Real Wedding ~ Emily Foley, WU Writer Extraordinaire

There's no doubt that here at Weddings Unveiled, we see a lot of weddings. However, it's not every day that we can share the wedding of one of our own. Emily Foley has been writing for Weddings Unveiled now for a couple of years and has interviewed many newlyweds for our real wedding features. We have always loved Emily's style and brilliant personality and when she recently married in Atlanta, GA, we couldn't wait to share her with you. She's given us a little bit of insight on some of her decisions. If you'd like to know more, leave a comment!

Credits:
Photography: Sing Photography. Reception Venue: Rhodes Hall. Florist: Vines & Roses. Cake: Joshua John Cakes.

Emily: I knew I wanted Joshua John (http://www.joshuajohncakes.com/) to create my wedding cake. His bold, energetic style is completely unique and exactly what I wanted. Plus, he’s inspired by fashion, making us two peas in a pod. People literally gasped when they saw the finished product. It also tasted like dessert (his M.O.) which meant that even though I don’t typically like cake, I thought it was delicious!

Emily: Purple and apple green have been my “signature colors” for a while, as evinced by my last three bedrooms. As soon as I started thinking about my wedding (read: before I was actually engaged), I knew those were the colors I would use. I chose a deep plum for an element of elegance alongside the cheerfulness of apple green. There was a point on my wedding day when my bridesmaids and I were taking pictures that I stepped back and looked at them, and my heart skipped a little as I realized that the colors were exactly what I’d pictured.

Emily: I used Vines & Roses florist in Dacula (way outside of Atlanta), where my best friend’s mother works. I don’t know a lot about types of flowers, but knew the colors and overall shape for the bouquets that I wanted. I also knew that I wanted a collar of black boa on mine, which was met with resistance by a lot of my advisors (the florist was nervous about the black element, and my mother was afraid the feathery texture would look gothic). I stood my ground and literally started jumping up and down and cheering when I saw the finished product. Perfection.

Real Wedding ~ Sarah and Will

If Rachel Ashwell designed weddings, we have a feeling that Sarah and Will's Florida nuptials would be right up her alley. We love the vintage-feel romance of this event, sent to us by wonderful photographer, Agnes Lopez. Old-school traditional silver, sideboard heirloom-look linens, pearls (check out their cake!), abundant roses, fresh greens and a variety of soft pink shades combine for a look that could be described as cottage chic meets Victorian meets French country with a cool red American classic (the truck) thrown in for good measure.

Credits:
Photography: Agnes Lopez.

Good Reads ~ The Green Bride Guide: How to Create an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget

Here comes the bride, all dressed in.... green?

This past week, we celebrated Earth Day on April 22nd, but really, shouldn't every day be Earth Day? Even your wedding day, you ask? The answer is absolutely yes! Especially your wedding day! You already recycle, turn off the lights when you're not in the room, conserve water, buy local organic produce and bike to work in effort to do your part for the greater good, so why would your wedding day be any different? Many socially responsible brides are searching for ways to make their wedding environmentally friendly without sacrificing style. Eco-friendly brides want to leave a lasting impression on their guests, not the Earth.

Vassar graduate and environmentalist, Kate L. Harrison, has lots of experience with weddings, having planned her very own eco-friendly nuptials in 2007. Take advantage of her advice, tips and resources in her book, The Green Bride Guide: How to Create an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget .

Kate graduated with an independent major in Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Development and then moved to Berkeley, California, where she worked in environmental education and outreach. She’s currently completing a joint degree in Environmental Policy and law at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and Pace Law School. Her book offers the most comprehensive green wedding resource on the market, with hundreds of sustainable choices in one handy reference. Emphasizing elegance and individual taste, it covers all aspects of the big day and beyond, including:

· Eco-Engagements
· Here Comes the Eco-Chic Bride: Green Gowns, Shoes, and Veils
· Giving and Receiving Green: Thank-You Gifts and Registry
· Planning an Eco-Fabulous Honeymoon

That's not all -- there's so much more! Kate provides low, medium, and high-end choices in every category, and proves that you don’t have to break the bank to have a gorgeous green event! Whether you want to include a few green elements in your décor or have a completely carbon-neutral wedding with local organic food and a peace silk dress, you’ll find the all the resources you need in The Green Bride Guide to pull it off with panache.

