Love with a View

  Joe and I only had to visit two venues in Asheville before we chose the one in which we wanted to have our celebration. After visiting The Lodge in Grand Highlands at Bearwallow Mountain, we were sold. The views are breathtaking, the atmosphere private and it's just what we wanted: an intimate lodge feel where we get the best of both the indoors and out. The best part for me, a wedding planner so excited to plan my own wedding was that the lodge is just venue so I got to handpick all my own vendors! I personally think I did a pretty great job. Our guests still rave about our unique menu,amazingly fun band, gorgeous photos, and the absolutely breathtaking views!

Below is a collage of some of my favorites from the day. Thank you Matthew Pautz Photography for capturing our families, friends and love in the most perfect way!

Photography: Matthew Pautz Photography

Flowers: The Bloom Room

Catering: Caroline Allured

Videography: Indigo Photography and Video

Design and Planning: Like the Dazzling Weddings

Linens: Connie Duglin

Rentals: Classic Event Rental

Ceremony Musicians: Lauren and Lane

Band: The Threshold

Venue: The Lodge in Grand Highlands, Bearwallow Mountain

Coordination: Amanda Greene, Cordial and Craft

Keeping up with the Joneses

Today, the very best thing happened. This afternoon, June 28th my sister and I planned for a very normal, let's catch up telephone chat. She works and lives on a privately owned motor yacht with her husband, my brother (in law) Mark. They've been in Europe for a little over a month now. They left the morning after mine and Joe's wedding and it was probably the saddest goodbye we've shared yet. I'm not sure on the reasoning, It was just more difficult this time than most.

I miss her terribly when she is gone as she is the person with whom I grew up sharing not just a room but a bed and all our belongings and friends. I think she would seriously have had those last two parts be different back then but as we've both grown into adults, we still share many of the same friends, and have yes, even shared both a room and bed for extended periods of time. (It's a boating thing...living arrangements can be tight haha)

Many funny snapchats, a silly photo we come across on the internet, a song we heard on the radio or an article of clothing that YOU JUST HAVE TO HAVE has been shared over this past month. But today was the very best exchange of all... ever!

Our conversation went a little like this....

Me: Hi Seldon, how are you?

Seldon: I'm Pregnant!!

Me: WHAAAAT? Are you ..... (then OF COURSE the call got dropped!!!)

Hannah's internal dialogue  (Is she going to call me back? Should I call her? She better call me back! Is this real? Why isn't she calling me back?)

Well, she did call me back about 5 seconds later and we spent the next 40 minutes talking about their first visit to a doctor in Nice, Italy, their first ultrasound, hearing the babies heartbeat, the babies due date, potential plans for the future and so many other amazingly wonderful things including scheming of how we'd tell mom and dad that they're going to be grandparents.

I've imagined this day for quite some time now and while I hoped I could hug my sister and never let her go when she finally did tell me, there will be time for that still. Thank you Seldon for sharing this happy news with me on this day. The fact that you didn't wait until I actually get to hug you in... I don't know 2-3 more months makes it all the more special!

Seldon and Mark are going to be such amazing parents. Seldon, you without a doubt will be the most devoted, caring and kind mother just like our own. Mark, I cannot wait to see you captain this new adventure. Your child will surely have salt water in its veins, a wonderfully fun personality and hopefully a hint of that British accent!

BEST NEWS EVER! Baby Jones Coming February 2017 :)

Cannot wait to meet you baby Jones,

Love your Aunty Sug'

See What's Blooming on Pinterest

Anyone else out there Pinterest obsessed? I find myself ....'pinteresting' if you will, while laying in bed at night or just at random lulls in my day. Pinterest is such an amazing source of inspiration and a wealth of information for me for not just wedding related content but business, fashion, recipes and what I've been pinning about today: Gardening and the Outdoors! With the past week being so unseasonably warm here in Atlanta, I mean come on: It was 73 degrees here just this week! I have serious spring fever. Sincerest apologies to the folks that have had massive amounts of snow as of lately, unless of course you are into that kind of weather. So with the forecast  here turning back to cooler temperatures over the weekend and next week, I am hanging onto hope of an early spring. Thank you Groundhog Phil. With that, I am looking forward to doing some planting in my backyard this spring and thanks to Pinterest's plethora of knowledge, I've been learning about companion planting, when to transplant indoor seeds outside and how to keep those pesky bugs away. Now, I just need my wonderful fiancé to get on board and help me build trellis' and oh... clear some space in the backyard for a vegetable garden bed! ;) That is key. I will keep you all updated on that as spring draws closer.

With all of that in mind, I want to share with you one of my boards: Garden Party  Inspiration. (take a peak by following the link)

This board has a collection of my favorite pins that I've come across that would be wonderful inspiration for an outdoor garden themed wedding. Pins for both an intimate, more casual backyard soiree to your more grandiose atmosphere. Equally as beautiful and both inspired by beautiful blooms, romantic lighting and eclectic, unique touches!

When designing your own wedding, remember to make it your own! Pinterest again, is such a great collection of inspiring ideas but  make it your day, your story and you can't go wrong!

www.likethedazzling.com