Friday, January 27, 2012
We love when photographer friends share unique and Nashville stamped weddings with us. What says Nashville more than a local indie roots band and a historic, southern venue? This wedding has both! Plus, the bride, Rachel is a photographer herself! She photographed Cali Ashton's wedding and Cali returned the favor. These two gals did great justice to each other's special days. We are just too happy to share Rachel's day. Thanks to Nyk, Cali's husband, for emailing everything over. Nyk had some great things to say about the wedding...
"All the groomsmen and Brett are in a band called Apache Relay; they are on tour all the time and are doing fairly well. Photography was one of the most important parts of their wedding and Rachel spent a TON of time making sure we had an awesome shot list. They also did a bridal/groomal session a few days before the wedding so that their pictures weren't rushed. It was a really fun wedding, both the dads were funny and outgoing (we love the pic of them pulling out their pockets!)."
Enjoy Brett and Rachel's special day! Complete with personal touches, a vintage wedding dress, a southern home venue, and lots of local vendors.
Brett + Rachel
Date ~ August 6, 2011
Ceremony + Reception Venue ~ The Sam Davis Home
Guests ~ A whoppin' 425
Rachel's blog: blog.rachelwilliamsonphotography.com
Budget
Initially $15,000, but it grew with the # of guests we invited!
Wedding Team
Planner | Fran Dunne, a lady from our home church
Photographer | Cali Ashton Photography
Videographer | Truepix Weddings
Gown & Accessories | My dress was a vintage early 1900's graduation dress I got from a antique shop and had altered
Groom’s attire/ groomsmen attire | Billy Reid
Bridesmaids' attire | Custom designed and made by Tatyana Merryman
Hair and Makeup | Stephanie Russell
Stationery | Design from printablepress.com and printed through greenerprinter.com
Ceremony musicians | Our friends, Jessie Parker, Kellen Wenrich, and Jonathan Anderson
Reception Musicians | Our own iPod playlist
Transportation | Brett's Subaru!
Caterer | Jim 'N Nick's
Cake Artist | Fiddle Cakes
Floral Designer | A Village of Flowers for the bridal party and church friends for the decor
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Classic, vintage, eclectic, natural, quirky
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We chose an outdoor venue, historic home, a non-traditional wedding dress, wood cuts and wildflowers, etc.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
The fact that we could've had rain or blazing heat, but God gave us a miracle of perfect weather and a beautiful day!
Where did you splurge?
Shipping my invitations was pricey! But everything just adds up fast!
Where did you save/DIY?
We saved by having an iPod playlist instead of a DJ; my dress was only $230 + alteration; and we also chose the most affordable tables and chairs. We had friends from our church help out by working day of and had friends do the decor and flowers.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
We would have invited a smaller number of guests to cut down on cost! And not stressed as much on the little things.
Thank you guys for sharing your friendship with us and this great wedding! Such a lovely day!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Photography, Real Nashville Weddings
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Friday, December 23, 2011
We are ending the week with our overall favorite Nashville Real Weddings from 2011. While this is not an easy task, the weddings below are stunning, unique, and overall flawless.
1) eHarmony Love: Kate + Justin's Zoo-Inspired Wedding
Married: May 28, 2011
The two met on eHarmony and fell in love. Then, giraffe keeper Kate married Justin at Scarritt Bennett with a Houston Station reception. The whole day was zoo-inspired with vintage touches; from a giraffe topper to venue's exposed brick. See more of this wedding here.
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Planner: Austin Floyd with Last Minute Planners; Venue: Scarritt Bennett & Houston Station; Photos: Krista Lee Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG
2) Miranda and Grant's Ecletic Garden Wedding
Married: May 14, 2011
I am a big fan of intimate weddings. I think it takes a lot of guts to slash that wedding guest list in half and focus on what the two of you really want. Not only did Miranda and Grant keep it intimate, they were not afraid to mix gutsy flair with traditional details. You can see their personalities throughout their ceremony and reception and you can tell that they had FUN! CJs off the Square is always a great backdrop for an outdoor Tennessee wedding and Ace Photography captured the essence of their day splendidly. See the full wedding feature here.
