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! 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! Guests 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!   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

New video of the February 2012 Bridal Event

With over 100 guests in attendance the Carl House Bridal Event was a spectacular success thanks to our fabulous vendor partners, great turn out and weather beyond compare.   Our guests had the opportunity to visit with some of the best vendors in the industry, tour Carl House, meet the Carl House team and enjoy our chef’s culinary treats.

Carl House Ladies> Lindy, Monika, Kelsey and Christy!

Purple and silver....all the rage!

We would like to extend a special thanks to the vendors who participated, all listed below.  If you missed our February Bridal Event, please join us at the next one July 29th, a Sunday from 1-3pm.

Shutterkiss Photography

Forever Endeavors Photography

Angelica Londono Photography

Sarah Eubanks Photography

Sugar Kneads

DJ Tod

Spectrum Entertainment Events

Courtyard by Marriott – Buford

DJ Louie

Hampton Inn and Homewood – Sugarloaf

All Faith Weddings

Complete Music

Candies By Candace

Springhill Suites by Marriott

Black Tie Events

Dania Lane, Harpist

Diana Pand, Pianist

Leslie Smith, Mary Kay Cosmetics

Twilight Limousine

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

Hello all!

I hope you are gearing up for a fun weekend outside in this GORGEOUS weather! Today I want to share with you some tips for creating your wedding registry. It was much more time consuming and stressful than I thought it would be!

1. Make a list of stores you want to visit beforehand. Compare what they can offer you!
Many stores will offer incentive programs to brides and grooms  so that they earn extra rewards after the wedding is over.  I opened a Macy’s credit card when starting my registry because they offer 5% in rewards to couples after the wedding date, in addition to 10% off all items purchased to complete their registry. 5% didn’t seem like that much to me at first, but our consultant said her daughter had about 85 people at her wedding, and had almost $400 in rewards built up!

2. Think about the style you want to show with your registry.
Sure that light blue ceramic cake stand is cute, but does it match everything else you are registering for? Think about colors, shapes and styles before you make your registry. And girls, make sure to talk to your fiance BEFORE you register for floral printed dishware! My fiance, Trey didn’t want to go begin a registry with me and my mom, but we decided beforehand that I could pick a more feminine china pattern, but he could do something modern and edgy for the everyday dishware.

The fine china pattern and stemware I picked! I love that Macy's offers a station to set everything up and see what it will look like as a place setting!

Can you tell a boy picked this? Just kidding! I really like Trey's much darker casual dining options.

3. Think Basics. What will you use the most?
Do you really need the $300 single cup coffee maker? Think realistically when you create your registry. Sure, it’s a great time to sign up for some big ticket items that a couple sets of aunts and uncles can purchase as a team, but think about what you really need and use in your daily routine. My mom and I joked about how one of the most useful things from her registry was a $35  handheld beater for mashed potatoes and cookie dough!

4. No matter how much preparation you do, you are in for a long day!
I thought I had enough preparation by taking a look at the checklists stores give you beforehand and looking at china patterns online. Oh, how wrong I was! My mom and I spent 5 HOURS in Macy’s alone on Tuesday. Sure, we took a half hour Starbucks break, but it was a physically and emotionally draining day! Luckily, our consultant was very patient, helpful and understanding, which made it so much easier for my mom and I to enjoy the process!

So my end advice for making your registry: think ahead, be practical in selections, and take your time! Bring your fiance, family member or close friend for support, and HAVE FUN! (Hard not to with those awesome scan guns!)

Happy shopping!

We absolutely ADORE the service staff that work meticulously to make every event special at Carl House! Last weekend, all of the Carl House team participated in a group training to ensure that every event is top notch! Take a look at the picture below! Some activities the employees completed were:

The lovely Carl House Staff!

• Server Relays- The servers teamed off against each other to compete in a game of speed and coordination relaying a tray packed with cups filled with tomatoes from one side of the ballroom to the other!
• Serving Role Play- To practice proper service to guests for a plated meal (Emily Post doesn’t have anything on us!)
• What’s Missing?- The service staff walked through the house to correct out of place and mixed up house decorations and station set ups.
• Game Show- A review game of all Carl House practices and policies for events
• And much, much more!

Experience the excellence of the Carl House staff this holiday season! Book a family get together, holiday party or wedding! And don’t forget about our Holiday by the Table Party on December 8th!

Introducing Carl House OFFSITE CATERING!!!

Photo Credit: Sarah Eubanks Photography
Carl House is excited to announce its newly developed offsite catering division!
Offerings include holiday menu options and packages, buffet trays and
box lunches for corporate meetings, full buffets for weddings and other social events.
Stay tuned for upcoming announcements on our
delivery options available for Barrow, Athens and Gwinnett areas.
Call 770-586-0095 or email info@carlhouse.com today for more information!

Ordering invitations can be quite a complicated process for brides. When you think about it, we’ve been accustomed to just picking up invitations and envelopes for social events at our local Target or Hallmark store. It has always been assembled for us until now. When it comes time to order invitations for a wedding, there is often confusion over what to include on an invitation, how to word it, and if a reception, RSVP, and accommodation card is really necessary to purchase. I made a quick video to help explain what each part of an invitation is to help y’all figure out what you should and should not include for your wedding. Enjoy!

Hello again everyone!

I hope you all are surviving in the AWFUL heat and drinking lots of water! I’ve been keeping busy addressing and mailing out some of my save-the-dates. It’s hard to track everyone down to send over their addresses! Try to keep a relative in mind whose brain you can pick to get all of your or your groom’s relative’s addresses.

Today I thought I’d share with you all some personal tips for wedding dress shopping. I love asking all of my brides when they come in for their first meeting if they have bought their dress, and if so, what it looks like (if the groom isn’t present, of course!). Every single bride lights up when I ask that question, which affirms my belief that finding the perfect dress is every girl’s favorite part of her wedding. It can also be a VERY stressful thing as well, so here are some tips to make shopping for your dress as fun as possible:

1. Look at wedding dresses ahead of time. Take a girlfriend to Barnes and Noble, buy some coffee and sit down with a stack of wedding magazines for an hour or two. I love flipping through The Knot, Get Married, and Brides Atlanta. Get a feel for what you like and what may not work so well with your body type. Being able to tell your sales person what colors, styles, and shapes you like will save you tons of time when you actually go shopping.
   

   More of a computer gal? The Knot also has extensive collections of dress pictures like this one on their web site!

2. Keep your venue in mind. You wouldn’t want to wear 10 layers of tulle to a beach wedding! That’s one of the many things I love about Carl House- you can practically wear any style gown and it “fits” the location!
   

   Casablanca Bridal is known for their classically elegant bridal gowns that would fit perfectly with the ambiance of Carl House.

3. Don’t bring 20,000 people with you. Select 1-4 supportive people whose opinions you highly value (Leave the outspoken, pushy friend at home for this one). I brought along my mom, sister and best friend to go shopping with me, which was the perfect amount of people!
4. Wear the proper undergarments! Two key words here ladies: nude and strapless. If you are a bit uncomfortable standing around in your underwear in front of a complete stranger like me, wear a nude slip also (I found it made some of the dresses easier to slip into also!).
   

   In LOVE with this slip by Largo Drive!

5. You don’t have to cry for it to be THE dress. I am in love with mine, and didn’t shed a tear when I decided it was the one I wanted to buy!
6. Remember: It is YOUR decision!! Let people give you their feedback, but pick the one YOU love!