Friday, June 14, 2013
Nashville's War Memorial Auditorium is a landmark. Since 1925, it has hosted events and performances. That's why it was handpicked by Jon, Lauren and their wedding planner, Sarah of Music City Events, for their wedding. They wanted a venue that would complement their art-deco wedding with1930s flair and War Memorial was just the place!
Learn all about Lauren and Jon's real Nashville wedding, through my interview with their wedding planner.
Lauren & Jon
Wedding Date ~ March 24, 2012
Ceremony & Reception Location ~ War Memorial Auditorium
Guests ~ 200
Ashley: How would you describe Jon and Lauren as a couple?
Sarah/Planner: Engaging and fashionable, happy and very modern!
Ashley: How far into their engagement/planning did they hire you?
Sarah/Planner: Lauren and I began working together at the very beginning of their engagement and planning process.
Ashley: Which wedding planning services did you provide?
Sarah/Planner: Lauren chose full planning and design. She had a very good idea of the style she wanted but in the beginning it was so challenging for her - as it is for many brides - to wade through the endless options.
Ashley: What was the vision for their wedding?
Sarah/Planner: Lauren wanted something that was personal to the two of them, that had a lot of class and fashion with a bit of bling. Since they both work in the music business, Jon own's a recording company, sprinkling musical touches throughout the day in non-cheesy and unexpected ways was very important.
Ashley: What recommendations did you make to help them achieve that vision?
As I have taught in AshleysBrideGuide.com wedding planning workshops, it's best to name your top three values and visions and to repeat as necessary when making decisions about the wedding. It was important that they have great style, food and music. As we sifted through ideas and options, we kept those things at the forefront. She didn't want to go crazy with trendy projects so we incorporated their love of music in subtle ways. We used music sheets to line the square (modern!) vases of their centerpieces, Lauren DIY'ed record dessert stands and we used music touches through out the reception in the form of their paper goods. We also worked with Oktipus Printing Co. to create custom Nashville invitations and coordinating sets.
Ashley: Which vendors did you help them hire based on their vision? Why did you think these vendors/venue were a good fit?
Sarah/Planner: We worked together on almost every vendor selected. I base my recommendations on the bride's personality, style and budget. I have never had the exact same set of companies for two events! So much of a wedding is personal; each bride deserves companies that reflect that.
Ashley: I like that approach. Was their venue selected when they hired you or did you recommend the venue based on their vision?
Sarah/Planner: War Memorial was chosen together. Lauren wanted something the said "New Orleans Jazz Fete" that was also close to the heart of Nashville. After looking at all of her options, she landed on War Memorial. We were given the most freedom/options and the best feel for what she wanted. They are excellent to work with!
Ashley: What did you especially love about their wedding?
Sarah/Planner: Lauren was such a happy bride and she and Jon were a pleasure to watch during the planning process. He adores her! Lauren is so fresh and modern and that really came through in her wedding, even though it had an Art Deco/1930's flair. Her sleek bridal gown is not often seen in Nashville and I loved it. She also very nicely set aside traditions in a lot of ways and they really embraced their day as "theirs". Their family were wonderfully supportive in all things, but especially this. It's so liberating and wonderful for the couple!
What ways did you help them maximize their budget?
Sarah/Planner: War Memorial, our venue, allowed us to save on catering and the bar since we were able to choose from a vast list of catering companies AND we can bring in our own alcohol (talk about savings!). My relationship with the rental company saved well over $1000 on their items, and the same can be said with the lighting and valet companies. Knowing the companies to go to, utilizing my knowledge of costs and relationships in Nashville and really hammering out what was most important are always the best foundation for maximizing budgets.
Where did they splurge? save?
Sarah/Planner: Lauren splurged on the band and paper goods and found a great deal on a beautiful dress. War Memorial allowed us to bring in our own dessert bar through Whole Foods and some homebaked treats and that allowed us to bring in extra lighting and draping!
Their Wedding Team
Wedding Planner | Sarah of Music City Events
Photography | Kristyn Hogan
Venue | War Memorial
Band | SuperT
Stationary | Brandon Morgan, This Oktipus Printing Co.
