Brianna & Brandon’s Vintage Chic Wedding At Nashville Zoo Proves Love & Fun Are A Great Mix
Friday, November 21, 2014
When’s the last time you heard of a bride and groom who used a carousel as one of the focal points at a wedding? It’s likely you haven’t and it’s one of the many reasons why we love Brianna and Brandon’s wedding! The couple wanted to host their wedding at a venue that both reflected their style as a couple, but one that would also be an interesting experience for their guests. They chose the Nashville Zoo for their September wedding. The outcome was superb and lovely, two words reserved for a flawlessly executed wedding. Read more about the couple’s wedding day:
Brianna & Brandon
Wedding Date | 09/13/2014
Ceremony & Reception Venue | Nashville Zoo
Budget | $40-50K
Guests | 140
Wedding Team
Planner, Floral Designer & Lighting | Sarah Goude, Regalo Design
Frozen Exposure Photography {+} Cinematography | Frozen Exposure
Gown | Stephen Yearick, The White Room Lebanon
Bride’s Headpiece | The White Room
Brides Jewelry | Dillard’s
Men’s Attire | Suits, Street Tuxedo
Ties & Pocket Square | Tie Bar
Bridesmaids’ Dresses | Online boutique
Bridesmaids’ Jewelry | J.Crew
Hair-| Blowout & Co
Makeup | Angie Lima
Paper Goods | Betsy White, Etsy shops
Caterer | Taste of the Wild
Cake Artist | Sweetest Day
Ceremony Harpist | Deanna Lovelace
Reception DJ | Brian Snyder Entertainment
Rentals | Southern Events
Transportation | Black Diamond Limousine
Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
We’re a pretty a laid-back couple who love to laugh and have fun. We love all things vintage and shabby chic and definitely wanted our wedding to be a reflection of that.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding (e.g. décor, colors, details or even picking the venue)?
Brandon and I chose the Nashville Zoo because we wanted something different and interesting for our guests, but still fit our personalities. Very few people even realize that the Nashville Zoo is an option as a wedding venue. We were able to have the best of both worlds at the zoo. We had the vintage aspect, with our ceremony under a tree in front of the historic Croft house, then a fun and unique cocktail hour around the carousel, where our guests had the opportunity to mix and mingle as well as take a ride, and ended with dinner and dancing at the Jungle Terrace.
I wanted our wedding to feel romantic and dreamy, so we chose light pink and mint with neutrals mixed in. We chose cross-back chairs, and barn wood tables to give the reception a rustic feel, with beautiful floral arrangements and burlap and lace table runners to incorporate the romantic side. I love Champagne, so instead of wine, we had a “Bubbly Bar” with “Mint to Be” Champagne Mojitos as our signature drink. Brandon has a major sweet tooth, so we offered our guests a late night snack of warm chocolate chunk cookies (his favorite) to indulge in. We also love cornhole! As a wedding gift my brother gave us custom-made “McGowan” cornhole boards that our guests got to enjoy. Sarah and her team at Regalo Design did an outstanding job making our vision a reality and making sure our day was a reflection of us. I could not have been happier with the way everything turned out. It was truly stunning!
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding? I think our guests really enjoyed the carousel! Everyone had a great time riding it from my young cousins, to my grandmother! It was definitely a hit! As for Brandon and I, we enjoyed everything about the day, but most importantly, getting to celebrate the beginning of our life together with all of our amazing family and friends.
Where did you splurge?
My biggest splurge was probably my gown. I loved the top of one Stephen Yearick gown, and the bottom of another, so we combined them and added a bow and pockets :)
Where did you save/DIY?
I ordered our invitations online, and lined the envelopes myself, with Rifle Paper Company wrapping paper. I also ordered a DIY printable from Etsy for both our programs, and menus and had them printed at Office Max. They all turned out beautifully, and were pretty inexpensive.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
There is honestly nothing that we would change. We had an amazing time planning our special day with minimal stress (mostly in part to having an amazing planner and design team). Our day was truly magical, and I don’t know about Brandon, but I wish I could relive it all over again :)
What words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Take a step back and enjoy the process and the day itself. Remember to have fun, and don’t worry about the little things! People told me for years how fast it would go by, and boy, were they right!
About the Author:
Newlywed Leah
For many women, their fascination with weddings fades after they say, “I do.” Not for me. Even though my wedding was two years ago, I still very much have a heart for weddings and helping brides focus on what’s important — building a day that reflects both the bride and the groom while focusing on the why of the wedding — the marriage. In addition to my job as a personal trainer and wellness coach, I also coordinate weddings part time, offering couples both perspective and a little elbow grease to make sure their wedding day is a success. I’m a huge advocate for life balance and I like to remind and encourage couples to keep their sanity — and a healthy relationship — in the midst of wedding planning. Check out my health and wellness blog at www.SanityOverSurface.com.
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Posted on November 21, 2014 |
Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings, Wedding Style - Vintage,
