Tennessee Weddings

Blush Pink Chic Downtown Memphis Wedding at 409 South Main

From the Bride… We really wanted to support local vendors as much as possible and make it sustainable. We wanted it to represent the things we love about living in Nashville and to showcase our new city to friends and family. We chose one of our favorite places, Arrington vineyards to represent Michaels love of wine and the local making of wine to celebrate our marriage.

We drew inspiration from things we loved and always tried to keep it simple and classy. I had always visioned that we would do a lot of the wedding creation and decoration ourselves. When we saw the pile of barn wood at Arrington Vineyards I immediately asked my dad if he thought we could make tables for the wedding, and being the innovator he is, he took one glance and said “you’re the bride whatever you want” so Michael and I, with his parents, hauled all the wood back to Nashville in the rain and mud where it would sit for a few weeks until we began the project. As we began to sand the tables we realized how much character they had and began to love uncovering the layers of time on each table to find its beauty beneath. Our inspiration spiraled from there to find a fireplace mantle that my dad reclaimed which now serves as the headboard in our guest bedroom, and the chandler I found and repainted from the flea market. The whole concept was to make the wedding as sustainable as possible.

The guys were asked to buy any grey suit they would wear again and wear whatever shoes they wanted and the girls were asked to buy whatever design of dress by Dessy that made them feel the most beautiful. I wanted my girls to feel lovely on our wedding day and like themselves. We chose to have my dad preform the ceremony because of the special bond we with him and the respect we have for his wisdom and loving marriage. We knew he would preform a genuine wedding ceremony from his heart that we would always cherish. We wanted the wedding to be timeless so I choose a dress that represented that to me. I wanted to have a wedding that you could look at years from now and not know what decade it was from.

Michael is a chef so we wanted the food to be a huge part of what people remembered about the wedding because that is such a major part of who he is and how he expresses his creativity. We chose home.made catering because Chef Maumus has an uncanny ability to create intense unique flavors from food which is all locally sourced, something we truly believe in. We wanted to involve our family in the whole planning process and frequently asked for, and used their ideas so that it was truly a combination of of our families. Michaels mom made desserts which represented each one of the 4 parents heritage, which was really special. We served local beer and wine and Michael made his special drink called, Beverage. Even the flowers were locally sourced, my sister and I simply went to Import Flowers, 1 mile from my house and hand picked the bouquets we wanted and she created the arrangements. Other than that we just let the beautiful vineyard speak for itself and prayed the weather would be beautiful and it was, without a doubt, the most gorgeous day of our lives.

Photography: Kaitie Bryant | Wedding Planning And Design: Betsy Boswell And Sara Dimitroff Of Two Peaches | Floral Design: Import Flowers | Bride's Shoes: Anthropologie | Catering: Mimi Maumus Of Home.made Catering | Band: Radio Daze Big Band | Bridal Gown: Modern Trousseau | Design And Planning: Betsy Boswell And Sara Dimitroff Of Two Peaches | Hair/Makeup: Lisa Wolfe Of Ardon House Salon | Officiant And Pre-marital Counseling: Stonegate Counseling | Photography - Assistance: Twhite Photography | Vendor: Arrington Vineyard

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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Spring Weddings

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Weddings in Historical Venues

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Charming, Rustic Farm Wedding in Nashville at Green Door Gourmet

From The Bride….Johnny and I wanted our wedding to be simple, chic, timeless, and most importantly…a blast for our family and friends! Johnny and I dreamt of an outdoor wedding, but with the ever-changing Memphis spring weather it seemed a risky undertaking. Wanting our big day to be stress-free, we opted to avoid the anxiety of unpredictable weather and selected an indoor venue in the in the historic South Main Arts District. Its floor to ceiling windows with the warm glow of the sunset shining through coupled with delicate bistro lights gave 409 South Main the perfect ambiance for our nuptials. Our florist brought the outdoors in with lush, gardeny bouquets and a beautiful handcrafted, dogwood-filled arbor accented by hanging candles in jars. We chose blush pinks and creamy neutrals to accentuate the venue and give the wedding a soft, romantic look.

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!

Perfectly lovely and filled to the brim with sweet rustic details that will leave you more than inspired, this Green Door Gourmet wedding as seen from the lens of John And Lindsey Bamber is the definition of a perfect SMP wedding. With love being the greatest detail of all, this gallery is sure to make your heart swell. See it all here.

