paisley umbrella

Paisley Umbrella's favorite weddings: Avery & Jeff

2009-08-18T09:46:00.001-07:00

Paisley Umbrella bride, Avery, married her groom, Jeff, on June 13.

With the help of a few Paisley Umbrella partners - Ashley Baber Weddings did the planning and design and Olive made her vintage-chic gown - Avery and Jeff's wedding was both elegant and timeless.

A mix of old and new: Avery and Jeff incorporated antique-looking silhouette designs of themselves on their invitations and menus, and had a classy dinner-party reception at the Georgian Terrace, where their guests also stayed.

Congrats Avery and Jeff!

Photos courtesy of Alea Moore Photography

Express your unique bridal style with Nichola jewelry

2009-08-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

On your wedding day, every bride dreams of looking beautiful and timeless, yet unique. But how do you do that in a simple white gown? Accessories!

Nickie Summers of Nichola, Paisley Umbrella's custom jewelry designer, knows just how to make each bride look chic and extraordinary through her accessories. We sat down with Nickie to get the inside scoop on Nichola and how to express your personal style on your big day!

Q: How did you get started making jewelry?

Nickie Summers: The short and sweet of it is this... It was during a time in my life when I was expressing my creative spirit through interior design, home staging, faux/detail painting, woodworking, hardscaping and landscaping. My family and I had purchased an older home to renovate. Shortly after we moved, our home was broken into and all of my and my daughter's jewelry was stolen. Many pieces were special pieces I had collected over the years and they were irreplaceable - I tried, but to no avail. True to my personality, I decided to make my own jewelry to replace what was stolen. I developed my skills and realized an enjoyment with creative process. I fell in love designing pieces that were funky but pretty, vintage but trendy. An opportunity arose to make bridal jewelry for a friend's wedding. Shortly after that began working with other brides and felt a passion to develop this into a business endeavor; it was that time that Nichola, Inc. was launched.

Q: Who is your ideal bride?

NS: A Nichola bride is creative, independent, whimsical, yet classic. Although I offer silhouettes from which brides can choose, she can also pick custom colors to coordinate with their bridal and bridesmaids' wardrobe, custom design services are available to create unique pieces that reflect a bride's personality and persona. A Nichola bride also enjoys carrying that style into her everyday wear and we work together creating unique pieces for her everyday wardrobe.

Q: Why do brides fall in love with Nichola?

NS: First, clients tell me I am as passionate about their wedding day as they are, and it's true. Every wedding is different; every bride is different. Secondly, clients say I'm easy to work with. Nichola Bridal has a definable style - classic, vintage, uncomplicated. But I have many facets to my personal style and can draw from that to create unique and one-of-a-kind pieces for brides who have something specific in mind. For many brides I am happy to meet them at their wedding dress salon for fittings. This allows the bride to try everything on together to ensure the earrings hang and necklace lays perfectly.

Q: Where do you get the inspiration for your designs?

NS: Usually, my designs will begin with a single piece that I find at antique stores or estate markets. I'm drawn to 40s and 50s fashion styles. However, I also have a 60s and 70s bohemian heart that peak into my designs from time to time. Fusing crystals and pearls with leather and suede, throw in a natural stone or two, is common in my designs. And I must say, my daughter is a huge inspiration for me; she is stylish and has an incredible flare for color.

* Photo provided by Lytle foto

Thanks for making A Perfect Shower, well, perfect!

2009-08-11T10:42:00.000-07:00

Paisley Umbrella would like to thank all of the brides who attended our "Perfect Shower" event on Sunday, August 9.
We really enjoyed meeting you and can't wait to help you plan your perfect shower, pre-wedding event and wedding at Paisley Umbrella.

A special thanks also goes out to all of the Paisley partners who helped make this event beautiful...
Thanks to:
The Hungry Peach for providing scrumptious treats
Just Add Honey for providing sassy sweet tea cocktails
BLeND and Kimberly Mack Beauty Group for their expert beauty advice
Lytle foto for fabulous photography

Paisley Umbrella is excited to announce its Fall Special
For a limited time only!

