Tennessee Weddings

I think at some point, every little girl dreams of a wedding just like this one. The regal setting. The stunning ballgown. The real-life Prince Charming to call your own. Take all that storybook romance and it translates into Deidre and Corey’s wedding day captured by Starling And Sage + Lance Cook. P.S. Deidre’s amazing dress? It’s custom-designed, featuring an 8 ft train! See it all right here.

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From the Bride… I had been single for four years the day Corey noticed me as I exited a nutrition store. With a delicate and charming approach, I smiled throughout our brief exchange where I gave him my number. We didn’t know until months later, but after that chance meeting, we both had gushed about the other as we left the parking lot. Me to the barista as I ordered my usual coffee, cheesing about the cute guy I just met and him to a friend, suggesting he had just met the woman he was going to marry. That one day triggered many events, developing a solid friendship, courageous trust, and the greatest love of our lives.

After a two-year, wide-ranging courtship, asking my fathers (and a close aunt!) for my hand in marriage, and the sweetest proposal at one of my favorite places to dine, my honey made good on his day-one consideration, he proposed on bended knee. I have never felt so peaceful and confident about a decision. I didn’t know that day in the parking lot, but at some point during our courtship, I knew he was meant for me. We had a very short engagement—1 month. We wanted to marry soon! And we did at our church where there was a small gathering of family, mostly. The following year we wanted a formal affair that exuded elegance, romance, and class effortlessly.

My custom Aurelia Dress with a 8 ft train by Lauren Elaine Bridal worked well with the ethereal Annesdale property where guests were serenaded by the string trio. The spacious green front lawn of Annesdale was absolutely perfect for our Sunday morning ceremony that reflected the memory of my sweet mother-in-law who had passed two years to the day. Our wedding party was all family and all the florals were peppered with purple Agapanthus as a nod to Corey’s mother—her favorite flower. My sisters stood for me and Corey’s brothers stood for him. One father walked me down the aisle and the other performed the ceremony. We only wanted family and close friends involved and in attendance who fully respected our covenant.

I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so the real honors go to my coordinator Andria Lewis and Valerie at Annesdale who were so thoughtful and kind about my adamant and many changes. With a team of wonderful vendors, including crucial planning, execution, and coordination, our wedding was all that we had hoped!

Photography: Starling And Sage | Cinematography: Lance Cook | Floral Design: Bartlett Florist | Wedding Dress: Lauren Elaine | Cake: Frost Bake Shop | Ceremony Venue: Annesdale Mansion | Reception Venue: Fleming's Prime Steakhouse - Edgewater | Rings: Jared | Makeup: DAdrian Jones | Groom's Attire: Sergio Rossi | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Ceremony Music: Memphis Strings Quartet | Ceremony Music: Memphis Strings Quartet | Dessert Table: Nuha Abuduhair | Drone Operation: Seth Evans | Event Management: Andria Lewis | Hair Styling: Textures by Tia | Junior Maid's Attire: Anagrassia | Veil: J.Crew

We knew Collins’ wedding was going to be one for the books. She shared her darling bachelorette weekend chock-full of cute moments, so came as no surprise that her big day design knocked it out of the park. It’s a glamourous black and gold affair ending with an epic dance party, including a few family members you just might recognize. See their album from the lens of Chard Photographer!

From the Bride…When deciding the “theme” of our wedding I sat down with my mom and basically said that I really didn’t want a theme. I wanted more of a feel, and an experience. I wanted people to walk away from my wedding saying, “Wow, they love each other and they love life!” Therefore, I decided the overall theme of the weekend, if I had to choose one, would be, “lights and liquor”! I wanted every emotion you get from any kind of lighting (romance from candles, joy from a disco ball, or excitement from multi colored laser lights), and liquor was simply the easiest way to say…A really good party! My husband, Cannon, and I have been together for 11 years, so we wanted our wedding to be a celebration of all the time we have grown together. I would say we both love traditions as much as we like to shake things up, and our wedding was a direct reflection of that. Our venue was an easy choice as it is one block from my parent’s house, and about three from his. Yes, we grew up 4 blocks away from each other ha! I have been in and around the events world my whole life, so I knew from day one I wanted to design and plan my own wedding from beginning to end. I had an amazing team of people that my mom and I assembled, and we would never have been able to pull the weekend off without each and every one of them. I only had a few specific wants for the weekend. One was being able to walk right from the ceremony to the reception, and the second was for my out of town guests to be close to all venues we used. After we chose the Hunt and Polo Club, and made the decision to tent over the pool, the choice became clear that we would use the tent for both nights.

