In addition to Middle TN, I also offer event planning services to the North Alabama and Huntsville, AL area. This town is 2 hours south of Nashville and has many beautiful settings for weddings. One of my favorites is also my favorite place to walk or hike - Monte Sano State Park.

The park sits at the top of a mountain and has beautiful overlooks and gorgeous woods. The newly built lodge is a great location for a natural, outdoorsy wedding. The rustic interior and fireplaces make a relaxed setting for a great wedding.

The lodge can hold up to 200 people for a reception.  The rental includes use of the kitchen, chairs and tables. Smaller rooms can be rented instead of the entire lodge. 

If you are looking for a wedding planner or wedding coordinator for your Huntsville AL wedding, connect with me to talk about your wedding. 

This destination wedding in the mountains of east Tennessee was a fun event for this great couple. Even a little rain couldn't stop the party. The bride used a color scheme of yellow and white with a few touches of black.

The wedding was help at a private home close to Morristown, TN.

See more great photos here...

Vendors:

Photography by Amy Cupps

DJ: Sound Review - 865-388-2286

Videographer: Roberts Jolley - 865-637-7337-

Sequoyah Strings

Superior Tents and Events - 423-587-2511

Yummy Cakes & More

Megan's Corner Catering

Sa

vvy Soiree Flowers

Update

: Emily & Kevin's wedding was published in

Premiere Bride Knoxville

After watching TV shows and getting inspired to decorate your own cake, it can get frustrating when the results don't appear camera ready.

For all the DIY's here is a good video, even if its only for your nephews birthday.

I had the pleasure of working on the wedding of a local photographer and a musician.


The wedding was a themed event with music incorporated into the black, red and gold color scheme with lots of roses and damask.



The guests, which included many well known musicians and artists, were treated to three different musical groups and a cake buffet of 14 cakes.


The groom made a custom guitar for guests to sign.



Photos by Myrick Studios

I recently worked on a beautiful wedding for Clover and Emerson. Clover wanted a classic black and white color scheme with green accents. She kept the green to a minimum using it in a few flower shades and the reception decor with Granny Smith apples.  The result was a beautiful, fresh wedding.

The day started at the church.  I will let these stunning photos speak for themselves.

After the ceremony, everyone headed to the hotel.  This Hatch print was both the guest book and given out as a favor. 

These tall centerpieces all were slightly different and includes apples with a variety of white flowers. 

This 5 tier cake was amazing!

With a great band, the guests were on the dance floor all night

Even though I try not to be in photos, they still caught a few of me laughing with the bride:

For more beautiful photographs of this wedding, check out the

Gray Photography

Band - Blue Tone Music

Flowers & Decor - Belles Fleurs

Hair & Makeup - Harlow Salon

Ceremony - West End United Methodist Church

Reception - Hermitage Hotel

Cake - Dulce Desserts

Photograper - Gray Photography

Poster - Hatch Show Print Shop

I love the new Nextel Commercial "What if Film Crews Ran the World?"

I wish I could overcome every wedding obstacle and problem with a quick phone message, especially the weather. I do see a definite advantage to having a "Stunt" groom, cake, flowers, etc.... I could have used those on a few weddings I've done.

For brides in Middle TN looking for a local resource for flowers that are both beautiful and "green" then Madison Creek Farms is the place you should visit.

Source

They are located just north of Nashville in Goodlettsville. The farm is open on Saturdays and Sundays 9-2 p.m.

Madison Creek Farms has been featured on the Martha Stewart Living wedding special for Style Network.

Brides can choose seasonal flowers and can walk the fields to see what is available from over 75 varieties. They also offer hand-tied bouquets.

View the Flowers

Visit this wonderful resource to see what options every local bride has right in their backyard.

You've been to dozens of wedding or seen them on TV and they always have great traditional music during the ceremony but you don't know the name.

I created a quick video that has the name and composer of the music while you listen to a small sample. I have included the top 8 songs used during the ceremony. These are traditional wedding pieces of classical music for the processional and recessional.

Once the wedding is over, what do you do? Do you miss all the websites and online friendship?


