Liz and Andy’s love for all things vintage was brought to life at their early October wedding.  Liz’s beautiful cream-colored solid lace dress was complemented by Andy’s Southern-vintage suit, ascot, and pocketwatch.  From moss on planks to hay bales and a barrel table for their cocktail hour’s cheese service, the couple incorporated as many sweet old-fashioned details they could muster!

The bride’s attendants were striking in taupe-hued lace cocktail dresses.  Andy’s groomsmen were dressed in vintage derby hats and brown suits.  The couple’s flowergirls wore orange floral wreaths above their natural dresses in various styles.  The bouquets carried were composed of wheat, berries, leaves, carnival roses, and branches in bright autumn colors {the feathers in the men’s hats gave a nod to these}.

Wedding guests were seated for the ceremony on wooden church pews facing the old oak tree in the front yard of Front Porch Farms.  Copper urns of beautiful hydrangea arrangements lined the stairs leading up to the house. At the reception, lanterns were hung above the many sage green tabletops.

As a thank-you, the bride and groom gifted their guests various treats: berry wine jelly, ginger garlic mustard, and zesty watermelon jelly to name a few.  Kitschy thumb-in-cheek postcards served as the “guest book.”  In lieu of a traditional cake Liz and Andy served an assortment of desserts, prepared by the wedding caterer, Copper Kettle.

Planner:  Kathy Best

Hair/Makeup:  Natural Oasis Salon

Photography:  The Collection – Erin Lee

Florist:  Enchanted Florist

Caterer:  Copper Kettle

Bartender:  Hamilton Bartending Services

Dessert Bar:  Copper Kettle

Handmade details and shabby chic fall style defined Michele and Matt’s October wedding at Front Porch Farms.  Shades of white, cream, and autumn-esque hues were seen in everything from the fabric-flower boutonnieres to the tablescapes and dessert buffet.  Vintage lace doilies and crocheted hankies were scattered near the cake, surrounded by cotton bolls and miniature pecan pies.  Custom labels with their name and wedding date were printed and hung on the favors and the front door’s wreath.  Michele and Matt elected to utilize Front Porch Props’ whiskey barrels and rustic wooden beams to create a display table for their cocktail hour hors d’oeuvres and fruit tea canisters.  Beneath the stained glass windows in the pavilion sat a farm table with an antique suitcase displaying pictures of family members’ past weddings and vintage postcards for guests to write well-wishes.  Tulle was hung and suspended from above and draped along the suitcase frame. Branches with cotton bolls were propped in vases along the reception room.

Michele and Matt themselves sat at beautiful brown dining room chairs draped with fabric garlands at their sweetheart table.  At their place settings were antique silver pieces, a three-piece china plate set and charger, and miniature Cinderella pumpkins, along with their mason jar wine glasses for toasting.  Front Porch Props’ wooden cathedral window framed the table and completed the look.

Pastel gourds and white Cinderella pumpkins, surrounded by fall leaves on top of burlap runners, decorated the reception’s farm tables.  Michele brought in homemade signs to designate the bar, candy favors, and food.  As a gift to their wedding guests, the couple provided trail mix with candy pumpkins.

Planner:  Kathy Best

Photography:  The Collection – Erin Lee

Florist:  Rebecca McCalley

Caterer:  Bacon & Caviar

Music:  Nashville Party Authority

Cake:  B. Jackson’s Bakery

Kelley and Denard were married on a gorgeous October Saturday. The sky was clear for the duration of the day and a bright, vivid fall blue.

Kelley wore a stunning ivory satin BHLDN gown and fascinator.  Her bridesmaids were dressed in turquoise strapless frocks topped by red cardigans, tying in the wedding colors.  Kelley’s vision for the day was for it to be “farm-y but elegant.”  Mason jars were hung from the great oak tree out front with turquoise ribbons and blooms inside. Burlap and buffalo checks were utilized in the reception table’s linens.  Mrs. J’s provided a Southern buffet of barbecue, macaroni and cheese, and cole slaw.

Guests danced to the darling local Randy McClellan Band.  Decker Chaney provided the scrumptious mini cakes, served in tiny mason jars with fabric-covered lids {designating the various flavors}.  Denard chose a tiered Krispy Kreme confection as his groom’s “cake.” The couple also prepared a marshmallow roasting pit at the outdoor fireplace near the pavilion, for s’mores!

At the end of the night, Kelley and Denard were sent off via tossed lavender seeds.  It was a fragrant and lovely close to the early evening!

Planner:  Kathy Best

Ginger & Chuck were married the day after Melissa & Eric.  I bring this up because both weddings had similar elements and almost identical colors. In fact, Melissa graciously left the flowered arbor and some of her reception flowers and we were able to incorporate those into the flowers and decor Ginger and her talented friends had created.  I love it when that happens!  In fact, it’s not a bad idea to find out if there are weddings before or after yours and what they have planned. Sometimes with some pre-planning both events can enjoy benefits of the other or split the costs of some things that can be used twice.

