Photos by Meishach Moore Photographers
The most important aspects of Jessica Willson and Joe Johnson’s wedding were finding a beautiful, natural, relaxed location and having their family share their love and nuptials. When they booked their March 21 Elegant Elopement package, there was one request: a Cedarwood barn wedding!
Some of you may be wondering, “why a barn wedding?” Jessica and Joe may share personal insights to their question but here are a bride’s thoughts from The Barn Journal:
“Recently in a few magazines there have been weddings shown in barns that were absolutely gorgeous. More importantly, I think a barn symbolizes a sense of peace and oneness with the land that harmonizes well with the idea of a wedding. The idea of a barn raising and a community coming together is also important. I want a barn because the space is large and unusual and it will well reflect our love of nature and being true to the land. It will also be far less stuffy (than traditional venues) and better foster the feelings of love and family we want to create.”
These images from Jessica and Joe’s wedding by Meishach Moore Photographers have us saying “It’s so true!” We hope you enjoy the glow of this couple, their family and this beautifully rustic, relaxed barn wedding at Cedarwood on the first day of Spring. Simple perfection.
Here’s to Jessica and Joe, to love, and to new beginnings! Thanks to Meishach Moore for sharing the loveliness.
Linda & the Cedarwood Event Team
Photos by Jen Kroll Photography
This (above) photo of Lynsey and Ben Kelly taken by the amazing Jen Kroll at their summer Cedarwood wedding is a masterpiece. Set among Cedarwood’s old growth trees, it expresses an earthy essence and graceful tribute to the land encompassing our historic estate.
We love the timeless quality permeating the grounds of Historic Cedarwood. Bearing witness to the ceaseless seasons of life, this land has much to share. Weddings held here are bestowed with boundless beauty and inspired by nature. The country side seems to bridge inner and outer worlds as it contributes to the rhythm of our planet.
The privilege of being caretaker of this property and witnessing the joining of many hearts and lives at our historic estate inspired this poetic tribute to Historic Cedarwood on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
A wilderness stirred by centuries of passion
and tamed by the promise of union,
sustains lovers as they abide
serene and splendid mergers,
sowing seeds of limitless promise-
boundlessness born into new life…
Cedarwood…love grows here ♥
We are intrigued by the next photo, taken with Jen’s vintage camera. She says it’s a technique called TTL or Through the Lens, a process of taking an old camera and rigging it so that you can photograph what you see through the lens with a digital camera. Really cool merger of old and new. Just like Historic Cedarwood!
Thanks, Jen, for sharing these beautiful visual gifts. Just like the land they are taken on, these images will live on much longer than we can imagine.
Happy Earth Day! May we all tread softly and celebrate the world we live in!
Linda & the Cedarwood Event Team
We just realized that we haven’t shared the rest of our floral centerpieces and table top designs from our 2010 open house. This is the fourth and final post from our annual planning event for Cedarwood brides-to-be. Access to our extensive inventory of decor pieces, containers, and vintage collections is included in our all-inclusive wedding packages. A fun part of the planning process is to experiment with several different combinations to achieve just the right look for a specific wedding style.
These images by the talented Whitney Carlson of Dove Wedding Photography show a small sampling of the possibilities by the Cedarwood design team and are dedicated to blog readers looking for reception floral and decor inspiration. Make sure you check out the previous open house posts for more styling ideas.
And for those who didn’t get to come to the open house because of the weather, here’s a little taste of what you missed!
Thanks again Whitney for photographing these Cedarwood designs.
Linda & the Cedarwood Event Team
Photos by Ace Photography
Camille Cull and Rick Meadows enjoy the art of living. Working in the resort hospitality industry, ‘jet setting’ comes with the territory (Rick’s Patty Cakes groom’s cake was an amazing replica of the “Golden Bell” Hole number 12 at Augusta Golf Course), as does fine food, good spirits and fun times. Camille and Rick wanted to create such an atmosphere at their September 12 Cedarwood wedding so guests felt enchanted and pampered.
Camille looked like royalty in her wedding finery and wedding decor was an equally beautiful blend of champagne, diamond, claret, silver and gold. Rich color with an abundance of classic detailing made this wedding feel luxurious in the most relaxed way. A sensational soft-seating outdoor ‘cigar lounge’ was a popular spot to sip cocktails and listen to a little Sinatra before dinner and a hip hangout for the guys and their smokes later in the night.
