Blue Tone Music has been a Nashville wedding and event staple for years. And, when you're looking for music for one of the biggest days in your life, you want a team that you can trust to show up, be professional and get your guests up and having a great time. Blue Tone Music offers that and more. As a talent booking agency, Blue Tone Music works with the best musicians around town. Owner David Nuding sits with each couple to determine what makes the most sense for their wedding, be it a 12-piece band or a guitarist.
Learn more about Blue Tone Music, a great resource for engaged couples, via our interview with David today.
How many years have you been in business?
19 years
How did you get started in weddings?
Since the age of 12, I’ve preformed at weddings as a drummer. I was actually able to put myself through Berkley College of Music by playing weddings on weekends. Then, while living in Nashville, after touring with major country artists, I put a band together called the Rock and Soul Review to play one night a week at a well-known restaurant in the Music Row area. Our weekly show became a “music scene” with notable musicians showing up to sit in and play with us. During this time, we had many Vanderbilt students who would come to the restaurant to catch our shows. They would subsequently ask us to play their weddings – which is when I decided to get serious about creating The Nashville Blue Tones. After a short amount of time, The Nashville Blue Tones became popular enough to create a full-time business out of playing weddings and events.
What do you like most about weddings?
Weddings are festive and happy occasions where music is an integral part of the whole day: ceremony, cocktail reception, cake cutting, dinner, ect… I love that we can play a part in each moment of a bride and groom’s special day.
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why? (Something that showcases your work.)
I love the photo from the Schermerhorn Symphony center because the whole Nashville Blue Tone band is pictured, but the bride and groom are directly in the center of the photo – as they should be in every aspect of their wedding day. Our goal is to always make sure the bride and groom are the center of attention!
What is your service philosophy?
Listen to the client’s wishes, assess the possibility and then proceed to exceed their expectations.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
Our strengths lie in the individual talents of everyone in this organization. The musician’s instrumental versatility and vocal abilities really sets us apart.
What attracts brides to your service/company?
Our reputation amongst other industry professionals, vendors and thousands of very happy clients.
What would previous couples say was the main reason they selected your company?
The ease of communication, attention to detail and stylistic diversity in our performers.
Describe the bride/couple that is most attracted to your service/company?
We have something for every couple: whether they want a classical guitarist or a 12-piece variety dance band.
Who are your five favorite Nashville wedding vendors?
Five is really unfair because there are SO many wonderful professional wedding vendors in this town that we love to work with! But since you asked…
1. Chef’s Market
2. Hermitage Hotel
3. Schermerhorn Symphony Center
4. Alice Henry Event Planning
5. Mint Springs Farm
To see Blue Tone Music in action, check out the video above and then give them a call at (615) 352-6358 to discuss live music your Nashville wedding.
For Chicago couple Joscelyne and Michael, Nashville holds a special place in their hearts. Not only was it the city where they had spent a memorable New Year’s vacation, but it ended up ultimately being the city where Michael would ask Joscelyne to be his wife. So, it comes as no surprise that Nashville would be the couple’s first and only choice for an intimate destination wedding with their closest family and friends.
Nyk + Cali Photographers were on hand to capture the charming and colorful vintage-style ceremony and reception which both took place in the rolling hills of Tennessee at beautiful Front Porch Farms. The unique and colorful décor set the scene for what was to be a fun, memorable evening and the folk band kept the guests on the dance floor all night. Actually, the bride and groom’s guests had such a great time that by the end of the night they…. Well, I don’t want to ruin it for you. See for yourself in the photos below!
Joscelyne & Michael
Wedding Date ~ October 4, 2013
Ceremony & Reception Venue ~ Front Porch Farms
Guests ~ 79
Budget ~ $20,000
Wedding Team
Planner | That would be us
Day of Director | Kathy Best, owner of Front Porch Farms
Photographer | Nyk & Cali Wedding Photographers
Gown | Bridal Extraordinaire
Men’s Attire | Trunk Club
Hair & Makeup | Katie Russo
Invitations | Paper Doll
Caterer | Chef & I
Floral Designer | Lauren Atkinson
Ceremony & Reception Musicians | Cumberland Collective
Rentals | Southern Events
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
We love old charm, vintage furniture and character, as well as classic, casual style.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
I honestly felt like every detail was us to a T!
