To do the first look or not?

To do the first look or not?
So often we hear of brides and grooms struggling with this decision….

“Should we see each other before the ceremony and go ahead and get some photos out of the way?”

OR

“Should we keep it traditional style and wait to see each other as I’m walking down the aisle?”

You aren’t going to go wrong with either, we promise.

We want to give you a couple of inside tips from our team of wedding planners and coordinators of things you may not have fully considered to help you and your fiance with this decision!

If you and your fiance do decide to do a first look:

1.    You will save a significant amount of time in between your cocktail hour and reception to enjoy with your guest and not feel rushed or pressed for time.

2.    Depending on the time of your ceremony and how long your ceremony is, the first look might help you get more daylight in your photos.

3.    Your hair and make up will be fresh!

If you and your fiance don’t decide to do a first look:

1.    You, plus your entire guest list will all get to be a part of such a significant moment together.

2. Your photos will have the facial expressions of all of your closest friends and family.

3. Most people think its bad luck to see each other before hand!

At, The Wheeler House we love both! Each time a couple is united in holy matrimony it is something so significantly special for us to witness. Whether you see each other before the actual ceremony or wait till the bride is coming down the aisle, the moment will be perfect.

With love,
The Wheeler House



Photography: Kevin Lowery

Now Introducing….

Now Introducing….

Drum roll please........

The Wheeler House would personally like to introduce our new in house catering team, Events by Dezine! EBD is a full service catering company based out of Cumming, GA. Owner; Jennifer Mineo is no secret to the wedding industry. With over 15 years of catering experience we know our clients are in great hands!

Offering a better variety than ever, all of our clients will have china, flatware, water goblets and linen napkins that will ALL be included in your Wheeler House package! This is such an elegant factor that will be sure to wow your guests at your reception!

                         

With a delicious menu for our brides and grooms to choose from we are over the moon to welcome this amazing team on board! While selecting your entrée’s, our couples also have a variety of sides to add on, plus an optional dessert bar that is to die for!

Giving our clients the absolute best service possible is our main goal at The Wheeler House and we know with a team like EBD that is exactly what they are getting! From start to finish your day will be complete with our in house wedding coordinators, staff, cake, Dj services, and catering! We know and trust our vendor team and we are determined to make your dream wedding everything and more! 

“Events By Dezine is proud to be featured as The Wheeler House's newest vendor partner! It’s been a long time in my prayers to come back to work with these wonderful people again!”- Owner, Jennifer Mineo

(All of the above images are from: Rooted Soul Photography)

My Lynn Haven, Florida Goose Hunt

This is a blog post written by Lee Lusk, Owner of The Wheeler House. 

When we started making plans to build our barn, the first step was figuring out what type of wood and lumber to use. I thought, as memories at The Wheeler House would last forever, so too should our barn.

I wanted our barn to be different and set us apart from our competitors, but most importantly, I wanted to create a space that encompassed character. Anyone can build a ballroom or a barn without character or history, but that’s just a building. I knew I wanted to do something more, something special.

I also knew the bones of the structure and siding needed to be durable enough to last lifetimes to come, and it had to be pressure treated. So, I researched the most effective pressure treated wood. What I found – it was pilings in the ocean that hold up structures like piers, bridges and airports!

I used to work in real estate investing/developing/building in Sea Side, Florida before the market crashed. It was there that I first discovered a company in piling that pulled used poles out of the ocean. While doing my research, I instantly thought – with the new "reclaimed wood trend," these poles would be perfect for my barn.

After getting in touch with my contact in Panama City Beach, I found out that he had just pulled poles from where the new Pier Park is! Before, the pier’s pillars were wood (what I bought), but they were eventually replaced with concrete pillers. Luckily for me, they built a new international airport inland and tore down the old one in Lynn Haven. This last batch of poles sat in the Saint Andrews Bay holding up the end of the runway.

My team and a large tractor-trailer headed to pick up this last load, which cost us a pretty penny along with some blood, sweat and tears. But, it was worth it because the hot and humid Georgia weather cannot destroy the barn with these special treated pilings. Our arbor was also built from these poles – if you look closely, you can still see some of the barnacles, boat anchors, tie downs and oceanic salt stains. But, that’s character.

Every single beam and piece of barn siding was cut right here in downtown Ball Ground from a mill that is decades old – from a time when people used the timber from their land to saw and build their own barns and houses. If you look closely at our mantle and exterior siding, you can see the circular marks from the round saw. And with the interior siding, you can see the vertical marks from the band saw used at Harris Lumber in Ball Ground.

Anyone can build a barn with Home Depot lumber, but I choose the hassle (100 percent worth it), brain storming and research it took to create a truly one of a kind barn – that Lord willing will last hundreds of years… Especially with that industrial grade, high-strength concrete foundation that my over achieving dad insisted I build! Haha.   

A Word from our Owner: Lee Lusk

Wedding season is in full swing, but it doesn't stop us from continuing to make improvements on the venue. Painting, staining, hanging gutters and installing Pail Rain Chains. For those of you not familiar with these, they are metal rain chains that are a lot more fun and attractive (just for you, ladies) than gutter downspouts. You can watch the rainwater travel down the links in the chain into the copper buckets. It's all about the details and I love the details! 

Little touches like this make all the difference. When a couple looks back at their wedding pictures or when guests are swinging on our backyard swing or rocking on the porch, I want them to see the pride and love that has gone into restoring this property - it's all in the details.

I have had the rare opportunity to oversee and plan every step of the construction of the venue from the early restoration efforts of the house to building the arbor, wiring all the trees for the chandeliers and planning every square inch of the new barn.

Maybe it's my inability to sit still, maybe it's my love for improvements. Either way, take a look at some of The Wheeler House's recent updates.

The sliding barn doors have been installed and stained, and the windows are in!

The arbor got a make over for our last wedding. Jesse, my right hand man, thought it would be neat to try something new for our floating window arrangement in the arbor. Turns out, we like this whimsical look! Of course, our brides can choose the traditional window look, but what a fun new option. 

Keep an eye on The Wheeler House. It's a work in progress, getting better with age. I can't wait to show you what we have planned for you!