Belles Fleurs

North vs. South: A Tale of Two Weddings

2012-01-05T10:16:00.000-08:00

Ok everyone, I (Amy) promised that I would start blogging in the New Year...and here I am! Resolution number 1 is being obeyed--so far.

While I was thinking about what to write for my first blog post at Belles Fleurs, an article that our friend Bill Emmetts from Divine Images.net posted definitely caught my eye...

He shared a piece from the Huffington Post about "The End of the Vintage Wedding Trend." http://huff.to/zQ8XKo

Basically, the article explained that vintage weddings along with their mason jars, mismatched furniture and wildflowers are on their way out. Themes are beginning to shift more towards that of the Royal Wedding: sumptuous whites, (crown) jewel tones, sleek metallics and a richness and opulence fit for a Duke and Duchess.

I get it. Really I do. Millions of future brides and future mothers of brides watched this real life fairytale unfold before their very eyes at 3:00 in the morning. The timeless and classic, borderline old Hollywood feel was just begging to be recreated. It's gorgeous...but does it work everywhere?

On a recent trip home to New Jersey, I found myself describing my new job to several of my parents' friends. I immediately started talking about all of our vintage weddings! They are fun and funky and when done right, can have so much personalization and personality. I think I managed to get out the word "burlap" before the suspicious looks started rolling in...

"Mason jars?...wait, like for jam?"

"So, none of the plates match? or the chairs??"

"People actually serve fried chicken and iced tea?"

I couldn't BELIEVE that these classy women had never heard of anything like this before! They know a wedding world of banquet halls, baroque hotel ballrooms and chic restaurants. They know floral sculptures, art installations, ice block initials and rich colors. They know shellfish towers, beef wellington, champagne cocktails and hazelnut dacquoise cake.

They DO NOT know burlap and twine, vintage brooches, milk glass, mustard and gray, mismatched silverware, succulents, collard greens or red velvet cake.

Honestly, it's all about the area that you live in! A vintage wedding might seem strange or out of place in New Jersey, but then again a big "royal" wedding could be too stuffy for Franklin, TN. Our area just begs for the vintage wedding. Look at all of the Antebellum plantations, mansions, and re-vamped factories in the area!

Now back to Jersey. Mason jars and Queen Anne's lace would stick out like a sore thumb in a plush hotel's ballroom. But--gorgeous royal purple rose topiaries, gunmetal linens, stone crab claws and a cake ball sculpture of Rodin's "The Kiss" would be juuuust right (...let me just have that one, ok?).

The bottom line is: both of these wedding styles are great! ...and not going anywhere! I really would love to be able to do a vintage wedding somewhere in New Jersey, though. Any takers?

Anyway, back to work now! I'm ironically about to post pictures to our Facebook page from a VINTAGE WEDDING photo shoot that we did last month. The pictures turned out great! Hope you all enjoy.

XOX

-Amy

Meridith and Nathan- May 29, 2010

2010-09-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

Meridith and Nathan, thank you for letting us be a part of your special day! We wish you all the happiness in the world!

Friends and fellow vendors that helped make this day possible:

Church: Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Reception: The Parthenon
Cake: The Bake Shoppe
Catering: A Catered Affair
Wedding Dress: Priscilla of Boston, The Bride Room
Bridesmaid Dresses: Priscilla of Boston from Priscilla of Boston Atlanta
Mother of the Bride Dress, Mother of the Groom Dress, Veil, and Flower Girl Dress: Designs by Sara Marie
Hair: Brides by Mary
Make-Up: Amy Lynn Larwig
Wedding Planner: Sarah Willard of Music City Events
Invitations and Programs: Southall Eden
Lighting: REM Entertainment
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Photographer: Jen McDonald Photography
Videography: Baughman Media
Music: The Nashvegas All-Stars

April and Brock- April 1, 2010

2010-09-09T20:45:00.000-07:00

April and Brock, we wish you a lifetime of happiness. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your day!

