Friday, June 8, 2012
Lacey and Taylor chose Cedarwood for their upscale rustic wedding, and after seeing their wedding via the Cedarwood blog, we had to share their day ourselves! While they used the Cedarwood Style Team to create their romantic and vintage vision, they also incorporated DIY elements that truly impressed Cedarwood's experienced Style Team. We are all lucky that Kristyn Hogan captured all of the details of the day.
Enjoy the photos below and to check out even more from eye candy from their wedding via Cedarwood's first and second blog covering Lacey and Taylor's wedding (also find their list of vendors on the first Cedarwood blog!).
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Lacey + Taylor
Wedding Date ~ September 25, 2011
Ceremony + Reception Venue ~ Historic Cedarwood
For more information, visit the Cedarwood blogs (part 1, part 2) and if you are interested in having your wedding there, call Linda at 615.876.9999 and let her know you heard of them on ABG!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings, Wedding Venues and Locations,
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Friday, June 1, 2012
Catholic weddings always have a soft spot in my heart because that's how I was raised and it meant a lot to me and my family that we also were married in the church. Cathedral of the Incarnation on West End is a venue that doesn't needs little (if at all) to beautify, which meant today's happy couple were able to channel all decor into their fabulous, Mardi Gras themed wedding at the Cannery Ballroom. Planned, designed, and executed by Regalo Design, Michelle and Jake treated themselves and their guests to a fun, vibrantly decorated reception in the spirit of the festival.
Today, Regalo, their planner, shares details of their wedding with us.
Michelle + Jake
Wedding Date ~ October 22nd
Ceremony Venue ~ Cathedral of the Incarnation
Reception Venue ~ The Cannery
Guests ~ 200
Tell us about the couple:
Michelle and Jake were a fun spirited and life of the party types that were excited about the details of the event.
Describe their theme:
Mardi Gras Meets Nashville
Details used to enhance the theme:
Colors: Navy, Purple, Teal and Pink
Décor items: Fabric draping, uplighting, vintage votives and what would a party be without glow stick necklaces?
Flowers: Royal blue roses, purple hydrangea, white dahlias, lavender roses and royal blue delphinium
Describe any highlights/special moments of the wedding day:
Although it’s rare, the best moment of the day was that they saw each other for the first time as she walked down the aisle. They also enjoyed a long trolley ride through the city after their ceremony provided by Music City Transportation and also had karaoke at their reception.
Tell us about the couple’s vision, special requests, unique challenges that you had to work together to overcome:
Create a true party atmosphere where people would forget that they were at a wedding but instead at a fun event. This was created with the light sticks, karaoke and other festivities at the reception. Special requests: Royal blue is not an easy color when it comes to flowers but this bride really wanted them instead of your regular whites and creams. We accomplished this with royal blue roses and delphinium. Unique challenges: There was an extensive time break between the ceremony and reception
Vendors Hired for the Day
Wedding Planner, Florist & Event Decorator | Regalo Design
Ceremony Location | Cathedral of the Incarnation
Reception Location | Cannery Ballroom
DJ & Karaoke | Cosmo Creations
Motion Sensor Lighting & Gobo | FADDS Entertainment
Caterer | Copper Kettle
Cake Artist | Crumb de la Crumb
Photographer | Kristyn Hogan
Transportation | Music City Bus
Make Up | Shelley Nicole
Another beautiful wedding, planned and put together by the fun-loving couple and Regalo Design. Thank you Kristyn Hogan for capturing the details and moments!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings,
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Friday, May 25, 2012
When Tanya, a family friend, called to discuss weddings with my mother and I, there was no doubt that she had a clear vision for her wedding day. Tanya was a no-frills, modern bride. She wanted a muted and classic color palette with elegant but minimal decor. With a background in architecture and graphic design, she was drawn to historic venues and clean lines, and wanted to design some things on her own.
She knew what she liked and didn't like, and she clearly articulated where she needed help. She needed only a few ideas, a couple of recommendations for wedding professionals, then she and her mom took it from there. They planned everything - from A to Z - and my enlisted my mom (church wedding coordinator) to help coordinate the ceremony and reception.
I love a decisive, independent thinking bride! It makes everything less stressful and makes it more likely that the wedding will be a true reflection of the couple, as was theirs.
Today, I am happy to share with you Tanya and Andre's elegant wedding at Nashville's Union Station. A wonderfully classic, all-inclusive venue, Union Station was the perfect location for this history-loving couple. It was a beautiful event with a timeless look, which was just what the couple wanted.
