6 Tips for Creating Your Wedding Registry

For those of you who are not aware, Greg Boulus Events has a sister company, Charleston Street Fine Flowers. 

Charleston Street has always been Augusta's go-to shop for all things pretty and around six years ago Greg expanded Charleston Street to include personalized registry services. Since then with our addition of invitation and stationary design alongside our planning and floral services, we have become a one-stop-shop for all of our brides' needs!

Today we thought we would ask our all things registry expert, Blake, to give us some of her tips for when you create your registry. She works with our brides during one-on-one appointments here at the shop to create completely custom registries. Charleston Street carries a large variety of tabletop brands, including Juliska, Arte Italica, Simon Pierce, Vietri, Match Pewter, and L'Objet. There truly is something for everyone and appeals to a wide variety of tastes. Not to mention all the beautiful linens, glass vases & bowls and other home decor to really round out your registry. 

Here are some of our top tips for creating a wedding registry that benefits both you and your friends and family!

1. If you love it, register for it. Blake says that a lot of brides will come into their appointments and are hesitant to register for certain brands or lines because a lot of other people they know have the same patterns. But if YOU love it, that's all that matters. You are the one who will be using it everyday. So don't register for something just for the sake of being different!
2. Go for timeless and long-lasting over trendy. You may be tempted to get those fun patterned plates, or even fun printed pillows, but you will be kicking yourself in ten, maybe not even two years, when that goes out of style. Timeless is always the way to go, and fortunately the lines Charleston Street carries will stand the test of time. 
3. Register for more plates and glasses than you think you need. This is a tip one of our recent brides and fellow employees strongly agreed with. If you are tempted to only register for six or even eight plates because you either don't think you have the room for more or just don't think you will get as much use out of them, you may want to reconsider. Not only will you probably move to a bigger place one day, chances are there will come a time where you will definitely use 12 plates at once. Not to mention plates and glasses break and you will want back-ups just in case!
4. Try and complete your collection. Be conscious that registering for a wide-range of items may lead to not getting full sets of things. And if you are someone purchasing a registry gift for a couple, consider helping them complete collections before buying them that one random gift if you think that is something that will be important to them.
5. Register for special items that will remind you of your big day. This one is a bit contradictory from the last tip but something to consider! We totally understand wanting to take advantage of the generosity and register for that really nice pressure cooker or stand mixer. However also consider registering for those extra special accessories that you'll have forever and when you use them it'll always remind you of your wedding day. Chances are you will replace that blender or technology will improve and you'll get a fancier toaster oven. But a beautiful cake stand, wine decanter or even a beautiful Simon Pierce vase?Those are items that are a little special and will last a lifetime. Something a little different, something you probably won't spring for yourself, something that is a little bit indulgent.
6. This is one you hear all the time, register for items at various price points. Especially if you have a lot of friends and family that you know are a little strapped for cash. BUT also remember not to shy away from those big ticket items simply because you feel uncomfortable about the price tag. This is a very special time for you as a couple and people want to help you start this new chapter. So embrace it a little, it's a celebration after all!

We hope some of these tips help you get an idea of what to expect when registering, and don't forget to make an appointment with Blake here at the shop if you are considering registering here at Charleston Street. You can email her at blake@charlestonstreet.com or call to make an appointment (706) 738.6298. Also if you have any other tips, please leave a comment below! We'd love to hear it!

Ask the Photographer, Final Advice

Today is the last day in our "Ask the Photographer" series, what a fun series it has been! We love all of our photographer friends and wanted to say a big THANK YOU to all of them for participating! Their advice on the subject has been fantastic and we know we speak for them as well when we say we hope some of this advice has helped any bride or groom-to-be! Make sure to check out these talented people's websites as well to peruse their galleries and blogs, they're definitely worth a look!

For today's post we asked our photographer friends if there is one thing their clients are especially grateful they did when it came to wedding photography, what would that be? Not surprisingly, prioritizing photography at the top of the must-haves list is a common thread. Keep reading to see what other couples are most grateful for when it came to preserving those wedding memories:

"Prioritize it and choose a photographer that you click with (pun intended!)! Wedding photos are one of the only things you’ll have forever from your wedding day, and I’ve never met a couple that wasn’t grateful for the effort and time they put into finding the right photographer for them, and prioritizing photography in their budget. I’m so grateful for the clients I’ve had the opportunity to work with, and truly believe I have the best couples in the world! For them, photography is special and important, and so for me, it makes my job just that much more fun! In addition to that, I’d say they are grateful for meeting with the photographer, learning about their process, and then trusting them to do their thing! That creates the best photos possible! And finally, my clients who choose to get a custom heirloom album couldn’t love it more. It’s such a special memento from their big day they can share with family and friends, and pass along for generations!" -Lauren Carnes Photography

