NW GEORGIA’S PREMIER FEATURE READER / SPECIAL EDITION

M AG A Z I N E

Wedding
ompendium
2010
C
Perfect Day
AN ALL-IN-ONE GUIDE
TO PLANNING YOUR

$4.00
 azine
edding
ompendium
2010
4 the eweler
7 the lorist
8 the aterer
11 the ridesmaids
12 the akeup
15 the lanner
16 the ocation
19 the hotos
20 the ideo
23 theinnerehearsal
24 the ifts
27 the airstylist
28 the avors
31 the akery
 M AG A Z I N E
NW GEORGIA’S PREMIER FEATURE READER / SPECIAL EDITION

M AG A Z I N E

Wedding
Compendium
2010

Perfect Day
AN ALL-IN-ONE GUIDE
TO PLANNING YOUR

$4.00

SpecialEditionStaff
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF+
PRODUCTION MANAGER+
ART&DESIGN
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FEATURE TEXT
Brian Foster
Neal Howard
PHOTOGRAPHY
Mala Hyder
Tracy Page
CHIEF OF ADVERTISING+
OFFICE SALES DIRECTOR
Ian Griffin
CHIEF SALES REPRESENTATIVE
Jeff Miller
ORIGINAL AD DESIGN
Brittany Howes
PUBLISHER
v3publications, llc
CONTACT
One West Fourth Avenue
Rome, Ga. 30161
phone: 706.235.0748
email: v3publications@gmail.com

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 the eweler
SETTINGTHE
T O NE
Ford,Gittings&Kane
A s one of the most tenured residents
of Rome’s business community,
Ford, Gittings and Kane Jewelers (FGK) have
seen thousands of nervous young men walk
through their doors in search of the perfect
diamond. Owner Joe Gittings co-founded the
company in 1958, carrying on a family trade
that dates back to his father, who was a World
War I veteran trained to be a watchmaker.  excitement of the engagement process. Jan
“I grew up in the business,” says Gittings,
who began his own career as a jeweler in the
1940s, while working at his family’s shop in
Roanoke, Ala. “That’s all I’ve ever known.”
At age 83, still spry as can be, Joe
continues to put his years of experience
to work, repairing watches, in addition to
imparting his vast knowledge upon the dozen
employees that currently—and proudly—call
FGK home. “He’s the patriarch, and the
 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine
Among the many designs found in an
FGK showcase are featured selections from
industry giants including Gottlieb, Simon
G and Hearts On Fire. And however long
the diamond selection process may take, Jan
and Alice assure they will provide you with
the necessary info to make that single, most
crucial of decisions. 
To boot, if the right ring cannot be found
within the store’s extensive inventory of
gold and platinum settings, in-house design
and goldsmith tandem, Jerome Thomas and
Pat Coffey, will just as happily create your
family’s next treasured heirloom.
The newly engaged can also find some
of the area’s finest selections of china,
crystal, flatware and casual dinnerware.
Sets include offerings from Wedgwood,
Waterford and Towle, among others. “A lot
of brides and grooms come in and don’t have
[any] idea about table setting and crystal,”
Fergerson says. “This is the first time, for
many, that they have ever had to even think
about setting the table. Our trained bridal
consultants work with each couple to help
them select what suits their personalities.” 
Among the several additional registry
items and services that FGK offers, we see
vases and other small household decorations,
and custom etching and engraving. 
So, whenever choosing the right ring to
‘make it official’ or selecting the ideal place
settings for years of entertaining family and
friends, the crew at FGK’s wealth of collective
experience, as well as the their fine selection
of jewelry and gifts, should be the first stop
for couples who will settle for nothing less
than the best. VVV 
reason why we carry on the [FGK] tradition,”
says store co-owner Jan Fergerson. “That’s
what has made us successful over the years,
and [we] continue to grow.”
A major source of FGK’s success over
the last 52 years has been its dedicated,
professional approach to guiding grooms
and brides of all ages through the nail-biting
Fergerson and Alice Herring, two of only
six Certified Gemologist Appraisers in the
state, are on hand every step of the way to
better educate grooms on the complexity of
diamonds and gems, and to help them choose
the right stone (and setting) for their future
brides. “Ford, Gittings and Kane is known for
having ideal cut diamonds,” says Fergerson,
“and when customers come in looking for the
right diamond, they can expect only the best.” 
 Y our wedding is one of the most important days in your life,
so let us provide hassle free equipment to make
that special day a magical one.

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vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 

YOUR WEDDING TROUSSEAU DESTINATION...

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The Claremont House

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906 E 2nd Ave * Rome, GA 30161 * (706) 291-0900

