Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Photographers that can capture the love of a couple AND the natural beauty of their surroundings can be hard to find. Khalid and Megan did not give up in their search for that photographer. They knew exactly what they wanted: photos that were natural, clean, and simply beautiful. And when Megan and Khalid found Nyk and Cali Wedding Photographers, they knew they'd found their engagement and wedding photographers.
Braving freezing January temperatures, Nyk and Cali headed to the Carnton Plantation (which is also the couple's wedding venue) to capture the true love of this young Nashville couple.
Read all about their engagement and photo session during our chat with Megan today.
How did you and your groom meet?
Khalid and I met in a cab in Nashville. My friends and his friends happened to share a cab to go downtown. There was an instant connection and we all spent the night running around town. The following day, he asked me on a date and we went out on our first date two days later.
Tell us about your proposal- with all the details!
Four months after we met, Khalid had already made it known that he intended to propose and had already asked my father for his blessing! He had taken me to Boston in early July to meet his family and friends, and I just fell in love with all of them. On July 28th, we decided to go to Percy Warner Park and Khalid packed a picnic. We walked around for a couple of hours and stopped for food once the sun started to go down. Khalid had packed candles, a bottle of champagne, dinner, and homemade chocolate-covered strawberries (my favorite)! After we ate, I reached in the bag to grab dessert and when I turned back around, he was on one knee. It was the sweetest, most perfect proposal, and, of course, I said yes!
Good job Khalid! Why did you decide to do engagement pictures?
Khalid and I have had a busy and stressful first three years of our relationship! Between a deployment to Afghanistan, retiring from the Army, career changes, school, etc., we haven't had the chance to travel or do anything just for us. We really wanted to have someone take pictures to capture our young love so we could have something to look back at and something for our family to see in years to come.
Why did you choose the location of your engagement shoot?
We are getting married at the Carnton Plantation and we love it there! We chose the venue for the wedding because we wanted an outdoor ceremony and I was determined to get married under a big, beautiful tree. The landscape there is breathtaking! There is a long arbor, stunning garden, and the historic and magnificent Osage orange tree. Everything about the plantation is simply perfect! We chose to take our engagement pictures there because we couldn't think of a more charming place, and we wanted to explore before the wedding!
What characteristics were you looking for in a photographer?
The main thing we looked for was the quality of the pictures and the style of the photographer. We are both into natural, clean, simple beauty- nothing that looks enhanced or photoshopped. This was surprisingly harder than I thought, until we found Nyk & Cali. We wanted someone who could photograph the love of a couple while still paying close attention to the beauty of their surroundings. We were also searching for someone who was well-rounded in the type and content of the pictures they took, making sure to get the close-ups, details, emotional moments, and the playful candid shots. We were also looking for two photographers because we didn't want any moments missed!
How did you work with your photographer to achieve the photos you envisioned?
Khalid and I were both nervous, as neither of us are photogenic at all. However, Cali made it fun and easy. She coached us when needed, but did so without making us feel awkward and posed. She knew what shots to get and used the whole venue. One of the things that was important to us was to include our dogs in our engagement session. Cali worked with us and our crazy dogs to get some really wonderful pictures of our little family.
What was the engagement picture experience like?
What you can't tell from the pictures is that we took them in January, when it was 40 degrees outside. We were freezing but determined to get them done in time for our Save-the-Dates. Nyk & Cali managed to make everything look perfect! We didn't have to do anything except run around and have fun!
Do you plan to use these photos for your wedding?
Absolutely! Not only did Nyk & Cali make our Save-the-Date postcards, but they are making a guest book with pictures from our engagement session!
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Posted by Holly Nashville Newlywed |
Filed under: Photography, Real Nashville Brides
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Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Courtney and Jason did plenty of research for the perfect engagement picture photographers. They wanted photographers that could capture their personalities as a couple through candid photographs. After a surprise engagement in April of 2014, Courtney and Jason decided on a venue and photographers Nyk + Cali. Nyk and Cali met them at their Cedarwood venue and made the couple feel comfortable and captured natural, candid photos. Read more from Courtney's perspective on the engagement photograph experience.
