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Happy 2015 readers! We are thrilled to announce that with this new year comes a ton of great new content for the blog!

Since New Year’s Eve parties are over, and you’ve likely put away all of your holiday decor, you probably aren’t thinking of parties or events this time of year. You’re even probably thinking of throwing away all of that extra chocolate, getting organized, and starting the year fresh. Well, I’ve got a great first (and fresh!) post of 2015 for you; perfect for that “let’s start a new beginning” feeling we likely all have right about now.
My husband and I met some friends on New Year’s Day to go for a hike in Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs. It was a beautiful, crisp day, and the park was filled with people; probably getting a kick start on those “let’s get in shape” and “let’s spend more time outdoors” resolutions.
We took about a 3.5 mile hike along a beautiful river and when we returned to the visitors center, we noticed a family excitedly huddled together peering down one of the hiking trails. They asked us which trail the “blue” one was and explained that they were waiting for their son and his girlfriend to come back from a hike.
Since they seemed so excited, we waited around to see what the big surprise might be, and as some of you may have guessed, the son proposed to his now fiancé, who of course said YES!
It was so wonderful to see the family jump out to surprise the happy couple. What a great way to start fresh for 2015!

What do you plan to do to make 2015 the best year yet?!

Adam and Eric had the COOLEST sports themed Bnai Mitzvah at the College Football Hall of Fame! This was the first event of its kind at the venue and was basically any sports loving boy’s dream come true.

The party began with guests entering through an authentic “tunnel” just like the players do; with automated football players illuminating the space, and welcoming the guests into “the game”. The adults then headed into cocktail hour and the kids, instead of trying to crash the cocktail hour or peek into the reception area, played on a huge, indoor football field. Such a cool space for the kids to just be kids in!

The party kicked off with tons of energy thanks to Atlanta Fever, and continued throughout the evening to the guests’ delight. Fever added a new element of live music with a drummer that amped up the party even more, he was awesome and really fun to watch.

Memories in a Moment provided a fun, photo outlet for the guests when they needed a break from all the dance floor action.

The original décor in the venue was really top notch; we especially love this photo of Adam in front of a towering, illuminated wall of college football helmets! Thanks to Photographer Jeff Blumenthal for capturing this, and all of the other amazing shots throughout the evening.

As the night went on, the kids snacked on popcorn, funnel cakes and other “game day” type foods, and departed with mini waters with the boys’ logo, chocolate milk, and a 2 pack of Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a crowd fave! Everyone danced non stop and could barely walk while trying to make their way out of the tunnel – the sign of a great party!

The College football Hall of Fame even gave each boy a jersey with their last name in it. So cool!

We had an amazing time hosting this event at a brand new venue for the Bar Mitzvah boys. Congrats to you both on your accomplishment!

Testimonial:

Thank you so much for all that you did to ensure that we had a wonderful Mitzvah weekend.  We are so proud of A&E and all that they accomplished and we were able to enjoy every minute of the weekend with our family and friends. We have sung your praises to everyone.  You did an AMAZING job working with a very difficult venue and we appreciate your diligence in working with them.  We know it was not easy! Thank you also for handling all of the details (large and small). Our kids love you and you made them feel so special throughout the entire process.  We realize that we would not have been able to enjoy every minute of the weekend if you were not an integral part of it.  Thanks again for everything!

Mitchell’s colorful and creative Bar Mitzvah took place – or should we say took OVER – the beautiful Dunwoody Retreat.

Obviously a huge fan of the ever popular Hunger Games movies, Mitchell’s imagination ran wild featuring games and props from the movies, “Tracker Jacker” Medicine cleverly disguised as hand sanitizer, and even a  Hunger Games Effie performer!

Let’s Celebrate (as always) did a fabulous job bringing Mitchell’s vision to life. The attention to detail was meticulous; they built many of the props from the ground up, and truly transformed the space to make the guests feel like they really were IN the arena! The placecards were awesomely displayed as arrows on a huge target, and we specifically love the gorgeously gargantuan VIP (oh yes, we went there) centerpiece! Needless to say, we, and all of Mitchell’s guests, were dazzled by the unique and out-of-the-box décor. Our hats go off to Mitchell and Let’s Celebrate for their creative collaboration!

Jodi with Memories in a Moment even provided customized Hunger Games props for the guests to take photos with in front of her green screen – always a huge hit!

Throughout the evening the guests noshed on delicious ice cream creations courtesy of  Premium Distributors Inc., and were completely entertained as DJ Atlanta Fever rocked the “Capitol”. If the kids wanted to take a little break from shakin’ it, Mark Mandel with BIGHead Cartoons was standing by to create fun caricatures.

As the games raged on, Catherine with My Life Photography snapped shots of all of the action. Our favorite? Effie Trinket herself.

Effie was such an awesome addition to the party. She did a fabulous job playing her part, interacted with all of the kids throughout the evening, and Mitchell’s face was utterly priceless when she entered the party to surprise him. So. Much. Fun.

As the evening came to a close, no one had to fight to the death, and a good time was had by all!

Mimi and Russell had a small, laid back wedding ceremony with family in California.

They continued the celebration here in Atlanta with all of their close family and friends at Monday Night Brewing. This particular venue was perfect for the couple; with locally crafted beers on tap, and a shabby chic feel.

The founders of Monday Night Brewing originally met in a white collar setting, and when the idea of opening a craft brewery was born, they decided to hang up their ties, and bring new meaning to the phrase “Tie One On”. They have a floor to ceiling wall completely covered with hundreds of business ties! Given the history, Mimi and Russell thought that it was the perfect spot for dancing, drinking, and creating memories.

Tex’s Tacos Food Truck was onsite to satisfy everyone’s craving for the ever-popular duo of tacos and beer!  Their lime fries were strangely addicting; with a combination of cane sugar and salted lime zest. Who DOES that? They do, and they own it.  King of Pops was also onsite to refresh and delight all the guests with cool flavors like Tangerine Basil and Chocolate Sea Salt.

If beer was not your thing, sweet tea and lemonade was offered in personalized plastic cups that also served as favors for all of the guests to commemorate their fun evening.

Chad with CTRAM Entertainment kept the party going and Southern Night Photo Booth allowed everyone to get their sillies out with props!

The décor was perfectly simple.  We developed photos from their wedding ceremony, framed them and placed them around the room.

Mimi and Russell were such a joy to work with. They were so sweet and laid back, that we felt like we were part of the party!

Rayna’s fun and festive Bat Mitzvah Celebration took place at Roswell Historic Cottage in the heart of Roswell.

What really made Rayna’s special day unique was the fact that she threw a kids party…..just for kids! All of the “grown ups” of course attended the service, but didn’t arrive on the party scene until later in the evening, giving the kids time to nosh on delicious pizza provided by Diesel, indulge in kiddie cocktails, and play tons of fun games on the dance floor.

D Street Entertainment made sure all of the kids got in on the fun, engaging them with games, props and the “jams” of their generation.

SRD Photography captured all of the fun with great photos of the crowd and Magnificent snapped shots as well; transforming them into cool, souvenir magnets for the guests to take home!

The colors for the evening were glittery pink and black. Mom even joined in on the decorating fun, designing and constructing some of the centerpieces for the event! Renterpieces from JF&CS were on half the tables, what a great way to give back to your community. Balloonacy added to the decor with RAYNA in balloons and light up pink and black zebra balloons that made a statement. Paired with the beautiful hanging lights at the venue, the whole look came together perfectly.

Finally what’s a memorable event without delicious desserts? Since the adults were invited to join the party a little later, adorable and scrumptious mini desserts by Sweet Memories awaited their arrival, boasting goey brownie bits, key lime pie shooters, and more.

The kids enjoyed Waffle House for dessert, and since this is not our first rodeo, we hopped in as backup for the Waffle House staff. Not sure what it is about Wafffle House, but it literally puts hungry kids into a feeding frenzy!

Finally, after everyone had had their fill of food, fun, candy and waffles, it was time to call it a night. As the guests departed, they were each invited to create a good bag from the “candy bar” and gifted with personalized sweatpants sporting Rayna’s initials and the date of her special night. I think it’s safe to say that a great time was had by all!

Jereme’s Bat Mitzvah celebration kicked off with a memorable service at Congregation Or Hadash.

The party continued as the guests prepared to celebrate amongst friends, and mother nature more than cooperated, providing beautiful weather for this inside/outside party..

Bijan Catering prepared delectable cuisine for Jereme’s Mexican theme, boasting items like quesadillas, build-your-own tacos, and an adult favorite: Sangria! There was even an ice cream cart, courtesy of Premium Distributors Inc., a favorite amongst the younger patrons.

Jereme’s vision for the décor was simple, bright and clean, and Balloonacy did a great job executing Jereme’s perfect fiesta!

DJ Dez with AAA DJ Services was awesome as usual, and kept the kids on the floor playing games throughout the day.

Clear Choice Photobooth ensured that everyone could have a little fun with the camera, providing a goofy, and creative green screen option.

Though Barry Shapiro Photography WAS responsible for the traditional photos, he did an amazing job capturing all of the memorable moments. We especially love this shot of the crowd enjoying the Limbo. 🙂

While we’re on the subject of photos, we must mention the adorable montage that Jereme’s mom made for her; so many wonderful shots throughout the years.

As if Jereme’s night wasn’t already action packed with fun, Magician Howie the Great did some strolling magic and then did a 20 minute performance where he balanced a ladder on his face, then made a bird appear! It was a great show and we’ve never seen a group of 13 year olds so quiet and focused!

Jereme’s Bat Mitzvah was tons of fun, and with some of her creative touches, one that we are not soon to forget!

Held at the fabulous InterContinental Buckhead, Juliette’s Bat Mitzvah had a big city feel in the heart of The South!

True to form, the cuisine was unbelievable; complete with different New York themed food stations. They included a Yankee’s ballpark station, boasting hot dogs, soft pretzels, sliders and the like, a Chinatown station, with favorites like Lo Mein and egg rolls, and our personal favorite: Little Italy. Pizza, ravioli, and a caprese salad? Yes please!

