Honeymoon in the Mountains by Linnea

Planning the honeymoon can almost be as overwhelming as planning the wedding...if you let it.
Originally, Evan and I hoped to go to our tried and true favorite for our honeymoon: Charleston, SC. Then others started to persuade us to do something new and different. Perhaps go abroad, maybe travel to the other side of the country and visit San Francisco, or what about an all inclusive resort on a Caribbean island. All of these ideas sounded fantastic, but just weren’t what we were looking for in a honeymoon: something stress free where we could choose to just lay low together or walk around and explore if that’s what we felt like doing.

Rewind to Thanksgiving 2011. Evan’s parents found an amazing cabin to rent for the week. They invited Melinda and I to join them for the festivities so we all went up together to Ellijay, Georgia. We did so many fun activities: eating, hiking, eating, exploring the town of Blue Ridge, eating, enjoying the fireside, eating, watching football, eating, horseback riding, and more eating...it was Thanksgiving weekend afterall. The cabin overlooked some gorgeous mountainscapes that we could appreciate from the rocking chairs on the deck or from the giant hot tub the cabin was equipped with. Even Delilah enjoyed her time which was mostly spent curled up in front of the fire.

We’ve always really enjoyed our time together in the Blue Ridge mountains visiting my parents at their cabin or going up for day hikes at places like Amicalola Falls. When you head to the foothills of the Appalachian Trail it seems like a completely different world than Athens, but only takes about two hours to get there. You can be completely secluded in the quiet, peaceful mountains, but there are also quaint towns to check out if you are inclined.

Adding this all together we felt that finding a great cabin rental in the Blue Ridge area would be perfect for our honeymoon destination. Since our wedding will wrap up around 4, it gives us plenty of time to travel and get settled for a long relaxing weekend. When we aren’t roasting marshmallows in the outdoor fire pit or taking in the views from the second story porch, we have plans to take the Scenic Railway Train to Tennessee for a day excursion as well as hiking Blood Mountain: the highest peak in Georgia!

Slices of Heaven by Evan

               Since we have never been afraid to depart from standard tradition, Linnea and I decided to forgo the usual, large, single cake present at most weddings. Even adding a groom's cake wasn't enough variety for us. Instead we opted for the free-market route of multiple choices of decadent desserts. Five types of cake seemed like a nice, even number to us.              

                Now choosing the baker was an easy decision. Most Athens residents, as well as patrons of the famous Last Resort restaurant, are familiar with Cecilia’s. There was never any debate as to whether any other cake maker would be considered. However, choosing the five cakes to be included in the wedding was a tougher decision. Luckily, Cecilia’s is courteous enough to provide a 5-sample gift certificate to those stuck with such a quandary, redeemable at, you guessed it, Last Resort.

                   We met after work one day and walked from the Wray-Nicholson House (where I work) near UGA’s campus into downtown Athens to the restaurant where we dined on shrimp quesadillas, fried green tomatoes, and crab cakes. Afterwards, we turned our attention to the real reason we had come: cake!

                We chose five types that we decided were the closest to what we had planned according to Cecilia’s menu: strawberry, carrot, Spanish lemon, and two types of chocolate (because you can never have enough chocolate).  All were incredible, and the waiter was courteous enough to snap a picture of us with the quintet of cakes.

                We look forward to sharing all of them with you in April!

It's Time for a Dip by Linnea

There’s an old photo my grandparents kept from when I was about four years old. It was taken in my grandparents’ living room up in L’Anse Michigan. I’m in white socks, faded denim overalls with a turquoise t-shirt underneath. My grandpa is wearing white socks as well, some old tan trousers and a work shirt from being outside. Grandpa is dipping me as far back as I can go! In years after, he would point at the picture, laugh, and imitate how I used to say, “Grandpa, it’s time for a dip!” These dances in the living room were the extent of my exposure to ball-room dancing, but I loved the whirling, twirling, dipping, and waltzing as I balanced on top of Grandpa’s feet.

Another favorite “dance” memory I have is from my twenty-third birthday. Evan and I had just begun to date more seriously and I almost felt guilty that Christmas AND my birthday were back to back. The poor guy was in his last year of graduate school and student jobs barely cover frozen dinners. Nevertheless, the night of my birthday, he told me he had planned something very special and to wear comfortable heels. After enjoying a delicious meal at one of Athens’ best restaurants, he drove us to a quieter corner of downtown. I hadn’t been over in this area before and my curiosity heightened when we pulled into a parking lot with a quaint red brick building, twinkling lights and the unmistakable Southern look: We were at The Melting Point of the Foundry Park Inn. Evan led me by the hand, opened the door, and the blues music poured out! He had gotten us tickets to a performance by an old school Soul, R&B, Motown band! We may have been the only couple under fifty, but we had just as much fun, if not more, as everyone else there. Evan’s tip to wear comfortable heels paid off since we spent hours whirling, twirling, dipping and waltzing!