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
Everyone LOVED the venue and how intimate the entire experience was. They raved about the music (which was only a few cover songs, mostly a fun folksy type of sound) and the food! The entire day felt so natural and Kathy truly made her home feel like ours. Our guests had zero worries because we shuttled everyone to the venue and back home.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We actually didn’t have any DIY. We stuck to our overall budget, but that is only because we did a lot of research on how much each aspect (photographers, caterers, bands, etc.) would cost.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
These are wise words from our photographers - Remember, at the end of the day, this is about your marriage, not the wedding.
When things felt stressful or overwhelming during the planning process, we tried to remember that the only thing that mattered was us. This put everything into perspective. We strived to have a wedding day that felt natural and totally us, something that would give our guests an experience full of memories and NOT feel like just an event.
When I saw the photos from Leah and Steven's December wedding, it was clear that this couple and their guests thoroughly enjoyed their wedding day, despite the dreary weather outside. From their first look to their first dance, these two love birds showed off their excitement for each other.
I was thrilled to see their winter day, especially as their ceremony took place at my church! The soaring wooden ceiling in Holy Family's large sanctuary was a perfect fit to make the space feel cozy, yet airy for their large number of guests.
As a December bride myself, I loved seeing how Leah incorporated wintery elements into their decor without turning it into a theme - flocked pine cones, evergreens in the church floral arrangements and an all white floral palate brought a breath of winter to their rustic decor. Starting with a gorgeous venue like Houston Station, simple decor in strings of globe lights, crisp white linens and burlap runners provided a perfect backdrop for the wedding party and guests to shine in the fun-filled photos captured by Streetlight Republic. Scroll down to see what a party these two threw for their guests, and read all about their reception surprises, including a biscuit bar and limbo contests!
Leah & Steven
Wedding Date ~ December 14, 2013
Ceremony Venue ~ Holy Family Catholic Church
Reception Venue ~ Houston Station
Guests ~ 250
Budget ~ $50-60K
Wedding Team
Planner | Elizabeth Gilbreath of Houston Station
Venue: Houston Station
Photographer | Streetlight Republic
Videographer | Ryan Hines
Gown | Allure/ Bridal Warehouse
Men’s Attire | Bridal Warehouse
Bridesmaids’ Attire | Bridal Warehouse
Hair & Makeup | Tara Carver
Stationery | Donna Birtles
Caterer | Two Fat Men
Cake Artist | Publix
Floral Designer | Enchanted Florist
Ceremony Musicians | Lifeteen Musicians at Holy Family (Contact: Heather Tabor)
Reception Musicians | Top Tier
Rentals | Southern Events
Lighting | Bright Event Productions
Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Laid back
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding (e.g. décor, colors, details or even picking the venue)?
We wanted homestyle food and a “party”, so we went with a great band, a great caterer and a great venue!
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
The late night biscuit bar…and the drinks!
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We saved on our rehearsal dinner by making it a smaller, more intimate setting. It was held at Moe’s Barbecue in Cool Springs, and we were able to rent out the entire place! We also saved on our cake. It was from Publix and it was amazing! We didn’t have to provide many church decorations, because it was close to Christmas (there was not any red, white, and green, though!).
We splurged a little by providing some liquor at the reception. The food, flowers and the venue were things that I was willing to spend money on - so we did!
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
I made a mistake when I sent out the seating arrangements. I called it the “floor plan,” so it changed our entire floor plan instead of just planning for our seating. The vendors were so awesome about it and changed it quickly, though.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Don’t stress! No one knows how things were “supposed” to be, so if there are any unplanned changes, no worries!
Liberty Party Rental has been Nashville’s go-to wedding rental business for more than 30 years. From custom farm tables and modern ghost chairs to a wide variety of tenting and flooring options, Liberty provides countless on-trend rental options for every style and budget.
No business can run successfully for over three decades without providing customer service that goes far beyond expectations. Liberty has a number of professional coordinators and designers with years of experience on hand to guide you through the wedding planning process. With a staff that pays attention to every detail, the bride can rest-assured knowing Liberty is there to handle each aspect of the rental process, from the initial design of the event through the load-out at the end of the night.
We had the chance to chat with Alyssa DiCicco, a designer/planner at Liberty, to learn more about the company’s love of weddings and commitment to building solid relationships with its clients. Read on to discover more...
We offer full-service event rentals for the mid-South including tables, chairs, tents, furniture, linens, glassware, flatware, china and more!
