Hotlanta! The city 4 hours away from me that I used to ‘escape to’ in high school with friends for the weekend. The city in which one of my favorite rap groups (Outkast) hails from. The city that I first saw Radiohead perform live! Who would have thought that years later I would be giddily typing about an amazing wedding that took place in the ATL that was photographed by yet another super-talent-behind-the-lens, Heidi from Our Labor of Love?! But today we aren’t focusing on rap or Radiohead…it’s all about the jazz! Amelie and Brian’s gorgeous wedding has a wedding soundtrack based more around the smooth and romantic sounds of jazz.

Amelie shares some of the details of their relationship and fabulous wedding:

Brian Mackie has been a professional saxophonist for approximately 15 years. He has been playing with legendary jazz musician, Sam Rivers, in the Sam Rivers RivBea Orchestra for over ten years. Brian also currently plays with a local Orlando jazz funk band, The Good Rub. He previously played with The Outertoons and The Legendary JC’s.

I grew up in Atlanta and Brian is from Central Florida. We met and live in Orlando, Florida. Brian proposed on the front lawn at Piedmont Park. On November 14^th, 2009, we were married at Piedmont Park on the lawn in front of Magnolia Hall with a cocktail hour on the terrace and reception in Magnolia Hall following the ceremony.  Later that evening – we walked across the park to Park Tavern where the party continued.  The decorations were all about brown, ivory, and bright yellow accents and white pumpkins.  My girlfriends helped carve all the pumpkins the day before.  My mother’s side of the family is French, so we had a croquembouche (traditional dessert at French Weddings) on top of a raspberry and pear charlotte for our wedding cake.

We had Daniel Jordan, a friend and fellow sax and flute musician in Sam Rivers RivBea Orchestra, play the ceremony. He played “My One and Only Love” (Wood/Mellon) as I walked down the aisle. After the ceremony, Daniel joined the jazz quartet assembled by local Atlanta pianist, Louis Heriveaux. They played the cocktail hour on the terrace as well as during the dinner, entertaining us with songs such as:

• Stardust
• When I fall in love
• Our Love is here to stay
• It had to be you
• Cheek to Cheek
• Corcovado
• I hear a Rhapsody
• Sophisticated Lady

Our first dance was Otis Redding’s “For Your Precious Love”. After that, Brian’s long time friend, Keith Jackson (DJ Ceph), spun records the rest of the evening. We gave him creative freedom with the set list with the goal of keeping the dance floor filled. His set list included the following:

Fatbackin’ – Fatback Band
Rigor Mortis- Cameo
Hi-Jack – Herbie Mann
Bustin’ Loose – Chuck Brown
Walking Into Sunshine – Central Line
You’re The One For Me – “D” Train
The Glow of Love – Change
Doowutchyalike – Digital Underground
Abracadabra – The Steve Miller Band
Apache – Incredible Bongo Band
I.O.U. – Freeez
Duzic – Dazz
Yearning For Your Love – Gap Band
Got To Be There – Michael Jackson
I Wanna Be Your Man – Roger
Person to Person – Average White Band
Ebony Jam – Tower of Power
Peg – Steely Dan
Sign of The Times – Bob James
I Want To Thank You – Alicia Myers
I Believe In Miracles – The Jackson Sisters
Don’t Stop The Music – Yarbroughs & People
That Girl – Stevie Wonder
Bumpin Bus Stop – Thunder and Lighting
Sweeter As The Days Go By – Shalaman
Pull Up To The Bumper – Grace Jones
The Grunt – The JB’s
Pac Jam – Jonzun Crew
A Little Bit Of Love – New Edition
Knockin’ Da Boots – H Town
Don’t Go – Yaz
White Lines – Grandmaster and Melle Mel
E.T. Boogie – Extra T’s
The Groove is Here – Legacy
Love Come Down – Evelyn King
Georgy Porgy – Toto
Far Cry – Marvin Gaye
Bumpy’s Lament – Soul Mann and the Brothers
That Ain’t The Way You Make Love – Z.Z. Hill
The Visit (She was Here) – Neon
Love T.K.O. – Teddy Pendergrass
Stay with Me – DeBarge
I Keep Forgetten – Michael McDonald
I Want’a Do Something Freaky To You – Leon Haywood
I’d Rather Be With You – Bootsy Collins
Love Song – Lani Hall
Firecraker – Mass Production
Strange Games and Things – Love Unlimited Orchestra
Oh Yeah – Yello
Between The Sheets – The Isley Brothers
Love You Inside and Out – Bee Gees
We Call It The Box – Bill Summers & Summers Heat
Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – McFadden & Whitehead

Photography: Our Labor of Love
Florist: Twelve
Caterer: Affairs to Remember
Day of Coordinator: Courtney Surber Paz Weddings & Events