Here comes the first thing we shook up. Instead of your traditional Saturday wedding with a reception following we split up the night into two. Friday we had an intimate wedding in one half of the tent (oh yes, my center isle was acrylic flooring over the pool!!) and in the other half of the tent, that connected to the ballroom, we had a seated dinner. One of my dear friends, Kelly English (James Beard Award Semifinalist) prepared a five course meal that included everything from caviar (my mother-in-law’s favorite) to my grandmother’s caramel cake! Following dinner we had aperitifs in the cigar room and spent time together with friends and family celebrating our first night as Mr. And Mrs. Smith. Saturday night we extended the guest list, flipped all the decor in the tent, and had a big blow out party!

There are too many amazing things from that weekend to describe them all so here are some of my absolute favs! First and foremost, my mom was my warrior and constant provider of peace and ideas throughout this entire process – I would not have stayed sane without her. My husband was game for anything that made me happy as long as he could wear a cool tux, which he did both nights. His favorite being his Tom Ford he wore Saturday night, that was a midnight blue! My dress took 7 months to make. It came all the way from Australia, and I did not even see it until the day it arrived – about a month before the wedding! The dress had an 11 foot train and I wore a hand-made crown that made me feel very Grace Kelly. My best friends and I share a piece of lace that has our initials and wedding date embroidered on it – it has become a tradition to attach the lace under the dress and wear it on the day of the wedding.

The Friday night invitation was a 3×5 replica of Jackie Kennedy’s, simple and timeless, which aligned to our candle light ceremony perfectly. After we said, “I Do!” a gospel choir surprised guests and sang, “Oh Happy Day!” As Cannon and I walked down the aisle as husband and wife the drapes opened into the dining area. We had mirrored tables made specifically for the wedding so we could have an 80 foot long center table for the wedding party to sit together. I had 18 bridesmaids and Cannon had 25 groomsmen, 7 of whom were over 6’5″ (insert monkey emoji with hands over face).

Just as the Friday night invitation was a reflection of the evening, Saturday night was too. The invitation was 6×8 and had a gold glitter envelope liner – the guests knew they were in for a fun and crazy night! The band brought the house down! The dance floor had acrylic flooring over the pool that we lit with LED lights, we had confetti all night, and a light up tennis shoe station where guests could trade in their heels for some kicks and hit dance floor. I even wore bedazzled Nike high tops Saturday instead of heels! We had a live painter and now have a piece of art that captured our first dance forever. We passed out #5 football jerseys (my husbands number) late night that said Team Smith on the front. Guests could customize their name on the back, so they could really let loose. As we left the reception we had a fireworks wall and more confetti that capped off the magic of the night! After we left our guests thought the night had ended, but Cannon and I danced back into the venue and we had a surprise after party with a DJ, a glow-in-the-dark body paint station, and of course, Taco Bell!

Some of my absolute favorite moments however were the small ones between all the madness, like getting ready with all my girls, and having my little brother pop in and hang out. Or watching my nephew absolutely refuse to walk down the isle because it was clear flooring over the pool and my friend having to carry him down the isle. Like my groomsmen playing a little game of touch football Saturday night before the party…In their tuxes! They were silly but so special. There is not a single thing I would have changed about our wedding weekend, from beginning to end it was truly magical. My best advice to brides is go with your gut, and stick to your guns, because in the end it is about making memories with your husband that will last you a lifetime!

Photography: Rich Lander Chard Photography | Event Design: Leigh Anne Tuohy | Event Design: Collins Tuohy Smith | Floral Design: Paula DeClerk | Wedding Dress: Steven Khalil | Invitations: Stovall Collection | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Sherri Hill | Catering: Kelly English | Band: Party On The Moon | Venue: Hale Koa phineas Estate | Cookies: Whimsy Cookie Company | Custom Tiara, Earrings + Bridesmaids' Earrings: Haute Bride | Event Logistics: Howard Stovall | Groom's Attire Friday: Hugo Boss | Groom's Attire Saturday: Tom Ford | Programs: Hi Y'all | Reception Dresses: Sherri Hill | Rentals: Classic Party Rentals | Rentals: White Door Events | Rentals: Hank's Event Rentals | Tent Draping: Paula DeClerk

Lauren and Bryant had a wedding planned for May, but when they received news that her father’s cancer had spread to his spine, they were told they would need to push up the date if they wanted her father to walk her down the aisle. Enter Bethany Veach Photography, Sami Sue Studios and an incredible team of vendors who volunteered their services for a March wedding. See every moment from the heartwarming day in The Vault!

