Friday, May 11, 2012
When Amy, lead planner of Swizzle Events, told us about this lovely, Tennessee wedding, she started her description with, "Laura Beth and Matthew are a sweet couple with a quintessential sense of style. When we began working on their wedding plans, Laura Beth shared that she wanted a timeless, Audrey Hepburn style combined with a fun nightclub environment. Challenging? Maybe. Fun? Definitely."
Amy and the bride, Laura Beth, really speak to the day's higlights! And of course, the photos from Erin at The Collection are a perfect complement to walk you through the style and design.
Laura Beth + Matthew
Wedding Date ~ June 25, 2011
Ceremony + Reception Venue ~ Manchester - Coffee County Conference Center
Guests ~ 200
Budget
$20,000 – 50,000
Wedding Team
Planner + Floral Designer | Amy Thomas with Swizzle Events
Photographer | Erin Lee from The Collection
Gown | Paloma Blanca from Arzelle’s in Nashville
Bride’s Accessories | Lemon quartz and diamond necklace received before ceremony as a present from groom; pearl bracelet from officiate/close family friend Judge Vanessa Jackson; earrings from Arzelle’s; wedding ring custom made by Giles Dunn
Men's Attire | Custom-fit black suit with black tie; wedding band from Hammer Jewelry in Collierville, TN
Bridesmaids Attire | Blue, one-shouldered cocktail dress by The Dessy Group
Hair | Courtney from Impressive Creations Salon in Tullahoma, TN
Makeup | Meredith Wiseman
Stationery | Mrs. Post Stationery in Memphis, TN
Cake Artist | Jay Qualls
Ceremony & Reception Musicians | Burning Las Vegas
Lighting | Nashville Event Lighting
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Matthew and I are traditional and classic, so we wanted a wedding that reflected our taste and style, but we also wanted to incorporate unique elements into the ceremony.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We chose a blank ballroom as our ceremony and reception site because we wanted a large, open space for our untraditional ceremony. We also knew that Amy (our wedding planner) was a creative event designer, so we wanted to give her space to showcase her talents. Our venue was a wonderful space for this project. We wanted a cocktail hour (technically, half hour) before the ceremony began. So, the guests arrived and received cocktails and passed appetizers. Then, we asked them to create a part in the ballroom, and I entered with my dad.
We had the ceremony with our amazing family and friends surrounding us. It was like being in an intimate fishbowl. We truly felt like everyone was taking part in our vows, and that is exactly what we wanted—we wanted our day to be about us, but we also wanted it to be about our family and friends because they mean so much to us.
As for the colors, we chose a blue color palate because I love blue and white china. My mom and I have been collecting pieces since I was a kid. We’ve found odd and end plates, cups, dishes, etc. in various places, so we have a lovely collection. I wanted to incorporate the pieces into our décor, so we asked Amy to find linens, lighting, and other design elements in every shade of blue to complement the china accent pieces. Every table had gorgeous white flowers and greenery surrounded by mine and my mother’s china collection. It was not only beautiful, it was special and sentimental because it was more than just rentals—these are pieces I now incorporate into my home with Matthew. Whenever I see them, I’m reminded of our beautiful, blue wedding.
What made you choose to do a dual approach to your wedding day with traditional vows and nightclub-esque reception?
Well, I’d say that our ceremony was non-traditional. My close family friend is a judge, and, since she became a judge, I wanted her to marry me (even before I found my groom!). Since it would be inappropriate for her to stand in a church and marry us, we had to think of alternate locations. We wanted tradition and classic elements, but we also wanted an intimate setting followed by a celebration. This wedding was a perfect combination. We had traditional elements, like a bridal party and traditional vows, but we also did it with people literally standing beside us.
Also, we thought of this day as a celebration of our love and commitment to one another, so we wanted our family and friends to have a good time. That’s where the nightclub-esque feel came into play. We didn’t want to cause discomfort from formality. We wanted our guests to feel at ease in a laid-back, fun setting complete with good food, great music, and wonderful company. It was great that no one had to drive to the reception. We said “I do” and the fun instantly began. It was a magical night.
How did Swizzle Events make your vision come to life? Did you enjoy working with Swizzle?
I loved working with Amy/Swizzle. She is a dream maker. She was patient, kind, creative, and positive. Our path to the wedding was not paved with perfection; there were bumps along the way. We changed venues, we changed concepts, we changed the ceremony. Amy listened to our thoughts, and made our ideas come to life. If something we suggested wasn’t practical, she told us, but she also told us ways to make it better. She took our thoughts and turned them into something better than what we expected—you can’t always say that about event planners. Amy did wonders with lighting, rentals, and linens. We had a blank ballroom that she turned into this amazing, swanky nightclub with tall cocktail tables, elegant floral designs, and sleek white lounge furniture. It took my breath away.
