You guys…I am BACK!   A little over a week ago, I had the wedding weekend of my DREAMS.  I got to stand in a room filled with people I love and commit to the most amazing man I have ever met.  This was all made possible by my wonderful parents, my amazing sister and brother in law Brian, my incredible in-laws, my new brother in law Scott, all of our friends and family, and most importantly, Greg for asking me to marry him in the first place! 

But I have a few more thank yous and I apologize in advance for a long gushy post – but I simply cannot write ANYTHING without saying all of this first:

First, thank you to Christina Zubowicz and Magnolia Events and Planning.   (A special shout out to Tina Adams, as well.  You are exquisite.)  Christina became such a fixture in my life that I considered putting her in a bridesmaids’ gown and sending her down the aisle with my girls.  But instead, there she stood at my wedding, in her chic black suit, holding my train and keeping everyone and everything in line.   This past year, she has been there for me in ways I cannot even describe, from etiquette questions to style advice, she has everything covered perfectly.  She answered my questions before I even knew I had them.  Best of all – Christina helped me to assemble my own personal Dream Team of vendors and on the day of my wedding?  There was a “Magnolia” girl at every turn.  Christina, I cannot thank you enough for your flawless execution.

Next, I want to thank Bold American Events who were responsible for both décor and catering for both our rehearsal dinner and wedding.   I’m on the Bold Bandwagon.  Specifically, I want to thank Steve Bales.  Steve is a genius and I will never EVER get over the work he did during my wedding weekend.  He’s a visionary, an artist, and an amazing person and not only did he create a stunningly beautiful event, but one that truly reflected Greg and myself.  I am GRATEFUL that he was the one who brought our wedding weekend to life.   It seriously was better than my wildest dreams.   My chuppah is now my “happy place.”

Also from Bold, I want to thank Nicki Collins who was able to achieve not only a lovely wedding menu, but also one that was so personal to the two of us.  It’s hard to tell a story through food, but Nicki was able to do so.  It’s also hard to feed 300 people with delicious food – but you guys: Nicki, Chef Todd Annis and the Bold team nailed it. 

The Reichmans.  I think finding a photographer that suits your style is the hardest part, but when we met Jamie and Todd Reichman…I knew we had found “the one(s).”  They’re truly amazing artists and though I can’t show you a lot of their work now, please trust me when I tell you…AMAZING.   (UPDATE: Please check out their blog post for a sneak peek!  Click HERE!)  Also phenomenal is their work with cinematographer Jason Link.  Please check out our engagement video they made: https://vimeo.com/49953023  I cannot WAIT to see our wedding video.  The best part about Jamie and Todd, apart from their breathtaking work, is how much we adore them as people.  Not to get too sappy on you, but it was really special to share these moments of our lives with them because they have truly become our friends.

Also, they were able to capture this moment of pure Atlanta random awesomeness:

Jenny’s Paper, Ink.  Jenny Adair not only has the absolute BEST resources for everything paper-related (from a calligrapher that was able to match my custom invitation calligraphy perfectly to great sources for beautiful paperstock), but also the design expertise to create some seriously stunning custom work.  Jenny also has absolutely IMMACULATE taste and is a complete perfectionist. Her guidance on my paper suite was invaluable.

Custom die-cut menus, hand-calligraphered place cards

Rupert’s Orchestra.   They KILLED it.  They rocked out all night.  They learned the upbeat version of “All You Need is Love” for our first dance.  Per my dad’s request, made a medley of “Isn’t She Lovely” and “Be Young, Be Foolish, but Be Happy” for our daddy/daughter dance.  They didn’t even laugh at me when I requested they learn “Call me Maybe!” (they totally did it)  And at the end of our wedding, when our ENTIRE bridal party was belting their lungs out to “Don’t Stop Believing” in a circle around us will go down as one of the best moments of my entire life. 

Speaking of music, Sarah Paul and Amati Chamber Music set the mood for our ceremony beautifully.  We sat down together and crafted the music and she guided me to a perfect selection of classical and contemporary…all perfection.

