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

What to Bring on Your Wedding Day

When coming to your wedding venue on your big day, our in-house team of wedding planners has compiled a short list of things for you to remember to bring! We want our brides to have the experience of a lifetime and these insightful tips will be sure to make that happen!

Snacks and Water

 We can’t stress this enough! Keeping hydrated and making sure you have some food onsite is crucial on any wedding day! There is so much happening we don’t want you to not have some food to snack on while getting ready.

 Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Okay, we know this might sound a little funny, but we highly recommend bringing this to keep your pearly whites in check on your wedding day! You'll be taking a ton of photos so you'll want to make sure your smile stays bright! 

 Stationary

This is a huge and often forgotten! Your photographer will want to capture this on your wedding day and you will want these photos to remember your day by!

 Mascara and Lipstick

It’s totally normal to shed a few tears on your wedding day! Having a tube of mascara always on hand for touch ups is a great way to make sure you are still glowing in your photos! Your lipstick is also something that we suggest keeping with one of your bridesmaids or maybe even seeing if your photographer wouldn’t mind hanging on to it. Touch ups are going to be needed, and having these items close by is much easier than having to search for them. 

Shoes

One thing we love at The Wheeler House is a good pair of wedding shoes! We love seeing so many of our bride’s different styles! We want our brides to be as comfy as possible so bringing a pair of flats or sandals to change into is a great idea!

Speaker

Yes! We love when our brides bring speakers and have their favorite tunes playing while they are getting ready! This helps to set a fun and relaxing atmosphere at sets the tone for the entire day!

Headache Medicine

On your wedding day, you are probably going to smile more than you ever have! With taking tons of photos, and talking to all of your guests, we highly recommend taking some headache medicine before the festivities get started!

 Safety Pins/Mending Kit/Scissors

This will give you so much relief! Whether there are tags that need to be cut off dresses or a small button that needs sewed back on, bringing the mending kit will help anyone in your bridal party in case of emergencies.

Band-Aids

With it being your wedding day, we are all about you getting some cute new wedding shoes that you totally love! Sometimes new shoes can cause blisters, especially if you have found your place on the dance floor! Having band-aids close by is something you will be so thankful for later on!

We so hope this blog will help many of our brides who are beginning to prep for their wedding day! These tips are guaranteed to make your wedding day run smoother and most importantly to help guide you through the wedding day process.

With love,

The Wheeler House

| Venue: The Wheeler House | 

| Photography: Claire Diana Photography |

| Florals: The Flower Post |

10 important things to know before touring a wedding venue

{Photo by: Mike Moon}

1. Allow enough time in your day to tour

When touring a wedding venue it is crucial to factor in at least one hour of your time at the venue. You will tour the facility, ask many questions, as well be given several documents with information on them. You want to make sure that you don’t rush this process because it’s your chance to be sold on the venue of your dreams.

2. Request as much info beforehand

Most venues always email out any package and pricing information prior to your tour. This is so helpful for brides because it gives them the chance to prep before the actual tour. You can crunch numbers, see what’s included, and factor in what still needs to be budgeted for!

{Photo by: Happy Everything Co.}

3. Know what’s important to you and your fiance

This is key! As a couple it’s important to know your style and what type of venue you are searching for. You need to envision what significant factors you are hoping for with photography, what background setting is imperative to you, and what type of atmosphere you want your guests to experience at your wedding.

 

{Photo: Mike Moon}

4. Look at pictures of the venue online

It’s always better to see things before trying them on right? Know the venue you’re touring. See what they have to offer before you go visit. Make sure you like the grounds and the different photo opportunities that are being shown.

5. Know your budget

Nothing is worse than falling in love with something and then not being able to afford it. Request information ahead of time so you know if it’s even in your price range. It’s also important to think of other factors that aren’t included in package pricing that you will have to account for.

 

{Photo: Kayla Johnson}

6. Don’t tour alone

We can’t stress this one enough. It’s so important to bring an extra set of eyes and ears! People see things differently than you do and who doesn’t want a trustworthy second opinion?!

