia, I’d say seven out of 10 brides and grooms have a special wedding exit planned, and often it’s a fake sendoff where they get in our Escalade or Yukon,” she says. “They go back to their hotel, or to their home if they’re local. The other three out of 10 get transported to a hotel near the airport so they can leave on their honeymoon the next morning.”

Bolt Transportation offers several options for your big day, where you can pay by the day or the trips you need. “Typically, we sell five hours of shuttle service for most weddings, but we often end up providing six hours at no additional charge,” Shawn explains.

“That’s two hours before the wedding and three hours around the end of the reception. For a van, that’s $830. If you need the bridal party to arrive earlier, you can buy one more hour. That’s often early, like 8:30 am. A couple of hours later, you can buy another hour of shuttle service to get the groom and groomsmen to the venue to start getting ready.” She says people usually start leaving the reception relatively early, especially grandparents and parents of small children.

“We pick them up, then continue to offer shuttle service back to the hotels until everyone gets home,” she shares. “This sometimes runs over the contracted hours, but with my service, we make sure everyone gets back to the hotel safely. We often provide a transportation coordinator as well so they will say, ‘Your service is fantastic!’ That’s what you do when you own a small-town company.”

Party Bus

Party buses offer a bit more room than standard shuttle buses if you have to move large numbers of people. These often fit 25 to 35 people and are tall enough to stand up inside – or to dance, if that’s on

Photo: Luxury SUVs and vans offer the same high-end comfort and experience as limos, but with more safety and versatility, says Shawn Attison (driver in photo), General Manager of Bolt Transportation, LLC., West Georgia's premier chauffered car and van service.

the agenda.

The bus typically comes stocked with snacks and drinks. Most have Bluetooth availability so you can connect your own wedding playlist.

Party buses usually have a minimum rental time, often four hours. If your main goal is to get the wedding party to the venue together, or to shuttle your guests from one location to another, you might not need that much time, but you’d need to pay for it, regardless. On the other hand, it’s probably not enough time to get you to the wedding and back to your accommodations – most ceremonies and receptions last longer than four hours, so you could end up paying for more time, even though the bus is sitting empty for most of it.

Where the party bus really shines is when you’re having a small, intimate ceremony with just a few family and friends in attendance. There’s no need to rent a reception venue – instead, let everyone hop on the party bus after the ceremony to help you celebrate your nuptials in an unconventional but unforgettable way.

Cool Car

If a fantastic photo opp is your main goal, check into renting a car you love. This might be a classic car that makes a vintage statement or a sleek convertible sports car.

Whether you pull up in this vehicle or leave as a new couple when the reception ends, pick a car that matches your personalities as well as the overall feel of the wedding.

You could need some help if you rent a car – draft a friend who’s not in the wedding party to be your driver, if your plan is to be dropped at the ceremony.

If you’re using the car when you leave, plan ahead to have someone pull it up to the doorway for you, and make a plan for returning the vehicle, especially if you’re headed straight from the reception to your honeymoon. One note about renting a car – it probably goes against the rental contract to decorate the car with “Just Married” signs and cans, so make sure your family and friends know that’s off limits.

Unless they happen to have a cool car you can borrow instead …

If a fantastic photo opp is your main goal, check into renting a car you love.

Models: Kirby Cargal and Madison Young Venue: The Venue at Twin Oaks, Bremen, Ga.

Truck: Richard Turnbull, UK2U Discos and Events, Carrollton, Ga. Bouquet: H&A Bloom Studio, Rockmart, Ga. Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa, Carrollton, Ga.

Carriage

Part of the quintessential princess-style wedding dream is to arrive in a horse-drawn carriage, and that’s certainly an option for your fairy tale wedding. The pomp and circumstance surrounding your arrival in a carriage would be idyllic, and the photos of you and your groom leaving in a carriage could be spectacular.