Bride’s Dress | Nicole Miller
Bride’s Shoes | Valentino
Groom’s Attire | Jos. A Bank
Videographer | TruePix Videography
Lighting | Nashville Audio Visual
Rentals | Music City Tents & Events
Valet | Eagle Valet Parking
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds, Real Nashville Weddings, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Friday, May 31, 2013
Lesli and I were classmates at both Hume Fogg High School (here in Nashville) and Howard University (in Washington DC). I knew she was engaged because she reached out for personally recommendations via Facebook. She also used AshleysBrideGuide.com to find local resources (such as Houston Station and Chef's Market) since she was planning a Nashville wedding remotely from the DC-area.
With all of those connections - I still can't believe that I discovered Lesli's wedding via food photos on the Chef's Market Facebook page! I didn't even know the food photos were from her wedding until I requested to see the full wedding and recognized Lesli! What a small world.
What I love most about Lesli's wedding, aside from her food, was that she and Erik were able to make their 250+ guest reception both intimate and personal. Their guests got a taste of real sense of their personalities, their loves, and even a taste of Lesli's hometown of Nashville.
It's my pleasure to share their lovely wedding with you today.
Lesli + Erik
Wedding Date ~ December 1, 2012
Ceremony & Reception Location ~ Houston Station/Noteable Blends Coffee Lounge
Budget ~ $20-50K
Guests ~ 250
Erik and Lesli's Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
As a couple our style is a combination of rustic elegance and city chic. Lesli has a simply stated artistic style that is always well put together but laid back and comfortable. Erik has a polished shirt and tie appeal that borders on corporate sprinkled with flare.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
Our two styles were exemplified in every aspect of our big day. The venue was a renovated hosiery manufacturing warehouse adjacent to a train track. The renovation maintained the original exposed brick walls and wood beams while adding distinctive modern accents. The room was fashioned with deep purple pintuck satin table cloths that had a look of royalty but each table was finished with custom wood centerpieces, topped with antique mason jars.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
Our guests identified their favorite aspect of the wedding as the ability of the space to say so much about our lives and loves. They loved the use of childhood photos in the entry area. Guests commented on the music themed coffee lounge and its tribute to Lesli's home town, "Music City". Our favorite aspect of the wedding was the way the ceremony and the reception allowed all of our guests to be a part of the day and enjoy our favorite things.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
I would have done the programs, welcome letter for out of town guests, and place cards earlier - not the week of the wedding.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
The advice we would offer to couples in the midst of there planning is for them to eliminate any aspect of the wedding the two disagree on or discuss more than once.
Erik and Lesli's Wedding Menu
Bo of Chef's Market was willing to tell me all about about Lesli and Erik's menu, which made sense since it was their food that grabbed my attention initially! What was their menu? How was it created? I had to know it all. Here's what Bo shared:
Erik and Lesli are a really fun couple. When I first met Lesli's mom, JoAnn, she and I spoke about the couple's likes, dislikes, and what they wanted to get out of their reception. They wanted two entrees, but also had to keep their overall budget in mind. We picked two options that are both cost effective...and delicious! With so many guests coming in from Baltimore, D.C., etc - we had to make sure we gave them a good taste of the south without overwhelming them. From the tasting to the day of the reception, Erik and Lesli loved the menu created just for them, and ate every bit of the plate we presented to each of them at their reception.
Cocktail Hour
Lavish fruit and cheese display
Accompanied by gourmet crackers and a sweet fruit dip
Reception Buffet
Club Med salad station
Locally grown baby greens, strawberries, goat cheese and pine nuts
Sesame seed vinaigrette dressing
Tennessee cheese straw chicken
Boneless chicken breasts fried in a Tennessee cheese straw batter
With a red pepper jelly
Flank steak - marinated, slow grilled flank steak accompanied by a mango salsa
Green bean bundles wrapped in roasted red pepper
Smoked gouda mac and cheese
Assortment of butter rolls, sweet chili cornbread and parmesan herb
Erik and Lesli's Wedding Team:
Planning | Bride & bride's mom
Photographer | Ace Photography
Videographer | AndyCam Productions
Venue | Houston Station
Gown | Allure
Bridal Party | David's Bridal
Men's Attire | Street Tuxedo
Makeup | Ms. Lottye Covington
Hair | Ms. Nakitia Drew
Stationary | Save-the-Date - bbinvitations (Borrowed & Blue) Etsy; Invitations - The Paper Source
Rehearsal Dinner | Chappy's on Church
Caterer | Chef's Market
Cake Artist | Signature Cakes by Vicki
Flowers | Smith & Rogers
Lighting | Nashville Event Lighting
Rentals | Classic Party Rentals
Transportation | FADDS Party Bus
Ceremony Musicians | Ruthielee Entertainment, Shaun & Annette Gaffney
Reception Music | DJ Spade
Wedding Day Coordinators | Mrs. Terika Dean & Ms. Tanya Singh
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Destination Nashville Weddings!, Destination Weds & Honeymoon , Real Nashville Weddings
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Friday, May 24, 2013
Last summer, Matt and Amber got married at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville and headed to Stones River Country Club in Murfreesboro for their reception. Their southern wedding was photographed by jHenderson Studios who did an incredible job capturing this stunning couple and their lovely details.