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
We had several compliments on our unique ceremony. People kept telling us that they felt like they were a part of our vows. That touched me more than I thought it would when we initially designed the ceremony. I love that people felt like they were involved in that special moment. We also had a lot of positive comments about the band. People love to dance, and Burning Las Vegas is a ball!
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
The band, Burning Las Vegas, was the best splurge we made! They are one rocking good time. Huge crowd hit! We had to scoot people off the dance floor so we could do our exit—no one wanted to leave. While we did not save on invitations, we did choose not to do thermography, which saved money without taking away from the beautiful print. We also decided not to do individual welcome bags. Instead, we reserved one room at the guests’ hotel and filled it with food, drinks, maps, itineraries, and other goodies. We called it our hospitality suite. It became more of a “hang out” room, though, which was a great place for mingling.
Also, we gave the bridesmaids a long, large calla lily tied with a blue ribbon and surrounded with some small greenery instead of giving them each small bouquets. They were beautiful and sleek and helped us stay within our flower budget.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
I wish I would have taken more pictures. It all goes by so quickly!
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Fun is the best thing to have.
From Amy of Swizzle Events:
"Our venue gaves us a blank slate that was transformed into a fusion of classic Southern beauty and contemporary club. Sleek white lounge furniture mixed with traditional table seating provided a supper club atmosphere that allowed plenty of room for dancing. And with Burning Las Vegas on the stage, everyone danced the night away! Using even the smallest details in the design plan, we deliberately blended the two styles - classic Southern blooms of blue hydrangea alongside sophisticated white orchids, chic linens and specialty lighting for the night club feel with a menu that highlighted southern delights. A clean, classic color palette of blue, white and green provided a common thread throughout the details.
Perhaps most importantly, Laura Beth and Matthew wanted their wedding day to be remembered as a fun celebration. By keeping the ceremony efficient and succinct, the reception became the focus of their wedding. To create the sophisticated party that they wanted, we spent a great deal of time planning the flow of the evening. The timeline was precise and involved an orchestration of many subtle details and cues from lighting to music to placement of the bridal party. As the guests arrived, they enjoyed cocktails and mingled with the bridal party and family. Thirty minutes into the cocktail hour, subtle lighting changes were executed and the bridal party smoothly took their places in the center of the room. As the band played 'Unforgettable', Laura Beth was escorted into the room and met Matthew as he waited surrounded by their bridal party, family and friends. Once Matthew was told to 'kiss his bride', the celebration kicked into high gear and cocktail hour transitioned into dinner and dancing, dancing, dancing!I was truly honored to share in the planning and coordination of their fun, sophisticated wedding celebration. Laura Beth and Matthew's wedding encompassed a fusion of two distinct styles that created a memory to last a lifetime.
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Unique Wedding Ideas, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Friday, May 4, 2012
A real wedding straight from the bride... Brittany actually contacted us herself before Regalo Design could even think to tell us about this beautiful wedding! Regalo acted as the event planners, floral designers, provided rentals, and saved the day when unexpected rain forced the ceremony indoors. Whether from the bride or the vendor, we are just happy to share this wedding with you.
Brittany and Brandon met at his parents house shortly after she moved to Nashville. His parents hosted guests at church for lunch and she attended. Brittany described why this chance meeting lead to a lifelong commitment: "We started spending a lot of time together after that and it didn't take us long to realize how much of an undeniable connection we had. We had so much fun together- we could laugh and talk about absolutely anything. No one had ever made me feel so unconditionally loved or cared about and our individual qualities made each other better." Their sweet love can be seen in their photos... Enjoy!
Brittany + Brandon
Wedding Date ~ September 4, 2011
Ceremony + Reception Venue ~ Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Guests ~ 250
Wedding Team
Planner, Florals, Decor + Rentals | Regalo Design
Photographer | Aubrey Joy Photography
Videographer | Catchlight Cinema
Wedding Gown + Bridesmaid Attire | The White Room
Bride’s Accessories | Vintage shoes, Swarovski crystal + freshwater pearl earrings from my mom, other jewelry from Etsy.com
Rings | Genesis Diamonds
Groom’s Attire + Groomsmen Attire | Street Tuxedo
Hair & Makeup | Marian Carden of Trade Secret, Green Hills Mall
Stationery | Invitations & Calligraphy - Anibella Ink + Paper
Caterer | Schermerhorn Symphony Center
Cake Artist | The Bake Shoppe
Ceremony + Reception Musicians | Nashville Jazz Orchestra
Vintage Furniture Rentals | Four Inch Fold
Transportation | Nashville Wedding Cars (1939 Packard)
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple? How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
I adore the elegance and class of the classic jazz era so I really had fun searching for a band with that sound, a getaway car, and little details that were reminiscent of that period.
