DL-Winter.26

The Art of ‘I Do’

In Motion Together

THERE IS AN unmistakable rhythm to Decatur. Creative. Connected. Quietly intentional about how it grows. We are always building something—an idea, a gathering, a stage for someone new to shine. This issue is an invitation to step into that momentum and see the people and stories shaping what comes next.

We begin with our cover story, “The Art of ‘I Do’,” a practical guide that captures what Decatur does best—blending planning with personality. From smart advice to local insight, it’s a reminder that the most meaningful celebrations are built with care, collaboration and community at the center.

You also will meet Shell Rameriz, whose work with Decatur Community Players continues to shape confidence, creativity and belonging for young performers across the area. Her story speaks to the power of showing up, year after year, and the lasting impact of nurturing talent close to home.

In our “Voices” feature, Mitch Leff of Leff & Associates reflects on his time with the Decatur Scout program, sharing stories of leadership, growth and the life lessons learned along the trail. It is a reminder that some of the most important education happens far beyond the classroom.

As we begin a new year, we hope this issue sparks inspiration, connection and a sense of possibility. Here’s to fresh starts, shared experiences and another year of stories enshrining the power and spirit of the people, places and events that make Decatur our home.

Natalie Gregory Publisher, Decatur Living

DECATUR LIVING, LLC P.O. BOX 2589

DECATUR, GA 30031

PUBLISHER

Natalie Gregory

EDITOR

Michael J. Pallerino

MARKETING AND ADVERTISING MANAGER

Kelly O’Brien

CREATIVE DI RECTOR

Brent Cashman

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ashley White Photography

Olivia Rose Photography

Once like a Spark

Victor Beloded, One Life Photography

Decatur Living is now on Facebook and Instagram. CHECK OUT THIS ISSUE ONLINE @ WWW.DECATURLIVING.COM

Decatur Living Telephone: 404-550-5113 hello@decaturliving.com

Decatur Living is published quarterly by Natalie Gregory. Distribution is a minimum of 14,000 with up to 11,000 being mailed to households in Decatur, Druid Hills, Avondale Estates, Candler Park, Lake Claire and Oak Grove. Contents of this magazine may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for content of all advertisements. The publisher does not necessarily share the editorial opinions expressed in Decatur Living Magazine. Personal decisions regarding health, finance, and other matters should be made after consultation with the reader’s professional advisors.

The Art of ‘I Do’

Your guide to planning a personal, polished and unmistakably Decatur wedding

THE FIRST TIME Madison Smith watched a bride clutch her bouquet and take a deep breath before walking down the aisle, she noticed something no one else in the room could see. It wasn’t the dress. The florals. It wasn’t even the magnificent venue. It was the weight of the moment.

As owner of Stunning & Brilliant Events, an Atlanta luxury wedding coordination company, Smith has built her career around protecting moments like that. After more than a decade in the wedding industry—and more than 1,000 weddings and events—she has seen just about everything. Big ballrooms. Garden ceremonies. Intimate backyard vows. Last-minute pivots. Tearful toasts. Dance floors that refused to empty.

But what keeps her in it is the people. “As a former bride myself, I understand how emotional this day can be.”

That perspective shapes how she leads her team and how she works with couples across Decatur, Atlanta, and beyond. Stunning & Brilliant Events offers full, partial and month-of planning services, along with

coordination for proposals, engagement parties and pre-wedding celebrations.

Smith says the common thread to organizing the perfect wedding requires planning. And that all starts with the budget. In other words: Spend where it matters. Save where it makes sense.

Allison Ponce, Executive Director of Ponce Studios in Atlanta, says having clarity around your budget is something every couple must embrace from the beginning.

“Before booking anything, decide your total budget, who’s contributing and what your two or three top priorities are. Once you identify what matters most—exceptional cuisine, stunning venue backdrop or unforgettable entertainment—you can allocate more there and scale back in other areas.”

The Ultimate Decatur Wedding Playbook

IF YOU’RE PLANNING A WEDDING in and around Decatur, breathe. Now bookmark this. We gathered insights from some of the area’s most experienced wedding pros to create a fun, easy-to-follow guide for your dream day. Our team includes Madison Smith, owner, Stunning & Brilliant Events: Allison Ponce, Executive Director, Ponce Studios; Kecia Wilson, Sales Manager, The Ramspeck; Lisa Milko, Director, The Chapel on Sycamore; and Max LeBlanc, Executive Director, Sun In My Belly.

Step 1: Start with the Numbers Before you tour venues. Before you fall in love with a floral chandelier on Instagram. Before you taste cake. “Start with budget first,” The Ramspeck’s Wilson says. “Most couples don’t know what things actually cost.”