Amazing vendors who helped make this day possible:

Church: The Donelson Fellowship
Cake: Wedding Cake Design
Reception: Two Rivers Mansion
Photographer: J.Michael Photography
Wedding Planner: By Hearts and Hands

Go-City Centric

2010-07-18T07:17:00.000-07:00

Looking for a fun way to personalize your wedding? Go “city-centric” and highlight the places and landmarks where you first fell in love and will begin your new lives together as husband and wife! Each city is so unique and bursting with ideas to help couples personalize their big day, while being able to share with guests a bit of your relationship history.

As the owner of Brooklyn-based paperie, Lion in the Sun, Melinda Morris is an expert on wedding trends and has helped many soon-to-be-wed couples utilize the uniqueness of their city in their wedding planning and motif.

Here are a few ways to put the “city-centric” wedding trend to work for you:

- Use an picture of a landmark in your city, such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge or the Sears Tower on the invitation

- Instead of numbers, name tables after popular neighborhoods in your city

- Use a vintage postcard from your city as a Save the Date

“For so many couples, the city where you live really sets the tone for who you are and your lifestyle,” says Melinda. “Whether it’s where you met or where you live now (or even a combination), using city-centric themes in your wedding is a great way to make guests feel connected to you and the city you love.”

(Reblogged from Premier Bride's Blog)

Ashley and Daniel- October 3, 2009

2010-06-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

What a fun wedding to be a part of!

We first met Ashley at a local event and from then on it seemed as if we saw each other all the time. As a VIP Magazine of Williamson County staff member, Ashley is a regular at all the must attend events in Nashville and Williamson County.

Ashley was an absolute pleasure to work with. She is truly sincere and has a smile that will warm your heart!

After months of planning, Ashley wed her soul mate in a romantic ceremony held at St. Phillips Catholic Church in Downtown Franklin.

Ashley was absolutely stunning, carrying a bouquet of ivory roses and hanging green amaranthus. She was joined by four bridesmaids, who wore the most beautiful latte gowns. The bridesmaids carried bouquets made of Charlotte and Black Magic roses as well as red dahlias. A gorgeous combination!

The reception at Monell's at Historic Lillie Belles was held immediately following the ceremony. Monell's is one of our favorite wedding venues, as it offers a beautifully intimate setting. The tables set up in the back yard were adorned with cylinders of varying heights, floating candles, and pomanders of red roses and Mokara orchids.

Guests enjoyed the ambiance, food catered by Monell's, and a mouth watering cake from Sweet Dreams Franklin. It was an amazing evening spent celebrating Ashley and Daniel's love and new life together.

The entire evening was beautifully captured by VIP photographer, Alison Ball.

We had such an enjoyable time working with Ashley and Daniel! We wish them nothing but the best in their life together!

Premier Bride Nashville Magazine 2010

2010-05-21T07:35:00.000-07:00

We are super excited about this issue and you should be too! It is chock full of information for any bride and bride to be. Plus, you can find our work all throughout the magazine.

Pick up your copy today or browse the entire magazine online!

The Flood- Help for Displaced Nashville Brides

2010-05-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

Premier Bride Nashville has as great listing of wedding professionals who are damage-free and willing to work with you if you wedding has been displaced. Check the listing out online if your venue or other wedding arrangements have been impacted by floods.

Glossary of White Flowers

2010-05-15T22:52:00.001-07:00

Side by side, an array of all-white flowers reveals a spectrum of gentle shades.

Green stems heighten the white of sweet peas (1).

Yellow bases give freesia petals (2 and 7) a subtle glow.

Petite double narcissus are the softest yellow (3 and 9).

A pair of ranunculuses (4 and 8) flushed pink and green; between them a rose (5) is tinged peach.

Yellow-green centers set off white clematis (6).

Lilies-of-the-valley (10) are sprigged with green.

