Bella Weddings

A New Bella Blog

2010-02-17T10:25:00.002-06:00

A Bella Blog has moved!

Please follow us...
http://yourbellawedding.com/blog/
See you there!
Vickie

Cabana, Vendors & Sweetinis Oh My!

2009-12-29T01:37:00.035-06:00

The long-awaited 1rst Annual Nashville Wedding Vendors Holiday Meet-Up

was held on December 21rst at the loud & hip & totally cool Cabana -

where they make the best Sweetinis this side of the Mississippi River!

But that’s another story, right girls?

(note the empty glasses below)

A crowd of 25 or so showed up to meet - some for the first time -

and to take a much needed break from all things wedding.

We FINALLY got to meet Lori Burcham -

the gal behind Crumb de la Crumb.

She & her husband have embraced Nashville as home

& we’re lucky to have them here.

Check out her website & see what an artist she is.

In fact, she recently made a birthday cake for Taylor Swift -

lookout Music Row!

Amy Thomas of Swizzle Events was there (love love her).

Lori Burcham crumbdelacrumb.com & Amy Thomas swizzleevents.com

Amy McNeil of 4th Leaf Studio is a doll.

She hated seeing me drinking Sweetinis alone

so she ordered 1 (2) for herself - now that’s a friend I intend to keep!

Amy Thomas, Me & Amy McNeil 4thleafstudio.wordpress.com

I was really glad to see Rosemary Stanton of Stanton Photography.

A sure way to get to see my daughter

is to invite her to dinner & drinks! Just kidding girl.

She’s a phenomenal photographer. You should check out her work.

Me & Rosemary photographybyrosemary

Eugene & Heather of 2Duce2Videography dropped by.

How cute are they?

Eugene & Heather 2duce2.com

Michelle of Hartz Photographic &

Sharon of Jonathon Campbell Photography were there as well.

Both gals have beautiful websites-be sure to check out their great work.

Michelle hartzphotographic Sharon johnathancampbell & Amy

Toni Smith of Celebrations by Design was there with her friend.

Toni also sampled the Sweetinis.

Still waiting on that recipe!

Toni EventsbyCBD

Emily Humphries of Simply Yours Weddings arrived in time to visit.

Emily & I go way back &

through all kinds of extreme wedding weather, don't we Em?

Thankfully, my girl Kristen was there with her camera.

She ALWAYS has her camera with her

just in case she needs to take pictures of

…oh…let's say....

newly famous authors like Ree Drummond (aka The Pioneer Woman).

Check out her blog to see shots from our night out at Davis-Kidd

and to see of course, her extraordinary work in weddings.

I’m so glad we met this summer by way of Twitter.
You’ll be reading about Kristen when I interview

her for A Bella Vendor Spotlight…coming soon

me, Emily simplyyoursweddings & Kristen kristensteelephotography

So many other great Nashville Vendors were there to share in the holiday cheer.In fact, it was such a hit to meet up,we've decided to do it again in January.Our motto:
All work & no play make wedding vendors very very dull.And dull is definitely something we're not!
(all photos property of Kristen Steele Photography)

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-23T14:52:00.006-06:00

Merry Christmas
and
God Bless Us Everyone!

Spice Up Your Christmas Wedding

2009-12-08T14:43:00.050-06:00

Put a little Spice in your Christmas Wedding with these ideas...

Candy Red Valentinos?

Wear these fabulous shoes to match your

Bridesmaids red satin dresses!

Add some Christmas love to your ceremony programs...

Wrap the church pews with holly berries and ribbon &
use greenery such as pine, ivy & magnolia leaves...

Holiday chair decor...

Beautiful centerpieces & tablescapes...

use ornaments, lots of glass for reflecting, spray bare branches white,

have candles, silver & gold glitz, ivy & lots & lots of tiny twinkling lights...

Place cards...

Guest favors...
ornaments, chocolates, spiced cider mix...

Toast the holidays with your signature drink...

And end the night with holiday poppers...

FABULOUS!
other photo credits: MStewart, Brides, HawaiiWeddings&Events,
Ramblin’Rose, Squidoo, PinkFrosting, Valentino, PolamasNest on Etsy

Cj's Off the Square & b.Hughes Bridal

2009-11-17T10:45:00.027-06:00

What's the best way to usher in the holidays?
An open house of course!

Starting with an evening at

CJ's Off the Square

in Franklin, Tennessee.

Be sure to check out this beautifully renovated historic home.

A fabulous venue for any event!

Emily (Simply Yours Weddings & Etc), me, Kristyn (Kristyn Hogan Photography), Latrice (Bridal Opulence)

...the signature drink - Apple Cinnamon Martini

...and Maples Cakes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nashville's

b. Hughes Bridal

held their open house & recieved a crowd

of very enthusiastic brides & wedding vendors.

The food was delicious, the gowns were beautiful

& the all girl band was way too cool!

Ashley (Ashleys Bride Guide), Shannon (Southall Eden), Amy (Swizzle Events), me

Karen (b.Hughes Bridal) & Ashley

Chelsea & Logan ~ A Tennessee Wedding

2009-10-27T13:25:00.030-05:00

October 24, 2009

Franklin, Tennessee

~Last Saturday evening Bella Weddings

had the privilege of being part of the loveliest wedding.

