Behind the Lens of Photographer Liz Yeakle!

Josh and Mandie Dunn, married June 23, 2012 at Carl House.  The entire Carl House team wishes Mandie and Josh the best in life and love.  They made the wise choice of Liz Yeakle Photography to capture their wedding memories at Carl House. 

 

Liz Yeakle is a fifth generation Atlanta photographer.  Her great, great grandmother was Atlanta’s first professional female photographer!  Liz works with her husband, Scott Dinerman, and together they photograph weddings, their passion.

 “Scott and I truly enjoy working together and we believe our understanding of each other makes us a perfect team” shares Liz. In January, Liz Yeakle Photography was selected as a 2012 Pick for The Knot Best of Weddings.  They are in their 6th year of business and truly love what they do and it shows in their photographs.

Yeakle exudes, “Photographing weddings at Carl House is always a joy.  There are endless beautiful locations at Carl House for photos.  In fact, every time I’m there I find a new place to shoot that I hadn’t noticed before.  

The Carl House staff is very prompt and keeps the weddings on schedule which helps us to do our job most efficiently.”

If you are looking for a great place to host your wedding or other event, come by and visit Carl House. Drive through the iron gates of Carl House and let the view of the white crepe myrtles, large magnolia tree and blue atlas cedar draw you into the lush and manicured grounds of the Carl House estate.  Walking up the bricked path to the home, beautifully decorated with deep mahogany wood trim, travertine tile and hardwood floors, will inspire you to create your own unique and customized event!

 

 

Picture yourself here and we suggest considering Liz Yeakle and her team for your photographic memories!!


From a Newcomer’s Point of View…..A Breath of Fresh Air, For Sure!!

 

Hello, I’m Mike Evans and I am excited to be assigned the awesome role of observing and writing about things happening in and around Carl House!!  As a writer, marketer and musician,  I am over-the-top happy to be joining owner BB Webb and the whole Carl House team as their new Marketing Specialist. I hope to share a fresh perspective as I report on all things ‘Carl House’ and other things happening in the wedding industry and beyond!


First impressions are crucial when choosing the location of your big event, and the casually elegant ambiance and over the top attention from the Carl House team, enthralled me from the very start.  I was spellbound.  So too when visiting my first event, the wedding reception of Ana Bedoya and Tim Ross Jr.

I arrived, like a fly on the way, to witness the wedding party taking pre-ceremony photographs in the pasture behind Carl House.  Tonya Douglas and her crew of photographers joked with the wedding party as they captured a magical evening and a sky speckled with perfect stormy clouds.  The joy of this evening was felt from the very start.  The Carl House team was quick to attend to the wedding party with tantalizing hors d’oeuvres, (including my favorite, bacon wrapped shrimp!) and delicious Coronas.

Onward to the Carl House kitchen with Executive Chef Max Teich and his team detailing the farfalle pasta with garnishes, working next to meticulously complete his work-of-art entrees: a Boston bibb salad bar, roasted portobello mushrooms, grilled asparugus and squash, smoked gouda mac and cheese, and a tantalizing herb encrusted pork loin. A potpourri of spices filled the air, as servers shuffled in and out to replenish their hors d’oeuvre trays.  There was energy and excitement in every corner of this bustling kitchen!

The Wedding Party

Into the spacious Carl House ballroom next, with its tall windows, gorgeous fireplace and curved staircase, perfect for any bride and groom’s entrance!  The warm energy and anticipation of food upcoming, dancing later in the evening, was felt as friends and relatives nibbled hors d’oeuvres.  I heard guests talking about the beauty of Carl House and the colorful, fragrant gardens.  What fun to observe couples having fun trying on hats and taking photos of themselves with friends in the Carl House photo booth, memories they can capture forever!

One of the things I was most impressed with, was how the Carl House team worked to tend to each and every details of the event, smoothly, efficiently and always with a smile.  I felt that all the servers, Kelsey the Wedding Director and kitchen team were flexible to help one another, and both bride and groom, Ana and Tim, had not one care in the world.  General Manager, Dawn Tibbles seemed to be present in every corner, assuring that things were flowing as needed and that all the team was supported to do their jobs at the highest level.  Guests and the wedding party were all relaxed and free to enjoy the celebration while the able Carl House team tended to all the important details of this clearly, carefully planned event!  Things moved like clockwork and everyone had time to enjoy each aspect of the celebration!