The vintage furniture section of our reception was, by far, my favorite, in terms of décor. Mao Thao of FourInchFold vintage rentals did an amazing job styling it and I added old family wedding photos and set up our “Polaroid”-style guest book there. Our guests really enjoyed the personal touches.
I also followed wedding blogs to get a feel for what I really wanted because I wasn’t that girl who started planning her wedding at 5 years old. If I liked something, I tried to incorporate it, whether it was vintage or new, eclectic or traditional. I’m glad I did that. Trying to make each little thing fit into a certain theme is very restricting.
Although our “theme” was elegant and jazzy with some vintage touches, I threw in “Oh The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss as one of our ceremony readings because I read it and it was silly and exciting and I decided I wanted it read at our wedding! It should always be about what you love and what makes you happy.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue....
My something old was my grandmother’s pearl brooch pinned to my bouquet and the earrings from my mom were new. I borrowed my great great grandmother’s handkerchief - I carried just in case I got emotional during my vows…which was bound to happen since I can’t get through an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition without crying my eyes out. And for something blue, I had vintage soft blue heels decorated with a flower shoe clip from Etsy.
My husband also had a “something old” from his mom. She doesn’t have any daughters so she took a piece of her wedding dress and stitched it to hold a small coin that was engraved with “With God, All Things Are Possible.”
What was your most memorable or favorite moment?
We were so glad we decided to do first glance pictures. It was the only part of the day that we had all to ourselves, and definitely one of the most special moments between us. Having him tell me how beautiful I looked and having a chance to talk about our morning was very calming before all of the people descended on us.
Our ceremony was supposed to be outside so the rain was heartbreaking. I had to readjust my vision for the day and it turned out to be possibly more beautiful than I had imagined and no one ever knew it was supposed to be outside. So many other little things weren’t quite right but I think I was the only one who really knew. When you’ve planned every tiny detail, it can be hard to look at the big picture but it’s worth it to just let it all go and enjoy the day.
Our first dance song was “Misty” by Sarah Vaughan. Misty is my favorite song and my dad is an amazing jazz musician and played the saxophone with the band as we danced. It was special to me because he claims he’s not much of a dancer so that was our father-daughter moment.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We planned for 250 and decided a $25,000 budget, which we didn’t exactly achieve. But, we saved SO much money (like thousands!!) with Regalo Design. Everything we booked in their name was tax free and they are master negotiators! The most we saved was on the venue.
I splurged on the band because it was important to me to have live music and the vintage furniture rentals and décor that was set up in our reception space. It was well worth it because that little vintage section was my favorite part of all the décor.
I had high hopes of DIY-ing my accessories and table decorations but, as a medical student, there was just no way I could make that happen. I wanted to make my girls’ birdcage veils as well as my own. I wanted to learn calligraphy for our thank you sign to use for thank you post cards. None of this happened but I had a lot of fun browsing Ebay for the vintage items that I used as table decorations and Etsy for my accessories.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
The day of our wedding, it rained ALL day! So, all of the meticulous planning was kind of pointless. I wish I had been able to just relax more and not worry about the tiny details during the planning process and even on the actual day. I would advise any bride to just enjoy the process and the day and focus more on the love that you’ve found instead of miniscule details because you really have no idea how it will all turn out. And no matter how it turns out, it’s always beautiful because it’s your wedding day and you’re in love and celebrating and nothing else matters!
Thank you dearly to the couple for sharing their day with us!! We're so glad we could provide inspiration in your process and share the outcome! To see more photos of their wedding day, visit Aubrey Joy's blog. And if you are looking for your wedding to go smoothly, even in the face of setbacks or catastrophe, be sure to contact Regalo Design! They've proved their capable here, while their florals and design are just a stunning mirror of the day.
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds, Real Nashville Weddings, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Wednesday, April 4, 2012
I will admit this is a tough post to write as I don’t want to come across as tooting our own horns so-to-speak but I like to believe that we must be doing some things right now that Simply Stunning Events has been in business for almost 5 years, planned and coordinated over 60 weddings to date, and we still love it!
