Vendor Spotlight: Chelsea Floral Designs

Today I am featuring Atlanta florist, Chelsea Floral Designs. Vice-President, David Clarke, has stopped by today to talk about their wedding services.

Lemiga: Tell us a little about Chelsea Floral Designs - what range of services do you offer?

Chelsea Floral Designs: We offer contemporary or traditional bouquets, complementing boutonniere’s, corsages, stylish table centerpieces, pedestal arrangements and striking decorative displays, using only the finest and freshest available flowers from around the world. We can meet locally at a coffee shop or visit the wedding venue to discuss your ideas and give you an opportunity to view our extensive portfolio of work. Appointments during the day, evenings and weekends are always available to suit your schedule. If you are overcome by the choice of flowers, themes and colors, we can help and guide you. After all, one of the most important days of your life deserves an expert florist's attention and planning. We are here at Chelsea Floral Designs to help you to feel happy and relaxed with your decisions and to translate your ideas into reality. Lemiga: How do you assist a bride when they're going through the process of choosing flowers for a wedding?

Chelsea Floral Designs: Nothing is better than showing our portfolio. This way the brides can see how flowers look together, the different types, styles and colors. This lets them know exactly what they will be getting. Photos in magazines are also good too. Lemiga: What should potential clients look for when hiring a florist or floral designer?

Chelsea Floral Designs: Testimonials and references are always important. Do not be afraid to ask the florist for contact information for brides that he or she has worked with before. This is important as you are getting first hand feedback from the most important person involved. Lemiga: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Chelsea Floral Designs: I enjoy the whole process of transforming the bride’s visions and ideas for her wedding into reality. The look of the brides face on her special day is the best feeling in the world.
Lemiga: What is one piece of advice you would give for brides to be?

Chelsea Floral Designs: Cheaper is never the best option. Always be prepared to pay a little more for flowers. The wedding only happens once and everybody will see your flowers from the start of the day till the end! Thanks David for stopping by today and sharing some insight into your company and services you offer for weddings.

Contest Winner

Thanks to everyone that left comments on the Soiree Giveaway, the winners are

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

5
2

Timestamp: 2008-09-22 01:44:20 UTC

The winner of the Chasing Spayde Designs favor boxes is Bunny B who said "I love the Peacock Shower"

and

The winner of the box of chocolate truffles is Jessica who said "I'd have to go with the Sweet & Sophisticated Wedding. I'm always a fan of yellow and clean lines."

Bunny and Jessica please email me your address to michelle@lemiga.com so I can mail your prizes.

Also, I want to say a big congratulations to Sukai at Dreamy Gelato & Chocolates who finally got her new website launched and also has started a blog. So everyone stop by and give her some blog love!

Happy Friday!

I can't believe it's Friday already! This week has flown by for me. Don't forget today is the last day to enter into the Soiree Giveaway. All you have to do is leave a comment to that post here

Also a big thank you to Gabrielle Tucker at Faire Le Fete Productions for giving me this award I have really enjoyed sharing my work with all of you and it's nice to know that you are enjoying it! Now it's my turn to pass it on to some of my favorite blogs that inspire me on a daily basis:

Swanky Tables

By Your Side Events

Stem Parties

Zenadia Design

Pen and Ink

Simply Seleta

Sky + Carla Photographers

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Buttercream Dreams Couture Cupcakes

Today I am featuring Buttercream Dreams Couture Cupcakes. A few weeks ago I had the chance to meet owner Ashley Buker, and in the "name of research" taste her absolutely divine cupcakes! Hey I couldn't in good faith recommend her without a tasting right : ) Well let me just tell you, these cupcakes are life changing! With flavors like Copacabanana, Snickeriffic, and Banana Split, these are not your garden variety bakery cupcakes. For my tasting I had the white cake with raspberry filling and raspberry buttercream icing, as well as the cookies and cream chocolate cupcakes. The cookies and cream actually had an oreo cookie baked inside! The pictures in the posting are ones I took during the tasting.

Lemiga: Tell us a little about Buttercream Dreams Couture Cupcakes - why did you decide to start your business?

