Nashville weddings

Hannah + Dan’s Elegant, Laid-Back Houston Station Wedding

Friday, August 5, 2016

I love a Houston Station wedding! And it's so fun to see how each and every couple transforms the space to compliment their personalities and personal style. Hannah + Dan's wedding has a Nashville flair with an elegant twist - and Houston Station is the perfect venue for that! With cowboy boot coozies next to sheer draping, Hannah and Dan's personal style melded into one magnificent party! Hannah reveals more behind the scenes info about her Houston Station wedding below...

Hannah + Dan
February 27, 2016
Houston Station
130 Guests
$20,000-$30,000 Budget

Wedding Team

Day of Coordinator | Events Nashville
Photographer | Lane Photography
Photobooth | Let's Booth It
Wedding Gown | Augusta Jones from Elegance by Roya
Bride’s Accessories | BHLDN
Hair/Makeup | Katie Russo Beauty
Save the Dates | Darby Cards
Invitations | Minted
Programs | Design by Bride
Caterer | Bacon & Caviar
Cake Artist | Dulce Desserts
Floral Designer | Abigail Curtis at Import Flowers
Ceremony/Cocktail Hours Musicians | Honeyboy and Boots
Reception Musicians | JD's Music
Rentals | Liberty Party Rental
Lighting + Draping | Southern Sky Event Lighting
Transportation | Shuttle Buses from Matchless Transportation
Guest Accommodations | Courtyard Nashville Downtown, Embassy Suites Nashville, and Hampton Inn Nashville/Vanderbilt
Rehearsal Dinner Location | Merchants on Broadway

How would you describe your style as a couple?

Hannah: We are both a laid back and fun couple. We enjoy grabbing drinks with friends or entertaining at our place. We are also content with staying in and cooking a meal while listening to some music.

Where did you get your wedding inspiration?

Hannah: I got a lot of my inspiration from all kinds of outlets, but mainly Pinterest and A Practical Wedding. Since we were having a winter wedding, I wanted things to feel warm. That's how I chose the color scheme of blush and champagne. We wanted to keep things pretty simple and make sure our budget was going to the right things. Having lavish decorations wasn't important to me, so we went with pretty simple centerpieces at the tables. I also love the idea of being able to reuse something. Our cake holders and the mason jars we used as decorations everywhere were from my grandmother. We also had our wedding party choose their outfits in hopes that they could wear them again.

How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?

Hannah: We really wanted our wedding to feel more like a big party than a wedding. It was the majority of our guests first time in Nashville (Dan's family is from the New Jersey/Connecticut area), so it was important to us to have that laid-back and fun feel you get with Nashville. Our main focus was making sure we had good food, plenty of drinks, and good music to dance to. We let the rest just fall into place. Decoration wise, you don't need much with a venue like Houston Station. I loved the rustic look that Houston Station gives with the exposed brick and wooden beams. It's proximity to downtown was also nice because it allowed guests to continue to celebrate downtown after the reception.

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

Hannah: We got a ton of compliments on the food and to go along with our simple/laid back theme, we went with BBQ from Bacon and Caviar. We also did a buffet instead of a formal sit down. This allowed guests to go back for seconds if they wanted to.
We also got a lot of compliments on the party favors. As our party favors, I had coozies made in the shape of a boot. A lot of our guests had a mission to get boots during their visit to Nashville, so they loved the idea that now their drinks had boots too.

Tell us about your cakes!

Hannah: We had a two tier cake and then did 4 additional 8" cakes to make up a cake buffet. Juanita with Dulce Desserts presented the idea to us as a more economical option than a 3 tier (or more) cake. It ended up being much more fun because of the variable flavors and finish textures.

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

Hannah: While everything seemed like a splurge (this is definitely the most expensive party I've ever thrown), the two last minute things that we ended up going for that we hadn't planned on due to the extra costs were the bar back and Farmtable for the head table. For the bar, we were originally just going to do table and cloth, but last minute decided to splurge on the beautiful wood bar from Liberty.

