Friday, January 27, 2012
We love when photographer friends share unique and Nashville stamped weddings with us. What says Nashville more than a local indie roots band and a historic, southern venue? This wedding has both! Plus, the bride, Rachel is a photographer herself! She photographed Cali Ashton's wedding and Cali returned the favor. These two gals did great justice to each other's special days. We are just too happy to share Rachel's day. Thanks to Nyk, Cali's husband, for emailing everything over. Nyk had some great things to say about the wedding...
"All the groomsmen and Brett are in a band called Apache Relay; they are on tour all the time and are doing fairly well. Photography was one of the most important parts of their wedding and Rachel spent a TON of time making sure we had an awesome shot list. They also did a bridal/groomal session a few days before the wedding so that their pictures weren't rushed. It was a really fun wedding, both the dads were funny and outgoing (we love the pic of them pulling out their pockets!)."
Enjoy Brett and Rachel's special day! Complete with personal touches, a vintage wedding dress, a southern home venue, and lots of local vendors.
Brett + Rachel
Date ~ August 6, 2011
Ceremony + Reception Venue ~ The Sam Davis Home
Guests ~ A whoppin' 425
Rachel's blog: blog.rachelwilliamsonphotography.com
Budget
Initially $15,000, but it grew with the # of guests we invited!
Wedding Team
Planner | Fran Dunne, a lady from our home church
Photographer | Cali Ashton Photography
Videographer | Truepix Weddings
Gown & Accessories | My dress was a vintage early 1900's graduation dress I got from a antique shop and had altered
Groom’s attire/ groomsmen attire | Billy Reid
Bridesmaids' attire | Custom designed and made by Tatyana Merryman
Hair and Makeup | Stephanie Russell
Stationery | Design from printablepress.com and printed through greenerprinter.com
Ceremony musicians | Our friends, Jessie Parker, Kellen Wenrich, and Jonathan Anderson
Reception Musicians | Our own iPod playlist
Transportation | Brett's Subaru!
Caterer | Jim 'N Nick's
Cake Artist | Fiddle Cakes
Floral Designer | A Village of Flowers for the bridal party and church friends for the decor
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Classic, vintage, eclectic, natural, quirky
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We chose an outdoor venue, historic home, a non-traditional wedding dress, wood cuts and wildflowers, etc.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
The fact that we could've had rain or blazing heat, but God gave us a miracle of perfect weather and a beautiful day!
Where did you splurge?
Shipping my invitations was pricey! But everything just adds up fast!
Where did you save/DIY?
We saved by having an iPod playlist instead of a DJ; my dress was only $230 + alteration; and we also chose the most affordable tables and chairs. We had friends from our church help out by working day of and had friends do the decor and flowers.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
We would have invited a smaller number of guests to cut down on cost! And not stressed as much on the little things.
Thank you guys for sharing your friendship with us and this great wedding! Such a lovely day!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Photography, Real Nashville Weddings
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Friday, January 13, 2012
We love Kerried Away Couture; the fresh, custom designs from Kerri are always a treat to see, which is why we were all too happy to share this wedding with you. Allison hired Kerri to create more than just her bridesmaids dresses and fabric pins, Kerri also designed the sash for Allison dress and her hairpiece.
More than just wedding gowns and bridesmaids' dresses, Kerried Away Couture specializes in taking your fashion design and creating a custom piece just for you. The three-step process includes you choosing the style, fabric, and adding your details. You could create a special occasion dress or skirt for your rehearsal dinner, a New Years Eve party, engagement party, or finally help your mother choose the fit and cut that will flatter her on your wedding day.
Kerri explains Allison's design process, which may help other brides see that their vision can, in fact, come to life:
"Allison visited us in our showroom months before her wedding with various photos of dresses she liked. She knew she wanted a 1920-30s look to the dress so we worked with her to design the perfect bridesmaid dresses that were within her budget. Allison went with a navy silk blend that is very pretty and is more budget friendly than the 100% silk. The final design featured a one shoulder gathered bodice and waist band and was actually a compilation of a variety of dress style ideas that she had brought with her to her first consultation."
"The handmade brooches were a nice touch to the classic dress design and she took it one step further by having us make her a hair pin that mimicked the brooch designs to pull everything together. We had such a great time working with Allison and her bridesmaids and were so happy she entrusted us to help with her wedding day."