How did you and your groom meet?
I “met” Jason initially in the fall of 2011, while out with friends, and immediately had a crush. He was dancing like crazy, had a huge personality, and I couldn’t stop laughing. It wasn’t until a year later in August of 2012 at an FSU (Florida State University) event that we ran into each other again. This time we wouldn’t let each other get away so easily- we went on a date the next week and have been together ever since.
Tell us about your proposal with all the details!
Well, our relationship got serious rather quickly, but I was still in nursing school and we wanted to wait until life settled down a little before I took the next step forward. I was graduating in December 2013 and knew it would be coming soon after that. We were going on a work trip for Jason at the end of April to Ireland and London, and we decided to extend the trip to Paris. I thought for sure we would get engaged in Paris, and I had found this amazing photographer I wanted to do engagement photos with while we were there.
At the beginning of April, Jason’s sister and brother-in-law were in town with their three boys. We went down on Saturday afternoon to his parent’s house to hang out and decided to go to the beach for a grill out at their golf course’s private pavilion. We hung out by the pool all day; I didn’t even shower and just threw my hair in a braid. Not even thinking there was a chance of us getting engaged, I thought I knew for sure it would be in Paris.
As the sun was about to set, I stood up and noticed there was a photographer standing in the distance. At that very moment, I felt Jason’s heart start beating really fast, and by the time I could process anything, he was already down on his knee. I was in complete shock. It took me a few seconds to realize what was happening, and then I realized the photographer was for us. He had hired someone to document it all. She got pictures of him pulling the ring out of his pocket, of us standing together with the ring clenched in his hand, and of the actual engagement. It was truly incredible.
So after I said "yes," I said, "Did my parents know about this?" And he said, “Why don’t you turn around and tell them?” He had invited them down, and they were up at the pavilion the entire time. We all grilled out afterwards and celebrated the night. It was a perfect and intimate proposal and what a shock.
That night, Jason said he had to do it before Paris because I was anticipating it so much and he didn’t want me to wake up thinking “is today the day,” and being disappointed if it weren't. This way we could enjoy the trip entirely as a newly engaged couple!
Once we decided on doing a destination wedding, we immediately contacted Nyk and Cali. Their work was oh-so-AMAAZING!!! After a bit of sorting out dates, details, and rearranging schedules, we booked them! We went up this past January to visit our venue (Cedarwood) and meet with all of our vendors. Nyk and Cali were available that weekend to do our engagement shoot, which worked out perfectly. We did our photos at Cedarwood. We got to check out all the “spots” and got our vision for the wedding.
Nyk and Cali were so easy and just perfect for what we were looking for. Kevin and Joanna (their associates) shot our wedding photos as Nyk and Cali were already taken for our wedding weekend. They, too, were absolutely amazing, and Nyk and Cali did the editing of our wedding photos.
Why did you decide to do engagement pictures?
Well, to be honest, I have a deep love for great photos. Unstaged, natural, candid photos. We wanted to do engagement photos that matched our wedding theme to be displayed at the wedding. Nyk and Cali’s engagement photos online were all beautiful. I think they do a really nice job of not doing “staged”/ “cheesy” couple photos, and we loved that about them. They just have such a natural eye for photography.
Why did you choose the location of your engagement shoot?
We chose Cedarwood. We wanted to get a feel for the property and we wanted the style of photos to match our wedding. Cedarwood is nothing short of amazing.
What characteristics were you looking for in a photographer?
As stated above, we loved Nyk and Cali’s style. They are very real and genuine, and they take great candid photos. In half of our photos we are laughing, and I love that about them; it’s us. Their photos bring out the couple’s personality and I think they get the little details that make each couple unique. Also, many photographers have difficulty with the lighting. I love the coloring of their photo style (not sure how to describe it in the photography world).
How did you work with your photographer to achieve the photos you envisioned?
Well, we just told them to do their thing. Because I love photography so much, I already knew they were good, and I trusted they would capture us in the same great way they had for so many couples before us. They nailed it all. Like I said, they just capture the couple being themselves so that all we had to do was be “us”.
