February was a fabulously fun and busy month for us! First, our son’s rehearsal dinner and beautiful wedding at The The Stave Room (stunning photo backdrop, thanks to ASW Distillery) and then we hosted a baby girl shower for our oldest daughter who is expecting their first child very soon.
So, please enjoy some moments of pink and gold happiness from the Atlanta and NYC Baby Girl celebrations, perhaps taking some notes on recipes and decor for your next celebration.
Topping off the light chicken salad luncheon, guests had their choice of delicious CamiCakes cupcakes or pretty pink sugary sweet iced butter cookies. Some of us had to taste both!
Sugar succulents by Nicolettsy and cupcake toppers by SmashCaked, both on Etsy
Aren’t those sugar succulent toppers the cutest?! It’s amazing what you can find on Etsy.
Pink and gold decor on the bar with cups and napkins by our fav, Sequins and Lipstick
In keeping with our baby girl pink and gold theme, our dear friend and tastemaker, Paige Minear of The Pink Clutch suggested the perfect rosemary, grapefruit cocktail recipe from Australian blogger, Tell Me Tuesday and you can get it here. Pretty and pink!
Remember to look in your cabinet for serving pieces as shown by the mint julep cup holding the gold and white paper straws.
Parents to be, Molly and JimDo you know Atlanta-based Blablakids? The cutest, softest stuffed animals ever…here is Rivier the elephant, all ready to welcome Baby Girl!
We’ll keep you posted on upcoming developments as there’s nothing like a new baby to bring joy to our world.
As our family had the privilege of recently hosting our own rehearsal dinner, I want to share some thoughts while they are still fresh in my mind. Traditionally, the rehearsal dinner is held the night before the wedding and hosted by the groom’s family. It’s the vehicle to gather the close family, attendants, officiant and bridal couple together, break bread, and fellowship together, and kick off the Big Event with food and merriment.
Take a look at these top tips for a successful, relaxed rehearsal dinner ~
1. Choose a style that is distinctly different from the wedding.
Not wanting to compete with the black tie optional wedding, we went the other way – a pizza truck! Here we used black and white gingham tablecloths from steve mckenzie’s, pulled up a wood-fired pizza oven food truck, and served ice tea, beer and wine. Father of the groom, Atlanta interior designer Steve McKenzie created the lush winter floral arrangements. Festive color-coordinated napkins from Dot and Army completed the table. More about their easy napkin rental program soon…
The wedding is the main event, so offering a different experience to the wedding party gives them a more complete weekend.
Black and white gingham fabric anchors the tables in the window-filled venue. Floral by Steve McKenzie
2. Consistent Details
Any well done event, especially a wedding, follows a curated path of carefully chosen details. From the save the date to the invitation to the floral, consistent colors, fonts and written tone set the stage for your special day. The groom’s love of outdoors and hunting were celebrated with custom stadium cups, monogrammed napkins and photo booth props.
Custom monogram by Sequins and LipstickPhoto props by Captivating CreationsGroom + Jill aka Mom
3. Choose the Rehearsal Dinner Menu Secondly to Wedding Menu
The wedding menu plays a starring role in the event, and the budget. Tastings are held, serving pieces are surveyed, table-cloth colors are coordinated, all these details culminating in this once in a lifetime event. The rehearsal dinner should coordinate with this evening, not compete with it. Southern Crust Catering food truck provided this complement to the sit-down dinner on Saturday night.
Bride + GroomSouthern Crust CateringHot pizza on a cold night!Floral by Steve McKenzieA moonlit magical rehearsal dinner!
Cheers to your next celebration! Hopefully these tips lay the groundwork for many special evenings for you and yours. All photos by Christina Wedge Photography
Effortless Holiday Decorating with Shelly Dozier-McKee
Get out your calendar, call a friend and grab your spots at this class on Saturday, November 4th from 10am – 11am. You’ll go home full of holiday inspiration and sparkly ideas! Click here to purchase your ticket.