The Green Bride Guide: How to Create an Earth-Friendly Wedding on Any Budget. $14.99. Click here to purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ABE Books, or Sourcebooks.

Adam Barnes Fine Art Photographers ~ Lynchburg, VA

One thing we noticed about Adam Barnes right from the start, is that we are always so moved by his work. You may remember him from our Valentine's Day blog post, Kisses from Weddings Unveiled. You can visit that post by clicking here. Adam's photograph was listed first in our Top 20 images with good reason. When it arrived, we were all stunned by its breathtaking beauty, its unique perspective, its romantic allure... it was just so, well... good. In fact, we'd love to have an excuse to post it again, so here it is.

Though his talent is amazing, it's certainly not the only thing we love about Adam. He is one of those people whose warm, caring, giving personality shines through, even in an email. We're so blessed to have become friends with him and we can't wait to show you more of his work, which is sure to appear again many times in the future, both here on Completely Unveiled and in the pages of Weddings Unveiled. We hope you enjoy this interview with Adam, where you can get to know him a little better and find inspiration in his photography. We imagine that working with him would be the exerience of a lifetime.

Adam Barnes Fine Art Photographers is based in Lynchburg, VA. He accepts commissions all over the world. To contact Adam Barnes Fine Art Photographers, visit the website by clicking here or call 434.845.6292.

ADAM BARNES FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHERS


Weddings Unveiled: Tell us a little bit about you and about Adam Barnes Fine Art Photographers.
AB: At the moment, my wife Lauren and I live in Lynchburg, Virginia with our Great Dane, Leah (which adds lots of excitement to the Barnes household). However, I grew up on a farm in rural North Carolina, which has added a million aspects to who I am today. I have always been rather quiet and a little introverted but disciplined, tuned to detail and a tough worker. I think those qualities make my business what it is today. My business grew out of a passion for photographs and a deep love for those around me.

WU: How did you become a photographer?
AB: Beginning in high school with the school newspaper... I found a love for photography. I'll never forget those days of journalism class, bustin' a move in the dark room while developing film. One of my greatest friends, who is also an established photographer herself, Amanda Caldwell of Amanda Caldwell Photography, can attest to the absurdity of those many hours of inhaling developer and fixer under the warm glow of the darkroom light with 20 people all crammed into one tiny room... ahhh the memories. It was during those years that I fell in love with film and what you could capture through a lens.

WU: How did you become a wedding photographer?
AB: I never dreamed of owning a photography business. I graduated college in 2000 (still hard to believe how quickly time flies) and worked in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for 7 years. I was in the middle of my master's degree in counseling when I withdrew to pursue photography full time in the fall of 2005. My professors thought I was nuts and I did too, but I had been encouraged by so many of my friends to really pursue my love for this art. Wedding photography became more focused over the years due to my fascination with photography and my excitement of working with people. There is no better field to be in.

WU: Digital or film or both? Why?
AB: I continue to shoot both film and digital. I love the simplicity of film and the beauty it easily conveys. Digital has its amazing ways too but film is just so much more full of surprises.

WU: Describe your wedding photography style.
AB: I really try to focus on emotions and aspects of the wedding that, when captured, will be nostalgic 50, even 100 years from now.

WU: Show us your favorite wedding image and tell us why it represents your style.
AB: Wow, what a question... there are so many moments I have captured and I love what they all represent. If I had to pick just one, it would be this image of a father putting a necklace on his daughter the day of her wedding. Family and relationships are everything to me and again I hope that 50 years from now this image will evoke such wonderful emotions for the bride and her family.