Here’s the love story behind the bride & groom! Enjoy:

North meets South…
We met on May 28th, 2010.  So how does a native Tennessean meet a definite Yankee?  Mutual friends and a New York Vacation.  He was living in New York and I went there on vacation with my family and 2 girl friends.  We first laid eyes on each other Friday, spent all day together Saturday in Manhattan, and by Sunday we were both smitten.  It was basically love at first weekend.  My friends and parents had never seen me so smitten before.

The proposal…
After almost a year of quick weekend trips, late night skype sessions, and many annoying flight delays, we decided to move near each other. So he headed down south to Music City, Tennessee. After much awaited anticipation and a slow jeweler, he finally proposed on a park bench on our favorite walking trail in Percy Warner Park.  A few weeks prior he had given me a key with a sweet note that ended “P.S. You may want to hang on to this”. Apparently I’m notorious for ruining surprises so with no details he said, “it’s the only way I can surprise you”. Even though he may have been right, it was torture holding on to it. So one day while walking in the park together I noticed a box underneath a park bench. I eagerly went to open it.  It needed a key of course, which he hands over to me.  He tells me to not get my hopes up which made me so disappointed, because I thought all along the key had something to do with the proposal. As soon as I opened it I see a ring box inside. I look over at him, who by the way I had never seen so nervous before. He dropped to his knee, proposed, I said yes, and the rest is history…well, not exactly

VENDORS:

Photography:  Jason Wright of Matt Phoenix Photography (http://www.mattphoenixphotography.com)

Officiant:  Tom Gridley, Father of the Groom

Florists:  Tori Aires and Jennifer Jones (friends of the bride)

Caterer:  B&C Catering

Cake:  Wendy Livingston

I knew when I saw their engagement photos that Sydney & Lucas had style!  I absolutely loved them – and Rachel Moore on of their best friends shot those.  Rachel unfortunately could not shoot their wedding because she was a bridesmaid but the talented Cali Ashton (Cali Ashton Photography) did an awesome job filling her shoes!

I’d like to say I had a hand in all the special touches but besides the photo booth area and things we already had in place (lanterns, tables, etc) the cute decor, flowers, cake, etc. all came from the talented and creative bride and groom and their families.  Enjoy all the details!  I especially love the groomsmens’ wardrobe!

WEDDING DAY: September 4, 2011  THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF A BEAUTIFUL FRONT PORCH WEDDING IN THE RAIN!

Eivar was a planner’s dream – a bride with a beautiful spirit, creative mind and fun personality…also one who knew exactly what she wanted, had done her research and had a family with many talents like herself.   Eivar is graphic designer and designed all the printed materials – the invitations were adorable airplane tickets and passports  (Austin is a pilot) and there were party favor coasters, cards, and more!  She even designed and made little “doggie” treat cookies.  Her aunt did an amazing job on the cakes and the candy display was beautiful.  Her mother dyed all the aqua draping we hung in the rafters.  It was spectacular and the photos despite being gorgeous do not do it all justice!

Now for the kicker – it rained! And rained and rained!  If you want to see what a wedding looks like at Front Porch Farms in the rain than this is a great example.  What you will see is a ceremony in the pavilion with a packed house of guests who traveled near and very far.  The pavilion was already set for the reception but we improvised and made a ceremony area with the hills as the backdrop.  Guests were seated at their tables and did not seem to mind. Also,  beautiful shots of the bride, groom and bridal party on the front porches and lots of fun celebrating.

Yes it rained but it was still beautiful and no one enjoyed it more than the bride herself who didn’t let the weather spoil her day or her joy in marrying the man of her dreams.  Brian and I could not have enjoyed spending this special day with Eivar, Austin and all of their family and friends!!

Vendors:

Catering – B&C BBQ

Flowers – Enchanted Florist

Photographer – Red Letter Days

Rentals – Southern Events and Front Porch Props

LOVE STORY:

Austin and Eivar first met as seniors in high school. Although it was Eivar who initiated the spark by giving Austin her number, it was Austin’s charm and persistence that won her heart. After the young love birds graduated high school, they went off to college.  While Eivar stayed in Tennessee, Austin headed for Florida. Four years and fifty airline tickets later, they both graduated college in 2005 and their love for one another was stronger than ever.

Having the desire to serve his country, Austin joined the United States Coast Guard and entered Officer Candidate School in 2006. After seventeen weeks at OCS, Austin was back to the real world and re-united with the love of his life, Eivar. Together, they shifted into high gear and made their way to the “Big Easy” (Nawlins)!  Having so much fun experiencing life together, they decided it was time to start a family, and in January 2008, they welcomed puppy Luna into their lives. Enduring as much love for Luna as they did for each other, they welcomed a second addition, puppy McGregor aka  “Mac,” into the family clan a few months later.  Their journey as a family continued in Pensacola Florida. It was then that Austin knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Eivar and proposed to her while on Christmas vacation in December 2008 on a scenic cliff overlooking the Tennessee valleys. Not only did she say “YES,” but she also said, “it was about time!”  After eleven years of happily dating, Austin and Eivar are most certainly looking forward to the adventures that lie ahead as husband and wife.