Planner + Venue: CJ's Off the Square; Photos: Ace Photography; Loved by Ashley of ABG
3) Bethany + Jay's Franklin Wedding
Married: June 2011
The stunning bouquets and flowers throughout are enough to take your breath away, but then you see the ruffled wedding cake that favors the bride's ruffled dress... Oh my! The details are astounding. For all of the University of Tennessee fans, make sure to check out more photos on Evin's blog - including one of the groom's cake (a replica of Neyland stadium!).
Monogrammed Decor: Bella Grace by Bethany (the bride)
Venues: Brentwood Baptist Chapel + The Factory's Bldg 8; Photos: Evin Photography
4) Liesl + Dean's Intimate, Tuscan-Style Wedding
Married: October 20, 2011
This beautiful couple, shot by Kristyn Hogan, hail from South Africa and Australia. The two met in Florida on a yacht and were together for three years before tying the knot in an ode to the time they spent together in Tuscany. Between their story and their elopement on Mooncake Lake, I was enchanted and hope you are too. Read Kristyn's blog for more info and photos.
Planner + Venue: Historic Cedarwood (along with Jessica Sloane); Photos: Kristyn Hogan; Loved by: Meg of ABG
5) Corely + Jake Combine Two Families at their Opryland Hotel Wedding
Married: June 2011
A wedding in the Crystal Gazebo, celebration in the Magnolia Ballroom - with names like that and the added peacock theme, it's bound to be stunning! And the smiles on the bride and groom, as well as those of their sons, proves that this was a happy union. See Joe's blog for more from this happy day.
Planner: A Magical Affair; Coordinator & Venue: Gaylord Opryland Hotel; Photos: Joe Hendricks Photography
6) Jamie + Andy's Downtown, DIY Wedding
Married: April 30, 2011
Jamie impressed us earlier this year when we first shared her wedding, and we just can't get over it! All of the decor she did herself with the help of family and friends. Her amazing husband even DJed part of their reception. The whole day was an impressive success and in the end, they had a great wedding, but these two are more focused on the long term - having a wonderful marriage!
Venue: The Hope Center & The Anchor Fellowship; Photos: Pear Image Photography; Loved by: Sara of ABG
7) Cannery Ballroom Transformed for Julie + Nicholas' Elegant Summer Evening
Married: July 10, 2011
A simple , though lovely, ceremony at Scarritt Bennett would hardly have prepared these guests for the amazing site they would see at the Julie and Nick's reception. The Cannery Ballroom was transformed (in fact, you can watch the transformation on Dove's blog). Intricate details made the room jaw-dropping: crystal and wrought-iron chandeliers, flowers hanging over and overflowing on tables, monogrammed boxes, custom pieces, and even a suspended cake by Jay Qualls.
Planner: Elegant Weddings by Angela; Venues: Cannery Ballroom; Photos: Dove Wedding Photography
8) Sean + Thalia's Greek Orthodox Wedding
Married: July 2011
Greek Orthodox weddings are a true example of devotion and faith. During the ceremony, the bride and groom do not say a word to each other (no vows) as their presence alone is enough to state their devotion to one another. You've got to see the beauty in that! Following tradition, Sean and Thalia's reception was full of dancing, breaking of bread, and there was lots of style with the lovely draping. There was even a bit of teasing - see the blog photos for a shot of the groom with a bottle of Windex ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding").
Venues: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church + Durego; Photos: Joe Hendricks Photography
9) An Australian Marries an American at Kings Chapel: Suz + Philip
Married: October 2011
These two could be models, they are to lovely together! The ceremony took place at the intimate Kings Chapel and the decor was designed by Suz, who chose a vintage theme. Guests traveling from as far as Australia would not be disappointed as the reception hosted an espresso bar from Beve Coffee and chocolate covered marshmallows. See more of the design, treats, and venue on Evin's blog.
