McNeal Wedding Films Feature: Noreen & Justin Wed at Gaylord Spring House

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

A wedding is like a great movie - many elements come together to make it a success: a solid storyline, a hero and/or heroine, where their story is set, costume and set design and of course, a happy ending.  McNeal Wedding Films specializes in capturing the wonderful details at their bride and grooms' weddings and puts it all together for the couple to relive over and over for years to come. That's why good photographers are important and with technology so much less bulky (video tapes vs. DVD's) these days, it's also easy and almost seamless to keep your memories in video form. Or in this case, your very own romantic movie.

Enjoy this guest blog post and follow the McNeal Wedding Films team through their day with our hero and heroine, Justin and Noreen.

Featured Wedding Blog by McNeal Wedding Films

Noreen and Justin, (such a cute cute cute couple!) were married on Saturday, June 20 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Madison, followed by a lively reception at Gaylord Spring House.

It was an early wedding...

Now, those of you who know me, know that Cheryl doesn’t do early well. And I must admit it was difficult to ooze out of bed on Saturday at 6:00 am in order to get ready and be at the church by 9:30…Okay. It was difficult to ooze out of bed by 7:00 am in order to get to the church … okay. It was difficult to ooze out of bed at 8:00 in order to get to…okay. It was really easy (because I overslept and panicked) jumping out of bed at 8:30 in order to get ready and get to church by 9:30!

Yes, Cheryl overslept, but still managed to get to the church by 9:30! Yay! In fact, we, meaning Lynette, me, and Dawn of Team McNeal, all got to the church at 9:30. I think. At least that was the plan. I got there and ran into the church building so I could find Justin, so I didn’t see anyone until about an hour later when Noreen and Justin saw each other for the first time in a beautiful, but HOT, courtyard area outside the church. Did I mention it was hot? WOW. It was HOT! Cheryl sure does not do “HOT” well…..

But it was a GORGEOUS day with a blue sky and a lazy Saturday morning feel to it. Generally I’m sleeping through this lazy Saturday morning feel, but still, it’s a nice “feel” if you’re awake and all.

Anyway, Justin and his groomsmen all arrived at the church already dressed. For the most part. Justin and the guys only had to put on their shirts and boutonnières before the photos started. But I was there getting the guys getting into their shirts.

Oh. They didn’t wear the traditional tuxedo, which I think they were all REALLY glad about. But rather, the guys wore black pants and a really cool traditional shirt from the Philippines that I think men wear there when they get married. It was a really cool shirt! The groomsmen wore theirs over a green tee-shirt and Justin wore his over just a plain white shirt. The shirts had really delicate patterns sewn into the front of the shirt. Justin’s pattern was different than his groomsmen’s patterns. Justin told me that the shirts were made of pineapple. They were really light and organic and looked cool, as in NOT being HOT. I heard the guys mention several times how grateful they were that they weren’t wearing tuxes! But yet they all looked so handsome!

Soon it was time for everyone to get into their places for the ceremony. Lynette had figured out a plan B with the audio, so we were ready. Lynette shot the wedding from the front of the church, but sort of behind a wall. I was standing along the side of the aisles, and Dawn was shooting the wedding from the back. Plus, we had an extra cam shooting from the back as well, only from a low perspective. We had it covered. And there was a lot to cover! Noreen and Justin had a traditional Catholic ceremony with a full Mass and Holy Communion. And they also had a Veil Ceremony, a Coin Ceremony, and a Cord Ceremony. All of these had special meaning for the couple and in uniting them in marriage forever. It was a lovely service.

But after the ceremony, let the party begin!

Dawn and I covered the reception at Gaylord Spring House, and we had such a good time! Noreen and Justin were so happy! And all their family and friends and guests were also so happy! Everyone was just SO HAPPY! It’s easy to work a reception where everyone is HAPPY and enjoying themselves. And that’s how it was with Noreen and Justin.

To give you a better picture of the beautiful day Noreen & Justin had, McNeal Wedding Films prepared this special preview footage.

SUCH a great recap, and this isn't even all of it so head over to their blog for more pictures and details from Cheryl's Notes, Congratulations to our newlyweds, and thanks so much to McNeal Wedding Films for sharing this with all of us.

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Posted by Ashley | Filed under: Luxury Wed Finds, Photography & Videography 0 comments »

Two First Dates - Marianne & Chris’ Nashville Engagement Story

Friday, May 28, 2010

Sometimes, even when that first attempt at a date seems closer to a dud than a firecracker, it's worth trying again.  I'm so glad that Marianne and Chris decided to give it another go and take their long friendship to the next level otherwise we wouldn't have a fun story to tell today!  The couple worked with Mark & Noelle of McCoy Made for their engagement session and I love how these pictures really speak volumes about the couple's compatibility and personalities.  I hope, after a rather grey, rainy start to this week, today's Real Engagement Story perk things up for you a little!

