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