 The CAKE.  The cake was amazing and a joint work of art by Nancy Short (formerly of the Flour Shoppe) and Eileen Carter of Eileen Carter Creations.   It was a magnificent 7-tier masterpiece with 3 flavors.  Basically, I came to them with a zillion ideas for this cake… and they didn’t make me choose anything.  Everything I could have ever wanted went into and onto that cake and I can’t think about it without breaking into a huge, face-splitting grin.

Thank you to the Good Food Truck who delighted all of our guests as they lined up for our sparkler exit with their famous “Poodle:” Hot dog with a French toast bun.  Topped with apple slaw and mustard.  Outrageous.

 Thank you to all the wonderful people at the Foundry at Puritan Mill – especially darling Wendy Collins and to everyone at the Buckhead Theatre, especially superawesome Kate Zimmer.   Novare Properties, I love you.  Obviously. 

My Glam Squad: HL Painter and Suzanna (hair and makeup – you can find them at Ambrosia Salon or at DryBar), Mandy Gispert and team (hair!) and Maquilla Farrar and team for makeup.

“Oh, my Lord and Taylor.”  Last but not least, thank you, thank you, thank you to my darling Daniel Jones of Muse Salon.  He’s a saint and a trip and not only did he do a 180 on my poor, overprocessed hair this last year, but he trucked it all the way to my bridal suite just to style me and make me feel like a princess on my big day.  Daniel, j’adore.

Daniel’s handiwork:

All-in-all, I can honestly tell you that I loved every single solitary moment of the planning and preparations and that I learned so much about myself, my new husband, my family and almost every person in my life.  It was an extremely eye-opening experience and I feel so incredibly grateful for all the months of work and attention that were poured into that one spectacular weekend. 

Now I’m married and the honeymoon is over (more on that later… and just in the literal sense – I am still super excited to be a “Sadie Lady” as my grandmother says!) I’m resuming everyday life… which I PROMISE means this blog, too!  Thanks for bearing with me. 

(I missed you guys!)

xx, L(C!)

P. S. For more pix: http://reichmanphotography.com/2012/10/25/puritan_mill_atlanta_wedding/

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So, continuing from yesterday… Kevin + I spent Halloween weekend at the Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation.

As a recap, the Ritz Lodge is located in Northern Georgia, just 75 miles east of Atlanta on the shores of Lake Oconee – Georgia’s second largest lake.  Luxury merges with quintessential Southern hospitality at the stunning 251-room resort.  Nestled in the woods, the Ritz Lodge is surrounded by water on three sides, offering commanding lake views.  Draped in beds of ivy and edged by towering pines, blooming crepe myrtles and colorful caladiums, the five-story main building fronts the glistening lake, while six separate lakeside cottages and a presidential house with four master suites overlooks the Oconee Golf Course.  Lodge guests have full access to a complete gamut of activities and amenities, including a state-of-the-art Spa, tennis, two swimming pools, two full-service marinas, hiking trails and 99 holes of championship-caliber golf.

model view of the lake oconee area

We arrived late on Friday evening, but just in time to have the most delicious dinner at Linger Longer Steakhouse.  We checked in, grabbed another drink at the Lobby Lounge bar, and then headed upstairs to check out our room. 

When we woke up in the morning, we realized that we were on Club Level (holla!).  And, we had a private terrace with an outstanding lakeside view! 

Check out THIS gorgeousness:

ritz carlton lodge

room w/ a view

We spent a significant amount of the morning sitting on our balcony staring at our breathtaking view of Lake Oconee and the Ritz Lodge grounds.  It was the most relaxed I’ve been in a long time.

When our hunger finally got the better of us, we walked over to Club to get some grub (I totally recommend staying on Club Level*) + then we went out exploring. 

*Club Level: The Ritz Carlton Club Level features both deluxe guest rooms and suites, with a spacious lounge and personal concierge and staff, as well as four complimentary food and beverage offerings daily: continental breakfast, a light snack, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails + evening cordials.  The Club Level is accessible only with a special key.

Just look at how magnificent the property is:

the set up for chiminea dining

heated infinity pool overlooking lake oconee (my favorite part of the whole property)

hot tub

We were overtaken by our beautiful surroundings + so many amazing amenities.  We walked a bit further, and then Kev dropped me off at the Ritz Lodge Spa for my Long Winter’s Nap treatment. 