Brides and bridesmaids: Book your shower NOW through November 1 and get our Fall Special reduced price of only $375!

The Fall Special package includes:

Exclusive use of Paisley Umbrella for 4 hours
Full service shower/event coordination
$75 toward services from a Paisley partner

For more information and to book your perfect Paisley shower or pre-wedding event please contact our event coordinator, Katie Dobies, at katie.dobies@gmail.com.

Paisley Umbrella and Weddings Unveiled present: A Perfect Shower!

2009-08-04T08:26:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to announce that Paisley Umbrella and Weddings Unveiled will host a premier shower event this Sunday, August 9 at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at our store in Buckhead!

A Perfect Shower will highlight Paisley Umbrella's intimate cottage space as the perfect place to host your dream wedding shower, bridal luncheon, bachelorette cocktail hour, day-of brunch or any pre-wedding event!

Mini spa services will be available from the Paisley Umbrella beauty partners. Drinks and cocktails will be provided by Just Add Honey and the Hungry Peach will be making yummy hors d'oeuvres as well.

Come join us for inspiration and details for hosting your very own perfect shower!

Go beyond bridal with BLeND custom parfum

2009-07-28T10:31:00.001-07:00

On your wedding day it's always all about the bride, but sometimes it's not just about the bride. At Paisley Umbrella some of our wedding experts are about more than just the bride. For instance, our custom parfum creators, BLeND, offer so much more than just custom bridal fragences. They have worked with whole wedding parties to create custom parfums for each bridesmaids and they've even done couple's scents!

We sat down with BLeND's Susan Sexton and Dottie Cesario to discuss their passion for parfum.

Q: How did you begin creating custom fragrances? Tell us about your journey into the world of scent.

Susan Sexton: I began studying aromatherapy in 2000 and I found I had a natural ability for designing green scents. It was an old knowledge that didn't have to be learned, and a true passion. About the same time, I met Dottie, my business partner in Tampa, and we were journeying (literally) in the South of France with our guys. We happened upon a "Make your own Parfum" class at Galimard, the oldest parfumerie in France (1747). We loved it! It was so different. And we became a distributor.

We return to Grasse each year for private study with our "Nose" or "Nez" - an expert in parfum. Perfecting the mysterious art of parfum has made us quite the rage in Atlanta because everyone loves creating their own Celebrity Line of Fragrance.

Q: Why create your own signature line of fragrance?

Dottie Cesario: Because it's about YOU! It's a true luxury experience and something really different to do for yourself, your fiance and your bridal party. Scent is the most powerful of our five senses in helping us recall memory. And isn't that what you want for your wedding day, the ability to recall every special moment? The results are amazing! Since you conspire with us in choosing each note of your parfum, it perfectly suits your own unique chemistry. No one else in the world has your signature fragrance, and it enhances your personal style by creating an individual aura. It's a lot of fun, too. It is..."je ne sais qoi."

Q: Who is the ideal BLeND bride?

DC: She is a leader and a maverick, a confident, creative girl who celebrates her individuality. She's intelligent, curious and fashionable, and likes to make her own personal statement. Let us not forget...sensual: She loves to smell good! Our ideal bride brings in her groom to create a signature couple's scent and shows her love and appreciation by gifting her attendants with a mini parfum session of their own!

Q: Why do people fall in love with BLeND?

DC: It is such a different experience, and it's true French perfume...the GOOD stuff! The story of the flowers and how they give their lives to make perfume is really beautiful and romantic...it echoes the wedding story. Men love it because it gives them an idea for a unique gift that she doesn't already have, or it gets them off the hook! When you give a custom gift you're telling the receiver that they are special. Everybody appreciates it because: You become a celebrity at BLeND when you design your own fragrance.

Q: What is your favorite BLeND scent?

SS: It's called Ayla, and it's a classic, romantic BIG perfume, or floral-floral.At the base it begins with hints of exotic sandalwood and sultry green amber, and it moves on to a classic heart of jasmine-rose (think Chanel #5) and it crescendos with top notes of wild lavender from the South of France. C'est formidable!

