Tips for Making the Most of Your Wedding Floral Budget

October 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment

We Used the Same Florals to Create 4 Different Looks

When it comes to a wedding floral budget, most brides have preconceived ideas because they really don’t know what is in season and how much different flowers cost. When doing your research and searching for inspiration, you will likely find that the blooms you love most are either out of season or beyond your floral budget. And if you have peony tastes on a rose budget, that’s okay! This just means it will require some imagination to achieve the look you’re going for while staying within your budget and seasonal restraints.

Our North Georgia vintage venue teamed up with Sarah Bush Designs to show brides how they can achieve various looks within one budget, all while using the same flowers and greenery.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Wedding Floral Budget:

1. Familiarize yourself with similar swaps

Peonies are one of the most sought after flowers, but they are seasonal – much like everything else. Before you write off roses, consider the fact that because they are almost always in season, the price tag won’t be as high. Plus, there are options like the cabbage rose that offer a similar look. Sarah also loves to substitute Juliet roses for peonies, noting, “I recently had a bride who didn’t have the budget for peonies, and we were able to sub in Juliet roses to achieve her vision of soft delicate flowers throughout her bouquet. The prices of roses vary depending on the type and availability throughout the year, but they’re a great flower to start your wedding florals with.

When working with greenery, Sarah says, “I’m almost always able to find eucalyptus and deep greens to design with. I’ll occasionally run through a farmers market and grab kale, rosemary and jasmine. You’d be surprised where some of your wedding florals will come from!”

2. Opt for a few of your favorite blooms, combined with more budget-friendly options

If substituting your favorite flower simply isn’t an option, consider adding in subtle touches of what you really want (like a few peonies) with other staples or budget-friendly flowers so that you can achieve the look you want without blowing your floral budget.

“On of my favorite ways to wow on a budget is by using garlands,” Sarah shares. “Garlands are a little more time consuming, but they make a lovely statement and are a great building block for your wedding. By using a garland as your centerpiece, I’m able to stretch your desired flower further by interlacing it within the garland and having it be more of a focal flower than a flower within an arrangement. I advise all of my brides that garlands will not only wow your guests, but are a great way to save in your budget!”

3. Using neutrals as the base, with pops of color for wow-factor

This shoot was all about adding to the linens and playing up the colors of each tablescape. Think about your color palette and which color you want to really shine. Using a neutral palette to make a certain color pop is a beautiful way to bring a crisp finish to the setting. Below, Sarah elaborates on how she was able to do this.

Using the Same Florals to Create 4 Different Looks:

First, I used a lot of greenery and neutral flowers to accent each table setting. From there, it was picking one flower with a deeper tone to bring out the colors and vibrancy of the setting. For the teal setting, the simple white and ivory neutrals of the hydrangeas allowed some soft blues to shine through and keep the focus on the table. The arrangement didn’t overwhelm the tablescape, but still served as a nice focal point for the eyes.

For the blush setting, it was all about letting the garland do the work and building a blush and jewel tone centerpiece within the garland. This allowed the golden tones of the vintage china to shine through and achieve a very elegant and luxe feel to the design. Using simple spray roses and eucalyptus around the backs of the chairs brought the focus not just to the garland, but to the whole design around the table from front to back.

For the jewel tone setting, an arrangement with asymmetry and neutrals with a deep plum tone made the blues of the table setting really pop against the purple of the linen.

This same arrangement was transferred to a neutral table, and instead of pulling a certain color out of the pallet, it enhanced the crisp tones of the lace and gold silverware.

One last tip! Use the recipe of “thrillers, spillers and fillers.” By using several types of fillers and spillers to create a base and shape for the arrangement, you can bring in a few types of thriller flowers (peonies, orchids, the “wow” flowers) to create a beautiful arrangement with a great deal of variety!

Photography + Florals: Sarah Bush Designs

Linens: Graceful Tables

Vintage China: Vision Expressions

Styling + Props: Twigs and Lace

How To Ensure You Get The Wedding Photos of Your Dreams | Carrie Reagan Photography

September 20, 2017 · Leave a Comment

At our vintage industrial + parlor venue, we know that every bride wants gorgeous wedding photos! And we want them to love every single photo! After the wedding, all the couple is left with (beyond wonderful memories) are their amazing wedding photos. Our dear vendor friend Carrie, of Carrie Reagan Photography, is sharing a few tips to ensure you get the wedding photos of your dreams!

