The Savage Garden

Jessica & Gavin – Rustic Travel Wedding at Country Club of the South, Atlanta, GA

Danny — Mon, 20 May 2013 15:29:15 +0000

Shared from Carla Gates Photography Blog

You may remember Jessica & Gavin from their travel-themed Engagement Shoot with me last fall! I have to tell you, from the very first time I spoke with Gavin I was excited to discover that he is from South Africa! SA is so close to my heart because it was there that I not only fell in love with the African people, it also marked the beginning of my pursuit of photography as a career. What a joy to see it come full circle (thank you Lord!)…but even more, while watching the love of these two sweethearts through my lens!Having both lived abroad, Jessica & Gavin love to travel and decided to make it the theme of their day with SUCH a unique vision for it all! They did many of the details themselves including Gavin making small wooden plane seating assignments for each guest which hung from trees in front of a giant vintage map (SO COOL!) and hand-making each menu! And they didn’t stop there, but decided to bring in one of the best…Danny Wilson and his team at The Savage Garden in order to bring their vision to life -and my GOSH did they! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR AH-mazing! *pun intended* ; ) Seriously, there aren’t words to describe the brilliance of the intricate details and Alice in Wonderland dream-like world that they created at every turn!! I’m pretty sure Nina had to pick my jaw up off the floor when we arrived at Country Club of the South and first saw it all! This was my first time working with Savage Garden and I have to say, I can’t wait for the next – they are so detailed, talented, kind, and fun to work with! And of course I can’t go without mentioning the lovely cake by Baker’s Man Inc. set atop a fabulous rustic stump surrounded by vintage suitcases, as well as the other beautiful personal touches that J&G laced throughout the day! From the Star Wars Darth Vader music that played as the guys walked down the isle, to the girls each dancing their way in, to having a little “pilot boy” drop paper airplanes down the aisle instead of rose petals, it was all such an experience!However, even with all of the beauty around, none of it means anything without a couple in love to give it all purpose….and I can’t say enough about the love and sweetness between these two. It’s pretty incredible to see a groom adore his bride with such beaming delight and the whole day was filled with such joy as we were all just bathed in the warmth of their ease and love together! Be sure to watch the “short and sweet sneak peek” of Jess and Gavin’s day done by Sterling Cinematics HERE -so awesome! J&G – it has been SUCH a joy to be a part of this process, to get to know you two along the way, and most of all, to have the joy of capturing your love on one of the most special days of your lives! I’m so thrilled I had the honor! Nina- thank you again for all of your wonderful help second shooting!

Atlantan Brides – Black & White Boutonniere Feature

Danny — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:00:23 +0000

The editor at Atlantan Brides Magazine contacted me a couple months ago with a challenge. She wanted to feature a black and white floral theme for the January issue. So we put on our thinking caps and visions of seersucker and spectator shoes began dancing through my imagination giving birth to this little gem. I love tiny feathers in personal flowers, and with the re-surging poularity of headpieces and hats in weddings, millinery details like these are getting easier to find.

Modern Winter Wonderland

Danny — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:19:28 +0000

Well, Martha Stewart does it again. I’ve always liked wintry displays and this one is really simple and clean. It might be a bit expensive for the average person to do on 25 tables for a wedding, but if your tastes lean more towards simple, clean, modern designs, this one fits the bill and I’m sure your favorite event / floral designer can whip up this look in a flash.

The Knot – Best of 2012 Wedding Florist

Danny — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:58:08 +0000

What an Honor….Thank you!

We have just been notified that The Savage Garden has been selected to receive The Knot’s Best of Weddings 2012 award. We are honored to have been voted #1 in our market and want to THANK our wonderful 2011 brides and grooms who took the time to write amazing reviews about our company and their experiences throughout the year.

We have had such a great time working with our clients over the years and are always honored that they allow us to celebrate one of the most important days of their lives with them and are so looking forward to another great year in 2012.

The announcement will be made official by The Knot in January. Again, THANK YOU!

Engagement 101: Wedding Floral Design

Danny — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:31:37 +0000

Reposted from StudioWed Atlanta Blog in Wedding Planning

It’s Wednesday, so you know what that means: Engagement 101! So far, we’ve covered wedding planners and photographers, but today we’re moving on to our first decor vendor: the florist! Danny of The Savage Garden filled me in on the vital information you need on how and when to choose your wedding day florist.

Gone are the days of weddings full of white roses. Florists are increasingly creative with their use of color, unusual blooms, and interesting vessels. With arrangements hanging from the ceiling and lots of found objects, the sky is the limit with floral design.

So when do you need to hire a florist for your wedding?

From Danny: “You should book your florist as far out as one year. Popular dates book quickly, and there is real competition for the better floral designers. I like to have my final walk-through at the venue one month before the actual wedding. That way guest counts are pretty final, and we have time to capture any last minute design changes.”

What are your favorite floral options for casual and formal weddings?

From Danny: “I like the backyard wedding format for a casual wedding. They tend to be more intimate and the decor as more of a collected look — think Anthropologie! I think candelabra floral arrangements are a must for formal weddings. They always lend an air of sophistication.”

What’s your favorite floral trend for 2011 weddings?

From Danny: “Love next year’s color trend of muted, soft tones…blush, parchment, coral, peach, and butter yellow.”

Any final words of floral advice?

From Danny: “First, try to find a floral designer that specializes in weddings and events. Because they specialize in only events, they have the expertise to help you take your concept to the next level. Next, ask for referrals. Finally, don’t shop price alone. All floral designers buy their flowers from the same places, so if a price seems too good to be true, you’ll probably get exactly what you pay for in skimpy arrangements and grocery store flower varieties.”

In short: ask for referrals, look for a florist who specializes in events, and get creative! Let your flowers showcase your personality, and don’t be afraid to break the mold when it comes to floral design.

Hooray for the Chuppah

Danny — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:59:13 +0000

Here is a shot of a Chuppah I created for a Valentyine’s Day wedding. Initially I was not thrilled about the bride’s request to add tuel to this design, but I found a way to use it like clouds in the trees and ended up loving it. I hope you do too.

Welcome to The Savage Garden

Danny — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:03:59 +0000

When it comes down to it, we all want to live the best life that we possibly can. Oprah Winfrey believes in this concept so strongly that she has made it her company’s guiding mission. For those who know me, you know that I believe my best life is lived to the limit. This is not to say I live dangerously, but rather exploring the limits that we place on ourselves and discovering ways to make it bigger, more grand, spectacular…OUTRAGEOUS!

I have created this blog to explore “what’s next” in the wedding and event decor world. I will be displaying not only my own recent work, but will feature co-vendors in the event industry who share my passion for living life to it’s absolute fullest; those who are passionate about their craft and have found ways to express their own uniqueness through their art. So stay tuned everyone, this is going to be fun!!