Ana and TimGuests quickly found their seats as anticipation grew as the ceremony time drew near. The excitement mounted as the wedding party was soon to appear.  When the clock struck 7pm on the dot, the indoor wedding ceremony began with the bridesmaids and groomsmen walking out of the gorgeously appointed main hallway inside Carl House, which lead to the ballroom where guests, with heads turned, watched as the festivities begin! DJ Louis of Spectrum Entertainment, MC and musical extraordinaire for the evening, encouraged everyone to rise as Ana and Tim, appeared atop the curved ballroom staircase, bedecked with shimmering lights to highlight their entrance!  As if time stopped for a moment, you could hear a pin drop!  And then spontaneously, the entire assemblage of guests rose and broke out in applause, with cameras flashing to celebrate the entrance of soon to be, Mr. and Mrs. Ross!  A breathtaking moment surely to remember forever. This was truly a magical moment and event for everyone involved, including this newcomer to the world of weddings.  I had no idea how beautiful it could be!

 

Ana and Tim

I look forward to visiting my next event at Carl House.  I love that each event is uniquely designed according to the bride and groom’s interest, passion, vision and desire!  How great is that!  And thank you to Ana and Tim for providing such a perfect first event for me to witness in person, a the lovely Carl House!  May your lives together be filled with love, joy, passion and delight!

Now readers……it’s your turn– Do you have a favorite Carl House memory?  I’d love to hear YOUR comments.  And, any advice for a newcomer to this amazing Carl House team and weddings in general??  I can’t tell you how happy I am to be reporting for such a spectacular company and to be working with such interesting and passionate clients. I’m better understanding what all the ‘buzz’ is about at Carl House! Please, share your comments with me, below!  I’d like to share YOUR memories with our readership!!

Til next time!  Mike Evans, Carl House Marketing Specialist


Gwinnett Business Journal Spotlights Carl House Off-Site Culinary!


 

Grand and Glorious the Carl House Way!

photo by Bowman Photography.

Like a multi-faceted gemstone, Carl House delivers brilliantly from every angle. Owner BB Webb’s creative inspiration continues to place this award-winning special events and wedding venue in a category all its own.

A genuine piece of Georgia history, Carl House features lavish interiors and a luxury ballroom to accompany its many other amenities on four acres of pristine grounds surrounded by original pastures. Wildly popular for weddings, Carl House also attracts corporate attention for board meetings, training sessions, retreats, annual dinners and more.

New for 2011, Carl House has launched an offsite catering service to complement onsite event packages. Its fresh regional, seasonal cuisine with a southern flair is making quite a statement. Offerings include holiday menu options and packages, buffet trays and box lunches for corporate meetings, full buffets for weddings and other social events throughout the Barrow, Athens and Gwinnett areas.

In July, Webb was chosen into the coveted ranks of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), a worldwide society of women dedicated to creating a culture in the community that fosters excellence and promotes the achievement of women in culinary professions through educational and charitable activities. She has worked closely with Executive Chef Michael Deihl from East Lake Golf Club and the team at the benchmark catering firm, Affairs To Remember to develop the new Carl House off-site catering brand.

Personalized attention from the Carl House experts make every customer shine. The ‘wow’ factor comes into play with newly developed trend-setting in-house wedding services such as a photo booth, candy station and gourmet coffee selection at receptions, added to Carl House floral creations, culinary expertise and overall ambiance.

Webb is pleased to report that, “This has been the best business year we’ve experienced since opening in 2003.”

Carl House has holiday festivities planned and hosts wine dinners throughout the year. Looking to the future, Webb is in discussion with investors for ways to expand the Carl House experience with a hotel and shops on its sweeping 30 acres. With a bold, clear vision, Webb and Carl House promise to deliver: Extraordinary. Memorable. Events.

Find Carl House at 1176 Atlanta Highway in Auburn, Ga. For more information visit www.CarlHouse.com, email info@carlhouse.com, or call 770-586-0095.