{Photo: Erin K. Wood}

7. Know what time of the year/season you want to be married

This can help you in so many ways, knowing your season will help decide what color scheme you’re planning for, what flowers will be in bloom, and what to expect weather wise with the temperature.

8. Make a list of all your questions beforehand

Yes, Yes, and Yes. We are here to help you! If something is unclear it is our job to fix it. We always want our customers to leave feeling satisfied and know that we discussed everything that was of question to them.

9. Have an idea of your guest count

Imagine your closest friends and family all gathered together. Do you think it will be a comfortable atmosphere that everyone will enjoy? 

{Photo: Kayla Johnson}

10. Ask to take pictures when touring

We want you to remember your time with us. A lot of times not all brides and grooms can come at the same time, you want to be able to have a visual to show your fiance when you are telling them all about how the tour went! Details can easily be forgotten when you are touring because there is so much to take in all at once, taking photos will help you remember each room and what was said about it!

{Photo: Mike Moon Photography}

We hope you enjoyed this blog from our in house wedding planners! These 10 tips will be so helpful to all brides when touring a venue!

Wedding Wednesday: Paola + Blair Frost // October 17, 2015

Paola + Blair Frost // October 17, 2015

This sweet couple has been inseparable ever since their first date, which they both describe as “The best date ever!” Their night started off with dinner at the Virginia Highlands Goin’ Coastal, and even though Blair has a fear of heights, ended with a ride on the Skyview in Atlanta. He knew from that night on that Paola was special if she could make him overcome one of his biggest fears!

On November 14, 2014, Paola pulled up to Blair’s house thinking that they were about to head to a movie, she found a bouquet of daises and a note waiting for her instead. The note asked Paola to meet Blair at the lake to watch the sunset. She quickly jumped in her car and drove to their favorite spot on the lake.

“It wasn’t until I pulled up and saw him standing at the edge of the water that it hit me, he was going to PROPOSE,” Paola said.

By the time Paola reached Blair he began telling her how much she meant to him and that he would be honored to have her as his wife.

“It was by far the most incredible moment of my life,” said Paola. "I held onto him for what seemed like forever as I thought about what an amazing adventure we had already had, and realized it was only the beginning of a life time adventure!”

The overall look and feel Paola wanted for her big day was whimsical and rustic. As soon as she drove up to The Wheeler House she knew it was perfect for her wedding day.

“This beautifully restored 1906 home was staring back at me as we pulled into the driveway, and I knew this was the place my best friend and I would be getting married,” said Paola.

Part of what made her day so special was that her parents built most of her décor; she told them her visions and they helped bring them to life. Her dad made two beautiful doors that lined the walkway of the aisle and had Paola’s favorite bible verse painted on the top, they were absolutely stunning 

Paola and Blair wanted their day to be memorable and fun! When it came time for the reception, it was full of music, dancing, sombreros, glow sticks and a surprise mariachi band from Paola's parents!

The couple’s best advice to any bride and groom planning their big day is to enjoy one another during the process and to think of the planning as more of a blessing than a chore because it is the beginning of your forever!

After all of the wedding festivities were over, the couple headed to Grenada. They wanted to go there because they had both never been and wanted to travel to a unique location. The best part of their honeymoon was that they did not have any working phones with them which gave them plenty of time to enjoy each others company and relax.

The Wheeler House adored this wedding and this sweet couple! We were honored to play a part in their special day and we wish them a lifetime full of love.

Vendors

Dress: Bridals by Lori 

Cake: Lush Cakery 

Caterer: Talk of the Town 

Florist: Design House of Flowers

Entertainment: D Street Entertainment 

Wedding Photographer: David Duong Photography 

Videographer: Anchored Films 

2015 at The Wheeler House

2015 at The Wheeler House

[Bliss] - Supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment.

The Wheeler House team thinks the word above is the perfect description of how our year went. To say it will be missed is a complete understatement. The joy that has been spread throughout our venue over this past year is everlasting.