Chelsea was a breathtaking Bella Bride,

the Groom was extraordinarily handsome,

& the Factory was transformed into a magical place

for celebrating the marriage of this sweet couple.
Congratulations Chelsea & Logan!

~many thanks to my sidekicks & the loves of my life...Rosemary & Sarah~

Fall Wedding Ideas

2009-10-13T18:06:00.045-05:00

fall wedding pictures

to inspire you this year & the next

Cake Wrecks the Book

2009-09-23T10:13:00.030-05:00

I'm not sure about this one.
Because let's face it, a part of the Cake Wrecks Blog &

now this book is making fun of someones wedding cake.

After all, what's not beautiful to one Bride

may certainly be beautiful to another.
And yes, I'm even guilty of posting about a Cake Wreck which,

by the way after feeling so bad about what I did,

I decided to take it down.
Anyway, I can't deny that the next time I'm in a bookstore

I'll probably take a look...like watching a train wreck maybe?
Just posting this is making me feel guilty...again.
You be the judge - I'd love to know what you think...

Southall Eden Farm for Tennessee Brides

2009-09-17T10:18:00.033-05:00

Southall Eden Farm is a breath of fresh country air!
Shannon O'Kelley, owner of Southall Eden Paperie,

has branched out with a beautiful way to give

Middle Tennessee brides a fabulous venue for their special day.
This past Tuesday night Nashville area

Wedding Vendors had a wonderful time

munching on delicious appetizers while enjoying

the picturesque background of fields, barns & rolling Tennessee hills.
Especially loved those Asparagus sandwiches from Unique Flavors Cafe & Catering & the mouth-watering cakes from Dulce Deserts!

Thanks again Shannon for sharing Southall Eden Farm!

Shannon O'Kelley owner, Southall Eden Farm & Paperie

Southall Eden Paperie

Unique Flavors Cafe & Catering

Juanita Lane of Dulce desserts

Dawn (Premier W.E.D.), Ashley (Ashleys Bride Guide), me, Amy (Swizzle Parties)

Southall Eden Farm

Ashleys Bride Guide - Blog Camp

2009-09-01T02:55:00.027-05:00

Most of my Sunday afternoons & evenings

are spent anticipating a ballgame or watching 'Mad Men'.

But the last two Sundays were spent in a room at

Aloft of Cool Springs listening to the very qualified

Ashley King Carter of Ashleys Bride Guide

give a workshop on the dos & don'ts of blogging.

So continue to expect posts on everything from wedding shots,

vendor spotlights,the latest wedding fashions,

the newest trends in wedding colors

& whatever else catches my eye.

Only now I'll be blogging with echoes of Ashley whispering in my ear!

But the most impressive thing to come out of Sunday was that

Bella Weddings & Events joined Twitter.

Yes! After much wailing & gnashing of teeth,

I have been dragged into the world of Twitter.

So follow me - it's less painful than you think !!!

Thanks Ashley for such a fun & informative time. You're the best!

Association of Bridal Consultants Seminar

2009-08-31T22:01:00.019-05:00

Last month I attended a ABC (Association of Bridal Consultants)

seminar & luncheon on
'Expanding Horizons - From Rehearsal to Reception'
along with other Wedding Coordinators & Vendors
at the Nashville Airport Embassy Suites.
As always, Bela Weddings & Events

is staying on top of all things wedding!

Because there's always something to learn.

Nashville Summer Wedding

2009-07-22T10:32:00.028-05:00

Wanted to post some before & after shots of a beautiful wedding reception held at the Vanderbilt Student Life Center

last Saturday evening.

jd & amie of simply exquisite event designs & me

Below is prove that 'it takes a village' (village of vendors)

to pull off a wedding. And it all starts with a blank canvas.

Like this...

and this...

Next the 'accessories' are added...

Then we start pulling it all together...

Many, many hours later after vendors have worked their magic

with the help & under the watchful eye of

wedding coordinators & assistants,

finally everything is ready for the Bride & Groom!

Great job Amie & thanks for our very own corner table!

The Knot Lunch

2009-07-19T13:58:00.013-05:00

It's a late post but early last month the Knot hosted a
meet & greet lunch for all Knot vendors & prospective ones.
It was held at Cabana & was incredibly delicious!
Thanks again to everyone at the Knot & Cabana!

me & Amie Williams greeting wedding vendors

Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler !!!

2009-06-29T20:00:00.079-05:00

June in New Orleans is like no other place.
Oppressively hot but enticingly intoxicating.
Here's my take on my weekend & Jennifer & Philip's Wedding...

~On Friday, a bridesmaid luncheon was held at

Ralph's on the Park, given by Jennifer's Aunts.

Ralph's on the Park is in a renovated historic building

overlooking the City Park.

A resturant of the famous Brennan family

so there's no doubt the food is excellent.

The bar was set up outside on the balcony

which gave a perfect view of the City Park entrance

& the Spanish moss covered oak trees beyond.

We were served Mimosas, Bloody Marys, or wine before lunch.

