Meet Michele of Casual Elegance Photography. She is based in Clarksville, TN but serves engaged couples all over the Greater Nashville area and will travel for destination weddings (as you can tell from the photos pictured below). Contact Michele to learn more about her wedding photography services.
How did you get started in weddings?
I started a photography business after my wedding photos cost an arm and a leg with the end result being nothing short of unsatisfying. Then a dear friend asked me to photograph her wedding.
What do you like most about weddings?
The union of two people…I could not wait to get married, it is the most awesome experience.
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why?
The black and white photo with the red roses in the sand to me captures the pure romantic feel of a father giving away his daughter.
What is your service philosophy?
Best price that will work for you…not me, Best quality and above all, best customer service.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
I promise to do anything it takes to make your day special…anything!
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors in terms of helpfulness, professionalism, style?
Who do you recommend when you’re not available/not a fit?
Well, when it comes to style, it’s not up to me, it is up to the bride and what vision she wants for her wedding day. If that still doesn’t work, I will recommend a fellow photographer, but luckily that has not happened yet.
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends?
WE, Lifetime Weddings, The Knot.com, AshleysBrideGuide.com, Brides.com, “Say Yes to the Dress”, Rich Bride Poor Bride (my favorite).
Let’s discuss current wedding trends.What are your brides requesting?
All of my brides to date pretty much want the same style, relaxed candid shots capturing emotions, very unposed and carefree.
That’s an amazing picture! So, which trend are you lovin’ now??
Studio shots…I am not a fan of fake backgrounds and overly posed shots.
Which trend are you glad is gone?
That’s hard to answer, because everyone has their own style. My past trend could be another bride’s favorite. But if I had to narrow it down, I would say 80’s poof.
Which trend are you kind of sad to see go?
Not in all case, but in some, I am noticing that the bride wants the wedding pics shot before the ceremony, removing the element of surprise from the grooms face when he sees her for the first time.
Good point. I hadn’t thought about that. I did the ole’ school way - didn’t see my beau until the ceremony which worked. But, we did get a lot of the non-couple pics done before the wedding - like with my girls. I diverge…
Advice for brides?
No matter how much planning and down to the minute preparation you have, something will always go wrong, but do not let it ruin your day. Just remember that no matter what happens, Your wedding day is about you and the groom and no one else. At the end of it all, you will still be man and wife.
Check out Fabuless Bride’s blog, spotlighting Savanah Tea Room. Fabuless really liked the venue so I wanted to share with everyone.
I love it when other blogs do vendor/venue spotlights! I love reading them to gather information on possible locations and to get ideas! I had such a great experience at a location the other day, that I just have to do my own vendor spotlight!!
On Monday, my mom and I went to have lunch at the Savannah Tea Company to check it out for my bridal luncheon the week of my wedding! It’s still a few months away, but we wanted to confirm that we’d really want it so that we could hold the date! We’ll be taking over the whole place so we needed to make a decision soon. Almost as soon as we walked in and were greeted by Emily, the owner, our decision was already made! We absolutely adored EVERY second inside the tea house!!
It was the perfect time to go, as I’d been REALLY stressed out the day before and that morning, trying to get stuff done that just wasn’t very much fun! We had a wonderful relaxing time- probably spending more time than we should’ve, but we were the only customers there after awhile, and the waitress and owner were just so helpful and nice that it was the kind of place you didn’t want to leave!
When I was little, I used to make my mom have tea parties with me ALL the time! We’d have to dress up, put on make-up, and drink lots of the “finest” tea (really just plain old black tea!) from my cute little china cups. I often had a friend or two I could talk into doing it with me, but it was mostly my mom!
As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the owner, Emily, who showed us around a bit (we told her we were there for lunch but also to check out the place for the bridal luncheon!). She went over the menu with us- which has an EXTENSIVE tea list! I was slightly overwhelmed by the list, but Emily gave some great suggestions! I chose Pomegranate Rose hips (been on a pomegranate kick lately so I thought, why not?!). It was wooooonnnnderful! My mom tried the Chocolate Mint tea (sounds odd for tea….but wow!!!), and of course, I stole quite a bit of it!
For just $3.25 you get your own little pot of tea and you get to choose a tea cup off of the shelf. This is the one I chose….It looked very cute and cozy and invited me to sip from it all day long! It reminded me of my childhood as well, since this light pink and green were my favorite colors to wear together for a long time!
It took us awhile to decide what to eat too, because of all the GREAT choices! They make all of their quiches, soups, muffins, scones, etc. fresh every day! Actually, they don’t make scones every day because they are usually part of the special requests for light or full tea reservations. However….we REALLY wanted to try them- it’s been ages since I’ve had a scone and the thought of that and clotted cream along with my tea was just irresistible! They whipped up a couple just for us, which was sooooo nice!