All photos by Mark Denman Photography.
Tanya + Andre
Date ~ June 11, 2011
Ceremony + Reception Venue ~ Union Station Wyndham Historic Hotel
Guests ~ 275
My Budget
$20,000 – 50,000
Wedding Team
Planner | Geraldean Smith, Clementine King, AshleysBrideGuide.com
Photographer | Mark Denman
Videographer | Michael Morn
Gown | Arzelle’s
Bridal Accessories | Bracelet – Charming Charlie, Necklace – Gift from parents
Groom’s Attire / Groomsmen Attire | Charcoal Grey Tux, Yellow Bow Ties from Bridal Warehouse
Bridesmaids Attire | Bridal Warehouse (Quarry (grey), Dessy - Alfred Sung Collection (they picked from four different styles to wear)
Hair | Simple, pulled back into a classy bun.
Makeup | Narkieta Neal Makeup – Nikki Campbell with Blu Artistry
Stationery | I did them myself (tp.graphics) and printed them at Jive printing
Ceremony Musicians | String Quartet from The Innocenti Strings, Soloist – Patrique Fortson, Pianist – Chad Hammonds
Reception Musicians | DJ – Josh Merritt
Caterer | Union Station Wyndham Historic Hotel
Cake Artist | Dulce Desserts
Floral Designer | The Enchanted Florist
Guest Accommodations | Marriott, Brentwood, TN
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Modern/Contemporary
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
After having picked a venue full of history and historical architectural elements, we felt the best style to complement this backdrop and our personal taste was that of a contemporary vibe. We incorporated this style through our choice of colors (charcoal grey, yellow, white and black), our attire (simple, elegant wedding dress and sleek tuxes), floral choices (white and yellow Calla Lilies as prominent flower), and the design of the stationery.
Our desire was to keep all the elements simple and elegant so as not to compete with the history of Union Station, but to subtly complement it with pieces of today.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
What I enjoyed most of my wedding was being surrounded by so much love. Having all our friends and family from near and far just left the atmosphere with such joy, hope and happiness. It was as though sharing that love with everyone was the glue that brought everything together and made the day so memorable.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
I splurged on my dress and on the venue. Why not?! I saved by designing my own stationary (wedding and reception invitations, programs, etc.) Having experience in graphic design saved us a pretty penny.
With everything being in one location, we didn’t have to worry about transportation, and with having several musically gifted friends, we were able to save when it came to the music.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
No, not really. I took advantage of the knowledge and connections around me. I think if I had of tried to figure out and do everything on my own, the day would not have turned out as wonderful as it did and I would have been stressed beyond measure. It’s great having family and friends to turn to for help, support and direction.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
If you set out trying to have every detail perfect, you’ll just become stressed and overwhelmed; you’ll miss the simplicity and joy of it all!
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Multicultural, African-American weddings, Real Nashville Weddings,
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Friday, May 18, 2012
We love featuring local Nashville weddings, but Reagan, TN is local enough and this wedding just shows the importance of finding vendors you love - wherever they are located. For Kyla and John's budget-friendly wedding, Picture This Nashville really brought the fun (all the way from Nashville) and made the day for them and their guests.
Thanks to Shannon Fulton Photography for sending us photos from the ceremony and reception. Other photos are from Picture This Nashville (as marked).
Kyla and John's Picture This Guestbook cover
Kyla + John
Wedding Date ~ October 8, 2011 at 6pm
Ceremony + Reception ~ Outside of a family friend's house in Reagan, TN
Guests ~ 200
Budget
$10,000
Wedding Team
Photo Booth | Picture This Nashville
Photographer | Shannon Fulton
Gown | Allure Bridal - diamond white, one shoulder, mermaid cut
Groom’s Attire + Groomsmen Attire | Chocolate Tux from Brasher's Tuxedo in Jackson, TN
Bridesmaids Attire | Sangria dresses from David's Bridal
Hair | Maria Fucci - Tips to Toes Nail and Hair Spa
Makeup | Rachel Stricklin
Stationery | The Print Shop, Parsons, TN
Ceremony Musicians | Chase Inman, Cord Laster, and Emily Baughn
Reception Musicians | DJ - Scotty Adams
Cake Artist | Liz Whitsitt and Lila's Cake Shoppe, Lexington, TN
Floral Designer | The Flower Basket, Parsons, TN
Tent Rental | Party Pros USA, Florence, AL
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Fun and energetic, up for anything!
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We had a unity firework instead of candle or sand, and we had a big screen TV to play the Tennessee/Georgia game - go Vols!