Lunch was Seafood Gumbo (of course), Shrimp Remoulade Salad

& a sinful Chocolate Cake with Brandied Cherries,

Fudge Sauce & Double Cream!

Everyone raised their Champagne glasses to Jennifer

before heading off to our hotels to get ready for the weekend.

Let the good times roll !!!
Jennifer's Bridesmaid's luncheon menu...

balcony overlooking City Park...

Jennifer & her lovely Bridesmaids...

Jennifer & Philip were married at

St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church.

The church was perfectly decorated with white lilies,

Jackson vine & the largest white roses I've ever seen in my life.

The historic church was beautiful & the wedding party

looked straight out of Vogue magazine.

large white lilies, roses & Jackson vine...

the wedding party...

the handsome Best Man...

~The wedding reception was held at the New Orleans Country Club.
Stunning. Old South. Grand.

Just some of the words that come to mind.
The women were dazzling in their gowns

& the men were handsome in their white dinner jackets.

Was that Blanche DuBois I saw disapearing into a room?

Maybe not but I'm sure I saw Tennessee Williams

with a Bourbon in one hand,

a cigar in the other & dressed in an all white tux.

But then I do tend to hallucinate in hot weather!

newlyweds Sarah & Aaron Smith

Matron of Honor & Best Man

~The 10 piece band was phenomenal.

The 3 lovely ladies as the background singers

were elegant in their sequined gowns

& the 3 singers in front had voices like butter.

Classic Motown sound w/a little Cajun thrown in for spice.

~An open bar was in each of the 4 enormous rooms.

Anything & everything you would want to chase away the heat.

Want it mixed? You got it.

Want it straight? You got it.

Want it domestic? Want it imported? You got it.

Want wine? Want champagne? You got it.

And with the sharply dressed Bartenders at your beck and call.

~In 2 of the largest rooms was the food.
In 1 room was an enormous poached salmon

& smoked salmon with all the extras.

Chilled steamed asparagus with Parmesan lemon butter.

Then extra extra extra large gulf shrimp. All beautifully displayed.
Next room was a mashed potato bar & a deep fried burrito bar.

Huge silver platters of fresh mozzarella cheese & tomatoes

with drizzles of basil olive oil, quiches & other delicious tiny things.

~The Bride's cake was magnificent.

A vanilla cake with an almond flavored icing.

Again, giant white Roses & Hydrangeas between the layers.

As a last jab to his Ole Miss graduate brother,

the Groom who's an LSU graduate,

had his cake made into a replica of Tiger Stadium

with the fantasy score - LSU 53 - Ole Miss 3 -

PLEASE! AS IF!

Bride's Cake Charm Pulls...

the Groom's cake...

~The Groom was handsome & enjoyed himself enormously.

The Bride was lovely beyond words.

A classically beautiful blonde in a classically beautiful gown.

She wore a cathedral length lace veil -

an heirloom passed down

through multiple generations on her father's side -

as well as the pearl choker she wore.

Jennifer & Philip left in a classic car that belongs to Jennifer's father.

Congratulations Jennifer & Philip

A Murfreesboro Wedding

2009-06-25T16:14:00.021-05:00

How much do I love Emily Humphries?

So much that I'd soak in a Tennessee sauna for hours for her.
And that's exactly what it felt like last Saturday.
Jacqui & RJ were married at Jacqui's home on the outskirts of
Murfreesboro on a near-record-breaking hot day.
The humidity was incredible. The heat was unbelievable.

But the wedding was beautiful.
I assisted Emily with this wedding of 250+ guests (my best guess).
The line up for the seating compares to fans entering Titan Stadium.
Seriously. That's what it looked like.
And in between the guests was Lady, the family dog,
running around with obvious wedding excitement.
Like a game she ran in & out of legs &

slipped from hands reaching out to
grab her to take her back in the house.
Finally, she took refuge under the deck within ear shot of the activities
but away from the dreaded confines of the house.
At the time I remember thinking that I wish I was Lady.
Maybe if I ran around barking would someone

tie me up inside the house under a fan?
Funny what a heat stroke will do to your brain -
makes you hallucinate & think crazy thoughts!!!
The ceremony was touching as Jacqui & her father
approached in a horse drawn carriage.
Later drinks were served then seating

under the tent for dinner & dancing.
Hours later, I slipped around to the cake &

had not 1, not 2, but 3 slices.
Mercy me. Those gals at the Bake Shoppe sure can bake!!!
Love you Em.
Rain or shine. Hot or cold.
I'll help you in any kind of weather.
Now that's true love folks!!!

even the frogs tried to keep cool...

bridesmaids waiting their turn...

my friend Lady...

and me with my other friend Emily...

Brunch At Saks !

2009-06-23T12:41:00.033-05:00

Hey Brides...
if you're looking for decorating ideas
or just wanna catch up on the latest styles
be sure to visit http://www.brunchatsaks.com/
She's an LA girl who always has something on her
blog that will inspire you.
Personally, I have to visit every day.
And every day I find something I love.
This for instance...

I borrowed this from Brunch at Saks to remind Brides that it's ok to get a little edgy when it comes to showing your personality

(if you have an edgy personality, that is).