What was the engagement picture experience like?
It was easy and fun. Nyk and Cali are married and work really well together. At one point, Nyk was telling us a funny story and we were all laughing and not realizing Cali was taking photos of it all. They are very easy going, but detailed and professional at the same time.
How did you use your photos for your wedding?
We used the photos for our rehearsal dinner table, welcome reception, and in multiple areas at the wedding, including a large framed photo of us at the welcome table/guest book area.
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Posted by Holly Nashville Newlywed |
Filed under: Engagements & Proposals, Photography
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Friday, September 11, 2015
For their Nashville wedding, Aaron & Terece McGee set their sights on a wedding that was intimately them, pulling from inspiration from the first movie they saw together, Paperman. They took the paper theme even further by using paper airplanes instead of confetti and a paper lapel pin for the groom. All of these fun details illustrated this couple's creativity and perfectly complementary tastes. It also created a singular mix of lives unlike any other.
Read all about the cute ceremony from the bride...
Terece + Aaron
Wedding Date: March 7, 2015
Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Lodge
Guests: 175
Budget: under $10,000
Wedding Team
Planner | the Bride, Groom, and Family
Photographer | Roland’s Photography
Videographer | Antoine Rucker
Gown | The White Room
Bride’s Accessories | Dillard's; Bridal Sash - Helene Couture
Men’s Attire | Mens Warehouse
Bridesmaids’ Attire | Various online, Designer: Jenny Yoo
Hair and Makeup | J. Renee (Nashville, TN)
Stationery | Designed by the Bride, Printed by: Angel Trumpets
Caterer | Friend of the Groom, Joseph Hunt
Cake Artist | The Cupcake Collection
Floral Designer | Family and Friends
Ceremony Musicians | Charity Ward (singer/songwriter)
Reception Musicians | DJ: Antonio “AJ” Benton
Rentals | Art Pancake
Rehearsal Dinner location | Amerigo (West End location)
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Minimal, Eclectic, Fun.
Where did you get your inspiration?
Pinterest was the starting point, but it really changed a lot during the planning process. We were ultimately inspired by our venue, nature, and the first movie we saw together, “Paperman.”
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
Our minimal cake with a simple flower topping and small floral arrangements in mason jars brought in nature and the rustic vibe of the venue. Aaron wore a small paper plane lapel pin and for our exit we had our guests throw paper planes (instead of rice/bubbles/confetti) – this added a unique/fun element to the wedding.
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
The ceremony. From the music, to communion and the foot washing, to the special prayer and exchanging of vows, all of our guests continuously commented on how loving and intimate the ceremony was - and how special they felt to be able to witness it. Also, our guests really raved about our wedding favor which was a CD filled with some of our favorite love songs.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
Splurge: Bridal sash.
Save: planning, invitations/programs, wedding favors, flowers.
Who were your favorite vendors and what made them exceptional?
Roland’s Photography: Roland’s experience was grade-A; he became a part of the journey from the engagement pictures to the jumping of the broom. We gained a friend who diligently captured each moment with care.
The Cupcake Collection: They were very accommodating, and, of course, the cake and cupcakes were delicious! They took our inspiration and created exactly what we wanted. They also let us use their handmade cupcake stand made from an old tree that fit in perfectly with our décor.
The Lodge (Nelson Andrews Leadership Lodge): The staff (especially Rachel) is very accommodating and worked hard to make sure we were happy and stress free on our big day.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
Something we would do differently is take wedding photos (all except Bride and Groom together) prior to the ceremony so we would have a shorter cocktail hour between ceremony and reception.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
At the end of the day, it’s about the two of you, so don’t get to caught up in the planning. Things will likely not go as planned and that’s okay… be present in the moment and have fun. Oops that’s two sentences…oh well…we tried ;)
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Posted by Holly Nashville Newlywed |
Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Multicultural, African-American weddings
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Friday, September 4, 2015
Robert and Chelsea Davis weren’t novices when it came to beginning a journey with one another. This couple traveled to numerous places throughout their relationship, eating well, drinking well, and purchasing growlers in each city as souvenirs. They later turned these brewery beer jugs into décor for their DIY wedding, threw in their love of music, and added Southern mac and cheese! Our favorite part was the photo booth that provided their guests with the ability to add to their album of life.
