Every bride has a vision of the perfect wedding, the one that captures her essence and sets the stage for the rest of her life with the man she loves. Whether she's a Southern belle who wants an elaborate celebration or a no-nonsense businesswoman who treasures simplicity, wedding locations across Georgia offer choices to suit every personality.

"Georgia is one of the few states in the country that has both seashore and mountains," said Betsy Adams, a tourism marketing consultant who lives in Gainesville. "The scenery in our state is as diverse as our population, and bridal couples can choose a location that reflects their lifestyle and values.

"In the tradition of true Southern hospitality, many facilities make weddings a part of their business, and they work to accommodate a wide range of requests."

Love among the vineyards

Wolf Mountain Vineyards just north of Dahlonega specializes in weddings. Owner Karl Boegner, who has been in the hospitality industry for more than 30 years, has built a spacious wedding pavilion that overlooks the vineyards and foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Each year, Wolf Mountain hosts about 50 weddings and can accommodate up to 200 guests.

"The views are breathtaking, and the setting is truly one of a kind," said Lindsey Smith, hospitality manager at Wolf Mountain. "Imagine a wedding in an Old World, European-style environment, surrounded by vineyards. What could be more romantic?"

Wolf Mountain offers several settings: the pavilion; a gazebo; and a rustic, yet elegant, timber-built lodge filled with antiques. The cask room and winery are beneath the lodge; wedding guests often are given tours and have a chance to talk to the wine makers.

"It's a wonderful way for the guests to mingle and enjoy themselves while the wedding party is being photographed after the ceremony," Smith said. "This is such a relaxing and unique setting. It's like being in another world."

Destination dreams

The new Summer House Gardens wedding pavilion at Lake Lanier Islands Resort overlooks the main channel of the lake.

"The views of the lake provide a wonderful backdrop for weddings," said Celita Fritch, senior catering sales manager for the 1,100-acre resort. "Although lake levels are down, there is still plenty of water here. Plus, we have an array of choices for people who want to have a destination wedding."

Emerald Pointe Hotel has 220 renovated rooms, and the hotel's new facade captures the look and feel of a mountain resort. There are 30 two-bedroom lake houses, plus new six-bedroom villas. Other amenities include boat rentals, the Tranquility Spa, an equestrian center and a golf course.

"There's something for everyone here," Fritch said. "Many of our wedding parties extend their time together by coming to the resort for several days [and] enjoying golf, spa treatments and pre-wedding parties."

In addition to land-based nuptials, Lake Lanier Islands offers on-the-water houseboat weddings on the 150-passenger Island Princess or the 65-passenger Island Queen.

"These excursion yachts are truly special — either for pre-wedding festivities or for the ceremony and reception. It's a very unique setting," Fritch said.

Into the deep South

On the western side of the state, Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain hosts about 150 weddings each year.

"There are so many venues here to choose from that no two weddings are alike," said Rachel Crumbley, corporate relations manager for the 2,500-acre resort.

The Sibley Horticultural Center has year-round, indoor and outdoor gardens, and the Ida Cason Callaway Chapel provides an intimate setting for ceremonies, she said.

"The Lodge and Spa is beautiful at Christmas, and our Discovery Center overlooks the lake," Crumbley said.

The facility's full-time wedding planner assists with site selection, catering and other details.

"We have a resource list of seasoned local vendors — from florists to photographers — who are familiar with Callaway and can maximize the wedding experience," Crumbley said. "Working with people who know Callaway is a big bonus."

Weddings take place all year at Callaway, but the spring and fall are the most popular times, Crumbley said. In the spring, the gardens are filled with thousands of azaleas in full bloom. In the autumn, leaf colors paint a scenic backdrop for outdoor ceremonies and receptions, she added.

"From casual and intimate to formal and elegant, the choices [at Callaway Gardens] are limitless" and can accommodate any couple's style and personality, she said.

Oceans away

Undeveloped beaches covered with driftwood, historic homes and inns, and the 15,000-square-foot Atlantic Hall in the Jekyll Island Convention Center offer an array of locations for weddings.

"Driftwood Beach is very popular, because it is so accessible and picturesque," said Jan Powell with the Jekyll Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. "There's just something about being on the beach that's so romantic, and this location makes a beautiful setting for photographs."

Jekyll Island is home to the Jekyll Island Club, a historic hotel that was built in the late 1800s as a retreat for some of America's wealthiest families. It offers more than a dozen venues, including the elegant Club Ballroom and the Faith Chapel with Tiffany stained-glass windows.

All of the island's hotels offer wedding services and can provide lodging for parties of all sizes.

"The beauty of getting married here is the wide choice of settings," Powell said. "From the very traditional and luxurious to the casual barefoot-on-the-beach wedding, Jekyll Island is truly a wedding paradise."

Oozing with elegance, steeped in history or rich with memories, three nearby locations attract brides and grooms.

Asheville, N.C., Charleston, S.C., and Ponte Vedra/St. Augustine, Fla., offer distinct wedding packages and are within a six-hour drive from Atlanta.

Asheville's Biltmore House is nestled on a 125,000-acre estate surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The home, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1895, features four acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. The landscaping was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who created New York's Central Park and Atlanta's Piedmont Park.

The Biltmore House frequently hosts weddings. Biltmore was awarded the Best Wedding Event of the Year in 2006 by the National Association of Catering Executives. Oozing with elegance, steeped in history or rich with memories, three nearby locations attract brides and grooms.

Asheville, N.C., Charleston, S.C., and Ponte Vedra/St. Augustine, Fla., offer distinct wedding packages and are within a six-hour drive from Atlanta.

Asheville's Biltmore House is nestled on a 125,000-acre estate surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains. The home, designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt and completed in 1895, features four acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. The landscaping was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who created New York's Central Park and Atlanta's Piedmont Park.

The Biltmore House frequently hosts weddings. Biltmore was awarded the Best Wedding Event of the Year in 2006 by the National Association of Catering Executives. www.biltmore.com.

The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa has long been a favorite of metro Atlantans for weekend getaways. The inn offers more than a half-dozen wedding packages. Built in 1913 of granite mined locally, the resort overlooks the Asheville skyline and the Blue Ridge Mountains. www.groveparkinn.com .

With dozens of choice wedding venues, Charleston's charm is known worldwide. From a formal garden wedding at a historic plantation to a seaside ceremony followed by a roasted seafood supper, the options in this 18th-

century city are limitless. Go to www.charleston.com for a full list of wedding-planning resources.

Farther down the coast in northeast Florida, couples can choose the elegance of the early 20th century at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club on the Atlantic Ocean or a simple ceremony in historic St. Augustine, founded nearly 450 years ago. Ponte Vedra was long a hideaway for the rich and famous; the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club re-creates that posh atmosphere. www.pvresorts.com .

St. Augustine's many historic churches are complemented by dozens of intimate bed-and-breakfast inns.

Casa Monica, St. Augustine's only AAA four-diamond hotel, re-creates the elegance of the 19th century. Built in 1888, it was renovated in 1999 and features lush gardens, a luxurious ballroom and easy access to the historic city and nearby beaches. It was named the No. 1 reception site in Florida by The Knot's Best of Weddings 2007 magazine. www.casamonica.com .