Communicate with your photographer.

While every photographer has their own style, the ultimate goal is to beautifully capture your wedding day and get all the shots that you envisioned! Don’t be afraid to tell your photographer if there’s a special shot or idea that you want. After all, this is all for you to remember your special day! If you’re on Pinterest (and who isn’t?), share your wedding board with your photographer. Even if you don’t have a “must take” photo list of images, this will help give your photographer insight into your wedding style!

Details, Details, Details.

You’ve spent months planning and preparing every little detail of this day. You put thought into every little decision, from your shoes to the invitation. So why not have beautiful photos of these details? Finishing touches like writing your vows on pretty card stock instead of on crumpled notebook paper really makes a difference. Another quick tip, make sure simple things like clothing and shoe boxes aren’t scattered over the dressing room for the getting ready photos.

First look photos.

Whether you are a traditional or modern bride, first look photos are always a great idea. It’s no longer considered bad luck to see each other before you walk down the aisle, and there are pretty big perks that go with it. It gives you a chance to have a private moment before the ceremony that can ease your nerves. Plus, it gives you more time for your wedding photos, allowing you to enjoy your ceremony and reception and ensuring you get all the photos you want!

Pre-ceremony photos.

If you decide to not do first look photos, know that the bulk of your styled photos can be taken before the ceremony. Aside from the getting ready photos, it’s nice to get as many photos as time allows before your ceremony. You will be thankful you did! Taking photos of bridesmaids, groomsmen, and any family portraits before the ceremony leave you more time to actually enjoy the day you’ve spent so much time planning for. Make sure to plan your time accordingly. Leave yourself some time for touch-ups before the ceremony.

Short on time?

If your photography contract doesn’t include coverage for your entire day, make sure you make the most of it. Chances are your photographer will be there for at least a portion of your reception. Speak to your coordinator or DJ and have all the main events of your reception scheduled within the first hour. While most couples go into the first dance after they are announced at the reception, you can follow this with special dances, toasts and cake cutting. This way you + your guests are free to party the night away without strict timelines. It’s also not uncommon to do a photo send-off well before the night is over. It’s a great way to get the most out of your wedding photographer and capture all the big moments from your day.

As a North Georgia venue, the beautiful scenery always makes for some amazing photo opportunities. We cannot get enough of gorgeous wedding photos, and we love to see couples swooning over the photos from their special day! Photographers, do you have any tips for getting the wedding photos of your dreams?

All photos by Carrie Reagan Photography

Why Brides love The Corner District’s Charming Parlor

August 30, 2017 · Leave a Comment

At our North Georgia wedding venue, we love all things unique + beautiful! We cannot get enough of creative + elegant wedding details that capture the unique personalities of the bride and groom. That’s why The Corner District has two event spaces, our parlor + warehouse, that serve as blank canvases so that couples can bring their wedding vision to life with the help of their Georgia wedding vendors.

Photography: Sara Bush

Our Charming Vintage Parlor

One of the bonuses of booking your wedding at The Corner District is the obvious charm + character of our vintage parlor! Our parlor is 100+ years old with a charming speakeasy feel! Between the two-story ceilings and original wood floors, the parlor is transformed into a magical space with any decor. Our crystal chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling draping set the mood for a romantic, upscale reception at our Atlanta venue.

Brides love The Corner District’s parlor because of how easy it is to make it your own! A tip we share for making your event unique would be to add your small touches to our wide assortment of vintage lounge furniture, antique mantle, buffets + original wood bar area. These pieces offer exceptional spaces for you to fulfill your vision. Some of our favorite examples include hydration stations + food stations or gift tables.

Photography: Kelly Anne Photography

Since we have so many unique pieces included in our venue rental, there’s no need to rent props or furniture! Furthermore, we provide floor length ivory linens that match the pads on our mahogany Chevalier chairs. This is just another special touch that brides love + sets The Corner District apart from other venues.

Photography: Blume PhotographyPhotography: Ruzin Cunningham

Brides especially love the parlor because it’s a space brimming with personality. Elegant crystal chandeliers and draping make this a more formal area for your cocktail hour, reception dining and dancing. From the beautiful interior to the small town charm of Main Street just outside the doors, every occasion is unique!