Begin Here:

> Set your baseline budget (what you realistically want to spend).

> Set your ceiling budget (the absolute maximum you will not exceed).

> Confirm who is contributing—and how much.

Draft two guest lists:

> The all-in dream list.

> The must-be-there streamlined list.

“Everything stems from those two numbers—budget and guest count,” The Chapel on Sycamore’s Milko says. “From the size of the space to what kind of experience you can afford to create.”

Sun In My Belly’s LeBlanc agrees. “Keep your guest count manageable to allow for an elevated event with all the elements that are in line with your vision.”

Rule of thumb: Wilson says about 40% of your overall budget will likely go toward venue, catering and bar combined.

The Biggest Budget Surprise No. 1 – Florals & Rentals

“The two biggest surprises are florals and rentals, and food and beverage,” Ponce Studios’ Ponce says. “A highly designed floral vision can easily reach $20,000 to $30,000 on its own. And if you want an outdoor wedding, that enchanting sailcloth tent couples love can start around $15,000 before you’ve added lighting, flooring or climate control.”

Stunning & Brilliant Events’ Smith says it starts with these smart moves:

> Choose naturally beautiful venues like Cator Woolford Gardens so you need fewer florals.

> Consider high-quality faux florals.

> Donate flowers at the end of the night

and explore possible tax benefits with a professional.

> Elevate simple centerpieces with patterned linens or textured glass.

No. 2 – Food & Beverage

“Catering and bar costs scale quickly with guest count,” Ponce says. “An open bar for five to six hours for 150-plus guests adds up fast. Your guest count drives your catering, rentals and bar costs more than almost anything else.”

Protective tip: Wilson says to create a 3–5% ‘“Unplanned Expenses” category in your budget—and don’t touch it unless something unexpected arises.

Step 2: Choose the Right Venue

While the look of a space may draw you in, it’s the behind-the-scenes details that ultimately shape how the day unfolds. “Logistics and flexibility matter just as much as aesthetics,” Milko says.

Milko recommends that before you sign, you ask:

> What’s included in the rental?

> Is catering in-house or preferred list only?

> Is alcohol provided or BYO?

> What inventory is included?

> Is there a noise ordinance?

> Is there a rain plan?

> Is the venue accessible?

Milko says invisible costs—staffing, taxes, service fees, overtime—always surprise couples. Always ask for all-in pricing upfront.

LeBlanc says catering and venue decisions should happen in tandem. “As early as possible, your catering and venue are the two most important parts of your event and should be locked in first. You will want your venue to have a fully functional kitchen or the space to allow a mobile kitchen to be installed.”

The Catering Experience

“Catering is a large part of your day,” Smith says. “The last thing you want is for your guests to walk away hungry.”

To help you sort it out, Ponce recommends this strategy:

> Book venue first.

> The photographer is second, often 12-plus months out.

> Catering usually follows unless food is your top priority.

If you already love a specific caterer, vet venue and caterer together to ensure compatibility. “There should never be surprises when it comes to catering or bar service,” Ponce says. “A seamless reception is the result of detailed coordination long before the wedding day.”

LeBlanc says one of the most common mistakes couples make is underestimating staffing needs. “Not having the appropriate number of staff for their guest count and style of food service. Work closely with your coordinator and caterer to be sure this part is correct.”

Your 4-step Guide to Catering

1. Provide substantial hors d’oeuvres.

2. Keep cocktail hour to about one hour.

3. Use double-sided buffet stations.

4. Consider placing salad and bread on tables to ease waiting.

Smith also reminds couples that service style affects the flow. Plated dinners take more time and can cut into dance floor moments. Stations feel elevated and encourage movement. Buffets can be elegant and cost effective when designed thoughtfully.

LeBlanc encourages couples to simplify the menu in smart ways. “Include an ‘all size fits one’ meal that accommodates vegan, dairy free, vegetarian, nut free. Thoughtful planning can meet dietary needs without complicating the experience or inflating the budget.”

Also, make it memorable. Couples increasingly want personality infused into their reception. “That might look like a signature cocktail inspired by a favorite trip, a beloved family dessert or a nostalgic late-night snack,” Ponce says. “When guests encounter something unexpected and personal, they remember it.”

Think more social, less formal. Passed bites. Food stations. Mocktails alongside signature drinks.

Remember those dietary needs. “Today’s caterers are extremely experienced with dietary accommodations,” Ponce says.

> Clearly label menu items.

> Communicate dietary needs one to two months in advance.

> Provide special plated meals for severe allergies.

Beyond the food itself, LeBlanc says cohesion matters most. “A cohesive and thoughtful aesthetic throughout all parts of the event will make a meaningful impact on your guests. Be intentional in your choices.”