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From Sami Sue Studios…In January, Lauren shared, “We found out the cancer has spread to his spine. My daddy is the strongest man I know and I know he can get through this! This is in God’s hands and I thank the Lord everyday for every second I have with my first love, Rodney Riales!”

Lauren and Bryant were engaged to be married in May, but they were told if they wanted her father to walk her down the aisle, the wedding needed to be sooner. Thanks to the kind heart and fast thinking of Bethany Veach Photography, an incredible wedding team had volunteered their services for a March 13th wedding, if Lauren and Bryant were up for it! They graciously accepted and we had a wedding. After a week of flooding in Memphis, we had a GORGEOUS day for Mr. and Mrs. Presley. God had his hand over this day and this family.

From The Bride…Standing in the breezeway with my arm through my Daddy’s whom is my first love; pausing just before I walk down the aisle to my future and the love of my life; I am moved to tears by all that surrounds me. The beauty of Annesdale mansion, the fragrance of the flowers me and my bridesmaids carry floating through the air, the scent of delicious food being prepared for us, the music of the violin as I walk down the aisle, the soft light of candles glimmering, and the subtlety of photographers and videographers creating memories of a lifetime all encompass the efforts of the vendors that came together to give their time, money and talent to ensure that my sweet Daddy is able to walk me down the aisle. Our wedding was exquisite in every way down to the smallest detail. To say thank you hardly seems enough but from the bottom of our hearts we are thankful and immensely grateful. I will forever cherish my wedding day and all the memories made.

Photography: Bethany Veach Photography | Cinematography: Sami Sue Studios | Floral Design: Ashlye McCormick | Cake: 17Berkshire | Catering: Heart And Soul | DJ: Tiget City DJs | Ceremony Music: Bowman Music | Venue: Annesdale Mansion | Event Planning + Coordination: Bella Baxter | Get Away Car: Vintage Automobiles for Special Occasions | Groom's Cheesecake: Spring Creek Ranch Weddings | Photo Booth: Pic Strip Photo Booth | Rentals: Mahaffey Tent and Party Rentals | Veil: Maggie Louise Bridal

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Bella Baxter

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The lady behind the lens, Ashley Upchurch, said everything about this wedding reminded her of a little girl’s fairytale. And quite frankly, I couldn’t agree more. Each and every moment has “storybook” written all over it (helloooo, floral arch!) and with vendors like Angela Mazanti and Bella Figura, it comes as no surprise. Get comfy and find your wedding planning happy place right this way.

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From Ashley Upchurch…Stephen and Kristy were married on a crisp October day at a private estate in Memphis, TN where they exchanged vows underneath a breathtaking floral arch. The bride wore a lovely Rivini gown that paired beautifully with her orchid-draping bouquet made by Angela Mazanti. Guests were provided with individually wrapped fleece blankets to keep warm during the ceremony and were entertained by a bagpiper as they entered the reception. Everything about their wedding reminded me of a little girl’s fairytale wedding!

Photography: Ashley Upchurch | Floral & Event Design: Angela Mazanti | Wedding Gown: Maggie Louise Bridal | Wedding Cake: The Flour Garden | Invitations: Bella Figura | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Venue: Private Estate

The minute I opened this gorgeous wedding from Ashley Upchurch my heart started to pitter patter and a large smile start to form on my face. Why you ask? Because it’s basically SMP perfection. The blush hues, the gorgeous florals from Gestures and the darling couple? Couldn’t be more perfect if they tried. So this gallery? Beyond perfect.

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To complement the historic feel of the venue, we undertook several DIY projects. From the lace fabric garland used to create an elegant backdrop for our cake to the refurbished farm table it sat on to the faux vintage crates used to showcase our favors, DIY was a family affair! My mom, dad, and I spent an entire weekend selecting and cutting the fabric for the garland…yes, even dad got in on the action! For our guests not prone to gettin’ jiggy with it on the dance floor, my friend Marissa and I painted custom his and hers corn-hole boards to provide some additional reception entertainment.