Photography: Katey Penton PhotographyPhotography: Carrie Reagan Photography

Your Rehearsal Dinner at The Corner District

July 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment

At our vintage warehouse + parlor venue, we love rehearsal dinners and what they represent! We realize that for a lot of couples, this might be the first time your extended families are meeting. After all, rehearsal dinners are a time of coming together as you + your significant other begin this new journey.

Our oversized venue spaces lend themselves to casual elegance in a comfortable, relaxed setting. Just like at restaurants and banquet facilities, our venue is a place to come in, eat and leave. We offer the venue for a 4-hour event with early arrival to decorate and help make it your own! Reserve just one space, the parlor or warehouse, or you can reserve the entire venue for an all-day soiree!

Make It an All-day Soiree

We’ve had the warehouse set up for a guys day with cornhole, a growler station and other activities that allows them a place to hang out the for the day while the girls are busy with nail appointments and bridal luncheons. In the meantime, we are preparing the parlor for the dinner that evening.

For one rehearsal dinner, large grills were brought in to prepare a steak and baked potato feast, which was this groom’s favorite meal. While the grilling was going on, the guys were hanging out entertaining themselves with cornhole, passing a football and enjoying the growler station.

Get Creative

At our blank canvas venue, we love seeing our couples get creative with how they celebrate! We’ve had low-country boils, caterers that bring large grills for steak dinners, food trucks, traditional buffets and plated dinners. The sky’s the limit. Slide shows, bands, DJ’s, bartenders and other surprises can be arranged to help make your party everything you want it to be! After all, the night is all about celebrating the bride + groom’s love story and unique style as a couple.

Some of Our Favorites

Some of our favorite parties have revolved around the groom and his family. After all, this is his family’s opportunity to contribute to the wedding festivities. Often, rehearsals will have a special meaning that centers around him. We have had a Mardi Gras themed dinner to reflect the groom’s origins, which was complete with a second line parade thru the streets of town. Dinner included a low country boil and traditional Mardi Gras decor.

One of the sweetest rehearsal dinners we’ve hosted involved the mother-of-the-groom’s gift to her new daughter-in-law. She knew the bride wanted an elegant wedding, but she gave in to the groom’s wishes to have a rustic barn wedding. To the bride’s delight, the rehearsal dinner was all about the glam!

We were able to create a beautifully styled Gatsby gala, complete with gold chargers, custom linens + feather plumed centerpieces, custom decor that would rival any party Daisy could throw! The bride was able to have her vision incorporated into the wedding weekend!

At the end of it all, we appreciate to opportunity to help kick off your wedding festivities! We would love to discuss how we can make it a sensational beginning to your happily ever after. Click here for more information and inquiries.

To the Mother of the Bride | Cherishing Each Step

June 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Mother of Bride. It isn’t a coincidence that the acronym for these three words is MOB.

I think it is safe to assume that at least one time during your daughter’s wedding planning, a MOB scene will develop. That’s where you, your “bride,” and possibly the bridesmaids will come to tears over certain details. Planning a wedding is time consuming and can be stressful. Here at The Corner District, we understand that there will be differences in opinions on various wedding details. But even moreso, we believe that a wedding should be a time where a mother + daughter are able to cherish a sweet and exciting journey.

To the mother of the bride,

Be there for your daughter in this process. Help her when she needs it and love + support her unconditionally. But remember, this is her and her fiancee’s wedding. Even when you have differing ideas or opinions, make sure to cherish each step, making this sweet time as memorable as possible.

It’s important to remember that even if you are paying for the dress, it is still her dress. Your daughter will fall in love with her dream dress once in a lifetime, and having your support behind her will mean the world to her.

It doesn’t matter if you are paying for the food, it is their food. The couple works hard to make decisions that will fulfill their wedding vision. Little details from signature drinks to unique food stations like popcorn bars, your daughter will be making decisions to help her dream day come alive.

Sure, your saged advice is seasoned with experience and can be helpful, but that doesn’t mean it’s timeless. Mothers, things have changed since we planned our weddings. Let your daughter take the reins and just enjoy getting to be a part of the her day. Be supportive and helpful, but let things happen on her timeline. When she needs your help, you will know it.

Although you might be anxious to run out and buy your MOB dress, let the bride pick her venue and her dress first. Colors, flowers and overall decor will change several times throughout the process. Part of the fun of planning a wedding is taking each of these steps one at a time and cherishing the journey.