Read all about this bride and groom's latest adventure below.
Chelsea + Robert
Wedding Date: October 11, 2014
Ceremony Venue: Owen Chapel
Reception Venue: Houston Station
Guests: 135
Budget: $40,000 – 50,000
Wedding Team
Planner | Chelsea Davis
Photographer | Nyk and Cali
Videographer | Matt G
Gown | The White Room (Lebanon)
Bride’s Accessories | Pearls from her parents and Ariat boots
Men’s Attire | Men’s Wearhouse
Bridesmaids’ Attire | Wtoo (Watters)
Hair | Bridesmaid
Makeup | Bride
Stationery | Bride
Caterer | Two Fat Men
Cake Artist | Signature Cakes by Vicki
Floral Designer | Whole Foods Franklin
Ceremony Musicians | Family friends
Reception Musicians | JD’s Music
Rentals | Southern Event Rentals
Lighting | Southern Sky Lighting
Transportation | The Love Bus
Guest Accommodations | The Renaissance Hotel
Rehearsal Dinner location | The Flying Saucer
Coffee Bar | Noteable Blends Coffee Shop (In Houston Station)
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Robby and I met in college while playing in a band. I think that is a good reflection of who we are as people. We love music, traveling, and getting to taste all the delicious foods and beers along the way. I guess our style would be pretty laid back with a lot of laughter.
Where did you get your inspiration?
Being a NJ native, I quickly fell in love with that “Nashville style.” Something about the windows, wooden beams, and exposed brick gets me every time. I knew in a blank space like Houston Station I could do exactly what I wanted. Stylistically, I have always loved the color royal blue and knew it would pop in pictures. As far as secondary colors, charcoal gray looked great on Robby and was less traditional than black, so we went with that as our secondary color. Royal blue and charcoal gray with pops of wildflowers! Southern, rustic, yet a little rock and roll.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
How could you go wrong with a venue like Houston Station!? When we walked into the empty space, my mind started painting the vision I had for our wedding day (not to mention Elizabeth at HS is amazing!). We felt the energy in that empty space and knew it was the place for us. Once we had that picked out, things kinda fell into place. I always envisioned wearing boots with my dress, so I wore them, and so did my bridesmaids. The guys kept it casual with vests and rolled up sleeves.
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
Fat Man Mac and Cheese. Hands down. But, aside from that deliciousness, they liked the photo booth and having a flip-flop bucket available for their dancing feet. One small detail that several guests noticed was that our centerpieces were beer growlers (or jugs) from breweries in all the cities we visited throughout the last four years. Each growler had a travel tag tied to it with a story from our trip and our favorite beer.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We splurged on food, alcohol, and photography. We wanted our guests to enjoy themselves and see what Music City is all about. Likewise, we wanted to have beautiful memories from our wedding day so photography was just as important. We saved a ton of money on invitations as I made them all on my own. I also planned the whole thing with the exception of hiring a day-of coordinator (Elizabeth @ HS) which I HIGHLY recommend. We also saved a lot of money on flowers. While Whole Foods arranged the bouquets and boutonniéres, my family members and bridesmaids helped me arrange centerpieces with matching flowers also ordered from Whole Foods.
Who were your favorite vendors and what made them exceptional?
What a hard question! From the minute I met Karen at Two Fat Men, I knew our wedding would be in good hands. I felt the same with Elizabeth at Houston Station. As I walked down the aisle at Owen Chapel, my Dad accidentally stepped on my cathedral length veil, ripping it off my head. Unsure of what to do next, I looked over my shoulder to find Elizabeth telling me to keep going down the aisle. Their professionalism and guidance made our day so incredibly fun.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
I probably would have relaxed a little, haha. I had a vision of what I wanted our wedding day to be and my parents did not always see things the way I did. When our wedding day arrived, though, they were shocked and extremely pleased with how it all came together. If I could do it all again, I would worry a little less.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Don’t put so much pressure of yourself! Breathe. Things will go wrong and the show will go on. ☺
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Posted by Holly Nashville Newlywed |
Filed under: Nashville-Style, Real Nashville Weddings
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Friday, August 28, 2015
It is always an exciting time when your closest family and friends come together to celebrate your love. It's an even better day when you can incorporate your roots to make everyone feel at home!