Shaping the Guest Experience

Music and flow make a huge impact. A great DJ or band can completely change the energy of the room, while florals and rentals set the visual mood. “If you’re able to hire a wedding planner from the beginning and trust their vendor recommendations, that’s how you ensure the best team,” Wilson says. Many vendor qualities—teamwork, work ethic, timeliness—aren’t obvious online.

And above all, LeBlanc says to protect your joy in the process. “Research all of your vendors and make sure you’re choosing ones that are in line with your vision. When the right team is in place, planning becomes collaborative instead of overwhelming.”

Built on Belonging

How Shell

Ramirez

turned Decatur

Community Players

into a space where kids are seen, heard and trusted to grow

By Michael J. Pallerino

NATE IS NOT BIG ON WORDS. Sometimes when he arrives, he settles into a chair and watches the room. Sometimes he reads. Sometimes, he simply sits beside Shell Ramirez, matching her pace instead of rushing ahead. And when Ramirez finds herself moving too fast, thinking too hard or carrying the weight of too many decisions at once (her day in the life), Nate brings her back to center.

“He’s my daily reminder of how simple it is to be human,” Ramirez says. “He reminds me when I need to just stop and sit.”

At Decatur Community Players (DCP), Nate has become something more than a student; he is Ramirez’s compass. A living reminder that leadership does not need layers of complexity to be effective. That presence matters more than perfection. That the most meaningful teaching often happens in stillness. “It’s so simple, but it’s so easy to forget. He’s constantly reminding me how to just be a human being.”

That philosophy sits at the heart of Decatur Community Players, the youth theater program Ramirez founded in 2009 and, as its director, has grown into a nationally recognized model for inclusive arts education.

Serving children ages 5 to 18 through afterschool programs, Saturday classes, summer camps, a travel team and participation in the Junior Theater Festival every January, DCP is busy by any standard.

But Ramirez resists the temptation to overbuild, over-explain or overmanage. Instead, she builds space. “I keep myself in a spot where I’m approachable by the kids. I always have the spot.”

It is a small choice that carries weight. Kids know where to find her. Know she’s watching. Understand that when they walk in carrying something heavier than a backpack, there’s a place to put it down. “I’ve created a space that I always needed as a kid—a nondenominational kind of space where you can be yourself and it’s okay.”

At DCP, theater isn’t just about performance. It’s about learning how to exist alongside others. Ramirez keeps the rules intentionally simple—four, to be exact:

> Body autonomy.

> Sit when you eat.

> Wash your hands.

> Treat each other with respect.

The language matters. The tone matters. Everything is designed to reduce shame and increase understanding. The approach extends to mistakes, which Ramirez openly celebrates. In Rameriz’s space, mistakes are not failures, but information. In fact, theater is one of the last places she believes kids can make mistakes in real time, learn

how to recover and keep going without being erased or edited. “You made a mistake and you learned something. That’s the whole point.”

It also is where leadership quietly takes shape. Ramirez doesn’t rush children toward confidence. She creates conditions for independence. Kids solve problems. They clean up their own messes. They learn where the markers are instead of waiting for someone to hand them one. “Independence gives them the space to figure it out.”

The transformation often reveals itself slowly. A child who once needed reassurance now volunteers to help. A student who once hid in the back of the room starts leading warmups.

Every day, the DCP class ends with a circle. “We all say a strong word,” Ramirez says. “Every single rehearsal. Every single meetup. Even if that voice is just saying pickle or hamburger, each kid is heard and seen.”

To Ramirez, everyone matters. The ensemble is essential. Simplicity is not a weakness. “My takeaway is to understand how important an ensemble is. You can’t create a show without the ensemble members.”

In an often too unforgiving world—one that rewards volume and speed—Ramirez leads by slowing things down. By noticing. By trusting kids to be capable. And by letting students like Nate remind her, every day, that clarity often comes when you stop trying to complicate what already works.

SUMMER’S JUST GETTING STARTED

Our Spring issue delivers the ultimate guide to camps Decatur kids can explore, create and belong.

Scout Dreams

Mitch Leff on character-building in a Wi-Fi world

By Michael J. Pallerino

IT’S BEEN ALMOST 20 YEARS since my older son joined the Scouting program at Decatur’s Oak Grove United Methodist Church. Joined by his younger brother a few years later, the boys journeyed from Cub Scouts (K-5th grade) to Scouts BSA (11-18 year olds).

For the boys (and girls), the years included camping, canoeing, caving, hiking, horseback riding, and much more. And, of course, all sorts of Merit Badges and community service projects on the path to Eagle Scout.