While the décor was near and dear to us, our favorite part of the wedding was the food! Since Johnny is in the restaurant industry, it was very important that our food not only tasted amazing but provided a one-of-a-kind dining experience for our guests. Our rehearsal dinner was a food-lover’s paradise with decadent low-country fare and libations provided by Chef Ryan Trimm of Sweet Grass and Southward. For the reception, CFY catering did a fabulous job continuing to make our dreams a reality with their creative combinations and impeccable presentation. Our guests ate, drank, and danced the night away in the heart of downtown Memphis!

Photography: Ashley Upchurch | Floral Design: Gestures | Wedding Dress: Barefoot Bride | Cake: Frost Bake Shop | Catering: CFY Catering | Hair & Makeup: Annie Shackleford | Groom's Attire: American Tuxedo | Ceremony & Reception: 409 South Main | Rentals: Propcellar

Take a stunning bride and groom + their seriously adorable son, a handful of ecstatic family members and a crazy cool art gallery setting like Gallery FiftySix and what you have is an intimate wedding bursting with sophisticated details and some of the chicest moments you’ll ever have the privilege to see. It’s glittery gold hues meets awesomeness from Lindsey Lissau.  See it all in the full gallery.

And feast your eyes on this gorgeous film from Undertone Pictures.

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From the Bride… Ryan’s favorite quote has always been, “Energy and persistence conquer all things,” and it definitely proved true in our case. We met when I was his server at Old Venice Pizza in Memphis, and he pestered me for months before I agreed to go on a date with him! Four years (and a baby!) later, he proposed on the rooftop of the Peabody Hotel. His excitement was apparently so infectious that several members of the management were waiting in the dark with champagne for toasting and pictures!

We were engaged for 15 months while I planned pretty much every possible type of wedding. But, when it came down to it, we both wanted to do something a little less involved than a huge wedding, and a lot more special than the courthouse. Our solution? A private ceremony with our parents and son , Grayson (well, we tried to include him, but he promptly fell asleep 20 minutes before our ceremony!). It was so intimate and special and really allowed us to soak in every last moment of the day.

We were married on July 11th at a small art gallery full of graphic black and white abstract pieces, which set the overall “feel” for our ceremony. Clean and simple, yet subtly detailed. Thank goodness for our day-of coordinator, Becky Best… she made sure everything was exactly where I envisioned it. The ceremony itself was short and sweet, with the PERFECT message by Rev. Sarah Taylor-Peck. She surprised us by involving our parents in our ceremony and asking them to surround us and pray over our new marriage; it was such a heartfelt and personal moment that I’ll never forget. After our vows, we were able to immediately turn and hug our parents before a quick celebration in a smaller wing of the gallery. The men in our families are the criers, and our wedding was no exception; both of our dads gave the sweetest, most heartfelt toasts, which brought us all to tears.

After the ceremony and celebratory toasts, our parents headed home to snuggle Grayson, and Ryan and I headed downtown to a friend’s speakeasy for a few moments of solace and, of course, cake! When we finished at the Blind Bear, we decided to take a walk back to our hotel in downtown Memphis, with a quick detour by Aldo’s Pizza on Main Street.

Every detail was so personal, down to my custom gown by Shareen., and we are so incredibly lucky to count every person involved in our wedding as a friend; from our musician that I’ve known since I was 15, to our hair and makeup stylist that was my first college roommate, to our photographer that I met in April.

Photography: Lindsey Lissau | Cinematography: Undertone Pictures | Wedding Dress: Shareen Vintage | Cake: Yolo Bakes! | Invitations: Elli | Invitations: Elli | Ceremony Venue: Gallery FiftySix | Reception Venue: Blind Bear Speakeasy | Shoes: Show You Shoes | Hair And Makeup: Studio 78 | Accomodations: The Madison Hotel | Groom's Attire Pocket Square: The Snappy Sapling | Jewelry & Accessories: Lolly And Lou | Ring Bearer's Suspenders + Bowtie: The Snappy Sapling

After a long holiday hiatus, we couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome all of you lovelies to a new, sure to be gorgeous, year at SMP. Whether you have been reading for years, or are new to the wedding planning scene (congrats on that sparkly new bling by the way! eek!) we’ll help you ease into the new year with what we do best – inspiring the pretty. You’ll find we are a group that believes in fairytales. We believe in the magic of a good love story, and romance on repeat is how we prefer to spend our days over here – so when Creation Studios sent over this gorgeous gala inspired by the home of fairytales, Disney, we were intrigued. And when we laid eyes on how the Bride’s vision unfolded, it was obvious the day was full of wedding magic. The glowing beauty of a Bride worked side by side with her fairy godmothers, the Social Butterflies, to make her fairytale wedding a reality and the result was something dreams are made of!  Click here for more magic!