Ace Photography got some images that sum up the celebration: classic with rich color and sparkle - yet a fun, ‘let your hair down’ celebration with a touch of rustic charm!
Thanks to our friends at Ace Photography for sharing your work. Lovely photos!
Camille and Rick, we KNOW you are good together. Stay in touch and enjoy the best times of your lives!
Linda & the Cedarwood Event Team
Erin Whittle and Greg Vilines’ countryside harvest wedding was a bonanza of defining details that made their October 18 wedding earth friendly. Erin’s career with The Nature Conservancy focuses on protecting natural habitats and provided inspiration for choosing her outdoor wedding venue: Historic Cedarwood, a Tennessee farm estate that has remained largely unchanged for 175 years.
Erin wore a ‘recycled’ vintage family wedding gown that was worn by her grandmother and aunt, altered slightly for a more modern fashion sensibility. A photo tribute of brides in the heirloom dress let guests appreciate its family significance. A welcome table on the front lawn greeted guests with hot spiced cider and tea cookies. Handcrafted escort cards hung by clothes pins on a twine line between massive front lawn trees. Tables dressed with linen and burlap overlays, fall flowers, twigs, berries, pumpkin and gourds were named for Nashville landmarks and identified with art collage table numbers. A harvest-inspired home style dinner with locally sourced southern cuisine began with biscuits, butter and jam pre-set on the tables and ended with wedding cake and home made pie.
Using the Nature Conservancy’s carbon footprint calculator, Erin and Greg were able to reduce their wedding imprint on the environment. Here are a few ways this eco-conscious couple worked with Cedarwood to ‘green’ their wedding:
- Having the ceremony and reception at the same venue eliminated travel emissions and the couple provided shuttles for out of town guests to reduce traffic.
- Instead of traditional favors, Erin and Greg purchased carbon offset contributions through the Nature Conservancy.
- Outdoor settings for the ceremony and celebration saved energy.
- No plastic! All food service and bar ware were re-usable china and glassware. The venue also recycles and composts organic materials from their flower design studio and catering kitchen.
- Served beer by the barrel (kegs) purchased product from a local brewery instead of bottles to reduced landfill waste. No bottled water – the venue provided chilled filtered water instead.
- Cedarwood designers included seasonal produce and flowers from the farmer’s market as part of their ‘farm fresh’ arrangements of natural, renewable flowers and greenery for wedding décor.
Linda & the Cedarwood Event Team
Credits:
Wedding venue: Cedarwood
Floral and design: Cedarwood
Photos: Jim Veezy Photography, Krista Lee Photography and Cedarwood
Favors: The Nature Conservancy
Cake: Patty Cakes
Catering: Monell’s
Photo and Video by Beairdworks
This is how we would describe the March 27 Cedarwood wedding and relationship of Jamie Bischoff and Tytus Welker: Authentic, natural, passionate, refreshing.
It is obvious that Jamie and Tytus are blessed by the deep love they share for each other. Their wedding ceremony and celebration was full of inner connection and passion, strengthened by sharing it with family and friends. It was also full of warmth and sunshine – an amazing day for a March garden wedding!
Enjoy a bit of Jamie and Tytus’ wedding in this highlights video by Aaron Beaird of Beairdworks.
Jamie + Tytus from Beairdworks on Vimeo.
Jamie and Tytus, you are truly good together. Thanks for choosing Cedarwood to celebrate your union. Thanks Aaron, for sending us the video! Great work.
Linda & the Cedarwood Event Team
Photos by McCoy Made
We are enchanted by these black and white photos of Laura Beth Cumbee and Josh Blaisdell from their September 26 Cedarwood wedding and ‘after session.’ Mark and Noelle McCoy of McCoy Made exquisitely captured the essence of this couple in black and white.
There’s something about the quality of black and white photography that dramatically amplifies a feeling. Tone on tone harmony adds grace. Without color to distract our eye, black and white photos have a unique ability to capture light and reflect sensual radiance.
…So does Laura’s stunning Maggie Sottero gown – love this dress! Love these photos!
Perfect photo series of Laura and Josh’s ‘first meeting’ before their ceremony! Magical.
These images show the diverse photo possibilities at Cedarwood — amazing backdrops to capture the many moods of our historic estate.
Thanks Laura and Josh for sharing your beauty.