FLOWERSEQUAL
POWER
Bussey’sFlorist
W
ith a mixed color palette and
varying dimensions, the flowers
displayed at your wedding
add more flavor than any other main
ingredient. From bold and bright to soft and
subdued, floral arrangements allow for a vast
range of expression, matched only by a bride’s
gown. As vetted experts in setting the right
mood for your wedding ceremony, Bussey’s
Florist in Cedartown brings a team of artists
the lorist
who help couples create the perfect
aesthetic for that perfect day. 
Since first opening its doors
in 1976, Bussey’s has grown
to become one of Northwest
Georgia’s most trusted and called
upon florists, helping customers
express themselves in just the
right way, regardless of location
or circumstance. “Weddings are
something
that we
specialize in, and it has dinner the night before, the day of the
been a growing part wedding—options for the ceremony may
of our business,” says range from simple altar arrangements to a
second-generation completely decked out church. What we can
owner, Todd provide runs the gamut.” 
Bussey. “We service Pinning down the smallest of details for
the entire region and one’s wedding day can be a daunting task
can travel over an hour for both the bride and her planners. From
away for weddings if the flower girl bouquets to grandmother’s
need be.”  corsage, from the intricate arrangements
Bussey’s extends its to the centerpiece at the head table, there
daily services across are endless choices to make. This is why
the region, making Todd Bussey and his shop’s head wedding
frequent deliveries to consultant, Jan Price, say they can work
Cedartown, Rome, with the most discriminating of clients to
Cave Spring and get those details just right. “We try to get to
Rockmart. In addition, know the bride,” Todd says. “We look at lots
they also offer in-store of images together so that we can begin to
bridal registries for know what her style is, what her likes and
home accessorizing dislikes are, and from there we will start to
and dinnerware. put together a unique wedding collection for
Regardless of the her. 
size and scope of your “It comes together because of the service
wedding ceremony or that we provide, and not just on the day of
its subsequent events, the event, but the planning process as well. I
Bussey’s stands firm think that brides appreciate the sense of style
on the claim that [we help] bring to them. We try to help them
it can cater to any to create [floral arrangements that evoke
and every couple’s their own personalities].” 
expectations. “We A lush garden of fresh flowers, all
provide as much displaying their unique aromas and vibrant
or as little as our colors, can only serve to brighten an already
clients need,” says joyous day. According to Todd Bussey, that’s
Bussey. “Full-service the mission of his experienced team as they
events, engagement look to set the stage for one of your life’s most
parties prior to the important events—“as if it all came together
wedding, the rehearsal by magic.” VVV
vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 
 the aterer
FLYMETOTHE
MOON
HarvestMoonCafe
Not limited to their
cafe menu, Harvest
Moon’s caterers can
bring any style of
dish to any style of
reception. Drawing
upon their combined
skills in concocting both
traditional and highly
imaginative servings,
chefs Juan Lara and
Dorothy Foster are the
perfect complement
to one another in the
kitchen, and have become
pivotal in the restaurant’s
ability to cater to the
specific wishes of their
customers. “We can
adjust [our dishes] to
fit anyone’s tastes,” says
have those items. They know what to expect
from us.”
“We have a very established catering crew
in regards to planning, setup, preparation
and presentation,” Lanhan adds. “They have
years of experience working with one another
at hundreds of events.” 
Receptions, engagement parties, rehearsal
dinners, you name it; if it demands the
freshest, best prepared food in town, Harvest
Moon is willing to devote its years of
experience via success to you and your loved
ones.
Charmingly enough, the establishment
is also housed in a large, renovated historic
building replete with unique spaces (i.e.,
spaces that can serve as the perfect location
for any pre-wedding event). An elevator
ride to the second floor reveals two choices
of venue for private parties. The large
“Mezzaluna”, for example, located in the rear

I
n its near decade-long residence at Lanhan. “Our menus are a good starting of the building, has played host to dozens of
234 Broad Street in downtown Rome, place, but our kitchen can do so much more, bridal showers and wedding brunches over
Harvest Moon Cafe has managed quite depending on what is asked of us. We can the years. And “The Apartment”, a recently
well in solidifying itself as one of the top mix and match and opened, luxurious
culinary destinations in all of Northwest customize in any way to second-floor space,
Georgia. Known for its unique take on give our customers what is now available to
traditional Southern fare, it typically attracts they want.” customers as well.
diners in search of a fresh approach to Any diner lucky “The Apartment
grandma’s home-cooked comfort food. enough to have lost is the perfect setting
Then, fusing modernity and aesthetic, “The his or herself in a for champagne
Moon” (as it is often referred to by regulars) mouthwatering meal and hors-d’œuvres,
makes frequent patrons of first-timers with at The Moon instantly engagement parties,
an eclectic menu that reflects the quirky, recognizes the level bridal showers and
country-styled surroundings from which the of forethought that brunches,” says
restaurant draws its inspiration. Whether has gone into its Eberhart. “It’s great
feasting on a Cajun grilled tilapia sandwich or preparation. However, for events where you
a fat bowl of collard greens, big-city visitors the fresh, homemade aren’t necessarily
and country cousins alike feel right at home ingredients that go into looking for a sit-
when pulling up a chair here. manifesting these from- down dinner.”
Yet, Harvest Moon is defined by so scratch meals stand So, whether
much more than its popular downtown out in particular. “The looking to recreate
location. Since its humble beginnings as a quality of the food is the ambience
bread and sandwich shop in Cave Spring, something that everyone of a barbequed
owner Ginny Kibler and staff have been recognizes locally—that reception behind
bringing their kitchen creations directly to homemade, handmade your grandma’s
the people, and now have even grown to aspect,” says catering barn, an elegant sit-
become one of the area’s premier wedding assistant Haley Eberhart. down at your aunt’s
caterers. “A lot of people may get the “There are so many antebellum manor,
impression that we can only do the things specialty items, like our or just a casual
that we do here in the restaurant, but that’s breads and our pimento Monday lunch on
not the case,” says Harvest Moon catering cheese spread, that are unique to Harvest Broad, with Harvest Moon you can expect
director Brian Lanhan. “We can do very Moon, and a lot of people come to us because nothing but the best in Southern-inspired
upscale receptions and events.” they are sure that their weddings are going to service and cuisine. VVV

 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

 Proctor Farm
Weddings & Special Events

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everything you need to create the ultimate outdoor

Salon 210
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you create a memory that will last a lifetime.