Plus, the photo booth was so much fun! The guests loved it! And instead of birdseed or bubbles, we had biodegradable confetti poppers.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
The location and gorgeous fall day, beside a pond and historic log cabins.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We splurged on our photo booth (Picture This) and the tent rentals (Party Pros USA). We made it work because when I saw Picture This Nashville at a bridal show I knew right then I had to have them. It was new, innovative, and it was something original which is what I wanted my whole wedding to be. I wanted people to saw "wow I've never seen this before". The photo booth was perfect for our wedding!
We saved on our food - our families made all of the food and we saved on doing the centerpieces ourselves, we borrowed tables, and table linens from our church.
Bridesmaids goofing off with the props and looking through the Picture This Nashville photos, before taking their own.
Why did you decide to hire a photo booth for the reception and at the same time make it your biggest splurge?
I wanted our guest to feel like they had a part in the guestbook instead of just a signature. I wanted them to have fun and the props totally made it fun. And I wanted them to be able to take something with them to remind them us and how fun our wedding was, the prints did that.
It really added to the atmosphere at the reception. Our reception was meant to be fun and it really made it just that; it really added that extra spark that wow'd our guests. They completely loved it and are still talking about it.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
We would have hired a wedding planner! It was way too stressful doing it myself.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Hire a planner, you can enjoy the planning if someone else is doing it.
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Photo Booth, Real Nashville Weddings, Reception Entertainment, Photo Booths,
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Friday, May 11, 2012
When Amy, lead planner of Swizzle Events, told us about this lovely, Tennessee wedding, she started her description with, "Laura Beth and Matthew are a sweet couple with a quintessential sense of style. When we began working on their wedding plans, Laura Beth shared that she wanted a timeless, Audrey Hepburn style combined with a fun nightclub environment. Challenging? Maybe. Fun? Definitely."
Amy and the bride, Laura Beth, really speak to the day's higlights! And of course, the photos from Erin at The Collection are a perfect complement to walk you through the style and design.
Laura Beth + Matthew
Wedding Date ~ June 25, 2011
Ceremony + Reception Venue ~ Manchester - Coffee County Conference Center
Guests ~ 200
Budget
$20,000 – 50,000
Wedding Team
Planner + Floral Designer | Amy Thomas with Swizzle Events
Photographer | Erin Lee from The Collection
Gown | Paloma Blanca from Arzelle’s in Nashville
Bride’s Accessories | Lemon quartz and diamond necklace received before ceremony as a present from groom; pearl bracelet from officiate/close family friend Judge Vanessa Jackson; earrings from Arzelle’s; wedding ring custom made by Giles Dunn
Men's Attire | Custom-fit black suit with black tie; wedding band from Hammer Jewelry in Collierville, TN
Bridesmaids Attire | Blue, one-shouldered cocktail dress by The Dessy Group
Hair | Courtney from Impressive Creations Salon in Tullahoma, TN
Makeup | Meredith Wiseman
Stationery | Mrs. Post Stationery in Memphis, TN
Cake Artist | Jay Qualls
Ceremony & Reception Musicians | Burning Las Vegas
Lighting | Nashville Event Lighting
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Matthew and I are traditional and classic, so we wanted a wedding that reflected our taste and style, but we also wanted to incorporate unique elements into the ceremony.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We chose a blank ballroom as our ceremony and reception site because we wanted a large, open space for our untraditional ceremony. We also knew that Amy (our wedding planner) was a creative event designer, so we wanted to give her space to showcase her talents. Our venue was a wonderful space for this project. We wanted a cocktail hour (technically, half hour) before the ceremony began. So, the guests arrived and received cocktails and passed appetizers. Then, we asked them to create a part in the ballroom, and I entered with my dad.
We had the ceremony with our amazing family and friends surrounding us. It was like being in an intimate fishbowl. We truly felt like everyone was taking part in our vows, and that is exactly what we wanted—we wanted our day to be about us, but we also wanted it to be about our family and friends because they mean so much to us.
As for the colors, we chose a blue color palate because I love blue and white china. My mom and I have been collecting pieces since I was a kid. We’ve found odd and end plates, cups, dishes, etc. in various places, so we have a lovely collection. I wanted to incorporate the pieces into our décor, so we asked Amy to find linens, lighting, and other design elements in every shade of blue to complement the china accent pieces. Every table had gorgeous white flowers and greenery surrounded by mine and my mother’s china collection. It was not only beautiful, it was special and sentimental because it was more than just rentals—these are pieces I now incorporate into my home with Matthew. Whenever I see them, I’m reminded of our beautiful, blue wedding.
