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/

All Dressed in White by Linnea

I had never been bridal dress shopping before; obviously not for myself, but not along with any other brides to be either. I didn’t know what it would be like, but I guess I expected it to be slightly more glamorous with automated “ous” and “ahs” from the entire staff (equipped with trays of assorted cheeses and sweets) each time I came out of the fitting room modeling a new dress. This was not my experience.

The best part of the day was that my two girlfriends, Stephanie and Melinda, eagerly joined me for my dress shopping. Their wonderful attitudes and happiness for me meant so much. Even if it wasn’t the ultimate shopping experience, this evidence of their true friendship made it all worthwhile.

David’s Bridal, as we all know, offers a huge selection of gowns with price points that don’t equal that of a down payment on a house so, naturally, this was my first stop. The appointment started with flipping through their latest catalog and tabbing down pages of each dress I liked. Then, an associate came out to greet us and took a look at what I liked. We were then directed towards the back of the store that had larger fitting rooms (to squeeze in the princess type gowns) a giant mirror and a stage (that I continuously tripped on).

A slight distraction was a fellow shopper who had brought along her husband to-be, two hyper children, and was pregnant with a third child. She was trying on giant white ball-type gowns and proceeded to “shimmy-dance” in front of the mirror. Awkward.

While we were waiting for the dresses to be brought back we had fun trying on the different headbands, bows, and costume jewelry. The associate then brought me about seven or eight dresses. Some were instant nos, some had to be clamped with giant plastic clothespins to fit better, and finally, there were two all over lace dresses that ended up looking the best. Melinda, who is proving to be the perfect wedding coordinator, came equipped with a notepad to write down what I liked or didn’t like about each dress. The lace ones that I preferred I could see myself in, but none hit the nail on the head as being THE dress.

I think the biggest factor that made none of the dresses real winners is that I didn’t feel like I could completely enjoy my wedding day in them: After saying I do, I want to skip down the garden path in sheer happiness without having to worry that I am going to trip over multiple layers of crinoline. When Evan twirls me, I don’t want to worry that my dress is going to be a half-twirl behind and slip down. And when I hug all my loved ones who are enjoying such a special day with me I don’t want to worry that yards of beading might snag on their clothes.

    I haven’t tried it on yet, but I have a feeling that I have already found the perfect dress that I will feel absolutely amazing in. Obviously I can’t share the details here, but you will hopefully see it and love it when I walk down the aisle!

Simply Love by Evan

It’s quite fitting for us.

The cake topper that Linnea and I chose represents us in such a quintessential way. Carved from willow wood, the topper depicts a man and woman in a loving embrace. It is what you see. There are no frills. No bells and whistles. Nothing fancy. It is beautiful in its simplicity.

Such is how Linnea and I describe ourselves. We both possess dispositions which attract us more to the simple pleasures in life. Day trips to quaint southern towns win out over expensive dinners and flat screen televisions. We would rather take a hike through the woods rather than whatever the “hip” thing is to do.

It is also rather fitting where we found it.

Traveling to Hayesville, North Carolina to spend Easter weekend at Linnea’s family’s cabin, we found our cake topper in a quiet mom and pop general store in the town square. It’s fitting because the family cabin represents the simple life. No television and no internet. You can barely get cell phone reception. Yet there is so much to enjoy if you know how to spend your time there. Creeks and rivers meander their way through the landscape. The stones are perfect for skipping (although I’m still trying to teach Linnea the proper throwing form). Nature surrounds you. It’s the perfect place to get away and lose yourself in a book and enjoy the views.

It is one of our favorite places for obvious reasons.

And so we consider it just another one of those signs that we found such a perfect decoration for our wedding cake there. And we anxiously await the day that we see it on top of something meant for all of our friends and family enjoy.

It kinda looks like us too.

Nuptials with a Dash of Dixie by Evan

Linnea calls me a “country boy.” I don’t know how accurate that is because I spent most of my life growing up in suburban Atlanta, and I can tell you that my definition of a “country boy” is slightly different than hers. When I hear the term, I think of Confederate flags, muddy pickup trucks, and a superior knowledge of bass fishing and deer hunting. I’ve never gone hunting. I drive an SUV and the flag on it has all fifty stars.

