Leah and Daniel began their Georgia wedding day with a first look, which is also one of the first moments when you will join me in realizing that Leah’s dress is incredible. She purchased it from a sample sale, and re-designed it with assistance from a seamstress. Just wait! The couple then exchanged their vows in front of family and friends before joining all of their guests at their reception at the Engine Room in Monroe, Georgia.

Tables were accented with greenery in gold vases and garlands designs by Gold and Bloom and gold sequin linens were used to make the design even more stunning. Leah and Daniel’s wedding day is industrial, chic, and one where I cannot wait for you to see more. Abigail from A. Thomas Photography was on hand to capture every last detail, and we’re so grateful we can share each photo with you!

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

Planning a wedding can be more than a bit overwhelming when you are not familiar with what vendors to work with or even how to schedule the day-of event. 

Abigail (a.thomas photography) was the first vendor I chose and trusted. Whenever I had a question, I emailed Abigail and she was able to give me an overview of norms around timelines and day-of flow. She also helped me find a wonderful hair and makeup artist (Linda Margarita). On the day of the wedding, Abigail’s bubbly personality helped loosen everyone up in front of the camera and calmed my wedding-day jitters.

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

As a bride, in the unfamiliar world of wedding planning, I was drawn to vendors who were genuine. Being in business, I appreciate seeing the bottom-line in order to figure out what are viable options. I spoke with so many vendors who continued to try to slip in hidden fees or additional costs even after knowing my all-in budget. That was red flag for me and I always chose to walk away from those agreements. At the end of the day, it really came down to working with people who I could trust. Every girl wants her wedding day to be one in a million, so I sought out vendors who wanted to be on my team and work toward that goal.

What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?

I wanted our wedding to embody sparkle and drama while also being simple and not too overdone. My favorite color has always been gold (even if its more of a metal than pigment) so that was the obvious choice for our wedding color. Growing up my mom and dad said I was always somewhat of a paradox. I loved playing dress up and pretending to be Grace Kelly decked out in the jewels, but could quickly leave the frills behind to go make mud pies in the backyard or challenge the neighbor boys to a soccer match (and win:)). I wanted our wedding to have that same paradoxical feel by being in an old engine room with exposed brick walls but with chandeliers, champagne drapery, and gold sequin table cloths. To offset the dressy gold, I wanted all natural greenery instead of florals to bring back some of the informal feel. 

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

The ceremony was definitely my absolute favorite part of the wedding. We chose a song  that holds a lot of meaning to us, “Ever Be” by Bethel Music, for me to walk down the aisle to. I remember stepping out from behind the drapery, pausing and taking a huge breath. It is overwhelming to step into a room full of so many people you love and who are there to witness the covenant and celebrate with you. Walking with my dad towards the man I will spend forever with was full of a lot more emotions than I had thought, the symbolism was definitely not lost on me in that moment. From the message, to communion, to the kiss, it could not have gone smoother. 

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

Be in the moment. Trust me, I had my fair share of stresses, freak outs and sleepless nights (my sweet friends, family and fiancé can vouch that). You have to choose to fight for simplicity amidst the craziness of wedding planning. Take your thoughts captive and remember this planning is for one big, joyous party in your and your fiancé’s honor! Make sure to take intentional pauses in planning in order to be in the moment while on a date with fiancé, at a bridal shower, and other life events. On the day of your wedding, let all of those worries and details go, and just be present. This is it! This is the day you have been dreaming of, you deserve to stop and take it all in! P.S. Marriage is so worth it!

Y’all there’s just something m-a-g-i-c-a-l about beautiful greenery, neutrals, and gold! Obviously, I’m very much in love with Leah and Daniel’s wedding palette. However, I love that you can immediately tell from just a few photos that these two are completely and oh-so-genuinely in love with each other (something their photographer, Abigail, also notes!). Their love is what makes their day even better.

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photography: A. Thomas Photography // Floral: Gold & Bloom // Venue: The Engine Room // Coordination & Planning: Winey Blonde Events // Cake: Janna Cakes // Catering: Sprig Restaurant // Hair & Makeup: Linda Margarita // Dress: La Raine’s Bridal Boutique // Shoes: Sam Edelman // Bridesmaid Dresses: Dillard’s