It will be over way too fast, so make sure it is a pleasant experience and include only those that will make it so. No need to invite the entire wedding party and groom’s family to join in wedding dress shopping. They aren’t buying or wearing the gown so do we really care what they think? Maybe, but try to include them in something less stressful, like a reveal after the purchase of the gown.

So many “traditional” aspects of the planning process are now passe and for a good reason. Each task, when checked off the list, should be done with a smile and a sense of one step closer to an amazing day that isn’t about the “show” but about the love and commitment that is signified with the wedding. After all, that is what we are here for.

Sincerely,

A 2x mother-of-the-bride + wedding professional

Mothers of the bride, what was your favorite part about helping with your daughter’s wedding? What tips do you have for a new MOB? We’d love to hear!

Understanding Florist Pricing + Unexpected Costs | A Delicate Petal

May 31, 2017 · Leave a Comment

At our vintage wedding venue, we know that the florals you choose for your wedding day will be one of most important details for fulfilling your wedding vision! From the centerpieces to the bouquets, your floral arrangements can tie your wedding together and express your unique style as a couple. To make sure you choose your dream flowers, it is important to ask your florist lots of questions, especially about florist pricing.

One important question for brides and their families to ask for is a pricing lists from their floral vendors. However, they often grow frustrated with the lack of information provided, not realizing that each flower costs a completely different price. Today, our dear friend Melissa at A Delicate Petal is sharing how to better understand florist pricing!

Photo: Carrie Reagan Photography

Understanding Florist Pricing + Unexpected Costs with A Delicate Petal

At A Delicate Petal, we pride ourselves on flexibility with our ‘packages!’ Each couple’s wedding is completely their own! Due to our specialized design for each bride, we do not offer a price list. A Delicate Petal works hard to build our bride’s DREAM wedding- including all of the different flowers she could ever dream of!

When considering a florist, make sure you look into how much they require as a deposit and what extra ‘fees’ they have. Florists can charge fees for everything from cancellation costs to breakdown labor. Make sure to ask about pricing for things like editing quotes, rental fees, and delivery costs. Here at A Delicate Petal, we’re pretty straight forward. It’s $100 to hold your date and time. The only other ‘fees’ that we charge are vase rental and delivery. No catches!

Many brides try to save money by decorating with smaller floral arrangements displayed in water décor, such as floating candles. However, submerged florals can often be labor intensive and require water being transported during the wedding. Florists sometimes charge fees for these services. Another unexpected cost can come from small, bud vases. These arrangements often take extra planning and organizing and can raise costs.

Sometimes brides will also choose many small décor pieces to display on a table, especially a longer farm table. Again, these types of florals can add up due to the extra planning required and vase rentals.

Brides, as you start looking for your which flowers and floral vendors to use, make sure to consider all the costs your florist might charge. Thinking about the possible unexpected costs can help you save money and get your dream flowers without blowing your budget!

Brides, what unexpected costs did you see from florists? We’d love to hear!

A Short Wedding Dress Might Just Be the Perfect Dress For You | Carrie’s Bridal Collection

April 26, 2017 · Leave a Comment

First comes love, then comes the ring, then comes your first thought after… the dress. The venue + setting of your wedding can affect the style of dress you may choose; however, your personal style should shine through above all. One new trend that we love seeing is a short wedding dress.

Whereas in the past, long, traditional wedding dresses were expected, more and more brides are getting creative with their dress choices and showing off their own personality + style! If you’re thinking about going short, our friend Carrie of Carrie’s Bridal Collection is here to share five reasons why you should ABSOLUTELY do that!

Photo: Kelly Anne Photography

Comfort. First and foremost, a short wedding dress is going to be an ease to wear. No heavy all-day gown, no train to carry around, no bustle to fasten. Having a short dress helps relieve the stress of making sure all these characteristics of a long dress don’t make the bride uncomfortable throughout the night. This style is for the bride who wants to enjoy the day and easily dance the night away.

Ease of Travel. Traveling with your short wedding dress after the wedding or trying to find arrangements to have someone hold onto your dress can be such a hassle. This is often an unexpected inconvenience that many brides do not prepare for prior to the honeymoon. Short dresses are easy to travel with as they can fit into normal luggage or garment bags. They are a breeze when transporting to your venue or destination wedding.

Less Expensive. Shorter gowns will be naturally less expensive than longer gowns. So, this will save money and may allow for more detail! Alterations, under garments, and detailing are small fees that can add up quickly. A less expensive dress will help ensure that there’s money in the budget to make sure that all aspects of the dress are perfect for you!