Carriages give you the royal treatment all year, but consider the weather when you plan your special arrival. Open carriages work best in the temperate months, while carriages with tops keep you sheltered from rain or summer sun. Grand entrances by carriage in the winter give you the added bonus of picking out a fancy faux fur stole to add some glamour to your wedding ensemble, or even a fluffy hand muff with soft flannel lining. Have a conversation with your horse and carriage provider about your dress to ensure they know your exact needs for entering and exiting the vehicle.

Plan ahead so they know how to accommodate you if you have a ballgown-style wedding dress, for example, that might keep you from seeing the steps as you exit – they can make sure to have a hand to guide you down the steps gracefully for your fairy tale entrance.

Unusual Modes of Transportation

For the more adventurous types, consider something that is personal as your wedding day transportation, such as arriving on a motorcycle or riding a horse. Maybe you want to share a tandem bike with your groom, or have him carry you off into the sunset on his tractor.

Weddings near water could lend themselves to boats, either a row boat or the power kind. Or, surprise your guests by landing in a helicopter or hot air balloon, if the venue location can accommodate that. WGW

Make Sure You Click

and travel expenses, explains West Georgia Woman photographer Zach

planning your wedding, the day itself often becomes a giant blur. Not only are you filled with emotion, but with so many people to give attention to, there’s no way you can notice every detail of the day.

This makes your photographer one of your most valuable assets – you only have one chance to get the photos you and your family can enjoy for the rest of your life, so this is the one place in your planning where you should slow down, set realistic expectations and pick exactly the right person.

Start planning for a photographer as soon as you set your date. Look for posted rates online to give you an idea of how much of your budget you should realistically set aside, knowing you may need to shift that number when you choose your photographer.

Photography is usually one of the larger wedding expenses, often second only to the venue. In addition to the huge time commitment – usually on site all day, sometimes for 12 hours, plus days of work editing the photos – photographers often pay for extra equipment rental, additional photographers

extend the editing time, like the weather knocking out the power.

“It’s best to sit down and coordinate what is expected or needed and what to do about acts of God,” Zach suggests. “Usually these types of things are discussed in a contract between the photographer and the client. Also, if your wedding is during the busiest part of the year when we are booked back-to-back, sometimes you can expect a longer wait. It's usually faster during the winter months when most people aren't getting married.”

Let them know your venue and what time of day you’re planning for the ceremony – all that matters because photographers often have preferred lighting scenarios. Some work best outdoors (although high noon is tough lighting for anyone!), and might not have the right equipment for artificial light, while others like soft indoor light the best.

Photo: Zachary Dailey, owner of Dailey Life Photography and photographer for West Georgia Woman magazine, takes photos during our recent bridal shoot. Models: Jenna Burton and Brannon Fowler. Luxury vehicle: Bolt Transportation, Carrollton, Ga. Dress: DownTown Gowns, Carrollton, Ga. Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa, Carrollton, Ga.

Ask to see samples to ensure the photographer’s shooting and editing style matches yours, and get the usage license requirements in writing. The photographer owns the rights to the photos unless he signs the rights over to you, so have an upfront discussion of how you want to use the photos in the future to ensure the photographer’s legal releases give you those rights.

When you’ve picked the right photographer for your special day, make the most of their talent by thinking of the photographer as a partner who can make sure you have a record of the exact moments you want to remember.

Shot List

After you have your wedding day timeline, sit down with your photographer to prepare a shot list. If you’re wanting detail shots, like of the wedding rings place on a Bible, share that wish list. The photographer can help create a timed shot list showing what photos to take in which order – that way, you’re not stopping the reception to take off your rings when the photo could have been taken prior to the ceremony.

At a minimum, let your photographer know who the big players are besides you and the groom –your parents, your children, your grandparents or anyone else you want to make sure appears in the photos. Also, share important moments you want him to photograph, and let him tell you what he needs. For example, when you kiss for the first time as husband and wife, hold the kiss for a few seconds so he can be sure to get the photo. If you have a special couple’s dance planned, let him know if there’s something in particular he should be ready for, like if your husband is lifting you Dirty Dancingstyle at the end.