They were YUMMY! The scones are in the shape of a teapot, and they also do PB&J sandwiches for kids in the shape of teapots- how cute!! They have a great kids lunch (less fussy stuff!) and a great “kid’s” room as well.
This small room seats about 10 and is off of the main room (with seats for 20). It will be perfect for all the little flower girl’s and junior bridesmaids to play “tea” in with the fancy hats, gloves and boas. I LOVE the poster of Scarlett and Rett! :o)
And the cute main room, where the shelf of tea cups is located….
You can sort of see the gift shop- filled with tea pots and tea cups, of course, in the front, along with sample designs of the wedding cakes they also offer! I thought they looked familiar, then after talking with Emily realized I’d seen them at the bridal show at the Frist!
Our lunch order was fantastic as well! Every meal off the menu comes with fruit, muffins, and a frozen cranberry salad! YUM!!!! They have different soups, quiches, and sandwich specials, along with a few regulars. I tried the black forest ham and apricot preserve paninni- fantastic!! Along with a cup of chicken mushroom soup…again great! (you can see the muffin- ate one already- and cranberry salad on either side!)
Mom had the crustless asparagus and mushroom quiche along with vegetable tortellini soup. I, of course, snuck bites of both! Ok, so I asked, I didn’t steal!:o)
They also do tea tastings, for larger parties. So that you can each get a different pots of tea and share and try them all out! I didn’t think I would EVER run out of tea! That’s partially why we stayed for so long and partially because it was just so great! I kept thinking I’d be at the bottom of the pot and on my last cup….and nope, there was still another, and another, and another….they’ll give it to you to go if you have some left, but we wanted to stay and finish. And umm…..even though my mom got hers later than me (she waited until after we ate our main meal to order!), hers went faster, because I had to have some of hers too!!
I absolutely cannot wait to go back for my bridal luncheon- I might have to go back sooner! I can’t say enough good things about the food, the place, and the people! We must’ve asked Emily AND Casey dozens of questions each and they were both willing to answer them all plus some! They were fantastic! If you live near Nashville, and haven’t been- you should!!! I will be going again soon! Anyone want to come?!!
(Hey everyone - Fabuless Bride sent me these cute, spring-colored M&Ms. She saw them and immediately thought of my website colors. Thanks for thinking of me Fabuless!)
I reached out to Linda of Nashville’s Historic Cedarwood to learn more about their wedding venue options. Wow! With one look, everyone will agree that this is one spectacular wedding location! What’s great is that the venue offers great options - whether you want your ceremony or reception indoor or outdoor.
Cedarwood / Linda Wright
3831 Whites Creek Pike
Nashville, Tennessee37207
615-876-9999
Established in 2006
What should brides know about your amazing venue?
Romantic Country Weddings at Historic Cedarwood, a picturesque 1830’s antebellum farm on the National Historic Register. Naturally elegant Old South setting with indoor and outdoor event spaces. All-inclusive designer wedding packages for up to 200 guests. Pet friendly. A Country Oasis 8 miles from Downtown Nashville, conveniently located off Briley Parkway.
What options does your venue offer?
Ceremony & Reception
What rooms are available?
Indoor and outdoor spaces are available
What group sizes can you accommodate?
Indoor events–10-75
Outdoor events – 10-200
What catering options do you allow?
Onsite catering; Outside catering; Preferred list of caterers; Outside alcohol allowed
We offer all inclusive wedding packages and planning
Well, I love your stunning venue. As a self-proclaimed bride buddy, I appreciate that Cedarwood offers simple and affordable, all-inclusive wedding packages that allow the bride to just show up. Thanks!
Contact Linda at Cedarwood to discuss your upcoming wedding.
(All photos are from Cedarwood so visit their website for photo credits.)
Corine of Weddings with Reese has shared great wedding planning ideas with our Nashville bridal community. This time, I decided to reach out to learn a bit more about her wedding planning experience, approach and faves.
I already knew she was ultra-creative, but here’s more about this amazing up and coming planner…
How did you get started in weddings?
After helping a few friends with their weddings, and loving every second if it, I began thinking that perhaps I could actually plan weddings for a living! I got lots of praise from the friends I worked with and their vendors, and decided to make a go of it.
What do you like most about weddings?
The joy of a bride and groom really enjoying every second of their wedding day. My favorite moment of a wedding is when they do their first dance and all eyes are on them, and they look so blissfully happy. In that moment, I am always reminded of why I love what I do.
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why?