Yes, I know that most brides would never

wear this on their wedding day

(mainly because it's not meant to be a wedding gown)!
As an example, if you love Marilyn, & you don't want to wear her,

then you can still find all kinds of way to honor her at your wedding.
Or maybe Elvis!
My point is be yourself, do your thing!
This evening gown, by the way, is from the Dolce & Gabbana runway.
If you don't need tips on fashion but instead

a nudge to remodel that bathroom,

it's still the blog to visit.
Anyway,
stop by Brunch at Saks & see what inspires you today!

Burdick Chocolates !

2009-06-15T11:02:00.026-05:00

"If you are not feeling well, if you have not slept, chocolate will revive you.
But you have no chocolate! I think of that again and again!
My dear, how will you ever manage?"
~ Marquise de Sévigné - French writer and lady of fashion

all photos property of Burdick Chocolates
~~~
I love New Hampshire.
I've seen the famous White Mountains...
I've tasted & eaten my weight in fried clams...
I've visited Wentworth-by-the-sea...
and I've seen the seacoast.
I thought I knew everything there was to know about New Hampshire.
Wrong.
I've recently discovered another important New Hampshire resource -

Burdick Chocolates.
The people at Burdick Chocolates are VERY picky.

Starting with the cocoa.

They buy only from Grenada where the cocoa farmers grow the cocoa trees

with very little if any fertilizers & pesticides.

They use French and Swiss techniques- but of course!

They make their artisan chocolates in small batches to insure perfect blending of ingredients - no assembly line at Burdick Chocolates!

And the shipping!

You would think that you're getting a rare piece of art flown in from Europe.

In a way you're are.
When my chocolates arrived by FedX, it was like Christmas morning.
The chocolates were carefully place around ice packs!
Wow! Ice packs!
I didn't know businesses still took so much care with their products.
Anyway, each box was filled with chocolate gems -

truffles & bonbons of dark & white & decadent cubes of hazelnut gianduja.

Magical. Decadent. Mysterious. Luscious.
And the cutest mice & penguins you've ever seen.

Yes, tiny mice & penguins.

They're made especially for gifts & favors out of chocolate & almonds.

What a rare treat for the wedding party or favors for guests.

Your guests will know they're getting something special - not just generic chocolates.
These babies shout class !
The mice & penguins are carefully boxed for presentation &

a very tiny satin ribbon in your color choice is added as the mouse tail.

Then they're boxed & a bow is tied in another size & color ribbon - again your choice.
When your chocolates arrive, everything is ready to be presented to your guests.

You don't have to do anything. Just order.
Then sit back & listen to the ooos & ahhaas.
On my next visit I'm skipping the Wentworth,
the White Mountains & the seacoast.
I'll still have my fried clams but afterwards I'm headed to
L.A. Burdick Chocolates - New Hampshire's best kept secret !!!
Check out their website: www.burdickchocolate.com.

don't forget Father's Day - these penguins would be a perfect treat!

check out the mice tails & the ribbon

The Factory Continued...

2009-06-10T10:45:00.019-05:00

More Factory shots...
These pictures were taken during & after
Jenny & Joe's Factory wedding reception.
Sometimes wedding vendors have as much fun as the guests -

this was one of those times.
Wedding vendors work hard to make sure everything is perfect for

the guests & wedding couples

BUT we also know how to enjoy ourselves...
as you can see !

jenny & joe's wedding coordinator emily & brooke tasting the wedding cake

em's loyal & ever so loveable assistants - me & brooke

d.j. brian, me & i don't remember his name but
he's brian's sidekick & he's SO cute!

crazy jack, emily, me, brooke, cutie pie & brian

after the clean-up me, em & brooke crashed in the
factory's famous giant rocking chair

Zena Holloway

2009-06-08T22:16:00.016-05:00

Ok...I'll be the first to admit that

I'm biased when it comes to photographers.

I will always think my daughter

is the best around but this gal is unbelievable.
Check out Zena Holloway's pictures below.
She started out as a scuba diver instructor then turned her passion

into a career of underwater photography.

Her art is so dreamy & ethereal.

Wouldn’t it be incredible to have wedding shots like this?
You could 'trash the dress'

& get the most interesting bridal portraits so show off.
Sure, your friends will think you've lost your mind but so what !!!
Talk to Rosemary...she'll do anything for that extraordinary shot...
& she's a scuba diver - Perfect !

Seeds of Hope Garden Tour

2009-06-07T18:53:00.039-05:00

Saturday was a perfect day for touring

some of the prettiest gardens in Nashville.

Seeds of Hope Garden Tour was the brainchild of my husband.

Serving on the board at Monroe Harding Children's Home,

he & others got the ball rolling

to have a garden tour to benefit Monroe Harding.

He came up & the name & it's been a success for 5 years &

one of their biggest fundraisers of the year.

Gardens are usually picked in south Nashville

(Oak Hill, Green Hills & Belle Meade).

This year I think was the best.

The gardens & lawns were perfectly manicured & each very different.

I could tell a lot & time & love was put into the design

& placement of each plant.

We had our gardens on the tour a few years ago & it's hard work.