Matt + Amber
Wedding Date ~ July 21, 2012
Ceremony Location ~ Woodmont Christian Church
Reception Location ~ Stones River Country Club
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From the bride:
I knew I wanted to get married at Woodmont Christian Church. Every time I passed by it, I always felt it was where I would get married someday! So when we got engaged there was no need in searching for the perfect church/venue because I already knew. The reception venue was also an easy choice; it was the same ballroom where my dad gave me a "Sweet 16" birthday party, and therefore was very special to me and my dad. Everything else was decided as we went along. My step-mother helped me plan the details with a motif of coral, lots of bling, and simple calla lily bouquets. For my dress, I knew I wanted something classic, non-strapless, with lace with a little bling, and the one I chose was a perfect fit. We decided to forgo a traditional wedding cake and instead we had a huge cupcake tower. Overall I would say we were going for simple, southern, and elegant.
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Matt + Amber's wedding team:
Photographer | jHenderson Studios
Ceremony venue | Woodmont Christian Church
Reception venue | Stones River Country Club
Band | 24/7
Car | Rolls Royce (family friend)
Flowers | Longview Silks
Dress | Maggie Sottero
Shoes | Nordstrom
Make up- MAC (Belk in Mboro)
Hair | Laura Causey; Top of the Block
Bridesmaids dress | JCrew
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings
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Friday, May 17, 2013
Last month, I received the following email from Laura, a recent bride and reader of AshleysBrideGuide.com:
"I am American and have lived in London for 10 years however my family lives in Franklin, TN so why we came back to Nashville for the wedding. My husband is from Edinburgh Scotland so is it was a Scottish (his family) / British (our friends) invasion for the wedding! The kilts were a big hit and my husband's nephew was too cute for words!
Would you be interested in featuring our wedding on our site as a 'real nashville wedding'?"
After seeing Laura's wedding photos, captured beautifully by Nyk + Cali Wedding Photographers, my response was a resounding YES! You simply have to share a wedding that offers great photos, creativity and an infusion of culture as theirs did.
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Laura and Roddy
Wedding Date ~ October 11, 2012
Ceremony & Reception Venue ~ Governor's Club
Guests ~ 80
Budget Range ~ $10-20k
Wedding Team
Planner | Me(!) & on the day Shea Freeman from Freeman's Flowers
Photographer | Nyk & Cali Wedding Photographers
Gown | David Fielden - Teokath of London
Bride's Accessories | Jenny Packham (headpiece & bracelet); Shoes - Nine West
Men's Attire | mix match of kilts and suits!
Bridesmaids | French Connection
Make-up | Amy Lynn Larwig
Stationary | stamps with handmade save the date & invitations by us
Caterers | Governor's Club
Cake | Publix
Flowers | Freeman's Flowers
Music & Lighting | Peter Vaque, Springtree Media Group
Officiant | Ralph Griggs
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Fun loving and easy going. We love hanging out with our friends and our family is very important to us.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We did all the planning from abroad (we live in London but my folks live in Franklin) so we put our energy into the things that meant the most to us which was having an intimate day that we could enjoy with our family and friends. We focused on the details that we knew our guests would enjoy the most and didn't sweat the small stuff.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
We had very diverse guests who came from all over the US, London, Edinburgh and Australia so our favourite aspect of the day was to have everyone that we love and mean the most to us in one place! We also loved the fact that our guests had as much fun as we did! The venue and gorgeous setting of the Governor's Club was also a big hit and gave our guests an experience of the South!
Where did you splurge or save?