Nicole and Cal were able to do just that with the help of some exceptional wedding vendors who helped them incorporate food and tradition from New Orleans, their childhood home. Nicole and Cal then worked closely with Allison at ONE at Cannery Ballroom to create the perfect backdrop for their nuptials. Read more below about their big day!
Nicole + Cal
Wedding Date: March 28, 2015
Ceremony & Reception Venue: ONE at Cannery Ballroom
Guests: 140
Budget: $40,000 - $50,000
Wedding Team
Planner | Bride
Day-Of Coordinator | Allison Jones
Photographer | The Collection, Erin Lee
Videographer | Toy Box Productions
Gown & Accessories | Tara Keely gown from Finery Bridal Boutique
Shoes | TOMS
Men’s Attire | Men’s Warehouse, Tie Bar, Nordstroms
Bridesmaids’ Attire | Chose own dresses based on color swatch
Hair/Makeup | Sarah Terry from Huntsville, AL
Stationery | Quality Quick Print in Huntsville, AL
Caterer | A Dream Come True
Cake Artist | Frosted Affair by Jay Qualls
Floral Designer | Lauren Marie Atkinson Designs
Ceremony Musicians | Phyllis Sparks, harpist
Reception Band/DJ | The Respectables
Rentals/Lighting/Draping | Music City Tents and Events
Transportation | Metro Livery
Rehearsal Dinner | Merchants
Bridesmaids Lunch | The Pfunky Griddle
Bride’s engagement ring and wedding band | Tiffany & Co.
Send off Sparklers | Superior Celebrations
Koozies | Totally Promotion
Guest Welcome Gift Bags | Paper Mart
Candles | Quick Candles
How would you describe your style as a couple?
FUN!!!! Simple, elegant, and go-with-the-flow.
Where did you get your inspiration?
Cal was born and raised in New Orleans. I was born and raised in southern Mississippi and we spent a lot of time in New Orleans. Then my family moved to New Orleans when I was in junior high and I lived there through college. New Orleans traditions and culture were very important to us so our inspiration began there. We wanted simple and elegant. Our goal was to ensure our guests had fun and would be talking about our wedding for years to come. We wanted everything about our wedding to be personal, not just a bunch of standard traditions. He graduated from UT and asked if we could somehow incorporate orange. Since I am a HUGE Auburn fan, I thought "Sure." So I came up with the creamsicle orange and light teal combo.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We had to make a few adjustments and plan according to some major health problems that I started experiencing in Oct. 2014. I began having extreme tremors in my hands, arms, feet, and legs. They have changed my daily life. Simple everyday tasks are very difficult. Cal, my then fiancé, now husband, is the most supportive and amazing man (as are both our families and friends). He has stood by my side and does whatever it takes to help me get through it. So all of that came into play when planning our wedding. We knew I’d be shaking my way down the aisle. I wanted mostly cream and neutral colors with little pops of our colors here and there, and lots and lots of candles!! Our ceremony was personal, short, sweet, and to the point. We incorporated the traditional wedding second line to get our guests from the cocktail hour back into the reception space and then had the formal wedding party and our introduction. I also had the charm cake pull for my bridesmaids and a few additional special girl friends. Our food was based on Creole/Cajun style. It was important to have authentic food since a lot of our family and friends were also from New Orleans.