But then again, I always work better under pressure !
Brides: If you're thinking of having a garden wedding

be sure to go to one of the many garden tours

offered in Middle Tennessee.

You can get some great ideas for your wedding

& the proceeds go to a deserving charity.
Now for a little history lesson:

Monroe Harding Children's Home began in the home of
Dr. James & Mrs. Fannie Harding. (Yes, as in the Hardings of the Belle Meade family).
In 1893, Mrs. Harding opened her home for orphaned Presbyterian children as a tribute to her late husband.
Shortly afterwards, she began accepting children of all ages & religions & in 1934
the orphanage was moved to a beautiful residential home on Glendale Lane -
located between Oak Hill & Green Hills.
In the '70s, Monroe Harding begin helping at risk teens only.
Good job Seeds of Hope Volunteers!
All of the gardens were beautiful but here are my favorites:
The Phipps Garden:
This garden is English inspired.
Visitors can instantly see this as they walk up to the side gardens &
follow the path around back.
A cute garden shed is the first thing you see
then your eyes focus on all the interesting 'yard art'

placed perfectly throughout.
I especially loved the potting bench

or rather all the art hanging above it.
This garden is full of 'transplants' from friends gardens &
you could tell this gardener loves the outdoors.

love the lover's knot
The Nelson Garden:
Lots of great shade at this stop.
Love the personal & historic touches in this garden -
a great millstone from the owners great grandmother's home &
a piece of the Belle Meade Plantation wall are on the property -
a remnant of the vast land holdings of Harding.
The lady of the house - the creator, landscaper & grounds keeper -
is delightful & her enthusiasm for gardening is catching.
Bet she's a walking dictionary on Latin words

for every single plant she has.

the highlight of the Nelson garden was meeting the very enthusiastic Megan -
as cute as a bug's ear & about as small as one!!!
The Roberts Garden:
Walking up to this house,
I thought I had been transported to

the Mediterranean's crystal-blue waters &
kept expecting to see Rudolf Valentino rounding the corner
to hand me a Rosemary infused Martini.
Oh well, a girl can dream!
Anyway, this was pure HEAVEN.
The side gardens were lush & cool -
enticing you as you make your way to the back.
Then right there in front of you is a pool to die for.
Wow! Would this be the place for a wedding to remember!
In fact, there at the edge of the pool

I planned a whole ceremony & reception.
Ok, back to reality...
The Hydrangeas were beautiful as were all the plantings.
There were lots of hidden gardens tucked behind the
walls & curves of the house & pool area.

the meadow & trail for the horses are to the right. the trail leads
to a horse barn that any horse would be proud to call home!

Annabelle Hydrangeas

the pool & patio

check out the giant clam shell - and yes it's real !!!

See what I mean !?!
Now can't you just envision a Bride & Groom

standing at the top of the landing
saying their vows while the guests are seated on the lawn below ?
Then after the ceremony,

guests will ascend the stairs to the pool & patio
for a Mediterranean style buffet.
Think shrimp, lemons, olives & luscious spreads.
OK...now I'm really hungry.
Somebody get me a cocktail - please !!!

Nashville Farmers Market

2009-06-01T23:00:00.005-05:00

Check out the Nashville Farmers Market.

You'll find flowers & ferns to decorate your wedding ceremony & reception.

You'll have a better selection, pay less,

& you'll be supporting local Tennessee farmers & growers.

Most vendors will be there from early spring until early June.
I was there Saturday & noticed only a few vendors left

but many will be returning late summer.

I met Annette Kell owner of Sunrise Nursery & Ground Covers &

stocked up on geraniums for my planters.
She & her husband have numerous acres in McMinnville &

will be busy this summer in preparation for the fall harvest.

Annette will be back at the market in late summer w/a huge selection of mums.

Anyone can place orders now for mums to be picked up in Sept. & Oct.
For an early fall wedding potted mums in brilliant fall colors would be beautiful.

Give her a call at 931.668.3898 or 931.607.6397.

looking south - a view of the capitol in the background
Under another shed you'll find almost any vegetable & fruit you could eat.
I love to walk around here just to look at all the home-grown produce.
The best place around to get good Tennessee tomatoes.

look closely at the little lady in the pastel blue dress & bonnet. so sweet.

Garden of Babylon (adjacent to the Farmers Market)

is my favorite place to buy roses, perennials, herbs,

& the best selection of pots in any size & color.

The Gerber Daisies & Orchids would be perfect for wedding decoration.

You'll save a bundle buy buying at Gardens of Babylon.
Check their website before going -

they sometimes have coupons to print.
They also have a great selection of tree roses -

great for that summer wedding.

And now for a little history:

The Nashville Farmer's Market has been in downtown Nashville since the early 1800's -

and always somewhere close to the capitol or around the downtown public square.

In the beginning, local farmers brought their produce to

the City Hall & Market House that was built on the west side of the downtown square.