We work with all sorts of couples, some here in Nashville, some from out-of-state, some still in school, and some well into their busy careers, but we have noticed some trends regarding what is most important to our couples, i.e. what their wedding priorities are. For some wedding planning companies the look and feel of the wedding is a huge factor for brides and grooms, they want to wow their guests with amazing visual elements and unique details. However while the look and design of the wedding is certainly important to our clients, most of them place the experience of their guests as the highest priority. They want to be sure their guests have delicious food, an open bar, a great band or DJ to keep the party hopping, and make it easy for them to attend the wedding with logistical elements such as guest shuttles and comfortable hotels. Going along with this, they want to be sure that everything on the day of the wedding runs smoothly, and that’s where we come in!
We work with our couples to recommend the best possible vendors for their style, personality, and budget, and then put together a very detailed timeline that takes into consideration the right flow for the evening and the guest’s experience.
Photo by Phindy Studios
There are many different wedding planners out there with different areas of expertise and different personalities. Find the one that fits you best and shares your priorities! If design and details are your passion, find a planner that specializes in and shares that passion. If logistics and organization are largely important to you, find a planner who is a whiz at event logistics, detailed timelines, and checklists. And if you’re interested in Simply Stunning, we’d love to hear from you!
Photo by Phindy Studios
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Posted by Simply Stunning Events |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Tuesday, March 20, 2012
I speak with so many brides that want to take on several do-it-yourself (DIY) wedding projects. Who can blame them when everywhere you turn there are wedding blogs with incredible DIY ideas from handmade weddings. When I got married, I too had visions of grandeur but neither the time nor the skill to pull it all together. I ended up, the night before my wedding, completing as many tasks as I could - which was no fun.
Luckily, times have changed since I got married and now there are many wedding planners that are willing to help DIY brides. My advice to any of you considering DIY projects, assess 1) how much time you realistically have to execute and 2) how much skill you have, then 3) strongly consider hiring a wedding planner to give you some help so that you are not overwhelmed.
Hillary Capes-Smith of Your Day of Fairy Tales was the project manager for a bride's DIY wedding on New Year's Eve. The bride, Melissa, hired Hillary to help her the entire month of her wedding (aka month-of wedding planning service). Included in this service, Hillary offers unlimited questions, which was great for Melissa who leveraged Hillary for help with her DIY projects! Smart girl! Hillary created a game plan and located the resources for Melissa's DIY projects; Melissa and her fiance and friends only had to execute the projects.
I spoke with Hillary to learn more about how she helped this DIY bride...
Which DIY projects did the bride ask you to do?
Melissa was a very sweet girl and had many great ideas, but needed help figuring out how to execute those ideas. She admitted that she was very crafty, but just needed initial help getting the ball rolling. The main projects that I helped the couple design were their programs, centerpieces, and the inspiration for bridesmaids bouquets.
Which did she undertake on her own? What was your role in the diy projects?
Melissa undertook all projects on her own. My role was to locate and provide the resources to Melissa and Jesse to create and execute the ideas they had.
Did you shop for the items, create a template?
When Melissa and I first met, we sat down and talked about what kind of things she was looking for as far as DIY ideas and how to make them happen. When it came time to work on each item, I searched for the necessary resources (printing, craft, etc) and sent Melissa a huge email! I provided Melissa the resources to pull these projects together. I did not actually help her create the projects, but rather the inspiration and resources to create.
How did you charge for these services?
In Melissa’s case, there was no additional fee. She hired me for month of services and it was included in her package since all of my packages include unlimited phone and e-mail communication. If the bride however chooses for me to undertake and create these projects myself, they are billed according to what the project is and how much is required of them.
Is there are flat fee for each DIY project or hourly rate?
My flat fee for each project depends on what the project is - example, program assembly cost less than assembling 200 ribbon wands.
If you are a DIY bride, feel free to contact Hillary of Your Day of Fairy Tales, or another Nashville wedding planner, for help with your DIY projects.
All photos courtesy of Josh Reeder and the inspiration board courtesy of Hillary Capes-Smith, via online compilations.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Monday, March 5, 2012
The precious title for her business, Simply Yours Weddings, doesn’t even begin to cover the sweet spirit of Emily Humphries, a local Nashville wedding planner who discovered her heart for brides when she realized that oftentimes, their exhaustion hinders them from enjoying their wedding planning. This truth was especially captured when Emily began to sew her own wedding together. She set out to fill a need, granting brides with what she describes as the “gift of time to live your life and enjoy your engagement, and the gift of freedom for you and your family to enjoy your Big Day!”