 

 

 

 


Sarah Eubanks: The Top 5 Photo Spots at Carl House

There are so many wonderful picture spots around the grounds at Carl House! It can be difficult for brides and their photographers to discern where they want to take family pictures and where the best bride and groom spots are. One of our favorite photographers and former Carl House employee, Sarah Eubanks, recommends her top five locations around the property:

1.  Front of the House. In Carl House’s case, please judge the book by its cover!  The front facade of Carl House is classic and beautiful, which can be expected in every nook and cranny of the gorgeous venue.  This shot is a must!

Photo Credit: Sarah Eubanks Photography

2.  Staircase. What is more elegant than a grand staircase?  This is one of my favorite spots to shoot bridal portraits.  The stairs allow me to photograph from so many different angles, and the nearby window always provides the most beautiful light.

Photo Credit: Sarah Eubanks Photography

3.  Brick. Ok, I know bricks can be cliche, but the brickwork at Carl House is so unique.  The bricks have been repurposed from old structures, so there is an imperfection that adds gorgeous texture to the background of an image.

Photo Credit: Sarah Eubanks Photography

4.  Window. The gentle north light that graces the second floor window at the front of Carl House makes for a gorgeous sillouette of a bride and her gown.  The resulting image is dramatic, glamourous, and timless.  This is a photographer favorite, and a bride favorite!

Photo Credit: Sarah eubanks Photography

5.  The Grounds. The setting sun brings warmth and glowing light to Carl House’s weeping willow in the back garden.  It makes for a dreamy and dramatic background of any subject.  This is often a couple’s favorite image.

Photo Credit: Sarah Eubanks Photography

Photo Credit: Sarah Eubanks Photography


Holiday Parties at Carl House!

 

Photo Credit: John Campbell Photography

Don’t you just love the holiday season? Intricate decorations and family gatherings with lots of eating! Let us handle all of the planning for the perfect holiday party this season! The house will soon be decorated for the holidays, and our floral department can take care of your every need! We have some wonderful specials for clients who book a holiday event before the end of September (THIS Friday!)!
Choose one of the following specials for your party:
Special pricing for our Photobooth, normally $1,000, just $600!
Complimentary Hot Apple Cider
Complimentary Gourmet Coffee and Hot Chocolate Station
Complimentary Champagne Cocktail
Complimentary Chocolate Fountain for up to 100 guests
Contact Monika today for more information and menu pricing!
Or call us at 770-586-0095!


A Tour of the Carl House Gardens with BB Webb

Hello all!

I hope your planning is coming along splendidly! I absolutely LOVE the gardens at Carl House! There are so many different areas that guests can utilize for their wedding and reception, or any other event for that matter. The gazebo and benches placed throughout the property give a sense of home that I have not experienced at any other venue I’ve seen. I love that I am getting married in the grand ballroom, but wish I could have another ceremony in the spring outside too! Take a tour of the gardens at Carl House with BB below!

Video Credit: Casey Peacock (student project)


The Meaning Behind a Wedding Veil

Hello everyone!
I got to thinking today about whether I had ordered all my wedding accessories and decided to make a mental check list…
Earrings- check!
Shoes- check!
Sash for dress- check!
Flowers for hair- check!
Bird cage veil- check!
I remember trying on veils the day my mom, sister and I went shopping for my wedding dress. I knew that I wanted a bird cage veil, but my mom asked if I wanted to try on a full length veil just to see. The sales girl brought us a very simple, long veil to try, but we all started laughing as soon as it was on my head. Not my style at all! It’s funny how something as little as a veil can be such an expression of a bride’s personality!

Click to view the six basic veil length types as shown above. Compliments of weddingbee.com

Monika and I got to talking about veils today in the office, and we decided to look up the history behind them. Some of the reasoning for wearing a veil is quite funny. Check out some of the traditions and superstitions below!

  • In ancient times, when a man would throw a blanket over the head of his woman of choice and cart her off.
  • To confuse/ward off evil spirits trying to corrupt the bride the day of her wedding.
  • And our personal favorite…In an arranged marriage, to keep the bride’s face hidden so that the guy didn’t bolt during the ceremony if he didn’t like what he saw.

Star Jones makes history with the longest veil on record...27 feet! Compliments: Everything but the Dress Blog

Do you have a family tradition to wear a certain kind of veil to your wedding, or is it more of a fashion choice? We’d love to hear your stories!


A Sneak Peek of Carl House!