The Spa is an adventure in and of itself.  An expansive 26,000 square feet, the Ritz Lodge Spa is adjacent to the hotel and features 19 private treatment rooms, one couples spa suite, four wet treatment rooms – including one hydrotherapy room – male and female relaxation areas with lockers and changing facilities, an indoor lap pool, saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, a relaxation terrace, a full-service salon + a spa boutique.  Named one of America’s top resort spas by Conde Nast Traveler, this state-of-the-art sanctuary offers more than 90 health and wellness treatments, many of them utilizing ingredients indigenous to the area, such as rosemary, pine, fir and geranium, and extracts gleaned from gemstones such as smithsonite and malachite.

Here’s a peek inside:

spa lobby

spa pool

spa relaxation lounge

It was heavenly, to say the least.

My treatment, the Long Winter’s Nap, was perfect for the chilly October afternoon.  Here’s the description: A blend of essential oils add to this traditional hot stone massage to create a relaxed dream-like state, melting away stress and muscle tension.  Continue the sweet dreams with a nap that enhances the repair process.  Um, yes, I’ll take two!  (Kidding.)  It was SO enjoyable – I definitely recommend.

By the time I left the Spa it was pushing up to the Florida vs. Georgia game, so Kev + I scooted over to Gaby’s by the Lake to stake out seats. 

Gaby’s is a newly-renovated outdoor venue offering sweeping views of Lake Oconee, as well as a full menu of casual favorites and cocktails throughout the day.  Guests are seated at the water’s edge and can catch a spectacular sunset most evenings.  “Come-as-you-are” attire for lunch and dinner.

As soon as we walked in, we fell in love with Gaby’s.  It was so open and casual, and had large TV screens over the bar for us to watch the game.  I’m OBSESSED with Gaby’s chairs - incredibly comfortable and such a cool design!

We ordered beers + the housemade potato chips with bourbon BBQ, blue cheese and Vidalia onion dips.  The bartender also threw in a bowl of boiled peanuts.  We were set.

We met some friendly folks at the bar who were also rooting for the Gators + we became fast friends.  However, Kev couldn’t bear to see his Gators lose, so we eventually closed out our bill and decided to head back to Club to see what was going on in there. 

We stopped to take this picture along the way:

We ate dinner in Club, poured some wine + headed downstairs to the campfire for 8:00 p.m. S’mores!  All the kids staying at the resort (and Kevin and I, naturally) got in line to prepare our special evening snack over the campfire.  We had such a fun time doing this + pretending that we also had a kid around somewhere making s’mores…  Kids at heart?!  Yeaaaaaaa! 

We went back up to Club, poured some more wine (don’t judge), changed into our swimsuits + ran down to the hot tub to spend the next few hours hanging out outside and enjoying our last night on the property.

In the morning, we were both feeling pretty gluttonous.  So, we decided to go for a walk on the Oconee Trail after breakfast in Club. 

Our walk was eventful. 

We got about 5 miles of exercise on the winding trail…

We saw the leaves turning on the towering Georgia pine trees…

Kev whittled a walking stick (that now calls our condo balcony home)…

And, we plotted how we could stay at the Ritz Lodge F.O.R.E.V.E.R.!! 

(We couldn’t come up with a way…  We are already dying to go back.)

It was so hard to leave, but it only took us about an hour and a half to get back to Atlanta + now we have such great memories from our relaxing weekend in the Georgia woods. 

If you haven’t been to the Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation – you absolutely MUST go!  There is so much to do there; perfect for adults and kids alike.  The Ritz Lodge is a relaxing Southern paradise that makes you feel so far away from your worries and stressors, but it’s merely a 75-mile drive from Atlanta!  Visit soon! 

Oh, also, (as if there isn’t enough to do there already) the Ritz Lodge is building an ice skating rink on property for winter!  More info here: WINTER AT THE RITZ LODGE.

xx, L

Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation
1 Lake Oconee Trail
Greensboro, Georgia  30642
706.467.7196
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ReynoldsPlantation/Default.htm

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The finest chefs in Atlanta are preparing food for you to sample. The line-up currently includes:

•   Kevin Rathbun of Rathbun’s

•   Anne Quatrano of Bacchanalia

•   Shaun Doty of Yeah! Burger

•   Jay Swift of 4th and Swift

•   Hugh Acheson of Empire State South

•   Ford Fry of JCT Kitchen

•   Duane Nutter of One Flew South

•   Brian Jones of the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta

•   Joe Truex of Watershed

•   Joshua Hopkins of Abattoir

•   Ron Eyester of Rosebud

•   Scott Serpas of Serpas

•   Pano Karatassos of Buckhead Life Restaurant Group

•   Frederico Castellucci of Iberian Pig…and more to come!