Click here for the full gallery of images!

From the Bride…Growing up in a wonderful family of six in South Florida, I am a huge Disney fan. Casey went on his first Carkeet Christmas Disney trip in 2010. In true Disney magic, he shocked me with a proposal in front of my family during a dinner in Cinderella’s castle. It was absolutely perfect for me, right down to watching the fireworks from our table! I knew I wanted Disney to be the inspiration of my wedding, but the softer, magical, romantic side.

The amazing Social Butterflies, my planners, found out early that I wanted to do everything different from a typical wedding. I want everything to work together but not matching. I didn’t want people to feel like they are at a wedding, but a place with friends having a good time. Vintage, romance, Disney and family were the themes I wanted tied together and they did it beautifully in a setting of blush pink, ivory, champagne and pops of peacock blue and marigold.

October 7, 2011, I can’t even express enough how perfect it was. I had no idea that an evening could be created that was so perfect for me that I truly felt like I was in a dream. My bridesmaids, my sister and sister-in-law, and I got our hair and makeup done at Juve Salon. Catie and Maury wore Alfred Sung peacock blue long dresses with skinny belts, pearl studs and Dogeared single pearl necklaces I got for them. They helped me into my ivory bridal ball gown with a beautiful ruffled neck as well as the Tiffany & Co. small loops Casey surprised me with that matched my wedding band. I also wore my Mommom’s pearl necklace as a double bracelet and a simple one layer veil. I have never felt more beautiful!

We made our way to Davies Manor Plantation, where I was to see Casey for the first time. I stood in the lawn of Davies Manor Plantation among massive ancient trees in anticipation. He smiled at me and that’s all he had to do for me to know how beautiful he thought I looked. I carried a vintage-inspired gorgeous bouquet filled with various textures and colors and pinned to it was my late Daddad’s money clip. He passed exactly a year before and he means to much to me that I knew I wanted him right by me at the altar.

Guests were greeted by a valet service and then proceeded down the plantation road flanked with woods and the occasional deer sighting with the plantation wedding site as their focal point. They were given beautiful vintage paper covered programs fastened with champagne ribbon. Each program had a wand attached, that my mom and I made. In the program and on a little flag attached to the top of the wand, they were instructed to wave them as Casey and I kissed and walked down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs.

For my ceremony music, I knew I wanted the music to mean something. The grandparents and mothers walked out to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, the bridal party walked down to “All You Need is Love” (Beatles are inspired by my dad and Casey’s love of classic rock and roll). Then from around the bend, a magnificent white horse appeared pulling a carriage. I had kept it a secret from most including Casey. My dad and I were beaming with delight as we watched the crowd in their awe. As soon as I heard my entry song, “When You Wish Upon a Star”, it was truly the most magical moment of my life and I wouldn’t have wanted anyone else sitting with me than my dad.

We exited the carriage and I could see the big smile on Casey’s face. We passed hanging lanterns, burlap sacks and garden boxes filled with the most beautiful flowers and plants. The ceremony was relaxed, intimate and perfect. Andy Savage, teaching pastor of HighPoint church, did an amazing job leading us into this new life together. Following suit of doing things differently, I created a unity ceremony in which each of our parents’ fingerprints made a heart when put together. Family is very important to Casey and me and we wanted to showcase that and showing our parents how much they have impacted our lives. Casey’s dad passed away when he was 10 years old, so we had a good friend of his who is a graphic designer create Casey’s dad’s thumbprint to be joined with his mom’s .

As we vowed our lives to one another, kissed and turned to face the crowd, we were greeted with waving wands as we made our way down the aisle, to “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” to the carriage. As we rode off, Casey held a distressed sign that read – “Just Married…and they lived happily ever after.”

