Cheekwood Estate & Gardens is one of the most beautiful garden venues in Nashville, so it was a no brainer for Lauren & Thayer to host their September wedding here. September in Nashville is still very warm, yet more comfortable than July and August, so there’s a great end-of-summer vibe. The lovely weather makes it one of the most popular months for weddings in the area, so you have to book your venue and planner far in advance. I was so glad to be able to work with Lauren on her intimate, garden wedding, and we were so thrilled with the results!
Cheekwood has many ceremony options available for different sizes and styles of weddings. Wisteria Arbor is a great choice for a smaller guest count. Lauren and Thayer had an intimate 35 guests at their wedding and no bridal party, so the arbor overlooking the gardens and reflecting pool was the perfect space. For larger events, there are many other garden locations to consider.
When we worked on the design for this wedding, we selected shades of rose pink, apricot, and peach for a lovely end-of-summer wedding. These elements came together perfectly in the flowers and the rentals, and they were a great fit for the venue. Lauren’s bouquet included the perfect shades of pink roses and apricot ranunculus, with some white alstroemeria accents.
Design was very important to Lauren, so of course I couldn’t wait to show her the reception space! Months prior, we carefully picked out each element of the design and went to the Please Be Seated showroom to select items for the table decor. Please Be Seated has a great selection of beautiful pieces, so there’s something for everyone, and going to the showroom with clients is one of my favorite parts of wedding planning. I’d say that this setup did not disappoint!
Tables included these gorgeous gold chargers with rose colored napkins. Lauren provided these rose colored cheesecloth runners, and somehow I was able to find the perfect color match with these dark pink roses. With flowers I always caution brides that we are at the whim of Mother Nature and to never expect a perfect color match. But sometimes the stars align and everything just works out. These roses were absolutely perfect!
After the ceremony, it’s time for a few more couples shots during golden hour before we get the party started with the reception. Cheekwood has so many photo locations, it’s difficult to choose between them. If you want photos across the whole property, you’ll definitely need to rent one of their golf carts to get around.
When it’s time for dinner Chef’s Market provided a three course plated meal for guests. This blackberry salad looks amazing, and I know that the guests loved their entrees, too. Chef’s Market is one of the top caterers in Nashville, and they never disappoint.
Thank you to all of our vendors that made this day so special!
Venue – Cheekwood Estate & Gardens
Photographer – Kera Photography
Catering – Chef’s Market
Rentals – Please be Seated
Tent – Chattanooga Tent
Lighting – Bright Event Productions
Ceremony musicians – Southern Strings
Reception band – Top Tier Band
Hair & Makeup – One10 Beauty
Planning & Florals by Kelsey Gray Events
I would love to talk to you about your wedding! Please fill out the contact form to see if your date is available!