Allison + RJ
Wedding Date ~ August 6, 2011
Ceremony ~ Sunken Garden at Centennial Park
Reception ~ Big Band Dance at Centennial Park
Guests ~ 25 at Ceremony (plus many passersby that stopped to watch!)
50 at the following Reception
Budget
Less than $10,000
Wedding Team
Planner | Bride and Groom (We did it all ourselves!!)
Photographer | Alex Embry - Photos by Alex
Bridal Gown | White One by Pronovias (bought online), oyster color
Bride's Sash | Designed by Bride, Custom made by Kerried Away Couture
Bride's Shoes | Steve Madden (I’ve had them forever! They are my favorite!)
Bride's Accessories | Earrings from Charming Charlies, Hairpiece by Kerried Away Couture
Reception dress | Sue Wong Ivory Ostrich Feather Flapper dress (bought on Ebay)
Groom’s Attire | Groom’s Seersucker suit from Jos. A Bank
Groomsmen Attire | Suits from Overstock.com
Bridesmaids Attire | Design inspired by Bride, Custom made by Kerried Away Couture
Hair + Makeup | Natalie Armstrong, Bride’s sister
Stationery | Designed by bride/groom at Mixbook.com (We had a Groupon!!)
Ceremony Musicians | Halfbrass
Reception Musicians | Big Band Dance at Centennial Park (FREE Event)
Transportation | Black 1939 Packard from NashvilleWeddingCars.com
Caterer | Allison Armstrong (bride), Nina Armstrong (bride’s mother), and Betty Malone (bride’s aunt)
Cake Artist | Gigi’s Cupcakes
Floral Designer | Melanie at A Village of Flowers
Guest Accommodations | Holiday Inn Vanderbilt
Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Classic, easy going, fun, and family focused.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We had a 1930’s southern theme. We kept our ceremony low key with only immediate family and the wedding party present. We then used our grandparents’ milk glass serving dishes at the reception and had old black and white photos of them sitting around on the tables for décor. It was very important to us to have them be a part of our special day even though they could only be there in spirit.
We expressed our easy going side by having a public park venue where we knew many passersby would stop and watch from afar if they felt so inclined (and believe me they did!) and then utilizing the FREE Big Band Dance they have in Centennial Park on Saturday nights as our reception venue/entertainment. Everyone had a great time dancing, sitting in their lawn chairs, or relaxing watching others dance!
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
Oh my, we loved it all!! I guess if I had to pick one thing it would be Halfbrass playing “In the Mood” marching us, the wedding party, and all ceremony guests out of the ceremony site and through the street to the reception site. The guests seemed to thoroughly enjoy the peanut butter cup cupcakes from Gigi’s, the Mexican glass bottled cokes (out of my grandfather’s original Coca-Cola ice chest), and most of all the handmade lips, mustaches, and other dress up items with instant photos for the guestbook.
Where did you splurge?
Photography, but it was worth every penny! Alex is an awesome photographer and VERY reasonable compared to others that we received quotes from. She will be our photographer for years to come!
Where did you save/DIY?
We did everything ourselves but make the dresses and the cupcakes! I bought my dresses online (from other individuals, not vendors) and got them for half the price of retail! We made all of the food.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
We should have assigned duties to our wedding party for setting up the reception. Our friends and family worked so hard, but we could have had more time to visit with them if it would have been more organized.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Don’t get caught up in having the absolute perfect day, if something goes wrong, “Oh well” the important thing is that you and your spouse are together and, just think, you will have something to look back and laugh at for years to come.
Thank you to Allison and RJ for sharing their intimate day with us - we loved all of the details. And thank you to Kerri of Kerried Away Couture for explaining your design and custom creation process through Allison's wedding!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Real Nashville Weddings
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Friday, December 30, 2011
We'll continue our advice for newly engaged Nashville couples next week. For the weekend, we'd like to share a Nashville-area wedding, our last for 2011! This year, we've featured some incredible local weddings - Erin and Ron's Front Porch Farms wedding is in great company.
Today's wedding features many details of which we are huge fans. From do-it-yourself elements to birds, beautiful floral arrangements, and bright colors, Erin and Ron's wedding at Front Porch Farms is just too pretty not to share. Erin is a writer for HerNashville's "Her Night Out" column and as a fan of her writing, it was really cool to see her wedding vision come to life and confirmed what I thought - she has great taste! Combined with the planning expertise of Kathy Best and Front Porch Farms and the talents of the wedding vendors Erin and Ron worked with, this was a beautiful wedding. Enjoy!