The goal of this blog is to give you the inside scoop of this year’s weddings and to show you how fabulous your wedding at The Wheeler House can be! We did the hard work for you guys—we went through tons of pictures and picked out some of our favorites from this year. We wanted to show amazing details from different weddings. We hope that these photos inspire you in the process of planning your big day!

To all of our 2015 couples: We truly enjoyed working with every one of you and we are very thankful that we got to play a part in your special day.

So, let’s get started shall we?

Bridesmaids Dresses - Jessica Harden Smith’s bridesmaid’s dresses were everything you could ever want in a bridesmaids dress and more. The dresses could not have been more perfect for her August wedding! We loved the unique differences between each of these dresses, and the sunflowers added the perfect “pop” of color.

(Photo Credit: Mike Moon Studio)

Dress- Alex Masters Bobo

Not only was Alex absolutely stunning on her wedding day but her dress stands out to us the most because of the history behind it. Her dress is the definition of something old, something new and something borrowed! Alex and her mother-in-law Vicki were cleaning out a closet one day when they came across Vicki’s wedding dress she wore in 1981. Ethan, the groom, always loved his mom’s dress and wanted nothing more than to see his wife wear the same dress on their wedding day. Alex tried it on and instantly knew she found THE DRESS, but she wanted it to be a surprise for Ethan so she told him that the dress was “too small”. Over the next year Alex kept it a secret from Ethan and had some alternations done to the dress to make it her own. On her wedding day Ethan saw the dress for the first time on his new bride during their first look.

(Photo Credit: Kelly Ann Photography)

“I remember turning the corner and seeing the look on his face, as we both started tearing up. In that moment I knew it was worth everything.” –Alex Masters Bobo

Getaway Car- Taylor Hogan Thompson

After your wedding is over you will want to be sent off in style! One of our favorite getaway cars from this year was Taylor & Blake Thompson’s. This couples getaway car was vintage, very romantic and the perfect ending detail to their beautiful wedding. We highly suggest looking into getting a vintage car for your send off! 

“Our getaway car was a 1966 Rolls Royce Princess Vanden Plas, provided and driven by Special Day Limos (Atlanta, GA). From the beginning of the wedding planning process, we knew we wanted an unforgettable send-off. Once we chose The Wheeler House as the perfect location for our special day, we knew we had to choose a vehicle that matched the venue's elegance and vintage Southern charm - the 1966 Rolls Royce was just right! Getting married at The Wheeler House was an incredible experience and the opportunity to leave in such a timeless car made it all the more memorable!” –Blake Thompson

Arbor Decor- Paola Hinijosa Frost

Paola and her mother put amazing detail and thought into decorating our arbor. Her isle is one of the most whimsical sights we have ever seen. We are OBSESSED with the doors her dad put together by hand that helped make her entrance even grander. 

“The actual house looks like something from out of a magazine; it is stunning. I loved being able to have an outdoor ceremony, and an indoor reception all in one venue. If you are looking for apace to get married I would strongly recommend The Wheeler House.” – Paola Hinijosa Frost

Indoor Wedding- Emilee Springer LaRosa.

From the very beginning Emilee and Tony wanted their November wedding inside our barn. Along with the help of some family, friends and our amazing drapery, they turned the barn into a gorgeous ceremony location. We loved the white handmade wooden cross that was placed in the center of our mantle and the floating candles that lined the isle filled with cranberries. This wedding showed the diversity of our venue and how gorgeous a wedding in the colder months can be here at The Wheeler House.

(Photo Credit: Mike Moon Studio)

“The wheeler house was 100% perfect and we couldn't be any happier. Thank you for everything! You made our special night even more incredibly special” –Tony LaRosa

Guestbook- Lauren Cooper Comb

We absolutely adored this creative idea in addition to a normal guest book! This was something we had never seen before and hope it gives you a new idea for your wedding! 