There is a great new online magazine site and social networking site.




http://www.hitchedmag.com/

http://marriedlife.hitchedmag.com/

We know that the bride and the groom are the focus of this wonderful day. Their wedding and its celebration are momentous and compelling both for the couple and their families. But we have learned that the most remembered wedding are those focus on celebrating and consider that family and friends who will join in celebrating this event. Gleaned from scores of weddings, here are some ideas you can consider when you focus on your family and guest. Remember to treat your attendants like the friends they are - not like servants. As you select items for your gift registry, include items to fit everyone's budget. Select reception food tht most guest will like and enjoy. (This is not the day to serve liver and onions no matter how much you personally like it.) As you select table centerpieces, keep them at a scale that will allow guest at each table to see the people across the table. If you plan music during the dinner, keep it soft so people can hear themselves talk. And if you have dancing, make sure that some "golden oldies" are included so parents and their friends feel comfortable dancing too.


Avoid micromanaging everything. Let vendors do what they do best. Make it a point to personally greet as many guests as possible. For everyone's sake, try to limit the break between the ceremony and reception to no more than 2 hours. If locations or arrangements make this impossible, try to arrange something for guests to do in the interim. No one wants to go home and come back again. Think about everything you can do to make your wedding reception memorable for your guests as well as yourself. Remember that this is one of the biggest parties you and your family will ever give.

An Elegant Wedding in Nashville.  Jade and Casey had a beautiful elegant wedding.

Such a beautiful couple

DIY centerpieces

Custom seating chart - ask me how to get one for your wedding...

The reception was washed in pink lights. 

Photos - Ace Photography
Ceremony - Second Presbyterian
Reception - Marriot Airport
DJ - Cale Carver
Videographer - Davis Multimedia Group
Cake - The French Confection
Flowers - Unique Flower Fashions

Now that you are engaged, we know that stress can set in as you try to deal with the myriad of details that threaten to engulf you.

You have a number of decisions to make about ceremony and reception locations, the date, what to wear, who to ask to be your attendants, whom to invite, what flowers, music and photographers to select. There are budget questions to solve. All these choices can generate a case of "wedding jitters."

To relieve your stress or make it manageable, remember these key points.

If the stress is generated by money issues, take the time, as a couple to determine your priorities. List the things that are most important to you both. Determine the top five items from a list of 10 to 20. These five - listed in priority order, are the items on which you are least likely to compromise. Then, as you review your budget, you can "borrow" from other items on you list to keep the budget in balance.

If the stress is coming from family, be clear about the source and be firm about communicating your feelings. Talk out the issues you see with parents, friends and those involved. Be gracious but firm about expressing your views and concerns.

Don't just "stuff" the feeling so that they end up ruining a friendship.

If the stress is coming from the crush of events and the sense of being overwhelmed by everything you sense much be done, the key is to SHARE the responsibilities.

Hire a wedding planner, enlist the groom, ask your parents to take over specific jobs. Get yourself a wedding planning book and be faithful in entering plans made and following its suggestions for organizing your projects.

Get enough sleep, and take care of your health by eating well. Make good use of your gym membership and exercise away the stress.  Read more about reducing wedding stress. 

When it all seems too much, come speak with me, an experience consultant, who can help you put it all in perspective and remind you of what is truly important in this wedding.

While some brides prefer an adult only reception, other brides want to include children at their wedding ceremony and reception as guest. If that if true for you, know that children can add an extra dimension to the festivities and can be a delight if you make plans to incorporate their interests.  You will be inviting chaos if you expect children to behave like adults. 

If you are planning to include children at your reception, be sure to let the parents know that children are invited and to do so, include their names on the inner envelopes of the invitation. In fact, some brides send a special reception invitation to children.

To entertain the children, set up a special reception area. Include an arts and a crafts room with crayons, markers, glitter and glue. Be sure to provide smocks or aprons to protect their clothing and hire a college student or young adult to supervise the activities. They could/should make cards for the bride and groom. 

Plan a box lunch menu or a kid friendly buffet. Suckers, anchored with pebbles in terra cotta pots, make good centerpieces.

After the craft project and the food, provide a TV with age appropriate videos or if space permits, take the children outside to play with bubbles or other outdoor activities.  Parents may wish to include their children in a portion of the wedding dance segment. If this is an evening wedding with a dance, you may also wish to be sure the children's area has cots or sleeping bags available for children who may be there through the evening hours.

