Tennessee Weddings

Fall Nashville Wedding at Cedarwood

From JoPhoto… Lauren and Jeff are two of our favorite people. Not only are they super perfect for each other, but they planned the most amazing Knoxville wedding and had a blast together doing it! Their black and white classy wedding was perfect for the clubhouse at Bridgemore, and Lauren and Jeff chose a fun alternative to having a traditional wedding cake – they had an ice cream bar for wedding guests instead of cake!

The day of their wedding it rained off and on, but the rain slacked off to a light sprinkle during their wedding ceremony and portraits. Moments after we were done taking photos outside, the rain started back up again. It was just enough time, and worked out perfectly!

Lauren said about her wedding gown, “I saw it at a bridal show up on a mannequin all in lights and HAD to have it! I knew before I even tried it on! It totally fits me and my old horse showing days since it’s covered with Swarovski crystals.”

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Maggie Sottero

Savannah Collection

Serencia Collection

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Avery Collection

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Emerald Collection

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Maggie Sottero Fall 2019

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For all of you pretties out there planning a fall fête, this beauty designed and hosted by Cedarwood is overflowing with the prettiest inspiration. With a color palette that wows, florals that will leave your jaw on your desk and perfectly placed details around every corner, you simply can’t miss all the pretty snapped up by Jen And Chris Creed waiting for you in this gallery.

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Vino Backyard Designs + A Discount!

From Jen and Chris Creed Photography…Diane and Glenn were married on a gorgeous (although warmer than usual!) fall day at Historic Cedarwood in Nashville, TN. Their purple and orange color palette was perfect for the fall! Diane and Glenn met in college, through Diane’s sorority sister. It took several tries before they finally ended up on a date, and the rest was history! Glenn proposed while they were out geocaching with Diane’s parents (such a sweet story!). They now live in Nashville with their awesome dog Emma Lynn!

A few notable details…Their guests enjoyed dinner at tables set up under the stars in the garden! Diane’s bouquet was wrapped in her grandmother’s lace gloves, and had her grandfather’s pin from WWII. The Jordan almonds are an Italian wedding tradition, and a nod to the bride’s family. The flags on the front of the house were the state flags of KY (Glenn’s home state) and NY (Diane’s home state). The groom’s cake was a Louisville Cardinals cake (Glenn is from Louisville).

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Maggie Sottero

Savannah Collection

Serencia Collection

Amarosa Collection

Lisette Collection

Aracella Collection

Avery Collection

Cordelia Collection

Emerald Collection

Alistaire Collection

Maggie Sottero Fall 2019

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I’m pretty sure my move to the mid-Atlantic that brought out my inner monogram lover, so needless to say, I’m head-over-heels for everything by Vino Backyard Designs. Offering beautiful monogram return address stamps, wooden monograms, custom tags and even personalized leather journals, there’s not one thing in this online shop I don’t covet.

Vino Backyard Designs has items perfect as wedding + bridesmaid gifts. We’re loving the custom wooden tags as a creative way to ask your ladies to be part of your big day! Everything in the shop is beautifully made, with a focus on luxe materials and fabulous customer service. New to Vino Backyard Designs are the incredible, custom engraved leather journals — which just so happen to be at the top of my wish list.

Head over here to start shopping! And get this, Vino Backyard Designs is offering our SMP readers 15% off their purchase in the Etsy store! Simply enter code STYLEMEPRETTY2014 at checkout. Discount valid through December 30, 2014.

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Classic Nashville Wedding at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center

These two met while running against each other for President at Belmont university, but I think it’s safe to say they both ended up winning. Because that little race led to their love story, and ultimately a wedding so gorgeous I can’t look away. Captured beautifully by Kristyn Hogan, the images sitting below are nothing short of classic perfection, and you can see even more here.

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From Kristyn Hogan…Rachel & Jim met each other while running against each other for President of their student government at Belmont University. Rachel won, but when telling the story, Jim insists that he came out the winner with the love of his life and when you see them together, you just know they are meant to be.

Rachel & Jim had a stunning classic, black-tie wedding at the Nashville Symphony, with a gorgeous outdoor garden ceremony and a sophisticated reception that gave classic a modern twist.

Their ceremony was highlighted by a canopy of trees, silver chiavari chairs and classic marble statues & fountains that gave the feeling of an enchanted garden in the middle of the city. When the ceremony was over, guests were led to an indoor candle-lit cocktail hour with white circular seating and varying shapes and sizes of cocktail tables.

Walking into the reception, the feel was transformed into a modern sophisticated take on a classic ballroom wedding. The reception was held in the Symphony hall, where the signature lighting fixtures were lowered and floor to ceiling draping gave the large room an intimate feel. Tables were varied shapes and sizes (square, half moon, and even banquet style with booths) and were covered in varying metallic and black linens. The metallics were highlighted with candlelight, mirrors, lucite, varying place settings and unique floral arrangements.