Nashville Engagement Story - Marianne & Chris

Her Name: Marianne Callis
Her Hometown: Lebanon, TN

His Name: Chris Mandrell
His Hometown: Gallatin, TN

How did you meet?:
I honestly don’t remember the first time we met, it’s been so long ago. Chris’ brother started dating my best friend ten years ago when we were all in high school (they married in 2003), so Chris and I have known of each other for a long time. But we didn’t start dating until the summer of 2007. We actually went on what we call our “First First Date” in the spring of 2006, but the timing wasn’t right. Neither of us really lost interest, though. Then in late June 2007 Chris and I started talking again, and we decided to go see a movie together (“Live Free or Die Hard”), what we now call our “Second First Date.” We’ve been inseparable ever since

How did you know this was “it?” Did you talk about it a lot? Or was it just understood from day one?:
We first started talking about marriage towards the end of our first year together, when Chris had a job opportunity that would possibly mean moving a couple hours away. We knew we loved each other and wanted to stay together, but since we both come from very traditional, conservative families, simply living together wasn’t an option. The job opportunity fell through, but the conversations continued.

The Proposal:
Where?
My apartment.

When?
September 13, 2009, an ordinary Sunday night after he got home from work.

How?
I give Chris the utmost credit for making the ordinary “extraordinary.” He called me when he got off from work saying he was going to run through Taco Bell and pick up dinner before heading to my place. He asked if I wanted anything. I had eaten dinner not long before, so I turned down the offer. He gets to my place and sits down with me to watch TV, the small bag of food sitting between us.

After a couple of minutes he gets up with the food to go get a plate, but suddenly he stops in the doorway. “Uh oh, they forgot some of my order…” This is not unusual, unfortunately, so I simply responded, “What’d they forget this time?  He turns around reaching into the bag, and in a swift motion I barely remember he’d pulled a small wooden box out of the bag, was down on one knee in front of me opening the box, smiling, and asking me to marry him.

The first words out of my mouth were, “Are you kidding me?” (in an exuberant tone, of course!). Yes, that’s really what I said! We’d been talking about marriage for a while, but hadn’t really discussed a time frame, so while I was really really really excited, I certainly wasn’t expecting a proposal!  And then I looked at the ring… It was EXACTLY the one I wanted! I’d found a picture in a magazine a few weeks earlier, but it was too expensive. But here one just like it was presented before me. Again I said, “Are you kidding me??” (lol!) After that I believe I did say yes, finally! (The ring was wrapped around a Taco Bell sauce packet with the phrase “Will you marry me?” printed on it.)

Turns out he’d taken the picture to a local jeweler, and traded in the gold on his Dad’s wedding band (his dad passed away a few years ago; Chris’ mother insisted he use his dad’s rings towards mine) for a gold band just like I’d wanted, and used the diamond from his dad’s ring as my diamond. I’m so honored to wear it!

Did you enjoy your engagement picture session? Why? Is there anything of significance you could share with us about the session?
We had a blast during our engagement session! Mark & Noelle McCoy are an absolute joy to be around! They made Chris and I feel super-comfortable during the whole process, and it shows in the pictures. We’re pretty contemporary people, and Mark & Noelle did a fabulous job capturing that about us. J (I’m so excited to get to my bridal portraits and our wedding photos I can hardly stand it! Lol!)
I don’t know that there’s really anything of significance other than it was freezing cold. Our session was right after the HUGE snowstorm at the end of January. I remember worrying about whether the snow & ice would melt enough for us to make the trip from Gallatin to Franklin, but luckily it did. We’re going to use our pictures to make a guestbook, and it’ll be neat to have pictures with snow on the ground at our wedding in the summer.

What matters most as you plan your wedding? Your life together?
For our wedding, what’s most important is just being ourselves and sharing our love with our closest family & friends. We have a relatively small guest list so we could make the experience really awesome for those who are there. And it’s pretty much the same for planning our life together: we want to be ourselves, and share all of life’s experiences with each other.

What decision triggered a meltdown in your wedding planning process?
No meltdowns. J Some tough decisions, maybe, but no meltdowns.

Couples disagree. Let's keep it real and help other engaged couples not kill one another! What has been your major couple disagreement and what have you done to compromise?
Honestly, to this point we’ve not had any major disagreements or arguments. We’ve always worked well with each other, “not sweating the small stuff,” as they say. Our wedding planning has been no different. We decided what the most important things are, worked on those things together, and everything else isn’t worth stressing over.

What's the one must have for your wedding day (such as a particular service, product, vendor)? His? Hers?
I had to have stellar photography!! I had been researching local photographers for awhile, and had it narrowed down to a few choices. When Chris proposed, I quickly set up meetings with my top picks. All were excellent, but I clicked most with Mark & Noelle McCoy. (I say “I” because Chris wasn’t able to go to the meeting, but he trusted me.) They were just so easy to talk to! And I knew that’s what I wanted on our wedding day. And now after seeing our engagement pictures, there’s no doubt we made the right choice.

Chris’ one must-have is a Predators groom’s cake. So we’ve ordered him a cake shaped like the Predators logo (flavor TBA). When getting decorations ready, I decided to take it a step further and do an entire Predators-themed table. I don’t want to give away the details, ‘cause I have some surprises in store for him, but it’s going to be good!

Your wedding details (if you’ve gotten that far in planning)...