We saved on flowers and alcohol. For our head table, we used the flowers from my Bridesmaid luncheon that my Aunt Lucy and Aunt Susan hosted for me. For the rest of the tables, we kept the flower arrangements simple with baby's-breath placed in Mason jars that we got from my grandmother. We also used some of the Bridesmaid's bouquets throughout to help with the decorations during the reception.

I loved that you could bring your own alcohol in Houston Station. It allowed us to shop around for the best prices on the different types of alcohol. We got the liquor from Frugal's, the wine from Colonial, and the beer, believe it or not, from Wal-Mart. Frugal's and Colonial would buy back whatever wasn't opened which was nice.

Who were your favorite vendors and what made them exceptional?

Hannah: All of the vendors were fantastic to work with. Everyone was so pleasant and nice that it made the process so easy. The two vendors that just stood out the most were the folks at Houston Station and Lane Photography.

Elizabeth, Sam, and Sarah are a dream team! They were the main ones running the show the day of our wedding and I can't tell you of anything that went wrong. I know my mom sure enjoyed them the month leading up to the wedding. She was probably in contact with them every other day and they were so good at helping her.

The whole process of working with Scott and Kristin at Lane Photography has been awesome. We first met them at our engagement session, and I felt like we were laughing the whole time. Scott is really good at getting you to relax and feel comfortable. He's also got an incredible talent. I absolutely loved the action shots he got during the reception.

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

Hannah: Absolutely not! That was one of the best days of our lives. I was on cloud nine for like a whole month after our wedding. While we definitely had some stressful moments during the planning period (especially planning it from DC), it was all totally worth it.

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

Hannah: Don't let yourself get stressed out in the small unnecessary details. In the end, everyone that attends is there to support you and celebrate this huge chapter in your life!

Thanks to Hannah and Lane Photography for sharing these beautiful photos! Happy Friday!

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Posted by Alyssa | Filed under: Advice & Planning, Real Nashville Brides, Wedding Venues and Locations, Wedding Style - Rustic, Farm , 0 comments »

Petals & Fields: Creating Beautiful Floral Arrangements for Your Nashville Wedding

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Creativity knows no bounds with Nashville florist, Alina of Petals & Fields. From flower garlands to flower crowns, Alina can create the floral wedding of your dreams. Hailing from Sacramento, CA, Petals & Fields brings all the trends of the west coast to the third coast! Here's more from the fabulous florist herself:

Tell us about your company.

Alina: Petals & Fields Wedding & Event Florist branched out to Nashville, TN from a family owned florist business in Sacramento, CA. I want every bride to experience beauty like they've never seen before for their wedding day. This is why creativity & connecting with couples for their big day is a huge passion of mine.

How long have you been in business?

Alina: The flagship Petals & Fields branch in Sacramento has been in business since 2006. We're looking forward to many more years in Nashville, TN!

How did you get started in weddings?

Alina: I had been asked by many friends to be the florist for their wedding. It grew from there as other clients referred me to new brides. And nothing excites me more than to knowing my work is highly appreciated from my clients!

What's the philosophy behind your company?

Alina: As the founder of Petals & Fields, I did not want to start this wedding business unless I was certain it would bless the brides. I want to go above and beyond to make sure every last detail is worth it for the bride. Petals & Fields also supports local non-profits such as "Meal of Hope". I really enjoy making beautiful floral arrangements for their weekly dinner for the homeless in downtown Nashville.

What are your strengths compared to others in your category?

Alina: I'd like to say I have a love for people & passion to create. I have a positive spirit & love keeping in touch with and maintaining friendships with my clients after the wedding. I basically enjoy turning clients into friends quickly!

Here's a recent review from a bride on my Facebook page:
"Ali truly went above and beyond for my wedding. Not only did she create BEAUTIFUL arrangements- she did it at an incredible price. She also traveled all the way to the venue and arranged the flowers by hand the day before the wedding."

Describe the bride who is most attracted to your company.