The bride and groom made their grand entrance through crossed draping which was opened to reveal them for the first time as husband and wife and they sat at a large square head table in oversized white leather “king & queen” chairs. Guests enjoyed the evening with a plated meal, signature coffee bar, lounge area and dancing. After dancing the night away (Rachel in her Monique Llhuillier party dress) the couple made their way through a shower of sparklers into a vintage Jag and whisked away to Hawaii for their honeymoon.

In planning my very own bridesmaids get-together for a sun-soaked summer day, this sweet inspiration from Amber Housley Weddings and Cedarwood Weddings popped up at just the right time. Loaded with pinks, tangerines and aquas, bottles of bubbly and florals galore, you can bet I’ll be pinning every single inspiring image from Kristyn Hogan!

From Amber Housley Weddings… The gorgeous cherry blossom tree on Cedarwood’s beautiful property only blooms for a short period of time, so to get all this gorgeousness timed on just the right day was a challenge, but was oh so worth it!

Concept: Our bride is getting married at a beautiful historic farm, her venue for the day. Instead of a traditional bridesmaids luncheon, she takes advantage of the venue’s outdoor beauty prior to the ceremony. Gathering her bridesmaids and together dressed for the wedding, the photographer has time to capture images of friendship and festivities, include gift giving, nibbles and a champagne toast.

Southern Jewish Wedding with a Farm Backdrop

From the bride’s lips to God’s ears…”The small details were great to have, but were not the first priority. Family and friends were first.” Love that. This is the kind of bride that I wish I was, focusing on building a beautiful wedding where the focus stayed firmly on love…and yet man! The details are pretty darn gorgeous too. Click here for even more from Julie Roberts.

A conversation between photographer Julie Roberts and the lovely bride…

Was there a moment when you knew you were in love?

One moment when we knew we really had something amazing, was in a little Italian restaurant back in our old town in Florida. The hour we were sitting and talking, it felt like time was suspended and everything made so much sense. Then we just knew that this was a really good thing. And we were and still are, very lucky.

Tell us about your proposal!

Daniel, his sister Katie, and I headed off to visit the great Himalaya mountains to Everest Base Camp where Katie and I would be sending Daniel off to finish the Everest climb. About a week into the trip, we took a rest with the team in a lovely historic village called Tengboche. While overlooking the Kumbu Valley and a beautiful monastery behind us, he asked the question of every little girl’s dream. After crying for 45 minutes with tears happiness, Daniel asked once more if I said yes. YES!!!

Three adjectives that describe your wedding day?

Magical, Emotional, and Fun.

What was your favorite thing about planning your wedding?

My favorite part about planning our wedding, was knowing we would be surrounded by the people we love most and want to celebrate this happy day with us! That was the motivation for making this the most fun day! The small details were great to have, but were not the first priority. Family and friends were first.

Tell us about your wedding music choices (ceremony, first dance, etc).

Daniel and I wanted to have a LOT of fun with the wedding. By starting the wedding with some standard classical wedding music for the ceremony we turned it up with some classic Tennessee “Rocky Top” to begin our first walk back down the aisle as husband and wife. The first dance, father-daughter, mother-son dances, were all about a significant memory we had we each other, the rest was up to Sword Sounds making it a great night!

What significant traditional elements did you include?

Half of my family is Jewish, so we wanted to included some really fun traditions like breaking the glass and of course, the Hora, or chair dance. Which I must say is scary even though you have a quarterback, Olympian, and alpinist holding you up…

What significant non-traditional elements did you include?

Taking a traditional bouquet toss to a no-so-traditional was so much fun! Handing the bouquet off to my new sister-in-law hopefully made her laugh.

What was the funniest thing that happened?

So many…My cousin, stole the dance floor away, great friends singing to classic rock, and of course our groomsmen all dressed the “correct” part for the YMCA.

Favorite Moment of the Day?

Every minute of it. One month later and I still wish I could relive it over and over again! But, seeing Daniel before the wedding was so powerful. I was surprised by how emotional I became. It is a memory I will always cherish.

What’s next for you as a couple?

We continue to live as happy as two peas in a pod. Keep living this surreal life and know how lucky we are to get to be with each other. Nothing beats falling asleep next to the person you love so much.

Elegant Tennessee Plantation Wedding

Love stories are the heart and soul of every SMP wedding and this one was nearly 10 years in the making. And when the day rolled around these Tennessee sweeties opted for a hometown affair with a major nod to their roots. They brought on Austin Gros, Bright Events, Music City Tents & Events and a whole crew of talented vendors for a day that can only be described as “Southern elegance done right.”