Following the ceremony, vintage signs pointed guests towards the cocktail party. Half way there, they were greeted with a signature drink station that served “Pirates of the Caribbean” complete with sword-skewered fruit. Inspired by the Disney park maps,, guests were also handed personal maps showcasing the layout and food options at the cocktail party and reception. Continuing towards the Alice in Wonderland-inspired “Mad Hatter Cocktail Party”, guests were greeted with the game area fantasy-decorated with topiaries adorned with pin wheels (that my mom made) flanked by vintage white iron fences. Corn hole/bean bag games Customized with “The Dugans” were set out for guests to enjoy, as hors d’oeurves were being passed by servers and classic rock songs were being played by the guitarist. On the porch of the reception there was a seating area where guest could rest on vintage benches, set their drinks down on wooden wine crate coffee tables and sign the guest book quilt. I created patchwork letters held on a lace line with mini clothespins and hung on an old window. Guests sign a patch with well wishes and my talented momma will sew them together to make a quilt as our guest book. My mom made the patches as well. Also on the porch was a larger version of the hand held map so guests would know which food station in the reception they wanted to try first!

The sign just above the porch set the mood for the reception …”Let the Magic Begin” (which was also on the inside of the invitation envelope). Walking into the reception, you felt warmth and romance. The usually dark wood walls and ceiling were illuminated with soft light and decorative blush and ivory paper streamers hugging the peaked ceiling. I opted for long table instead of the tradition round to make it more family-style. Tables were dressed in burlap-inspired tablecloths with various vintage runners, my momma made, running the width of the table. The length of the tables were filled with arrays of romantic flowers, cotton, succulents, moss displayed in milk glasses, garden boxes, silver vases and other vintage inspired containers. The end seat backs were accessorized with beautiful hand-made ivory rosettes. A massive stone fireplace was covered in candles enhancing the romantic aura of the room. A damask-background photo booth complete with props was set up for guests to enjoy and take home their picture as well as leave a picture for us to enjoy. The food stations and bar were all named after Disney memories/places that are special to my family. The Laughing Place Saloon was scripted on a large vintage mirror along with the bar menu and displayed behind the iron and dark wood bar. Each food station represented a Disney restaurant, “Mama Melrose” was an interactive pasta station, “Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn” was a gourmet filet mignon and chicken slider station, “Tamu Tamu Refreshments” contained various fruits and gourmet cheeses and “Boulangerie Patisserie” was the dessert station including the wedding cake, grooms cake and an array of cake balls made by my good friend Gretchen Tayloe. The grooms cake detailed Casey, wearing a Memphis hoodie and hat, and me, wearing my wedding veil Mickey ears, riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with our hands up – it was perfect! Casey and I toasted with the champagne flutes given to us at the proposal in Cinderella’s castle as my sister, his best friend and my daddy gave touching speeches. The dance floor shined with a gobo light of our wedding logo “The Dugans” which included a hidden Mickey Mouse head design (that logo was used on the game boards, napkins, invitations, photo booths photo sleeves, etc). The night was filled with live music from Almost Famous and lots of dancing.

At the end of our magical night, Casey and I made our way out of the reception to a wave of wands by our wonderful friends and family. As guests got their cars from the valet, a final parting gift was left in their front seat – a small pumpkin with this poem I wrote attached.

“As the clock strikes twelve and the magic ends, Cinderella’s carriage becomes a pumpkin again. What a magical time and it’s all because of you. With love from the Dugans…Bibbiddi Bobbiddi Boo…”

Bride’s Gown: Blu by Mori Lee from Ballew Bridal / Bridesmaids: Alfred Sung / Men’s Attire: Suits by Joseph A Banks / Cake Balls: Gretchen Tayloe of Dulcitas Gourmet Treats / Bride hair: Myn Le from Juve Salon and Amy Hicks from Capelli’s / Bride and Bridesmaids makeup: Kendrick Simpson from Juve Salon / Planner and Event Designer: Social Butterflies, LLC, Memphis TN / Photographer & Videographer: Creation Studios / Venue: Hillwood at Davies Manor  / Stationery: Natalie Chang Designs / Floral Designer: Haute Horticulture / Caterer: Ziparos / Cakes: Oh My Ganache Bakery / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Guest Table Rentals: Mahaffey Tent and Party Rentals / Linens: Mosaic Party Rentals / Cocktail Table Linens: Party Tables / Runners: Hand made by mother of the Bride / Bars: Holliday’s Flowers / Band: Almost Famous / Valet: Southern Valet / Carriage: Carriage Tours of Memphis / Photo Booth: Creation Studios / Lighting: Moonshine / String Quartet: Beth Luscomb / Classical Guitarist: Lloyd Rainey / Minister: Andy Savage

Mmm… we’ve got a sweet, southern wedding on the agenda today. And it is filled with the most romantic Memphis details. Perfect way to start your morning. You can almost feel the southern hospitality, courtesy of the event planners & designers, Southern Event Planners. Every image from Christen Jones Photography has a hint of “Y’all come back now, ya hear?” tucked inside the insanely gorgeous affair. And I haven’t even touched on that dress yet. Just click here for the gallery. You’ll thank me later.

