Back with more from the elegant affair of Meagan + Jerry’s wedding celebration. After the ceremony, guests met the couple at the {Botanic Hall at Checkwood Botonical Gardens}. The evening was complete with dinner and dancing. Our favorite wedding detail, the favor cake. Inspired by {Martha Stewart Weddings} the couple crafted together many little boxes with ribbons and candies inside, to stack like a wedding cake. The end result was simply beautiful. Besides the favor cake, happened to be a wedding cake and grooms cake by {Maples Wedding Cakes}. This event was planned by the fabulous Mary Alice Sublett of {A Delightful Day}. The wedding in its entirety was captured by {Nashville Wedding Video} and {Gray Photography}. Check out all the shots on Gray’s photo {Blog}.
The weather on our wedding day was: A little chilly with sun that slowly turned to clouds.
Favorite design element of your big day: I loved it all. I loved the elegant feel of all the details. I loved my gown. I loved the silver mint julep cups and the silver trumpet vases with the pink roses.
Describe your wedding cake: Alternating square tiers of butter pecan and strawberry covered in a pink-tinted white chocolate fondant with white flowers scattered all over. On the top near a cluster of flowers were two butterflies representing the two of us finding one another and coming together. The red velvet groom’s cake was a replica of a Harrier aircraft that the groom had worked on during his service in the Marine Corps.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: My grandfather used to play “Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain” by Willie Nelson for me on his guitar when I was growing up. While most people have probably never heard Willie Nelson at a wedding, it was important for me to have it played at the beginning of the ceremony as my father lit a candle in remembrance of him and my grandmother. I wore my grandmother’s ring and had my grandfather’s wedding ring pinned to a fold in my dress. We were able to donate the flowers to an organization that will rearrange them and deliver them to hospice patients. I used to volunteer at a hospice and I think it is an amazing thing. I am so glad we were able to use the flowers beyond the wedding day.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome while planning your wedding? Trusting my gut. I chose the wrong wedding dress at first and I also chose the wrong bridesmaids dresses at first. Luckily the bridesmaids could tell better than I could that I was not pleased with their dresses so they did not purchase them. It was a good thing because I changed to the Ann Taylor’s dresses a week later and they were perfect!
The Reception: {The Botanic Hall at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens} in Nashville, Tennessee. The guests enjoyed a cocktail hour while we were completing photographs at the church. They were served various passed hor devours and the signature drink of the evening a pomegranate pear martini that complemented the wedding colors and fall atmosphere. A seated dinner followed consisting of a salad of mixed greens with cranberry vinaigrette, roasted pears, candied pecans and aged soft goat cheese and an entrée of Chicken and Vegetable Wellington with Mushroom Duxelle, garlic mashed potatoes, buttered asparagus spears and white cheddar Mornay sauce. The tables were beautifully draped in a navy lamourand with floral centerpieces of silver trumpet vases full of pink roses and white hydrangea. The crowd watched as the couple shared their first dance to “Heavenly Day’ by Patty Griffin and joined them in dancing for the remainder of the evening.
Three adjectives that describe the day are: Gorgeous, Elegant, Amazing.
What advice would you give to someone planning their wedding? Hire a planner. I hired {Mary Alice Sublett} after interviewing planners. I knew that I would have to have someone to throw ideas off of and someone to lead me down this path toward my ideal wedding. She was amazing. She answered every question no matter how big or small. She did not push me to make my wedding similar to others she had done. She just led me to use my likes and dislikes to create the best day of our lives. It was perfect. Also, I think it is important to have fun and enjoy yourself. When it stopped being fun for me, I would just drop it for the day. It is supposed to be the time of your life so don’t let yourself get too stressed. It will all work out.
Best advice or most memorable comment someone made to you during the wedding celebration. One of my guests said to me “I knew you would be pretty, but not this beautiful.” I felt like it was the best day of my life. I was surrounded by loving friends and family and I had just married the best man I had ever met.
What’s next for you as a couple? We are looking forward to purchasing a house and starting a family together. We are really enjoying being married. I enjoy just being with him and knowing that we are family now.
Any DIY items? We did a replica of a favor cake from the cover of {Martha Stewart Weddings}, the Fall 2008 issue. It was a lot more work than we expected to find the boxes and ribbon and then to actually make them. My husband did a lot of work on it that was very sweet. We filled each box with Hershey kisses that said “Just Married” on the flag. I had really worried about getting the perfect favors, but nothing really suited us. I think this was the best because it was a pre-wedding project that we could do together.
Favorite inspirational blogs or sites: {Ashley’s Bride Guide} is so great! {Style Me Pretty} and my planner’s site and blog {A Delightful Day} are good resources too.
Congratulations to Meagan + Jerry. We wish you the best as you begin that family of yours!
What a great idea! Love this post. All of the tables look amazing.
Stunning! So fresh, vibrant, and oh-so-lovely. Wow!
What a cool concept. The floral designers went all out. They did a great job.
I love Players Club at Sawgrass. It’s such a beautiful set up for a wedding. And the Bridesmaid dress in #1 is darling.