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Inspiring Cedarwood Wedding in Nashville

From Sage Nines Event Production… Caroline and Lee had been together for almost ten years prior to getting married and it was important to them to throw a celebration that exemplified their roots. Wanting a classic outdoor Southern wedding, they chose Carnton Plantation in Caroline’s hometown of Franklin, TN as their venue. The historic mansion and its grounds were the perfect backdrop for their day. Caroline’s father escorted her to the aisle via an arbor that surrounds the formal garden. The ceremony took place under a giant tree adorned with hanging lanterns and flowers in shades of white and ivory. Bridesmaids wore pale blush Monique Lhullier gowns.

Following the ceremony, cocktail hour on the mansion’s porch featured signature drinks including the Mitchell Mule in honor of the groom’s family name, and the Sweet Caroline White Cosmo. Guests played corn hole, the couple’s favorite game, while enjoying mini margaritas and mini tacos, a nod to the couple’s love of Mexican food. Hand lettered magnolia leaves served as escort cards and directed guests to their tables for the main meal.

Dinner took place in a large tent adjacent to the garden, which was illuminated by a 6′ crystal chandelier chosen by the bride. Wooden farm tables were decorated with magnolia garlands intertwined with white roses and hydrangea, while round tables featured striking centerpieces of white roses in tall silver flutes. Abundant candlelight created a romantic warmth throughout the night of dining and dancing.

The happy couple departed the festivities in the bride’s grandfather’s vintage car after guests joined them in launching white balloons into the night sky.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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Not only is this Historic Cedarwood as pretty as they come, it’s as special as they come too. Captured by Sara Kristen Photography, this is the union of two people that have so much heart is seems to shine through every image. And although the details were basically perfection, their focus on charity and their story of love (the description is worth the read) takes center stage, making this gallery heartwarming to say the very least.

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From Sara Kristen Photography…This beautiful and inspiring wedding was unique because it centered around giving back, helping an organization called “ordinary hero. It’s a non-profit organization that seeks to bring public awareness to the orphan crisis and provide opportunities to change the lives of children in need.

I’ve noticed that more brides recently are wanting to make a difference and include something in their wedding that will help support charities or build their community. With this wedding, the bride and groom wanted to honor their family’s story – past, present, & future. Which included the groom’s late wife who passed away a year before, just after having adopted a beautiful baby boy from Ethiopia through the “Ordinary Hero” program. Here’s a video of the groom telling his story (you might need a tissue, I cried buckets when I watched it) .

From the Bride…For a girl who really never “dreamed” about my wedding day, I admit that it turned out to be everything I could have ever hoped for or imagined. To say that the day was “perfect” just won’t suffice. I don’t necessarily believe in things being “perfect”, but I do believe in things being just what you need – and for me, my wedding day was what I needed…and what my husband and his 4 beautiful children (who are now my 4 beautiful children) needed. It was a day to celebrate a relationship that only God could have orchestrated. While, in turn, giving honor to my husband’s late wife, Beth, who passed away a year ago in August. In lieu of wedding gifts, we decided to accept donations to a memorial fund set up in Beth’s honor. We asked for donations that would help women & orphans in Ethiopia provide a better way of life for themselves & for their families. This is what made my wedding day so unique – it wasn’t just about me or my husband or even our kids. I know that doesn’t necessarily go with the norm – but there are too many people in this world who need help and if I can use “my” day to focus the attention on the needs of others than that makes it all worthwhile.

My favorite memory from the wedding would have to simply be the ceremony. I know it may be cliché to say that, but it was honestly the one thing that calmed my nerves & kept me smiling. The vows were beautiful & I was excited to be entering into a new life with Michael & the kids. I especially like that we could share this moment together.

Yes! Inspiration Shoot

With Valentine’s Day just a day away, it seems only right to devote our morning to the one word a lot of you lovelies will be uttering in complete surprise tomorrow: “Yes!” Because if there’s one thing cupid is known for, it’s proposals. And this stunning shoot from Modern Vintage Events and Gambill Photography just so happens to be an ode to that first “Yes!”… and all of the ones after that. See it all here.

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From Modern Vintage Events… Yes. Marriage starts with a question and an answer, and the answer to that questions is “Yes.” It doesn’t end there, the first yes is a predecessor for the multitude of times in the course of a marriage that a husband and wife will have to say yes. Yes to richer, yes to poorer, yes to sickness, yes to health, yes to better, yes to worse. Yes to standing beside each other until death with the knowledge that neither of you have any idea what the future holds but no matter what, you will say “yes” to doing it together.

With this shoot we really wanted to get down to the grass roots of what marriage is all about. Weddings are amazing and details are so fun, but details do not a successful marriage make. We wanted to showcase two people and their love for each other. We used a couple friends of ours who were married but who got married at a courthouse and never had official wedding photos. They also happened to tell us that day that they were saying “yes” to learning that three is a magic number and were expecting their first baby.