From Southern Event Planners … Guests traveled from all over the country to be a part of Amanda and Erik’s wedding day. They were greeted at the hotels with goodie bags that included a bunch of Memphis favorites: GooGoo Clusters, Goody’s Powder, Elvis Postcards, Jelly Krimpet TastyKakes, an itinerary of the wedding, and brochures from local museums and tourist attractions.

Amanda and Erik met at a sushi restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada where they both lived. A year and a half later, Erik proposed at the top of the Stratosphere…or as they like to call it “the top of the world.” For their wedding, they knew it would be a requirement to incorporate the elements of Las Vegas. Amanda grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and that’s where she wanted to be married. Planning this wedding from afar was nothing new to Southern Event Planners, and the details were quickly worked out in the first few visits.

It was important to Amanda and Erik that the adult guests of their wedding could enjoy the celebration, so they hired an event sitting service to watch the children. The sitters brought activities and gift boxes for each child, and the parents were free to have fun!

The ceremony was held in the Japanese Garden overlooking the lake at the Memphis Botanic Gardens. A guitar and violin duo serenaded the crowd as the family and bridal party entered and took their places. Amanda looked stunning and overjoyed as she made her way down the aisle to her future husband. One of Amanda’s closest friends sang “Songbird” as the flute and guitar accompanied her, and there was not a dry eye in the house! After being pronounced “Mr. and Mrs.” by the officiate, guests made their way inside to Hardin Hall.

Blue lighting, candles, and elegant place-settings topped with a California Mixed Greens Salad greeted the guests as they entered the room. Soft music was playing and the atmosphere was very cool and relaxed. Guests sipped on cocktails as they found their seats. Amanda made real casino chips into escort cards! She printed labels with the guests’ names and table numbers and stuck them on the chip. She purchased custom shot glasses that housed glittered bonbons, and the escort chip was laid on top of the glass for each guest! On each table, a picture frame housed a photo of the casino and the corresponding poker chip. Guests had fun calling out their casino names and helping each other find the tables.

Amanda and Erik were soon announced into the reception, and the dances begun. Their first dance was a medley of songs, but little did the guests know…they had a second choreographed dance planned! The reception carried on as planned with a Father/Daughter Dance, Mother/Son Dance, and dinner. Wedding guests feasted on two buffet stations: a Jersey station (for Erik’s personality) and a Southern station (for Amanda’s personality). Hand rolled sushi, mini cheese-steak sandwiches and stuffed manicotti were among the groom’s choices, while grits, fried green tomatoes, and catfish bites with hush-puppies were among the bride’s requests.

After the champagne toast and cake cutting,  Natalie Cole’s voice began the first verse of “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love).” Amanda and Erik waltzed across the dance floor to each other and guests clapped and shouted when they realized what was happening. This was their second surprise dance for the guests. All of the events of the night were captured on video and edited together with footage from the rehearsal dinner the night before. A few minutes before the grand exit, Amanda and Erik invited their guests to huddle around the projection screen to watch a recap of the wedding events. The videographer did a wonderful job with the same day edit!

After the video, sparklers were lit outside as the bride and groom made their way to their waiting towncar. It was truly a day they will never forget!

Photography: Christen Jones Photography / Cinematography: Daybreak Cinema / Flowers: Deedra Stone Designs / Event Design: Deedra Stone Designs and Southern Event Planners / Event Planning: Southern Event Planners / Ceremony Location: Memphis Botanic Gardens, Japanese Garden / Reception Location: Memphis Botanic Gardens, Hardin Hall / Invitations: RSVP Stationers / Dress: Alfred Angelo / Catering: A Moveable Feast / Transportation: Tennessee Limo and Cline Tours, Inc. / Event Sitters: Elegant Event Sitters, Inc.

We LOVE it that we receive almost as many engagement shoots as we do weddings! We’ve said, forever and ever, that e*shoots are such a perfect time for you guys to get to know your photographer and for him/her to get to know you. It’s also a time to work out the kinks in front of the camera. Work through the shyness and awkwardness so that on your wedding day, it’s just you and your lovey and the cameras don’t even phase you!

Now, having said that … this engagement shoot is a little bit different. Martha and Dudley were actually married in 2008. But they didn’t have engagement photos taken. We’ll let Aaron Snow, their fab LBB photographer, fill you in on the rest!

