We are excited to share this guest post from Stems Atlanta!
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Getting married is an exciting time.There is so much to plan and so many fun thing to do. From dress shopping to popping the question to your bridesmaids to picking a wedding date, the list goes on and on. Undoubtedly, you have waited for this moment a long time and are ready to dive in to this thing called marriage. But first, let’s get prepared for the biggest party of your life! It’s so important that you not only have an amazing celebration, but that you also understand how to plan an amazing celebration. Today, I will be sharing 5 tips and tricks to having a successful floral consultation from start to finish.

Ready? Let’s dive in…
#1 The first thing you need to do is your homework.
​Research florists in the area of your venue or ones that would be willing to travel to your destination. Pick a few that not only service your area, but also fit within your budget. Many wedding websites and florist websites will give you a good guideline to florist minimums and package pricing

#2 Decide on your budget
​Before you determine your floral budget, it’s a good idea to figure out your overall wedding budget. You can best do this by asking newly married friends.  Find a friend or two who just got married and who had a similar style wedding to yours (ballroom, reception hall, wedding barn, etc.) Ask they what their overall budget was and you can expect yours to probably fall within $2-3,000 of that. Your floral budget will comprise about 10% of your overall budget and if you are adding in draping, lighting, furniture rentals, etc., it may be closer to 12%

#3 Pinterest it up!
​Designers need to get inside your head. When I meet with clients my number one goal is to get to know them and their wedding vision. We talk about their partner, about how they met and what kind of wedding they foresee themselves having. Have you heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”? Well, nothing is more true in design. If you are able to show images of what you like and designs that fit your aesthetic, a designer can quickly interpret that to fit the needs of your budget.
#4 Determine your areas of impact
​Areas of impact are where you focus you decor budget for drama. Some clients have an amazing ceremony installation that they choose to spend a good bit of their floral budget on. For others, it is the estate table at the reception or the lush and full bridal bouquet. Pick 1-2 areas of impact and tell your designer that those are where you want to focus your budget.

#5 Don’t wait.
​If you know you love the designer and they agree to the price-point you want to stay within, put down a deposit for your wedding day. I can’t tell you how many times I have done a consultation and the client does not respond to the proposal within the allotted time, thus opening up my calendar for that day. When they call to book weeks down the road, their date has been reserved by someone else. While many florists can accommodate multiple events in one day, the larger events require more staff and may cause that date to become blocked off and unavailable.
I hope these tips have been helpful to you in your planning journey and I hope to walk this journey with you, too!
~Heather
www.stemsatlanta.com 

Wedding invitations - where do you even start?  In general, we don't send paper invitations or even mail to people much anymore.  So now that you are faced with sending paper invitations to a huge list of guests for your wedding, it can be overwhelming.  We've pulled together a few tips to hopefully take some of the stress off of you as you plan your North Georgia wedding!

Save the Dates are Great
These allow guests to start planning in advance to be at your wedding.  Save the Dates go out three to four months before your wedding.  Include the names of the couple and wedding date.  If you have a website for more information, feel free to add that on!  This is just to put a placeholder on their calendar, so you don't need all the details listed.  
Save the Dates are extremely helpful for any out of town guests travelling to North Georgia for your wedding.
Invitation Timing
Invitations should go out six to eight weeks before the wedding.  This gives guests plenty of time to plan for travel, accommodations, etc.  Ask for RSVPs about a month before the wedding so you can give final counts to your North Georgia wedding venue, caterer, cake, etc.  And be prepared that not everyone will RSVP, so you will have to follow up.

Who is Invited
The names on the invitation let guests know exactly who is invited.  Mr. & Mrs. Smith is just the adults, not the three children.  Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Family includes everyone.  Miss Jane Doe is just Jane - no date.  Miss Jane Doe and Guest means she can bring a plus one.

Dress Code
Dress code details can be included in the lower right-hand corner of the invitation or on the RSVP card.  Stick to standard types such as "Black Tie", "Cocktail Attire" or "Casual Attire".  Your guests will always appreciate knowing the dress code!
Spell It Out
Make sure you spell out everything on the address - Road, Street, etc.  Abbreviations are fine for Mr. and Mrs. but they shouldn't be used in the address.

That's the quick and easy version of wedding invitation etiquette!  If you work with a custom designer, they can help you with wording. Larger companies like Minted make it easy also with standard wording you can customize with your details.
One additional tip, consider a calligrapher or other professional to address all the invitations - your hands will thank you!
​- Becky

Does the image of an intimate backyard dinner with string lights, garden style centerpieces, good food and great conversation make you smile?  Us too! 
We are giving you tons of ideas to bring that elegant but laid back backyard dinner party vibe to your wedding.

Bring on the String Lights
You can't beat the warmth and atmosphere that string lights bring to an evening party.  They provide just enough glow as the evening begins and create a canopy overhead.

Add a Lounge Area
Bring the comforts of home outside with some soft seating for your guests.  Add a couple sofas and chairs, a rug and a few side tables to hold their drinks.  Perfect for cocktail hour and for guests to rest their feet from dancing.
Think More when it comes to Dessert
Choose a few different desserts instead of one traditional tiered cake.  Add a mix of cakes, pies, cookies - whatever your heart desires!  Your guests will love the selection.

Add Color and Pattern to Tables
Consider unique table linens for cocktail tables, guest book table, etc.  It will add a pop of color and elegance to the display.

Drape Some Greenery
Add greenery to porch posts or walls behind a head table.  This will continue the greenery of the landscape on the built elements.

Lawn Games are always Great
Whether is Giant Jenga, Cornhole, ring toss or more.  This keeps your guests entertained and adds to the fun.

Small Details Make a Big Impact
Think place settings, garden inspired centerpieces, and more.  Great table scapes encourage your guests to linger and enjoy conversation.

Add Comforts of Home
​Blankets for chilly evenings or paper fans for warm days will help your guests enjoy the weather outside.
Serve Seasonal Fare
Think home grown and farm to table with appetizers, cocktails and more.  Early spring?  Consider strawberries in a salad.  Moving into summer think blueberry lemonade or berry gazpacho.  Fall is a great time for sweet potatoes and apples.

We hope this sparks some creative thoughts for our wedding and how to capture that elegant backyard dinner vibe.  We would love to see your vision at our venue!  
​- Becky