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Rustic Weddings

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Elegant Nashville Wedding at Belle Meade Country Club

From The Bride…I truly believe that it was not by chance that Jon was brought into my life and I into his. We were both transplants to Nashville, TN when we happened to cross paths while out with our respective friends one evening. Aside from the immediate commonalities between us – like our history of being college athletes or our current work in different sectors of health care – there was a deeper connection based around the love we had for our family and friends. When it came time to plan our wedding, we wanted it to not only be a celebration of our commitment to each other but of those closest to us, as well.

Keeping family and friends in mind, we asked our siblings and their significant others to serve in our bridal party. Jon’s 19-month old twin niece and nephew were our Flower Girl and Ring Bearer, and four of his closest friends were Ushers for the event. We chose to hold our wedding at Green Door Gourmet – a beautiful organic farm minutes from downtown Nashville with picturesque plots of vegetables and herbs, a quaint farm store and charming barn. Holding both our ceremony and reception on site helped create a comforting and relaxed environment where guests were allowed to roam the grounds and truly enjoy the company.

I wanted the décor and details of the event to highlight the rustic setting while adding refinement and sophistication. Minimal embellishments at the ceremony site allowed the surrounding nature to take focus, while a soft and inviting color palate with metallic accents played off the warm wood of the reception barn. Terry White of English Garden really personified understated elegance with his flower arrangements and even lent his personal collection of mercury glass to add reflective elements at each dinner table.

As a native of New Orleans and having roots in Nashville, both food and music were important elements to our wedding. Kristen Winston Catering not only produced dishes of superb quality but ones that hinted at my southern ties, including miniature muffalettas, cheese beignets, and jambalaya. Holding our event in Music City meant there would be no shortage of amazing musicians and bands to choose from. We wanted the music to help set the ambiance for each event, so we started with a string quartet for the ceremony, transitioned to a blue grass duo for cocktails, and ended with an extremely talented nine-piece band called Live Revival for our reception.

Planning our wedding was an unbelievably joyful experience. It certainly helped to have a clear vision of what I wanted going into the process, but it was no doubt eased by the dedication and professionalism of those I worked with. Many thanks to Jayne Bubis and Debbie Lundy for helping plan and execute our special day and to John and Lindsey Bamber, as well as Cardboard Films, for capturing every detail. I hope every couple feels the happiness we do when reflecting on their own wedding!

Wrapped up in this beauty of a day beautifully captured by Sayher Heffernan is the perfect amount of elegance and fun. It’s a wedding that is not only stylish, but smile inducing – and the laughs almost seem audible when you glance at the gorgeous images below. It’s a day filled with heart, and trust me, you don’t want to miss a second of it. Catch it all here.

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Spring Weddings

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Beautiful, Bright Inspiration Shoot at Carnton Plantation

From Sayher Heffernan…Matt is from Melbourne and Eliza, Nashville. The two met in Cece Winans home after Matt was nearing the end of his stay in Nashville. They hit it off, Matt proposed in New York and less than two years later got married in Nashville joined by a strong Australian crowd. It was a fun few days in Nashville with food and bowling at the Pinewood social club, a rehearsals dinner complete with taco truck and then a super fun wedding at Wightman Chapel (Scarritt Bennett) and reception at Belle Meade country club. The styling of the day was elegant and simple with a focus on fresh flowers (Australian florals included).

Beautiful inspiration like this doesn’t cross our paths every day. So when it does, we tend to drop everything we are doing to soak up every last moment. Beautiful, bright and styled to perfection by Emerson Events – these images from Sawyer Baird couldn’t be prettier if they tried.

From Sawyer Baird…When Lauren, from Emerson Events, contacted me about this shoot I was on cloud nine! Being a person who adores neutrals and deep moody colors I found myself surprised with how in love I was with this vision that Lauren had. These bright colors bring out the happiness that comes with warmer weather. It was a treat to be able to be apart of this shoot!

Blackberry + Cotton Wedding Inspiration

Blackberry mason jar pies, sweet tea, cotton-dotted bouquets and burying the bourbon… a few of our favorite Southern wedding details and traditions! All wrapped up pretty in this lovely shoot from Twila’s Photography and Modern Vintage Events. And in true Southern hospitality, we’re all invited to the party, thanks to Sara Heilwagen‘s beautiful paper goods. Get lost in all the charm right here.