We featured a burlap banner with “yes” printed on it and a pallet that simply said “she said yes.” We also strung vintage photos of couples on another pallet to serve as a reminder of those who have said yes continuously through their marriage. We set up a small picnic “celebration”.

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Modern Trousseau

Spring & Fall Classics

Spring 2015

Fall 2015

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Rustic Wedding at Historic Cedarwood

When two New Yorkers opt for a destination wedding down South, lovely things happen. But add Kristyn Hogan, Cedarwood Weddings and FocalPoint Cinema to the pretty little mix, and you’ve got an affair that’s blog-worthy in every. single. way. From an al fresco barbecue feast to the post-wedding bonfire, this is exactly the kind of day we’d not-so-secretly loooove to be a guest at.

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Rustic Tented Historic Cedarwood Wedding

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From Cedarwood Weddings… Robin and Mark reside in New York City and despite their power jobs (business development with Google for instance) they insist their personal style is low-key and light-hearted. Robin and Mark wanted a ‘slower than New York’ pace for their wedding, and decided a destination wedding in Nashville was just the ticket. Robin says she and Mark chose Cedarwood because it offered a beautiful setting and relaxed style close to downtown Nashville, so guests could head out to the Honkey Tonks afterward.

Wedding attire was casually elegant with bridesmaids dressing in their favorite color and groomsmen selecting different pastel colored ties. Inspired by the natural beauty of Cedarwood’s historic farm, Robin chose neutral tones and soft colors to enhance our restored farm-house, old barn and meadow. Rustic rustic wood farm tables paired with vintage crocks, old books and burlap grain sacks created the country chic style Robin and Mark wanted. Unexpected touches throughout the property, an alfresco barbecue feast and bonfire enhanced the overall southern ambiance.

Robin and Mark’s ceremony was a unique tribute to their relationship. Robin shares, “Our wedding vows were very special to us, and we really wanted our ceremony to reflect our view of life which is to live happy and laugh a lot. Our officiant Caroline was Robin’s childhood friend and the bulk of the ceremony centered around the reading of a light-hearted story focused on family and friends. Part of the story included a beer toast that was rather important to the plot of the story Caroline was reading. When that moment came and there was no stock at the altar, the Best Man ran to get the bottles of beer we had forgotten. In his haste, he forgot to get a bottle opener, so he opened the bottles of beer with his teeth. We felt pretty lucky to have a best man with that party trick up his sleeve in our wedding! The ceremony in Cedarwood’s beautiful country meadow surrounded by love and laughter gave us the warm and playful ambiance we wanted.

Summing up their Cedarwood Country Chic Wedding, Robin and Mark describe the day as “an elegant evening in the Tennessee Countryside – stunning, vibrant, perfect.

When planning out our editorial calendar for 2014, I knew I had to start with a big, beautiful wedding so it was a no-brainer to turn to Cedarwood Weddings and Kristyn Hogan. The duo is like pure wedded gold and today’s celebration is one of their bests. Cute as can be flower girls included.

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From the stunning bride… I think what made our wedding so special were all the small details and personal touches we added into the wedding so that each person that attended could feel welcomed, like they were getting to know us even better, and like there was something everyone could enjoy, even the kiddos. I tried to keep everyone in mind when I was brainstorming ideas. For people who didn’t like cake there was a dessert bar, for the grandmas there was seating around the dance floor, for the ladies we invited them to kick off their shoes and throw on some flip flops, for the kids we set up a kid’s table with a lot of crafts and candy. The uniqueness of our wedding was all centered around Cedarwood. I have never been to a wedding at a place as magical as Cedarwood. With all of the features of Cedarwood, such as the meadow, the barn, the plantation home, the hidden lake, and that truck, it is truly a one of a kind unique wedding destination.

My absolute favorite moment was my Maid of Honor’s speech/song. Carlyle was my first friend when I moved to Richmond, Virginia, so it was a no-brainer to call upon her to be my Maid of Honor. She is gorgeous, hilarious, and oh-so witty, and her song just knocked it out of the park! I am glad we have it recorded and every time I watch it I cry with laughter! However, close seconds were being given to Joseph by my father and step-father and dancing our first dance together. During both of those moments I had time to reflect on the moment and take it all in. I felt very blessed in those moments to be marrying my best friend, on a gorgeous day, surrounded by our most favorite people.

Originally Joseph and I decided we wanted to get married in Nashville because he had taken me to Opryland on a Thanksgiving vacation and I fell in love with the hotel. It was a gorgeous place and my mind just ran wild with the possibilities. However, on our “venue trip” to Nashville we checked out Cedarwood and my eyes light up! At one point I remember Joseph turning to my mom and telling her, “Well I think this is it, look at Sarah’s face!” There was a perfect mix of a southern country rustic feel and elegant details, which is exactly what I was looking for. At the end of the day, I don’t think you could have planned a better wedding to suit my style. Cedarwood did an absolute perfect job getting to know me and providing exactly what I was looking for.