Nevertheless, I have always called the South my home and my life has taken me from one end of it to the other. I have seldom ever left. My only foray north of the Mason-Dixon Line was a year ago to attend a friend’s wedding in Rhode Island. My journeys west have only been brief ski trips or family vacations to the Grand Canyon. In contrast, I was born in Baton Rouge, and currently reside in Charlotte, North Carolina. My life has taken me from the backcountry bayous of Louisiana to the Commonwealth of Virginia. From the coastal marshlands of Charleston and Savannah to the pine-covered peaks of the Appalachians. Towns like Athens, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, New Orleans, Durham, and Chattanooga have all seen me navigate their streets at some point or another.

Maybe this is why Linnea calls me a “country boy,” and it has been an honor to be her concierge to the South.

For those who are unaware, Linnea is from Ft. Myers, Florida. Anyone familiar with the cultural distinctions which separate the otherwise nearby state from the rest of the American Southeast know that they can be very different places.  Because of this, it was only natural for her to experience some adjusting when she decided to pursue her graduate studies at the University of Georgia. It didn’t take long to feel right at home.

It is safe to say that Linnea not only fell in love with me, but also with Southern culture. She has told me before that she was a Georgia girl living in Florida. Every little thing that I had taken for granted was a new and exciting experience for her and she drank in every drop like ice cold sweet tea. Cuisine like crawfish etoufee, fried chicken, pulled pork, and peach cobbler tantalized her taste buds. The abundance of country music satisfied her fondness for fiddles, steel guitars, and harmonicas. She was completely taken in by the wide variety of flowers, trees, and other foliage which blanket the Georgia piedmont.

But it was not just the sights, sounds and smells of the region which captured Linnea’s heart. The spirit of the South embodied everything which she had always valued. A strong emphasis on family and friends, vibrant Christian values, and the hospitality of the people all left an indelible mark on her.

Some of my favorite memories have been playing escort on Linnea’s extended tour of Georgia. I remember taking her to her first corn maze. Being her official date to UGA football games. Introducing her to southern barbeque. Kayaking with her down the Broad River. Countless others abound, and every single one of them has been, not only a step further into the South for Linnea, but a step further towards each other as we fell in love.

Needless to say, the beauty of the South has played a large role in our relationship, and it will fittingly play a role on our wedding day. With displays of dogwood blossoms, and a lunch featuring dishes such as shrimp and grits, beef brisket, and baked green beans, we hope to ensure that everyone can experience the phenomenon which helped bring us together. It is difficult to put into words exactly what the phenomenon means for any given person, because it is a personal connection to the land and culture that makes it special. It’s just a Southern thing.

Our Venue by Linnea

One of the first dates Evan took me on was to the State Botanical Gardens in Athens. I had gone by myself to the gardens on a previous occasion, but only walked the paved paths that circled the main buildings. I’m hesitant to explore new woods and trails alone since I was not born with adequate navigational skills to enable myself to find my way back to civilization. Evan, on the other hand was born fully equipped with a GPS tracker and compass. In fact, one of our first jokes together consisted of me phoning Evan and him answering “Onstar, how may I be of assistance?”
It was a crisp fall day and I was thoroughly enjoying the new experience of seasonal changes in Georgia. As we walked further into the woods every brilliant colored leaf crunched beneath our feet. The gardens offered a unique natural beauty as we continued; it was no longer the manicured English garden setting, but a vast wilderness that made you feel as if you were worlds away from interstates and businesses.  Finally, we reached our goal: the Oconee River. Although it’s not a rushing river, it still provides the tranquility and beauty that draws many visitors. After enjoying the scenery, we headed back to the main gardens to have a picnic lunch. Wanting to be seasonally appropriate, I had fixed turkey, swiss, with a cranberry spread sandwiches. I’m still not pleased that I forgot the salt and pepper, but of course Evan said it was the best sandwich he’s ever tasted.
The Gardens continue to be a favorite place of ours; even the surrounding fields that you pass on your way to the Gardens hold so much beauty. There are horses we’ll stop to pet, a sheep farm, and currently a miniature horse farm. We return often whether it’s for a scenic run, a sunny picnic, or a wilderness walk. On one occasion during an afternoon run, it suddenly popped into my head that this location would be great for our wedding ceremony. Evan readily agreed and we decided to take a further look into it after we finished our run. We looked at the main building which is a large conservatory with a tropical feel. Then, the gentleman at the visitor’s center pointed out the Day Chapel location on the grounds. Walking up to the Day Chapel we instantly felt that it would be perfect for us. The Chapel offers a simple rustic beauty that allows it to fit in perfectly with the surrounding woods. The quaint, small size of it will provide the ideal setting for an intimate ceremony as we celebrate with our close friends and family.