one of my favorite venues in nashville is houston station. it is a versatile space, easy to find and really pretty cool. my favorite parts are a) the train that passes behind the building -you can see it, but you can’t hear it! and b) the coffee shop located in the same building, notable blends. best hot cocoa i have ever had! i wish i could hang out with elizabeth and scott and the rest of the hs crew more often. we’ve held a few events there now and they are amazing to work with — so chill!

the space itself is large and flexible. we can often structure the ceremony and reception in the same space. it’s big enough to usher guests to one part of the room for a few minutes while we flip chairs and move tables.

dandyLion wedding at houston station — photography (c) la photographie

it is also comfortable for you and your guests. there are two large rooms available for you and your partner to get ready and hang out before pictures. the bathrooms are large and clean for your guests.

houston station also makes it easy for vendors to work there — they built the space with large events in mind. they have an open vendor policy where you can bring in all your own folks except for bartenders (they provide at cost) and possible valet (if needed). the catering/setup room is almost empty except for clear 8′ tables and an ice machine. multiple electrical outlets and circuits ensure that everyone has access to power. there won’t be a short when you plug in your hairdryer and the dj plugs in their pa at the same time. load-in is easy, done through a ramp in the back of the building. for instance- our fastest ever load-in time was completed here, an event for 225 guests and we had all our gear in under 10 minutes.

hillbilly casino playing at houston station — photograph (c) la photographie

we love the space and the staff and think you will, too! contact elizabeth today to start talking about your upcoming event.

with love,

lindsey

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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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themed weddings are all the rage now! tell your guest to show up wearing all black and to shave their heads, bring a white plastic bowl, skip the gifts- just $500 cash.

then have them stand outside the dilapidated house you’ve chosen as a venue for 3 days (they’re waiting to see jack + tyler- you decide who is who). once admitted, serve them clam chowder in their bowl by waiters in all white with smashed faces. vodka + cigarettes should be in endless supply, with various bottles + packaging arranged on the tables.

for after dinner entertainment, the guests can enjoy reading excerpts from towering stacks of decaying, archaic readers digest and national geographic magazines. doubles as decor! toss big fat rubber lips for the get-away.

really special touch? marla popping in and out through the night. or angel face.

and for favors? soap, of course.

love to all,

lindsey

lindsey@dandylionevents.com

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sometimes it’s hard to ask what you think might be a stupid or obvious question. my advice is to hash out every single detail: it can cost you money to not know. for instance, did you know that churches charge you money to be married in their facility?

photo credit here

yes it’s a holy and sacred space- but it’s a business, too. for a popular church or during ‘wedding season’ there can be a rental fee exceeding 4 digits. that doesn’t include the fee for the tech person to be at the rehearsal and wedding to mic up the officiant, your intended and you. do you see how fast this can spiral out of control? ask every question. this is part of why we recommend getting help with your wedding or event. doesn’t have to be from us!

what questions do you have? you can ask here anonymously or send me an email at lindsey@dandylionevents.com

love to all,

lindsey

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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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