Now I can’t remember who first suggested the idea of the Foundry Park Inn for our rehearsal dinner, but it was an easy decision to make! Mr. and Mrs. Tighe came to Athens just shortly after our engagement and thought the Inn would be the perfect place to host not just the rehearsal dinner, but also a party for our out of town guests. Later on, Mrs. Tighe came back to Athens and she and I had a lovely afternoon looking over the facilities again, deciding on menu items, décor, and times. The associate that was helping us suggested that the timing we were thinking about would work out well if any of our guests would be interested in going to The Melting Point after since there would be a performance that night. It could not be more perfect, I thought to myself! Hopefully the night will allow for a dip! 

An Engagement Party fit for a (Southern Living) King by Evan

On June 30^th, family and friends braved record high temperatures and gathered at the Tighe household in the suburbs of Atlanta for the first official gathering of our engagement.

True to form, the décor, menu, and theme of the party could most accurately be described as “southern summer” and, despite the New England origins of the latter company, the backyard was described by one observer as “if Southern Living and Vinyard Vines had progeny.”

Light green and pink adorned the tables, flowers, cutlery, napkins, baskets, and the engaged couple themselves as guests dined on southern staples of pulled pork barbeque provided by Athens’ very own White Tiger, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese.

Despite temperatures stubbornly stuck over one hundred degrees, most guests found themselves outside to enjoy the scenery of the summer afternoon, socialize with one another, and to take turns on the cornhole pitch.

It was a very meaningful day to have both families come together and celebrate our engagement and we hope for the continued union between both families moving into the future. 

We cannot thank Evan's mom, Stephanie Tighe, enough for all of her hard work on this party from the flower arrangements, the decor, the delicious menu, to being a wonderful hostess!  The day was like something straight out of a magazine spread!

The Pottery Barn “Party” by Evan

About a month a ago, Linnea called me - very excited because she had received a “special invitation” to a registry party. As we all know, gift registry is one of the many pre-marriage rituals a couple indulges in upon the days and months leading up to the wedding showers and, eventually, the big day. Pottery Barn, one of our already selected registry locales, would be hosting a wedding registry party at all of their fine locations throughout the metro Atlanta area. Thinking this would be a fun opportunity to start our registry while enjoying a sophisticated party atmosphere, we planned on going and RSVP’d.

              

Now when a business says they will be hosting a “party,” one tends to imagine certain special details would be involved to set the event apart from their usual business routine. Perhaps some refreshments, light music, maybe a gift bag, putting leis around the necks of visitors, whatever. Assuming these things, we are still wondering today if we were scammed into patronizing the Pottery Barn establishment.

              

Upon entering the store, approximately 20 minutes before the “party” was supposed to begin, we noticed nothing out of the ordinary. No tables with snacks or drinks. No decorations. No nothing. Thinking we maybe got the date wrong, we inquired about it with one of the employees.

“Registry party? Ummm, not that I know of.”
              

That’s when I saw it on the counter. A little sign which confirmed that there was indeed supposed to be an event scheduled to begin in ten minutes. After mentioning the sign, the employee offered little additional help.

“Oh yeah. There is supposed to be something tonight. I think Debra will be doing a demonstration on outdoor decorating.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah, I think so.”

It was quite the party, I tell you.

Obviously, we were a little disappointed, but it wasn’t a complete loss. We figured that we were already there so we went ahead and registered and started making a list of some of the items that we liked including towels and a bedspread.

The good news is that we were able to make it home on time for takeout Chinese. It was delicious. At least we got some sort of refreshments out of the deal.

