Magical Thoughts

Matt & Noelle: A Picturesque Wedding

On May 31, Matt & Noelle joined in marriage on a very special day-- it wasn't just the couple's wedding day, it was also the first birthday of their adorable son, Liam. The happy couple declared their vows at the Delta Landing at Gaylord Opryland hotel, and we were there to help their ceremony be a magical one. Don Yeager, of Donald Yeager Photography, shared some of his favorite photos for the day, beginning with the lovely Noelle as she reclines and awaits the start of her ceremony:
The couple were married on the delta landing, which overlooks a beautiful waterfall and waterway:

Amongst a handful of their closest friends & family, Matt and Noelle pledged their love in a touching ceremony. The relaxed feeling of the wedding on a brilliant, sunny Saturday with the only accompaniment of the natural waterfall was a truly unique experience that all of their guests enjoyed.

Following the ceremony, the couple enjoyed a "bubbles and bells" boat ride on the delta! The entire wedding party and guests joined the newly married couple as they enjoyed a few laps around the delta river-- with lots of congratulations from passers by.

We had a wonderful time helping Matt & Noelle start their married lives together, and wish them the best! One of our favorite photos captures the couple and their son: a lovely trio! Congratulations Matt, Noelle, & Liam!

Another Lovely May Wedding

Last month, the beautiful Erin & Briam celebrated a gorgeous wedding at Holy Family Church and then a reception to rival all receptions at Gaylord Opryland. Courtney was there to assist the couple in coordinating their reception, which was a beautiful and classy affair with dancing and fun all night long. the uber-talented Mark Couturier was the photographer for the event, and captured the happy couple at each stage of their celebration, beginning with the getting ready photos before the main event. At left, the gorgeous bride shows off her breathtaking veil before her ceremony at the Holy Family Catholic church in Brentwood.

After the ceremony, groom Eric takes a moment to kiss his beautiful bride Erin at the Holy Family Altar.

The couple's colors were gold and cream, which played a very important role in the next stage of the couple's marriage celebration: their reception in the Governor's Ballroom at Opryland!

But before they could start the dinner (and lots of dancing!) they had to have a fun bubble exit, captured by Mark on this brilliant sunny afternoon in late May:

Tips for brides: Bubble exits are fun and very beautiful, but there's a few tips you want to pass on to your crowd for the maximum bubble impact: One, make sure the bubbles you buy blow bubbles-- invest in a non odd-shaped bubble wand (the round hole works best); two, tell your guests to blow bubbles like there's no tomorrow, so you will get lots of great pictures, and remind your guests to blow
bubbles in your direction as you exit up into the air (so they fall down) and lastly, tell them to follow you as you move so you can have have lots of bubbles. Seems like a lot of work for something so simple. but will help you to get that perfect bubble exit.

From the ceremony, Erin and Brian traveled to Gaylord Opryland, to celebrate their union in the beautiful Governor's Ballroom. The couple had a lounge created so that their guests could relax in style, with furniture provided by Classic Party Rentals  in shades of white, accented with blossoms and candles to create a cool mood.

The Governor's Ballroom was decorated with amber uplights along the back walls, creating a romantic glow, with round tables covered in white linens with white-covered chairs and beautiful gold sashes. The couple shared a romantic sweetheart table that overlooked the impressive dance floor

Tip: Sweetheart tables are a great way to let you spend time with your new husband and have a dedicated "space" for you as a couple. Chances are, if you don't have your own table, you may not get a chance to enjoy your meal or even get a moment to sit down and share with your new spouse to reflect on the moments of the day. We think Sweetheart tables are a great way to create a special space for the bride and groom that allows you a moment to take it all in-- and grab a bite to eat. As you see with Erin and Brian's table, each chair sash was richly appointed with poseys created by the floral design team at Gaylord Opryland-- a great touch to create an even richer elegant feel to the event.

Before dinner started, our newly wedded couple went to grab some great pictures around Opryland, so we'd love to share those with you for inspiration: Our groomsmen take a dip in the fountain & Mark captures a great photo of the bride and groom at the beautiful Delta Pavillion:

After photos, the guests came in to see a beautiful room that we've already spoiled you with pictures. A sit down meal was served by the Gaylord staff as guests dined in a beautiful room:

This beautiful globo added a special touch to the bride and groom's gorgeous dance floor.