Children can have a good time and free their parents to participate if you spend some time creating a special area and activities especially for them.

Get more ideas for keeping children entertained at your wedding.

This is one of the questions brides often ask. For this party (your wedding celebration) there are many people involved in providing service to you and your guests. You may not have much experience in working with some of them, but feel fairly comfortable dealing with others. BRIDE’S magazine offers the following guidelines – understanding that local customs may trump these suggestions. But it is important to consider these expenses when putting together your budget. Remember to check your contracts to see if gratuity is already included.

View the cheatsheet 

Tips:

Caterer or venue manager – 15% of total food and drink bill unless it is already included in the contract.

Reception Musicians or DJ’s - $25 - $50 each

Limo Drivers - 15% of the total bill

Hair & Makeup – 15% of the total bill

Delivery Staff (optional) - $10 - $20

Clergy - $50 - $200 donation (depending on arrangements/payments made)

Custom says that you don’t have to tip the following however you may wish to tip or give a gift: Florist, Photographer, Videographer, Baker, Stationer,

A beautiful wedding at the Country Music Hall of Fame.  This wedding was filled with family and friends.  The ceremony was held in the Rotunda with the reception in the Conservatory.

The wedding partied into the night with the bride and groom leaving on a rickshaw.  How awesome!

bride and groom at night in downtown Nashville

Great photo in downtown Nashville after the wedding...

chocolate brides cake with flowers

How many times to do you see a chocolate iced cake?

large vases near bar at reception

Fabulous florals and centerpieces

wedding reception in the conservatory at Country Music Hall of Fame

bridal party photos in the museum at Country Music Hall of Fame

Wedding photos in the museum

bride and groom sharing a dance at night

 Beautiful photo in the courtyard....

Photos by Howard Photo

Venue - Country Music Hall of Fame

Cake - Nashville Cakes

Videographer - Total Scene

Music - Wedding Musicians Company

- City Lights Band

Lighting - TechWorks

Hair & Makeup - Hair Mafia

Flowers - Chase Rivers

The History Behind our Traditions

Wedding Ring

A circular shape symbolizes eternity. A wedding band symbolizes eternal love by their lack of a beginning or an end. The Roman's believed that the third finger of the left hand runs directly to the heart.  The ring allowed them to posses each other's hearts. 

White Gown

White is the ceremonial symbol of purity and virtue. However, this is a relatively new tradition started in 1840 when Queen Victoria work a white dress to her wedding.  Before that any color was acceptable. The Celtics preferred red for fertility, while in biblical times blue was considered pure.  Since many women were married in their "Sunday Best" gray, black, and brown were practical colors. 

Bouquet and Flowers

The carrying of flowers by the bride has its roots in ancient times when it was believed that strong smelling herbs and spices would ward off and drive away evil spirits, bad luck and ill health. They are included as symbols of life, growth, and fertility. Flowers with different meanings were carefully selected and assembled into a bouquet as well herbs. Grooms wear boutonnieres in the tradition of knights wearing the colors of his lady love. 

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Sixthpence in her shoe

Something Old represents continuity, the link with the bride's family, and the past.

Something New represents good fortune and success in the bride's new life, optimism and hope

Something Borrowed is to remind the bride that friends and family will be there for her when help is needed.  When the something borrowed comes from a happily married woman it is thought to lend some of the happiness and fortune to the new bride. 

Something Blue symbolizes of faithfulness, fidelity,  and loyalty and dates back to biblical times when blue represented purity, fidelity

A Silver Sixpence in her Shoe is to wish the bride wealth both financial and happiness, a life of fortune (A penny is now substituted)

Rice

Rice was thrown at the bride and groom to encourage fertility. Before rice became so popular wheat, corn, oats and grain were used.  Of course, birdseed and flowers petals are now substituted for rice. 

Bridal party and Ceremony Positions

The bride stands on the left of the groom during the marriage ceremony to allow his sword arm to be free ready to fight off other men who may want her as their bride.

Best men used to be chosen based on their skill with a sword and their ability to be an armed guard. 

Bridesmaid traditionally wore attire similar to the bride so that bad spirits or other men would find it harder to spot the bride. 

Carrying over the threshold

Carrying the bride over the threshold protects her from any evil spirits that may be lurking in the new home.  This belief is rooted in many traditions around the globe.