Alina: The bride who can dream with me and help create a vision for the big day.

We're so glad Alina shared more of her story with ABG! And she's even offering an exclusive deal! If you mention Ashley's Bride Guide to Petals & Fields, you will receive a special offer as well as a free wedding consultation! 

Follow Alina on Instagram @petalsandfields or contact her at [email protected].

All photos provided by Petals & Fields.

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Posted by Alyssa | Filed under: Florals, Details & Design , 0 comments »

Ashley + Ryan’s Downtown Nashville Engagement Session by Mandy Owens Photography

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Today's engagement shoot post by Mandy Owens Photography is a special one. Ashley and Ryan were married two years ago and they're beautiful downtown Nashville engagement photos truly stand the test of time. We've not only asked Ashley to share her engagemnt session, but asked her to give us some wedding planning advice. You'll hear all the dos and don'ts from a real bride. Plus, you'll get to learn about her sweet engagement story (involving her maltese!). 

How did you get engaged?  Tell us about your proposal.

Ashley: Ryan proposed to me with the assistance of my maltese, Copper. I walked into the backyard and he had taken Copper to get a new collar with the words, "will you marry me" engraved on the tag. It was the sweetest proposal because he incorporated my sweet dog into the moment. Of course I said, "yes!".

How many guests attended your wedding? Where did it take place?

Ashley: We had around 200-250 people in attendance. We got married at  Sweet Seasons Event Barn in Valley Head, Alabama. Sweet Seasons is a sheep farm and they have weddings in the field, with the sheep in the background!

What style were you going for in your engagement photos?

Ashley: Our style was city chic with country charm. I went to college at Belmont University in Nashville, TN and the city holds such a special place in my heart. Nashville has so many hidden gems for great pictures and it was so much fun running around Nashville to capture our engagement! We had our pics made in front of the Johnny Cash walk, in various spots downtown and then of course in downtown Franklin for sweet tea and IveyCake! Nashville is really important to both of us and we are so thankful our pictures showcase our love for Music City.

What was it like working with your photographer?

Ashley: Working with Mandy was like working with an old friend. She treated you as if she had known you forever and made you feel completely comfortable in front of her lens. She spent so much time working on the perfect spots for us to shoot and just made our day so much fun.

What advice would you give readers who are engaged?

Ashley: My advice would be to slow down and enjoy the moment. The wedding planning is a lot of fun but it is also stressful and it's important to take time for you and your soon to be husband.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with ABG readers?

Ashley: Have fun with wedding planning and remember to not stress the small stuff! At the end of the (wedding) day, you are completely surrounded by people you love and who love you and you are walking down the aisle to your best friend. If there is anything that would be most important to me, it would be choosing a photographer. I would have nobody but Mandy Owens at our wedding!

Thank you for sharing this beautiful session, Mandy!

All photos by Mandy Owens Photography.

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Posted by Alyssa | Filed under: Advice & Planning, Engagements & Proposals, Photography, 0 comments »

Mark Your Calendars for the GranDale Manor Open House - Sunday, August 21st

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Mark off Sunday, August 21st in your iCal now, because GranDale Manor is hosting an Open House! Now you can tour the grounds and see the gorgeous refurbished antique details, gleaming chandeliers in every room and the back porch beneath lush greenery!

Plus, you'll be able to meet these lovely Nashville vendors face to face:

Chef Penelope's Catering

Darby Cards

Local Honey Salon

Liberty Party Rental

Premier Entertainment

RED Spirits & Wine

Laurel & Leaf

Baked in Nashville

Frozen Exposure

And I am thrilled to announce that ABG is also a sponsor for the event!

Please RSVP to [email protected]. Hope to see you there - don't be a stranger, I'd love to say hi and meet you! :)

Follow GranDale Manor on Instagram for the latest scoop and visit our Events Page for more Nashville wedding events!

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Posted by Alyssa | Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events, Wedding Venues and Locations, Wedding Style - Classic, 0 comments »