Following dinner, everyone hit the dance floor to the tunes by Excite-- from Atlanta, Georgia

The cake was decorated in sweeping fondant in the colors the couple chose and was created by Gaylord Opryland's culinary staff:

Topped with an assortment of flowers that echoed those on the tables and the chair tiebacks, the cake was a vision in cream and gold.

Guests enjoyed a fun favor that served double purpose that also kept their drinks cold.

At the conclusion of the evening, the couple donated their floral arrangements to nearby assisted living homes in the area, and Erin had her bouquet preserved with Keepsake Floral in Orlando, Florida

We wish Erin & Brian a very happy future together!

A Magical Wedding: Kelly & Sam

This past Sunday, Kelly and Sam were married in a small, intimate ceremony at Opryland Hotel in the Cascades. 30 of their close friends and family gathered to join them in celebrating a beautiful union that we were delighted to share in. During the coming weeks, we'll have more pictures and stories about the little details for this happy event, but for now, we'll just have a wedding recap.

The day was blissfully sunny and warm for March, nearing 60 degrees. After snow just two days before, we were all relieved to see some brilliant sunshine. Kelly and Sam wanted a small gathering for their wedding with the ambient sound of waterfalls and the lush foliage that surround Opryland's resplendent gardens. We couldn't have asked for better outside weather as the glorious sunlight spilled onto the beautiful Opryland walkways.

Kelly's dad walked her down the sun-splashed aisle as the strains of classical guitar filled the air.  Rob Higginbotham, Nashville Wedding guitarist, did a beautiful job of pacing his music to the steps of the beautiful bride, and all the guests were abuzz with how delightful the music was. For a remarkable talent at your reception, we highly recommend Rob-- he was an absolute joy to work with, and his music was amazing!
Kelly was a vision in her pure white gown and veil. She had wanted to do a simple bouquet with calla lillies and Camellia leaves, and we took charge of making her bouquets for Kelly and Sam's moms, and her bridesmaid. Kelly's bouquet was a vision with white callas, orchids, and the beautiful green leaves. We tied her bouquet with black silk to match her black and white theme, and decorated her bouquet handle with pearl pins in a floral motif. For the mother's, five large callas were wrapped with bear grass, and we wrapped the stems in black silk ribbon. At left, you can catch a glimpse of both the bride's and mother's bouquets.

Kelly and Sam had a beautiful tiered buttercream frosted cake with delicious dark-chocolate and white buttercream layers. The outside of the cake was decorated  in white buttercream with decorative swirls, and accented with fresh mini calla lilies that complemented the bouquets and floral arrangements on the tables. Here, you can see the happy bride and groom cutting the cake. Photo courtesy of Donald Yeager photography.

Opryland's cascades were a beautiful backdrop to their reception, where seven tables were served a sit down luncheon of fresh Caesar salad, rolls, and the guest's choice of either chicken or beef served with spring vegetables. Their guests sipped Robert Mondavi Coastal Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with their meals, followed by a champagne toast.

We loved the favors that Kelly and Sam had:  A Bride and Groom stopper and corkscrew set.
We set each favor at the guest's table for their enjoyment, and everyone was talking about how fun this thoughtful favor was. The black box and silver wine tools looked stunning against the calla-lilly shaded linens on each table.

We created their centerpieces and arranged long, looping stems of bear grass (that complemented the bouquets, of course), greenery, and giant calla lilies. The blooms were placed in cylinder vases and clear marbles filled the bottom of the vases to anchor the flowers and add a unique sparkle. We placed the vases on square mirrors and cornered the glass with votive candles. Our chairs were covered with black linen, and we set the tables in with a more formal look that included the silverware marking out each guest's spot. Since the lunch was a sit down, served meal, the favors added an extra complement and clearly indicated each guest's space at the table.

At the reception, guests signed a beautiful signing mat that will later have a photo from the happy bride and groom. A definite benefit of the smaller wedding is that your guests can really take some room on your signing mat to offer you sweet well wishes, and this mat will certainly be a fixture on Sam and Kelly's wall for the rest of their lives together.

We had a wonderful time watching this beautiful couple pledge their lives together. Look for more updates with beautiful pictures from the ever-talented Donald Yeager in the weeks to come. Until then, congratulations, Sam & Kelly!