Tennessee will always have a special place in my heart – not only because I happened to grow up in that pretty little place, but I also think some of the most darling weddings come out of the Volunteer State. Perhaps that sounds a bit biased since I spent so many years in the Country Music Capital, but all you have to do is take a look at this sweet as can be, DIY affair by Smitten Photography and you will see I am just stating the cold hard facts. It’s as darling as they come and there is even more in the full gallery of images!
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From the Bride…We got engaged Dec 11th and shortly after that booked the main essentials: church, reception venue, photographer, caterer, and band. We knew that we wanted no more than a 6 month engagement and picked June 11th as our date. We both wanted to get married in a church and wanted our reception indoors. We had envisioned a rustic, antique look with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The church was gorgeous as is so we decided to utilize simple, yet distinctive touches to bring in our own personalities to the sanctuary. We made burlap cones that held wildflowers and hung on the pews. We made a cross out of vine branches from a vineyard to be placed on a table in the front of the church. We put together candle vases with stick accents for the window decorations. We made moss letters (J & L) to hang from the church doors. We used a significant amount of burlap to help emphasis our rustic theme. Instead of handing our programs, I made a chalkboard program for all to see as they entered to church.
We both love the outdoors and wanted to incorporate that idea indoors by using wildflowers, tree stumps, tree limbs, trees, etc as decorations. Over the six months we collected tree stumps off the side of the road or from friends. We used the tree stumps as table tops that held wildflowers, ferns rested on top of them, and we carved a heart with a L & J in the center of it. We filled mason jars with peas, sand, and various beans to add a splash of woodsy color to the room. We planned to hang tree limbs from the ceiling, which would hold hanging mason jars with candles in them. We created five trees that were cemented in a bucket covered with burlap, which we decorated with lights and yarn balls and cardboard birds that we had made. Luke & I love Christmas lights and candles, so we collected them and then placed those within our wedding ceremony & reception (we hung lights from the ceiling, up poles, and on the stage). The walls were enhanced when we bought some old doors and ladders that we hung string up between them with photos. We put together a hors d’oeuvre table. My mom and I made majority of the decorations and had a lot of help setting them up by our gracious friends and family.
Wedding Photography: Smitten Photography / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Bride’s Sandals: TOMS / Bridesmaid Dresses: Watters / Flowers: Always in Bloom / Rehearsal Dinner: Cool Springs House in Crocket Park / Ceremony Location: Vine Street Christian Church / Reception Location: Jamison Hall at the Factory at Franklin / Catering: Stove Works in the Factory at Franklin / Wedding Cake: Diane Dougharty / Band: The Reliance Band