The Scouting program is for the youth, but I’ve been one of hundreds of Decatur parents who’ve volunteered to help them, keeping them (somewhat) organized and safe. That includes all sorts of adult training, Youth Protection, Hazardous Weather and Wilderness Survival, to name a few.

I’ve been an adult leader most of these years, currently serving as an Assistant ScoutMaster for Troop 77. Somewhere along the way, I added a role as the Advisor for Venturing Crew 77, a branch of Scouting that’s a co-ed outdoor adventure program for youth aged 14 - 21.

Yes, sometimes it does feel like herding 100 cats. But the joy is watching these kids go from new Scouts to leaders of the Troop. One

of the more powerful moments is when I run into a former Scout years later and they talk about how the things they learned as a Scout helped them be successful as they got older.

My sons achieved their Eagle ranks and went on to college several years ago, but I’ve stayed on as a volunteer as have many other adult leaders over the years. In addition to helping lead, I’m able to use my skills and experience to teach the Cooking and Communications Merit Badges.

Last June, we camped with more than 60 Decatur Scouts and adults at Summer Camp at the Woodruff Scout Camp in North Georgia. It’s tent camping with the Scouts spending their time in Merit Badge classes, enjoying swimming and boating on the lake. For some, it’s the first time they’ve spent a full week away from home.

The week is punctuated with memorable moments. When a young scout completes a Merit Badge and advances in rank or when you see them grow into the confidence to navigate the camp on their own. One evening we made homemade ice cream and the younger scouts took turns over several hours turning the crank.

Are there challenges? Well, sure. We work the kids through homesickness, get them used to a 6 a.m. wake up call and help them be organized so they get to all their activities. We also provide band-aids when they walk into a tree in the dark because they weren’t using their headlamps.

What makes it worthwhile? Scouting is all about teaching kids valuable life skills, tools they can use for the rest of their lives. It’s also about forging good character traits, being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

It’s not all work and chasing kids for us adults either. We get to explore the camp, including hiking, canoeing, swimming and boating. Of course there’s plenty of time to get in a little nap during the day if nighttime sleep was elusive.

I’ll be honest, it’s a great vacation for me with limited phone and internet service making “disconnecting” real. We ask the kids to leave their phones at home and they quickly learn they can survive without their screens and enjoy nature and their fellow scouts.

Mitch Leff is President and CEO of Leff & Associates, the Decatur-based PR firm he founded in 2003. With four decades of experience, he provides strategic PR counsel, program development, media relations, public affairs, crisis communications and media training. Previously, he worked with Cohn & Wolfe Public Relations, Edelman Public Relations and GCI Group, and later served as Director of Public Relations for Turner Learning, the educational division of Turner Broadcasting System Inc.

Turn the Page

Bailee Yarbrough leads the Decatur Book Festival into its next era

BAILEE YARBROUGH remembers climbing a tree as a child to read Lucy Maud Montgomery’s “Anne of Green Gables,” the beloved 1908 novel about a young imaginative orphan mistakenly sent to live with her elderly siblings. On rainy afternoons, she’d devour Nancy Drew, convinced there were mysteries unfolding around her. Her mom was an elementary and high school English teacher, so there were books everywhere.

And, there’s that flip side. As a chemical engineering major, she failed an exam staying up to finish the “Twilight” series. Looking back, she admits the failing grade was worth it. “Reading taught me imagination. How to see the world through different perspectives than my own.”

To Yarbrough, books were not a décor or a sign of rebellion; they were oxygen. It is why the Decatur resident’s first job was at a library. And even though she would carve her path with a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and lead large-scale initiatives in corporate settings, the little girl in the tree made her way back to books. As the new Executive Director of the Decatur Book Festival (DBF)–succeeding the retiring Leslie Wingate—Yarbrough is championing the mission’s momentum toward long-term sustainability.

“The Festival has an extraordinary legacy, and I feel deeply honored to build on it,” Yarbrough says. “When people gather in person

to hear an author speak, ask questions and share ideas, something powerful happens. It creates empathy, curiosity and connection. Festivals like ours create safe spaces for us to slow down, experience these moments, and be present.”

Along with building on DBF’s extraordinary lineup of authors, Yarbrough is expanding the programming into the romance genre. She also plans to revive the Library Walk, where all branches from across the metro area can be represented. “The goal is to have people not only feel welcomed and inspired, but leave with arms full of books and minds full of new ideas. The hope is they feel part of something meaningful and plan to come back next year.”

As she steps into this new chapter, Yarbrough is guided by the same belief that first took root in that tree: Stories change us. And if she has her way, the Decatur Book Festival will continue to be the place where a community gathers, turns the page and discovers something new together.

Guiding You Home in Decatur & Beyond