Of course, we've recently made some new, sheer modern scents that are challenging the classics!

To create your own custom parfum please visit BLeND's Web site at http://www.blendcustomparfum.com/ or email Dottie and Susan at info@blendcustomparfum.com.

First stop on the Paisley Umbrella tour: Find your perfect bridesmaid dress with Olive!

2009-07-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

Not only is Katriesa Raines the owner of Paisley Umbrella, she is also a mega-talented dress designer and stylist! Before opening Paisley Umbrella, Katriesa started her own line of vintage-inspired dresses called Olive. The Olive line is now housed in one of Paisley's quaint cottage rooms, where Katriesa hosts brides who are interested in finding the perfect, simple and elegant dress for their maids.

Q: When and how did you start Olive?
Katriesa Raines: I started Olive in August 2001 as an eclectic shop housing a vintage-inspired line that mirrored 50's and 60's style dresses.

Q: How has the Olive line evolved through the years?
KR: I appreciate the beauty and feminine design of the 50's and 60's era and wanted to incorporate a modern touch to dresses and separates.

Q: What was the inspiration behind Olive and all of your designs?
KR: I am inspired by anything "lady like" and by the ladies of my family - my mother and my grandmother. Being raised in the south, there were lots of dresses, suits, lace hand kerchiefs, hats, bags and lovely floral corsages and vintage pins.

Q: How did you come up with all of your dress designs and names for each style?
KR: I name all of the dresses after old-fashion names - as if I am giving them new personas!

Q: What is your favorite dress in the collection?
KR: My favorite dress, and the first dress of the collection, is "Katie." It's a simple, classic, strapless, a-line, and is the prefect dress to feel "pretty" in! A client puts that on and instantly twirls in the mirror, no kidding! That lets me know that I've designed a fun dress, and it reminds me every time of why brides and bridesmaids love an Olive dress!

To make an appointment with Katriesa to find your favorite Olive dress, please call her at:
404-274-5432 or visit the Olive Web site at: http://www.olivestyle.com/.

Behind the scenes: A chat with Paisley Umbrella owner, Katriesa Raines

2009-07-14T11:07:00.000-07:00

Step into the rustic cottage that houses Paisley Umbrella and you are instantly surrounded by a bridal fairy tale. The sights and smells capture the senses and wrap you into a vintage-inspired world for creative brides.

The idea for an artistic, custom bridal co-op came to founder Katriesa Raines, after she struggled to find a simple and creative way to plan her own wedding. Following her nuptials in 2006, Katriesa decided Atlanta needed a showroom where a bride could find various wedding experts under one roof to help her plan the wedding of her dreams.

As part of Katriesa's original vision, Paisley Umbrella is a collaborative, intimate, design showroom featuring Atlanta's finest wedding professionals. All of Paisley's partners are a la carte, so a bride is encouraged to make an appointment with one or more of the partners, visit the boutique and be inspired to find her own wedding style.

Here Katriesa shares her personal account of the story and inspiration behind Paisley Umbrella.

Q: How and when did you start Paisley Umbrella?
Katriesa Raines: I started Paisley Umbrella in October 2007 as a collaboration of Atlanta artists and designers marketing to creative brides.

Q: Why a bridal co-op?
KR: The Paisley Umbrella concept is a great resource for brides to pull together the details of their wedding while experiencing a personal, custom level of design and planning.

Q: What was your inspiration for the store concept and its design?
KR: I am inspired by creative designers and business owners working side-by-side, eclectic details that are feminine and vintage-inspired, and I wanted to offer this experience to a bride! The showroom caters to brides who want to bring in special details that speak to their own sense of style throughout the whole wedding event - from invites to "the dress!"

Q: Who is the ideal Paisley bride?
KR: A "Paisley Bride" is sentimental and artful and can tell a beautiful wedding story through the details she co-designs with the Paisley Umbrella partners.

Q: Why do brides fall in love with Paisley Umbrella and its partners?
KR: Under this "umbrella," Paisley partners work together with the bride's ideas to create a cohesive wedding fairy-tale. Every bride loves the idea of a beautiful "story" surrounding her wedding and Paisley Umbrella offers her that experience.