I can imagine that it was a very busy place at that time - probably a very social part of the day.

The Market would be overflowing with vendors & during busy times,

according to local history,

farmers would have to line up wagons around the square four or five deep.

In the '30s, several government houses including the Market House

were demolished to build a new Davidson County Courthouse.

A new Farmers Market was build on the north side of the public square.

After another move in the '50s the Farmer's Market

finally found it's home just within sight of the Tennessee capitol.

Visit the Market when you can. You'll be taking part in a 200 years old Nashville tradition & supporting our hard-working Tennessee farmers.

Reception at the Factory

2009-05-26T20:18:00.015-05:00

Brooke, Me, Emily

Another Saturday - Another Wedding !
Brooke & I assisted Emily (great job as usual Em)

with a wedding reception at The Factory in Franklin.
Neither rain, the humid Tennessee heat,

or a 17 hour day can keepa power trio down !

Especially when working with DJ Bryan Snyder & his cute side-kick

& photographer Jack Tusynski who was way too much fun.

And the great people from Saffire were the best bartenders ever !
How much fun can three very tired wedding planners have ?

You wouldn't believe it if I told you

so I'll just have to keep that to myself !!!

...love you, love you Brooke & Em - you're the best...

chocolate & teal blue color theme

love the chandelier

Jenny & Joe

Cakes by Pat 615.274.6616

Emily & Brooke cutting the wedding cake

after dinner dancing

A Cheekwood Wedding

2009-05-17T14:03:00.021-05:00

~In spite of the torrential downpour Saturday,

Cheekwood proved to be the perfect background

for yet another wedding.

The ceremony was planned for outside but none the less

it was a beautifully orchestrated wedding.

Held under the tent inside the courtyard of what was once

the elegant stables at Cheekwood,

everything went as if it was planned that way all along.

Emily Humphries coordinated while

Brooke Ferguson & & I assisted.
~Cheekwood is a gem inside the Nashville city limits.

Located at the end of beautiful Belle Meade Boulevard,

it sits high on a hill where you can look north &

view the Nashville skyline.

The expansive lawns & beautiful gardens

make it one of the top venues for weddings.

A little history...

~In 1933, Leslie and Mabel Cheek moved into Cheekwood

after buying 100 acres & hiring a New York architect to build

the limestone mansion & extensive formal gardens.

This was made possible after their investment in a cousin's coffee

blend that was sold in the Maxwell House Hotel,

the finest hotel in Nashville at that time.

Later the coffee was sold to what would become

General Mills Co. for $40 million in 1928.

In 1917, Cheek began using the slogan,

"Good to the Last Drop" to advertise.

The story goes that in 1907,

President Theodore Roosevelt,

while having breakfast at The Hermitage,

proclaimed that the coffee was 'Good to the Last Drop'.

Although this has never been proven,

the phrase is recognizable to this day &

is a part of Cheekwood history.

The Cheeks left the mansion & property to their daughter &

in the 1950's it was given as an art museum & botanical gardens.

Lucky for Nashville !

Some pictures of Amber & Will's wedding...

the stables/art building

bride's cake

reception preparations

centerpieces

(note the original stables in the background)

me & my girls...

Brooke & Me & Emily

love this shot...if you look close you'll see the raccoon that visited

us during rehearsal

Noah Liff Opera Center

2009-05-13T20:11:00.018-05:00

Wednesday, I toured the new Noah Liff Opera Center w/other wedding vendors. We were all impressed w/this new twist on the latest of Nashville event venues. Jessica is the manager (Jsneed@nashvilleopera.org) & will be glad to arrange a tour if you're interested in seeing it for a rehearsal dinner or wedding reception. If you're planning an out-of-the-box, hip, modern wedding, then this is the place for you.

This staircase is modern & stylish.The wood base under the stairs is large enough for the bride & groom or parents to stand & greet guests as they ascend the stairs to the reception - or to hold an awesome vase of flowers.

To the right of the this room (Grand Lobby) is a huge reception/banquet room (Opera Studio). Both rooms can be used as two or the wall you see on the right can be raised which will open up as one large space. The light coming in is great yet the temperature is kept very comfortable.

Just outside the windows is a side balcony - perfect for spotlighting a small jazz band to entertain guests as they arrive from the parking area below. What a great first impression !

Classic Beauty

2009-05-11T21:48:00.004-05:00

Gotta love the glam of Hollywood's Golden Age.
Here are some wedding shots of Stars & First Ladies.

Joann Woodward & Paul Newman

Liz Taylor & Richard Burton

Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier III of Monaco

Nancy Davis & Ronald Reagan

Jackie Bouvier & Jack Kennedy

Bella Books

2009-05-07T22:22:00.017-05:00

My current favorite wedding books is one that

daughter Rosemary gave me,

"Style Your Dream Wedding” by Susie Coelho.
It's a beautiful coffee table book w/fabulous pictures & full of ideas.

You might remember Susie Coelho from HGTV.
Her show 'Surprise Gardener' aired a few years ago.

