Friday, February 3, 2012
Nashville is full of so many venues, and here we are sharing a venue we have yet to feature - the Gaylord Springs Golf Course. Yes, even with the Southern charm of Nashville, you can still have a lovely wedding on an award-winning golf course.
James and Shannon sent us their outdoor wedding to view and we were all too happy! They chose a more modern, but very classy venue for a very timless feel. Even with a vintage, classic edge, the couple still showed their personality and fun side by giving a nod to Shannon's hometown, New Orleans, at the reception.
All of the photos were captured (and so graciously sent to us) by Becca Yager Photography.
Shannon + James
Date ~ September 4, 2011
Ceremony ~ Gaylord Springs Golf Course (outside under the pavilion)
Reception ~ Gaylord Springs Golf Course (in the clubhouse)
Guests ~ 180
Budget
$20,000 – 50,000
Wedding Team
Photographer | Becca Yager
Planner | A Magical Affair - Jennifer
Videographer | Josh Martinez, Cine Shot Productions -- wedding video
Gown + Accessories | Ballew Bridal and Formal Salon (Collierville, TN)
Groom’s + Groomsmen Attire | Street Tuxedo
Bridesmaids Attire | Satin pencil dresses from White House | Black Market
Hair | Shauna at Elegant Hair Expressions
Makeup | Andrew, Green Hills MAC
Stationery | Jaron Jackson: Graphic Designer, Etc
Florist | GreenFinch Floral Design (Denise Bann)
Ceremony Musicians | St. Kellye was the vocalist and Kevin Mathews and Jarvis Simms musician
Reception Musicians | DJ Zoom from Memphis TN
Transportation | Nashvilleweddingcars.com
Caterer | Gaylord
Cake Artist | Gaylord
Guest Accommodations | Radisson Gaylord
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
I consider our style to be unique. We feel that fashion has no rules so we express ourselves accordingly. For our wedding we chose a vintage look because we feel that we have a classic/ timeless love for one another. We wanted to pull from the authentic feelings of romance from the past.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We had a vintage style wedding. The style of our wedding was incorporated in numerous ways. First, we wanted a vintage feel through our color scheme. We chose classic ivory and black as our décor with a pop of lime green in the florals to add some drama. Our bridesmaids wore black pencil style knee length satin dresses. My vision to execute the vintage feel included their hair being pulled into a side bun with makeup that included false eyelashes and a statement red lip.
The groomsmen were dressed in black tuxedo jackets and ivory pants. They all wore black bowties and cummerbunds. We chose a slimmer fit for the tuxedos to execute our vision. The groom wore a slim ivory tuxedo with black bowtie and cummerbund and I was dressed in an ivory full lace gown. I wore my hair pulled to the side and my veil was a birdcage vintage look.
Our ceremony was under a pavilion, which I feel added to the style and romance of our ceremony. The chairs were wooden and had lace cloth wrapped around them. The groomsman walked the bridesmaids up under umbrellas and I was dropped off at the ceremony in a classic green vintage car. There was a slight rain that added to the style (totally not planned).
The reception was located at the same venue. There were floor to ceiling windows and an amazing view of Gaylord Springs. We wanted an open lighting and we choose ivory tablecloths with black sashes. We had dainty centerpieces with twigs and stones. We really wanted the romance of the reception venue to speak for it itself with minimal décor. I am originally from New Orleans so we had a second-line celebration and we had decorative umbrellas placed behind our head table. As we left our guest threw rice and we rode away in our vintage car. (see exit image below)
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
Our favorite aspect of the wedding was the love. We wrote our own vows, therefore our ceremony was very intimate. Many of our guest pointed out that the love that we have for each other was felt throughout the ceremony.
At the reception we made a point to inhale every moment. We got our food to go because we knew we would have a hard time eating. We spoke to every single guest and danced as if the party would never end. We truly enjoyed ourselves. The fun at the reception and love displayed at the ceremony was our favorite aspect of the wedding.
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Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We splurged on our venue. James and I wanted our guest to have an ideal experience. We paid for an open bar for our guest and picked an awesome menu, and that was the bulk of our cost. We saved our money through all other vendors. James located the best deals in town on our florals, photography, videography, graphic designs, and our car.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
Because our guest did not stick to their RSVPs, we would have gone lower with the guest count. We paid for food and liquor that wasn’t consumed.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Have fun with this, relax and enjoy this moment.
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Everyone has an opinion when it comes to wedding gowns and what you should wear. "No, no, white will wash you out, go with ivory" or "Ivory is too (whatever) go with a really, really white dress!" How do you pick? Where do you start and what is the difference between white, diamond white, winter white, cream, or ivory?
Event designers, surprisingly, get the "ivory vs white" question a lot as brides try to decide whether their dress color will impact their wedding design. My wedding dress was ivory and I felt compelled to use ivory everywhere instead of white. I found that ivory accessories were harder to find and often cost more. So, I was elated to see that Rhonda Patton of Rhonda Patton Weddings and Event Design tackled the whole ivory and white quandry via her very helpful wedding blog. Here's what she shared...
