Friday, December 18, 2015
Anitha and Peter’s urban, yet airy, Nashville wedding was a welcome treat for all the guests that had never been to Music City. And what's a wedding in Music City without incredible music? Nothing! If Peter and Anitha leave us with any words of advice, they're these: Choose a great venue and hire a great band!
See how this couple successfully combined Houston Station's urban-industrial aesthetic and their own ethereal style decor to create a strikingly sophisticated and warm wedding in the heart of the city.
Anitha + Peter
Wedding Date: March 14, 2015
Ceremony + Reception Venue: Houston Station
Guests: 130
Budget: $30,000 – 40,000
Wedding Team
Venue | Houston Station
Planner | Emily Herron
Photographer | Q Avenue Photo
Gown + Belt | Maggie Sottero/The White Room
Hair piece | Etsy
Bridesmaids’ Attire: Short off-white or white lace dresses, mix-matched from Modcloth
Hair + Makeup | Leslie Ellis
Stationery | Jessie Early
Caterer | Chef Christopher
Cake Artist | Nashville Sweets
Floral Designer | Sarah Ball
Reception Musicians | The Malemen Show Band
Rentals | Stockroom Vintage, Southern Events, Let’s Booth It
Lighting | Nashville Audio Visual
Transportation | FADDs Party Bus
Rehearsal Dinner Location | Holland House Bar and Refuge
Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
We are very relaxed and neutral. We love natural and warm colors and tend to stay away from bright and loud features.
Where did you get your inspiration?
We loved the loose flower arrangements with the neutral tones and wild greenery. A lot of inspiration came from our planner Emily Herron. We had a general idea of colors and the overall warm feeling, and she was able to make that a reality.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We wanted a venue that is close to the center of Nashville. We had a lot of out-of-town guests, and we wanted them to experience Nashville, even at a wedding. The colors correlated with the interior brick and urban feel, giving a warm and welcoming feeling.
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
The food was a hit as well as the band, there wasn’t a single person sitting once the band began.
Where did you splurge?
I believe we splurged on the band; we spent a good amount of time researching different bands. We wanted to make sure they were versatile and could play modern and classic.
Where did you save/DIY?
We ended up renting most items to keep from having more to clean up at the end of the night. My favorite DIY item was the cake topper.
Who were your favorite vendors and what made them exceptional?
The Malemen Show Band. They had so much energy and played nonstop.
Chef Christopher. Our guests are still raving about the food!
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
I think it went smoothly. If anything messed up, we were having such a great time that we did not notice.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Take a moment and breathe. The day of your wedding is so fast and the things that you were so worried about at one point you will not notice when the time comes. Get a great band; that was the key to our success because live bands get the crowd going. Everyone was laughing and dancing all night.
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Posted by Ashley King |
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Thursday, December 17, 2015
You've found your dream dress, cake, and floral designers. You've become fast friends with your planner. Your venue is exactly as you imagined. You plan to hire the best photographer money can buy for your big day. All of the big details are in place. You've done it: you've planned your Pinterest-worthy wedding. Did you include lighting?
Most brides aren't aware just how much specialty lighting impacts a wedding. Events are all about setting a mood, which you can accomplish through myriad big and small details. But, it's the lighting, a small and often overlooked detail, that leaves a big impact on the overall ambiance, not to mention the photos you plan to cherish forever. In fact, when you see luxury events, much of what draws you in is great lighting.
Ace Photography
Southern Sky Event Lighting is a Nashville company based in Houston Station. Their services range from gobo lights to chandeliers. Yes! Chandeliers. Their motto is: "Set the mood. Transform a space. Make it personal." We couldn't agree more. Their lighting designs are absolutely breathtaking.
We challenge you to see how lighting can transform your event. Talk to your planner or contact Southern Sky Event Lighting directly to discuss your Nashville wedding.
Nyk + Cali Wedding Photographers
Amber Davis Photography
Rob Mould Photography
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Lighting, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds,
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Deep purple, whimsical teal, sparkling gold. These rich colors made up the color palette from a Nashville styled shoot captured by Jewels Photography with florals by Vicki of Branching Out Floral and Event Design. There's something incredibly magical and regal about these colors that we'll never tire of seeing.
To see more from this Richly Colored Warehouse Event, click here to visit the Branching Out blog feature.
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Florals, Details & Design , Inspiration & Trends,
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Tuesday, December 15, 2015
An out of town groom or groomsman is not as rare as you may think, which means you aren’t the first to battle the issues of a long distance wedding party. Who do you trust to help your out-of-town groomsmen get their measurements and attire? How do you ensure your groom, who may not be located here in Nashville, has no worries when it comes to his tux?
That's where Nashville-based Street Tuxedo can help. They can't promise a rain-free wedding day, but after serving over 500 hundred Nashville couples each year, they can make sure your men's attire comes together effortlessly.
Simply take them your concerns - from a large bridal party all over the country to grooms in California - they've handled it all. In fact, here's how they address three common misconceptions that couples usually have when it comes to choosing a company to handle their tuxedos....
Men's attire by Street Tuxedo; Photos by Krista Lee Photography
Myth 1: If I go to a chain store, they’ll have everything I need in stock.