(Reblogged from MarthaStewartWeddings.com)

Leah and George- September 26, 2009

2010-05-12T22:34:00.000-07:00

As we pull together the pictures of all the weddings we've been working on these past few weeks, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at one of the most beautiful weddings of 2009 that was yet to be blogged about.

To say that the wedding of Leah and George looked like a fairytale would be an understatement. On the absolutely perfect fall day, this very much in love couple exchanged vows at Scarritt Bennett amongst scores of friends and family members.

Leah could not have looked more breathe taking on her wedding day in a pure white gown with a stunning cap sleeve lace shrug. She carried a bouquet of miniature ivory calla lilies, white roses, and bear grass to compliment her look and was joined by her bridesmaids who wore chocolate brown gowns and carried mango calla lilies and coffee hypericum berries.

The day was seamlessly orchestrated, as Leah and George enlisted the planning expertise of the team at Elegant Weddings by Angela.

Following the ceremony, guests joined Leah and George at aVenue, part of Nashville Event Space, for the reception in their honor. Attendees celebrated their union, enjoying food catered by Chef's Market and cake by Wedding Cake Design by Rebecca.

The entire day was truly magical and was captured by the extremely talented Kevin Wimpy Photography.

We wish Leah and George nothing but the best in their life together. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your day!

The Crane Chandelier

2010-04-25T23:04:00.000-07:00

We are always on the lookout for inspiration and innovative ideas to compliment our own creative process in making brides' dreams reality. To do this we scour websites, magazines, blogs, television...always trying to stay one step ahead of trends and wedding fashion. We come across some truly amazing material and don't see the fun in keeping it all to ourselves. Just recently we found The Wedding Co., a Toronto based company devoted to connecting brides and some of Canada's most talented wedding professionals.

Within about three minutes of entering the site we learned of The Wedding Co.'s Crane Chandelier Project. We were immediately intrigued and excited. This project seeks to construct a chandelier from thousands of origami cranes submitted by engaged couples worldwide. The exact number: 10,000.

With 10,000 of these peaceful tokens of love, the final creation will be a visual representation of a worldwide community of engaged and newly married couples. Each crane will represent a leap of love and the lifelong commitment. of two individuals. Additionally, each crane The Wedding Co. receives, a ¢50 donation will be made to The Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation to fund cancer research.

You can get involved in this project by requesting a pre-made crane for yourself or an engaged friend or DIY ! Just don’t forget to write your names, your wedding date and your location somewhere on the crane. Cranes can be sent to:

Top Picks: Designs by Sara Marie

2010-04-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

Every little girl dreams of her fairytale wedding. Beautiful blue skies, scores of friends and family, a garden of flowers, the love of her life waiting at the end of the aisle....and the dress....the perfect dress. To feel like a princess and the most beautiful you have ever been. Yes, the dress becomes much more than a dress. It becomes an expression of you.

You can scour magazines, try on hundreds of dresses, and fly to big cities in search of "the one." For us, we know where the search ends...Designs by Sara Marie. This Nashville based bridal couturier has the ability to make any bride's dreams come true. Sara Marie of Designs by Sara Marie creates simply magical bridal wear custom designed to fit your exact specifications. Her flawless designs reflect your personal sense of style and are uniquely one of a kind.

We simply adore Sara Marie. In addition to being phenomenally talented, she is an absolute treat. We are lucky to call her our friend and we hope you call her your couturier...you won't be disappointed.

For more on Designs by Sara Marie visit her on the web or check out her blog.

P.S. Stay tuned for pictures from Sara Marie's wedding later this summer. We are over the moon excited to be traveling to Bald Head Island in North Carolina to design the wedding flowers for Sara Marie's big day. It will be our first destination wedding and we can't wait! Pictures of the trip will be included...get excited!

Susanna and Josiah- January 23, 2010

2010-04-11T20:18:00.000-07:00

Susanna and Josiah could not have asked for a more beautiful January day than that of their wedding day. It was one of the warmest days of the month with a perfect breeze.