Erin + Ron
Wedding Date ~ May 21, 2011
Ceremony & Reception ~ Front Porch Farms
Guests ~ 120
Wedding Team
Planner | Kathy Best of Front Porch Farms (I also couldn’t have done it without my mom)
Photographer | Erin Lee of The Collection
Gown & Accessories | Ellyne Bridal in Lincoln, Nebraska
Groom’s Attire / Groomsmen Attire | JoS. A. Bank
Bridesmaids Attire | J. Crew
Makeup | Jennie Cunningham (of Clinique, Cool Springs Galleria)
Stationery | I made the invites and programs myself
Ceremony Musicians | Chris Going, guitarist
Reception Musicians | The Remedies (band)
Transportation | Anchor Trailways (for guest transportation)
Caterer | Down South Delights
Cake Artist | Sweet and Sassy
Floral Designer | Enchanted Florist
Guest Accommodations | Holiday Inn Express on Broadway
All images courtesy of The Collection
Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
We wanted a wedding that was not only meaningful to us, but was fun for our guests. A lot of our favorite times together have been spent outdoors, so we searched for an outdoor venue that incorporated the beauty of nature. We wanted a shabby chic meets vintage meets DIY kind of wedding that played tribute to each of our families and hometowns. I grew up in Nebraska and Ron is from Kentucky, but we met in Nashville and we wanted to incorporate all three places.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
Front Porch Farms fit our style perfectly. The natural setting was gorgeous, and one that would have been impossible to recreate in an indoor venue. We added many details to make it personal including a signature drink recipe from a bar in Nebraska, toasting with mint julep glasses and by giving guests popcorn from a shop from my hometown. We added a southern touch with blue mason jars, mix and match china, shrimp and grits, and Yazoo beer. We also used flowers from Ron’s late mother’s garden to hang from the property’s oak tree that we used our altar. It served as a memorial to her, along with the various birds we had in our decor (she and I both loved decorating with birds).
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
Our wedding was everything we imagined it to be. It’s very rare that a scene plays out exactly as you picture it, but from the way I looked to the colors and the placement of the details, the entire day was identical to what I envisioned, and that completely amazed me.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
Our biggest splurge was photography. We ended up spending more than we had anticipated, but after doing research, I learned it just wasn’t worth the risk to skimp on the one thing we would have to remember our wedding forever. Before we met Erin Lee, my biggest fear was that I wouldn’t like my wedding pictures, but I couldn’t be happier with the photos. It was an investment I will never regret.
We had a lot of DIY projects that not only helped us save, but incorporated our personality in the wedding. I designed our invitations and had them printed at Kinkos. We then had the wedding invite made into a poster for guests to sign for a guest book (it cost us less than $10). My mom made the table runners and place cards and my dad made yard games, which my sister and I decorated, to play at our cocktail hour.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
I started a lot of DIY projects that I didn’t end up finishing or incorporating in the wedding. I went through an indecisive phase when I didn’t know exactly what I wanted. Looking back, I should have waited until all of our vendors were in place before I started on projects. Once we had everyone booked, the details and vision all fell into place.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Don’t let the inevitable stress get in the way of enjoying the excitement of this very special time in your lives.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Real Nashville Weddings
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Friday, December 23, 2011
We are ending the week with our overall favorite Nashville Real Weddings from 2011. While this is not an easy task, the weddings below are stunning, unique, and overall flawless.
1) eHarmony Love: Kate + Justin's Zoo-Inspired Wedding
Married: May 28, 2011
The two met on eHarmony and fell in love. Then, giraffe keeper Kate married Justin at Scarritt Bennett with a Houston Station reception. The whole day was zoo-inspired with vintage touches; from a giraffe topper to venue's exposed brick. See more of this wedding here.
