Friday, September 9, 2016
Nashville wedding planners and designers Corinna Lindsey Weddings have made their style shoot debut at Long Hollow Gardens. The gorgeous greenhouse backdrop called for a bohemian meets farm to table look for the planner duo, Cori and Lindsey. With fresh organic produce from the local Hendersonville Produce to the whispy dresses from Bella Bridesmaids, Corinna Lindsey Weddings set the mood during the perfect June day. Take a look at the serene photos by Wynd & Paisley!
Farm to Table Styled Shoot
6.16.16
Event Styling & Design | Corinna Lindsey Weddings
Photography | Wynd & Paisley Co
Venue | Long Hollow Gardens and Nursery
Florals | Two Southern Sisters
Bride's Dress | Montgomery by Sarah Seven from LVD Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses | Bella Bridesmaids
Hair and Makeup | Make Me Blush Makeup Artistry
Paper Goods | Busy Bee Stationery Co.
Cake | The Rolling Pin
Rentals | Liberty Party Rental
From the Designers Corinna Lindsey Weddings: The inspiration for our farm-to-table shoot came from our passion for local foods and for all things natural and beautiful that grow here in Tennessee. We work at a local produce store during the week that is owned by Lindsey’s mother-in-law (when we aren’t planning and coordinating weddings) and we have the privilege of working with a wide variety of foods and produce and meeting the people who grow and create it. Summertime brings an abundance of some of our favorite fruits and veggies, including peaches and berries, which were the primary inspiration for the color palette of this shoot. We love all things natural and romantic, so the idea of a "farm-to-table" styled shoot seemed appropriate because in our opinion, you can't get much more natural and romantic than fresh food on a beautiful table!
From the Designers Corinna Lindsey Weddings: Long Hollow Gardens & Nursery is one of Nashville's most sought-after venues right now and it was the perfect place for a Farm-To-Table inspired shoot with its gorgeous working greenhouse and charming white farmhouse on the property. Our bride was portrayed by Madeline Gammon who is not only gorgeous and extremely photogenic, she is also Lindsey's sister-in-law. Her mother owns the produce store where we both work so it seemed very fitting that we would use her in a photo shoot inspired by local produce!
Thank you to Cori and Lindsey for sharing your beautiful styled shoot with us (and making our tummies growl for some of that delicous farm to table goodness!). Gorgeous work by all the vendors involved - have a happy weekend!
All photos by Wynd & Paisley.
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Posted by Alyssa |
Filed under: Nashville-Style, Inspiration & Trends,
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Thursday, September 8, 2016
Styled shoots - we see them all the time. On blogs (yes, even here on ABG!), on Pinterest, Instagram, you name it! Inspiration for your wedding can be found all over the internet. Sometimes it's great to generate ideas for your wedding, but sometimes it's dangerous to your wedding budget and expectations for the overall feel of your wedding. Believe me - styled shoots are fun! I've had the privilege of styling multiple shoots and taking what's in your head and making it come to life is such a thrill for a creative! However, the distinction between real weddings and styled shoots is something that needs to be talked about more in our wedding world.
Today I have the lovely and experienced Nashville (and beyond!) wedding photographer Kristin Sweeting here to dive into this topic of styled shoots - the good, the bad and the ugly (wait, nothing is ugly in a styled shoot!)...
Styled Shoots: What They Are and What They Are Not
By Kristin Sweeting
The wedding world is buzzing with talk about styled shoots these days. Love ‘em? Hate ‘em? Have no idea what I’m even talking about?
Let’s clear the air and get down to business with a quick rundown on styled shoots, both for photographers and their brides.
What is it?
Styled Shoot n (stīld sho͞ot): A photo shoot involving a team of wedding vendors who come together to stage a fake wedding or bridal shoot.
Styled shoots give vendors the opportunity to pool their resources to create something beautiful and inspiring that represents their personal style as a wedding professional. It’s a chance for photographers and wedding creatives to stretch their creative muscles and truly shape the results.
For photographers: why participate in a styled shoot?