It is Labor Day and our offices are closed for the day, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on how much Carl House has to offer! Follow me on a tour through the house and the grounds to see how spacious and elegant it is! Remember, this is just a quick peek; for a full tour and pricing options, be sure to email Monika Williams, or give us a call at 770-586-0095!


Wedding Shoes: Friend or Foe?

You may not see them the entire day under your dress, but shoes are the one item that can make or break how much fun a bride has on her wedding day. I’ve seen countless brides come in with the cutest pair of color coordinated heels that wind up killing their feet before they finish their pre-ceremony pictures! Here are my wedding day shoe tips and tricks-of-the- trade:

Make sure they fit! Nothing is worse than trying to glide down an aisle with a shoe slipping off your heel with every step. If the shoe doesn’t quite fit but you are absolutely in love with it, invest in a good pair of inserts that will help fill the extra space.

My Caparros heels are so comfortable! (Photo Credit: zappos.com)

Break them in. It may seem ridiculous, but start wearing your shoes around your house at least two weeks before the wedding to help loosen them up. Walk around outside on a sidewalk to scuff the underside and increase your traction.

“Are you gellin?” I am in love with the line of insoles and inserts that Dr. Scholl’s makes for heels! You can buy them at any grocery store or Target. I bought my first pair of gel inserts for my cousin’s wedding a year or so ago and still switch them in and out of my shoes. Believe me, they are worth the $10!

Dr. Scholl's come in many varieties to fit any kind of heel you may choose to wear. (Photo Credit: makeupandbeautyblog.com)

Bring them to ALL of your wedding dress fittings! Don’t rely on how high the heel is by measuring or looking it up online. I have a friend who was supposed to have her last dress fitting yesterday, and the company hemmed her dress too high for her heels. Luckily, she brought her heels to every fitting, so the company can’t charge her for the adjustments. Better safe than sorry!

Buy a different pair of shoes for pictures and reception. Who needs to know that you switched from your super cute, but super uncomfortable shoes after the ceremony? Buy a pair of jeweled flip flops or flat shoes to quickly switch in to during the reception and post-ceremony pictures. I bought this awesome pair of Toms shoes to wear during my reception. Comfort with a hint of bling! : )

Shoes with a cause! For every pair of Toms you purchase, the company sends a pair to a child in need around the world.


Upcoming Winter Floral Trends

At Carl house, we have found our brides take their flowers very seriously! Selecting the right style, flower and color combination can make or break the whole ambiance of that special day. Bridal bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces; all are floral items that are in EVERY picture taken for a wedding. No wonder why brides may find the task of selecting floral items to be a stressful one!

Carl House brides needn’t worry about making their venue look exquisite the day of their wedding ceremony and reception. Our head florist, Lindy LaMarco, has quite the eye for creating elegant and classic arrangements for weddings and social events at Carl House.

We asked Lindy what up and coming trends she predicts to be popular this winter season, and she has quite the list!

Plum colors can make the white or ivory flowers in an arrangement stand out.

Deep rich colors (especially plum!)

Jewel tones (emerald greens, blues, purples, bronze)

Hints of white, creams and ivories

Touches of feathers

 


Deep reds combined with jewels and candles...what could be more romantic?!

 


Jewels dripping from tall arrangements

Naturally flowing bouquets instead of tightly bound spheres

Candles, candles, and more candles!



Many flowers can be submerged, including Calla Lilies! Add a floating candle on top for just the right finishing touch.


 

 

 

Submerged flowers with “up-lighting”

Mixing luscious fabrics in with arrangements to create a luxurious atmosphere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Photo Credit: Sarah Eubanks Photography

 

A florist for over 18 years, Lindy began her career in high school delivering arrangements for the Athens company, Charmar. Gigggling, Lindy comments, “I never left!” She credits much of her technique to two of the designers who worked at Charmar. “I absolutely love being able to be creative with flowers and getting to know my clients on a personal level,” she adds. Whether your tastes are contemporary or modern, Lindy strives to go above and beyond client wishes for their event!

 

What will your floral statement be?
Call Lindy at 770.586.0095 to discuss florals for your next social event!


Carl House - 1176 Atlanta Highway - Auburn, GA 30011 - (770) - 586-0095 - info@carlhouse.com