Part Splurge, Part Save: This Savvy Nashville Bride Created the Wedding of Her Dreams, Her Way
Friday, May 25, 2012
When Tanya, a family friend, called to discuss weddings with my mother and I, there was no doubt that she had a clear vision for her wedding day. Tanya was a no-frills, modern bride. She wanted a muted and classic color palette with elegant but minimal decor. With a background in architecture and graphic design, she was drawn to historic venues and clean lines, and wanted to design some things on her own.
She knew what she liked and didn't like, and she clearly articulated where she needed help. She needed only a few ideas, a couple of recommendations for wedding professionals, then she and her mom took it from there. They planned everything - from A to Z - and my enlisted my mom (church wedding coordinator) to help coordinate the ceremony and reception.
I love a decisive, independent thinking bride! It makes everything less stressful and makes it more likely that the wedding will be a true reflection of the couple, as was theirs.
Today, I am happy to share with you Tanya and Andre's elegant wedding at Nashville's Union Station. A wonderfully classic, all-inclusive venue, Union Station was the perfect location for this history-loving couple. It was a beautiful event with a timeless look, which was just what the couple wanted.
All photos by Mark Denman Photography.
Tanya + Andre
Date ~ June 11, 2011
Ceremony + Reception Venue ~ Union Station Wyndham Historic Hotel
Guests ~ 275
My Budget
$20,000 – 50,000
Wedding Team
Planner | Geraldean Smith, Clementine King, AshleysBrideGuide.com
Photographer | Mark Denman
Videographer | Michael Morn
Gown | Arzelle’s
Bridal Accessories | Bracelet – Charming Charlie, Necklace – Gift from parents
Groom’s Attire / Groomsmen Attire | Charcoal Grey Tux, Yellow Bow Ties from Bridal Warehouse
Bridesmaids Attire | Bridal Warehouse (Quarry (grey), Dessy - Alfred Sung Collection (they picked from four different styles to wear)
Hair | Simple, pulled back into a classy bun.
Makeup | Narkieta Neal Makeup – Nikki Campbell with Blu Artistry
Stationery | I did them myself (tp.graphics) and printed them at Jive printing
Ceremony Musicians | String Quartet from The Innocenti Strings, Soloist – Patrique Fortson, Pianist – Chad Hammonds
Reception Musicians | DJ – Josh Merritt
Caterer | Union Station Wyndham Historic Hotel
Cake Artist | Dulce Desserts
Floral Designer | The Enchanted Florist
Guest Accommodations | Marriott, Brentwood, TN
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Modern/Contemporary
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
After having picked a venue full of history and historical architectural elements, we felt the best style to complement this backdrop and our personal taste was that of a contemporary vibe. We incorporated this style through our choice of colors (charcoal grey, yellow, white and black), our attire (simple, elegant wedding dress and sleek tuxes), floral choices (white and yellow Calla Lilies as prominent flower), and the design of the stationery.
Our desire was to keep all the elements simple and elegant so as not to compete with the history of Union Station, but to subtly complement it with pieces of today.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
What I enjoyed most of my wedding was being surrounded by so much love. Having all our friends and family from near and far just left the atmosphere with such joy, hope and happiness. It was as though sharing that love with everyone was the glue that brought everything together and made the day so memorable.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
I splurged on my dress and on the venue. Why not?! I saved by designing my own stationary (wedding and reception invitations, programs, etc.) Having experience in graphic design saved us a pretty penny.
With everything being in one location, we didn’t have to worry about transportation, and with having several musically gifted friends, we were able to save when it came to the music.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
No, not really. I took advantage of the knowledge and connections around me. I think if I had of tried to figure out and do everything on my own, the day would not have turned out as wonderful as it did and I would have been stressed beyond measure. It’s great having family and friends to turn to for help, support and direction.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
If you set out trying to have every detail perfect, you’ll just become stressed and overwhelmed; you’ll miss the simplicity and joy of it all!
About the Author:
Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide
Hey - I'm Ashley! I started AshleysBrideGuide.com to give Nashville brides, or folks planning a Nashville wedding, a local resource for inspiration and resources. Hope to see you at a bridal show soon! Happy Planning.
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Posted on May 25, 2012 |
Filed under: Multicultural, African-American weddings, Real Nashville Weddings
1 Response to This Post
Posted on May 29, 2012 @ 7:15am