A Tie for Mr. Tighe by Linnea

One of the things Charleston, South Carolina is arguably well known for is its prime example of Southern fashion. Bow ties, seersucker suits, navy blazers over button down shirts in lime green gingham or pink plaid are considered everyday wear. In any other town you might see a row of shops with mostly women’s boutiques, trinket stores, and home furnishings with maybe one men’s store selling mostly sports’ team apparel, but not in Charleston. A walk down King Street immediately makes you feel as if you were in a European city with its cobblestone paths, specialty stores, and unique cafes. Every other store includes fine menswear, women’s apparel and hats, and the very tempting chocolate stores that waft their baking scents out at passer-byes. It’s obvious from the layout that in Charleston the men value presenting themselves as best as possible just as much as us womenfolk do!
On each excursion Evan and I have been able to take out to Seabrooke Island we try to make a point to stop in Charleston on the way in or out. We drive down East Bay Street and pick out our favorite ancient houses and how we would remodel the fixer uppers or landscape the different yards. Mostly we just window shop the stores and grab a delicious bite to eat at one of the many famous eateries. Last Tuesday we were repeating this tradition and poking our heads in some of the shops when a small, narrow shop with a beige seersucker suit in the window caught my eye. It was the epitome of southern gentleman clothing! Immediately at the front of the store was a rack of beautiful ties - no two alike and each tie had its own pocket square attached to it. Instantly I was drawn to one tie that was a cool mint green with a pale blue and ivory floral print on it with small specks of pink. It was just too perfect!
The store must have been short staffed that day because the over-excited owner was there dressed in a black suit with a black and white striped shirt with a bold white collar and large white cuffs. In his pocket was a bright yellow silk waving out at us. It reminded me of the suit Jim Carey wore as “The Mask”. He was unpacking boxes that contained mens skimmer straw hats and remarking how each was so exquisite. His hair was slicked back and groomed perfectly, although the color of it seemed a bit unnatural as if he had touched up some roots with brown shoe polish. On each hand he had two huge gold rings that made his chubby fingers bulge and on the cuffs of his shirt he wore giant gold cuff links that must have weighed his arms down. Although we had never noticed the store before (since we’re usually not eyeing the mens’ stores) I asked him how long he had been there and he proudly told me 22 years.
Evan and I took the tie we liked and held it up to a beige colored suit with a light pink button down. It looked fantastic and Evan proceeded to purchase it from the now exuberant store owner. My perception that the store was short staffed mostly came from the owner’s fumbling at the cash register. It seemed like it may have been his third time charging someone’s purchase...ever. Evan’s card was not swiping, but having worked with charge cards regularly myself, I know one can easily punch in the card numbers and charge the card just as efficiently. However, the gentleman proceeded to swipe Evan’s card about twenty times - each time getting an error beep. Up, down, up, down - he would not give up! He then tried to put it in a plastic bag since he thought that was a trick that might work. Up, down, up, down in the plastic - still beeps. I finally suggested politely that he could punch the card number in. He replied that he would then have to ask many private security questions from Evan to successfully charge the card. Up, down, up, down, up, down - nothing. He finally gave up and punched the numbers. The private security questions he was prompted to ask by the machine was: what was Evan’s zipcode?
An assistant had steamed the pocket square for Evan and brought it up to be packaged with the tie. The gentlemen then decided to give Evan a tutorial on the many different methods of folding a pocket square. The once lineless square of silk quickly turned into a square of numerous wrinkles. Although the gentlemen was so careful and earnest with his folding, I am afraid his vision might have been off because no matter what he did he could not get any ends to align! After many different folding options were shown to us, we readily thanked him so we could be on our way!
The colors of the tie are perfect and we feel that it is even more meaningful and perfect that we found it in Charleston! And don’t worry; we will be pressing the pocket square out again before the big day!

"Linnea and Evan, sitting in a tree... happy as can be." Guest entry by Anne Yarbrough

I met Linnea while shooting for Entourage Clothing and we formed a bond, must have been after she mentioned her chihuahua Delilah?  Well, actually it was mostly because she set herself apart from the other models, because she had confidence but also a sincerity that made me feel comfortable.  She talked about Evan then, and how she couldn't wait to get married and I just thought she was crazy. 

I realized she wasn't when I met Evan.  I do pet photography and I was dying to see her little dog, so I arranged a shoot with Evan, Linnea and Delilah.  Evan took us to a pretty field owned by UGA on a very hot day and we did our first shoot.  I felt really awkward with them afterward because I get really excited about photos and I get "in the zone", so by the end of it, I'm not exactly sure what I've said during the session and I always feel weird.  After expressing this to Linnea in a text as I recalled the session in my mind, conscientious of how idiotic I might have acted... she said she couldn't wait to do engagement photos with me eventually!  I felt so relieved and happy : )

So... here we are! Linnea and Evan are engaged to be married and Linnea is absolutely stunning in her pinup style make up and adorable yellow dress.  She is prepared for the photo session with a yellow paper umbrella, picnic quilt, classic novels and her sweet Evan in an adorable handmade bow tie.  A southern, spicy style with a pinup twist per Linnea.  I saw stars in Evan's eyes when he looked at her for the photos, and I felt the sweetness that is the essence of their relationship.  Evan is a gentleman and Linnea has met her match perfectly.  I love hearing Linnea talk about the wedding decorations and I know it's gonna be perfectly charming, just like they are! 

Thank you Evan and Linnea, I can't wait till the wedding! : )

 Thanks so much for these priceless photos, Anne, and for the awesome write up on our blog!

To see some more of Anne's amazing and creative work, her website is: http://anneyarbroughphotography.com/