 

As if that wasn’t enough, some of your favorite food trucks will also be on hand to be sure that all of your food cravings are satisfied.

 

Tours of the old Sears building will be provided during the party on a first-come first-serve basis.

Ponce City Market, a two million square-foot structure, is an adaptive reuse development that when revitalized will house a mix of retail, dining, office + residential space.  A landmark structure at the crossroads of Midtown, Poncey Highland, Old Fourth Ward + Virginia Highland, situated along the Atlanta Beltline transit corridor, Ponce City Market is perfectly positioned to become a hub among its neighboring communities, and a vibrant reflection of the diversity that makes each of those neighborhoods authentic and distinct.  It is a development borne of integrity, one that is destined to emerge as Atlanta’s next great urban experience.

This all sounds amazing, but for me The Indigo Girls performing takes the CAKE!

indigo girls

I am going to DC this weekend + will unfortunately miss PatP, but I would absolutely be there if I was going to be in town! 

Find out more about the event here: PARTY AT PONCE. 

Ticket info here: GET ‘EM WHILE THEY’RE HOT!

Party on, Atlanta. 

xx, L

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I had the greatest time this weekend at Music Midtown!  And, what a gorgeous day for it, too!  The Black Keys were really awesome to see live, and while I could totally pass on Cage the Elephant, Coldplay was well worth the wait.  Really enjoyed them + thought their R.E.M. tribute was special. 

Here’s a recap of my Music Midtown experience: 

the black keys

what's better than one funnel cake??

love.

I have a feeling that Music Midtown is here to stay, people! 

In the mood for some more music?  Well, you’re in LUCK.  One of my favorite bands, Austin-based Ghostland Observatory, will be in Atlanta preforming at the Masquerade on Wednesday, October 5!

ghostland observatory

I first saw Ghostland live at Austin City Limits Music Festival (’09) playing with the University of Texas Marching Band for a few songs.  It. was. INCREDIBLE!  Anyway, they are electro-rock-funk-ish or kinda elecro-dance-soul-rock: hard to put into a box, but they have a really great, unique sound + I can guarantee that they put on an awesome live show with lots of lasers and stuff. 

For iTunes research, check out these Ghostland albums: delete.delete.i.eat.meat and Robotique Majestique.  Codename: Rondo is their newest, but I like the previous two better.

If that’s not enough to convince you, GO’s lead singer has an impressive set of braids he rocks out on stage.  You’ll def want to check them out… They’re sorta mesmerizing.  (You can kinda see below.)

And, the show is at the Masquerade on North Ave.  Not only have I never been to that venue before, but also I usually drive faster down North when I pass it because it reminds me of a haunted house or something out of a bad episode of Law & Order. 

the masquerade

However, I just Sherlock Holmes-ed Wikipedia.com and while the Masquerade looks like a pile of sticks from the street, the venue actually has a lot of history + the inside of it seems fairly reasonable.

xx, L

The Masquerade
695 North Ave NE
Atlanta, GA  30308
404.577.8178
http://www.masqueradeatlanta.com/

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August is right around the corner, folks, and this is an event that you’ll definitely want to have on your calendars!

All the info you need is on the flier, but here’s the Q+DD just in case…

WHAT: 2nd Annual Bottoms Up for Crohn’s + Colitis
WHO: Benefits the Crohn’s + Colitis Foundation of America
WHERE: CosmoLava (Midtown)
WHEN: Saturday, August 20th, 7:00 p.m.
WHATCHA GET: Admission includes hors d’oeuvres, four drink tickets, a silent auction + music spinning from Atlanta’s own DJ Lil’ Stephen.
TICKETS, TICKETS, TICKETS: Bottoms UP!

Sounds like a fantastic evening!  CosmoLava is a pretty sweet location for a charity event, too.  See you party-people there! 

xx, L

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