Image: The Collection
Rhonda Patton: I tend to have the biggest debate with brides over the color WHITE versus IVORY. Does it really matter?
Yes, it does matter!
The differences between ivory, cream, or white is highly significant when it comes to the subject of wedding gowns and flowers. Ivory should not be viewed upon as another shade of white like eggshell, diamond white, off-white, cream, or ecru - whatever that is! In terms of color, WHITE is stark white, pristine and mixes no shades of any other color - like pure white milk.
Let's examine gowns from one of my favorite bridal gown designers, AMSALE.
White gown by Amsale
IVORY has a slight tint of yellow or cream. Cream tends toward the warm, off-white tends towards the cool. Cream tends to be palely yellow with some sand tones. Off-white tends to use grays and browns as tones.
Diamond white gown by Amsale
Most women love wearing the unsullied color called white for their wedding gown. However, a huge number of women are opting for ivory shades of wedding gowns.
Ivory gown by Amsale
As per old wives tale, white is the color for virgin brides but it holds little relevance in today’s world. Whether you want white or ivory is totally a personal choice. The ultimate decision should rest on your skin tone (warm versus cool). For example, white can show off the paleness of your skin. However, some brides believe that white can be too austere. Ivory, having a touch of cream can actually be flattering to pale complexions.
Left to right: White, ivory and cream
The better choice for lighter skin tones is an ivory or antique white. Women with medium to dark-toned skin can often pull off a diamond white beautifully. Bright whites on darker skin tones are stunning!
Side Note: I've opted to wear white on my wedding day!
In regards to flowers, they are available in white, cream, or ivory. Some flowers work well with all three colors, (i.e. calla lilies and hydrangeas). Flowers that are available in stark white (roses, gladiolus, carnations, gardenias, paperwhites, stephanotis, stock).
Your florist can help determine what type and which shade of flower works best. In conclusion, white/cream/ivory does matter and it's important you convey the color or provide a color swatch in advance to your wedding vendors.
For more great planning and wedding inspiration visit Rhonda's website at RhondaPattonWeddings.com.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
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Friday, January 20, 2012
Sunday is the Her Nashville bridal show and the crew at AshleysBrideGuide.com will attend to see what bridal goodies we can find to share with you next week. I reached out to Christy at Her Nashville to see what's in store for you. Here's what she had to say, " There will be a runway show (1pm) featuring gowns from Arzelle's, hair and make-up by Jon Alan Salon and flowers from Emma's. It's a great chance to meet with and talk with the vendors in a comfortable and intimate setting."
The show promises to be "The most fun way to plan your wedding is back! Join Her and Nfocus for an exciting wedding fashion show including food, mimosas or Cuestion tequila sunrise, and exhibitions from the best vendors in the wedding industry. It’s a one-stop shop to help you plan your perfect wedding..."
We're sold! To get your tickets, follow this link. We hope to see you there. If you see anyone from our team, say hello!
Date/Time:
Jan 22 from 11am-2pm (1pm runway show)
Location:
W.O. Smith School of Music
1125 8th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
Vendors include:
5 Hour Energy | AmosEvents | Arzelle's | Cheekwood | Cuestion Tequila | Emma's Flowers | Fanciful Ink | Girl with the Pearl | Jon Alan Salon | Julia From Scratch | Maggiano's Little Italy | Nero's Grill | Perl Catering | Platinum Jewelers | Radisson Hotel | Stella & Dot - Kim Wright | The Corner Market | Wedding 101
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Thursday, January 12, 2012
Over the next few weeks, we will share amazing finds from Nashville-area bridal shows. With so much bridal candy, it's hard to stay focused and stay smart but here's the trick - you must create a budget and do it now - before you hire anyone or buy anything.
Creating a wedding budget is one thing that most brides avoid. I hear so many brides say they haven't created a budget but they are hiring wedding vendors - that's like shopping for a car and you have no idea whether you can afford a Corolla or a Lexus. Before you read another bridal magazine, attend a bridal show or sign a single vendor contract - do the following:
1) Determine what can you afford to spend
Determine how much you and your fiance can comfortably spend on your wedding and honeymoon. Chat candidly because a lot of folks go into big debt planning a wedding and have no money for the important stuff. Imagine the problems that arise in the long run.
There was a bride who went to buy invitations and had no clue how much she could spend. So, she fell in love with a gorgeous wedding invitation that cost $10 per invitation. Days later, the very disappointed and embarrassed bride returned to the vendor and said, "What do you have for $2 per invitation?". At that point, she couldn't be happy with any invitation in her budget. Don't stress yourself out by looking at Oscar de la Renta gowns when you're on a David's Bridal budget.
You can find great wedding goodies in your budget but you will always be disappointed with you start outside your budget.