“The idea of using an atlas book as a bucket list came from my mom. Her and I would always joke about needing/wanting a bucket list, but had never put one together. My mom and her dear friend ended up hosting my bridal shower for me. Sure enough after all the talking we had done about bucket lists my mom came up with a brilliant gift idea for Matt and I. She purchased a large Atlas book and had everyone who came to the bridal shower sign their name on their favorite place in the world to go and leave a recommendation on what to do while there. It was a huge hit!! It also worked out that since my bridal shower was a small group compared to the amount of wedding guests we had, we used the Atlas book again at the wedding. I have numerous pages covered in people’s signatures and notes for what to do when my husband and I travel there. It is a book my husband and I will have forever and such a great idea to have suggestions from all of our friends and family and where to go and what to do. I highly recommend everyone getting an Atlas for a bucket list. My mom is a genius!!”- Lauren Cooper Combs

Cake- Becky Lively Howell

The gorgeous intricate detail on this cake was simply stunning. We adored the elegance of the cake stand and the flower choice and placement. We also loved that the topper was unique and meaningful to this couple.  

(Photo Credit: Mike Moon Studio)

“Amazing event!!!! Thank you all for all your hard work and consideration in every aspect! The Wheeler House is the only venue I would refer!”- Becky Lively Howell

Cutest # for IG- Kristin McKenna Crowe— #FriendsinCrowePlaces

We know that coming up with a hashtag can be one of the toughest parts of planning. We praise Kristin for her creativity for this hashtag! The best advice we have for coming up with a creative hashtag is to brainstorm with others to see if you can create a hashtag that has not been used before. 

Flowers- Ali Kreidell Woodie

These flowers were by far some of our favorites! With the help of one of our favorite vendors and her florist Holland Daze, Ali’s visions came to life and created the most gorgeous blooms. The simplicity of the colors and the elegance of the roses mixed with hydrangeas was stunning for this August wedding at The Wheeler House.

(Photo Credit: Casey Green Photography) 

“The Wheeler House team exceed our expectations for our wedding. I couldn't be more happy. We received several compliments on the venue and entertainment. The Wheeler house truly works with the best vendors in the business. It was wonderful!” – Ali Kreidell Woodie

Overall Decor- Caroline Brown White

We absolutely loved everything about this wedding. From the beginning Caroline wanted her colors to be brown and white which was adorable since she was going to be changing her last name from Brown to White. Caroline’s decor was special not only to her but to us as well because her dad hand built just about everything for the wedding and reception. Having family build your decor not only saves you money but makes the day even more special and sentimental. Every detail about this wedding was too amazing to put into words so we are just going to give you a few pictures to see for yourself!

“The day of the wedding was everything I dreamed it would be, due to so many people working behind the scenes. You couldn't ask for a better group of people to work with! - Caroline Brown White

(Photo Credit: Adore Studio)

This carousel had a postcard of every person in the bridal party and a little bit about each of them. We loved this idea to showcase the bridal party and thought you all would too! 

We loved this furniture her dad handmade as well as the pillows with their last names.

This guestbook table was the perfect combination of something old and something new! It had beautiful vintage pieces as well as photos of the bride and groom.

These centerpieces were our personal favorite! Caroline’s dad hand made these as well and we thought they brought the perfect touch to every table at the reception.

Send Off– Sarah Schueth DiFiore

This couple’s sendoff was beautiful! Sparkler send offs were the hit this year especially for night weddings! It makes for a beautiful send off for every bride and groom. We tell brides wanting to do a sparkler send off to always order the longer sparklers (18’to 20’ inches) to make a bigger statement for your pictures!

(Photo Credit: Kayla Johnson Photography) 

Favors- Leah Smith McBee

This couple wanted to go with a vintage southern feel for their summer wedding. So what better way to do that than incorporate mason jars with your favors?! These mason jars were filled with honey for their guests to take home with a adorable label that said, “Meant to Bee.” Leah wanted to do a play on her new last name McBEE which we think is so creative! When choosing favors try to think of ways to make them special for your guests and meaningful for you both!

(Photo Credit: Mike Moon Studio)

We are truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with so many great couples and amazing vendors in 2015. Thank you to everyone for making this year one of the best years yet and one we will always remember. We hope everyone has a great holiday season!

With Love,

The Wheeler House Team