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
Oh, that’s a tough question! We loved everything about our wedding. It was exactly what we wanted, and we have both said there is nothing we would change about our Big Day! Well, actually the one thing we would change is that it lasted longer (and it was 5 hours)!! It’s not to say we didn’t have a couple of hiccups. Our flower girl was to be pulled down the aisle by her brother in a red wagon that I had decorated but the night before at the rehearsal they were playing in it and she fell out. So on the wedding day she wanted nothing to do with it lol. My ring bearer still wanted to carry the sign that said “Cal here comes your bride.” It had been super glued in Styrofoam so he carried the sign down the aisle and was as proud as could be. Our flower girl was then carried by her mother who was my matron of honor. At the end of the ceremony, I was so focused on my new hubby I forgot to grab my bouquet from my mom and Erin captured a picture of her extending it out to me as Cal and I start the recessional!
Our guests raved about the venue, the food, and the band. We have been told on numerous occasions about how much fun they had, and several have placed our wedding in their top five weddings of all time!
Where did you splurge?
Photography and videography.
Where did you save/DIY?
Décor. I did DIY quite a few things including a huge sign that my mom and Cal made together. We left it at the venue and it’s already been used in a few weddings there since ours.
Who were your favorite vendors and what made them exceptional?
Again, how do I choose?? I was fortunate and Jay Qualls is a friend of mine. I knew years ago when the day came he would make my cake. He is phenomenal Not only are his cakes beautiful, they taste amazing! Since he is a friend of mine I asked his advice on several other vendors.
Erin Lee…wow what can I say? She is simply amazing! She has become more than our engagement session/wedding photographer; I consider her a friend.
Toy Box Productions: Cal is a sports videographer and worked with them in the news industry when he was in DC before they started Toy Box Productions. Once Cal showed me their work, we knew no one else would measure up to our expectations. We’ve gotten a sneak peak of the video and we both cried. They did a tribute to Cal’s dad at the end that we were not expecting (it’s explained in one of the sections below but his dad was unable to attend the wedding and has since passed away).
A Dream Come True Catering: They NAILED the food! They were so good to work with us when we realized we needed to keep the budget here down as much as possible. Jessica was so nice and easy to work with! If I ever have the need to cater anything I will definitely hire them again.
Finery Bridal Boutique: They make the bridal experience of finding the "perfect dress” unique. They do not over-schedule appointments, and they give you all the attention. The experience that Madeline (owner) and her staff have created is truly exceptional.
Lauren Marie Atkinson: I showed her some pictures that I loved, and then she put together an inspiration board that perfectly captured my vision. She was so great to work with.
Sarah Terry: She did a fabulous job on our hair and makeup. I met with her a couple of times and we had our trial. She did exactly what I asked for. The day of the wedding, the girls chose their own hair styles and makeup choices. Sarah was a blast and made the process fun.
The Respectables: They were fabulous to work with and they did an amazing job! They had everyone on the dance floor! When they took their breaks they had a DJ so the fun NEVER stopped. They were right on with their MC-ing too! I HIGHLY recommend them for any event but especially a wedding.
Last but not least, I cannot say enough great things about Allison Jones at ONE. She made the process stress free! I am a very OCD person, but in working with her I trusted her; she knows what she is doing, and I had NO problem leaving things in her hands. She was amazing with all of those details (tables, linens, lighting, draping, bar, flipping the space from ceremony to reception, set up the day of). We did hire her to be our day-of coordinator and that was a HUGE help and relief because I didn’t stress about anything that day. She is simply the best at what she does!!!!
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
Cal’s dad fell out of his wheelchair leaving Merchants the night of the rehearsal dinner (they weren’t directed out the handicap entrance/exit and so they exited out the front door of which there is a slight step and he tumbled forward). He ended up in the hospital and was unable to make it to the wedding. He unfortunately has passed away since our wedding. If I could have changed anything it would be that he would’ve been there.
As far as the planning, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. I stayed organized. I made a binder divided it into sections and kept all of the contracts, contact information, and everything associated with the wedding in it and organized.
Our vendors were so amazing. They really helped make things easy.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Find your vendors, trust them, have fun, and enjoy the process! Don’t worry about trying to make everything “perfect.” It will be perfect because it’ll be your day. That’s what’s important – you and your groom!
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Posted by Holly Nashville Newlywed |
Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings
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