2) Assess what family can comfortably and willingly contribute
If others are helping you finance your wedding, ask them early on how much they are comfortable contributing to your wedding budget. Have a honest conversation with them so everyone is on the same page and there are no surprises that could spoil your day, or your relationship. If you are not comfortable discussing money with them, get the courage because the longer you wait, the more potential problems. In fact, if you cant candidly discuss the financial aspect of the wedding with them, do not depend on their contribution as you plan. Believe me, if its hard to discuss money at the beginning stages, it will be even harder and to ask the week of your wedding after you have signed contracts based on their contribution.
Ask now, don't assume and everyone will be happier in the long run. I know this first hand! I knew a bride whose aunt was paying for her wedding. It was like 2 months before the date and she still didn't know how much she had available. Every time she hired a vendor, her aunt (the financier) was disappointed. Because the bride didn't really know and was afraid to ask, there was a lot of stress.
3) Allocate your budget based on what's important to you
Once you have a final budget, write a list of all the major items you'll need for your big day. Rank each item in order of priority.
My list looked something like this: #1 Dress, #2 Cake, #3 Photos, #4 Invitations, #5 Incredible reception venue, #6 Solid ceremony venue, #7 Seated dinner...#48 Wedding shoes, #49 Favors, #50 Transportation, #51 Out of town guest baskets...and so on.
Once you compare your budget to your priorities, it becomes easier to determine how much to spend on each item. Start with what's most important to you because no bride can have everything. Some of my girlfriends decided that photos were #1 and so instead of hiring a photographer and a videographer, they put all of their photo/video budget together and hired a killer photographer. Others realized that videography was the only way to capture audio and special moments in action so they reduce their spend in other areas to ensure they had the budget.
Many brides wait until the last minute to hire a wedding planner and then try to scrape up money to hire someone for partial coordination when they really needed someone to help from start to finish, which would have saved them lots of stress and probably some money too. Bottom line - budget is critical! Set your immediately and stick to it.
Here's a tip - a good wedding planner is one vendor that you can not forgo. Nearly 90% of the brides that I feature in my Real Nashville Wedding stories say that they wish they'd hired a planner OR their planner was the vendor they couldn't live without. And, a planner can help you create and stick to your budget. They have the experience and know how to set and maximize budgets.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
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Monday, January 9, 2012
This weekend, The Inspired Bride event will take place at Houston Station, one of Events Nashville's venues. If you haven't secured your wedding ceremony/reception location, this is a location to consider and this event on Sunday would make a perfect time to check out the space ,while meeting wonderful Nashville wedding vendors. And for brides who are willing to be flexible, Houston Station is offering 15% off Friday or Sunday wedding dates!
There are many reasons why I love Houston Station. While it's off the beaten path, its downtown location makes it an easy drive from most parts of greater Nashville. Once you walk inside, you fall in love with the limitless options. You definitely have to see the space yourself to rule it in or out, but here's my Q+A with the folks at Events Nashville, who manage Houston Station, along with some great pictures that to give you a peek into the space.
Photo: Matt Andrews Photography; Full wedding featured here.
Photos: Contact Houston Station for details
Quick Info About Events Nashville:
Main Contact: Elizabeth Gilbreath
Phone Number: 615.242.1916
Email: elizabeth {at} eventsnashville {dot} net
Learn more via their website: www.eventsnashville.net
Become a Facebook Fan: Houston Station
Follow them on Twitter: @HStationEvents
My Q+A with Events Nashville on Houston Station
The Events Nashville team manages Houston Station and the Ambrose House - our discussion here focused on Houston Station.
How many years have you been in business?
Events Nashville launched in 2008 and the Houston Station event venue opened in 2009.
What do you like most about weddings?
The chance to support each family on such a joyous day—seeing the mother of the bride relax and take her shoes off—You made it!
Photo: Krista Lee Photography
What’s your favorite wedding photo/video and why?
The bride pretending to stab the groom with the wedding cake knife. Brides and grooms, families and guests seem to feel laid back and comfortable having fun at Houston Station.
What is your service philosophy?
Houston Station is a tremendously flexible historic space—each bride and groom have their own special and unique wedding and reception experience. Historic venue spaces, wide open vendor policies, and our capable Events Nashville professionals support every bride and groom on their big day.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? Why should a bride hire you?
Events Nashville sponsors wide open vendor policies and freedom of choice. Not only is this liberating for the bride and groom, but huge savings are provided, especially for food and alcohol budget items, compared to most other venues. Besides a warm and authentic historic ambiance, Houston Station has a convenient in-town location, great load-in access for vendors, full service valet parking, and ample professional support. And for hourly entertainment, we feature the train!
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors—helpfulness, professionalism, style?
Clean Plate Club, Monica Holmes—Super creative Planning and Catering
Southern Events for furniture and linens—Terrific value and service
PMC Valet—Great support at the front of the house
Noteable Blends—Rhythmic and melodic coffees Nashville
Nashville Event Lighting—Over-the-top ambiance on a budget
Photos: Jonathon Campbell Photography
Update: I goofed! The original title stated that the discount applies to Fri and Sat weddings but it only applies to Fri and Sun weddings.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
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