Glamorous wedding with a classic black and white color palette and aura of sophistication at Ashton Gardens in Atlanta, Georgia

The story of how Aramis met Candace is one that you’d see in the movies. He was a groomsman at a wedding, and she was there supporting her sorority sister’s big day. This was in South Carolina, a few hours away from where they both lived at the time. During the reception, he caught the garter and she caught the bouquet!

“I’ve heard the tradition,” said Candace, “but never actually seen it come true.”

After chatting for a little while, they found out they were basically neighbors in Atlanta, and the rest is history. Fast-forward to the surprise proposal of a lifetime, when their pup ran into Candace’s office one day wearing a shirt that read: “Will you marry me?”

“I’m pretty hard to catch off-guard and he surprised me at work, the one place I would never have expected,” said Candace. “So perfect for who we are!”

Aramis and Candace exchanged vows in Atlanta at a breathtaking, glass enclosed chapel, and celebrated in an enchanting ballroom boasting panoramic forest views. Every decor element from the classic black and white color palette to the ruby red roses exuded glamour and an aura of sophistication.

“We both knew we wanted something very formal and took a Hollywood glam theme as our main inspiration,” said Candace. “Guests were asked to wear all black and follow a black tie dress code, which really set the tone for the evening!”

The morning began in a luxurious bridal suite where Candace, in a sheer white fur-trimmed robe, lounged alongside her bridesmaids, in matching black satin pajama sets. Once the ladies were hair and makeup-ready, they changed into their floor-length, off-the-shoulder black fitted gowns. When Candace entered the room in her bridal look, they were left speechless!

“Finding my gown for the day was so unexpected!” said Candace. “I work in the bridal industry and was casually trying on dresses with a co-worker and stumbled upon ‘the one’.”

Candace looked absolutely exquisite in a strapless, fitted gown with a detachable ball gown train - the best of both worlds! The gown featured stunning lace work, while the ball gown skirt spilled over the sides with layers of fluffy tulle. She wore a cathedral veil in her long dark waves, with a pair of embellished block heels and crystal drop earrings.

In the next room, Aramis and his groomsmen were suiting up in timeless, three-piece black and white tuxedos - with a unique twist. While the rest of the men sported sleek, merlot-colored jackets, Aramis donned a metallic, jacquard print jacket with hints of violet.

As guests arrived at the glass-enclosed wedding chapel, they took in the panoramic views of the surrounding forest, while the soft glow of sunlight stretched through the space. With the help of Irene Tyndale Events, the decor elements were simple enough to not take away from the venue’s beauty, but impactful enough to play on their Hollywood glam theme.

“Our venue was beautiful and didn’t require a lot in the ceremony space,” said Candace. “We used candles and strategically placed florals for the altar.”

The florals were the focal point at the altar. They placed two arrangements in tall glass vases on Victorian white podiums, overflowing with lush greenery and cream and ivory roses, hydrangeas, white delphinium, lisianthus, and summer stock. Most of the arrangements were fresh white, with the star of the show being Candace’s bridal bouquet.

“It was a full, deep red rose bouquet,” said Candace. “They were so perfect they almost looked unreal!”

Once their guests were all seated under the vaulted, wood beam ceilings, the wedding party shared a prayer before taking turns walking down the aisle. One of the most special moments for Candace was having their pup walk down the aisle with her sister. Having her in the wedding was so important, especially since she was a big part of the proposal!

When Aramis finally laid eyes on his stunning bride, he was overcome with emotion. Both were smiling ear-to-ear as they held hands at the altar, and there were few dry eyes in the pews. Their officiant led a beautiful, traditional ceremony, and even helped the couple curate and personalize their vows ahead of the service. It was the most magical experience, full of unconditional love and tradition.

“Jumping the broom was a very important tradition that he wanted to be sure we incorporated into the ceremony,” said Candace, “and for me, having my aunt sing the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ was a must.”

The newlyweds and their wedding party posed for gorgeous group shots and intimate portraits before making their entrance at the reception. Inside a spectacular ballroom, the space showcased floor-to-ceiling clear story windows, Austrian crystal chandeliers, and warm rays of sun reflecting from the soaring glass walls - creating the most unparalleled atmosphere.

“The reception is really where the magic happened,” said Candace.

Aramis and Candace descended the grand staircase as they were introduced as “Mr. and Mrs.” to their loved ones for the very first time. They went straight into their first dance, which was followed by the sweetest parent dances and toasts from their closest friends and family members.

At each table, guests marveled at the glamorous tablescape designs and abundant floral arrangements. The head table featured a sequined black linen, creamy tufted seating, floating candles and towering floral arrangements that really pulled the room together. Around the room, the place settings displayed a mix of brushed gold and textured black chargers, classic silverware and crystal glassware.

There were also a handful of DIY decor elements including their hand-painted welcome sign, gold-framed cocktail menu, and a really meaningful photo board that showed the couple’s journey over the years. Also, their guest book was most definitely one-of-a-kind!

“He’s in the spirits industry so in place of a guestbook, we decided to have wine bottles that guests signed,” said Candace. “Each year on our anniversary, we’ll open a bottle, read the signatures, and remember how special the day was.”

The personal touches throughout the reception were really unique and representative of the couple’s personalities. Both their signature cocktail, a “Once-Upon-A-Rita”, and their DJ were significant to some of their favorite places to go in Atlanta, and they even had a photo booth with hilarious props.

“The music and the bar menu was something we both were really focused on,” said Candace. “For us, it’s what makes or breaks a reception.”

For the wedding cake, they had a two-tiered buttercream masterpiece with black ribbon frosting and white piping at the bases. On top, there was a gold “Mr. and Mrs. Phillips” cake topper, and the bottom was surrounded by an assortment of vanilla and chocolate cupcakes. After the cake was cut, Candace did a quick outfit change into a custom ivory jumpsuit!

“That way I could really enjoy the dancing and party we had planned for the reception!” said Candace.

This party danced their hearts out on the dance floor until the very last song, where Candace and Aramis made a lifelong memory with their loved ones. No one would ever forget the huge Soul Train line that ended this reception.

“We’re still not sure how it started, but seeing our entire family and friends having a blast together made it all worth it,” said Candace. “We’d do that moment over and over again.”

The Soul Train broke off into two lines and everyone lit their sparklers, creating a magical send-off for this beloved pair. They walked hand-in-hand while their friends and families showered them with love and well-wishes, just before hopping into the most lavish getaway car - a sleek black Rolls Royce.

Congratulations, Aramis and Candace!

Looking for an event planner to execute your wedding vision? Check out Irene Tyndale Events HERE!