Tag Archives: unique wedding ideas

How to Plan a Wedding in a Week, Pt. 2

Um, all I can say is I’M EXHAUSTED.

I got back from Miami (where the wedding is going to be) on Saturday, and feel like I’ve been in a wedding tornado!

While my 10 days down there was exhausting, it was also really rewarding. I’m relieved AND excited to finally have a date, venue, and everything else finally in place. Since my last post, I’ve  made some planning progress. I’ve booked the photographer, finalized the wedding menu, sent out my save the dates (right in the nick of time!), bought my wedding dress and veil, completed my wedding website and registry, and started a whole slew of other things on my to-do list. Here’s what else I was able to accomplish in 10 days:

Decide on a color scheme

I actually got my inspiration from stamps I used on my Save the Dates. I also realized that strangely enough, my wedding website had the same colors. Since I’m having a Fall wedding with a sort of Renaissance/rustic Italian villa vibe (more on that later), I thought these colors would work perfectly.

Start thinking about table décor

This is a work in progress, but I’ve finally been able to figure out how I want the tables to look. One of the things I love about my venue is that they have these amazing farm tables instead of the round tables with linens on them that you see everywhere. Paired with a modern Phillipe Starck Bo chair, it’s a great mix between rustic and modern and I want to carry that over on the table settings as well.

Bo chair

I went to the local Anthropologie store for inspiration, and they were extremely helpful. A saleswoman was helping us with a few questions, and actually brought the creative director out to speak with us, who normally does the in-store displays. If you’re looking for some free help from an expert, try doing this in your local store! She actually gave us some great ideas, and who doesn’t love that store? I’d like to live in one of their catalogues.

Since I have a farm table at home, I am going to try and set up a “test” table so I can start to get an idea of what my ideas will look like together. I’ll post the results as soon as I finish!

Figure out the flower situation

I met with several florists when I was down in Miami, and of course I was shocked at the prices they gave me! There is no way I am spending thousands of dollars on flowers. Mostly because when looking through these florists’ portfolios, I wanted to gag. I HATE those tall centerpieces that everybody and their mother has at weddings and other events. To me they’re like the teased bangs of the 80′s. Gross.

I actually want my flowers to look natural, not like some superhuman creation that Edward Scissorhands could have made. Because of this, I’ve decided not to go with one florist for the event, and instead get my flowers from a wholesaler and hire a designer from there who can do simple arrangements (such as roses cut short…that’s it!). I want the flowers on tables to look like I did them myself (and that I have some skills. LOL). I *might* hire a florist to do flowers for the huppah and entry to the venue, but that’s it.

I still have lots to do (like finalize a cocktail hour band and dj, and find a reasonable hair and makeup person), but other than that, I would say I’ve planned 80% of my wedding in a week. Not bad!

Next up? Invitations.

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Wedding Venue: Belle Meade Plantation

Belle Meade Plantation

5025 Harding Pike
Nashville, TN 37205
www.BelleMeadePlantation.com
 
Average Cost: $16,500
*Average cost for THIS venue, including tax and gratuity, is calculated by figuring a 125-person guest list for a 6-hour reception on a Saturday night using the least expensive menu and bar options, as well as the venue’s tables and chairs. They do not include transportation to/from the venue, or any optional fees such as tents or decorations such as flowers and table linens. Numbers are rounded up to the nearest hundred.

How it breaks down:

Facility Rental Fee: $5,000 for use of the property from 3 p.m. on. For brides (and wedding planners) wishing to start setting up by 8 a.m., it jumps to $6,000.

Food: A licensed caterer must be used. Assume the going rate is anywhere between $50-$100/pp. Using the least expensive option, it would be $6,250.

Bar: BYOB (you’ll just have to supply bartenders and setups, which can also be arranged via the caterers). You can assume a generous $20/pp cost for alcohol, plus up to $500 for servers. $3,000

Tax and Service: This will be unique to your chosen caterer, but plan for a 18% service charge and 9.25% sales tax on food, beverage, and any rented equipment.

Party On! Events can start anytime after 5 p.m. Music in the interior of the Carriage House must stop at 11:00 p.m. Music in any other area must stop at 10:00 p.m.

What’s Included? 250 natural wood folding chairs, 25 sixty-inch round tables, 10 eight foot tables, and 10 six foot tables. You’ll have to bring in everything else.

More Stats:

Space Type: Inside/Outside

Size: If not tenting, the interior(s) and covered exterior can comfortably hold between 175-200.

Food Service Type: Caterers can arrange for formal seated or buffet. However, a buffet would open up a lot more space

Dressing Rooms Available: Bridal room available

Elevator: N/A

Security Provided: No

Valet: No.

How Will Grandma Get There? The plantation is approximately 15-20 mins from downtown Nashville. Out-of-town guests would have to be shuttled to the plantation. This cost can be anywhere from $2-4,000.

Things To Remember:

-The event location is not in the actual mansion, but in the covered Carriage House, Stables, and Boxwood Garden. You can also opt to have a tent in their Paddock Area, however there is no covered walkway between the Paddock and the other areas.

-If you’re planning to have the ceremony in the Boxwood Garden (which most brides using this facility do) there is a Plan B if it rains. The Stables has a long walkway which can hold up to 120-125 chairs. However, the aisle would be a bit narrow.

-The on-site kitchen is very small and no cooking is allowed, so the caterer will have to bring in the food already prepared.