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Driftwood Wedding Inspiration

From Sara Heilwagen… Blackberry & Cotton is romance with Southern touches that evokes feelings of sweet tea, sweeping verandas and elegant charm. The natural colors and textures of the blackberries and cotton are reflected in the details. Soft white, textured paper with vivid, watercolor florals and blackberries appear throughout the invitations, menus and pie flags. The theme is continued on the program fans with the addition of a twist of grapevine for the handle. Kraft envelopes accented with golden liners and vintage stamps add a feel of nature.

The gorgeous mix of peonies, foxgloves, blackberries and greenery locally grown and arranged on a Tennessee flower farm create organic elegance in the bride’s bouquet and hair piece, groom’s boutonnière and centerpieces. Rich gold flatware and vintage china topped with cotton and lace place card handkerchiefs lend to the feeling of dining in celebration with family using Grandmother’s wedding china. The stunning, lace Aria bridal gown is a vision of traditional couture with modern sophistication. Soft make-up and a sweeping up-do show off every detail of the gown. The groom shines in a tan, single-breasted suit with a blackberry purple and white gingham dress shirt.

For dessert, there’s nothing sweeter and more Southern than pie. Mini blackberry pies are paired with blackberry vanilla macarons and a simply elegant fondant three-tiered wedding cake. The Southern romance of a warm, spring day and the scent of freshly baked pie is enhanced with the slow-sipping of a cocktail dotted with blackberry laden ice cubes from the bourbon bar. An evening of dancing under the lights in the 100 year old Maples Barn in the lush Tennessee countryside is the perfect start for a new life together as husband and wife. The cathedral ceiling and open atmosphere bring nature in to the party.

Love is spread with homemade jam favors in blackberry mint and blackberry bourbon blends for guests to enjoy when they return home. Burying the Bourbon is a charming, old Southern tradition where if a full, unopened bottle of bourbon is buried by the couple at the ceremony site exactly one month before the wedding, the day will be free of rain. Successful or not, un-burying the bourbon the next day at a casual brunch with family and the wedding party is a merry conclusion to the wedding festivities.

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Modern Trousseau

Spring & Fall Classics

Spring 2015

Fall 2015

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Inspired by the prettiest of driftwood, this shoot from Kristyn Hogan and Cedarwood Weddings took a rustic-to-refined concept and turned it into the loveliest wedding inspiration. And I’m loving every single inch of it. As driftwood is worn, tumbled and beaten by the waves—the soft, elegant and curvy result is oh-so-lovely. Sort of the perfect natural decor for any seaside soiree, if you ask me. See more right here!

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Intimate Art Gallery Wedding

From Cedarwood Weddings…Our appreciation of driftwood evolved into a passion for combing Tennessee lakeshores (including Cedarwood’s own Mooncake Lake) for unique pieces of wood smoothed by nature and time into sculptured works of art. This transformation from rustic-to-refined inspired our design team’s “Wildwood” wedding inspiration.

Partnering with The Dress Theory, we selected designer Sarah Janks’ “Briana” gown to complement our event team’s “Wildwood” styling contrasts. The SJ bride, according to the designer, is “a study in nonchalance, moving from sophisticated to sexy, and a beautiful contrast of strong and vulnerable.” To reflect this unique balance is the aim of our event design.

We infused both dramatic and romantic qualities in styling by blending re-claimed, weathered wood and antler sheds with organic hues, exotic flowers, and sequin-embellished linens. A driftwood chandelier (custom installation of flowers and candlelight reflecting in glass globes) hangs over the head table, repeating elements from the tablescape. Hand-lettered driftwood sentiments for guests, French bistro chairs and driftwood charger plates lend a warm, rustic- organic quality to the sophisticated ambiance.

Befitting the exciting romantic mood of our event styling, the bride and groom glide across Cedarwood’s Mooncake Lake in a vintage rowboat bedecked with a floral and driftwood garland.

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Sarah Janks

Glasshouse Collection

Canto Paradiso

Elan

All the Stars

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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.

Traditional Spring Wedding

Add a sophisticated color palette like black and white to a traditional day simply overflowing with gorgeous details and the results are this: a rainy/romantic day that can only be described as breathtaking. From the stunning gown from White Lace And Promises to the yummy ice cream bar (YES) to the elegant Bridgemore setting. See it all captured beautifully by JoPhoto in the full gallery.

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Spring Weddings

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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

Amarosa Collection

Lisette Collection

Aracella Collection

Avery Collection

Cordelia Collection

Emerald Collection

Alistaire Collection

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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Fall Weddings

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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.
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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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Bridesmaid Tea Party Inspiration

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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Outdoor Weddings Rustic Weddings

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Classic Weddings Rustic

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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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

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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