While we have been involved in the weddings of literally hundreds of men and women making lifetime commitments to one another, we rarely have the opportunity to see the union and hear the words of love expressed during the ceremony. Baring witness to a couples nuptials allows you a glimpse at the love shared between the couple as you are able to hear and see the expressions of love. The thing is that we didn't need to sit in the pews at Scarritt-Bennett during the wedding ceremony of Susanna and Josiah...their love for one another exuded from them. Everything was beautifully captured by Derek Lee Photography.

The couple was surrounded by family and friends who actively took part in their special day. The bride had three bridesmaids stand with her as she married the love of her life. And, she looked stunning while she exchanged her vows. She carried a bouquet of ranunculus, anemones, waxflower, Peruvian lilies, plum carnations, fiji pom poms, and white hydrangeas.

Following the ceremony, the couple celebrated the union at a reception held at Houston Station. They enjoyed a heavenly cake created by Wedding Cake Designs and danced the night away.

It truly was our pleasure to be a part of Susanna and Josiah's special day. We wish them nothing but the best in their future together!

and we're back....

2010-04-11T20:04:00.000-07:00

We didn't really go anywhere, but we've been so busy that we didn't spend much time in our corner of the internet. That is about to change....promise. Get ready because we have a lot to share!

(proof that we have been staying busy...and having fun while we do it)

New (Wedding) Uses for Old Things

2010-03-04T22:38:00.000-08:00

We love Real Simple Magazine. Every month when it comes in the mail, it is like opening a gift. We can't flip to the New Uses for Old Things section fast enough. How come we never thought of using a shower cap for wrapping shoes when traveling or bobby pins for holding a hem in place when ironing? Ingenious! We couldn't have been more excited though to see the New (Wedding) Uses for Old Things on RealSimple.com and just had to share it with you.

Take a look at these sixteen very inventive ideas:

New (Wedding) Uses for Old Things: Clever ways to repurpose everyday items (and in this case, wedding related ones).

Jenna and Matt- October 10, 2009

2010-03-04T21:44:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite things about this industry is being able to see the dreams of couples very much in love realized on their wedding day. We know that the magic of their relationship extends far beyond the day of their actual wedding, but it serves as such a symbolic start to their new life together.

Jenna and Matt chose venues, lighting, and color pallets that can only be described as storybook. Dressed in a strapless hand-beaded gown, Jenna chose to carry a bouquet of roses, lisianthus, hydrangeas, and freesia in stunning whites, blush pinks, and champagne hues. Her bridesmaids, wearing chocolate brown dresses, carried smaller versions of her bouquet with chocolate brown satin ballerina style lacing for the handle treatment.

The day was orchestrated seamlessly by the ever talented Allison Smith of Ala Gala.

The two were married at The Village Chapel in Hillboro Village in a romantic ceremony celebrating their love for one another. Following the nuptials, Jenna and Matt continued the celebration of love at a reception in Liberty Hall at The Factory at Franklin. It is a stunning venue for any event, but the lighting work of Blake Chaffin from Nashville Event Lighting definitely set the romantic tone.

The two met center stage under custom lighting for their first dance. The picture of this moment, captured by Meishack Moore Photographers, is truly breathtaking.

We wish Jenna and Matt nothing but a lifetime of happiness together. Thank you for allowing us to be a small part of your big day!

Winner of WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards™

2010-02-24T19:17:00.000-08:00

We are so excited to announce that Belles Fleurs was selected to receive the 2010 Bride's Choice Awards™ for Flowers & Decor.

This prestigious award recognizes excellence in quality, service, and professionalism within the wedding industry. What makes this award unique is that the award recipients are determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Belles Fleurs is among the top five percent of all vendors in WeddingWire online community, which boasts over 100,000 wedding professionals across both the United States and Canada.

We would like to thank our amazing past newlyweds for nominating us to receive the 2010 Bride's Choice Awards™. