While sitting on Brian’s newly renovated back deck on a spring evening, he and his children surprised Lindsay with an endearing marriage proposal. Feeling overwhelmed with excitement to begin their lives as spouses, they saw no reason for a long engagement and opted for a wedding the upcoming summer.

Lindsay is a sought-after wedding planner and owner of TOAST Events in Atlanta. With her expertise, she couldn’t foresee any challenges in the process, even with only five months. “I was surprisingly decisive,” Lindsay confides. “There were, however, [typical] unavoidable issues that many couple’s face regarding the guest list and budget.”

The bride and groom chose a beautiful Atlanta landmark as the venue for their fête. The classically styled mansion, built in the 1920s, is the only location that continually takes Lindsay’s breath away. “It has perfectly manicured gardens, picturesque fountains, and breathtaking views,” she gushes. The estate is also popular for being featured in the The Hunger Games: Catching Fire movie: “Which is very cool according to my stepdaughter,” confirms Lindsay with a smile.

Brian was very supportive throughout the planning, easily agreeing with Lindsay’s ideas. He told his bride, “I don’t tell a surgeon how to perform a surgery; I’m not going to tell you how to plan the wedding.” With that favorite conversation in mind, Lindsay began making selections for the big day.

One of them was to create a color scheme based on her favorite hue: green. It was also an easy decision to plan to exchange vows against the dramatic ivy wall on the property, which was perfectly complemented by crème brûlée accents, touches of watercolor, and an elegant swan motif. Guest seating was decorated with ivy garlands and custom programs were fastened to each chair by a silky forest-green ribbon.

The bridal party was clad in pretty gem-toned gowns with ruched bodices and carried creamy nosegays, while Lindsay’s niece served as a flower girl and wore a special dress made from the mother of the bride’s own wedding gown. The bride herself was resplendent in a classic strapless gown and fingertip veil; she held a voluminous bouquet of fresh vanilla hydrangeas, ranunculus bulbs, and garden roses. Brian’s best friend officiated the proceedings and Lindsay’s brother delivered a moving sermon, both making for a heartfelt service that drew countless smiles from the crowd.

A live trumpeter signaled the conclusion of the ceremony and guests made their way to the cocktail hour. In addition to the welcome boxes filled with scrumptious treats and other small sentimental tokens to commemorate the festivities, loved ones were offered personalized fans to keep cool.

High tables with charming blossom linens and ivory flower arrangements adorned the lush area where family and friends enjoyed ice-cold libations, such as a “Pims Cup” – a play on the traditional English drink Pimm's that perfectly presented a tongue-in-cheek combination of the couple’s last names.

A bagpiper surprised attendees and led the way to the reception. The ballroom of the mansion had been transformed into a timeless, sophisticated space “with a preppy twist,” Lindsay describes of tables bedecked with linens, flowers, and chairs – all in shades of white – that surrounded a classic checkered dance floor.

The head table was decorated in grand style, showcasing five oversized ginger jars brimming with blooms, and set on Lucite risers. “Jackson Durham absolutely knocked it out of the park with the floral design,” the bride confirms. Glossy lounge furniture was also arranged to encourage mingling amongst guests.

Loved ones noshed on a variety of fare offered from three stations, including seafood, steak, and a Southern mac-n-cheese bar. Following dinner, slices of the couple’s favorite cake flavor – salted caramel – were served before a night filled with dancing and more merriment.

Lindsay and her dad chose a mash-up of the song “Mockingbird” for the father-daughter dance. “He used to sing me to sleep to the version by Peter, Paul and Mary,” she reveals. In addition, the couple incorporated a few special dances: the groom and his daughter, in lieu of the mother-son dance, as well as a group dance that included the celebrated newlyweds and the groom’s children. “I loved having all of our family and friends together in one place,” Brian shares.

The dancing and laughter continued into the late evening, with the couple enjoying the live band perform popular tunes. “The band learned songs from my favorites, like Kings of Leon and Future Islands,” explains Brian of the good time.

Lindsay encourages other brides to write down all of their favorite moments and details the next day, when they are still fresh in mind, “so that you can always reflect on those sweet memories.” What one thing does this successful wedding planner wish she had done differently? “I would have probably extended the reception 30 more minutes; it’s so true that the night goes by too quickly!” she exclaims.

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