Be sure to join us on November 3rd and 4th for our annual Holiday Open House with specials, treats, giveaways, and all the best gifts and holiday decor.
Next, explore your inner artist with Madcap Cottage gent, John Loecke and Atlanta artist, Steve McKenzie on Saturday, November 18th from 10am – 11:30am. Get your ticket here.
On Saturday, you can also get your copy of their new book, “Prints Charming: Create Absolutely Beautiful Interiors with Prints & Patterns”, signed by the Madcap Cottage gents, Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke from 11am – 3pm.
Stay tuned to steve mckenzie’s social media and newsletters for more upcoming Holiday hoopla! Hint, hint – another class with ConfettiStyle perhaps…details on November 1st…
Artistic dance, cultural symbolism, and unique storytelling. That’s what artist Nick Cave‘s latest performance, Up Right: Atlanta is all about.
About Nick Cave:
Nick Cave is an African-American artist and dancer, famous for his embellished costumes, called Soundsuits, which he often stages in public spectacle. Though influenced by a vibrant palette of African art, armor, found objects, fashion and textile design, the Soundsuits are rooted in social critique. Cave first created a suit in the aftermath of the Rodney King beatings in 1991, envisioning an emotional shield that protects one’s race or gender while still expressing individuality.
Nick Cave
And we’re so lucky to have the opportunity to experience the art of Nick Cave in Atlanta! Our friend and talented designer, Kristen V. Cahill, met Nick Cave at Art Basel Miami in 2012 and has been working ever since to bring his work to our city, through Flux Projects.
Kristen is a member of the board for Flux Projects, and works with other members to bring new art and cultural experiences for us to enjoy right here in our city!
Here’s some info on Nick’s upcoming performances:
Up Right: Atlanta is a “call to arms, head and heart” for Cave initiates—the lead characters of this work. Through the performance, they are prepared mind, body and spirit to face the forces that stand in the way of self-hood, to enter a world over which they have complete control. Initiates become warriors of their own destiny. Cave is working with T. Lang, assistant professor of dance at Spelman College and artistic director of T. Lang Dance.
Photos by James Prinz Photography. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
And if the ticket reservations and images associated with this performance’s promotion are any indication, it is not to be missed! The performances, starting today and over the next two days at Ponce City Market, are actually already sold out, but, as with many free performances, spaces may become available as reservation holders don’t show up, so consider coming out! In addition, Nick is preparing for future performances at his alma mater, the Cranbrook Academy for Art in Detroit.
Photos by James Prinz Photography. Courtesy of the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
If you’ll be missing out on this performance, Flux Projects is always working to bring innovative and captivating art-centered events to Atlanta, so be sure to subscribe to their mailing list. And mark your calendars for the next Flux Night, a night of art and experimentation, taking place October 5, 2015.
Here’s Flux Project’s mission:
Flux Projects produces exceptional and surprising temporary public art to galvanize Atlanta’s cultural curiosity.
We aspire to produce the most innovative art experiences in the world. We provide contemporary artists with financial, production, and marketing support to create aesthetically and conceptually rich work. These projects engage people in their daily lives, outside of traditional arts venues, and instill a sense of wonder. Our projects last from a few hours to a few months and demand the scale, duration, and visibility required to have a meaningful impact on a broad audience.
We seed Atlanta with creativity to foster cultural curiosity and a spirit of experimentation. We shift perceptions of people inside and outside the city to see the creative energy that is already here and imagine a future where that creativity is central to Atlanta’s official identity. We seek an ecosystem of risk-taking artists and an engaged audience that desires and supports innovative works of public art.
We’re all about that – a BIG thank you to Flux Projects for introducing us to the work of Nick Cave and for all you do for Atlanta!
Stay tuned to steve mckenzie’s social media and newsletters for more upcoming Holiday hoopla! Hint, hint – another class with ConfettiStyle perhaps…details on November 1st…