Check your library but it's well worth the $ to have one of your own.

Brides Against Breast Cancer

2009-05-03T11:09:00.004-05:00

my favorite gown

It rained cats & dogs on Saturday

but the show went off without a hitch.

Thanks to Jackie for heading up the day

& raising $ for Brides Against Breast Cancer.

Creme Mints

2009-05-01T21:00:00.001-05:00

At a consultation last week with a bride & groom,

I took my home made mints as a gift.
Mmmmmuuumm !

Can't eat just one !

Show Stopper !

2009-04-27T03:09:00.038-05:00

Carrie Bradshaw is not the only girl

that can make a show-stopping entrance.

Check out these fabulous headpieces...

www.breeziway.com

www.twigsandhoney.com

www.oni-onik.com ...

I love this pillbox hat w/the chin length French net blusher
www.bridalheadpieces.com

& my favorite by Joseph Font ... JUST KIDDING !
Wow - it may be couture but it's kinda scary !

Brides Against Breast Cancer - Girls Day Out

2009-04-25T11:38:00.007-05:00

It's Nashville's 1rst time to host. Please help support this worthy cause.

I'll be volunteering so I hope to see you there !
May 2, 2009 - (limited space)

$30.00 pre-registration until May 1, 2009, 12 noon
EXCLUSIVE V.I.P. SNEAK PREVIEW
2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
May 3, 2009 - $10.00
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tennessee State Fair Grounds
625 Smith Ave. Nashville TN.
Creative Arts and Annex Buildings
For more info go to www.jbridal.com

Rachel & Eli

2009-04-20T20:00:00.010-05:00

Congratulations Rachel & Eli -

married Saturday, April 18th.
The weather was perfect for a noon outdoor wedding.
For the reception, the groomsmen handed out quilts f

or a picnic on the grounds of the Cool Springs House.

Guests enjoyed sack lunches &
fruit tea w/cupcakes for desert.

R & E initials
flowers by Belles Fleurs
Bonnie Colleen Denton, design coordinator

Cupcakes

2009-04-13T19:28:00.008-05:00

Hey brides !
To keep the girls from peeking out on your big day,

try 'cleavage cupcakes'
Also check out 'top hats' & 'low beams' -

never know when you might need 'em !

from herlook.com

Heels Above - How Ingenious!

2009-04-10T21:48:00.023-05:00

Wow ! Why didn't I think of this !

Finally there's a solution for that age old problem at outdoor weddings.

Brides now have a way to save those expensive shoes.

So buy some 'Heels Above' for yourself &

put some in your Bridesmaids goodie bags.

(their website won't be up until June 1rst)

from heelabove.com

Happy Easter Everyone !

2009-04-07T16:17:00.007-05:00

from my house to yours...

how I know Spring is offically here...

a Blue Heron has found his way

to our gold fish pond & helped himself to the koi !!!

(zoom in for a closer look...)

Cute As A Button Bouquet

2009-03-27T22:03:00.021-05:00

Take a look at these bouquets.

How different would it be to have
these in place of the traditional bouquets & boutonnieres!
Button Bouquets were all the rage in Victorian times.
A crafty bunch - those Victorians!
Whether it was sea shell art, flower pressing, or feather work,
they were always doing something creative.
So if you're planning an English or Shabby Chic wedding,
consider Button Bouquets for something different.

www.lillybuds.com.blogspot /www.letters4lilly.com
and...
www.reallybadkitty.etsy.com
(love the blog name)

Yippee ! Spring is Here !

2009-03-21T14:35:00.016-05:00

~We're excited about the spring season &

have loads of ideas blooming in our heads!

The heirloom 'Jackson Vine' in my garden is growing like crazy

& is full, healthy, and a beautiful green color.

It's a florist's dream to have this growing in their backyard!

I've been redesigning & perfecting my Southern cutting garden,

Iris Garden, & Rose garden -

so it should be lovely & available by late spring through frost

(just a few of the many services we can offer our Bella Brides).

We have so many great ideas so please contact Bella Weddings

about our twists for the coming wedding season.

Hope to hear from you soon...

Spotlight On...

2009-03-20T19:50:00.004-05:00

...Techniques Weddings
Owner Amber Rhinehart designs beautiful floral arrangements &

incorporates these stunning designs with her extensive collection
of personally designed iron work & uses them in her weddings.
Consider her when planning your event.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day - Ya'll

2009-03-05T14:26:00.008-06:00

"People will not look forward to posterity
who never look backward to their ancestors."
-Edmund Burke

claddaughrings.com/catalog.asp

Irish Brides or Brides that will be marrying into an Irish clan,
consider incorporating Celtic customs in your wedding.
At this website you'll find beautiful Claddaugh Wedding Ring

sets for the two of you in sterling & gold.

Below are some books that might help:

and lots of Irish to be found at:

favorideas.com

The Quite Man

2009-03-03T14:12:00.005-06:00

The Quiet Man (1952) is one of the best from the Golden Era of Hollywood.

Directed by famous director John Ford - it's Irish,

it's a love story & it's perfectly played by John Wayne as

Sean Thornton & Maureen O'Hara as Mary-Kate Dahaher.

So this St. Patrick's Day curl up in a comfortable chair, sip on

an Irish coffee, watch a classic & be Irish for a couple of hours !

Nashville Lawn & Garden Show

2009-03-01T16:45:00.006-06:00

Highlights of the Nashville Lawn & Garden Show...
Wonderful floral arrangements to give brides-to-be some ideas.