Out splurges were probably on the gifts we gave one another. Roddy surprised me with diamond earrings which he designed to match my engagement ring and I got him an Omega watch. Also although Roddy didn't wear a suit on the day he did treat himself to a Paul Smith suit for the rehearsal dinner. Savings - DIY - We designed the stamps we used for our save the dates and wedding invitations. For the save the dates, we bought Nashville postcards and stamped them ourselves which was a lot of fun! Our guests also thought the postcards were fun and really enjoyed getting them! For the invitations we did a similar thing by designing a stamp and doing the invitations ourselves.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
Before we got engaged I would have never believed that I could spend 11 to 12 months planning for 1 day. It is unreal that one day can consume so much of your life...if you let it. I found real perspective in a book a friend gave me called A Practical Wedding by Meg Keene. It helped me realise that it was perfectly ok to have the day we wanted to have because traditions are only important if they are important to you! The hardest part of the planning for us was agreeing the guest list which I think if you have a small or big wedding this is the hardest part....agree it early and don't turn back!!
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Someone told me that people don't remember the details of your wedding day but how felt on the day so focus your planning energy on the things that will make you and your guests connect and really feel the day.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Destination Nashville Weddings!, Multicultural, African-American weddings, Real Nashville Weddings
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Friday, May 3, 2013
I am elated to feature Megan and Brian's wedding, which took place at the Loveless Barn, a world renowned restaurant and Nashville staple. Samantha of Firefly Events, one of their wedding planners, alerted me to this fabulous couple and shared details about their nuptials, which were vibrantly captured by Evin Photography. In telling me about their day, their planners shared the following, which set the tone for their feature, our wedding of the week:
"When a couple is in love and is focused on their marriage, the wedding seems to fall into place. Such was the case for Megan and Brian. They approached their planning season with such creativity and joy! What an inspiration to brides and grooms everywhere. Megan and Brian took great strides to personalize their ceremony and reception, and it paid off. Their wedding was no doubt inspired by their careers with Disney World, which made for a truly magical day."
- Samantha Reedy and Michelle Meadows, Firefly Events
Megan and Brian
Wedding Date ~ November 10, 2012
Ceremony Location ~ Wightman Chapel at Scarritt Bennett
Reception Location ~ Loveless Barn at Loveless Cafe
Guests ~ 125
Budget Range ~ $20-50k
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Classic with a twist. A bit Shabby Chic.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
There’s nothing better than a timeless look with a little twist. We incorporated our favorite color blue and a little bit of UK swag. With our Honeymoon being in London, we added pieces of London to our Save the Date’s, photos, and reception. Our table markers were different versions of “Keep Calm and…” that pertained to our favorite things. For example, “Keep Calm And Call Batman”.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
The entire day! We spent months planning every detail and the pay off was seeing everything come together. Having so many circles of friends and family members under one roof was great!
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
Capturing every aspect of our day was important. We splurged on our Photographer and Videographers. MONEY WELL SPENT! Our photos have been the topic of conversation at work and with family. The comment of “This looks like it came straight out of a magazine!” has been said hundreds of times. Some of the ways we were able to save money were on the reception decorations. Cupcake toppers, goodie bags, family window (wedding day pictures of family members placed in each pane), London themed candy bar, cake table decorations, Guest Book (made our own photo book from iPhoto), Sweetheart table decorations, vintage luggage for cards, etc…
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
No, not really. We worked hard together to incorporate all of the special details for the wedding and everything worked out as planned! ☺ (Thanks to amazing Coordinators, Photographer, and Videographers!)
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Planning a wedding is a lot of work, but it’s totally worth it to have the best day EVER for the start of a beautiful life together.
My Wedding Team:
Planner | Firefly Events
Minister | Jim Harvey
Photographer | Evin Photography
Videographer | Limestone Films, Chattanooga, TN
Gown & accessories | Gown - Oleg Cassini. Shoes - custom made from Etsy and were completely covered in Swarovski crystals. Bride - replica Kate tiara.
Men’s attire | Tux - Men’s Wearhouse with Darth Vader cufflinks from Amazon.com.
Bridesmaids’ attire | Alfred Angelo
Hair | Self
Makeup | Jessie from Parlour 3
Stationery | Love, Ashley Designs, Orlando, FL
Ceremony musicians | Pianist – Diane Dawson, Vocalist – Lynette Dove Harris
Reception musicians | DJ Dan & Co.
Caterer | Loveless Café
Cake artist | Dulce Desserts
Floral designer | Brocade Design Arts
Enjoy more photos from Megan and Brian's lovely Loveless Cafe wedding via the Evin Photography blog.
Megan and Brian's wedding video, courtesy of Limestone Films.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Nashville-Style, Real Nashville Weddings
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