When I do styled shoots, it’s often because I have a vision in my head of something I have dreamed of photographing for a long time. I invest my time, money, and resources into making that vision come to life, so that the final results are exactly what I intended. Like an artist beginning a new painting, I have control of how the scene looks, the location, the feel, the outfits, the subject matter… it’s all about my own creative expression, which fuels my artistic spirit! It’s also a chance to shoot in new locations. Maybe I’m traveling to a new/beautiful/exotic city, or want to explore a new space in my own hometown. I use styled shoots as an opportunity for growth and a chance to inspire clients who are getting married in that city!
Networking is another great reason for wedding creatives to get involved in styled shoots. A new florist may contribute her services to a style shoot to meet local photographers and wedding planners. A local venue may need new images for their website or social media outlets. Styled shoots are a great way to generate content for blog posts or social media!
What it is not!
Brides searching the web for the perfect vendors for their big day should be aware that a styled shoot is NOT an accurate representation of what your wedding day will be like.
Wedding days are full of movement, candid moments, hugs, kisses, and moving pieces. Styled shoots are in a controlled environment and will often focus on portraits and details instead of storytelling and celebrating. Wedding days are also full of things that are beyond your vendors’ control. They can’t be easily rescheduled for rain, and you can’t stop the ceremony for a second try at a perfect first kiss.
During a styled shoot, photographers and vendors have hours to get the perfect set of portraits and detail shots. On your wedding day, they might only have 15-30 minutes for each. While it’s tempting to get caught up in making your wedding “Pinterest Perfect,” it’s most helpful for you to use styled shoots, and Pinterest in general, as a source of inspiration for your unique day. I encourage my clients to keep their focus on enjoying their day with their loved ones.
Tips for Brides:
The best thing you can do is hire smart. Look for:
· Vendors who know how to work quickly and efficiently and will be a joy to be around.
· A photographer who you know is comfortable with fast-paced environments, multiple weather conditions, and is calm under pressure.
· Vendors you trust and can release to do their jobs well!
Hire well and keep your expectations and priorities in line and you will be able to relax and enjoy your day and celebrate your marriage and family which is the most important part!
Tips for Vendors:
Considering a styled shoot as a way to grow your wedding business? A few things to keep in mind:
· Styled shoots are not complete branding shoots for your website. They can be a great ways to create up-to-date content but can end up being very disjointed looking if you’re pulling together shoots from multiple photographers. Consider investing in your business and hiring a photographer to help you with your branding photography. They can help you streamline your look, communicate your vision, and attract your ideal clients.
· Styled shoots are also not a sure-fire way to get published. For some in the wedding industry, getting published is the Holy Grail of success. At the same time, blogs and magazines are becoming way more selective in what styled shoots they are publishing, and are more interested in publishing real weddings. Don’t go in to a collaboration expecting it to be in a magazine. Instead, look at it as a way to build genuine relationships, communicate your style, inspire brides who are planning their weddings, and feed your creative soul!
Thank you, Kristin for sharing your insight and knowledge on such an important topic not only for brides, but for wedding professionals as well!
Stay tuned because we have another beautiful local styled shoot to share with you tomorrow. :)
Check out more of Kristin Sweeting's work and travels on her website, blog and Instagram page.
All photos by Kristin Sweeting.
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Posted by Alyssa |
Filed under: Nashville-Style, Advice & Planning, Inspiration & Trends,
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Wednesday, September 7, 2016
When it comes down to your wedding day, most brides tend to get caught up in the dècor, the venue, the dress... but there's something we need to focus on - the marriage! And getting legally married (at least here in Tennessee) means you have to obtain a marriage license. It's a once in a lifetime task and it may seem like a daunting one to most brides. But you're in luck because we have Chiara Sulprizio, lead wedding officiant of Ivy and June Custom Ceremonies, to explain it all! Chiara has graciously shared step by step instructions on how to obtain a marriage license in Tennessee. I feel like she's unlocked this vault of knowledge on the topic so many of us worry about when it comes down to the wedding day. I'll let Chiara take it from here!
Chiara: As an ordained wedding officiant, I get a lot of questions about the ins and outs of getting a marriage license in Tennessee from my clients. Like every other state, Tennessee has some unique rules and regulations that are not very well-publicized and that can be a little unclear, even to those of us who are familiar with them! Of course, the last thing brides and grooms need is the unnecessary stress of finding themselves in a pinch at the last minute, as they try to sort through all the information and comply with the rules. For this reason -- and because I know you want your wedding to be the start of your marriage and not just a big fancy party -- I came up with this handy list of six things you need to know about marriage licenses in Tennessee:
Photo by Silver Nitrite Photography
1. You have thirty days from when you obtain your marriage license to actually have the ceremony performed and get married. There is no “waiting period” or blood test required.