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Planner: Austin Floyd with Last Minute Planners; Venue: Scarritt Bennett & Houston Station; Photos: Krista Lee Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG
2) Miranda and Grant's Ecletic Garden Wedding
Married: May 14, 2011
I am a big fan of intimate weddings. I think it takes a lot of guts to slash that wedding guest list in half and focus on what the two of you really want. Not only did Miranda and Grant keep it intimate, they were not afraid to mix gutsy flair with traditional details. You can see their personalities throughout their ceremony and reception and you can tell that they had FUN! CJs off the Square is always a great backdrop for an outdoor Tennessee wedding and Ace Photography captured the essence of their day splendidly. See the full wedding feature here.
Planner + Venue: CJ's Off the Square; Photos: Ace Photography; Loved by Ashley of ABG
3) Bethany + Jay's Franklin Wedding
Married: June 2011
The stunning bouquets and flowers throughout are enough to take your breath away, but then you see the ruffled wedding cake that favors the bride's ruffled dress... Oh my! The details are astounding. For all of the University of Tennessee fans, make sure to check out more photos on Evin's blog - including one of the groom's cake (a replica of Neyland stadium!).
Monogrammed Decor: Bella Grace by Bethany (the bride)
Venues: Brentwood Baptist Chapel + The Factory's Bldg 8; Photos: Evin Photography
4) Liesl + Dean's Intimate, Tuscan-Style Wedding
Married: October 20, 2011
This beautiful couple, shot by Kristyn Hogan, hail from South Africa and Australia. The two met in Florida on a yacht and were together for three years before tying the knot in an ode to the time they spent together in Tuscany. Between their story and their elopement on Mooncake Lake, I was enchanted and hope you are too. Read Kristyn's blog for more info and photos.
Planner + Venue: Historic Cedarwood (along with Jessica Sloane); Photos: Kristyn Hogan; Loved by: Meg of ABG
5) Corely + Jake Combine Two Families at their Opryland Hotel Wedding
Married: June 2011
A wedding in the Crystal Gazebo, celebration in the Magnolia Ballroom - with names like that and the added peacock theme, it's bound to be stunning! And the smiles on the bride and groom, as well as those of their sons, proves that this was a happy union. See Joe's blog for more from this happy day.
Planner: A Magical Affair; Coordinator & Venue: Gaylord Opryland Hotel; Photos: Joe Hendricks Photography
6) Jamie + Andy's Downtown, DIY Wedding
Married: April 30, 2011
Jamie impressed us earlier this year when we first shared her wedding, and we just can't get over it! All of the decor she did herself with the help of family and friends. Her amazing husband even DJed part of their reception. The whole day was an impressive success and in the end, they had a great wedding, but these two are more focused on the long term - having a wonderful marriage!
Venue: The Hope Center & The Anchor Fellowship; Photos: Pear Image Photography; Loved by: Sara of ABG
7) Cannery Ballroom Transformed for Julie + Nicholas' Elegant Summer Evening
Married: July 10, 2011
A simple , though lovely, ceremony at Scarritt Bennett would hardly have prepared these guests for the amazing site they would see at the Julie and Nick's reception. The Cannery Ballroom was transformed (in fact, you can watch the transformation on Dove's blog). Intricate details made the room jaw-dropping: crystal and wrought-iron chandeliers, flowers hanging over and overflowing on tables, monogrammed boxes, custom pieces, and even a suspended cake by Jay Qualls.
Planner: Elegant Weddings by Angela; Venues: Cannery Ballroom; Photos: Dove Wedding Photography
8) Sean + Thalia's Greek Orthodox Wedding
Married: July 2011
Greek Orthodox weddings are a true example of devotion and faith. During the ceremony, the bride and groom do not say a word to each other (no vows) as their presence alone is enough to state their devotion to one another. You've got to see the beauty in that! Following tradition, Sean and Thalia's reception was full of dancing, breaking of bread, and there was lots of style with the lovely draping. There was even a bit of teasing - see the blog photos for a shot of the groom with a bottle of Windex ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding").
Venues: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church + Durego; Photos: Joe Hendricks Photography
9) An Australian Marries an American at Kings Chapel: Suz + Philip
Married: October 2011
These two could be models, they are to lovely together! The ceremony took place at the intimate Kings Chapel and the decor was designed by Suz, who chose a vintage theme. Guests traveling from as far as Australia would not be disappointed as the reception hosted an espresso bar from Beve Coffee and chocolate covered marshmallows. See more of the design, treats, and venue on Evin's blog.