Although I didn’t actually make items, I did make sizable contributions to Etsy, LOL. I wanted to include lots of personal details throughout the celebration, from monogramed welcome bags and s’mores favors to monogramed hankies for our parents and grandparents. We love cute signs with personality, and (in addition to the hand lettered signs made by Cedarwood) got several from Etsy vendors, like the “Last Chance to Run” ceremony sign that had everyone laughing. Other personalized items included Koozies, water bottle labels, thank you notes, and napkins with assorted quotes. My favorite personal touch was the video game controller cuff links for the groom. We even dressed our dogs for the celebration from LAdog!

My diamond stud earrings were my something borrowed from my mother. My silver bracelet is actually a bracelet that holds my grandfather’s ashes on both ends with his birthstone (since his birthstone is blue, this was my something blue.) My pinky ring was my grandmother’s wedding ring from my grandfather. My veil was made by Joseph’s aunt.

All the bridesmaids purchased their own dresses, shoes and jewelry to fit their individual styles. The majority of the girls has purchased more than one dress and were extremely indecisive about what to wear. About three hours before the ceremony, I just laid everything out and mixed and matched until I had selected a good combination of styles and colors or each one. Some girls even ended up wearing someone else’s dresses! I was so happy with how it looked and so were they.

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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Modern Trousseau

Spring & Fall Classics

Spring 2015

Fall 2015

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Southern Winter Romance Style Shoot at CJ’s Off the Square

With the way the holidays fall this year, I have a feeling the festivities will continue well into the weekend and straight through New Years. So we thought we should keep the holiday pretty coming here too. And this shoot from Jen & Chris Creed and Event 29 at CJ’s Off the Square is filled to the brim with ideas for anything you might be hosting, and you can see them all right here.

From Gabrielle Green of Event 29…We were inspired to create a winter shoot that was both seasonal yet welcoming, so we looked to the icy hues of the season and the warm, romantic Southern charm of our venue. From there, a palette of wintry steel blue and aquamarine with toasty cinnamon and mocha emerged. Champagne and gold tones were then incorporated to bring it all together. Pretty, ethereal elements were coupled with strong, classic pieces to tell a timeless love story, and our concept of a Southern Winter Romance was born.

In dressing our Southern couple, we played off the tones in our palette, and went with a navy blazer and copper tie for our groom. Our bride wore a delicate lace gown by Lea-Ann Belter with subtle mocha undertones that we all fell head over heels for! Our hairstylist created a romantic, low chignon, that was swept to the side, and softly enhanced the natural beauty of our model, and added just a hint of drama around her eyes. The bridal bouquet of roses, pieris, magnolia leaves, olive leaves, and hydrangeas dried and gilded by our floral designer was trimmed with an antique bracelet and trailing ribbon. The same flowers were repeated in our tablescape centerpiece in lush, free flowing form, and a garland dotted with roses and pieris twisted it’s way across the champagne tablecloth and spilled blithely onto the floor. We accompanied traditional pieces of gold-rimmed china and brass candlesticks with spicy cinnamon-toned napkins and tapers, and complimented the warmer hues with cool blue glassware. To tie the tablescape together, menu cards were designed with all of the colors in our palette. Our stationery designer created a custom emblem featuring the happy couple’s silhouettes, and repeated the charming motif throughout the shoot in the invitations and programs.

Seasonal spiced pear cocktails were served in etched glass goblets on an elegant brass tray. The steel gray console table that served as our bar also held our custom pastoral-inspired wedding cake atop a handmade wooden stand. Our designer lined the drawers of the table with the same spicy fabric used for our dinner napkins, and left them open to hold programs and a relaxed arrangement of roses on a bed of magnolia leaves.

Our event designer worked to create a concept and a palette that would warm and inspire winter brides, and coordinated with our skilled vendors to bring it all together. Our talented models told the story, and our lovely photographers captured it all in stunning detail. We had so much fun the day of the shoot watching the elements fall into place, bringing the Southern Winter Romance to life!

Christmas Cedarwood Wedding

Okay, truth be told, this isn’t a Christmas wedding. It’s a 1940’s, Old Hollywood inspired wedding, but you’re about to see exactly why I’ve been saving it for today. It’s filled with magic (thanks to Cedarwood Weddings) and that magic is perfect for a special day like Christmas Eve. Jenna Henderson captured it all – from the stunning invites from Designs in Paper to the candlelit reception under the stars.

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From the stunning bride… My idols are Doris Day, Natalie Wood and Audrey Hepburn. Their music and films were the foundation of my childhood. I am a romantic and value the power and emotion they can evoke. I love to sing, bake and indulge in a great bottle of wine. Nick is in graduate school at Vanderbilt, pursuing a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. He is a rational thinker that values vintage and classic things proven to stand the test of time.

