Blogging Bootcamp Atlanta

I was going to wait until a later date to blog about this, but I'm so excited, I can't hold it any longer! Liene Stevens of Blue Orchid Designs and The Smart Planner is bringing her Blogging Bootcamp to Atlanta.

When: May 6, 2009
Where: The Bridal Bar Atlanta

Topics covered will include:
*How to discover and leverage your blogging voice
*How to maximize your blogging ROI*How to develop killer content - consistently
*Hot to set short term and long term goals for your blog
*How to effectively analyze your stats and blog traffic
*How to increase your readership and keep them coming back for more
*Specific strategies and techniques to use your blog to improve your main website's SEO or "findability" on Google
*How to promote your brand through your blog's design and content
*Maintaining professional boundaries while still being personable
*And more!

This event would not be possible without the generous support of By Your Side Events, Christine Gallagher Photography and The Bridal Bar. To find out more information and to sign up for the bootcamp, go to http://bloggingbootcampatlanta.eventbrite.com/

I'm looking forward to becoming a better blogger. LOOK OUT WORLD!!! Stay tuned for updates.

Peace and Blessings,
Tracy

God's Knot

Have you ever heard of God's Knot? Well...I have to admit I had not until my former clients chose to have a God's Knot ceremony in their wedding last month rather than lighting of the Unity Candle. Being the inquisitive person that I am, I googled "God's Knot" to find out more about it. The ceremony consists of the bride and groom braiding the three strands. In doing so, the couple demonstrates they have chosen to allow God to be the center of their marriage and they (God, the bride and the groom) are woven together as one.

The Gold Strand - represents God at the center of the marriage

The Purple Strand - represents the Groom

The White Strand - represents the Bride

Pictured above are my former clients tying God's Knot during rehearsal

Source: God's Knot

Peace and Blessings,

Tracy

Running of the Brides

Get ready, set, go! For all you brides-to-be out there, get your running shoes out. Filene's Basement in Atlanta will be having their world-famous sale on designer and brand name wedding gowns, better known as "Running of the Brides". The sale will take place Friday, March 20, 2009 from 8 am until 9 pm. Filene's Basement is located at 3535 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30236.

Budget-friendly Bouquets

To all my BSBs (Budget-Savvy Brides). Here's a tip on saving hundreds of dollars on flowers for your wedding. Besides choosing flowers that are in season and do not have to be imported, consider buying your flowers from Sams Club, and making the bouquets yourself. While shopping at Sams, I came across these fresh flowers:

$5.88 per bundle (10 stems)

$14.72 per bundle

$19.72 per bundle (25 stems)

Arrange these flowers any way you like, wrap the stems with satin ribbon, add any other embellishments to your liking, and there you have it - a nice inexpensive bouquet. If making bouquets is not your forte, email me at tlseliteevents@comast.net or call me at (404) 368-0273, and I will make all the bouquets and centerpieces for your wedding for a price that fits your budget. Peace and Blessings, Tracy

First Came Rain, Then Sun, Then Snow...

When planning an outdoor wedding in February in Georgia, you just never know what the weather is going to be like. For instance. I had rehearsal this past Friday and it rain all day, so we went to plan "B", which was to have the wedding under the tent where the reception was to be held. Take a look. I watched the news Friday night and first thing Saturday morning. 100% chance of rain according to the weather report. Oh well...I thought. We have a good solid plan together, so I wasn't worried, but still hopeful that maybe God would lighten up a little. I arrived at the venue 3 1/2 hours early, rain still pouring, and not even a hint of sun in site. The wedding must go on, so I pressed on, hoping and praying the sun would come out, because I knew my bride had always dreamed of having a garden wedding. As I ran around making sure all the vendors arrived and were set up, I barely realized the dark clouds started to clear and the rain had stopped until an employee of the venue said they were going to set up outside instead of the tent. PRAISE THE LORD!!! I said to myself. Back to plan "A", but not really...we didn't have time to set up a prop that was a major part of the wedding, so we went to plan "C". A plan the pastor and I came up with about 45 minutes before the wedding. We didn't have time to practice so the wedding party had to visualize what they were to do. The wedding started 10 minutes late and that was only because the bride's parents wanted to give a few more guests time to arrive. It was like the gates of Heaven opened up and poured us out a blessing. The wedding was absolutely beautiful, and my bride got her dream garden wedding. Then I wake up today and WOW! It's snowing! That's Georgia in February - you never know what the weather may be like. Stay tuned for professional pictures of the wedding. Peace and Blessings, Tracy

It's My Birthday!

Today I am again thankful that God allowed me to live to see another birthday, and to share it with my two boys and husband (not pictured of course) made me appreciate it even more. Peace and Blessings, Tracy

Vendor Spotlight - Cakes by LaMeeka

On my hunt for wonderful vendors to work with, I had the pleasure of meeting LaMeeka Edwards, pastry chef and cake artisan of Cakes by LaMeeka. LaMeeka's cakes are custom designed and taste as good as they look. See below. LaMeeka's speciality is the "Pillow Cake", a multi-layered cake in which layers resemble satin pillows. Visit her website to see more of her custom designed cakes. LaMeeka has baked cakes for couples featured in the latest issue of Southern Wedding Magazine, TLC's The Wedding Story, and Bridezilla. She bakes cakes for all types of occasions and if you don't have a special occasion, but have a craving for something sweet to eat, head on down to the Bakery Shop in Forest Park, GA.