What made you choose to do a dual approach to your wedding day with traditional vows and nightclub-esque reception?
Well, I’d say that our ceremony was non-traditional. My close family friend is a judge, and, since she became a judge, I wanted her to marry me (even before I found my groom!). Since it would be inappropriate for her to stand in a church and marry us, we had to think of alternate locations. We wanted tradition and classic elements, but we also wanted an intimate setting followed by a celebration. This wedding was a perfect combination. We had traditional elements, like a bridal party and traditional vows, but we also did it with people literally standing beside us.
Also, we thought of this day as a celebration of our love and commitment to one another, so we wanted our family and friends to have a good time. That’s where the nightclub-esque feel came into play. We didn’t want to cause discomfort from formality. We wanted our guests to feel at ease in a laid-back, fun setting complete with good food, great music, and wonderful company. It was great that no one had to drive to the reception. We said “I do” and the fun instantly began. It was a magical night.
How did Swizzle Events make your vision come to life? Did you enjoy working with Swizzle?
I loved working with Amy/Swizzle. She is a dream maker. She was patient, kind, creative, and positive. Our path to the wedding was not paved with perfection; there were bumps along the way. We changed venues, we changed concepts, we changed the ceremony. Amy listened to our thoughts, and made our ideas come to life. If something we suggested wasn’t practical, she told us, but she also told us ways to make it better. She took our thoughts and turned them into something better than what we expected—you can’t always say that about event planners. Amy did wonders with lighting, rentals, and linens. We had a blank ballroom that she turned into this amazing, swanky nightclub with tall cocktail tables, elegant floral designs, and sleek white lounge furniture. It took my breath away.
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
We had several compliments on our unique ceremony. People kept telling us that they felt like they were a part of our vows. That touched me more than I thought it would when we initially designed the ceremony. I love that people felt like they were involved in that special moment. We also had a lot of positive comments about the band. People love to dance, and Burning Las Vegas is a ball!
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
The band, Burning Las Vegas, was the best splurge we made! They are one rocking good time. Huge crowd hit! We had to scoot people off the dance floor so we could do our exit—no one wanted to leave. While we did not save on invitations, we did choose not to do thermography, which saved money without taking away from the beautiful print. We also decided not to do individual welcome bags. Instead, we reserved one room at the guests’ hotel and filled it with food, drinks, maps, itineraries, and other goodies. We called it our hospitality suite. It became more of a “hang out” room, though, which was a great place for mingling.
Also, we gave the bridesmaids a long, large calla lily tied with a blue ribbon and surrounded with some small greenery instead of giving them each small bouquets. They were beautiful and sleek and helped us stay within our flower budget.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
I wish I would have taken more pictures. It all goes by so quickly!
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Fun is the best thing to have.
From Amy of Swizzle Events:
"Our venue gaves us a blank slate that was transformed into a fusion of classic Southern beauty and contemporary club. Sleek white lounge furniture mixed with traditional table seating provided a supper club atmosphere that allowed plenty of room for dancing. And with Burning Las Vegas on the stage, everyone danced the night away! Using even the smallest details in the design plan, we deliberately blended the two styles - classic Southern blooms of blue hydrangea alongside sophisticated white orchids, chic linens and specialty lighting for the night club feel with a menu that highlighted southern delights. A clean, classic color palette of blue, white and green provided a common thread throughout the details.
Perhaps most importantly, Laura Beth and Matthew wanted their wedding day to be remembered as a fun celebration. By keeping the ceremony efficient and succinct, the reception became the focus of their wedding. To create the sophisticated party that they wanted, we spent a great deal of time planning the flow of the evening. The timeline was precise and involved an orchestration of many subtle details and cues from lighting to music to placement of the bridal party. As the guests arrived, they enjoyed cocktails and mingled with the bridal party and family. Thirty minutes into the cocktail hour, subtle lighting changes were executed and the bridal party smoothly took their places in the center of the room. As the band played 'Unforgettable', Laura Beth was escorted into the room and met Matthew as he waited surrounded by their bridal party, family and friends. Once Matthew was told to 'kiss his bride', the celebration kicked into high gear and cocktail hour transitioned into dinner and dancing, dancing, dancing!I was truly honored to share in the planning and coordination of their fun, sophisticated wedding celebration. Laura Beth and Matthew's wedding encompassed a fusion of two distinct styles that created a memory to last a lifetime.
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings, Wedding Planners & Coordinators,
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