Venue: King's Chapel; Photos: Evin Photography
10) Great Gatsby-Themed Wedding: Liz + Jamie
Married: May 21, 2011
Liz and Jamie were married at Cedarwood's unique and amazing outdoor cathedral, with a reception reminiscent of The Great Gatsby. As Cedarwood puts it, moving to the reception, "guests were transported into a wonderland of high stepping vintage style." But words alone cannot do this wedding justice, instead see the full feature on Cedarwood's blog in Part 1 and Part 2, or watch the short video below.
Planner + Venue: Historic Cedarwood; Photos: Dove Wedding Photography
Nashville Wedding Video :: Liz + Jamie from Catchlight Cinema
Really and truly, these weddings are just a few of the highlights from this year. There have been so many great weddings of impressive scale with wonderful vendors; weddings that will be talked of for years to come, but we have one blog post and we must limit the amount shared!! But check out more great Real Weddings that we have featured this year and post your favorites to our comments or our Facebook page. We love being impressed by creative brides and planners!
So here is to a great year of weddings in 2011! We are so looking forward to what 2012 will hold!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Cakes & Food, Photography, Real Nashville Weddings, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Venues and Locations
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Thursday, December 15, 2011
I'm not usually one to question tradition, where I'm from (Asia) our cultures are steeped in traditions that are practiced and never scrutinized. When it comes to weddings we stick to "Something old, Something new" etc., but it seems the whole "not seeing the bride before the ceremony" tradition has lost its favor with most and has been replaced by the much more fun First Look.
Quick history lesson: not seeing the bride before the ceremony was a practice set in olden days when couples were matched whether they liked/knew each other or not. To keep the groom from running from the altar, he wasn't to lay his eyes on his bride til right before the vows, when it was pretty much too late. I'm paraphrasing, but that's the lesson I learned from google.
Should you see your groom/bride before the wedding or should you follow tradition? It is obviously a personal call with no right or wrong answer. However, there are pros and cons to each choice. Today, we turn to Don of Donald Yeager Photography to help you get smart so that you two can make the right decision for you. (If you can get past tradition, there are several advantages to First Looks. After all, he's the only one privy to this moment at weddings!)
What is a "first look?"
Donald Yeager Photography: A “first look” is the first time the bride and groom see each other on their wedding day. This moment is magical because it’s the first moment alone that the bride and groom get to see each other on their day in a completely private, sheltered moment. He can marvel over her yet unseen wedding dress while she admires him in his wedding day finery, and they can have a perfect, encapsulated moment to share their excitement and love for one another.
No disrespect to tradition, but what are the advantages to doing a first look and seeing each other vs. not seeing each other before the ceremony?
Donald Yeager Photography: The biggest reason for you to do a first look is to allow this very special moment to be captured by your photographer. Usually, it takes place somewhere quiet with just the two of you and your photographer. A typical scenario is when the groom’s back is turned while the bride walks up slowly, taps him on the shoulder, and he turns around. In that moment, there is a flood of emotions that washes over the both of you. There are hugs, kisses, tears, smiles, and laughter.
A first look is great, because it allows any nervousness or anxiousness that you may be feeling to dissipate before you walk down the aisle. I have heard from many couples that they were happy they did their first look between them and not in front of a huge group of people. I also know from personal experience that a first look in no way detracts from or steals from the magical moment of walking down the aisle.
Another big advantage to the first look is since you two have seen each other, your photographer can take all of those family formals before the ceremony instead of after. You wont have to spend an hour after the ceremony taking formals. Instead, you can now celebrate your new marriage with your friend and families at the reception.
What, as a photographer, do you enjoy about first looks?
Donald Yeager Photography: I love, love, love first looks. I wont lie - I usual tear up. I can’t help it! The looks exchanged between the couple are genuine, unpredictable, and can not be reproduced. Plus, it invokes the memories of when I first saw my wife on my wedding day and I can't help but smile.
