Jessica + Kent Welcome Guests with Idyllic, Backyard Wedding in Nashville’s 12 South
Friday, May 15, 2015
Many couples dream of having an outdoor, intimate wedding in their own back yard! Jessica and Kent Miller went this route because of the meaning their home had to them. It was where their relationship began. This laid back couple wanted to incorporate special touches of where they grew up, Texas and Michigan, and where they live now in Nashville, TN. They succeeded in doing just that with their special toast of bourbon and Biscuit Love food truck!
Jessica + Kent
Wedding Date: July 7, 2014
Ceremony Venue: Scarritt-Bennett Wightman Chapel
Reception Venue: Our private residence in 12 South
Guests: 100
Budget: $20,000 – 30,000
Wedding Team
Photographer | Erin Lee Allender, The Collection
Gown | Augusta Jones, purchased from the Bride Room
Bride’s Accessories | Shoes-David Tutera, Earrings-Jenny Packham, necklace: owned prior to wedding
Men’s Attire: Groom | Banana Republic; Groomsmen: variety (personal choice)
Bridesmaids’ Attire | J.Crew Bridesmaids line, varying styles in Newport navy
Hair + Makeup | Babe Beauty Bar (Hillsboro Village)
Stationery | Buchanan Ink
Caterer | Biscuit Love Food Truck
Bakery | Sweet16th Bakery
Florist | Bloom (12 South)
Ceremony Musicians | Friends of the bride
Reception Musicians | Friend of the groom
Rentals | Southern Events (Franklin, TN)
Guest Accommodations | Loews Vanderbilt
Wedding Coordination | Music City Events
Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
We are both pretty laid back, but we also wanted to honor the occasion. We chose traditional styles but with a twist to reflect our own interpretation. We also wanted the event to include our favorite things about our hometowns (in Texas and Michigan) as well as our new home together (Nashville).
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
For the ceremony we wanted somewhere it would feel sacred and give meaning to the vows we were sharing with each other. After the formality of the ceremony, we wanted to create a celebratory atmosphere where people could really have fun. We chose to have the ceremony at home. We met as next door neighbors and started our relationship at Kent’s house so we wanted to celebrate it there too! It also allowed us to pick all of our favorite drinks and food to serve to our guests.
Our colors were navy and gray (both of our favorites) with a pop of lavender. We grew lavender in the backyard to accent the hydrangeas already planted to create a natural and beautiful setting for the reception.
For our vendors, we really focused on keeping things local and personal. The florist we used was the florist where Kent purchased the first bouquet he gave me…and every one after that. Bloom is a local neighborhood florist literally 3-4 blocks away from us and we were beyond happy with everything that came together for the wedding. I chose a local print shop for our Save-the-Dates and invitations. The furniture/event rentals reflected southern, vintage style, which fit into the vibe we wanted for the backyard reception. We focused on finding a caterer that focused on local ingredients and flavor, and Biscuit Love was the perfect fit. We also choose to do a cake bar with cakes, cookies, and pastries from our favorite Nashville bakery, Sweet 16th. For drinks we both chose a white wine and a few beers from our states of origin and then some favorites from here in Nashville. The guests toasted with bourbon instead of champagne since we both prefer it, and it fit with our local, southern theme.
Do any of your vendors stand out as exceptional?
We loved all of our vendors, but our photographer Erin Lee (with The Collection) really stood out. Neither one of us are very photogenic or comfortable around cameras, but she and her team captured the day beautifully. We felt incredibly comfortable around them and they really went above and beyond to get the right shots (even getting soaked in the rain). I knew I didn't have to worry about that piece of the wedding; she was so incredibly organized and proactive. You can tell it's something she and her team really enjoy doing. Those photos will be what we have to remember one of the most important (and favorite!) day of our lives, and I love every single one if them! I really could not have asked for anything more in a photographer or her team.
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
I think our guests’ favorite aspect reflected their own personal taste: some people loved that we walked out of the ceremony to an acoustic version of “Crazy in Love,” others really loved the food truck or the bourbon toast, and still others loved the personal aspect of our ceremony itself and the gorgeous venue.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
I knew photography was one of the most important things to me and not something where quality was negotiable. Other places where we concentrated on quality included our catering and my dress. We saved on program costs (DIY etsy template) and I did most of the planning myself instead of hiring a planner/event designer.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
Most of the planning I would do exactly the same way. However, a lot of the details taken care of in the last 3 months could have been scheduled out more instead of trying to get everything done in the last 2 weeks before the wedding.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Focus on celebrating the union you are committing to and doing that in a way that is really enjoyable and meaningful to you.
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Posted on May 15, 2015 |
Filed under: Wedding Style - Garden, Outdoor,