Better Shoes. With a long gown, shoes are rarely seen. Think about the stunning shoes you can pair with your short wedding dress. And with the money you save on the dress itself, your shoes can really pop. This small touch can add so much personality to your wedding + make for some adorable photos!

Versatility + wearability. Short dresses can be worn in a variety of venues. Ranging from Church to City Hall, a beach to a garden. Because short dresses are so versatile, brides can make them as dressy or casual as they want to fit their wedding vision—it’s completely up to them! Accessories from shoes to jewelry to headpieces not only add a personal touch, but also help set the tone for the wedding style. When dressed down, they are the perfect dress to wear again. We love the idea of dressing it down with a blazer for an anniversary photo shoot.

There are many decisions you will make on your wedding planning journey. Stay true to yourself and wear something you love! Your dress may be short on length, but it doesn’t have to be short on style! We traditionally think that wedding dresses should be long, but some of our style icons of today even wore short wedding dresses and they were fabulous!

Brides, did you wear a short dress for your wedding? We’d love to hear why you chose it!

Carley + Brannon: An Intimate Fall Celebration at Our Vintage Venue

March 29, 2017 · Leave a Comment

What a sweet + special celebration of love a wedding is, especially when the couples’ families are involved! Working with Carley + Brannon and their charming families reminds us just how much we love our jobs here at The Corner District. One of our favorite parts has to be that the wedding cake bakers also made Carley’s first birthday cake and her parent’s wedding cake! We’re thankful to have Carley share with us just what made her and Brannon’s day with their family + friends so special! And a big thanks to Barefoot Blonde Photography for capturing the sweet moments from their fall wedding!

Photo: Barefoot Blonde Photography | Florals: Ivy Marie Weddings

The Story

How did you meet your fiancé?

Our families have known each other for a while, but I met Brannon out on Lake Lanier. We were both fishing with our families that night, and I couldn’t quit thinking about him after I saw him!

Tell us the story of how he popped the question:

He took me on my first cruise and popped the question one night on the deck after dinner. We happened to be on the deck completely alone, although we were on a boat with thousands of other people. I’ll always cherish having that moment be just between us!

What is your wedding date and why did you choose it?

We really wanted a fall wedding, and October seemed like the perfect weather! My grandparents and his parents both were married in October, so it seemed like a good fit for a fall wedding.

The Fall Wedding Vision

What was your overall vision for your wedding?

We wanted something simple, yet exciting for all of our friends and family. We were really hoping that everyone would come and mingle and have a great time.

What do you feel was the most important component of your wedding?

Family! Brannon’s dad married us, and it was such a moving moment. We both are really close with our families, so having that in our wedding is something that we will always remember.

How involved is your groom in the wedding planning process?

Brannon and I both were fairly relaxed when it came to wedding planning. I would have been lost without the help of Ivy (our in house wedding planner) in planning everything!

Are you writing your own vows?

We stuck with the traditional “repeat after me” vows. I thought I would have been disappointed with not writing our own, but even the traditional vows were romantic in the moment.

How did you choose your wedding theme or color pallet?

We wanted fall colors, but I didn’t want the typical ones. I absolutely love the color green and the gold just seemed to compliment it. I wanted our wedding to be romantic and quaint. These colors and our flowers seemed to fit that role!

How important were the typical wedding traditions?

We kept our wedding fairly traditional. We wanted to keep the ceremony as Christian as possible, since Brannon’s dad is a preacher. It was important for us to have the ceremony between us and God!

Why did you choose The Corner District for your wedding venue?

This venue was the perfect combination of romantic and vintage. I could just picture all of my family and friends gathering there. I’m also not very creative or artistic, so it was important to me that I have a venue that could stand on its own without having to decorate too much.

Four Unexpected Vendor Costs + How To Avoid Them

February 22, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Small, unexpected vendor costs from the cake-cutting fee to extra edits can add up quickly and set you over your budget. At our North Georgia vintage venue, we love when our brides get creative with our industrial space. Each vendor helps bring your wedding vision to life so it’s so important to make sure you get the details from them so you can stay within your budget. We’re sharing 4 unexpected vendor costs below!

