Taylormade for McKay

Taylor & Garrett McKay - Lanier Islands PineIsle Pointe September 2018

This is a beautiful example of marrying a family, and we couldn’t have felt more like family after months of planning this gorgeous day together! Our bride and groom had known each other since high school (apparent with prom pictures scattered throughout), and with parents and step-parents that truly love each other love was in the air all weekend long. Everyone wanted to surprise our bride and groom with special touches all weekend, from the rehearsal dinner to brunch, to little touches throughout the ceremony and reception you'll read about below.

Starting with ceremony details our bride, Taylor enlisted the help of the ever incredible Jim White Designs for her floral, draping and decor needs. Jim is a master at creating beautiful backdrops with simplicity that will make a grand statement, but not take away from the beauty around you.

Because that is always the hard question to answer isn't it? Beautiful backdrops for your ceremony are easy to come by, but it’s hard to decide what to do after you have chosen your venue. Do you keep it as is, bring something else in to enhance it, and if you decide to add-to what direction do you go? Draping is always a simple way to soften the background around you and give you a more intimate setting. If you decide to add some draping, it is always nice to add it in 2 different colors which helps tie in not just your wedding colors, which is what Jim White did for the McKay's ceremony setting.

By adding some draping to the already stunning wooden arbor at Lanier Islands PineIsle Pointe lakeside setting, it was just perfect and added romantic touches. Where the white and pink draping were gathered, 2 swags of large floral arrangements not only hides where the draping gathered, but also helps pull in all the impressive greenery around the lawn the arbor poses a contrast to.

We also brought in 2 beautiful chandeliers to help fill in the space over the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and who doesn’t love a little bling?! One of the special touches Jim helped us create the most beautiful tribute to Taylor’s father who had passed away. He draped a box in greenery, where we placed his cowboy boots around some candles and smaller floral arrangements of hydrangeas submerged in water. I know everyone couldn’t help by dry their eyes when they saw he was still part of their ceremony and with them as they became man and wife. Then the aisle was lined with larger arrangements just like the ones under the arbor.

Moving to reception, another tough question… sweetheart table or a head table with your entire wedding party? Taylor and Garrett wanted to make sure they were able to soak in their reception with a few private moments and opted for a sweetheart table. To continue with their ceremony feel, we brought in more of the draping layered behind them and flocked with greenery and candles that we pulled up from the ceremony to re-purpose them. Jim White & his team then had string lights draped all over the reception space, which was an open-air pavilion, so you felt like you were sitting under the stars. Among all the lights they placed more greenery, fresh flowers and pearls all pulled to the middle of the dance floor under another grand chandelier.

Having the dance floor as the anchor of the reception space and everything spread out from there is a great way to give everyone an even vantage point if you are able. Most of the big moments happen on the dance floor like: dances, toasts, and all the action later in the night; so it's nice for your guests to see without having to leave their seats! All of their reception tables had different styles of arrangements some tall, some short, but all with the same theme of pink & white roses, lilies, hydrangeas and eucalyptus. Having different arrangements always helps to move your eyes around the reception space, especially if you have a large guest count. If you are having tall arrangements with round tables, a pro tip is to make sure you can see through them (i.e. glass or geometric frames), so that your guests can still talk and interact with one another.

Whiskey barrels are always popular in the south and Taylor and Garrett topped theirs with a large piece of glass and used it as their guest book table. It was outfitted with another stunning arrangement from Jim White’s team, and we then placed polaroid cameras for action shots of everyone to personalize. Just next to their guestbook, we placed their cards and gift table. A monogrammed ‘M’ for the new McKay's and some pictures are great ideas to help fill in until guests bring in their goodies for the newlyweds. It's nice to have these tables close by for ceremony and reception so guests have the option to come and go back to after all evening if they did not get the chance prior to ceremony.

Another pro tip if you are on the fence about upgrading your linens is to splurge on just your sweetheart/head table and your cake table, which is what Taylor and Garrett chose to do. All of your guests will see these, and they can make a big statement, but don't max out your budget.

Naked cakes are still all the rage, and some small arrangements cascading down the cake on different sides can make a nice impact. Most florists like Jim White will make a small toss bouquet for the bride, and it’s nice to place that on the cake table for some color and help balance out the cake and champagne flutes. If you aren't using your bridesmaids bouquets as centerpieces, they can add some nice pops-of-color around your cake as well.

It was a stunning day fit for a wonderful family that is now officially one! Stay tuned for their equally as stunning rehearsal dinner that is still #goals!