I think this picture is so funny, and telling of a wedding planner’s life. I am sewing a tear in the bride’s dress! The photographer thought it would be humorous to capture that moment, and afterwards I appreciated it!
What is your service philosophy?
Treat every bride as if she’s your only one. Each girl should feel that you are devoting all of your time and attention to her. I also believe fully in responding to emails/phone calls from brides right away, as I know how it feels to be kept waiting. When a bride has a thought or concern, I want to be there immediately to help them.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
I sincerely love to give brides a lot for their money. That goes for maximizing their budget, first of all. Secondly, though I have “packages” that are fully described, I do not limit myself to the confines of the descriptions. A bride can be assured that I will honestly do anything and everything I am capable of to make her day a success.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors?
Oh, where to start!!?
1 - Ashley’s Bride Guide - I honestly cannot express the value of this resource!
2 - McLellan Studios - Amazing photographs and an amazing team. They are wonderful in every aspect!
3 - Cuppycakes Bakery - Something really different to add a unique spin to weddings. Amazing customer service as well.
4 - The Sweetest Day - Amazing and beautiful cakes, and at very reasonable prices.
Love McLellan Studio too! I haven’t tried Cuppycakes or The Sweetest Day…but I look forward to. Who do you recommend when you’re not available/not a fit?
Lindsey Monger with A Bride Idea. Our styles and prices are pretty similar and I trust her, as I have seen her in action!
I love Lindsey too. In fact, she’s the first wedding planner I met when starting my website. She was very supportive and totally gets brides. And, you guys are similar! What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends?
I lurk on the Knot chat boards to see what TN girls are talking about. I also read every magazine known to the wedding industry (and others)!
Let’s discuss wedding trends. Which trend do you love?
Hanging things from the ceiling of your reception venue!! There is of course the Chinese lanterns, but beyond that even, glass candle holders, round glass globes, hanging vases, mirrors, fabric, the list goes on! I love the surreal look it provides.
Which trend do you hate?
I really can’t think of any! Brides often have some crazy ideas, but I like to make them work, no matter what I think of them!
What are your favorite wedding websites?
TheKnot.com, MarthaStewart.com and Ashleysbrideguide.com
Aww…Corrine, you’re too sweet. Thank you! Any parting advice parting Nashville brides?
Find a planner/coordinator to work with who fits your style and budget. You will be spending a lot of time with her and you want to mesh well! The initial consult with a planner is a great way to see if you think you will work well together. The ability to be able to openly communicate with her is invaluable. You will always know that you can go to her with any questions/concerns and she will be open to whatever you have to say.
Yesterday, I finally visited A Bride’s Storey. Nashville brides and planners have raved about A Bride’s Storey, so I thought I would check out this Murfreesboro bridal salon myself.
When I arrived, I saw a cute little mom and bride to be leaving the store with a huge smile - great start!
I entered the store, with my crew of wedding planners with whom I’d eaten lunch, and was pleasantly greeted by Melissa - the new co-owner. We waited as she finished working with her client and she gave me a tour of the salon and her amazing collections.
Before I get into the pictures (which I know you love!), here are a few things that I love about A Bride’s Storey:
1) They can take your measurements for $5 without a purchase. Salons are shying away from taking measurements of non-purchasers, rightfully so - it does take time, time that could be spent with paying clients. But, $5 is no big deal.
2) They work with an outside seamstress who can do your alterations. However, she can come to A Bride’s Storey for your fittings. (If you don’t purchase your dress at A Bride’s Storey, they will still put you in contact with their preferred seamstress.)
3) Your dress will be steamed (before your wedding) and cleaned and preserved (after your wedding) for free. It’s included in your service. Awesome! My dress is 2 years old and cleaning is on my to-do list.
4) When you buy your dress at A Bride’s Storey, you and your party get 10% other purchases in the store - invitations, shoes, mom’s dress, bridesmaid dresses, etc. Plus, Street Tuxedo is just a few doors down AND they honor the 10% discount too. Money in the bank!
5) My first impression of Melissa was great. Now, I havent purchased a dress there but we were off to a good start. You’d be surprised at how many Nashville-area bridal salons I visited that didn’t leave a positive first impression.
She carries 9 lines of bridal gowns plus attire for bridesmaids, flower girls and mothers of the bride/groom. Today, I’ll share one of her lines, San Patrick, which I think is amazing. A Bride’s Storey is one of 2 Nashville bridal salons that carries San Patrick. It is a European collection, I think out of Spain so you will notice lots of lace.
I visited their website to show you some of their breathtaking gowns.
So, that’s the skinny on A Bride’s Storey. Visit the salon to see more of this stunning collection. I promise, it’s even more spectacular in person.
