Megan + Michael’s Elegant Ceremony Transitions to Party at Marathon Village Wedding

Friday, February 12, 2016

A decade after meeting, Michael and Megan tied the knot, inviting their wedding guests to a Nashville wedding that included many of their loves: the color navy, handpicked cheeses, and the letter ‘M’.

Their wedding day - from ceremony to exit - completely embodied their shared history in a very elgant, detailed way.  On every turn, there is something great to love about this wedding and luckily we were able to ask the bride all about her big day!

Megan + Michael
Wedding Date: June 6, 2015
Ceremony + Reception Venue: Marathon Music Works
Guests: 230

Wedding Team

Planner | Firefly Events
Photographer | Evin Photography
Videographer | With this Ring
Gown | Olia Zavozina
Garter | DIY
Veil | Mother’s veil
Earrings + Necklace | Stepmom
Sash | Bride designed
Bridesmaids’ Attire | Convertiblewrapdress.com
Hair + Makeup | Amy Lynn Larwig
Stationery | Designs in Paper
Caterer | The Chef and I
Cake Artist | The Cupcake Collection
Floral Designer | Vintage Florals
Ceremony Musicians | Ipod
Reception Musicians | Hightone Entertainment
Rentals | Southern Events
Lighting | Nashville Audio Visual
Transportation | Matchless
Rehearsal Dinner Location | Mere Bulles

Wedding Details

How would you describe your style as a couple?

Laidback, carefree, and practical while having fun all at the same time. We wanted to have an elegant ceremony that transitioned easily to a party atmosphere for the reception. We both wanted to have fun and celebrate our marriage with all our family and friends that had traveled near and far to Nashville while keeping it classy.

Where did you get your inspiration (for decor, style, colors, etc.)?

Picking the colors came easy since we both love the color navy. We included pinks and gold after navy because they went together well and could be easily incorporated into invitations and decorations. Neither one of us wanted our wedding to look or feel stuffy so we worked with our planners to bring an “Awe” factor without people feeling like they had to sit up straight, not make a noise, or tuck their napkin in their shirt. We wanted to show people a good time and that’s what we did.

How did you incorporate that style into your wedding (e.g. décor, colors, details or even picking the venue)?

We really wanted to capitalize on both our names beginning with the letter M and our last name being Mason. Designs in Paper created a nice M that would go on many of our paper goods including the pretty stickers they made to go on our mason jar favors filled with navy/pink M&M’s. We used mason jars during our sand ceremony which kept things traditional but also fun. Marathon was a great venue to have our ceremony and reception not only because it had a big M on the wall behind the bar but it had so many opportunities for decorations and was a great atmosphere to have fun in. Everywhere you turned we wanted to show a little hint of us and our story. For example, I went to school 600 miles away from Michael in Wisconsin which is known for their cheese so we had a cheese table with cheeses I brought back from Wisconsin.

What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?

I think everyone enjoyed the convenience of having both the ceremony and reception in one place. With Marathon we were able to have a classy ceremony while having a reception that was gorgeous and still a party atmosphere without having to change locations. Our flip provided our guests with more time to talk, dance, eat, and relax.

Where did you splurge?  Where did you save/DIY?

We splurged on photography because we wanted to make sure we had fantastic photos of our most precious day. Evin Photography does such a great job in capturing the moments of any occasion and that's exactly what she did for our engagement shoot and wedding day. Our wedding day went by so fast and the pictures let us remember every little thing from that day that we may not have seen originally.

We saved on our table card holders which my bridesmaids helped me make. I couldn't find any decent holders that weren't outrageously expensive so I got supplies to make them. We made them out of little door knobs, alligator clips, and ribbon. They went well with the decor and were exactly what I was looking for.

Who were your favorite vendors and what made them exceptional?

Our favorite vendors were Evin Photography and Firefly Events. Evin Photography provided great service, professional products, and genuinely cared about all our special moments. Firefly Events were there every step of the way from our first meetings with vendors to sending us off in our grand exit. They made everything work seamlessly and let us enjoy our day without worrying about anything. We are so grateful to them!

Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?

Nope. Our day was perfect and we wouldn't change anything.

In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?

Always remember the reason you are getting married and don't stress about little things. You're getting married to your best friend and that's pretty freaking awesome!

share

Posted by Taylor | Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings 0 comments »

Amy + Mitch’s Garden-Themed, Multilayer Cake Wows Couple and Wedding Guests!

Monday, January 11, 2016

Weddings are always exciting!  So when a cake artist gets excited about your wedding cake, you can’t help but be even more elated!

If you saw our featured Nashville wedding last Friday, you may have noticed that Amy and Mitch raved about their wedding cake designed by Signature Cakes by Vicki.  Their multi-flavor cake was designed as a focal point for all of their guests to enjoy, and it was so good that there was none left by the end of the ceremony!  The climbing flowers tied the garden theme of the wedding into the cake, and it left the guests bursting from their formal wear with an expression of pure pleasure.

It’s true what they say - when passion and a career come together, it’s a beautiful thing.  When it happens to create delicious works of art, well, that’s fantastic, too! 

We reached out to Amy to see if she would be willing to tell us more about her experience creating her cake with Vicki.  We have her cake story below...

How did you find Signature Cakes?

My mom actually found them online and saw consistently high reviews for Vicki’s cakes.

What inspired your cake?

I loved the idea of having the ruffle ribbon look to mimic the ruffled tiers on the bottom of my dress, but I also loved cakes on Pinterest that had cascading sugar flowers.  After talking about the two styles we decided to combine them for a one-of-a-kind cake!

How did you approach the design for your wedding cake?  Did you take pictures to Vicki or did you meet with her and answer questions about your dress, etc?

We had our wedding cake tasting scheduled and I brought Pinterest pictures on my phone that we showed her to give her a general idea of what we wanted.  Vicki guided the conversation to get a sense of what we were wanting and asked us for pictures of the cakes we liked and to see my dress so she could have a good feel for what our wedding would be like.

What did you want most from your cake?  Great design, taste?  Specific details?

We really wanted to have a cake that looked as good as it tasted and for it to be a statement piece and a focal point of our wedding reception (especially because we knew it would be beautiful based on Vicki’s amazing work with sugar flowers!)  It seems like so many people put their cakes in a corner and don’t make a big deal out of them, but we really wanted ours on display for all our guests to see.  The cake helped pull our whole garden theme together for our wedding and was a work of art that had everyone in awe!

What surprised you about the experience of designing your cake?

It was such a fun process that Vicki made you feel excited about – I really wasn’t expecting to be so excited about designing our wedding cake but watching her sketch out what she had in mind and seeing the art behind it all made it one of my favorite moments of wedding planning!  It was also so neat to have the cake tasting in her home, see where she makes the cakes, and to see how passionate she is about her business - I mean her mailbox is even in the shape of a wedding cake – how awesome is that?!

What were your cake flavors?  Did you have them custom designed or were they standard?

Chocolate truffle, coconut, raspberry, and lemon were our flavors; they were all so flavorful and the perfect texture – they were all really light and moist.  She truly has cake making down to a science!  We typically aren’t huge fans of cake since it can easily be too heavy or dry, and we all were obsessed with all the flavors.  It was so hard to narrow it down!  These were from her standard flavors; she has unique and delicious flavors from which to choose.

What did you like most about your cake?

That it was seriously a work of art and was the best tasting cake ever – it was the best of both worlds!  We didn’t even have any leftover cake other than the top layer for our anniversary!

Photos: Krista Lee Photography

share

Posted by Taylor | Filed under: Cakes & Desserts 1 comment »

Long Distance Groomsmen?  Destination Nashville Wedding?  Street Tuxedo Can Help!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

An out of town groom or groomsman is not as rare as you may think, which means you aren’t the first to battle the issues of a long distance wedding party.  Who do you trust to help your out-of-town groomsmen get their measurements and attire?  How do you ensure your groom, who may not be located here in Nashville, has no worries when it comes to his tux?