We met six years ago while pursuing our undergraduate degrees. Over time, we became casual acquaintances, and I mentioned to Nick that I was having trouble keeping up in a calculus class. Being the mathematically-oriented guy that he is, Nick worked out a tutoring arrangement. Nick shares, “Around the third or fourth tutoring session, I realized that Lauren didn’t really need tutoring, and was actually quite capable at calculus. I also found that I was starting to look forward to those early-morning tutoring sessions more and more as the semester wore on, so I tried to keep them going.” Little did Nick know, I already had an A in the class and our “tutoring sessions” were simply a way for me to see him on a regular basis! Eventually, we began to find all sorts of excuses to be at the same places at the same time and one thing lead to another, and we fell in love. In the course of one year, our relationship went from typical to long distance when Nick started graduate studies at Vanderbilt and I moved over a thousand miles away to pursue a Master’s degree in Connecticut. The distance apart was difficult, which is to be expected, but because of it, we realize that we were made for each other and should never take our love and time together for granted. Four years later, we were engaged to be married with plans to make Nashville our home.

Instead of a large wedding, we chose to have one solely focused on our commitment to each other. We fell in love with the elegance and rustic charm Cedarwood offers, and the fact that this venue caters custom designs events for couples who wish to walk away from their wedding feeling excited, stress-free, and with beautiful memories and photographs.

My personal style is classic, with simple silhouettes and fun accessories, and I love finding ways to add color, whether it’s an occasional electric blue skirt or red shoes, to keep my style fun and vibrant. At the same time, I also love pearls and classic design, for their simplicity and elegance. We wanted to be married outside with a natural backdrop where we will exchange our own personally-written vows and a place with lots of character developed over time. Nick and I are determined to be together for the rest of our lives, so it is symbolic to be married in a place that reflects those same qualities. Cedarwood is a stately antebellum estate with the dignity and beauty of a historic landmark.

I wanted a wedding with a1940s-inspired vintage Hollywood theme. The staff at Cedarwood went out of their way to add touches of this theme throughout all of the decorations. The walkup from the parking lot was a red carpet, the guest book was a repurposed film reel, and paper goods, cake and almost every detail fit our taste, and Cedarwood made sure to incorporate lots of personal touches to the celebration. It exceeded all of my expectations. Everything was well executed, and that is really what made the day. It was easy, beautiful and fun.

Church On Main Rehearsal Dinner + WIUP!

Before we send you off into the weekend, we’ve got a little something special. A pre-wedding affair filled to the gills with Southern charm and pops of coral. Designed by Catherine Davis and captured through the lens of Bamber Photography, it’s a perfect way to wrap up the week. Psssst: We’ve got winners, discounts and giveaway reminders waiting down below!

It was such an honor to be asked to plan the rehearsal dinner for Brad and Liz, even more so because I am the groom’s sister-in-law! I love working on all events, but the stakes were a little higher on this one and my fate in the family rested in the execution of a seamless and fun evening to kick off the wedding weekend. Though Brad and Liz grew up in Chattanooga and shared mutual friends, their paths didn’t cross until they were living in Atlanta many years later when they were introduced by a dear friend’s mother. Though the timing wasn’t right during their first courtship, their love story should give many romantics hope in second chances. When Brad and Liz were reunited several years later, they didn’t skip a beat and it was only a matter of months before they were happily engaged.

Their wedding was in their hometown of Chattanooga and the quest for a venue that could accommodate a large size for their rehearsal dinner and match the “Garden & Gun” inspired event that Brad was hoping for proved to be a little challenging. Luckily, we stumbled upon a beautiful, old church that had been repurposed for events and the bride, groom and groom’s family fell in love instantly with the exposed beams and brickwork. The Church on Main was the perfect backdrop for this southern chic soiree that incorporated yards of seersucker (a must for all southern affairs), antique silver and milk glass (which were family heirlooms or antiques I’ve collected over the years), khaki and pops of coral.

I’ve worked with the Written Word for over 8 years on everything from wedding invitations to baby announcements and they never disappoint in their creativity and attention to detail. When I approached them about the event, Marti and Paul immediately went to work and produced a beautiful letterpressed invitation from their presses in West Virginia and complimentary menu cards. Seersucker adorned all the paper products, down to hand tied “bow ties” on the escort cards and place cards.

The menu was a wonderful collaboration with the talented Michelle Huffman of Events with Taste. From the “Dixie Cup” signature cocktail using none other than Tennessee’s own bourbon whiskey to the prosciutto wrapped duck hors d’oeuvres (a homage to the groom’s hobby as a hunter) to the “Brown Shu-gha” Ice Cream imported from Jake’s Ice Cream in Atlanta- it all perfectly reflected Brad and Liz.