(706) 232-3250 www.proctorfarm.com (706) 346-3945

706.290.0255
www.salontwoten.com

We Provide the following

services:
HAIRCUTS
STYLING
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Rome, GA 30161

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 

 Schedule your wedding and reception at
The Hearn Academy
And rest easy on your wedding night at

The Hearn Inn

Bed and Breakfast

T he Hearn Academy and Inn are located in the beautiful city

of Cave Spring, Georgia. If you are looking for tranquility,
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Phone- 706-777-8502
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P
the
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 the ridesmaids
S ay ‘Alabama Crimson Tide
Football’ and several thoughts
spring to mind: 13 national titles, the
wily and willful Joe Namath, an SEC
championship rivalry with the Gators
renewed, cutting-edge fashion…
Whoa, whoa, back up. What was
that last one again?
That’s right, folks, if you had never
before thought of Tuscaloosa, Ala. as
a hotbed for style—let alone legendary
head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant as a
trendsetter—think again. Turns out
this university town of approximately
180,000, best known for cranking
out top-round NFL talent while
scaring the bejesus out of opposing
squads on the gridiron, has a flair for
contemporary chíc as well.
Says Lauren Leonard, a 2006
University of Alabama alum and
owner-creator of the South’s hottest
upstart clothing line, Leona, “I
focused [my first collection] towards
the Alabama fans and doing game-
day dresses for the girls there. I was
doing everything in houndstooth (the Leona’s “Dorothy Dress”, featured
here, can be worn in four distinct
jagged, black/white pattern made ways, which allows bridesmaids to
famous by Bear Bryant’s signature show their own personalities and/or
accommodate different body types.
sideline fedora), and this was back
before anyone was really wearing
houndstooth… So I was trying to tap
into a market that people hadn’t paid
much notice to…
“We got an insane response.”
Insanely good, that is. Even
current head coach Nick Saban’s own

TAPPINGTHE“BEAR”
daughter is reportedly a “big supporter,” comfortable in…
and with as many as 90 retailers across We really try to

MARKET
the U.S. now carrying Leonard’s unique think about all of
design aesthetic and entrepreneurial vision, those little aspects,
including Mel & Mimi on East Eighth Street because it’s all
in Rome, the Leona train doesn’t look to be eyes on [what
slowing anytime soon. the bride and her
As for brides and bridesmaids across bridesmaids are
Northwest Georgia, in 2010, this vaunted wearing].”
success is translating into the most When asked

fashionable walk down the aisle this side of
the Mason-Dixon. No, Leona’s leading lady
doesn’t do wedding dresses. She’s not so keen
on the highly customizable market, she says.
Leonard does, however, put together one
banger of a bridesmaids’ look.
“We are sold in [approximately 90] retail
stores all over the country, but about 85
percent of those stores are located in the
Southeast,” she explains. “So, I really cater
towards the Southeastern customer and their
client needs.
“I take the same approach with the
bridesmaids dresses. While I’m working with
the bride and what she wants, I also try to
steer her in the direction of doing something
that is really practical and versatile.
Something that the girls can absolutely wear
again; colors that complement all skin tones;
things that fit nicely and fit a large variety of
body types; things that they’re going to be
LeonaByLaurenLeonard
about the process
involved in
having Leona
design a look for
your day at the
altar, the Tuscaloosa native, who moved her
operation from Atlanta to Nashville in April,
breaks it down like so: “If you’re local, you
can come in, look at samples, try things on...
But if you’re not, I can send pictures, you can
say [which are your] favorites, then I can mail
you samples to try on for sizes or just to feel
something.
“As far as colors are concerned, we can
custom design fabric to a specific color, or I
have a library of just thousands of different
colors and fabrications to choose from.
“…Most of the weddings I’ve done have
been brides that were out of state, and we
just communicated through email and postal
mail, sending things back and forth. It works
out beautifully, and we’ve never had an issue
as far as sizing is concerned. We try to make
sure the bride has as little work to do as
possible.”
Plans set to manifest for Leonard and
Leona in the coming months include opening
a flagship store, so while she assures us no
wedding order will be delayed due to an
increasingly hectic schedule, it may still be
in a prospective client’s best interest to place
her order sooner than later. Or, perhaps, at
least before Kristen Saban has the chance to
wear Leona at the Tide’s 2010 home opener
versus San Jose State. VVV
For a closer look at Leona and/or contact
information, visit www.LeonaCollection.com.

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 11

 the akeup

C
elebrating its two-year anniversary
in May, Stella Blu owner Brandy
Patel says her growing cosmetic shop
is the realization of something she “always
member), it isn’t difficult to see why Patel is “We sell Bare Minerals, and the closest
likely to add scores of Northwest Georgia place [outside of Rome to buy the brand] is in
women to her burgeoning friend list in the Kennesaw. I have new customers every day
months to come. who come in just for that makeup line.”

...SOMETHINGBORROWED,
wanted to do.” And with
wedding season launching
into full swing, the 31-year-old

SOMETHING“BLU”
entrepreneur is adamant that
she and her team of youthful,
stylish skin care specialists
are revved and ready to
begin beautifying Northwest
Georgia’s brides for the most

StellaBlu
anticipated day of their lives. First, says Patel, she believes a
“I moved [to Rome from Greenville, S.C.] consultation between her team and the bride
three years ago, and…my whole concept was is imperative in rendering the best possible
a cosmetic boutique, skin care—just a focus result, and therefore offers this free-of-
on that aspect of women,” Patel explains. “I charge service not as a seasonal gimmick, but
didn’t really know “We have rather as an assurance that Stella Blu takes as
how it would do, five different much pride in its work as you should in your
because I didn’t makeup wedding photos. “The bride would come in
know anyone lines and five and we would do the makeup start to finish,
here, and I had different skin so she can see what it’ll look like on her
heard that Rome care lines, and wedding day,” she explains. “Then, if it needs
was a really an esthetician to be fixed in any way, she can come in as
‘word-of-mouth’ who does many times as she needs to.”
kind of town. But facials, Patel adds that her team is now able to
that has turned eyebrow accommodate larger and larger parties,
out to be a really waxing, and asserts that the difference between her
good thing… et cetera,” product and others found in Rome-Floyd
because I have she says. County boils down to customization, a
met so many “…And it’s mindfulness regarding skin care, and a true
great people and an education makeup regimen for women to benefit from
[everyone] here process, so down the line. Plainly stated from the expert
is just wonderful.” when we have herself: “[Our customers] come in, we do a
At a more than reasonable rate of $65 per someone come in, we want them to be able to skin analysis, and we put them in the product
bride (as well as any additional wedding party understand what [it is that] we do. that will work for them.” VVV

12 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

 For wedding memories that are as beautiful to look at
as the day is to remember.

