Ginna Claire & Eric Get Married at Houston Station, Showcase Nashville with DIY Table Design
Friday, August 8, 2014
Growing up in Brentwood, Tennessee, Ginna Claire knew that she would incorporate her love of the Nashville-area into her wedding.
She got married at her church, Brentwood United Methodist, where she'd attended since pre-school. She and her husband Eric then headed to Houston Station, a historic Nashville building. And while her lavish wedding was filled with many splurges, there was one area that she decided to do herself... her table decor! Not only did she D.I.Y. (do it yourself) her tables, but she came up with the cutest way to do so. Each table represented a different Nashville landmark and some even had mini-replicas!
There are many aspects to love in Eric and Ginna Claire's wedding. We love her table design and her super cute first dance with Eric. What do you love about their Nashville wedding?
Ginna Claire & Eric
Wedding Date: June 28, 2013
Wedding Ceremony Venue: Brentwood United Methodist Church
Wedding Reception Venue: Houston Station
Budget: $55,000
Guests: 300
My Wedding Team:
Venue | Houston Station
Planner | Jacki Lynne Events
Photographer | Matt Andrews Photography
Videographer | Catchlight Cinema
Gown & Accessories | The Spoiled Lady (Justin Alexander dress); diamond earrings borrowed from my cousin, Julie Kate; diamond necklace given to me by friend and mentor, Robyne Kennedy; my great-grandmother’s engagement ring; diamond bracelet from Lindell Jewelers
Men's Attire | Men’s Wearhouse
Bridesmaids Attire | J. Crew Weddings (dress); Jessica Simpson blush wedges; pearl bracelets from Lindell Jewelers; pearl necklace from Gosia Meyer
Hair & Makeup | Cathy Doyle
Stationery | Prim and Paper LLC
Ceremony Musicians | Luke Graham (guitarist), Patsy Wade (pianist), College Grove Strings (The MacKrell Sisters), The Sonshine Choir, soloists: Emily Rice, Ben Mason, James Wells, Travis Garner
Reception Musicians | The Dean Martinis, JD’s Music (DJ)
Transportation | My aunt’s red BMW convertible: )
Caterer | Two Fat Men (We love Chef Ed!)
Cake Artist | Iris at The Flour Shop Bakery
Floral Designer | Katie Pollard (Color My World Flowers)
Lighting | Southern Sky Event Lighting
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My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Classic, timeless, warm and welcoming.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
Our ceremony was at Brentwood United Methodist. This church has been a huge part of my life since pre-school. I cannot imagine having gotten married anywhere else. It’s located in the heart of Brentwood, my hometown, and the sanctuary is breathtakingly grand and reverential. To make this giant space feel more intimate, we marked off aisles for guests and surrounded ourselves with our wedding party at the altar. I also think that taking communion was a special way to bring everyone together during our service. The youth Sonshine Choir sang several songs, and my little brother and best friend serenaded us with “The Prayer,” accompanied by a string quartet. Pastor Travis Garner, who officiated our wedding, was my youth minister growing up. Touches like that made the ceremony very personal and special to us.
I knew I wanted a warm, rustic reception venue that could create an intimate atmosphere for our large guest count. I love the low ceilings at Houston Station that allow for dim, elegant lighting - like our chandeliers! It was the perfect centerpiece for a cozy, classic feel, and helped create our dance floor. The exposed brick walls, the big, beautiful windows, and the rich wooden floors and beams at Houston Station do most of the decorative work for you - another thing I loved about the space! We still had fun putting our own personal touches around the reception. (Elizabeth and Gordon Gilbreath’s staff were amazing!)
What was your (or your guests') favorite aspect of your wedding?
The people! I loved our large wedding party! We had seven bridesmaids, seven groomsmen, seven flower girls, six honorary bridesmaids, and two ring bearers! Our guest count was nearly three hundred. The best part of the wedding day, besides marrying my best friend, was getting to celebrate with all of the people we love most in this world.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
I splurged on photography and videography. I did a lot of research, and I found the very best!! I figured, by the time I got back from our honeymoon, the flowers would be dead, but decades from now, we will still be showing our kids and grandkids pictures and video footage from our wedding day!
My favorite (most tricky!) DIY project was our centerpieces. We used postcards from Anderson Design Group featuring notable spots around Nashville. Each table was a different location like The Bluebird Café, The Nashville Zoo, The Country Music Hall of Fame, The Ryman Auditorium, Pancake Pantry, The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, etc. I wrote descriptions on the back of each card, so guests could learn a little bit more about this wonderful city at their table.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
The most challenging part of the planning process is that it took place during my senior year at Elon University in North Carolina as I completed my BFA in Music Theatre. Thankfully, I had an incredibly creative mom and rock star wedding planner, Jacki, helping me every step of the way. Even still, living in another state for most of the process made the few weeks between graduation and the wedding day jam packed with finalizing last-minute details. In retrospect, it’s good to finish up projects as far in advance as possible to avoid stress!
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Your wedding is just one day, but your marriage is a lifetime, so invest just as much planning (if not more) into the future of your relationship as you do into your wedding day.
Here is the link to our highlight video!
About the Author:
Ashley King
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! Until then, Find me on Google+.
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Posted on August 8, 2014 |
Filed under: Nashville-Style, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds, Real Nashville Weddings,