Buttercream Dreams: I just recently got married, and was so excited to receive my Kitchenaid Mixer. It's such a rite of passage to get one of those things for your wedding! I was thrilled, but had no idea what I was going to make with it. I found an amazing recipe for peanut butter chocolate cupcakes and got to mixin'. I was hooked. I simply couldn't stop. I made so many cupcakes that my poor new husband couldn't keep up with eating them all, so I started giving them away. Neighbors, friends, family, the staff at the liquor store by our house, anyone who would take them! People started asking for special orders and... the rest is delicious cupcake history!

Lemiga: How do you come up with your cupcake flavors?

Buttercream Dreams: Most often, I am just perusing the aisles of the market and I see something that inspires me. To me, there is nothing better than a chocolate covered pretzel. One day in Fresh Market I saw a chocolate covered pretzel with toffee bits and thus, the chocolate toffee pretzel cupcake is born!

Lemiga: Do you make custom flavors?

Buttercream Dreams: Absolutely! Sometimes I get too crazy and forget about the old standards. I recently had a client who was trying to choose the flavors for her wedding cupcake tower, and she shot me an email that said "Your flavor list is great... but can you just do carrot cake?" I am open to entertaining any and all ideas- no matter how zany or how normal!

Lemiga: What is your favorite cupcake flavor right now?

Buttercream Dreams: Always, always, Peanut Butter Cup.

Lemiga: What makes you different from other cupcake bakeries in Atlanta?

Buttercream Dreams: I think I stand out because I am coming from the very real and humble perspective of a recent bride. I remember very well what it is like to plan a wedding and I think that is reflected in all aspects of how I do business. I was so stressed in planning my wedding, so I always respond to my brides promptly. I was also concerned about our budget, so I try to keep my prices extremely reasonable. Lastly, I wanted my wedding to be spectacular, memorable, and personal- just like every bride- so I do whatever it takes to make sure I fulfill every wish and desire. I want my clients to feel more like they are talking with a friend than haggling with a vendor.

Lemiga: What range of services do you offer with your cupcakes for weddings and events?

Buttercream Dreams: We offer everything from custom designs in fondant and gumpaste and special cupcake liners to tower rental and delivery/set up.

I cannot not rave enough about Buttercream Dreams Couture Cupcakes! Not only is Ashley such a sweetheart, she has such a passion for her cupcakes that really comes through in each and everyone that she makes. You can truly taste the difference!

Fall Table Display

Event Rentals Unlimited contacted me a few weeks ago to do a table display for their showroom. They wanted the table to be a fall theme and wanted people to say "wow" when they walked through the door. So I came up with a purple and orange fall color scheme. And here's how the table turned out

The main centerpiece is a dramatic tall glass vase with purple water and manzanita branches with orange flowers. I thought the contrast of the branches and bright orange flowers looked very "fall like".
Surrounding the base of the centerpiece are small orange vases with purple flowers.
I used gold rim chargers topped with gold rim white china and purple napkins
Each place setting included a small pumpkin with personalized place cards
I thought the copper pintuck tablecloth from Tabletoppers, complemented the overall table design very wellFor chairs we used bronze chameleon chairs with gold cushions
And one final look at the table
My photography skills are seriously lacking - but you get the idea!

Photographer Spotlight: Wilgrant Weddings

Today I am featuring Wilgrant Weddings, a photography studio that is currently based out of Washington, D.C., but will be relocating to Atlanta, Georgia later this year. Owner and lead photographer Jeff Wilson has stopped by today to tell us more about their wedding photography.


Lemiga: How do you describe your photographic style?

Wilgrant Weddings: I am a photojournalist with somewhat of a fashion flair. I have a background in fashion photography. Although the genres are totally different they can compliment each other at times.
Lemiga: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Wilgrant Weddings: I enjoy capturing the moment. Photographing weddings allow me an opportunity to record the love and joy between two people as family and friends witness this special time in their lives. Lemiga: One piece of advice for brides-to-be:

Wilgrant Weddings: Do not choose a wedding photographer as an after thought. Too many brides plan their entire wedding then say “Oh we forgot book a photographer”. By this time the budget has been spent and you have this wonderful reception with great floral arrangements and a beautiful cake. You only have $1,000 left for a photographer, that may not be able to provide the elegant images to match the elegance of the wedding. Choose a great photographer early on and remember the pictures are going to last much longer than the food, flowers and so many other things you pay for. Lemiga: What qualities should a couple look for when hiring a photographer?