Photo Credit: Kelly Anne Photography

Unexpected Vendor Costs + How To Avoid Them

The caterer. As an incentive for brides to order their cake in-house, some venues will charge unexpected vendor costs, such as a cake cutting fee. These charges can range anywhere from $1.25 to $1.75 per slice. This fee essentially covers the cost for the venue to cut and serve your guests. Check to see if the venue has a preferred vendor list to help reduce this cost. Brides can also get creative with their dessert choices, such as pie bars + cupcakes, to avoid the cake cutting fee. At our blank canvas venue, we include the cake in the package– that way our couples get special pricing right off the bat!

Often, venues will require a minimum of foods + beverages to host your event in their space. If these costs are not accounted for, you won’t be able to accurately create a budget and it could set you over your catering budget. To avoid this, make sure you talk with your venue to see if there is any food + beverage minimums or any other catering fees they might charge.

The bridal store. After falling in love with the dress of your dreams that falls right in your budget, you may be surprised when you end up spending more than the price tag lists. Often times, with the dress price comes alteration fees + the cost of undergarments. These fees can add up and put you over your budget if you don’t account for them when making your budget. You can avoid these fees by buying a dress with built-in garments or off-the-rack.

The photographer. Another place couples can find unexpected wedding costs are from their photographer. Make sure to ask those you’re considering as photographer if they charge any extra fees for editing additional images, receiving all photos, or getting them in multiple formats. It’s important to account for these costs when looking at your budget for photography.

Don’t forget about the venue!

The venue. Always ask to see the venue’s preferred vendor list, even if you already have an idea of which vendors you would like to use. Not only is it great to consider preferred vendors because they already have relationships with the venue, but unexpected cost can arise if the venue charges a fee for not using a preferred vendor from their list. At The Corner District, we love to help the budget-savvy bride, that’s why we don’t have any fees for not using our preferred vendors.

At The Corner District, one of our favorite parts of the wedding planning process at our North Georgia wedding venue is getting to help our couples pick the perfect vendors to bring their vision to life! Because of the relationship with our preferred vendors, we have negotiated lower costs for some packages. We have negotiated packages with vendors including DJ, some florals, and catering.

Brides, did you face any other unexpected costs, and how did you avoid or deal with them? We’d love to hear from you!

Spencer + Cara | A Dreamy, Rustic Fairytale Georgia Wedding

January 11, 2017 · 1 Comment

Cara + Spencer’s dreamy, rustic Georgia wedding had us swooning over such a beautiful celebration for this adorable couple. As a dog-friendly wedding venue, our favorite part had to be that the couple’s dogs were not only involved in the proposal, but the wedding as well. Of course, we also loved that Nerd Dawgs, a delicious + fun food truck, catered a late night bite at the reception! From dogs to dawgs, the wedding was full of personal details that made this wedding so much fun to host!

Heather Lynthlin Photography did an incredible of capturing the sweetest moments from Cara + Spencer’s rustic Georgia wedding at our vintage venue! We’re thankful to have our bride share with us about the magic behind their fairytale wedding + love story.

How did you meet your fiancé?

My fiancé and I met in 6th grade although we were very different in middle school. He won biggest flirt and I won most likely to succeed in the superlative awards. We went to different high schools and then officially connected over social media when we were in our 3rd year of college. Spencer attended the University of Hawaii on a football scholarship and I went to Kennesaw State University and participated on the competitive cheerleading squad. We shared similar interests but the time difference between Hawaii and Georgia was just too much. We ended up going our separate ways. We rekindled our love on January 9, 2014. Ever since that day, we cannot imagine life without each other.

Tell us the story of how he popped the question:

On July 24, 2015 Spencer was persistent about going to downtown Woodstock to get coffee at the Copper Coin Café. I had just woken up from a nap and I really was not in the mood to get ready, load up the dogs in the car, and go to Woodstock. I took my time getting ready. We arrived in downtown Woodstock and Spencer said he would hold the dogs while I went in and ordered. I thought nothing about it. I ordered two coffees and came back outside. As I walked outside I was very confused. Spencer’s mother took the coffees from me. The entire moment felt like a blur. I was trying to piece together what was happening. I looked around and saw my mom, dad, step-mother, sister, brother-in-law, niece, Spencer’s mom and dad, and some friends. I did not know what to think or what was going on.

