Tuesday, August 31, 2010

A Massage Before Your Big Day

If you are feeling stressed with wedding planning, it might be a good idea to schedule a massage or two prior to the big day.

"But there is not enough time to go to the spa!" you claimed.

Well, why not try an in-home massage session?

I met Teresa Sims, owner of TS Massage Studio at Windermere Golf Club's Bridal Show tonight and I found her massage offerings to be very reasonable.

For example, she will travel to your home or hotel suite and the rate is only $39 per massage for the bride and groom.

You can also treat your wedding party to a relaxing massage as four full body massages, excluding bride or groom is only $200.

There is also an additional $25 for travel and setup fee for locations outside the 25 miles radius of the 30519 zip code.

It is worth noting that she also provide special rates for Gwinnett County, City of Lawrenceville and Gwinnett Medical employees.

For appointments, please call Teresa at 404-518-8203.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Atlanta Venue Spotlight: The Defoor Centre





Source of Photos: The Defoor Centre


Yesterday I had a chance to visit the Defoor Centre for their quarterly Open House.

It was my first time at the Defoor Centre so Ms. Michelle Davidson gave me a quick tour of the facility.

The Forum is a unique hexagon-shaped gallery that can accommodate 240 guests with a dance floor or 300 guests without a dance floor. There is a stage where wedding ceremony can be performed. After the ceremony, the guests will go to an adjacent room for cocktails while the staff will flip the room for the reception. Ms. Davidson said that all the tables for the reception will already be set up in a different room and they are simply moving the tables into the room after the ceremony and it generally only takes 30 minutes.

Personally, I really like the cocktail area that is adorned with the orange lanterns. When it comes to décor, it is also worth noting that the Defoor Centre provides 60” round tables dressed with your choice of linen with 20+ color options. In addition, crystal and iron candelabra centerpieces, buffet tables, and tea light candles are included in the rental fee as well. I was also pleasantly surprised when Ms. Davidson informed me that they also provide mahogany chiavari chairs (that most places will have to charge extra for!). Of course, you can go with the chair cover look for $4.00 per chair as well if you wish.

Last night I had a chance to taste some of the food at Defoor Centre as well and they were delicious. I was told that the chef will work with the clients on the menu choices although they do offer standard menus as a guideline.

During the tour, Ms. Davidson showed me where the original farm house kitchen was and the fireplace of the original structure. I find it interesting that an historical building built in the 1800s as a farm house can be transformed into such a modern day gallery with a contemporary feel.

For me, the grand piano on the stage and the chandelier in the middle of the 30 feet ceiling seems to remind me of the Phantom of the Opera! I didn’t see the Phantom anywhere last night though!

As a conclusion, if you are looking for a different venue for your wedding or special events, it is definitely worth it to check out the Defoor Centre!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

One of a Kind Bridesmaid Gifts




I believe the ladies whom you chose to stand besides you on your wedding day deserve a special gift.

The beautiful clutches shown above are hand made by Kaz Tateishi Aoto from Atlanta out of vintage kimono or obi fabric. She told me that they can normally be made and shipped within 1-2 weeks. She can also make them from the fabric that you choose.

For pictures on other items that Kaz can create, please visit the link:

I am looking to feature more local artists' work on my blog. So feel free to leave a comment if you have someone you want to recommend.

Saturday, August 14, 2010




The jewerly you choose for yourself and your bridesmaids is an easy way to reflect your personal style in your wedding. You can choose something custom made for you in your color scheme for your bridesmaids as gifts for them. You can of course have something custom made for yourself.


Today I want to highlight the work of the super talented Ms. Yoko Fujiwara (Now. Mrs. Grunberg!) in the Atlanta area. She sells her jewerly through her Etsy shop ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/beadslounge ). You can also meet her in person at various shows in Atlanta area such as the Piedmont Park Green Market ( http://www.piedmontpark.org/programs/green_market.html ) and the upcoming Japan Fest (http://www.japanfest.org/) on Sept 18, 2010-Sept 19, 2010.


Sometimes I do not know how Yoko does it all. She performs Flamenco in the Atlanta area! (which I will write in another blog entry). She made custom jewerly and she also has an aromatheraphy shop! ( http://www.etsy.com/shop/aromarelax )


Stop by at her booth and check it out for yourself!






Friday, August 6, 2010

Accommodating the Out-of-town Guests


If you have a lot of out-of-town guests who are coming to your wedding, it is a good idea to check out the local hotels to get a block of room for a lower rate. Have a budget in mind and most hotels will be willing to work with you to meet your need as long as it is reasonable.

Having everyone stay in the same hotel is also great if you are trying to arrange for shuttle service for your out-of-town guests in between the hotel and your wedding ceremony/reception venue. In talking to the local shuttle companies in Atlanta, I found that most of them are very flexible in their pricing depending on the number of guests one can guarantee per trip. Thus, having your guests stay at one location instead of several different places is definitely the key to keep the cost down.

Most hotels will also place a gift bag for your out-of-town guests for free. While completely optional, it is a great way to say thank you to your out-of-town guests who are traveling hundreds or thousands of miles to be with you for your special day.

Check out some examples by JLDesigns718 featured above. Jennifer told me she is able to provide discount for her out-of-town bags for order larger than 50 bags. She can customize the bags based on your color scheme. She can even design a monogram for you if you do not have one. You can also order a sample from her before placing an order to make sure you like the product.

As for ideas on what to put in the out-of-town guests, you may want to check your local Convention and Visitor Bureau for free brochures and maps for visitors. You can also add a fun snack item that represents your home town or an itinerary for your wedding day.

Since most hotels do not have a storage space for these babies, you might want to make arrangement for someone (other than the bride and groom) to deliver these out-of-town bags to the hotel on the morning of the day that your guests are checking in. This will give the hotel staff enough time to place them in the rooms prior to the afternoon check-in.

I believe your out-of-town guests will thank you for your thoughtfulness when you take the time to plan out the logistics issue (not the sexiest part of event planning but a necessary part) and they will most likely have a smile on their face when they see something special waiting for them when they get to their rooms.

Obviously, if you have any questions on arranging for out-of-town guests accommodations in Atlanta, we will be more than happy to help!

Happy Planning!



Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Specials for 2010

We are currently offering 2 specials for 2010:

(1) $600 Wedding Day Management package for all open dates in 2010

If you prefer to plan your own wedding but desire a Day of Wedding Coordination package (DOC), this is the package for you.

The price is applicable if you book by Oct 31, 2010. Travel fees will apply outside of Atlanta area.

(2) 20% off all other event planning and coordination services for all open dates in 2010

If you desire something more than a Day of Coordinator Package, we would be more than happy to customize a package based on your specific needs.

The discount is applicable if you book by Oct 31, 2010. Travel fees will apply outside of Atlanta area.

For more information, please check out our website at http://www.syseventplanning.com