A Great Way To Give Back

Hi friends!

I just wanted to take a quick moment to let you know about a very cool concept from my photographer friend, Michael Howard. Take a look at this cool way he is giving back to the community and feel free to contact him directly if you know of a couple who might benefit from this program:

http://www.howardphoto.net/index.cfm?postID=30

Summer Slideshow - DJ & Amanda

August is always a hot one in Tennessee, but we were nice and cool spending the day with DJ & Amanda at their indoor Franklin wedding. Enjoy this slideshow of some of our favorite shots (and definitely one of our favorite Ingrid Michaelson songs)!




Visit http://www.howardphoto.com/ for even more of Michael's amazing work.

DJ & Amanda - August 23

October is a crazy month for weddings in Tennessee. I don’t know if it is the idea of cooler temperatures that make us want to snuggle up with our sweeties or just the beauty of a Tennessee fall that makes so many people want to tie the knot this time of year. We have been busy here at WCW with some beautiful celebrations of our own. We were so thrilled to launch our new website this month as well as producing 10 unique events for our clients. Let us know what you think of the new site. We want it to be easy to use and informative…so if you have suggestions on how to make it better, email me: cj@williamsoncountyweddings.com.

Because we have been so busy, I only just had the chance to review the wonderful photography of Michael Howard shot for our clients, Amanda and DJ back in August. We love working with Michael. He has an incredible edge that is perfect for clients who like photography that is just south of traditional. He knows Franklin inside and out which means you can have some of the most original settings for your portraits – like the old prison on Bridge St. in downtown Franklin. Or in and around The Factory at Franklin, where this wedding was held. No matter where you are getting married, Michael does a great job of giving his clients totally original pictures that you will love.

And now for a quick look at this event. Amanda and DJ are rockers at heart, but wanted a traditional wedding. They chose the Factory as the setting for both the ceremony and reception for 250 guests. The symbol of two doves with rings was selected by our clients early on to symbolize their union so we used that through out the overall design – on the wedding programs, which were also fans, as well as a custom gobo light. The couple loved the symbol so much, they even got identical tattoos! Now that is commitment! DJ plays guitar for Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman so it was no surprise that his groom’s cake was a perfect replica of his instrument (strawberry pound cake – yum!). Maples Wedding Cakes also did the wedding cake, featuring their one of a kind orange dreamsicle cake.

Let me just take a minute to tell you something about Maples Wedding Cakes. Amy and I have planned over 100 weddings and we have NEVER run out of cake. No matter how many people do or don’t RSVP, there is always enough cake to go around and then some. Amanda and DJ taught us a lesson. Never order “just enough” orange dreamsicle cake from Maples. Double it! The guests will fight you for the last piece and pick at the crumbs until the base board is completely clean. Every last piece of the wedding and groom’s cake was completely devastated. I couldn’t believe it!

A special thank you to Nashville Event Lighting for making the room a vision in fuchsia.

Thanks for reading our blog. If you have any questions about any aspect of this event or need some help with your upcoming occasion, please give us a call. It would be our pleasure to answer any questions you may have about working with Williamson County Weddings & Events or refer you to one of the many vendors we work with who can help.

Happy Fall Y’all!
Sincerely, CJ

Ellen & Brandon - August 9, 2008

CJ here with the latest news and inside look at what is new and exciting from Williamson County Weddings & Events. August has been a surprisingly busy month for us here at WCW: In addition to four weddings, we also have an album launch party for artist Chris Tomlin on the calendar as well as preparation for the Enchanted Bride show at Cheekwood coming up on Sunday, September 7. Check back on our blog for more photos from our August events as well as what is new from the WCW crew.

Here is an inside view of my most recent event, a wedding for clients Ellen and Brandon on August 9, 2008. I just loved this couple - laid back and excited about a fun, relaxed but formal wedding and reception for 250 of their closet family and friends. Many of their friends and family were from out of state so the pressure was on to show some down home TN hospitality. The ceremony was held at St. Rose Catholic Church in Murfreesboro, where Ellen & Brandon now call home after relocating to TN from Ohio.

Ellen & CJ get ready for the moment of truth.




Ellen chose bright, bold summer colors to compliment and black and white polka dot theme. Every aspect of this wedding revealed a part of Ellen & Brandon’s personality. The beautiful colors were playful and elegant. Each bridesmaid carried a different, monochromatic bouquet and the groomsmen wore coordinating ties and boutonnières.

The reception was held later that evening at the Marriott Hotel, Vanderbilt. The polka dot motif was continued with the use of black and white paper lanterns hung over the dance floor and stunning centerpieces of yellows, blues, oranges and greens. Ellen & Brandon wanted their guests to feel as lucky as they were and placed lottery tickets at each place setting to kick the night off with lady luck. The delightfully dotted wedding cake was a traditional white cake and served along side strawberry and chocolate sheet cakes created by The Bake Shoppe.

The moment dinner service was complete, Jason Middleton of Middleton Entertainment really got the party going by playing some of the bride & groom’s favorite songs as well as crowd favorites all night long. I can’t remember when I saw the dance floor so packed! Ellen, a graduate of University of TN, had to have a rowdy rendition of “Rocky Top” to satisfy her newly found TN roots. There was some serious stompin’ matched only by the enthusiasm of the Ohio State fans (Brandon’s alma mater) when “Hang On Sloopy” came on. We had so much fun planning this event with Ellen and Brandon over the past several months…it is hard to believe it is over!

Thanks to the following vendors for making this reception such a success for Ellen & Brandon: Michael Howard Photography, Southern Events, Nashville Event Lighting, Middleton Entertainment, Eye Design Florist, The Bake Shoppe.

Nashville Wedding Feature - Modern Bride Magazine

What a fantastic opportunity for our friend Michael Howard! This beautiful wedding he photographed at local historic site, Carnton Plantation, was featured in the June/July issue of Modern Bride magazine, and we're so thrilled for him.

Also part of the big day were WCW rental company Southern Events, WCW lighting designer Blake Chaffin of Nashville Event Lighting, and custom invitations and programs from the Williamson County Weddings boutique (previously known as Say It With Style - Franklin).