Wedding of the Week: Couple Wed on Romantic, Round Stage, Then Host Reception at All-in-One Space
Friday, March 23, 2012
More and more couples are moving towards all-in-one venues where they can have their ceremony and reception in the same location. Sometimes, it's because you don't have a church home; other times, it's because you don't want the hassle of moving everyone and everything from one location to another and find it more simple (and often more affordable) to stay in one place.
That's what today's featured couple, Christal and Barrett, decided. Instead of moving between locations, they chose to have their ceremony and reception at aVenue, a wedding location owned by Nashville Event Space. Not only did they host their ceremony at this chic downtown location but they chose to have a round stage, which made their all-in-one approach even more intriguing. So we had to ask, why use a round stage? Laurie Hardman of Nashville Event Space told us that the circular platform appealed to this couple (and others) because it is low to the ground, but still elevated, and allows the family to sit on all sides.
Now that we think about it, we like the round stage approach, mainly because it allows family to sit on both sides, giving everyone a great view of the nuptials. This set-up may not be great for all couples. You might prefer a more traditional set-up. But, regardless of the layout you choose, please know that with a venue like aVenue, you have many options and can simplify your wedding with an all-in-one location.
Christal + Barrett
Date ~ February 12, 2011
Ceremony + Reception Venue ~ aVenue
Guests ~ 130
My Budget
$20,000 – 50,000
Wedding Team
Planner | Laurie Hardman of Randi Events
Photographer | Betsy Limbaugh
Gown & Accessories | b. Hughes
Groom’s Attire / Groomsmen Attire | All of the guys wore their own tuxes if they had them, the other guys rented from Bittner's Formal Wear
Bridesmaids Attire | Bella Bridesmaid
Hair | Miracles-Brittany Muench
Makeup | Lindsey from Mac
Stationery | Designs In Paper
Ceremony + Reception Musicians | Nashville Party Authority
Transportation | We rented a hotel shuttle for our rehearsal dinner, but we just hailed a cab after the wedding, ha! It was great!
Caterer | A Dream Come True Catering
Cake Artist | Dream Cakes
Floral Designer | Mike Wittier - Branches
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Classic/ traditional
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
Black and white were our only colors and white roses were our only flower. White soft lighting, black tablecloths, etc. It was beautiful!!
We wanted the venue to feel warm and open, and aVenue was exactly that! The open space allowed everyone to be in the same room throughout the night, and the wood floors and exposed brick gave it a comfortable vibe.
We also had a fair amount of out of town guests, and it was important to us that it be easy for everyone to get to and from the wedding. Since aVenue is in downtown Nashville, everyone stayed at hotels down the street and had plenty of sight seeing options. It was the perfect choice for us!
Planner's View on the Bride's Style:
They were so excited about planning there special day but beyond the planning you could see that they truly loved and respected each other. They began to describe the feel and look that they wanted to create, and like many couples they wanted to have relaxed atmosphere where the people that were most important in their lives could come and share in the joy and excitement of this special day.
Christal had a vision of the space being starry and magical and a less traditional ceremony. By having the ceremony and reception in the same location, with very little transition, I felt it was important to keep the guest entertained by something new happening every hour. Barrett and Christal envisioned their guest being welcomed with passed champagne and butler passed canapes.
The room was set in all white with black accents, white roses and lots of candles. A circular stage was set for the ceremony in the middle of the room. Sting lights hanging vertical to create a starry look and draping around the poles to soften the space. As the guest began to arrive the wedding party was staged in the loft. We enclosed the loft with white draping so that the guest would not be able to see the wedding party which would later be pulled back to allow the loft space to be used as part of the reception. After 45 minutes of hors d'oeuvres and champagne, the ceremony was set to begin.
The music rose to get everyone’s attention; from the left side of the venue the groom and his groomsmen came down the stairs. On the right side the bridesmaids. Lastly Christal entered like a fairytale. They said their vows and the ceremony concluded. Now the party began.. They had a more traditional cocktail hour with fruits and imported cheeses and salads and a dinner buffet to follow. The design was clean, simple, and elegant, just like the couple. It fit them perfectly.
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What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
Oh my goodness, it's so hard to pick just one, but everyone got on the dance floor and partied, which was exactly what we hoped for! At one point in the night we brought out a basket of crazy sunglasses. Everyone put the glasses on and it made for great pictures and some really silly dancing!
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
Food and drinks were important to us, so I'd say we splurged on the open bar and plenty of food options. Also, ambiance was a priority for us, so we spent extra on draping, couches, and lighting. Some things that weren't as important to us were having a videographer, table party favors, and programs... We didn't have any of those things and didn't miss them at all.
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Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
I wouldn't change a single thing! I loved the time of year we did it, the venue, the guests, the food... It was all exactly as we wanted it, and if I had it to do over again, I would do it the same way!
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Pick a great wedding planner, if you don't have one already... Our wedding planner made our day happen, and it would have been a mess without her!
Many thanks to Laurie for answering all of our questions and to Betsy for providing the photos! If you would like to book aVenue for your wedding day, make sure to mention that you heard about NES on ABG! And remember, it is a great space for a ceremony/reception combo or for just a reception.
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 March 23, 2012 |
Filed under: Inspiration & Trends, Real Nashville Weddings