How many years have you been in business?
We've been in business since 1983! Our current owner, Bruce Hurst, began working for Liberty as a delivery driver in high school and continued his work after college. In 2002, Mr. Hurst purchased the company and it became incorporated as Liberty Party Rental.
How did you get started in weddings?
Liberty's history: Mr. Hurst was motivated to purchase the rental company for numerous reasons. He loved the dynamics of the party rental business because it allowed him to be outside working and connecting with customers. Additionally, the wedding and event rental industry in Nashville was just beginning to flourish. Being able to introduce new and innovative products to the Nashville market continues to be a key element to the success to Liberty Party Rental.
My experience in weddings: I started out in the wedding world by working part-time for Ashley's Bride Guide! I helped with social media and advertising campaigns back in 2008-2009! Since then, I've worked in the marketing world and I'm so happy to be back in the wedding industry with Liberty! Planning events and styling weddings is something I've always loved doing on my own. Now I'm really enjoying it as my job!
What do you like most about weddings?
I love seeing the groom's face the first time he sees his bride walking down the aisle. What a special moment! Also, since I work in the rental business, it's fun to see what colors and styles brides bring into their weddings. Each wedding has a unique touch that really speaks to what the couple is like.
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why?
I really love the photos that Kristyn Hogan took from Candi and Christopher's wedding! Candi and Christopher used a lot of our decor elements including our Tuscan Brentwood Chairs, Farm Table, Glassware, Flatware and more! The styling is spot on and the rentals they picked out really pair well with the rustic outdoor setting!
What is your service philosophy?
Here at Liberty, we want to give brides exquisite products, dependability and expertise. Our sales staff is always here to help you with anything you need. We like to handle the details for our brides and make them feel at ease in our time working with them, from planning all the way to breakdown.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category?
We are one of the largest rental companies in the Nashville area! We have over 150 linen colors and patterns to choose from! Plus, we strive to provide new products for our customers; many of which you cannot find anywhere else in the region. Anytime you call during business hours, one of our sales staff will pick up the phone right away to assist you. They have years and years of experience and can answer any questions you have! We strive to have the best customer service around!
What attracts brides to your service/company?
Our products and service really attract brides to work with us. Our products are on trend - the fact that we carry our beautiful farm tables, bentwood and ghost chairs, chevron linens, burlap linens, and more really draws brides to work with us. We also do custom tenting and flooring! Our sales staff pays much attention to detail so every aspect of the wedding is spot on!
What would previous couples say was the main reason they selected your company?
We really help couples envision what their wedding will look like. We work closely with many venues in Nashville and our sales staff is great with knowing how many tables will fit in a space, as well as how many wine glasses you need to order for your cocktail hour. We pride ourselves on our customer service and our relationships with our clients.
Describe the bride/couple that is most attracted to your service/company?
This one is really hard to nail down because we work with so many different clients! Our products range from simple to extravagant, ultra modern to shabby chic. A bride can rent basic white poly linens for a very small and simple wedding all the way up to a large tented wedding for 1,000+ guests! No order is too small or too big!
What is the most “now” / innovative new product, service, style or other aspect of your industry that brides and grooms might appreciate?
We love our custom made farm tables! We have some new custom farm benches to match along with our Tuscan Bentwood chairs! This shabby chic trend is still going strong - you can always pair our burlap and lace table runners and rent our mason jars and whiskey barrels to keep with the trend! And if you're not all about shabby chic, we have some fun sparkly glam products in stock, too! We have a ton of new products coming in this spring, so stay tuned to our Facebook page for some announcements!
Liberty Party Rental also has a wonderful blog, full of inspiration and the latest ideas for Nashville weddings and evets. Check it out at blog.libertypartyrental.com.
Photo credits as images appear: Jenny Cruger, Kristyn Hogan (4), Love is a Big Deal, Q Avenue, Be Music, Dove Photography
The merging of two cultures is a beautiful thing that should be celebrated. Bride, Ashley is African-American and grew up in a traditional southern family. Groom, Armin is Serbian-Hungarian who moved to the United States when he was 17. While planning their “I Do’s,” it was important to Ashley and Armin that their War Memorial wedding be a celebration of these distinct cultures. With the help of Regalo Design, they had a stunning fete that did just that.