The Report:

The Belle Meade plantation is located in Belle Meade, an upscale part of town with huge houses and a lot of history. The plantation is a historic site that is situated on 30-acres of land and used to be a famous stud farm (hence the stables). The drive into the plantation is gorgeous…you cross an old bridge that brings you onto the main property, which is surrounded by patches of sunflowers and boxwood trees. The grounds are expansive, with old slave houses (this is the South, after all) and even a working winery. The Boxwood Garden, where the ceremony would take place, is a shady garden with a stone aisle for the bride to walk down. What’s unique about the garden setup is that guests can be faced towards the bride as she walks down the aisle, with the musicians behind them or to the side. Guests can then walk over to the reception area, either the Carriage House and Stables, or a tented Paddock Area, which is basically a giant lawn. The Carriage House and Stables are covered and have giant wooden doors, and there is a covered walkway in between and around them that can be used for either a food station area or additional seating and bars. In the winter, you can install plastic drop-downs on the covered walkway to insulate the area and keep it warm.

Woman Getting Married Says:

While the grounds are very nice and the Carriage House and Stables are unique, if you want to have a somewhat formal wedding here, there is quite a bit that has to be done to spruce it up. The space seems better suited for a themed rehearsal dinner or casual wedding. As you can see from the pictures below, there are a lot of things you can do to dress the place up. From flowing curtains and hanging lanterns, you can make the space look great. But if you’re going to attempt to make it look like you’re somewhere else, why get married there? Also, while the rental fee includes tables and chairs, a formal event would require something fancier than what they offer (you can see their folding wooden chairs in the second picture, below). Considering everything that would have to be done to make this place look great, you’re looking at at least another $3-5,000. Given all of that, I thought it was definitely a good option, but it didn’t WOW me.

In the Stables. The carriages are moved out prior to the event. This area is also the rain option for the ceremony.

The area alongside the Carriage House.

In the Carriage House. Recangular tables such as this one would not allow for a large dance floor/band area.

In the Boxwood Garden.

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Unique Wedding Favors: Hankies

I was recently on the hunt for inexpensive hankies because FH needed one for his Kentucky Derby seersucker. The ones we found in stores like Brooks Brothers were a little too expensive, so I visited my favorite Nashville thrift store for new (yes, nobody wants a used one) hankies, and they were suprisingly easy to find and cheap (a pack of 3 was under $10). Now I’m seriously considering buying some for wedding favors!

I found a few websites that offer personalized or vintage/unique handkerchiefs. I think it would be great to (subtly) embroider them with the date of your wedding opposed to using initials so your guests would be more likely to use them again. A less expensive option would be to buy the hankies in bulk, then buy iron-ons that you can use to personalize yourself!

Hanky websites:

Rhode Island Spool of Design

Amazon.com

The fashion section on Ebay.com has a ton of vintage hankies.

Some of the more expensive, antique ones would also make great bridesmaids’ gifts.

Speaking of hanky, I’d like to open a store called Hanky Panky that only sold handkerchiefs. Oh wait, isn’t that a line of underwear? Darnit.

Do you have a unique wedding favor idea? Tell me in the comments section!

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Wedding Style: Old Kentucky Home

My lack of updates last week was actually due to the fact that I was getting ready to go to Louisville for my first-ever Kentucky Derby. We drove up on Friday and were honored to go to the Governor’s Ball that night, and then the 136th Kentucky Derby the following day. We had SUCH a great time despite the lousy weather (even though the sun did come out just in time for the 11th race. It was amazing!). While we didn’t win any money on the races, I did score a ton of ideas for a fabulous Kentucky-themed wedding. Even if you don’t live in the commonwealth, you can still steal some of its’ charm for your big day. Check out my inspiration board, below.

1. Speciality Drink: The Mint Julep

Pass around the official drink of the Derby, The Mint Julep, during your cocktail hour. I can attest to how tasty and potent these are, since I had 5 of them last Saturday. Yee-haw!

Click here for a Mint Julep recipe

2. Horseshoe decorations

$17.50 for a 10 pack

Spread these out along your reception tables for a unique touch. (They’re good luck, too!) I found this cool website where you can order old ones in bulk.

3. Get a Bluegrass band

Hiring a bluegrass band to play music before, during, and after your ceremony (particularly during cocktail hour) adds a unique twist to your Kentucky-inspired wedding. Go to GigMasters.com to find one in your area.

4. Wildflowers

The Goldenrod (Solidago altissima), a wildflower, is the official state flower of Kentucky. Ask your florist for an assortment of yellow wildlflowers (or pick your own!) for your table and bouquets, but make sure you’re not allergic to any of them first!

5. Derby-chic wedding dress

This Ivory silk crepe gown from Carolina Herrera’s Spring 2011 collection (it’s called ‘Berenice’)  is perfect for balmy Kentucky days. And, if you mimic this Carolina Herrerra look and include a statement hat in lieu of a traditional veil, you’ll be paying homage to the Kentucky Derby.

For more info on the dress, click here.

Browse through derby dress hats here.

6. Use a bourbon barrel as a guestbook

$85 and up

Instead of a traditional guestbook, have guests sign an old (or new) bourbon barrel. Shipping might get a bit expensive, but how cool would it be to have an old barrel displayed in your home to remind you of your big day?

Click here to buy old and new barrels

Stay tuned for more inspiration boards!

Have a wedding style in mind? Send your idea to womangettingmarried@gmail.com
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