2. To get your marriage license, both parties must go to the county clerk’s office together and show some form of identification that a) includes your social security number and b) proves you are over eighteen (a birth certificate works well). Also, you do not have to be a Tennessee resident to get married here -- if you live in another state, your marriage will be recognized there too.
3. Once your ceremony has been completed, you have three business days to return the certificate, which must be signed by your officiant, to the county clerk’s office in the same county where you got it, either by mail or in person (note: many officiants will do this for you!).
4. It is perfectly OK to to obtain your license in one Tennessee county and get married in another (as long as you return it to the county where you originally got it – see #3!).
5. In Tennessee, you don’t need any witnesses to be present in order to get married, though there is a space on the paperwork for one witness to sign if you want them to.
6. Tennessee is one of only a handful of states where, if you complete a four-hour premarital preparation course and submit this notarized form confirming its completion, you can get a discount of $60.00 on the price of your license (currently $99.50). Bonus!
Photo by Silver Nitrite Photography
I always recommend that if you have any questions, you check with the local county clerk’s office well before the big day arrives. Your officiant should also be able to help you clarify any issues related to your license. I hope this info helps you easily cross this less-than-glamorous task off your list of things to do, and I wish you the best of luck with all your wedding preparations!
Best wishes,
Chiara Sulprizio
Ivy & June Custom Ceremonies
Thank you so much to Chiara for sharing her insight on the topic of marriage licenses!
Be sure to check out the Ivy and June website and also follow her on Instagram here.
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Posted by Alyssa |
Filed under: Helpful Vendor Interviews!, Advice & Planning, Wedding Resources,
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Tuesday, September 6, 2016
From scenery changes to wardrobe changes, Robyn + Nickolas' engagement shoot by Amy Hutchinson Photography is on point! Robyn's style is so incredible - from flowy floral dresses to short sequined numbers... and I cannot get over that cape! Posing by the #WhatLiftsYou wings in The Gulch to the aerial view of Nashville at Love's Circle, location was key to Robyn + Nickolas since they call Nashville home. Scroll through for all of the must-see photos from Amy Hutchinson...
Robyn Owens + Nickolas Lee
Engaged | December 2015
Engagement Shoot | 4.24.16
Engagement Shoot Locations | Pedestrian Bridge, Love's Circle, The Gulch, Riverfront
Photographer | Amy Hutchinson Photography
Wedding | Fall 2016
From the photographer, Amy Hutchinson: We had so much fun with these two in Nashville! They are getting married in Memphis later this year, but since their home is in Nashville, we wanted to represent that with their engagement photos. I can honestly say this was our most fashionable shoot ever!
Robyn + Nickolas' Engagement Story told by lawyer bride, Robyn: Nick planned a SUPER SURPRISE vacation for us in Montego Bay, Jamaica in December 2016. Months before the trip, Nick met with my boss to make sure that my calendar was kept clear. (I am generally agreeable so I didn’t even ask my boss why there were 3 full days of meetings on my calendar–even though I needed to catch up after trial.) The week before vacation, Nick recorded the big reveal of the trip on video. I cried like a baby! Nick planned a private dinner over the ocean (another surprise) on our last night in Jamaica. The resort’s photographer took photos of us before dinner. After dinner & dessert, the resort’s photographer returned for more pictures. Before I knew it Nick was on bended knee.
Congrats to Robyn + Nickolas on their engagement!
All photos by Amy Hutchinson Photography.
If you like Robyn + Nickolas' photos, then check out Kathryn + Josh's Engagement session.
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Posted by Alyssa |
Filed under: Engagements & Proposals, Photography,
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Monday, September 5, 2016
There are plenty of reasons to wear white after Labor Day... :)
Photo by Kristin Sweeting
Happy Labor Day! Enjoy your extra day off - I'll be getting some much needed R&R in our new home. :)
See more of Kristen + Mike's Vintage Antebellum Wedding by Kristin Sweeting here.
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Posted by Alyssa |
Filed under: Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories,
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