The bride and groom’s guests enjoyed a classically elegant soirée that included a scrumptious sit-down dinner by Savor the Flavor, lofty floral centerpieces highlighted with pops of purple and dazzling up-lighting that accentuated the beauty of the venue. These elements coupled with unique Hungarian traditions intermixed throughout both the ceremony and reception made for a truly memorable event.
Be sure to read on to learn more about planning a multi-cultural celebration from bride, Ashley, and to view more gorgeous photos from She + Him Photography…
Ashley & Armin
Wedding Date ~ November 2, 2013
Ceremony & Reception Venue ~ War Memorial Auditorium
Guests ~ 200
Wedding Team
Planner | Damon Goude | Regalo Design
Photographer | She + Him Wedding Photography
Videographer | Beyond the Still Image
Gown | Allure Bridal from The White Room (Lebanon, TN)
Bride’s Accessories | Cezanne bracelet and earrings from Dillard’s
Men’s Attire | Vera Wang from Men’s Wearhouse
Bridesmaids’ Attire | Alfred Angelo
Hair | Tiara Evans of Natural Awakenings Salon
Makeup | LeeAnne Blair
Stationery | Designed by bride and Regalo Design, printed by Vistaprint
Caterer | Savor the Flavor
Cake Artist | The Sweetest Day
Floral Design | Regalo Design
Ceremony Musicians | Sarah Davison (pianist)
Reception Musicians | Brad Ford of Snyder Entertainment (DJ)
Rentals | Southern Events
Lighting | War Memorial Auditorium
Transportation | Matchless Transportation
Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Fun! We are laid-back, love to laugh and have a lot of fun – both in a group setting or just the two of us. We agreed that our wedding had to be fun above all else, and reflect us as a couple. Additionally, we merged two cultures – Ashley is African-American and grew up in a traditional Southern family, while Armin is Serbian-Hungarian, moved to the United States at age 17 and spent his “formidable American” years in the Midwest. We often joked that ours would be the best “Blungarian” wedding anyone had ever been to!
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
The details including the venue, wedding colors and décor were all very classic and elegant. We incorporated fun by having a laid-back flow to the order of events, great food and drink, and a great dance party at the reception. We also weaved Hungarian traditions into both the ceremony and reception - we threw coins and broke a plate for good luck in the marriage, taught guests some Hungarian vocabulary words via their table assignments and offered shots of Palinka, a traditional Hungarian fruit brandy. It was fun bringing those experiences to our guests.
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
Our favorite part was blending our two cultures, friends and families together for a celebration of us – it’s awesome to see pictures of the dance floor with so many different people coming together to have a good time and kill the Electric Slide! We have also gotten a ton of compliments on the food, which we knew would be an important ‘measuring stick’ of the day. We loved it as well and appreciate the fact that we were able to sit down and enjoy the meal with our families.
Your hair is gorgeous! Who styled it?
Thanks! My hairstyle was inspired by Pinterest, of course – but luckily, I found a stylist who was able to transform that inspiration into my own style for the big day. I have not lived or had a stylist in Nashville for quite some time, but I found Natural Awakenings through a Google search, and lucked upon the talents of Tiara Evans – I highly recommend her for other natural-haired brides!
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We splurged on the venue, but felt really good about it in the end since we had both the ceremony and reception at War Memorial. We also splurged on the food, but knew it would be totally worth it in the end (it was – people are still complimenting us on it!) Planning the wedding long distance made it difficult to be DIY, but we did incorporate some elements into all of our paper pieces. Our invitations, programs and thank you cards at each place setting all featured a paisley design that my Mom, Damon and I found on Google images. It was used consistently and gave every piece a high-end designer look.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
Even though I’m happily married, I still watch a lot of the wedding shows on TV, and it’s easy to think about small changes that could have been made such as a certain song or not over-throwing my bouquet (went right over all the single ladies’ heads…oops!). However, at the end of the day, there is nothing I would do differently. I went into the planning process with a pretty good idea of what I wanted that would be beautiful, but still reasonable and realistic. I started working with Damon after some of the major details were decided, but he swooped in and helped me (calmly) plan the rest. I made it a point to include my fiancé and his ideas appropriately, while still keeping my vision. Keeping a good balance and remembering the overall objective of the wedding day itself helped make the planning process a breeze.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Stay calm – remember it’s all about the love you share and your lifetime of happiness; no wedding day hiccup should ever be able to ruin that.
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