Thanks Mark and Noelle of McCoy Made for sharing your work with us! Click here to see the color explosion of Laura and Josh’s wedding as featured on our blog and Ashley’s Bride Guide!
Linda & the Cedarwood Event Team
Photography by McCoy Made
Laura Cumbee and Josh Blaisdell’s September 26 Cedarwood Wedding was featured in Ashley’s Bride Guide. Be sure to check out Ashley’s Bride Guide for more wedding inspiration and “real weddings” in the Nashville area! Also check back in with the Cedarwood blog for an upcoming post on some fantastic black and white photos from Laura and Josh’s wedding by McCoy Made.
Enjoy! Linda & the Cedarwood Event Team
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We Love This Exotic, Enchanting Must-See Nashville Wedding!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Every year, there are a few weddings that I simply fall in love with. This Nashville wedding was submitted by Cedarwood (venue, planning and design) and McCoy Made (photography). It is truly one of my favorites of all time. I’ve drooled over the few pictures that have surfaced for months, eagerly awaiting the full release so that I could share the details and the amazing images with you. The floral design is breathtaking, the details are spectacular and the orgiinality is refreshing.
So that you know – my taste is very contemporary and I have an affinity for color – rich, bold, eye-catching. What I love may not be what you love and I’m ok with that. But, this is one wedding you’ve got to check out! Whether you love the rich, jewel-toned colors with peacock feathers or not – one thing is for certain – this bride and groom created a signature wedding. And, that’s exactly what you should do! Dare to be different.
Hope this wedding inspires your wedding planning weekend.
Ashley
Laura and Josh’s Southern Exotic Outdoor Wedding, as told by Cedarwood:
Every element of Laura Cumbee and Josh Blaisdell’s September 26 Cedarwood wedding was an explosion of color and sensational style.
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Laura’s vision for their wedding: A mix of southern elegance and global flair with lots of color, rich, warm light, very intimate yet “big” with over-the-top, exotic styling. The design team at Cedarwood mixed gilded, flower laden candle chandeliers, branches, exotic flowers, birds, nests and layered fabrics for this glamorous décor. Think “The Great Gatsby” meets “Moulin Rouge.”
Surroundings were all southern charm at Cedarwood, an antebellum farm estate and historic home built in 1835. The front lawn rope swing, rolling green meadows and vintage barn provided backdrops for the celebration. Cedarwood’s signature Mason jar candle lanterns hanging from old growth trees throughout the property created an enchanting atmosphere to match the brilliance of the reception in the covered Pavilion. Definitely dazzling!
Laura turned to Wedding Paper Divas to custom design her colorful wedding invitations, and she personally designed and created wedding programs, artistic table cards and favor CD covers in coordinated colors with charming bird motifs. Laura’s mom, Suzanne, with help from her middle school students, made colorful paper origami cranes to symbolize marriage attributes of patience and understanding and to shower Laura and Josh with happiness and prosperity on their wedding day.
Another DIY project was the carved wood reception table numbers, which hung from the floral tablescapes designed by Cedarwood.A wedding day rain forecast compelled Laura and Josh to implement “Plan B” and their garden ceremony was moved under a grand white high peak tent (fortunately the skies cleared in the afternoon and guests got to enjoy wonderful weather when they arrived at Cedarwood.) The altar change gave Cedarwood designers the opportunity to creatively push the envelope. Their on-site florists created a lush fresh flower garland to decorate the center pole and ceremony seating was set up “in the round.” It was as unique as Laura and Josh and a perfect compliment to their dramatic wedding style.
Laura wore a Maggie Sottero wedding gown and custom made jewelry, a gift from her Maid of Honor. After cutting their exotic wedding cake and sharing donuts donned with a whimsical cake topper (a tribute to the policeman groom), Laura and Josh left their Cedarwood celebration in Matchless Limo’s classic blue Jaguar. Destination: After party at The Flying Saucer. Beautiful, brilliant day!
Vendors
Wedding design and florist: Cedarwood
Wedding planning: Cedarwood
Venue: Cedarwood
Photography: McCoy Made
Cake: Patty Cakes
Limo: Matchless Limo
Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas
Music: Music City DJ
Tent Rental: Grand Central Party
Linens: Cedarwood and Connie Duglin
Wedding Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero
Hair and Makeup: Salon FX
After Party: Flying Saucer
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