this wedding was so.much.fun. and it really came through in the photos! kate crafton took about a thousand, so it was very difficult to choose just a few to share. here are some of my favorites:

the ceremony and reception were both held in the same venue in downtown nashville.

the ceremony set up- same area for dancing later!

beve coffee is a mobile coffee bar serving the nashville area. they set up this little barista stand right next to the dessert tables! delicious!

this ribbon wall was my gift to brian and savannah.

first time brian saw savannah:

wedding party looking serious!

love this shot of brian and his boys goofing off – much more descriptive of the day!

since the ceremony started at 8pm, the couple opted to take pictures before everyone arrived. in between pictures and the ceremony, there was a little snack break on a different floor so the guests wouldn’t encounter the bride beforehand.

brian and savannah included their attendants and family in blessing their rings, also known as a ring warming. the symbols were passed through the entire wedding party-

and through the first row of guests, which was comprised entirely of immediate family.

we strongly encourage couples to take a moment just to themselves sometime during the day. so much love.

being announced at the reception! look at those cool cats.

dancing in the area where the ceremony was held-

guests on the observation deck during the reception-

brian and savannah leaving for the evening.

it’s pretty emotional going back through these. savannah, brian and families: thank you for trusting us, allowing us into your lives and sharing such wonderful day.

to meredith, jesse and anna- it was an amazing day, and none of it would’ve happened without your enormous effort.

i love you all so much.

with love,

lindsey

lindsey@dandylionevents.com

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you all have loved seeing pics of our december 11 wedding and truly, it was so much fun!

the most frequent question has been: where is that venue? while our sweet bride savannah did a great job choosing a space with a great view + complemented her color scheme,  i’m here to make the case for lighting with some before + after pics:

ceremony/dance space before:

(c) meredith norwood

after:

(c) kate crafton photography

see what i mean? tim and his staff at 2 sound productions did an incredible job of making the space come alive. highly recommend for an event in tn or atl!

also, you may think this space looks awesome, but think about the feelings and overall impact you want to create before signing a contract with any venue. it is expensive and labor-intensive to fight your surroundings. this space would not have been ideal for a fluffy, soft, peony-infested affair. it was perfect for a night of rock n roll!

what do you think? what sort of venues interest you?

love to all,

lindsey

i’d love to hear from you! lindsey@dandylionevents.com

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i am dreaming of a place that is bustling + sweltering in heat. one part rebellion against the cold here in nashville + one part inspired by the piano teacher, a work of fiction about an english woman in hong kong in the early 1940s.

middle top photo: la photographie

twinkling lights, low sumptious blooms + high glamour abound!

what do you think? what are you dreaming of today?

love to all,

lindsey

say hello: lindsey@dandylionevents.com

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i love to party. right now i’m considering hosting a dress up party for some friends just because i want to. halloween is too far away.

if you want to have a rockin fete or dance-all-night reception, focus on these three things:

- music- whether it’s an ipod, dj or 10-piece swing band, put someone in charge of what’s being played. you don’t always love what comes up on your ipod on random- you really won’t love it when people are energized and dancing and then…. norah jones comes on. there should be some structure, ebb and flow to the evening. there are tons of suggested playlists out there for things like dinner, dancing and winding down the evening.

- lighting- this is just as important as the music because it has the same impact. think about it, when was the last time you felt like partying in your office under those hideous florescent lights? right. now think about the way you want people to feel- sexy? hyped? chill? use lighting to reflect that. draw ideas from your favorite clubs or restaurants. plus, everyone looks better when the lights are low and soft. if you make subtle shifts to the glare as the night wears on you can watch people relax more because they’re comfortable in their skin.

summer party time! (c) meredith norwood

- space- i don’t mean appropriate size but that’s a part of it. what is the bathroom situation like? are there elevators for non-ambulatory guests? is there parking available? pay attention to how it looks too, not just the price tag. for the wrong room, you could be paying much more to decorate and hide flaws instead of accenting the right room, which could save you money- and will definitely save you a headache!- in the end.

my last suggestion: if partying is a priority, make sure that’s reflected in your budget.

if you build it- your friends will enjoy it!