WU: What inspires you? What inspires your photography?
AB: "[An] author should never conceive of himself as bringing into existence beauty or wisdom that did not exist before, but simply and solely as trying to embody in terms of his own art some reflection of eternal Beauty and Wisdom. " C.S. Lewis

WU: How do you keep your vision fresh?
AB: It is amazing that with each couple you can find things that are so unique. Each couple brings a different and new aspect to my work that keeps me excited.

WU: Do you do non-wedding photography work? If so, how does it influence your wedding photography?
AB: I like to capture fine art images. When I am overwhelmed and just need a break I head out and look for details that can be missed in everyday life. It is so intriguing to me that the smallest things can be so fascinating. This carries over into my wedding photography by remembering to look for those things throughout a wedding day that may get overlooked by so many.

WU: What makes you different from other wedding photographers?
AB: I think my background in the counseling world adds to my approach to weddings. I love my clients and really enjoy creating lasting friendships with them. Not sure this necessarily sets me apart, but it's one aspect of my business that I put a lot of emphasis on.

WU: What would be your ideal wedding assignment?
AB: No timelines, no stress for the couple and lots of details.

WU: Tell us three things you can't live without.
AB: Coffee, music, friends and my wife... not in any particular order of course (coffee is pretty big though...). I can't choose just three.

WU: What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
AB: Just listen with all that you are.

WU: What is the best advice you can give to an engaged couple?
AB: Enjoy this time of your lives, it goes so quickly.

Jennifer Carroll Events ~ Afton, VA

When we met Jennifer Carroll, we immediately fell in love with her extraordinary style. Her real weddings have been featured in multiple issues of Weddings Unveiled including the current Spring, 2009 issue featuring Brook & Josh, who married at Veritas. In addition, we featured her gorgeous custom invitation and favor designs right here on Completely Unveiled. You can visit that post by clicking here. Read on to learn more about Jennifer Carroll Events and enjoy the inspiring images of her work that Jennifer has shared with us.

Jennifer Carroll is based in Afton, VA. To contact Jennifer Carroll Events, visit the website by clicking here or call 540.456.6550.


JENNIFER CARROLL EVENTS

Weddings Unveiled: Tell us a little bit about Jennifer Carroll Events.
Jennifer Carroll: I opened Jennifer Carroll Events in the fall of 2004 with the dream of using my creative gifts and talents to help couples have a wedding that was from the heart. Most people are so busy with their careers that they don't know or understand how to organize anything as complex as a wedding and they are wise to be daunted. There are so many details both large and small that need attention and there are many ways to waste money and resources. I partner with each of my clients to guide them through this process, offering advice to maximize budgets, resources and fun!

WU: How did you become an event designer? When and how did you begin Jennifer Carroll Events?
JC: I have always had an interest in making a big splash with life's celebrations. Even as young as a pre-teen, I would swag 100's of yards of streamers and balloons in my families small dining room to make birthdays and holidays even more festive and special. I remember being around 14 and hiking out into the field behind our house to chop down a tree for the kitchen because I wanted to have a kitchen tree filled with homemade ornaments! In later years, when I was modeling in New York and LA, I would always wander behind the scenes at the big galas and talk to the staff to learn how this or that lighting or design effect was achieved. When I moved to LA in the early 90's my sister offered me the chance of a lifetime - to be an event assistant at the prestigious Davidoff of Geneva store in Beverly Hills. They had a private club in the store and held a lot of exclusive events to dazzle their celebrity clientele. It was there that I realized I could do this for a living. I continued to work in the industry for several years, learning as much as I could until I finally had the chance to open my own business.

WU: Tell us about how you work with engaged couples, whether as a team or individually.
JC: I have a small team who works with me on weddings. I also have another lead planner, Melissa Burr, who works with me. She is amazing and I feel so blessed to have her on board. When Melissa and I are planning with clients we always try to keep the focus on the couple. Who are they? What are their passions? Then we come up with clever and creative ways to layer their personalities into the wedding day. After all, their guests are coming to celebrate them! In addition, every couple wants to have "the best wedding ever" and we work hard to make that happen. We've found that infusing the couple's personality completely into the day is a terrific recipe for success. My assistant Jenny stays on top of all of the logistics and keeps all of us on track with deadlines and details!

