Julia & Christopher Goulart's Wedding
Julia insists that she and Christopher didn’t meet on a blind date – she prefers to call it a “meet and greet.” “A mutual friend was playing matchmaker, so he invited me to dinner with Chris and several other couples,” Julia tells. “Chris and I hit it off immediately!” Seven years after that initial meeting, the two wed in a thoughtfully planned ceremony at the Dalton Convention Center.
Photos by CLC Photography
Family and friends pitched in to make the wedding day a beautiful, memorable affair. The 6 p.m. nuptials were officiated by Mr. Chester Edwards, a former Dalton pastor and close friend. The couple’s three-year-old daughter, Amelia, charmed guests as the flower girl. Still others helped to construct the eye-catching lighted backdrop for the ceremony and arranged vibrant floral centerpieces from freedom roses, calla lilies, and baby’s breath.
The blushing bride stole the show in an ivory fit-and-flare gown with intricate lace accents. “Finally saying ‘I do’ to Chris, the father of our little girl and the best man I have ever met, was surreal,” Julia shares. “We were then able to transition so easily into the reception, which took place in the same room, thanks to the staff at the convention center. They reset the stage for us and added a sweetheart table for the wedding party.”
The Dalton Convention Center also catered the event, serving crowd-pleasing dishes like balsamic pork tenderloin, lemon pepper chicken, and rosemary roasted potatoes. Julia and Christopher chose a simple, yet stunning four-tier wedding cake to follow the main course. And after dinner, an Atlanta-based DJ set the tone for the party that ensued as guests quickly made their way to the dance floor.
“Our wonderful venue had the space for a longer guest list, and the room was a blank slate I could fill with my own decorations,” Julia says. “We waited quite a while for our wedding day, but we got exactly what we wanted.”
“One night, I asked Christopher, ‘So when are we going to get married?’ And he replied, ‘You need to pick a date!’”