Babycake Studios
Natural Light Photography by Katherine Page
Portraits • Senior Portraits • Weddings • Events
Rome, GA • (706) 766-8468
Styling by Lindsey Paris/Girls hair by Ciao Bella Day Spa, (c) 2010 Babycake Studios

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14 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine
 the lanner

D etails, details, details. It’s

all in the details. But, while
trying to relish one of the most
momentous occasions of your life,
the weight of keeping everything
organized and running smoothly can
be a considerable burden. That said,
the last thing you need to worry
about as you begin your walk down
the aisle is whether or not the cake is
going to be delivered on time.
Holly Lynch and The Season
Special Event Planning are just the
folks to help bear the load. Since its
establishment in 2007, The Season
has helped to plan and coordinate
scores of beautiful weddings—both
large and small—across Northwest
Georgia, making sure that the bride,
groom and their families can enjoy
the big day to its fullest potential.
Be it the 40-hour work week,
a fully-loaded semester, or just
the fact that you live hundreds
of miles away from the wedding
location, many brides-to-be find it

’TISTHESEASONFOR
being taken down,” says Lynch. “We want
to be the one who is picking up the key
to the reception hall; the one who makes

COHESION
sure everything is set up the way you
want it to be.”
For those who would like to be more
hands-on with the process, The Season’s
wedding weekend coordination may
very well be the right fit. “Sometimes,
with budget being a consideration,
many brides want to do a lot of their

TheSeasonSpecialEventPlanning own planning,” says Lynch. “But come

incredibly difficult to dive
headfirst into the lengthy
planning process. In turn,
Lynch’s comprehensive
wedding planning
offers the right dose
of desperately needed
support. Budgeting,
vendor selection and
negotiation, developing
a timeline, invitation
design, bridal shower
scheduling—The Season
will work with each client-
couple to ensure all the
details are spot on.
“We want to be the one
who is there when the
tents are being installed
and later when they are
the weekend of the wedding, they need
somebody to step in and just take over.”  
Many couples may need a basic primer
on the wedding planning process (i.e.,
an answer to Where do I begin?), should
they decide to do the organizing themselves.
For these ambitious planners, The Season
offers per-hour consultation to set them on
the right path. “It is very collaborative and
transparent,” says Lynch. “They make the
decisions, I’m just guiding them along the
way in terms of what is going to fit into their
budget, what is going to fit into the overall
design experience, and making sure that their
wedding has a cohesive feel.”
No matter the level of involvement,
Lynch and The Season take pride in helping
lovebirds pull off their own incarnation
of the “perfect day”. “I just love helping to
bring people together,” she says. “Being
able to stand at the back of the reception
hall, watching people enjoy themselves and
watching two families come together, that’s
the best part of my job...” VVV