Style:
Inspired by our love of Affliction-style clothing & rock music, we’re putting a rock-and-roll edge on what’s otherwise a pretty traditional Christian wedding.

Colors
The ceremony will be black & white, and the reception red & black.

Venue:
Both our ceremony & reception will be at the Greenvale Community Center in southeast Wilson County. The community center used to be a 1-room schoolhouse, and my Grandmother attended school there growing up. On the hill behind the schoolhouse stood the house where my Grandmother and Great-Grandfather (her father) were born. Lots of sentimental value!

Vendors we've hired to date
Photographers: Mark & Noelle McCoy, McCoy Made
Wedding Planner: Kristin Kaplan, Simply Stunning Events
Catering: Pam Hogancamp, Ribbons of Chocolate
Tables & Chairs: Party Providers (in Lebanon)
Jewelry: Thomas Jewelers (in Gallatin)
Cakes & cupcakes: Melanie Williams, Creative Cakes by Melanie (Groom’s Cake)
Angela Boone, Simply Sweet Treats (Cupcakes)
Dress alterations: Oakwood Cleaners
Invitations: Me!

…and a host of other things bought through Etsy, eBay, Hobby Lobby, & Michael’s! (I’m a big do-it-yourself-er)

What do you most look forward to after marriage?
Immediately after? Our honeymoon! We’re both itching for a week’s vacation. But in the long term we’re looking forward to experiencing life & building a home together.

Any words of wisdom for newly-engaged couples?
1 - Enjoy being engaged for a little while before diving into planning!
2 - Decide on a feasible budget, then pick 2 or 3 things that matter most. For us it was photography & food. Hire the best vendors you can afford for those 2 or 3 priorities, and then do the best you can with the rest of your budget to fill in the rest.
3 - Hire a professional wedding planner, even if it’s just to help run things during the wedding! I’m really enjoying doing the planning myself, but there is absolutely no way I’ll be able to take care of things on the big day, nor am I going to ask a family member to “work” that day, either. Kristin Kaplan is exactly who I need! She’s super-organized, and is going to take over everything I’ve planned a month before the wedding and make it come to life. Unless you’re getting married at the courthouse, I don’t see how anyone can enjoy their day without a wedding planner!

Congratulations Marianne and Chris, here's wishing you both all the best and a lifetime full of love together!

Thank you to McCoy Made for the pictures.

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Posted by Tabitha | Filed under: Engagements & Proposals, Photography & Videography, Real Nashville Brides 2 comments »

Chance Twitter Meeting Leads to Bridal Portrait Magic, Destination Wed

Thursday, May 20, 2010

I love this destination wedding story!  Plus, this bride designed her own stunning wedding dress. Be sure to check out the highlights below and then visit the Myrick Studios blog for more photos and details on Carissa's destination wedding...

Guest Blogger: Charissa Cowart Carnall (bride to be) for Myrick Studios

When it comes to planning for the big day, everything has to be perfect, the ring, the dress, the location, and of course the guy you’re marrying! I realized that finding the right guy and knowing he’s “the one” happens when you “just know,” same with the dress, and the church… but the wedding photographer? Of course! There’s a click that happens between the bride and every vendor involved in her special day.

So it might surprise you that Myrick and I had never met in person prior to my Bridal Portraits (which I drove 7 hours for from south Alabama to Nashville, TN for). Myrick and I found each other on Twitter because we shared the same last name – Cowart. At the time, I had just become engaged and was beginning the search for the perfect wedding photographer, but it took me a few weeks of casual twitter-conversation with Myrick before I even knew he was a photographer.

After seeing his website and then speaking with him on the phone I knew he was the one! It was the constant contact on Twitter though that gave me the “click”. When a business trip took me to Nashville we decided to also schedule my bridal portraits to save on extra travel. That bridal portrait session sealed the deal for me; I was stoked to have Myrick (my long lost cousin – or so we think) part of my very special day! And you can see why!

You gotta visit the Myrick Studios blog for more photos and details on Carissa's destination wedding.

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Posted by Ashley | Filed under: Destination Weds & Honeymoon , Photography & Videography 2 comments »

Music, Love and Laptops: A Nashville Couple’s Engagement Session

Friday, May 14, 2010

We love brides in boots!  Here's a great engagement session featuring a great looking couple whose style and story we heart!

We'll let the Kristyn tell you their story...

Guest Blogger: Kristyn Hogan, lifestyle photographer

Jennifer & Armand excude style and grace. Not only are they both extremely talented, they are genuine, good people who love each other and those around them. We had so much fun wandering through alleys to capture their love and I cannot wait for their fabulous wedding this fall at the Country Music Hall of Fame!

Hello fabulous gold cowboy boots! Jennifer brought together all the style for this shoot and completely captured their personalities with all of the elements!

I told Jen & Armand to bring a few things that represented them as a couple. Since Armand tours several months out of the year, one of their main forms of communication is through their laptops. It was so fun when they turned on some iTunes and got their grove on

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Posted by KRISTYN HOGAN lifestyle photographer | Filed under: Engagements & Proposals, Photography & Videography, Real Nashville Brides 0 comments »