October 2010 Archive

Imagine my surprise when I called Andrea Taylor last week to talk about our free engagement shoot giveaway for the Something Old Something New event, and she told me that she recently shot Katie + Steve’s wedding at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge!

Katie + Steve had a fun, romantic outdoor wedding at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge complete with a ceremony by the lake and a reception with a live band, sunglasses for the guests, and a bright sparkler exit.

The rehearsal dinner at Reynold’s Plantation the night before the wedding.

Katie and her bridesmaids got ready in a suite at the Ritz-Carlton Lodge.

The guys trying to figure out their bow ties!

Katie + Steve’s first look before the ceremony.

Andrea got some beautiful portraits around the Ritz-Carlton Lodge grounds. There are so many options!

Katie got her veil on, and it was time for the ceremony!

Katie + Steve gave their guests sunglasses to play around with while they drank and danced!

Thanks to Andrea for sharing these photos from the Ritz-Carlton Lodge! I love all of the different location options for portraits and the ceremony and reception. And that could be you! Just go here to see how to win an engagement shoot on the Ritz-Carlton Lodge grounds and be featured on the blog!

Sometimes you just can’t beat a classic, and that’s what the Yuko dress from Lauren by Ralph Lauren is. It’s perfect for upscale rehearsal dinners and bridal teas or as a chic bridesmaid dress.

There is so much to be said for the LBD! Little Black Dresses are so versatile, and this Alexia Admore dress with asymmetrical sequin-covered mesh along the bodice and flattering pleating is so chic. I love it for an upscale rehearsal dinner paired with gold bangles and platform heels.

Also, fashion tangent time! If I have one materialistic love in this world, it’s a dress with pockets. Nothing is more exciting than discovering pockets on a dress as you try it on, or even better, after you’ve already bought it. And don’t even get me started on the awesome that is a bridal gown with pockets! I already loved the neckline of this dress, but I fell even more in love as I scrolled down and spotted the pockets.

One reason we opened the studio was to give brides an up close and personal look at all things weddings: dresses, linens, floral, stationery, etc. It helps to touch and see and experiment with these things in person, and Debra Saba of Luxe Expressions makes experimenting with stationery oh-so-fun! Debra specializes in letterpress designs and printing methods (when the words and art are actually pressed down into the paper instead of just being inked on) and does the best custom artwork. I asked her a few questions and learned about this ex-jet-setting stationery designer!

Photo by Ross Oscar Knight

Q: Why did you join StudioWed?

Debra: I was only 1 year into living in Georgia when I joined StudioWed. Not new to design or my company, just new to Georgia. My husband’s career took us from LA, to Charlotte, NC, to Georgia in the span of 3 years time and so I had to  quickly merge myself into this group of talented Southern design and event world and so StudioWed was truly a blessing. I joined when it first opened its doors and I am here to stay.

Photo by Ross Oscar Knight

Q: Why do you love working with brides?

Debra: From a business perspective, I used to be a Project Manager for a consulting firm and most of my clients were going through merger and acquisitions and so I had years of working with grumpy folks to say the least. I know love working with clients that are coming to me because they are HAPPY! They have a Happy Bride (or Groom) to be glow about them. I adore it.

Q: What’s your favorite trend happening in stationery?

Debra: There are a lot of trends but utilizing hand calligraphy into the invitation and having them letterpress printed gives the invites a WOW factor. I work with one of the best Master Hand Calligraphers to accomplish this.

Q: Do you service events other than weddings?

Debra: Yes of course. We offer baby invitations, social cards, corporate literature, and bar/bat mitzvah invitations. We also offer some “design only” but only take a few of those projects a month.

Photo by Andrea Taylor Studio

Q: What is your favorite quote?

Here’s a tidbit about me, I collect quotes. I know it sounds odd, but I have hundreds of them. I snag them form people’s email address, from those who sent them to me, etc. This is one of my favorites: “Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another. “ — Ernest Hemingway

Q: If you could get remarried today, what would your color scheme be?

Debra: Yellow and Gray. I love this combo.

Q: What is your favorite Atlanta attraction?

Debra: The Aquarium followed by boating on Lake Allatoona.

Q: Did you have another career before going into the wedding industry?

Debra: Sure did, consulting/project management. I got my degree in journalism with a minor in graphic design….had planned to work for a magazine in Chicago but worked a summer job as a beverage cart driver at a golf club before graduation….met the owner of the consulting firm and got sucked in. I loved every minute of it but got tired of the travel. I was what was called “90 percent utilized” meaning I was in a plane going somewhere 90 percent of the year….I was single, to say the least. I now LOVE LOVE LOVE what I do, and would never leave the wedding industry.

Stationery really can set a good event apart from an exceptional event, and the designers at the studio are so awesome at what they do. Thanks, Debra!

Click here to find out how you can win a custom monogram from Luxe Expressions or another StudioWed stationery designer. A free engagement session from a StudioWed photographer is up for grabs, too, so check it out!