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 15

 DOYOUBELIEVE
INMAGIC?
BarnsleyGardensResort
I
n the 1840s, English-American
businessman Godfrey Barnsley traveled
to western Bartow County from his
home in Savannah with one goal in mind: to
save the life of his ailing wife, Julia. With a
fortune amassed in the lucrative cotton trade,
Barnsley ambitiously set out to build for Julia
a tranquil estate in the foothills of North
Georgia, which he regarded as a safe respite
from the sweltering temperatures and muggy
air that typically enveloped the coast.
Julia, sick with tuberculosis and in need
of repose, followed Godfrey to the scenic
10,000-acre property, then known as
“Woodlands”. Before the manor was finished,
however, she tragically succumbed to her
illness, leaving a heartbroken and haunted
16 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine
husband to complete the
home and gardens in her
honor.
Today, more than 140
years after the devastation of
war that would later ravage
the property, the ruins of
Woodlands and the Barnsley
Mansion serve as an idyllic
backdrop to Barnsley Gardens
Resort, voted one of the
world’s top resorts for 2010
by readers of Condé Nast
Traveler. And in the 20 years
since the restoration of its
grounds, Barnsley Gardens
has blossomed into a getaway
deserving of this acclaim,
attracting visitors from
around the world.
Horseback riding, seasonal
hunting packages, hiking,
canoeing and kayaking are
among the dozens of activities
this 1,400-acre resort offers
its patrons. But it is perhaps
best known for its golf
course, “The General”, which
too has garnered attention
from national publications
including Golf Digest, Golf
Week and Golf Magazine, as
one of the premier places in
America to tee it up.
More importantly,
Barnsley’s origins and the
rural beauty in which it is set
are not lost on the hundreds of couples who
visit its expansive gardens, tragic ruins and
luxurious cottages each year to say “I do.” In
fact, according to marketing director Sharon
Ordoño, you’d be hard pressed to find a more
charming ode to love and sacrifice, a more
romantic landscape, than that found nestled
among these rolling Georgia hills.
“What better place to get married than
Barnsley, with its romantic beginnings and
its history?” Ordoño marvels rhetorically.
“It is a meaningful destination, [where
brides] feel connected to something bigger
than themselves. It’s not just a place, it has
this wonderful past and it is so enchanting.
Couples just become connected to the
property.”
Options for wedding events at Barnsley are
near limitless, and with an array of intimate
locations scattered across the property,
couples can design and arrange the perfect
wedding for their own “perfect day”, be it a
low-key afternoon gathering or a whimsical,
weekend-long affair. Wedding weekenders
are encouraged to take full advantage of the
day spa, riding trails and greens; while nights
are often shared in the cozy comfort of one of
the resort’s lavish cottages. “We try to tailor a
package to the couple’s needs,” says wedding
and events coordinator, Beth Elinsky. “We
have a number of packages at different price
points that we offer, but it is really up to you
in the end. We can accommodate parties
of up to 300, and we get a lot of smaller
weddings for 25 to 30 people.
“We have actually had a number of
weddings consisting of just the bride and
groom, no guests. They come in for two days,
spend two nights, have a wedding ceremony,
dine privately at the ruins, and take part in a
number of our activities here.”
Large or small, winter or summer,
Barnsley Gardens offers a fantastical setting
for couples to enjoy family and friends
as they join together in holy matrimony.
Popular locations for ceremonies and
receptions include the Perennial Lawn, the
historic Manor House Ruins, and the Fairy
Godmother’s Garden.
And, yes, there really is a Fairy Godmother
on staff. To hear Elinsky tell it, this fairytale-
character-come-to-life, in fact, sets the
stage for many of the events and ceremonies
scheduled here. “She truly works her magic
through the engagement,” says Elinsky of
this mysterious string-puller. “She is so
creative in helping to come up with just the
right approach and setting [for each couple],
whether it be during a picnic or during a
horse ride.”
As the heartbeat of Barnsley, the Fairy
Godmother can even arrange the rendezvous
point for the important proposal from the
groom-to-be, casting love spells in her
secluded garden, flowering rooms with rose
petals, calming the nerves of anxious fiancés.
At Barnsley, the Fairy Godmother has been
the maestro behind countless romantic
evenings, accepted proposals, small wedding
ceremonies and anniversaries.
In choosing Barnsley Gardens Resort as
the venue for one of life’s most ‘magical’
events, couples can expect a storied
landscape dotted with reminders of the
power of love, and how stories—including
that of Godfrey and Julia Barnsley—can
echo that love through the centuries. A
perfect blend of nature’s beauty and man’s
architectural ambitions, Godfrey Barnsley’s
masterpiece was designed to save the love
of his life, but in a strange twist of fate, has
brought together thousands of fellow lovers
instead. VVV
the ocation
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T hough your kids may laugh at them
one day, your wedding photos—for
better or worse—will certainly provide
you and your loved ones with lasting
memories. Looking back some years from
now, you may long for the days of that
slimmer waistline, that fuller head of hair,
that flawless skin. And though you may very
well question your misguided taste in color
for your bridesmaids, you can always rejoice
in the images that forever etch into time your
very special day.   Hyder. “When I graduated from
Photographer Mala Hyder has captured
these treasured moments for dozens of
couples and their families since 2007, the
time at which she decided to transform her
CAPTURINGTHE
MOMENT
MalaHyderPhotography
love of picture-taking into a
lasting career. And now, after a
number of certified classes and
years spent honing her craft, the
largely self-taught proprietor of
Mala Hyder Photography, based
in Canton, has quickly blossomed
into one of the region’s most
sought after professionals.
“I’ve had a passion for
photography my entire life,” says
Georgia State in 2002, I had a
psychology degree and went into
bank management. Pretty far
from photography career-wise,
but I still kept it up as a
hobby and continued to
improve.  or tell couples when to smile. I just let them
“When I had my
daughter in 2007, I
decided to make a career
out of it. I slowly started
to build a portfolio, and
since then it has just been
crazy.”  varying angle and style. “I have been blessed
Crazy busy, to be more
precise. Matter of fact,
free weekends for Mala
have become incredibly
scarce, as she finds herself
on-location for a variety
of photo shoots week in
and week out. “Weddings
are absolutely my
favorite events to shoot,”
she notes. “I truly love
working with brides and
their families. I try to
be very laid back and
unobtrusive with the
wedding party.”
According to the
blossoming phenom, she
takes an approach to her
artistry similar to that
of a photojournalist—
documenting, as opposed
to directing, the events
that unfold before her
lens. “I try to let people
the hotos
be themselves, especially at engagement
shoots. I’m not going to say ‘One-two-three!’
interact and have fun, and I try to capture the
moment.”
Remarkably adept at making ambient light
work for her subjects, as well as using her
creative instincts to frame the perfect shot,
Hyder has managed to amass a portfolio of
with some great clients,” she says, “who have
either given me an idea of what they would
like [or have trusted] me to allow the scenes
to develop as we go.”
The result: work that speaks for itself, via
photos that portray Mala’s incredible sense of
versatility, irrespective of subject or location.
For the 2010 wedding season, Mala Hyder
Photography is offering its services à la
carte, allowing clients to pick and choose
what wedding events to shoot and on what
scale. “There are a variety of print packages
that you can choose to add on,” Hyder
explains, “as well as a number of album
options—a traditional album, a coffee table
album, a flush mount.” 
However you choose to display these
precious moments in time for your children
and grandchildren to chuckle over, Mala
Hyder’s work will wonderfully convey the
timeless beauty of true love, family solidarity
and joyful laughter. But just remember, even
in black and white, powder blue tuxes are
never a wise choice. After all, these images
are meant to last an eternity. VVV
vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 19
 the ideo

NOWISN’T THAT Precious Images’ dual-camera coverage

PRECIOUS
promises to capture and preserve your
wedding from every conceivable angle. 
“Customer services and our welcoming
prices are no accident,” says the elder Davis.
“These are things that we pride ourselves in
as a family business. If you’re not happy, we’re
not happy.” 