That's where Nashville-based Street Tuxedo can help.  They can't promise a rain-free wedding day, but after serving over 500 hundred Nashville couples each year, they can make sure your men's attire comes together effortlessly.  

Simply take them your concerns - from a large bridal party all over the country to grooms in California - they've handled it all.  In fact, here's how they address three common misconceptions that couples usually have when it comes to choosing a company to handle their tuxedos....

Men's attire by Street Tuxedo; Photos by Krista Lee Photography

Myth 1: If I go to a chain store, they’ll have everything I need in stock.

Not necessarily.  The bad thing about going with a big chain store is that if something goes wrong, their warehouse is far away.  This means that if something’s wrong with your tux, it may take days to get it shipped to you.  (Psst… Street Tuxedo’s warehouse is located in Berry Hill, just a few miles away from downtown Nashville.)

Plus, chain stores do not keep a large inventory in each store, which means that if you just need to change something out, you could be facing a long wait-time and some hefty shipping fees.  In contrast, Street Tuxedo owns all of their inventory, and it is all housed in their Nashville warehouse, so change-outs and last-minute rentals are quick and easy!

Street Tuxedo's Cool Springs location, shared with The Spoiled Lady; Photos by Visions by Valeisha

Street Tuxedo's Murfreesboro location is one of four stores in the Metro Nashville area.

Street Tuxedo recently added a mobile location to serve couples all over the city.

Myth 2: If something gets messed up, alterations will take days.

Not true at all.  Street Tuxedo is able to alter their tuxes and suits on-site at each store.  If something is very wrong, they can always get it changed out at the Nashville warehouse.

Myth 3: We don’t live in Nashville.  We’re only coming there for our destination wedding.  Therefore, I can't rent from Street Tuxedo.

We’re not shy about our love for Street Tuxedo; they’re a favorite resource for Nashville weddings.  Their top-notch service and countrywide connections make it easy for them to accommodate couples traveling to Nashville for a destination wedding.  As we mentioned above, Street Tuxedo partners with dozens of independent formalwear shops across the nation.  They call it their National Fit Network, where you can get measured in a local tuxedo shop free of charge, and then all you have to do is give Street Tuxedo a call with the measurements and they will walk you through the reservation process.  Pick up your tux when you get in town for the big day, and you're good to go!

Street Tuxedo is locally owned and family operated.  They know Nashville and lead its event fashion.  They also serve nearly 500 Nashville weddings per year.

share

Posted by Taylor | Filed under: Advice & Planning, Grooms, Groomsmen & Tuxedos 0 comments »

Couple’s Vintage-Modern Wedding at The Bridge Building Soaks Up Nashville Skyline

Friday, December 11, 2015

Sarah and Hunter’s vintage-modern wedding was a delightful gathering of family and friends at the Bridge Building in downtown Nashville.  This riverfront wedding boasted an enviable skyline, delicious treats from the Cupcake Collection, and flea market décor finds.  They created an intentionally fun atmosphere, added personal touches, and the result was one Nashville wedding their guests will forever remember.  

Check out this bride and groom's wedding, along with their amazing Nashville vendors.  Their list just might make your day even better!

Sarah + Hunter
Wedding Date: July 10, 2015
Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Bridge Building
Guests: 130
Budget: $20,000 – 30,000

Wedding Team
Planner | Lesa Neff
Photographer | I Love You Too Weddings
Gown | David’s Bridal
Groom's Suit : 14th & Union
Bridesmaids’ Attire | Union Station 
Floral Halo, Hair, Makeup | Lisa Wolfe
Invitations | Wedding Paper Divas
Fans | Ann’s Bridal Bargains
Caterer | Infinity Events and Catering 
Cake Artist | The Cupcake Collection
Floral Designer | Ashley Walters, Forget Me Not Flower Shop and Designs
Reception Musicians | DJ Rich Matthai
Getaway Car | Matchless Transportation 
Rehearsal Dinner Location | The Old Spaghetti Factory

Wedding Details

How would you describe your style as a couple?
Simple, fun; a mix of vintage and modern

Where did you get your inspiration?
Definitely Pinterest, but also from the Bridge Building itself.  Once we picked that as our venue, we were better able to get a feel for what we wanted our wedding to be.  I would also say we took inspiration from our lives in general - me spending my entire life living just outside Nashville, Hunter being in law school, our favorite music, etc.