Here were my favorites...

ilex...for flowers
Daron Frazier

252.2880

Granny's Flowers

grannysflowershop.com

The Cumberland Herb Association had a great booth.

Brides - if you're planning an outdoor or English Garden wedding,

what a great idea to use garden benches/chairs w/the seat planted in

herbs, sedum, or grass.

Now that would be a show stopper !

I actually did this a few years ago in my garden.

It looked lovely in the summer shade.

www.nashvillelawnandgardenshow.com

And The Oscar Goes To...

2009-02-17T11:33:00.010-06:00

Brides:
To celebrate OSCAR week,

why not have your bridesmaid for a sleep over.

This would be a perfect time for introductions

for those who haven't met &

to go over wedding plans you've made so far.
Have some great snacks & watch 'wedding' movies all night.
Hollywood is not the only place that appreciates a good film!
My personal favorites:
1- 27 Dresses
2- The Wedding Planner
3- American Wedding
4- The Wedding Date
5- Four Weddings and a Funeral
6- Father of the Bride (remake)
and don't forget the classics:
1- Father of the Bride (1950 original) Elizabeth Taylor & Spencer Tracy
2- It Had To Be You (1947) Ginger Rogers & Cornel Wilde
3- Philidelphia Story (1940) Katherine Hepburn,

Jimmy Stewart & Cary Grant
4- High Society (1956 remake of Philidelphia Story) Grace Kelly,
Bing Crosby & Frank Sinatra
5- Funny Face (1957) Audrey Hepburn & Fred Astaire
6- A Catered Affair (1956) Bette Davis & Debbie Reynolds
7- Royal Wedding (1951) Jane Powell & Fred Astaire
8- Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) Jane Powell & Howard Keel

9- It Happened One Night (1934) Claudette Colbert & Clark Gable

and just for fun...
9- Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Elsa Lanchester & Boris Karloff

Happy 2009 from Music City !

2009-01-02T00:25:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas & God Bless Us Everyone

2008-12-15T00:33:00.002-06:00

in my dining room...

Beautiful Riverwood Mansion

2008-12-05T12:51:00.002-06:00

Last night I assisted friend and wedding coordinator
Emily Humphries (Simply Yours Weddings)
at Riverwood Mansion - one of the most beautiful historic homes in Tennessee.
In 1798 Alexander Porter came to Nashville from Ireland & opened a linen business on the town square. Later, on a trip several miles outside Nashville,
he became sick & was taken in to the nearest plantation. When it was time to travel back home he took Susan, the daughter of the family back as his bride. (Sounds like a fairy tale!)
He purchased 2,500 acres outside Nashville on the Cumberland River. There he built his large mansion & named his estate ‘Tammany Wood’ after his home in Ireland. The Porter family owned ‘Tammany Wood’ until 1860. Then it was bought by William Cooper, of another prominent Middle Tennessee family.
It was renamed Riverwood & remained in the Cooper family until 1975.
Riverwood has seen it’s share of important people. The list includes presidents Jackson, Polk, Pierce, Johnson, Cleveland, Roosevelt, and Taft. Robert Penn Warren, the 1rst US Poet Laureate stayed in one of the cottages one summer while at Vanderbilt. At the turn of the century, the owners began giving their once a year party at Christmas. All of Nashville elite vied for an invitation.
Once given, the invitation was for life.

(Wow! Don’t you know there was some nasty cat fights over that !)
Lucky for us, we don’t have to be a Unites States president to visit Riverwood. It’s one of the most beautiful places to be married in Middle Tennessee.

The grounds are expansive & beautiful. The inside is decorated with very little furniture, which is perfect for a wedding. The wall, mantels, mirrors, etc. are tastefully and minimally decorated - purposely allowing the mansion to be what you see when you visit - not things. There is a very large enclosed pavilion/tent in back of the mansion. And the staff is helpful & extremely nice.

Love the place !!! I tried channeling the spirit of Alexander Porter on the porch of the mansion, but to no avail !

Guess he was scared off by the crowd. Oh well, maybe on my next visit.
http://www.riverwoodmansion.com

Top 'O Woodland

2008-11-16T13:40:00.003-06:00

Luncheon for Wedding Planners/Coordinator Saturday at historic...

TOP 'O WOODLAND.
Spent an enjoyable Saturday at Top ‘O Woodland with other wedding planners.

Thank you Belinda Leslie for a lovely time & a delicious lunch.

Top ‘O Woodland was bought by Belinda a few years ago. She now rents her beautiful Victorian home for weddings/events. Great care has gone into keeping this mansion in another century yet offering all the comforts necessary for a modern wedding. Belinda will carefully tend to every detail for the bride & groom if they or any of the wedding party should wish to stay the night in any of the historic rooms. Also, talk to this great cook about arrangements for breakfast - you won't be dissapointed.

Thank you again owner Belinda Leslie & wedding instructor Elaine Parker.
http://www.topofwoodland.com

October Wedding

2008-10-12T17:05:00.017-05:00

Yesterday, I helped friend and wedding coordinator, Emily Humphries (Simply Yours Weddings) with a beautiful Jewish/Christian wedding that was held outside at the bride’s parents home off West End. The day was long & hot but worth it to see everything fall into place as all weddings should.

Emily directing

the Chuppah

reception under the tent