Jolee + Jonathan | Lazaro Wedding from Nina Sutherland Photography

It was the event designer that perfectly coined the phrase “Bluegrass Bling” to describe Jolee + Jonathan’s sparkling and glamorous Atlanta wedding.  I love that! And I totally agree with Jolee’s sentiment for her dress choice when she said: “This is the ONE DAY you can have a huge, crazy, beautiful dress!” It’s no wonder, today’s featured bride was a perfect candidate to be featured on TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress – Atlanta.  As for Jolee’s Lazaro gown, in all it’s ivory tulle glory – don’t miss Jolee’s subtle hair and accessory changes for the ceremony and reception…same dress, with soft long locks for the ceremony and hair up with an added satin black sash for the evening.  Beautiful!

Jolee + Jonathan | September 22, 2012 | Atlanta, Georgia

The Ceremony
Jonathan and I exchanged vows at second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Its historic roots gave a nice southern touch to our day. The pipe organ, mid-morning light, and acoustic music (by award winning artist Seth Condrey) created the perfect relaxed setting for walking down the aisle. We had a traditional ceremony with our fantastic pastor and incorporated the traditional Filipino cord that gave our parents a big role, which we liked.

The Reception
Our reception was at the W Hotel in Buckhead. My event designer, Janis, and the W’s one and only Lindsey Meyer who coined the event “Bluegrass Bling”. We had the fantastic Packway Handle band lead the tunes with some alt-bluegrass originals. It was a fun contrast against the W’s usual energetic, modern ambiance. Some of the servers even stopped and commented on how unique and fun the music was! The ballroom was dripping with crystals that reflected beautifully off the soft white up lights. It was a brunch wedding with chef-attended egg, waffle, and quesadilla stations.

Jolee’s Dress Search
My dress selection was featured on TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress – Atlanta”. It was the third dress I ever tried on. I didn’t have a dream dress in mind, I just had a budget and the idea that this was the one time in life I could wear a really wild, big, crazy dress. I wanted everything: lace, ruffles, etc. What really sealed the deal for me was when the bridal consultant said how beautiful tulle looked in pictures. I’m so glad I took that advice!! I bought the dress a year before the ceremony – and I never regretted it. It’s definitely a dress that’s classic enough to enjoy looking at years from now.

How Jolee Felt In Her Wedding Dress
Glamorous, Confident, Fun

Why Jolee Decided to Sell Her Wedding Dress
Instead of having the dress sit in an attic, I’d rather another gal get the chance to make memories in it!

Wedding Dress: Lazaro LZ3955 | Photography: Nina Sutherland Photography | Ceremony Venue: Second Ponce De Leon Baptist Church | Reception Venue: The W – Buckhead | Event Planning: Janice at Eventscapes | Floral design:  Eventscapes | Cake: Celso’s Cakes | Cinemetographer: Rodinis Films | Band: Packway Handle | Hair: The Dry Bar | Makeup: Marisa Ross Makeup