1. Real Weddings

Laura & Jay: A Summer Wedding in Atlanta, GA

Laura Hahn grew up in New Jersey; her parents live in San Diego; and Jay Bonds hails from Knoxville. So when Laura and Jay got engaged, deciding where

Laura Hahn grew up in New Jersey; her parents live in San Diego; and Jay Bonds hails from Knoxville. So when Laura and Jay got engaged, deciding where to have their wedding wasn't easy. The Bride Laura Hahn, 29 The Groom Jay Bonds, 33 The Date June 7 At first, Laura and Jay thought they had the best solution: they would have a destination wedding somewhere tropical like a Caribbean Island, or even south Florida. But when they realized that their busy work schedules would not allow much time for planning, they decided to keep things more low-key. Atlanta -- the city where they met, dated, and lived together -- became the best place to say I do.

The Bridal Bouquet
During dinner, the 10-piece band U.S. Beat played Sinatra tunes; once the dishes were cleared, the band performed everything from the Beatles to Madonna. When guests needed a break they were encouraged to step onto the terrace, where a woman was giving cigar-rolling demonstrations. Here, guests were free to sip cocktails and smoke their personalized cigars. There was a constant ebb and flow of energy from the ballroom to the terrace, though most guests were sure not to miss what was perhaps the biggest surprise of the night: one of Jay's fraternity brothers, who played in a band when they were in college, took a band member's guitar and sang Tequila Sunrise with the band to serenade the newlyweds.
A cocktail hour immediately ensued at The Atlanta History Museum; and then a reception unfolded in The Grand Overlook Ballroom at The Atlanta History Center, which lasted into the early hours of the next morning. To give guests a taste of the south (literally), Laura and Jay chose to serve local favorites such as Savannah-style crab cakes and jalapeno biscuits with smoked southern ham and honey chipotle mustard. A shrimp and grits martini bar, and stations of homemade pasta, meats, and fish -- plus a Viennese dessert display.
A four-tier white wedding cake adorned with a traditional monogram rounded out the menu highlights.
Laura and Jay tied the knot in the Sanctuary at the Peachtree Road United Methodist Church in a ceremony that lasted just 20 minutes.
The Transportation
Laura and Jay's southern-style celebration was planned in historic Buckhead. From the save-the-date packets to the wedding website to the welcome bags (which included local items like chips and fiery peach salsa, mints, and a map of Atlanta), guests were treated to true southern hospitality. Even the favors had a southern flair: McEntyre's Bakery in Smyrna created Pecan Queens, a sugary confection that made for a sweet ending to the weekend wedding.