Venue Spotlight - Cake & Ale Decatur

Cake & Ale is definitely a hidden gem especially for those who live outside of downtown Decatur. One thing that I love about having my studio in Decatur is the variety of amazing restaurants and cuisine. I had the opportunity to visit and get a grand tour of this space(s) by one of the owners. Even though I have been to Cake & Ale several times, I never knew they rented out either one of the spaces (restaurant or bakery) for baby showers, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners and more. And, I totally enjoyed my squash quiche with garden salad and made from scratch carrot cake after the tour. When you get a chance, please make sure you check out this venue when you are in Decatur - where it is Greater.

Happy New Year - 2015 Gail Johnson Weddings & Events

I'm so excited about 2015 even though it is going to be hard to top 2014! Here are a few photos that included weddings, baby showers, social events and a few celebrities and lots of Press. Unfortunately, I can't post pictures from some of my weddings/events due to client's confidentiality, but here are a few highlights from 2014. Bring on 2015! The sky is the limit.

Baby Shower - Rihanna Style

Rihanna throws a baby shower for her cousin Noella in Malibu. Wish I could find more detail pictures from the shower but I love the color palette of pinks, lavender and rose. The guests were asked to wear white while the mom to be wore a lavender dress with matching floral headpiece. That Chanel pearl necklace that Rihanna is wearing is stunning! Fun times.

Kim K's Baby Shower

Congrats to the new parents Kim & Kanye! There are a few things that make my heart melt - baby showers and little girls. When I saw Kim's K music box baby shower invite with a ballerina spinning on top, my heart sang. What an ingenious idea? They say the invitations sets the tone for the party. Guests were asked to wear Garden Attire to the laid back baby soiree. How adorable are those floral head crowns?  This the way you plan a fab baby shower because its all about the details!

Baby girl music box invitation

Congrats to the new parents

The floral headbands are so freaking cute

Older sister in short white mini

Mel B looks fab after baby #3

Baby Shower Design

It has been a while since I picked out baby furniture for my own children.  I have to say I was so amazed at the quality, design and vast selection of baby furniture while working on former Real Housewives of Atlanta - Kim Zolciak Biermann's baby shower a few years ago. This baby shower stretched my skills as a designer, from picking out every detail from the sheets, teddy bears and furniture.

I originally found a store for the baby suite and I picked out items that would serve a dual purpose. The baby bed served as the gift table,  the baby hutch served as the guest book table (Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes - found on clearance rack at Marshalls), a place to hold a few candles and flowers. Then I found out the color I picked "green" would not work.  I headed back to the store and picked out new baby accessories in a baby blue color.  So, think about how you can reuse items when planning your next bridal shower - the possibilities are endless.

Photo by David Christensen

Photo by David Christensen 

Photo by David Christensen

I originally picked green accessories (neutral color for a girl or boy)

Switching gears - moved on to blue 

I loved this blue baby basinette - it made the final design

This was the crib I picked but changed the green to blue