Should we keep talking about food?

Ok. One more. For dessert, the chef crafted apple cupcakes and doughnuts, all marching their delicious way through the party on a conveyer belt!

Keeping with Juliette’s New York theme, Michelle Friedman Designs weaved the Big City into the space, highlighting the various themes of the different food stations, and seamlessly integrating Juliette’s pink and blue theme colors with a cool custom logo!

Memories in a Moment Green Screen allowed all of the guests a fun and creative photo outlet; providing fun props and various backdrops, while Craig Hall Photography captured all of the great moments throughout the evening.

What’s a party without music? We actually don’t know because DJ Rhythm kept the place rockin’ all night long! Normally the kids wear various colorful socks to dance, but Juliette provided knee-high black and white socks, and instead of I <3 NY, they said I <3 JW! So cute and creative we must say. 🙂

Finally, to top off the night, frat tanks with a Yankee’s feel were given away as favors.

We loved Juliette’s clear vision for her NY themed party, and had a great time helping to bring it all together!

Held at Mazzy’s in Norcross, Sam’s Bar-Mitzvah was a sports themed hit!

Sam chose the perfect location when he picked Mazzy’s, as the venue is a spacious sports bar with big screen TVs, delicious food, and pool tables for all of the guests to enjoy.

Mazzy’s provided the delicious cuisine, which was casual with a few elegant touches for the adults. Our favorite? Mini grilled cheese and tomato soup shooters. Yummmm.

Ballonacy did a fabulous job adorning the space with tons of colorful balloons and sports themed centerpieces. They even spelled out Sam’s name in big silver balloons, in the shape of an arch at the entryway.

Steven Dewberry Photography and James Futch Videography were both awesome, capturing all of the priceless memories for the family the cherish for a lifetime.

Southern Nights Photobooth set up shop in a corner of the venue and enticed all of the guests to get silly and take fun photos with multiple props and costumes.

Finally DJ Dez with AAA DJ Services spun sweet tunes throughout the evening. Though it did take a little coaxing to get the shy guests on the dance floor, DJ Dez’s dancers were AWESOME and, with a little persistence (and maybe some bribery with neon props and accessories), the dance floor filled up.

Sam was so excited when everyone began dancing; apparently he had been practicing some sweet moves leading up the festivities. 🙂 Sam and his guests had a great time and we loved helping Sam and his family put together a night to remember!

Siblings Maggie and Brandon had an amazing B’nai Mitzvah celebration at the 755 Club at Turner Field!

Track 7 decked out the venue with specially designed logos, clean lines and lots of lighting! They highlighted their event colors of lime green, turquoise, pink and black, which really brightened up this huge space.

The 755 Club provided delectable cuisine and even served specialty adult cocktails named the Maggarita and the Brand-tini during cocktail hour!

DJ Atlanta Fever rocked the house with cool tunes for the young and younger ;), while photographer Joseph Azcel made his way through the crowd, capturing all of the memorable moments.

Finally, On The Spot Memories provided the video montage, dazzling all of the guests with great photos of Maggie and Brandon.

At the end of a super fun night, all of the guests departed with the cool and colorful water bottles as favors.

We had DOUBLE the amount of fun at this event, and wish these two all the best as they move to the next chapter in their lives.

Amanda and Jonathan’s wedding day was by no means traditional; it was an international affair for the history books, held at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History!

Jonathan from Paris and Amanda from Atlanta (born to South African parents), met in France and currently live in San Francisco!   With a love for all places lived and traveled, the couple nodded to all of their favorite things from near and far.

Each of the guests tables were set with two cheese boards for the guests to enjoy – just like a Parisian picnic!  They had a classic New Orleans Second Line for their Grand Entrance, passing out beads and umbrellas for all their guests to carry as they marched along. Bold Designs and Décor did a fabulous job bringing this fun and eccentric theme to life!

Guests also enjoyed Bold American’s food stations which included a fish taco bar, an antipasti station with beautiful grilled veggies, pastas, and salmon.

Catherine Parks of My Life Photography captured everyone’s beauty and excitement! We especially love this shot of the GORGEOUS bride during hair and makeup. Make up by Mikki Ferrar and Hair by Jessica Goldstein.

The Nelson Brownstone Band rocked out all night long, and Amanda and Jonathan’s guests danced the night away in celebration!

Instead of wedding cake, Amanda and Jonathan opted to serve Yogli Mogli frozen yogurt – a huge hit and a welcomed change of pace for their guests.  Fun toppings included gummy bears (the bride’s favorite), fresh fruit and mini M&Ms!

James Futch Videography caught all of the memorable moments while trolling the room, capturing congratulations and well wishes that the bride and groom will not soon forget!

Southern Nights Photo Booth was the perfect way for the guests to take a break from the dance floor!  Tons of goofy faces and priceless memories made.

We had an awesome time witnessing these two special people become husband and wife and wish them many more fun adventures for the future! What city or country will they be in next?