Ideally, photographers need to know the layout of the land before they start. “It's usually best to get there at least an hour or so early to prepare for the photos so photographers can get the best spots in the area for the shots,” explains Zach. “If I can go a day in advance to look at the venue with permission that would be ideal. Looking at the weather is also a must. You need to prepare accordingly for rain, storms or high winds. Protect that expensive equipment!”

Test Run

Wedding photographers often offer additional services than just the wedding day. Get to know

Zachary Dailey, Photographer for West Georgia Woman Magazine

him, and let him get to know you, by scheduling an engagement photo shoot. You’ll both quickly get an idea if you click, and if it’s a good fit for your big day.

If you don’t need engagement photos, consider family portraits for your test run. And if you really like the photographer, go ahead and book additional shoots, such as capturing you as you leave your hotel to head to your honeymoon, a trash-the-dress session, or a one-year anniversary shoot as well to capture additional memories.

Ask Advice

Your photographer has likely seen dozens of weddings, and he knows what has worked well and what was a disaster. To get the most out of your time with the photographer, ask ahead of time what unique or interesting ideas he has that could turn into priceless photos for you.

He might know that trying to take wedding photos with your family can get cumbersome – instead of one with this set of cousins and that set of aunts and uncles, he might recommend consolidating into a few basic shots. Or, instead of asking grandparents to be included in a photo of everyone jumping, your photographer might recommend keeping the action shots to just the wedding party.

Conversely, his job is creativity, so be open to his ideas. Instead of only photographing the happy couple kissing, he might recommend a tender moment where you touch noses instead. Maybe he suggests a shot of you two opening a bottle of champagne pointed at the camera, framed so the champagne spray is in the forefront of the photo. A

photo you never considered might quickly become one of your favorites.

Multiple Photographers

Depending on the size of your wedding, you might need more than one photographer, so ask if yours brings assistants when necessary. This allows them to get the same shot from different angles – such as you walking down the aisle – and to be in two places at once. One photographer could be capturing your face during the groom’s toast while another photographs his parents to catch their reactions.

This also means you’ll have more candid shots of your guests, which helps you see things, or people, you missed during the ceremony and reception.

Contracts

With any photographer, a contract is a must. Put this in writing, signed in person by both you and the photographer. Outline the time expectations – for example, how long the photographer will be onsite and when you can expect the edited photos – as well as the cost. Include a minimum number of finished photos you expect to be provided with.

Some photographers charge different prices for prints and digital files, so specify that in the contract as well.

Add a rescheduling clause that spells out what happens if you have to postpone your wedding –which no one ever plans to do, but COVID definitely taught us to prepare for the unexpected.

Expect the photographer to work in times for breaks. Photographers need bathroom breaks and a chance to eat – ideally, you would save them a seat during the reception, when everyone is eating so not much is going on that’s photo-worthy, and let them partake in the meal. By setting out specific times when the photographer can take breaks, you ensure the important moments aren’t missed.

“The biggest advice I can give is make sure you sign a contract no matter what the situation, even if it's family,” recommends Zach. “It will help everyone in the long run if needed.” WGW

Photography is usually one of the larger wedding expenses, often second only to the venue.

Truck: UK2U Discos and Events, Carrollton, Ga. Models: Madison Young and Kirby Cargal. Dress: Simple Elegance Bridal, Bowdon, Ga. Bouquet: H&A Bloom Studio, Rockmart, Ga. Photo: Richard Turnbull. Venue: The Venue at Twin Oaks, Bremen, Ga. Hair and makeup: Indulge Salon and Day Spa, Carrollton, Ga.

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We strive to help you celebrate the milestones of your life, from marriage and building a family, to owning your dream home and working towards a secure retirement.

We welcome the opportunity to include you in our financial family!