The entire event was a family affair, with the mother of the groom tying seersucker ribbons and the father of the groom de-thorning and trimming garden roses in their sunroom-turned-florist-shop as I busily completed two dozen arrangements for the dinner. We all had a great time working together in the days leading up to the dinner, but more importantly, we had a fabulous evening in honor of my sweet brother-in-law and his beautiful bride-to-be.

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A few discounts from….

Love by Lynzie Weddings + Events
Mugshots Photography
PF Films
Toronto Bridal Style
Unique Visions Studio
The Georgia Club
Four Nineteen Weddings
Fourth Love
Lauren Michelle
Pear Tree Greetings
Postable
Smock Notebooks
Lookmatic
Shine Wedding Invitations

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Last chance giveaway + event reminders for…

$250 in bridal accessories to Ceremony

Bridal by the Bay Event at Chesapeake Bay Beach Club

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And now what we’ve ALL been waiting for. This week’s winners!

Big hooray for Aly – the winner of a $250 gift card towards Wedding Paper Diva’s!

Another congrats goes to MVP 22 who’s won one a gorgeous headpiece from Island Bridal!

And last but not least, Linda S. is the lucky duck taking home $100 to Paper Source!

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Happy weekend, loves! XOXO

Bluebird Christmas Tree Farm Inspiration Shoot

I adore the holidays more than I should probably admit, so this time of year I am like a little sponge for any and all inspiration. So when I come across something as gorgeous as this Bluebird Christmas Tree Farm shoot from JoPhoto, L.B. Floral, The Bride Link and Custom Love Gifts I feel like I’ve hit the holiday jackpot. It’s picture after picture of pin-worthy prettiness, and you can see even more here.

From JoPhoto…With visions of joining the class of an elegant Christmas dining table with rustic beauty of the outdoors, The Bride Link and Custom Love Gifts designed this merry Christmas tablescape, photographed by JoPhoto. There was not a more appropriate location to complete the vision than Bluebird Christmas Tree Farm in Blaine, Tenn. The graceful rows of Christmas trees offered warmth and intimacy as well as a stylish entryway to the tablescape.

The table’s floral décor by L.B. Floral was the star of the show! The tall centerpiece added tasteful drama to the table, and the cascading, floral runner offered a truly unforgettable accent piece. Plaid placemats were layered with red fabric bordered with lace to incorporate this season’s oh-so popular, country-inspired pattern. Silver goblets are the essence of class and style and perfectly matched the plates and Christmas themed butter knives.

Custom Love Gifts provided not only design for the shoot but also the adorable favors and nametags for each place setting. Clear globes filled with fake snow topped red-painted candlesticks for the perfect name holder. Custom Love Gifts’ famous jammed-filled jars offered a tasty and beautiful favor item for each guest to take home.

The handsome groom sported clothing from Coachman’s Clothier in Knoxville, Tenn. that perfectly combined class and masculinity. The designers wanted to showcase a look that was suitable for a wedding yet blended well with the feel of the outdoors. His plaid bowtie and navy-teal vest offered a rustic feel yet combined nicely with the navy suite and silk handkerchief.

The stunning bride complemented the groom’s fashion beautifully with a stunning A-line gown from White Lave & Promises bridal shop, topped with a sparkly, lace attachment for her bodice. Her fashion was styled to match accents on the table such as the lace, rimmed placemats, and red spray roses. Her red lip and the stunning white peonies in her bouquet added the perfect Christmas style to her wedding day look.

Davies Manor Plantation Wedding

You might remember this bride from her fabulous watercolor bridal shower. It was an event of the prettiest proportions, so the fact that her wedding was equally amazing came as no surprise. Think causal boho meets southern tradition all brought together by Haute Horticulture and Everbloom Designs. Thank you kindly to Annabella Charles for the gallery of photo goodies, and you can pay a visit right here.

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Bohemian

From the Bride… When I was planning our wedding, I knew I wanted to bring in a lot of who my husband and I are…our personal taste, our heritage, and family definitely was a very important aspect of our day. I picked the mint green and gold for the colors because they’ve always been some of my favorite colors and I knew it would bring in such a soft, happy and romantic feel to the day. I’ve always had a slight obsession with owls and we thought it would be fun to incorporate them in a whimsical way. But I still wanted it to have a personal touch, so I made the cake toppers and the boutonnieres for the groom and groomsmen out of little owls that I found at craft supply stores.

I did a few more DIY projects from the dessert table sign to the “Senor” & “Senora” (Mr. & Mrs.) signs on the back of our reception chairs, we just wanted our fingerprint on every detail of the day. Bringing in our family and heritage was also very important to us. The rose petals that were used on the communion table during the ceremony were actually given to me from my Great Aunt Paula before she passed away, she had been saving them from her garden for years to give to me to use at my wedding. Some of the lace dollies used on the reception tablea were also given to me from her and it was so sweet to have her be a part of this special day. The earrings I wore were my Great Grandmother’s and my “something borrowed”. And having my brother officiate the wedding made it even more special and is something I will never forget.