I looked down and noticed that Simba and Brutus (our German Sheppard and English Bulldog) were wearing signs around their neck. The signs read “If you asked me how many times you crossed my mind I would say once, because you never really left” and “Spencer wants to know will you marry him?” The next thing I know, Spencer is down on one knee and asking me to marry him. I burst out in tears from all the emotions running through me, there is no way I could resist this man. Of course I said yes! I had no idea he was even planning on getting engaged. He had kept it a secret for weeks. I cannot believe he pulled off such an unbelievable and memorable moment.

What was your wedding date and why did you choose it? Does this date have any significance?

Our wedding date was October 1, 2016. I chose to get married in October because I love the fall time. I knew The Corner District would look beautiful surrounded by the fall foliage on the trees. I also knew we would be able to utilize the outside area of the venue (the courtyard) during our reception because of the cooler weather.

What was your overall vision for your wedding?

My overall vision for the wedding was finding a venue that was unique to me. I wanted a venue where I was able to make it my own. I also wanted something with a rustic look and a laid back atmosphere. I did not want a place that told you exactly how the wedding would look and how the set up would be. I wanted something that resembled a big party that I could have with all our friends and family.

What do you feel was the most important component of your wedding?

The most important component of our wedding was being able to have our dogs as part of the ceremony. They are an important part of our lives and we were fortunate enough that The Corner District is dog friendly.

How involved was your groom in the wedding planning process?

For the most part, I planned the wedding since I am the planner in the couple. I love that Spencer is laid back and was supportive during the planning process. I would ask him for his opinion on some of the things and he would say, “As long as you’re happy and having a great time, that is all that matters to me.” I would ask his opinion on a couple of things such as: our first dance song, the suits, and he was allowed to pick the music for cocktail hour. Spencer was supportive and loved all the ideas I had, so that helped a lot.

Did you write your own vows?

In the beginning we were not planning on writing our own vows. As the wedding day approached, I decided that I wanted our wedding ceremony to be more personable and add some of our own ideas to the ceremony, so we added them in last minute. I am glad we decided to do that because his words were so sincere and loving and I will remember them forever.

What was your wedding theme or color pallet?

We did not have a theme for our wedding, but we chose the sky blue color because I thought it would go great with our rustic + vintage look we were going for. The sky blue also reminded me of Cinderella and a fairy tale, which is how I picture our relationship, being a love story. When people would ask what colors I was using for the wedding I would reply, “White, grey, and Cinderella blue.”

How important were the typical wedding traditions?

We wanted to keep the wedding as traditional as we could, yet still make it our own. We refrained from doing a first look because we wanted to save the moment for the aisle. An Italian tradition in our family is to make lots of cookies to serve at the wedding. We had multiple people working on hundreds of cookies for the wedding. I loved having that as a family tradition. I loved that we were able to put up old wedding pictures from our families in the frames provided in the venue. That meant so much to me to be able to add our own touch and decorations to the venue. It really felt like we were able to make it our own. I think we had a traditional wedding for the most part, but we definitely made it our own at the same time. The Corner District was the perfect venue to be able to display our own personality and I am so glad we chose it for our special day.

Leading up to the big day I was beyond stressed out about the whole process. Debbie (The Corner District Owner) was able to meet up with me multiple times to reassure me that everything would be okay. I must admit that I had my doubts. In the end EVERYTHING went according to plan. There is nothing I would have changed about our wedding day and I cannot think of many people that could say that.

Debbie, Elizabeth, Ivy, and all the other wedding coordinators did a phenomenal job making our wedding the exact vision I was going for. All of our guests had an amazing time and loved the venue. I hope to be able to utilize this venue again in the future for another event I may have. Our wedding day was truly the best day of my life and I thank The Corner District for making our dreams come true.

Why did you choose this wedding venue?

When I was looking for a wedding venue, I was looking for something that I can make my own. As I searched around for the perfect venue, a lot of the places I looked at told you exactly how your wedding will look with a couple of choices on colors. I am a unique person so I really wanted something that was perfect for me. I love that the venue is an old historical building with a lot of character. My mom and I drove up that day to check it out. I loved everything about it as soon as I arrived. I love the feeling I got when I peeked in the windows, I knew this place was the one.

I envisioned myself walking down the aisle and Spencer being at the end with a huge smile on his face. I called Debbie when we were looking in the windows and she was so friendly and accommodating. She was able to meet up right then so I could get a better look at the inside of the venue. Spencer and I also love that our dogs will be able to celebrate with us at the ceremony since they are a huge part of our family. The three buildings are amazing. I have nothing but great things to say about The Corner District and our wedding.