Paisley Umbrella invites you to learn more about our extraordinary partners. Throughout the next few weeks we will feature a different partner and their products and services every few days. We welcome you to join us in this virtual tour of Paisley Umbrella's showroom.

Paisley Umbrella's Toast to Fall Wedding Style

2009-06-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

They say that the third time is a charm...Paisley Umbrella celebrated its 3rd Save the Date Toast to Fall Wedding Style event on Thursday June 25th, inspiring brides with Fall trends with a successful cocktail party!Thanks to Atlantan Brides magazine, the creative team at Paisley Umbrella and the participating vendors that made this night beautiful. Cheers!

Paisley Bride: Louise and Jack

2009-06-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

A destination wedding in St. Simon Island, Georgia was a dream of Louise and Jack. Louise began planning their wedding with specific details in mind and looked for creative wedding professionals to help her bring her wishes to life: she found that at the Paisley Umbrella. The seaside inspired bridesmaid, honorary bridesmaid and flower girl dresses were designed by Olive, bridesmaid and mother-of-the-bride jewelry by Nichola, and custom perfume bridal party gifts by Blend. Louise also so-designed her trousseau wardrobe with Olive and Nichola.

Summertime is here...

2009-05-14T13:39:00.000-07:00

Do you ever see or hear something and in an instant you are taken back to your childhood? That happened to me today...I saw these flowers and was taken back to a memory of my mother embroidering a picture that had the state flower for every state in America. I remember it being colorful, bright, and patriotic....it made me smile. That same smile came to me today when I saw these flowers; I couldn't wait to get back to the shop and accessorize them with something blue. A bouquet of flowers with varying hues of orange and yellow loosely arranged and tied with a cobalt blue satin sash. They welcome summer, the celebration of Memorial Day and Independence day, drinking lemonade, and creating memories with family.

2009-05-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

I love this idea of wedding cakes inspired by fashion! I found this beautiful image and there is a great write up of the idea in the current In Style Weddings magazine.
Paisley Umbrella welcomes newcomer Lisa Humphreys of Couture Cakes Inc www.couturecakesinc.com to the co-op!

Ahnna B. Designs • In Search of the Perfect Dress : Part 1

2009-04-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

What a lucky girl! You have managed to find your perfect man! Now it’s time to find your perfect dress! Has the panic set in? Are you gathering up a small army of girlfriends to accompany you as you enter into the unknown world of bridal gown shopping? Suddenly you are faced with the reality of shopping for and choosing a dress like no other dress you will ever wear.

Choosing a Couture Gown

Many brides think that experiencing the couture process of having a gown made to order is completely out of their budget, but you may be surprised to find that not only can it be affordable, but it is also a lot of fun! True couture is a very collaborative process between the client and the designer - with you communicating your vision to the designer and the designer using their design training, skills, talent, and creativity to bring your vision to a reality.

Gown by Anna Beavers of Ahnna B. Designs

Paisley Bride:: Ellie and Dave

2009-04-25T22:45:00.000-07:00

The girls looked beautiful in Olive dresses and jewelry pieces by Nichola from Paisley Umbrella.

Ellie and Dave were married at Northside United Methodist Church on January 24th. What a sweet couple and amazing details! Coordinated by Ashley Baber of Ashley Baber Weddings and photographed by the Our Labor of Love. Ellie and Dave's wedding will be featured in The Atlantan Brides magazine in June.

Planning your event

2009-04-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

Ideas and tips for your event

Planning

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Attire

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Catering & Dessert

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Florals & Decor

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Stationery & Etiquette

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inspiring blogs

2009-04-25T18:09:00.000-07:00

Oh So Beautiful Paper

Our Story

2009-04-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

The Paisley Umbrella bridal boutique is an intimate bridal boutique created especially for you. We invite you to step into our beautiful showroom and immerse yourself in ideas and inspirations designed by Atlanta bridal experts. The Paisley Umbrella is the only event planning boutique offering custom wedding design, catering to the "creative bride".