Lastly, we knew we wanted to exit our wedding in an unique way because being an assistant to a wedding photographer, I’ve definitely seen it all as far as exits and just really wanted to do something completely different. We thought it would be awesome to incorporate both our Hispanic backgrounds (his side Puerto Rican and my side Mexican) by using maracas for the exit and they also doubled as our favors for all the guests to take home from the wedding. Our day couldn’t have been anymore perfect from the incredible weather, to having our family and close friends there to experience this milestone with us, there was so much warmth and love from everyone surrounding us and that is exactly how we wanted our day to feel.

Blackberry Farm Wedding

From the moment I opened this Blackberry Farm beauty captured by Sharon of Smitten Photography I was in love. Head over heels in love. It has that sweet and intimate feel that I adore while being sophisticated and stylish all at the same time. It’s casual elegance at it’s very finest, and you can see it all here.

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Nashville Wedding at Mint Springs Farm from Teale Photography

From Shannon Clark of Smitten Photography…The wedding was at Blackberry Farm on April 27, 2013, in Walland, Tennessee. A misty and rainy day produced a picture perfect setting for the wedding in the boat house. This couple chose to have their family and siblings surround them as they said their vows and celebrate their love. The clouds sat low on top of the mountains surrounding the lake and the farm. The brides relaxed yet elegant style radiates throughout the wedding day. It is always and honor to document intimate weddings and this one was exceptional in every way.

A Nashville destination wedding is one idea that I can most definitely get on board with. I mean, not only is Nashville one of the coolest cities on earth, it also happens to be a pretty amazing place to host a wedding. Case in point? This pretty little affair captured by Teale Photography, a rustic meets romantic celebration with the perfect amount of whimsy. I’m talking a gorgeous pink Elizabeth Dye gown (YES), lace table runners and peonies a plenty. Start your swoon-fest right here in the full gallery.

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Nashville Wedding from Michelle Lange Photography

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Al Fresco Rustic

From the Bride… While I had cherished every single moment we had ever shared, I’d been waiting six years, four months, and four days for this one – I got to say “I do” to my very best friend and it couldn’t have been more perfect! The road to get here was long, filled with beauty, adventure, mystery, and a few forks, but worth every mile. Chad and I have been surrounded by the most wonderful family and friends along the way, and to be able to share this most special celebration with them meant the absolute world to us. We knew we wanted this day to be one big LOVEFEST!

Chad and I had separately moved to San Diego about seven years ago, leaving behind many friends and family on the east coast, and making many new ones on the west. We decided the best way to get everyone together in one place would be to have a destination wedding. Music has had a large influence in both of our lives and so it wasn’t long before we decided that Nashville had exactly what we were looking for – somewhat centrally located, a city with an enormous energy, and beautiful landscapes in every direction!

We knew our venue was “the one” before we even entered the property! With its rolling hills, immaculate barn, crystal clear lake, and countless chandeliers, Mint Springs Farm just took our breathe away from start to finish. They executed each and every detail with such beauty and perfection. Despite the difficulty of coordinating a wedding from out-of-state, Brandy, our Mint Springs liaison, completely captured the Rustic-Chic vibe we were going for, just based on my Pinterest board and a few conversations. The tables were filled with vintage books, containers of all shapes and sizes, romantic floral arrangements complimented with beautiful mint green succulents, and lots and lots of peaches! We chose to use postcards from all of the places we’ve visited together as table names and more peaches as escort cards – one of my favorite DIY projects from the wedding!

But as much as I loved all the little details, I must say that it was the moments throughout the day that made our wedding so special. From our Beatles-themed ceremony music as a tribute to my late father and our extremely personalized ceremony, to walking down the aisle with my mom by my side and having a family member as each ceremony participant (including my brother as the officiant), to having Chad’s mom be able to join us via FaceTime for the whole ceremony and reception as her health did not allow her to be present, to being the subject of the worlds most amazing FLASH MOB and to all the laughter created from our DIY photobooth – we were able to share our love with all those around us, which is what we wanted most. Our love, our adventure, has always been deepened by the people we have gotten to share it with. We are so grateful to all of our incredible vendors for helping us create and capture memories that we’ll all share for a lifetime!

We always tell brides that your wedding photographer should feel like a friend. But Michelle Lange? She took it one step further. Because when this photographer turned matchmaker set up these sweeties on a chance blind date, she proved nothing is out of her realm of awesome. Cedarwood Weddings planned the day to a T, with Designs in Paper behind every paper pretty. So go ahead and lose yourself in this Nashville destination soiree with a trip to the full gallery right here.

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