Wilgrant Weddings: Besides great images, I think personality is a quality that is major. Thatʼs why I offer free engagement sessions with all my wedding photography services. Its always a fun stress free shoot. I want my clients to know me and I want to get to know them. So that on the day of the wedding, Iʼm not walking in a just “the wedding photographer” but also a friend. Then the photographer is one less thing to stress about on the wedding day. Lemiga: What details within the wedding day play the most important part in your photography?

Wilgrant Weddings: Both the ceremony and the brideʼs preparation (ie. make-up and hair) play the most important part in my photography. I like to shoot the preparation so that the groom gets a chance to see everything his bride went through to make it a special day. Of course the ceremony speaks for itself. I make sure to capture the look on both the bride and groomʼs face once they see each other for the first time during her processional. I am also sure to capture the smiles of friends and family attending. Of course I canʼt forget the “first kiss” as husband and wife. Those are a few details that play an important role. I could go on for days about detail.

Lemiga: What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Wilgrant Weddings: The highlight of my career to date was shooting my first wedding. Although all weddings are special. The first was special because I had no interest in shooting weddings at all. As I mentioned earlier, I started photography in the fashion/commercial genre but one day I got a call from a bride and she had seen some of my images and asked me to shoot her wedding because she really liked my pictures. I was honest with her and told her that I had no experience shooting weddings and had no interest at that time. She was persistent and called me back about 3 days later. I agreed to shoot it as long as she and the groom were fully aware that I had no experience. Once the wedding was over I thought to myself that wasnʼt so bad. But my true joy came when they picked up their wedding album and as she, her mother, and her husband looked through the images, I saw the expressions on there faces. Both she and her mother cried as they look at the images and her husband sat there with a big smile on his face. It was then, I realized that it was not just about taking pictures but about documenting moments to be cherished, not just moments to remember, but moments to relive every time they look at their images. That is a highlight that I try to recreate with each wedding that I shoot.Thanks for stopping by today Jeff! As a new photographer to the Atlanta market, Wilgrant Weddings for a limited time will be offering special introductury rates to Atlanta brides. Contact me or Wilgrant Weddings to get more information about these rates.

Dingbat Press Contest

You all know how much I LOVE letterpress! Well, Dingbat Press is giving away a FULL WEDDING SUITE
TERMS:
Giveaway to last 1 week, to close at midnight on Friday 9/19, winner will be announced Saturday 9/20. This package is valued at over $900 and one lucky winner will take it all!
See all the details of the giveaway here They are also offering a 10% discount to all wedding invitation purchases made in their Etsy shop through the end of the month. Just mention code DP10 when purchasing.

Soiree Giveaway

For all my readers who could not attend my Open House Soiree, I'm doing a giveaway to thank you for your support of my blog and my business. All you have to do to win is leave a comment to this post telling me which table from the Soiree was your favorite:

(1) Sweet & Sophisticated Wedding

(2) Mommy to Bee

(3) Fashionista Sweet 16

(4) Christmas Table

(5) A Perfect Match

(6) Peacock Bridal Shower

(7) Old Hollywood Glam

One person will win this set of (8) party favor boxes created by Chasing Spayde Designs for the Sweet & Sophisticated wedding table.
Here are the boxes on the table at the Soiree
A second person will win a box of chocolate truffles from Dreamy Gelato & Chocolates
The winners will be randomly selected. One entry per person. Contest ends this Friday, September 19th at 11:00 p.m.

2008 Soiree Recap - Old Hollywood Glam

(All photos courtesy of Altmix Photography)

Table Design: Lemiga Events

Colors: pink and black

Concept: Old Hollywood glitz and glamour is the theme of this wedding table, with dramatic black linens, feminine pink, and crystal accents.I am so in love with these box invitations created by Socially Writealong with matching place cards and menu cardsGorgeous pink roses from Flora Design Studio

Silver chocolate truffle party favors by Dreamy Gelato & Chocolates

This insanely gorgeous wedding cake is by Sugarplum Visions Table linens are from Connie Duglin and the square table, plates and chargers are from Event Rentals Unlimited

Well, this is the last table from the Soiree! I hope you have enjoyed seeing all the details. A BIG, BIG, BIG thank you to all of my absolutely incredible vendors who participated and helped to make the Soiree a success!

Stay tuned for a giveaway for all my blog readers who weren't able to make it to the Soiree.