WU: Describe your wedding style.
JC: I am drawn to weddings that have a simple elegance -- nothing too fussy -- and are filled with lots of meaningful details, including beautiful papers. I love papers and believe that by taking a little extra time to get creative with papers you have an opportunity to really make a statement. After all, a wedding is filled with papers - from programs to place cards, they're a great way to tell your wedding story.

WU: What inspires you?
JC: I am inspired by so much! I love music, fashion, interior design, nature and good old-fashioned fortitude! For example, Susan Boyle and Paul Potts are just as inspiring to me as Coco Chanel and Audrey Hepburn. I read some wedding magazines but tend to focus on fashion, food & interior design magazines and books. I look outside of the typical wedding arena for inspiration and when I find it, I file it away in my mind and wait for the right client. Music is very important to me especially while I'm designing for clients. Some days I'll have Debussy playing while others it's Muse (a british band). You never know what will open the flood gates of inspiration!

WU: How do you keep your ideas fresh?
JC: I don't like to repeat designs and since every couple is different, I seek out their uniqueness and then try to translate that into the event. I push myself to keep creating and evolving. I don't like to stand still and am always thinking about how to reinvent a theme. I never settle for just ok.

WU: What was your favorite wedding and why?
JC: Oh, what a hard question! Every wedding is special and amazing and has it's own flavor - and I'm really not just saying that! - But yes, there are a couple that stand out. One is a wedding I designed last summer for an amazing couple, Tatiana & Justin. It was filled with poetry and romance and lots of candlelight. So gorgeous!!! Another beloved wedding was the wedding of Amber & Charlie which was held in one of the gardens at UVA. We strung dozens of chinese lanterns in the trees and enjoyed an al fresco dinner under them. It was breathtaking! For a wedding to be a favorite though, it needs to have a lot of details. I get so excited when a couple allows me to "run" with an idea. When they trust me with it, I in turn deliver something spectacular!

WU: What makes Jennifer Carroll Events different from other wedding and event designers?
JC: I believe that it's our heart. We really care about each couple and work so hard to make their dream come true. We aren't trying to put "our stamp" on it. I really want guests to walk away from the wedding with a feeling of having been dazzled. I want them to have been infused in the personalities of the wedding couple. I hope wedding guests feel that they know the couple even better because they attended their wedding and that it was a very personal experience.

WU: What would be your ideal wedding assignment or dream wedding to design?
JC: Ahhh, since I'm a dreamer this is always changing, but one of my ultimate dream weddings would be held in an English or French manor garden. The garden paths would be bordered with beaded lanterns creating a sparkling fairy light. Candles would be hanging from every tree branch and floating in the garden pools. Thousands of peonies, crisp white linens, candelabras, canopies of soft organza blowing gently in the evening breeze... ahhh, how romantic. I think of it as the Count of Monte Cristo meets Jane Austen!

WU: Tell us three things you can't live without.
JC:
1 - Music. I love all types but currently I listen to alot of classical and modern British bands.
2 - Books. Jane Austen!!
3 - Candles. I love Seda France's French Tulip candle. It smells delicious!

WU: What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
JC: To not give up on your dream! No matter what, follow your heart, even if you're scared, do it afraid!

WU: What is the best advice you can give to an engaged couple?
JC: To focus on quality over quantity. Zino Davidoff was famous for saying that he'd rather smoke a better quality cigar but have fewer of them. That concept of quality more than quantity stuck with me. I see it apply over and over to weddings. Inviting fewer guests but having amazing details at your wedding will give everyone happier memories.

Images below are courtesy of Jennifer Carroll Events and photographers as noted.

Images directly below by Jen Fariello.

Images directly below by Eric Kelley.

Images directly below by Hunter Henkel.