Thanks for sharing Don! Check out more advice from Don on photography sessions like the engagement session here, and have a look at the weddings he's done on his site at DonaldYeager.com
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Photography
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Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A few weeks ago, I was chatting with Emily, wedding planner and owner of Simply Yours Weddings, and she mentioned that many brides fail to consider the impact of Dayight Savings Time as they plan. Yes, the day gets darker faster and that's something you dont think about while planning your wedding day timeline. (I'll admit, I would have never thought of the impact either.) But, the time change plays a major role, especially when it comes to your wedding photos.
Here are some of the facts and dilemmas that Emily shared, which I thought might be helpful for you to note.
Photo taken on October 15, at 5:50 pm by Cali Ashton Photography
From Emily, a Nashville wedding planner's perspective...
- Daylight savings time in Middle Tennessee in the fall means the sun starts to go down around 4 or 4:30.
- I had a conversation with a gal who was in a wedding this last weekend who shared with me that the bride and groom did not get any pictures of just them together because she thought the sun was going to go down an hour later than when it did.
- I have also heard from another bride that she wished she would have thought about the ceremony time more thoroughly because she had to start getting ready for pictures so early in the day.
- As the sun goes down, it gets colder, if you have an outdoor ceremony and/or reception, think about your guests. Be sure to make accomodations for your guests accordingly if any part of your ceremony or reception is outside. There are wonderful and affordable resources in Nashville where you can find heaters for tents or for open outdoor areas.
- Myth - all times of day are fine for pictures. Truth - high noon can be super bright. "Golden hour," as some photographers refer to it, is the first and last light of the day and it can make for GORGEOUS pictures. For the evening golden hour, you need to know when the sun is going down. If you do not want see each other before the ceremony, but you're getting married as the sun is going down... then your window for pictures outside has depleted considerably.
- Be sure to communicate with your photographer - discuss how early your pictures need to start, how things will work towards the end, find inside opportunities (especially if you lose light), etc.
After hearing a planner's perspective, I reached out to another expert, Cali of Cali Ashton Photography, to see what they recommended brides consider as they plan their fall Nashville wedding. They not only shared the expert advice below, but they were also kind enough to share photos to give you an example of how the time of day will impact your wedding photos. As you will see, they included the month and time of day.
Photo taken on October 8, at 5:10 pm by Cali Ashton Photography
From Cali, a Nashville wedding photographer's perspective:
The 'Golden Hour' is a term you'll hear often when planning your wedding photography, not only because it is the best hour for photos but also because the sun is quite literally golden during that hour window! One of the most common mistakes is not taking Daylight Savings Time into consideration when planning your wedding. If you are planning your winter wedding during the summer and really like the light outside at 7:00pm, you'll have to plan on finishing your ceremony at 3:30pm in order to get the same light in December.
It is becoming fairly popular to have bridal/groomal photos done either before the ceremony or even a couple days before the wedding. Photographers love these sessions because it gives them the time to get the photos everyone wants without having to rush to get it done between the ceremony and reception. Some brides opt to do a trial run with their stylist and make-up artist before the wedding day anyway to make sure it looks perfect, these are great opportunities to put your dress on and meet up with your photographer to get some no-stress photos before the big day!
You want to avoid taking pictures mid-day when the sun is highest in the sky. This causes some unflattering shadows and squinting and if it is during the summer this is the hottest time of the day. No one looks natural sweating with sun in their eyes! You'll also want to avoid shooting outside after sunset. Camera flashes are not natural light, and while we can always make the best of most lighting situations, having to use flash to light up a bridal party at night is an unfavorable situation for any photographer.