Merely five minutes of speaking with Emily conveys her deeply-rooted love for what she does, promising beauty for any bride’s wedding day. I spoke with Emily specifically in regards to the ever so popular Do-It-Yourself aka “DIY Bride.” In light of blogs, Etsy, and Pinterest, DIY options are exploding! But does that mean that DIY brides don’t need a wedding planner? Emily offers some wise responses pertaining to this subject, which ultimately reminds the DIY bride just how valuable a planner can be.
Image courtesy of Zach Goodyear Photography
ABG: Do you have experience working with DIY brides?
Simply Yours: Yes, I do! The description of a total DIY bride is a bride who does everything herself, and while not all brides sell out to this description, most brides want to do something themselves, granting every bride a little dash of DIY. Sara Towne, who also writes for ABG, is a good example of a bride in the middle. Sara carefully selected a handful of projects to create, while still avoiding the stress of conquering every detail that goes into a wedding. The question isn’t, ‘Are you capable of doing this [DIY wedding]?’ You’re capable. You’re creative. You’re artistic. The question is, ‘Are you going to want to spend the week of your wedding doing this? Do you have time for everything?'
Image courtesy of Betsy Limbaugh Photography.
ABG: Why do you think brides are attracted to DIY weddings? Is it to save money? To add a personal touch, perhaps?
Simply Yours: The attraction is likely a combination of both. The DIY trend has been growing for several years but the main stream availability of DIY materials has really come about during these hard economic times. Therefore there is often an illusion that DIY is always the less expensive option which may or may not be true. When I was married 4 1/2 years ago, there was not a lot available for DIY projects or even ideas for projects. There was really one major wedding planning website and a lot of magazines. But now with a combination of social media, Etsy, and Pinterest the trend itself and the influx of ideas has multiplied tremendously. Brides now start conversations with "Well I saw this idea on Pinterest..." and that dictates the amount of projects or ideas they have going for their wedding. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it sure can multiply your to-do lists in a hurry!
Left image courtesy of Scoobie Schneider Photography; Right image courtesy of Daniel Meigs Photography.
ABG: In your experience, do DIY brides lean toward not hiring a wedding planner? Do they usually assume they can take care of everything?
Simply Yours: Viewing the wedding planner as unnecessary is a thought for a lot of Brides. I understand it, I started out as one of those Brides myself. A lot of the time, she sends me an email explaining her desired projects, while admitting she has finally come to a point where she does not have time to do all of them herself. OR she needs further direction on how to make the things she really wants come into fruition. Essentially, all brides think that they can do more, but emotional stability—family—time—all of these things weigh heavily on weddings. Feeling the weight of it all isn’t indicative of a bride’s talent or creative ability. It just reveals that our emotional capacity eventually reaches its end. We don’t realize how draining it will be until we’re in the middle of it.
Image courtesy of Betsy Limbaugh Photography.
ABG: What types of projects make the most sense for the DIY bride?
Simply Yours: Fun, personal quirks that polish off a wedding, such as guestbook elements, guest favors, pictures, signs, welcome baskets—things that don't require a lot of time, but weave the couples’ personality into the mix. I like to encourage brides to choose DIY projects that will not make or break their weddings.
Image courtesy of Scoobie Schneider Photography.
Images courtesy of Simply Yours Weddings.
ABG: How can a planner best help a DIY bride?
Simply Yours: Orchestrating an endless craft list along with managing a normal life and preparing a solid foundation for a marriage is simply too much. Eventually something has to give. The wedding planner is the give. She’s the support, let her finish it. She has the time and the resources to bring DIY ideas into fruition. She’s the one who understands what tends to fall through the cracks in weddings, and catches them before they do! She’s a master for details, who reminds the bride to be a bride, the mom to be a mom, and the best friend to be a best friend, all the while stepping up herself to complete a bride’s DIY fancies. You can trust her.
Image courtesy of Ulmer Studios Photography.
When projects seem endless, we oftentimes come to resent our creativity! Emily prizes your creativity, and on behalf of wedding planners, wants to implement your imaginative treasures into your special day! To learn more about how Emily can help you plan the day you've always dreamed of, visit her website today!
To get more sage advice from Emily and our host of experts, register today to attend our wedding planning boot camp, The Smart Bride, which starts March 13.
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Posted by Betsy-Intern |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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