Not necessarily. The bad thing about going with a big chain store is that if something goes wrong, their warehouse is far away. This means that if something’s wrong with your tux, it may take days to get it shipped to you. (Psst… Street Tuxedo’s warehouse is located in Berry Hill, just a few miles away from downtown Nashville.)
Plus, chain stores do not keep a large inventory in each store, which means that if you just need to change something out, you could be facing a long wait-time and some hefty shipping fees. In contrast, Street Tuxedo owns all of their inventory, and it is all housed in their Nashville warehouse, so change-outs and last-minute rentals are quick and easy!
Street Tuxedo's Cool Springs location, shared with The Spoiled Lady; Photos by Visions by Valeisha
Street Tuxedo's Murfreesboro location is one of four stores in the Metro Nashville area.
Street Tuxedo recently added a mobile location to serve couples all over the city.
Myth 2: If something gets messed up, alterations will take days.
Not true at all. Street Tuxedo is able to alter their tuxes and suits on-site at each store. If something is very wrong, they can always get it changed out at the Nashville warehouse.
Myth 3: We don’t live in Nashville. We’re only coming there for our destination wedding. Therefore, I can't rent from Street Tuxedo.
We’re not shy about our love for Street Tuxedo; they’re a favorite resource for Nashville weddings. Their top-notch service and countrywide connections make it easy for them to accommodate couples traveling to Nashville for a destination wedding. As we mentioned above, Street Tuxedo partners with dozens of independent formalwear shops across the nation. They call it their National Fit Network, where you can get measured in a local tuxedo shop free of charge, and then all you have to do is give Street Tuxedo a call with the measurements and they will walk you through the reservation process. Pick up your tux when you get in town for the big day, and you're good to go!
Street Tuxedo is locally owned and family operated. They know Nashville and lead its event fashion. They also serve nearly 500 Nashville weddings per year.
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Posted by Taylor |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Grooms, Groomsmen & Tuxedos ,
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Monday, December 14, 2015
When I got married, I hired a day-of-coordinator at the last minute after I realized that my event coordinator SUCKED! She lost my wedding file the night of my rehearsal and hours of conversation and her meticulous notes went immediately down the drain. She stressed me out more than any single vendor or aspect of my wedding. So, as your been-there-done-that girl, I cant stress enough how important it is for you to understand the difference between YOUR planner and the VENUE's coordinator.
Today's expert advice is provided by Sarah Willard, owner of Music City Events. Sarah is a respected planner in the Nashville wedding community and offers full service wedding planning for engaged couples. She's always willing to answer my questions and help brides make better decisions.
All photos are of wedding planner Sarah, in action, helping her Nashville-area brides.
I have been hearing a lot of comments recently about the differences and similarities between event planners and venue coordinators. I am also noticing more and more that many brides feel as though the sales managers/coordinators at their venue will suffice when it comes to planning their dream wedding.
As an event planner with a decade of experience in Nashville, I can tell you many differences between the two. My company also manages a venue in Nashville, so we have a unique perspective because we do both!
There is a very distinct difference between the two, and the scope of work is extremely different. They each play a significant role in the execution of a reception but in very different ways.
Venue coordinators/catering sales managers (in most cases) are primarily responsible for:
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Getting you booked and on their calendar.
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Selling the venue features and services.
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Passing out tasks to venue or banquet staff.
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Overseeing the vendor load in and load out and/or food set up and breakdown.
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THE VENUE!
They know their space very well. Most venue coordinators and sales managers are certainly there to help, but remember, at the end of the day, they are working for the venue, and it is quite possible that they have more than one event going on at once. They do not handle any matters with vendors outside their venue or accompany or assist you in design sessions with your florist, lighting and linens, bakery, etc.
On the other hand…
An event or wedding planner is responsible for you, your guests, and YOUR wedding/event.
An event planner is:
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Working with you from the day you book their services (depending on the package selected) until the end of your wedding reception.
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Providing and assisting you in the selection of vendors they have worked with in the past. These trusted vendors are able to perform the requested services. The planner typically accompanies you to vendor meetings and assists in overall design of the day.
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Creating detailed timelines and letters to vendors to make sure they are all on the same page prior to your big day.
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Coordinating your rehearsal, ceremony, and entire wedding day.
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Making sure that all ceremony items are in place, such as programs, aisle runners, candles, etc.
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Setting up all extra decor and accent items such as favors, place cards, and tips, as well as collecting gifts.
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Reviewing all vendor contracts.
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Allowing you to truly be a guest at your own event- no questions asked.
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….and the list goes ON.
Not all venue coordinators or planners are created equally, so just use your best judgment. Make sure that your decision is an informed decision. Know the difference between a venue coordinator and an event planner. The event planner is hired to work for YOU. A venue coordinator works for the venue.
There are wonderful venue coordinators and sales managers out there. Most of them love their jobs and really want the best for you. It always best to know what you are signing up for exactly. A venue coordinator and event planner are both very important to have, as they both have specific ways to ensure you have a beautiful and stress-free wedding! So, before you decide you don’t need a planner, do your research. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us!
Sarah, owner and lead planner, Music City Events
This article originally appeared in June 2013. Sarah's advice was so helpful that we wanted to be sure all of you newly engaged girls received it, too.
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Venues and Locations,
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