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Archive for June, 2011

Planning your wedding means lots of details and lots of stress to create your perfect day. Athens CVB is an amazing resource at your fingertips for your hotel blocks, brochures and guides of Athens for gift bags and out of town guests, group tours and planning activities for your guests before and after their stay in Athens.

Here is the best part, you can email the CVB with hotels you are interested in having a hotel block and they will do all of the negotiating and then send you the hotel information for finalizing any additional details.

Q: What is the process for working with the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau to secure hotel block bookings?

A: First, contact the CVB and be prepared to share the following information:

  • What is the date and location of the ceremony and reception?
  • How many guests do you expect? How many of those do you estimate will need to hotel rooms? For how many nights?
  • Do you have a preference about hotels in Athens?
  • Do you have any special requests (e.g. bridal and/or family suite; banquet room for brunch the date after)?

Then:

  • The CVB will contact the hotels of your choice to inquire about availability and rates then get in touch with you to communicate what we have learned.
  • You will consult the summary of responses from hotels with the groom and your families to determine your preferences based on rates and availability.
  • Please get back in touch with the CVB to let us know what you have decided.

Q: How does the contract process with Athens hotels work?

A: The CVB will put you in touch with the respective sales manager(s) for the hotel or hotels that you have chosen. we will step aside at this point. Here’s what will happen next:

  • The hotel(s) will contact you to ensure that they have all necessary details and contact information regarding the event. You will need to provide a credit card to secure the rooms but *you are not responsible for the booking of the rooms.*
  • You will finalize your requests regarding room types and the exact number needed.
  • You will establish a cut-off date; after that date, neither the rate nor the availability can be guaranteed. *Be sure to communicate both the hotel name(s) and the cut-off date to your guests.*

Q: How can the Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau help me with my planning
2-4 weeks before the big day?

A: Contact the CVB to request free Athens travel literature to provide to your out of town guests. Examples include:
Athens Visitors Guide
Flagpole Guide
Local maps, regional brochures, etc.
Please allow three – five business days to fulfill the request.

AND, check out the CVB Online Calendar of Events.

  • You can enter the dates your guests will be in town for your wedding.
  • Then, click on the printer-friendly button for a list of events to send to your family and friends or post on your wedding website. You’ll want to share news about hip and happening cultural events taking place in town during your event!

As I’m sure you are already experiencing, wedding planning is very time consuming, and to have free help is quite possibly the best thing! Contact your local CVB, and see how they can start helping you!

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It’s officially harvest time at Lee Epting’s property, the Hill, and what better way to share a harvest than with family and friends at Harry’s Pig Shop? Come check out our daily specials. We’ll be cooking up potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes; if we can grow it, we can cook it! We’ll be creating unique dishes and serving some traditionally. Have a great summer and eat well!

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I could never turn down attending a wedding that sent me a bouquet of flowers with my invitation! By sending invites on paper that have an array of flower seeds in them, guests can simply fill out their RSVP card and toss the invitation into their back yard! These invitations are not only eco-friendly as they’re completely biodegradable, but they also provide your guests with a beautiful set of flowers to remind them of the fabulous time they will have/had at your wedding! You can choose from dozens of mixes of flower seeds, or just go with your single favorite flower; if you’re big into cooking, there are invitations with choices of herbs to plant too. There are plenty of DIY kits for plantable wedding invitations and also customizable invitations to order: ones with pictures, ones that look rustic, ones that are elegant and romantic…

Photo by: A Fine Press

Photo by Gourmet Invitations

Photo by Invite Site

Photo by Earth Invitations

Another good idea is to attach a small plantable note to your party favors for guests to take with them. As a crazy Mexican food enthusiast (but really, who isn’t?), my favorite twist of this idea is to write a short note of appreciation to your guests on the front of some decorative paper, fold the bottom into a pouch and sew cilantro seeds into them. Then on the back print your favorite guacamole recipe: give your guests the gift of great food. Definitely something unique and cost-friendly for your wedding! By Alexa Munford

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I have been dying to show y’all a wedding at the Inn at Half Mile Farm in Highlands, North Carolina. The house and reception area is perfect for an outdoor, mountain wedding. Elizabeth and Taylor held the ceremony at the Highlands United Methodist Church, with the reception at the farm. The weather was a little unpleasant at first, but the sun came out just in time for their reception. Personally, I think the clear umbrellas added great creativity to the pictures, and you wouldn’t have had that on a perfectly sunny day. Our floral department, Bart Scott and Leigh Frazier designed a beautiful bouquet and reception centerpieces.

The Menu…
~ PICK-UP STATION ~
A Variety of Hummus
With a mixture of vegetables
Baked Vidalia Onion Soufflé
Domestic Cheese Board
Hot Baked Crab Dip with Sherry

~ MAIN BUFFET ~
Grilled Chicken with Peach Salsa
Pork Loin
Roma Tomatoes and Mozzarella
Grilled Vegetables
Cous Cous
Array of Melons and Berries
Cheese & Sweet Potato Biscuits

~ CARVING STATION ~
Beef Tenderloin
Moser Salad
Fingerling Potatoes
Yeast Rolls

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

Ashley Felkel Photography

True love stories never have endings. ~Richard Bach

::Credits:: ::Wedding Coordinators:: Kate and Wendy Messer ::Ceremony:: Highlands United Methodist Church ::Reception:: Inn at Half Mile Farm ::Officiants:: Reverend Paul Christy and Dr. Beth Bowser ::Ceremony Music:: Standing Violinist ::Catering, Cake, Floral Design & Rentals:: Epting Events ::Groom’s Cake:: Taylor’s Mom ::Reception Music:: Groove Collection ::Photography:: Ashley Felkel Photography

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There are so many delicious sweets out that there, that it can sometimes be tricky to hone in on one goodie for your guests. One of our favorites is a S’mores Station for several reasons…

1. You have an excuse to build a fire or you can use a fire pit if that is deemed more appropriate.

2. A fire at your wedding (in a positive light, not like the time we accidentally lit the hay bales on fire…) makes for a great photo opportunity and is perfect for a chill, summer night.

3. It gets your guests moving, chatting and just about everyone likes s’mores.

4. You can use your creativity, with different flavored marshmallows and chocolate, or you can keep it old school for a traditional crowd pleaser.

5. You can tie ribbons and decorate the sticks for an even more fun experience.

6. This way you can have S’mores at your wedding! I don’t think it gets better than that!

If I haven’t convinced you yet why this would be a brilliant idea to add to your dessert station or even as a “groom’s cake”, I am officially speechless, but I do have some pictures!

Photo by Utah Bride & Groom

Photo By Undeclared Panache Wedding

Photos By Favor Craver

Photo By Elizabeth Anne Designs

Photo By Wedding By Color

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