Modern Meets Vintage at Chris and Dawn’s Traditional, Low-Key BBQ Wedding
Friday, April 5, 2013
You may remember Chris and Dawn's wedding from our mix-gender bridal party feature a few weeks ago. Their selection of their bridal party based on relationships versus tradition really stood out. As Dawn put it, we..."didn't want to limit ourselves to people who are all the same sex. Those are the people we wanted behind us as we said our vows."
I like their free-thinker approach and what's even more intriguing is how they mixed their free-sprited nature with classic wedding style. That's a rare combination but one that they pull together effortless. Notice that while the women in the bridal party all wore the same sophisticated dress, they each girl accessorized in her own way. They kept it classic while adding their own flair. As you view more and more of their wedding photos, you will appreciate the elegant yet subtle ways the couple infused their signature style.
Special thanks to jHenderson Studios, whose photograpy the couple considered "the best decision ever."
Dawn and Chris
Wedding Date ~ October 20, 2012
Ceremony and Reception Location ~ Downtown Presbyterian Church
Budget ~ $12k
Guests ~ 150
How would you describe your style as a couple?
We are open to new ideas, but value traditions at the same time. We think it is cool how the rituals that occur during weddings have been practiced for so long. We love the antique/vintage style melded with a more modern feel. Chris and I value our free time and like to spend it going on day trips close to home. We like to read, travel, cook, and live daily life together.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
Our favorite season is fall, so we naturally had our wedding at that time of year. We wanted to use our favorite things when planning the wedding. Martin’s BBQ is our favorite, we found the band at one of our favorite restaurants due to a chance meeting, We were going for a country Victorian feel with peaches, browns, coppers, dark greens, etc. We used a lot of branches and candles in decorating. We chose Downtown Pres because that played a huge part in how we met. We chose what everyone would wear, but didn’t want everyone to look the exact same. We let the bridal party pick out their own shoes, hairstyles, and accessories. Our family friend that decorated for us was amazing and took all of our ideas and fit them into our budget. We wanted it to be fancy, but low key as well.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
The food was so great! Martin’s was affordable for feeding such a large crowd. I am also glad that at the last minute we decided to do a father/daughter, mother/son dance. We danced with them to Bob Dylan’s “Forever young”. Our first dance was to a Ryan Adams song that we love. We had a small after party at the Oak Bar in Hermitage Hotel. We opened up a bar tab and spent some time with our closest friends. It was a great way to unwind after a very busy day.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We splurged on the invitations. Lemontree Paper Co. did an AMAZING job on our invitations and programs. She really ran with the Victorian/country theme. We saved money by having a family friend (who I trusted and knew was talented) do all of the decorating. The great part about it was that she did all of the shopping and I didn’t have to worry about anything the days leading up to the wedding. We were able to spend less because we went off the beaten path to find vendors. If you go to all the big names in town, it will of course be expensive. There are equally good vendors who are lesser known. We DIYed our wedding favors. I bought 19 pounds of pecans and candied them myself. It was a little more heartfelt than the usual favors you get at weddings. We also saved by not getting a fancy car for the exit. We simply used Chris’s car.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
I don’t think I would have done anything at all differently. It seemed a little stressful at times, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I tend to do things early, so I think that helped out a lot. I had very little to do the month of the wedding.
What advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Have fun with it and don’t get lost in it. Being engaged is fun, so don’t let it slip by being stressed out!
My Wedding Team:
Planner I Myself and a family friend, Sherry Hatchett
Photographer I Jenna Henderson of jHenderson Studios (The best decision ever.)
Gown & accessories I Bridal Warehouse for my dress, family heirlooms from my great-grandmother (pearls and ring)
Men’s attire I Tuxedo Avenue at Bridal Warehouse
Bridesmaids’ attire I Bridal Warehouse
Hair I Parlour and Juke (I get my haircut there and it is the BEST place .)
Makeup I my friend and bridesmaid, Bethany Patchin
Stationery I Lemontree Paper Co. (The owner, Jill Hartline, is amazing)
Ceremony musicians I William Taylor, organist at the Downtown Pres Church
Reception musicians I Grace Adelle and her band
Caterer I Martin’s BBQ out of Nolensville, TN
Cake artist I Sweet and Sassy Bakery in Madison, TN (They also did my mom’s cake when she got married)
Floral designer I Fresh by Carry Ann out of Mt. Juliet
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 April 5, 2013 |
Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Real Nashville Weddings