"Our work is not just a job, it is our family’s passion and life since childhood (literally)!).  We try not to require our brides to do too much thinking when it comes to our job. We work as hard as we possibly can to give you the most quality images and moments possible on your wedding day.  We try to deliver about double the amount of images that most photographers do, because we feel like our client deserves it..  We also deliver a full printed version as well as the digital copy with our packages to insure that your wedding is not lost in cyber space.  A tangible product is still alive and valuable." -Mark Williams Studio   

"I would say for sure the most common comment I get from my clients is that they saw in their photos so many parts of the day that they didn’t even know happened or don’t even remember. The groom getting ready. The guests arriving for the ceremony. The guests during the ceremony. Cocktail hour. Parents and guest reactions during toasts, dances, etc. Funny or emotional in between moments. Those are the photos that together help weave the story of your wedding day together and are probably the most treasured by my couples." -Britt Croft Photography

Image by Whitney Wysong Photography.

Ask the Photographer: "What if it Rains on my Wedding Day?!"

We have been turning to our favorite photographer friends for advice for the past few weeks, covering wedding photography trends such as engagement photos, bridal sessions, hashtags, unplugged ceremonies, and first looks. However today we are covering a different kind of topic. Every bride has had that momentary panic of "What if it's pouring rain on my wedding day?! Do I have a back-up plan? Do my vendors?!" Here at Greg Boulus Events, we tend to have pretty good luck when it comes to the unpredictable weather of the South, however it is important to us that all of our vendors are on the same page and have plenty experience dealing with inclement weather. If you've buried the bourbon and still need some extra reassurance that your wedding photos will still turn out beautiful despite rain, wind, or whatever mother nature decides to throw at your wedding day, keep reading below, these photographers are pros:

"Oh my goodness!  I photographed a wedding as Hurricane Joaquin was hitting the SC coast.  We made some location adjustments with pre-ceremony photos and luckily, the rain stopped before sunset so we were able to get post-ceremony photos outside!  However, we aren’t always so lucky.  This is the main reason that I like to do site visits for locations that are new to me.  I want to know all about a property in order to be fully prepared!  Most properties have a covered area or indoor space that can provide a great backdrop for photos.  Also, I tell my couples that if we encounter a heavy rain on the wedding day and can’t ever get outside, we can schedule an after-the-wedding session to get those beautiful outdoor shots of the bride and groom!" -Ashley Seawell Photography

"While we always pray against the rain for wedding days (and from what I hear, Greg Boulus Events has pretty-darn good luck with no rain wedding days!), we know that it’s always a possibility. If you trust us as photographers and let us capture your day in the absolute best way possible (despite rain, hot, hot heat, and more!), then you’ll have beautiful photos regardless! We, of course, can’t control the weather, but we do everything we can to ensure that you have the most beautiful images possible, even if it means standing in the rain, puddles and mud in 30 degree weather with an umbrella held over my head by my second shooter for the entire day… on my first wedding ever. Not that I am sharing from experience or anything! ;) And also, still to this day, some of my favorite couple’s portraits are from weddings where it poured all day and we found cozy nooks to shoot in or came prepared with a clear umbrella and embraced a little liquid sunshine for portraits!" -Lauren Carnes Photography

"One huge assurance  to hiring a photographer that knows their lighting indoors and out is that you will still get a quality product without the perfect light.  Our family’s years of experience in the portrait business has allowed us to combine our strengths and still capture your day in almost a more unique way than if it had been sunny!" -Mark Williams Studio

"There is always a tiny bump on a wedding day and sometimes that bump is weather-related. But don't let a rainy forecast scare you! While a clear day is ideal, a creative photographer can figure out how to get beautiful photos no matter the circumstance. Whether that means finding a spot indoors with natural light or finding a covered area outside. However, it's always a good idea to be prepared: umbrellas and something to protect your dress will come in handy!" -Whitney Wysong Photography

"Yes! Absolutely! One of my all-time favorite weddings was shot during a hurricane…my poor couple’s outdoor wedding caught the edge of the storm and they suffered every imaginable type of non-stop rain that day. Hard rain. Soft rain. Cold rain. Warm rain. Sideways rain. Straight down heavy rain. They got it all, and it never once quit raining. But they were prepared with umbrellas, rain boots, and most importantly the attitude that the weather was not going to hinder their wedding festivities in any way. Truly one of my all-time favorite weddings in years!" -Britt Croft Photography

Image by Ashley Seawell Photography.