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It’s getting closer to wedding season, so today I’m sharing photos from my vintage-inspired Nashville wedding. It’s been exactly eight months since Javier and I got married and I can’t believe how fast time has gone by! We’re still in the, “We’re married??” phase. I have a husband. A real-life, walking, breathing, talking husband. And he’s handsome, too. I meeeaan…
Swoon.
We had a small ceremony of about 30 guests in the Centennial Park Sunken Gardens in Nashville. The weather could not have been better and the ceremony and reception were gorgeous. Now to be completely honest, It was an emotional day for me. Not like, Carrie Bradshaw wedding day emotional, but there were some, we’ll call them, hiccups, throughout the day. Also, I really wish I could have been a chill bride but I’m a crier. Seeing the people we cared about all in one place made me cry happy tears that wouldn’t stop.
Yes, there were things I wished would have gone differently. But instead of dwelling on those, let’s all whisper a word of thanks for waterproof mascara and reminisce on the day with beautiful photos captured by the amazing wedding photographer, Sarah Nichole Photography. Our wedding was also featured on Nashville Bride Guide, where you can see more photos for inspiration!
DIY Wedding Projects
I did a few DIY projects to save money. For our welcome sign, we ordered a large gold photo frame from Amazon. I took off the backing and used a gold paint pen to write our welcome message. Javi had an artist easel sitting in the garage that hadn’t been used in years, which we covered with gold spray paint to hold the frame. I asked our florist to add a simple green garland on top.
Instead of having a traditional guest book, we set out a Polaroid camera and a blank scrapbook so guests could snap a photo of themselves and tape it into the book. We set out pens and markers (markers were a mistake, they bled through) for them to add a message. This was one of my favorite things we did because people were more goofy and “themselves” in the photos and it added to the shots we got from the photographer!
Blush Bridal Details
The flowers! Oh, the flowers. I was so impressed by the arrangements Gradient & Hue Floral Design put together. Everything from the ceremony arch to the table vases were dreamy. I could not have been happier with my bouquet. We opted for blush and ivory flowers with silver-hued greenery and hints of light blue, with cafe au lait dahlia blooms and garden roses.
I bought blush block heels from Guess that I knew I would get a lot of wear out of (and I could walk through the park in the grass in) and found my hair comb and earrings at Charming Charlie (#BudgetBride). The perfume bottle was a gift from a friend. My ring, which my guapo did such a good job at choosing, is from Genesis Diamonds. My hair was done at The Blowout Co. in The Gulch.
I didn’t realize how much work weddings were until we got deep into planning it. Our dear friend Jen acted as my wedding planner and I would have been a big hot mess without her. I didn’t have bridesmaids, but my little sister was an automatic maid of honor and every stress I felt, she was right there with me, so I know she felt it, too. Sister, thank you for being you. And the whole thing wouldn’t have come together without help from our family members and friends. All of this is to say, if you’re recently engaged, do not underestimate the amount of time and money you will need for the celebration. Or, you know, elope at Taco Bell in Las Vegas.
My Vintage-Inspired Wedding Gown
Now, back to the fun stuff. I found my gown at LVD, which has sample and gently used dresses. My budget was not high, and LVD had plenty of unique options within my price range. The stylist, Ila, was so sweet. I guess it’s not uncommon that brides end up with a style completely different than what they pictured. I really thought I was going to get a fitted mermaid style or simple silhouette, and I did try a lot of those on, but something about this one made me say, “Wow. This is a wedding gown.” It was so different from anything else I tried, with so many details. I liked how it felt a little modest, in a way, and more romantic than the fitted options. I chose the Claire Pettibone ‘Adagio’ from the spring 2013 collection.
An Intimate Wedding Reception
Our dinner reception was at Moto Cucina + Enoteca in The Gulch neighborhood. The food and service was amazing. We had a small, two-layer strawberry cake from The Painted Cupcake and I cannot wait for a few months from now when we get to eat the top layer we saved. I used this Kate Aspen Love Cake Topper.
For reception favors, I purchased these personalized Midnight Snack Wedding Favor Bags filled with Bobby Jackson’s Cookies. Somehow I did not get a cookie and am still a little bitter about that (#BitterBride).
Aaaand, here are the newlyweds! I’m no braggart, but can we all take a moment to notice my yoga-sculpted arms? I was doing CorePower Yoga obsessively all summer leading up the wedding and honeymoon. Man, I really need to get back into it.
Happy eight-month anniversary, guapo. I love you.
Details:
Groom’s suit: Hugo Boss from Nordstrom
Bride’s dress: LVD Bridal
Gown designer: Claire Pettibone
Bride’s hair: The Blowout Co
Bride’s hair barrette: Charming Charlie
Florist: Gradient & Hue Floral Design
Photographer: Sarah Nichole Photography
Cake: The Painted Cupcake
Cake topper: Kate Aspen
Ceremony venue: Centennial Park Sunken Gardens
Reception venue: Moto Cucina + Enoteca
Favor bags: Details on Demand
David Tutera chair signs: Michaels