From Aaron … I shot Martha and Dudley’s wedding in November 2008. Dudley had braces until the week of the wedding, so they opted out of having engagement photos done then. After almost two years since the wedding and lots of wedding referrals from Martha in Memphis, I went back to Memphis in July 2010 and did some “engagement” photos for them!

We shot these on Shelby Farms in Memphis, TN. I went to their house a little before the shoot and gathered things throughout the house that I thought would make a great shoot. Martha had those yellow flower balls in little vases throughout her house, so I knew we should use them as well as play off of the yellow theme! They borrowed the old bicycle from their good friends and we set out for an hour of fun in the gorgeous Memphis sun! I love this couple and love the feel of this shoot.

You see? It’s never too late to have a special ~ just for the love of love ~ shoot!

Thanks to Martha & Dudley and Aaron Snow for sharing such a great day!

You can see their entire shoot in the SMP Photo Gallery.

Take a look at more of Aaron’s sensational weddings and shoots ~

October Blog Archives:

Buffy & Jeff’s Wedding Preview

Lauren & Stephen’s Wedding Day Shoot (after their backyard wedding)

September Blog Archives: Blair & David’s E*Session (Biker-Lover Beauty)

June Blog Archives: Kristin’s bridals (wait until you see it!)

Last but certainly not least is this uber chic engagement party sent to us by Annabella Brandon of Asian Bees Photography. This may not be a rehearsal dinner, but it still has PLENTY of steal-able ideas for ALL of the numerous shindigs you throw before the big day. So modern and cool, who doesn’t love a rooftop cocktail party? We happen to be huge fans.

{see more of this engaging engagement here}

A jazz trio band and chips and guacamole hors d’oeuvres? Sold. Congrats on your engagement Jenni and Chris. We can’t wait to see what you do with your wedding!

Photographer: Annabella Brandon of Asian Bees / Venue: Madison Hotel, Memphis, TN / Event Planner: Social Butterflies / Flowers: Karin Woodward of Haute Horticulture / Music: Gerald Stephens Jazz Trio / Furniture, Linen and Textile Rentals: Mahaffey Tent and Party Rentals

Before we dive back into the adorable wedding that we are currently devouring, I wanted to mention…for any of you that are dreaming of starting a stationery business we are chatting all about it over on BackStage. Starting with the invitation company that I started, we are working through all of the ins and outs of taking the leap into entrepreneurship. Come join in!

Ok, back to the task at hand. I really think that if Etsy could build a wedding of their own, it would be this one. All of the little details that the bride provided are kind of amazing, kind of awesome actually. She found a ton of inspiration right here on SMP and in turn is inspiring brides to no end with her own affair…

From the lovely bride…

The wedding day went by in one beautiful flash, which is why I’m glad Heidi was there to capture the elements that were so important to me. I tried very hard to make the wedding meaningful and creative without spending tons of money. I made our caketoppers out of salt and pepper shakers, elements from my mom’s wedding dress, clay and a vintage letterpress stamp found on Etsy. A friend of mine made my veil from the tulle of my mom’s veil. And another friend designed our programs based on a unique invitation design I found online.

I tried to use all Etsy vendors for everything, and only went to non-Etsy vendors when I couldn’t find it there. I love supporting artists, and Etsy is an endless supply of wonderful crafters. Using the lanterns was an easy way to avoid flower centerpieces and a nice gift for our wedding guests. Not a single one was left at the end of the night! Plus, we saved tons of money by buying them in bulk and on sale at TJ Maxx and Marshal’s.

The things you couldn’t see in the photos were the beautiful songs my now-husband wrote and recorded for the processionals. He played everything on cello, guitar and keyboard and it turned out so gorgeous. He based the melody on the song he wrote to propose to me. His is the John Benjamin Band.

From Heidi Ryder, the fabulous photographer…

I have the cutest, most adorable, most steal-worthy wedding coming up next but before I share…I wanted to show you these pictures from the equally sweet rehearsal dinner. The event was sent to us by the fabulous photographer behind the day, Heidi Ryder, and is ALL charm.

I mean seriously. How stinking cute is this? The vintage floral linens, the sweet centerpieces, the CELEBRATION sign. Madly, madly in love with all of it. Oh and they actually had an Elvis impersonator to celebrate their Memphis roots. Yep, they are that cool! The full wedding is coming up next!