Information:
Historic Roswell Convention and Visitors Center – www.visitroswellga.com
Sandy Springs Hospitality and Tourism – www.heritagesandysprings.org
Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau – www.awesomealpharetta.com
Guide to Various Georgia Venues – www.herecomestheguide.com
As my future son-in-law’s Grandmother Rose was wheeled into the bridal shower for our oldest daughter at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial in Michigan this past May, a smile crossed the ailing 91-year-old’s face. We were introduced, and my eyes welled with tears. I wondered if she’d even make the upcoming July wedding.
“Why are you crying?” one of my other daughters asked. I couldn’t explain, but I knew she’d been a young bride, too. Life’s seasons do turn quickly.
Grandma Rose passed away a few weeks later at the age of 92. She will miss the wedding this weekend in Atlanta. We’ll laugh and dance, but think of her and the other matriarchs and patriarchs who set the stage for future generations.
This celebration has been a year in the planning, and I soon found it was easier to make decisions if I researched ahead of time. Finding the right gown, caterer, florist, photographer – and especially a good band – took hours of work. Referrals from others helped.
The most enjoyable yet difficult aspect of our journey was choosing a venue. Many unique facilities run throughout North Georgia, including old barns, cotton mills, river restaurants and mountain vineyards. My idea of a great place didn’t always jive with my husband’s or daughter’s.
While Chukkar Farm in Milton seemed perfect to me – with its rustic pavilion and bar, grazing horses and spacious, green polo field – the genteel ambiance of area country clubs seemed just right to my husband. Our daughter, on the other hand, loved the historic homes of Roswell, imagining the Michigan and New England guests would enjoy the blend of old and new South.
For families like ours caught up in a confusion of choices, city visitor’s bureaus offer guidance.
For instance, Marsha Saum, a 10-year veteran event coordinator at the Historic Roswell Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, said she’s delighted to assist future brides (at no charge) in discerning their desires and matching venues and vendors.
Keeping costs down is another challenge in wedding planning, and there’s a trend toward the simple. Some venues we visited verged on the primitive; perfect for creative couples. Unconventional is in, too.
In the end we opted for the Atlanta History Center and Swan Gardens in Atlanta – easier for our many visiting guests and offering an historical experience. We have two more daughters, though, who envision entirely different “big day” experiences.
In the meantime, I feel blessed this marriage allows us to become a part of yet another family, where meaning can be found celebrating joys, mourning losses, and nurturing the love that makes life worth living.
About the Author