Venue: King's Chapel; Photos: Evin Photography
10) Great Gatsby-Themed Wedding: Liz + Jamie
Married: May 21, 2011
Liz and Jamie were married at Cedarwood's unique and amazing outdoor cathedral, with a reception reminiscent of The Great Gatsby. As Cedarwood puts it, moving to the reception, "guests were transported into a wonderland of high stepping vintage style." But words alone cannot do this wedding justice, instead see the full feature on Cedarwood's blog in Part 1 and Part 2, or watch the short video below.
Planner + Venue: Historic Cedarwood; Photos: Dove Wedding Photography
Nashville Wedding Video :: Liz + Jamie from Catchlight Cinema
Really and truly, these weddings are just a few of the highlights from this year. There have been so many great weddings of impressive scale with wonderful vendors; weddings that will be talked of for years to come, but we have one blog post and we must limit the amount shared!! But check out more great Real Weddings that we have featured this year and post your favorites to our comments or our Facebook page. We love being impressed by creative brides and planners!
So here is to a great year of weddings in 2011! We are so looking forward to what 2012 will hold!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Cakes & Catering, Photography, Real Nashville Weddings, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Venues and Locations
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Friday, December 16, 2011
With the temperatures rapidly falling, we thought we'd share a wedding that will warm you up a little - both from how joyful the day was and from the gorgeous pictures taken by Lotus Blossom Photography at Cajun Lake Lodge. The venue really provides a beautiful backdrop to a wedding and its sprawling grounds make for a great venue where festivities can take place both inside and out. We hope you enjoy today's real wedding feature!
Garrett + Whitney
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Ceremony Venue ~ Cajun Lake Lodge
Reception Venue ~ Cajun Lake Lodge “Bon Ton Pavilion”
Guests ~125
Budget: $10,000
Did you end up over or under budget?
We ended up going a little over budget with last minute details that we hadn’t really planned for.
Were there any items/services that were gifted/discounted? How did you find those deals?
Yes, we got a discount on our photography for mentioning Ashley’s Bride Guide. Also, the lady who did my flowers gave us a great deal.
Wedding Team
Photographer | Lotus Blossom Photography
Bridal gown & accessories | Petals & Lace
Groom’s tux/suit | JoS. A. Bank of Green Hills
Bridesmaids dresses | Bridal Warehouse
Groomsmen suits | JoS. A. Bank
Hair | House of Style
Makeup | House of Style
Stationery | David’s Bridal
Officiant | Robert Wetterau
Transportation | We left in our own vehicle, but Cajun Lake shuttled us around the venue in one of their “Electric Cars” or golf carts. They also shuttled any guests that had trouble getting from the ceremony to the reception.
Caterer | Sandra’s Catering of Kingston Springs
Baker | Billie Mochow
Florist | Regina Bullion
DJ | Jamie Sellers
Guest Accommodations | All of our guests were local, however, Cajun Lake had space available if anyone needed it.
The Wedding
How would you describe your style as a couple?
I guess I would say we are kind of classic and timeless and dress it up in the details.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding
We loved the venue because it offered everything we love (nature trails, a creek, lakes, fishing). It was just a naturally beautiful place, so I was able to dress it up with just a few personal details and decorations. I wanted to capture a timeless romantic feel at the reception, so since it was an evening wedding I added lots of candles to all of the tables. I attempted to add a vintage/chic touch by adding a white wash to signs and picture frames, as well as roughing everything up with sand paper so that it looked old and worn.
We chose the colors just based on some of our favorite colors. I am attracted to pretty neutral colors, which is why I chose the chocolate brown and then we chose the turquoise just to add little pops of color. The great part is that all the details I added to our wedding worked well in our house as well. Cajun Lake was so wonderful in the fact that for the ceremony we hardly had to add any decorations at all. The ceremony overlooked a gorgeous lake so there wasn’t really any need for lots of flowers and decorations. We just added a couple of lanterns and a cute table for our sand ceremony and that was really all that was needed. The overall theme we tried to go with was southern, romantic, vintage chic.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
No, everything about our wedding day turned out perfectly.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Just relax, enjoy the process, and take everything in.
Thank you to Amber Vongsamphanh of Lotus Blossom Photography for sharing the beautiful pictures from the wedding day. It looked like such a tranquil, intimate event. For more images from the wedding visit the Lotus Blossom Photography blog.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings
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