I reached out to Linda of Nashville’s Belle Meade Plantation to learn more about wedding venue options. Aside from being a historic landmark, they offer indoor and outdoor options, making it a great “all-in-one” spot for your ceremony and vacation.
Here’s more about the Belle Meade Plantation. (All photos from Belle Meade Plantation website. Visit their website for photo credits.)
Belle Meade Plantation may be rented for after hour special events. The 1890’s Carriage House and Stables are a wonderful venue for wedding receptions, engagement parties and rehearsal dinners. The BoxwoodGarden boasts grandeur that graciously hosts many of the finest wedding ceremonies each year. Timeless. Elegant. Classic. Just like your wedding day, our grounds speak for themselves.
What options does your venue offer?
Engagement Parties
Rehearsal Dinners
Ceremony
Reception
What rooms are available?
Our grounds are closed to the public each day at 5:00pm making our BoxwoodGarden, Carriage House and Stables all private events areas.
What group sizes can you accommodate? Outdoor & Indoor combined: 250 Max seated
Outdoor & Indoor combined: 300 Max Stand up reception
What catering options do you allow?
On-site catering-yes
Outside catering allowed—yes
Preferred list of caterers—yes
Outside alcohol allowed—yes
Great! Is an on-site event coordinator available?
There is an Events Supervisor that is available throughout the duration of each event to answer questions and oversee the set up and break down of each event.
What is your pricing model?
Room rental fee $1500-$5000
Which bride budgets do you serve?
$$$ (moderate - $20-50K)
$$$$ (luxe - $50K)
What else should brides know about your venue?
We are a historic not-for-profit museum.
Contact Linda at Belle Meade Plantation to discuss your upcoming wedding.
After getting into photography as a career, the wedding photography industry was a natural fit. I’m a people person, and I love creating photos of people at such a happy point in their lives.
What do you like most about weddings?
I love beauty, the excitement, the production…and the fact that people have chosen me to preserve this special day for them.
What’s your favorite wedding picture/video and why?
My favorite is of the couple next to the car at sunset. They were anxious to get to their reception, but I saw this beautiful sunset behind them. It took me 3 shots to get it right: on the first, my exposure was off, the second, my flash didn’t fire, and on the third, voila! I could tell they were tired of taking pictures, but I’m so glad I got that one last shot out of them before they began to party…and so are they!
What is your service philosophy?
I try to give as much personal attention to detail as possible. I also think it’s important to develop a relationship with my clients. I want to be more than just another wedding vendor, I want to be your friend.
What are your strengths compared to other wedding planners? Why should a bride hire you?
I do my best to keep things fun, which helps the bride and whole wedding party relax and give the natural expressions we all love to see in photos. Sometimes it might mean I have to be a little silly to get a natural smile, but it’s worth it in the end!
I love the pic of the couple because they do look like they are having fun, which is the whole point! So, who do you recommend when you’re not available/not a fit?
I usually refer people to Gambill Photography. Angie was my own wedding photographer, and we have similar styles and packages.
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends?
Everything! I subscribe to just about every magazine on the planet, I take inspiration from everything!
Let’s discuss wedding trends… Which trend do you love?
Colorful cakes! 20years ago, they were so bland and white, but now there is so much color and chic design to them, they look like works of art!
I also love the new trend where couples will plan a ‘day after’ session for photos. This is so great because it allows the couple and the photographer to create beautiful portraits without the rush and distractions of the wedding day. Plus, it allows more control over locations, light, etc.
Which trend do you hate?
I hate it when brides get it into their heads they ‘have’ to do all this stuff at receptions, such as tossing a bouquet/garter, having the wedding party announced, first dance with groom/dad/mother, etc. If that’s what you want, fine, but don’t force it…forcing that kind of thing just creates an awkward atmosphere. The best receptions are the ones that just let things flow as they happen.
And bubbles…enough already.
What are your favorite wedding websites? / Neatest wedding find?
Trash the Dress…the photos are from great photographers all over the country and are such beautiful and inspirational works of art. Recently, when it snowed in Nashville, I had the opportunity to do a TTD session myself. We were freezing, but I’m very proud of the results.
Advice for brides?
When choosing a time of day for your ceremony, keep your photos in mind…for example, if you’re wedding is at sunset, and you and the groom decide not to see each other for pre-ceremony photos, it will be dark when the ceremony is over, and your options for creating great photos of the bride and groom alone will be limited. The best time of day for natural light is the ‘golden hour’, the 1-2 hours right before the sunsets. So, consider moving your ceremony time a bit so you can really take advantage of the best light.