PreciousImagesVideography
Encouraging creative input and ideas
from the bride, groom and their families,
Precious Images strives to go the extra mile
in ensuring both the production and finished
video are just right. 
“Weddings are very special to me,” Davis

L
ooking back, be it days or decades, Davis and his son, Clay, founded Precious adds, “and I take great pride in making sure
couples love to be reminded of Images in 1993 with the following goal in every detail is exactly what the bride and
how special the big day was. And mind: to provide top-quality, professional groom requested.”
now, thanks to one videographer based in filming and editing So remember,
Northwest Georgia, all the smiles, laughter services at an lovebirds, the sights
and tears that may have been missed while unbeatable price. Today and the sounds of
the bride and groom were busy exchanging they offer multiple, and that special day
vows don’t have to remain unnoticed.  often customizable, don’t have to be a
Precious Images Videography, based in packages, and say fading memory. Put
Cave Spring, has been in the business of they can film any size the Davis boys and
capturing and preserving these moments for wedding on any budget.  Precious Images
the past 17 years. “So much is happening on Each of the Davis’ to work, and give
the wedding day,” says Precious owner and affordable plans yourself a top-notch
manager, Phil Davis, “that without a video provide the happy wedding film that
to look back on, it will be almost impossible couple with pre- will allow you and
to see all the friends, family and guests that ceremony, ceremony yours to revisit these
witnessed your special day. Many brides don’t and reception footage, all on your choice of treasured moments every day of your life—if
remember all the events that occurred until DVD or VHS. And using top-of-the-line “3- you so choose. VVV 
they relax and look at their wedding video.” chip” video, mixing and editing equipment, www.videothewedding.com

20 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

 Deluxe Restroom Units
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Johnny On The Spot’s full-featured trailer units provide all the comforts of home in
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 the goods.

Experience Rome’s only authentic Italian restaurant today.

 the ehearsal
inner
T ruly setting the
standard for fine
dining in Rome and
Northwest Georgia, La
Scala Italian Ristorante and
Bar brings to your plate the
traditional flavors of the
old world, coupled with
a creative, contemporary
zest. For La Scala general
manager, Kenny Tribble,
and executive chef, Zane
Nicholson, providing their
diners with excellent service
and the utmost quality is

NOLIMIT
the end-all-be-all every
night the restaurant opens its doors. 
“The level of the food quality and the
service that we provide is the best, bar none,”
says Tribble. And wedding parties seeking the

SOLDIERS
right locale for an upcoming rehearsal dinner
can expect no less from the Broad Street
mainstay. 
However, that is where all expectation
should take a back seat. Both versatile and
creative in its preparation and execution of
the perfect rehearsal dinner experience, La
Scala offers wedding parties a host of unique

LaScalaItalianRistorante&Bar
dish options and dinner services. “We want
to make your event special, regardless of
how much you want to spend,” Tribble says.
“There’s no limit to what we can do with food
variations, and it
coincides with the spot, then send
different types of in its top-tier
service. If there is team of chefs
a specific type of and servers
service that you to cater the
want it, we can event. “People
provide it.” sometimes
Among this host have the
of services are hors misconception
d’oeuvres, plated that everything
dinners and, most we do is either
recently, a popular expensive, or
“family-style that we can
service.”  only provide a
“Family style,” certain type of
explains Nicholson, food. But we
“is a lot more build everything
informal [than our from the
usual approach] ground up on
and people really an individual,
love it. It takes party-by-party
away from the basis.”
traditional buffet Capable of
and makes it a little tailoring their
more personal, pricing and
but remains menu options,
informal at the La Scala brings
same time. Everyone gets served the same A rehearsal dinner with La Scala isn’t its lofty standard to any style of event. “You
food, but with multiple courses...in smaller confined to its elegant downtown dining are going to get the same quality food and
portions. It’s like mom is behind you serving room, either. “The party doesn’t have to be service, regardless of how much you want
you dinner, and when you need seconds, you here,” Tribble notes, as La Scala can also to spend,” says Nicholson. “And we wouldn’t
just ask.”  help interested parties scout out the perfect have it any other way.” VVV

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 23

 the ifts
REGISTERINGWITH
THEBEST
BellaLuna I want to spend
approximately this
amount. What do

B
ella Luna in downtown Rome should
be one of the first stops made by
any bride, as she begins to plan that
perfect day. “At Bella Luna, we offer full-
service bridal,” says owner Lee Ann Dempsey,
who bought and revamped the shop at
514 East Third Street in 2008. “We work
with brides from the very beginning of the
process, helping with the wedding invitations
and save the date cards—anything that is
done preliminarily.”  notable names as Gorham, Haviland, Vietri,
Sitting down with the newly engaged in
Bella Luna’s cozy bridal loft, Lee Ann and
staff help the soon-to-be betrothed grasp
the exciting, yet busy road ahead. “We will
go through a pre-planning checklist with the
bride, covering things that she needs to be
aware of, what she needs to have in mind,
and the unexpected expenses that may come
up,” Dempsey explains.
As brides consult with
Dempsey, discovering the perfect
wedding invitation among Bella
Luna’s hundreds of in-stock
designs, they can also browse through the
shop’s extensive line of registry options. The
store houses one of the region’s most
complete selections of flatware, everyday
dinnerware, fine china and crystal, from such
Jars, Juliska, Skryros, Lenox and Richard
Ginori. Other registry gifts available include
items such as small furniture, lamps and
decorations.  offers couples the chance to choose gifts for
Dempsey adds, “What I believe has been
helpful for people in Rome is that they
can call up and say, I need a wedding gift
for so-and-so who is getting married, and
you have registered
for her? We’ll tell
them the items the
bride has picked
out, and they can
choose one that fits their budget. Then we
can have it wrapped and ready to go.” 
A particularly unique feature of Bella
Luna’s registry program is the percentage of
sales-based gift certificate given to the bride
and groom following the wedding, a perk
that allows the happy couple to complete
the purchase of registry items they may not
have already received. In addition, Dempsey
bridesmaids, groomsmen
and hostesses. 
But, Bella Luna’s
headmistress makes it a
point to note, her store is
far more than a one-stop
shop for bridal. “The store
was purchased [18 months
ago], and since then we’ve
brought in Vera Bradley,
we’ve expanded the gift
line for everyday gifts, as
well as the number of in-
shop invitations for any
occasion…” (A growing
stock of 500 plus invitation
lines, that is.) 
Bella Luna has also
expanded to offer baby
gifts for new or expectant
mothers, all the while
continuing its tradition of
providing its customers
with cute and creative gifts,
as well as accessories and
decorations fit for any home.
From designing the save-
the-dates to putting the
finishing touches on your
first home as newlyweds,
Lee Ann Dempsey will help
to ensure that each step of the process is a
truly memorable experience. Second only, of
course, to those steps made walking down
the aisle. VVV