A good suggestion for planning your wedding time is to look up the time of the sunset on your wedding day. You want to allow at least an hour for pictures of the bridal party, family, and bride and groom. We like to get these shots before the ceremony, it allows us a little more time to get photos of the bride and groom without feeling rushed. The light starts to get low half an hour before sunset so if you're planning your July wedding and want to get your pictures during the Golden Hour you will want to start shooting at 6:00pm to 6:30pm, an hour and a half to two hours before sunset. If you are getting your photos done before the ceremony you'll want to start the ceremony half an hour before sunset for an indoor wedding and an hour before sunset for an outside wedding, this will allow you to have your sunset wedding and also give you the best window for your photos before and during the ceremony!
Photo taken on October 30, at 4:35 pm by Cali Ashton Photography
Photo taken on June 4, at 6:07 pm by Cali Ashton Photography
Photo taken on July 28, at 8:00 pm by Cali Ashton Photography
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Photography, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Wednesday, November 16, 2011
I have been an avid follower of Jenna Henderson’s photography blog for well over a year now and it’s one of my top picks when I open up my Google reader every morning. Why? Because the wonderful, sweet woman behind jHenderson Studios takes the kind of timeless photos that pull you right into the moment the picture was taken…and she can do that whether she’s shooting on film or using her digital camera. Mega. Talented. We knew, with an amazing photographer like her in our neck of the woods, it was high time we sat down and got to the bottom of film vs. digital photos. For all the brides just starting to figure out what they want their wedding photos to look and feel like, this is the interview to read. Get all your must have answers below!
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ABG: What’s the biggest difference between the look of a film photograph and a digital one?
jHenderson: Digital images tend to be very harsh. With film, it's warmer, smoother, and has much more depth. Digital images are also very easy to have too bright highlights and too dark shadows, but film images are much more dynamic, and usually have detail in both the highlights and shadows. This is key on a wedding day; when a bride is wearing white and a groom is wearing black...all the details are there on film.
ABG: How long have you been shooting weddings/engagement photos on film?
jHenderson: I picked up my film camera for the first time since college in April of 2010. I've been in love with it since, and have been working on shooting more and more film weddings and engagements.
ABG: What kind of bride do you find is most drawn to film vs. digital photos?
jHenderson: Brides who have a real appreciation for good photography and truly see the value in quality images tend to be more attracted to film vs. digital. There’s a 'realness' to film that we just don't get with digital and brides who understand that are drawn to the images. Digital images, for the most part, are heavily post-processed/retouched, even if they don't look it. With film, it's the real deal.
ABG: Are there elements of each kind of style that you like more than the other?
Yes! Each has it's strengths and weaknesses. Digital, for example, allows me to see the image immediately, which is something I can't do with film. However, thanks to the beautiful color and dynamic range that film has to offer, I spend little to zero time doing any kind of post-processing (photoshop) work.
ABG: How has shooting weddings purely by film made you a better photographer?
jHenderson: First of all, it's made me slow down and consider what I'm shooting more. With digital, I tend to shoot without thinking as much as I should about the image; but because I have fewer shots with film (36 images per roll), I have to carefully consider each one - which leaves my clients with stronger images. Also, when I'm shooting digital, I tend to use the screen on the back of my camera and knowing I can "fix it later" as a crutch; film has forced me to shoot smarter and shoot better because it's taken my crutches away. In the end, I have more quality images to give to my clients.
ABG: Do you sometimes do a mix of film and digital when shooting weddings?
jHenderson: Yes. I prefer portraits and details on film, but I still prefer to shoot receptions and night-time images digitally.
ABG: Throughout our interview, you’ve shared some of your film photographs, but what's your favorite film photograph ever taken?
jHenderson: I took this image last summer while on a girls' trip to visit my friend Devon (center) in Portland. We were on a ferry to Victoria, BC and I snapped this without them noticing. I just love how everything is aligned perfectly. It's completely not wedding related, but still my favorite!
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Jenna's favorite film photograph that she's ever taken - it's easy to understand why, it's so serene!
A BIG thanks to Jenna for giving us much sought after advice on film and digital photos and for sharing a few of her many gorgeous photos! Be sure to check out her blog for a look at more of her beautiful work! Follow this link to see more examples of film vs digital.
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Posted by Genna |
Filed under: Photography
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