How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
Choosing the Bridge Building made us really want to sort of “show off” downtown Nashville, so our décor was really simple -  nothing taking away from that amazing view of the Nashville skyline!  I also think that by keeping the décor simple, we kept the focus on the fun.  We just wanted it to feel happy and sweet, not over the top or extravagant.

We incorporated our mix of vintage and modern by going with a very modern venue, but featuring vintage touches like old doilies from the flea market and very old law books (also a nod to Hunter’s life being just a tiny bit consumed by law school right now!).  Other than that, we kept it fun with little details like music from our favorite band, the Avett Brothers, as pre-ceremony music, flowery fans for our guests featuring a quote from one of their songs, and wedding favor CDs with some of our favorite songs as a couple!

What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
Just how fun it was from start to finish!  We had so many guests tell us how much fun they had, and we couldn’t agree more!  The reception was just a big, happy party and that’s all we really wanted!  Our ceremony was fun as well, with our choice of fun Avett Brothers songs as pre-ceremony music and funny stories and laughter incorporated into the brief, simple ceremony.  When we think about our wedding or look through the pictures, the joy and fun is what stands out the most to us, and that means more to us than any other aspect of our day!

Where did you splurge?  Where did you save/DIY?
Our biggest splurge was definitely the venue itself, but that worked for us because it’s such a gorgeous venue that we didn’t feel we had to use tons of décor.  We wanted the focus kept on the building and the amazing view of Nashville.  We saved on what decorations we did use!  For centerpieces, we bought some early 1900s law books from a going-out-of-business used bookstore and old doilies from various trips to the flea market.  Other simple decorations used throughout the reception were actually wedding shower gifts!

Who were your favorite vendors and what made them exceptional?
This is tough because all of our vendors were truly amazing!

First of all, the Bridge Building is a wonderful venue that takes care of just about anything you need.  They genuinely cared about every little concern we had and about helping us have the perfect day.

Our wedding coordinator (provided to us through the venue), Lesa Neff, was absolutely wonderful!  She and her team truly cared about making our day everything we wanted it to be.  She took our very vague vision and made it more than we ever could have hoped.  Lesa recommended just about every vendor we chose, and not a single one disappointed us.  On top of being wonderful to work with, the Bridge Building also did our catering, and the food was amazing!  We really got so much more than just a venue when we chose the Bridge Building for our wedding.

Ashley Walters of Forget Me Not Flower Shop and Designs was fantastic because other than wanting wildflowers and knowing the “feel” I wanted our wedding to have, I didn’t have many other specifics for her to go off of, and she totally nailed it!  Our flowers were gorgeous.

We loved the Cupcake Collection because their prices were very reasonable, they were very friendly and easy to work with, and the cake was beyond delicious!

Lisa Wolfe was great to work with because, with me being someone who doesn’t ever do much in the way of hair and makeup, she did an amazing job at making sure I felt beautiful without being uncomfortable. And she is so sweet!!

Finally, our DJ, Rich Matthai, was just so fun!  He made our reception the party we wanted it to be, and we had multiple guests comment about how much they loved him and how fun he was.  He kept the party going all evening long!

Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
The only thing I can think of is that I shouldn’t have worried so much and just had more fun with the planning.  Not that planning our wedding wasn’t any fun at all, but I am someone who tends to stress about every little detail, so I think I sometimes forgot to just have fun with it!  Other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing!  We hit the jackpot with the Bridge Building and our coordinator Lesa.  I could have stressed a lot more than I did, but they made the process so much easier!

In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Don’t worry so much about all of the little details because it really will all come together and you will have too much fun at your wedding to even remember those little things anyway!

share

Posted by Taylor | Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings 0 comments »