24 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

 Visit Bella Luna Gifts For All
Your Bridal Needs
Call us today for a bridal consultation
706.295.1515

We Offer:
•Bridal Registry
•Wedding Accessories
•Bridal Party Gifts
•Custom Wedding Invitations

Creating Memories for Over 40 Years

404-355-1392
Atlanta, Georgia
888-231-8368
Fax 404-355-1073
www.reecetents.com

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 25

 Memories fade...
MEEKS PICTURE
HOUSE

Where framing is art.

308 East 6th Avenue
Rome Georgia 30161
706.291.1355

Let Meeks Picture House

make themlast a lifetime.

Wedding Cakes, Specialty

Cakes, and Catering

My Tiers of
Joy
Our passion is cake! We
believe that our customer’s
taste, style, and design
should be reflected in their
wedding cake. Our goal is to
create a cake that matches
your magical day and dazzle
your guests.

Contact Colette Mosley at 706.844.2297

mytiersofjoy@hotmail.com

26 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

 the airstylist
I t’s the morning of your wedding day, and
as the hours of being a single woman
slowly tick by and the anxiety begins to creep
in, it is important to bear in mind one of
the last great bastions of female refuge: the
salon. Surrounded by your closest friends in
the world, your girlhood dreams of the big
day are finally being realized, and it is here
you will begin your transformation into the
beautiful bride you have always hoped to be.
Sheila B’s Salon & Day Spa, located at
209 Broad Street in Rome, is proud to
guide you through this once-in-a-lifetime
process. Offering numerous pre-wedding and
wedding day services, Jana Scott (seen right)
and her friendly crew promise to invest their
many years of experience into making sure
you are as gorgeous as can be prior to taking
the big plunge. “It’s important for brides to
look and feel their best on their very special
day,” says Scott, “and we make it our priority
to make sure we do just that for them. We
set up the salon for the bridal party before
they come in, and they have the place to
themselves. It’s a fun time for everyone [to
relax].” 
With mimosas in-hand and your favorite
music playing throughout the salon, a more
personalized experience would appear
difficult to come by. And to help minimize
any added stress a bride may feel as she
prepares for this highly eventful day, Scott
says she will make it a point to ensure that
each and every client knows just what to
expect before she and her Sheila B’s staff
begin crafting that head-turning, wedding-
day look. “We can do as many practice runs
as the bride would like,” Scott adds, “which I
believe is pretty important. Hair does what it
wants to do, so it’s a good idea to know what
we are working with and what is possible
before wedding day.” 
And if an unforeseen emergency should
happen to arise just minutes before you walk
down the aisle, no big whoop. Scott and

JANASAYS
RELAX
and winner of several awards in
her field since, joined an already
talented staff at Sheila B’s when
the salon made the move to its
current location last fall. Along
with Scott, the veteran hands of
Lisa Horvath,
“I, as well as the other stylists, stay up
to date in the latest bridal styles, as well as
everyday hair styles,” Scott assures us. “Brides
are more than welcome to bring in pictures,
as we also offer our artistic suggestions. Self-
expression is important to every person and
we encourage it to be expressed in every type

SheilaB’sSalon&DaySpa Sheila Busby,

company say they specialize in on-site hair
rescue and taming out-of-place locks in the
nick of time.   cuts, eyebrow waxing and DreamCatchers
Jana, a 2006 graduate of Coosa Valley
Technical College’s cosmetology program
Jessi Cordle,
Sherica Bailey
and Sonia
Martinez provide every player on the altar’s
stage with a number of services. Color, design
hair extensions, to name a few, are popular
treatments available prior to the big to-do.  other than the best. VVV
of style.”
It goes without saying that on your
wedding day, all eyes are on you, the lovely
star of the show, as you stand before the
altar and your husband-to-be. And though
he will surely love you no matter how your
hair may look, that’s no excuse for entrusting
your body’s most crucial accessory to anyone

vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 27

 AFAMILY
AFF AIR
BlueRibbonJams&Jellies
A ccolades are a mere afterthought
for Zelma Yancey, as she describes
the passion that goes into every jar of her
homemade jams, jellies and preserves. “This
is about carrying on a tradition,” says Zelma,
a lifelong resident of Chattooga County. “I
grew up on the mountain in Cloudland and
I stayed with my grandmother a lot. She was
always working in the kitchen, or the garden,
or in the orchard—always working with
fruits and vegetables. It’s just something
that’s a part of me, and picking it up from
my grandmother and mother is something
the avors that I have really enjoyed.” 
These days, having now carried her family
tradition down from the mountaintop,
hundreds of customers have been fortunate
enough to indulge in Yancey’s sugary sweet
Blue Ribbon Jams & Jellies. And as the
winner of dozens of first place and best in
show awards, including a top prize at the
well-known DeKalb County Agricultural
Fair in Fort Payne, Ala., Zelma and her
jarred treats are quickly becoming a hot
ticket across the region. 
“[People are] always surprised to find
me behind the jarred jams and jellies,” says
Zelma. 
Why, you ask? Well, according to Blue
Ribbon’s creator, high heels aren’t exactly
what you expect to see on a master of the
old-time art of canning. But if one thing is
certain, it is that footwear hasn’t stopped
Zelma from knowing her fruit, as well as
how to best prepare it. 
In fact, the majority of the fruit that goes
into Yancey’s jams, jellies and preserves is
grown naturally on her own property in
Cloudland. No Californian fruits here; if
Zelma doesn’t grow it, an intrigued local will
often offer up his or her goods to go in the
mix. “There have been many local folks who
will come up to me and say, Honey, I have a
pear tree that’s just loaded and you are more
than welcome to the fruit,” Zelma says with
a laugh. 
With an extensive list of flavors from
strawberry to muscadine, kudzu to autumn
olive, Blue Ribbon Jams & Jellies are a great
choice for made-to-order baskets and
wedding favors. “It’s a great gift, regardless
of age,” says Yancey. “The kids say it tastes
like candy, and wedding parties, especially
in the South, love to pass them on as gifts or
have them out at all the tables. People really
love the homemade aspect.” 
Homemade indeed, as Yancey has
fully embraced her family’s generational
tradition with the same passion as those
who developed it before her. And through
the hours that she spends concocting her
delectable delicacies, younger generations
will no doubt come to see that convenience
isn’t necessarily king, and rarely is it of Blue
Ribbon caliber. VVV

28 vini vidi vici / v3 magazine

 Juliska ceramics are guaranteed for use in
the microwave, dishwasher, freezer and oven.

We offer Bridal Registries!

Register with us and receive a gift certificate for
10% of your total registry sales.

7 Central Plz Rome, GA 30161 Phone:706-236-9675

 MASSEY’S
The Diamond Store

You can make her wishes come true.

Visit our Bridal Gallery today. 110 BROAD STREET ROME, GA. 30161 706.291.8596

TRACKS OF
MY TIERS
MyTiersOfJoy
I
magine, just minutes before the bride
and groom share that special moment
carving out their first ceremonial
piece of cake, you suddenly notice your
youngest child licking his fingers clean in a
far corner of the reception hall. Chocolate
icing dripping from his devilish grin, it’s a
parenting nightmare staring you directly in
the face.
Sure, it’s an almost impossible job to keep a
firm eye on your kids at a wedding, especially
if they are wide-eyed sugar fiends bound and
determined to dip their dirty little fingers in
the wedding cake—someone else’s wedding
cake, mind you.
Well, you can rest assured,
if Colette Mosley and her My
Tiers of Joy (MTOJ) team are
supplying a reception with
one of their vividly colored,
deliciously crafted delicacies,
your role as patrolman for the
toddler police has just become
even more difficult. Come
to think of it, you may even
be the one who ends up
embarrassing yourself, having
fallen victim to your own
premature cravings. 
Colette Mosley and her
team of bakers at
MTOJ are becoming well-known
for their beautiful and downright
delectable wedding cakes and
pastries. With an old-fashioned
approach to preparation and a
wildly creative mind for design,
MTOJ offers couples a familiar
taste in a one-of-a-kind creation.
“We don’t use anything from a
mix,” says Mosley. “It’s all from
scratch; it’s buttermilk, butter
and eggs, and all the essentials.
Even the icing that goes on top
is real cooked caramel and real
white chocolate... You want that
[real] taste, and people know
what it is.”
Colette also has an unabashed
penchant for the decadent
and ornate, and says she really
looks forward to working with
her customers in hopes of
collaborating on a new, truly
awe-inspiring creation. “I’m
really a non-traditional baker,”
says Mosley. “I like wild
colors and crazy ideas, and
that is something I really feel
comfortable with. I’m excited
when a project like that comes
about.
the akery
“If it’s traditional or original, My Tiers of
Joy’s plan is to create exactly what the bride
or the groom are looking for in their first
indulgence as a married couple. We create
cookies, pies, cupcakes, tartlets, and pretty
much any type of pastry that one could want
[served at] their wedding.” 
An initial visit with MTOJ will no doubt
be the foundation of a fun and mutualistic
design process, as aforementioned by
Colette. “We end up taking different things
the bride or groom like, from various
sources, and combine [those things] with
their personalities, taking into account the
numerous options for flavor,” she adds. “We
rarely make a decision right away, and in the
end, it’s all about what they want. It’s a great
process, and seeing the final creation is very
fulfilling.” 
In addition to providing cakes and other
fine pastries for hire at weddings, MTOJ has
recently opened a storefront bakery at its new
1501 North Broad Street location in Rome,
tempting passersby of all ages with a lip-
smacking variety of baked treats. If a wedding
is in your near future, stop by and see what
Colette and her people can do. And if you are
planning to attend a sugar-riddled reception
in the coming weeks, bring the kids along
and let Mosley help get the icing bug out of
their systems. VVV
vini vidi vici / v3 magazine 31
3LFWXUH3HUIHFW:HGGLQJV at barnsley

“´:
¶ HGR”´

LET US makE YOUR DREam WEDDING COmE TRUE.

W W W. b a r n s l e y r e s o r t. c o m
for reservations call 770.773.7480