love to all,

lindsey

give us a roar: lindsey@dandylionevents.com

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got a project? make it a party! at least that’s what we did on the evening of june 6th to complete this mobile for a december wedding. this is the full post from last week’s sneak peek. we worked really hard on this so i’m excited to share! it really pleased the bride-to-be, which is the most important part of the whole project. it fit her idea of how the whole event should look + feel. hooray!

we started with a frame…

then our spray paint gurus got to work…

then we began to hang items, chandelier style…

here’s the final product! the lanterns will be lit during the evening.

this project was several weeks in the making: we took time to create a stable design, researched cost and availability of materials, purchased the materials, built the frame and spent a few hours hanging 100+ objects from the various circles in a specific pattern. phew! it looks great though! many thanks to all who helped or watched. it was a party!

what feel are you envisioning for your event?

love to all,

lindsey

give us a roar: lindsey@dandylionevents.com

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lighting is everything. i got the opportunity to discuss this often- overlooked aspect of event planning with blake chaffin, owner and lead designer of nashville event lighting. here is what he had to pass along:

–lighting creates an emotional experience, in the same way that different types of music can effect you. it sets the tone for the room.

–it also determines the energy of the room. moving the lighting and dimming or brightening an area with different moments such as changes in music, cake cutting, or speeches- eliminating the need for a cheesy mc!

–you can highlight assets and play down less attractive areas that may be necessary for your event, such as catering curtains.

– the right lighting can also create depth in a room and enhance the quality of your photographs. some of your other purchases benefit from the right lighting, too: flowers, drapes, food presentation, even the guests. ambient lighting is more flattering which comforts your guests and gives them more confidence, encouraging mingling.

nashville event lighting thrives on being in control of the smallest details. they can create some beautiful effects! one story blake shared was that for one bride, they projected the nashville skyline and moved a simulated moon over the buildings in a four-hour progression. that took creativity and diligence! they can also provide functional lighting, such as brightening a field for parking at a residential event or arranging for the catering staff to see while preparing food in a tent at night.

blake said one challenge they look forward to is making their clients’ ideas into reality.  even though they’ve been to every venue in nashville, every client request is different. they firmly believe though, that whatever you do, is worth doing right. they employ good karma and build relationships with clients and other vendors. they also help with a large scope of charity work in the nashville area- most recently, the lighting and sound at the minnie pearl foundation benefit. they also do the lighting and sound at events throughout the year for progress, inc.- a company that helps mentally handicapped adults learn life and work skills.

to learn more about nashville event lighting and to see some examples of their wok, check out their website at www.nashvilleeventlighting.com

a special thanks to blake for taking the time to remind us how important the right lighting can be!

love,

lindsey

idea + planning lioness

say hello: lindsey@dandylionevents.com

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consider this when looking at venues. i would say it is one of the highest priorities, up there with size accomodation and handicap access. things like a kitchen, dance floor or stage can be created, purchased, modified or rented. it can be costly- estimated 5-10% of budget- to add lighting to a venue, but it will make a huge impact at first sight, remaining a part of the overall impression and memory of the event and how it is implanted in your guest’s brains. among the many reasons why it’s a good idea to recruit professional help, lighting knowledge- who to work with and what the room needs- is an important aspect of room design.

types of common lighting options:

–candlelight: i have become a huge advocate of amber glass. even if it doesn’t coordinate with your color scheme, it will make the tiny flame look like an orb of warmth. amazing effect. if your venue doesn’t allow fire, then electric candles- in the right holder- can also create a cozy glow.

–string lights: could be large, small, led, multi-colored, or rope-style.

–up-lighting: we recently sent amber light up the pillars at the parthenon. it changes the dynamics of a room!

–spotlights and backdrops: there are several ways to accent or disguise areas using light.

when designing your event space, large or small, be sure to use numerous sizes of objects- it creates depth, interest and glow. with lighting, this could mean different length strands hung from the ceiling, varied levels of votives and candelabra for a centerpiece, or using different colored lights, gels or glass. what other ideas do you have to add visual interest using lighting?

with love,

lindsey

idea + planning lioness

say hi: lindsey@dandylionevents.com

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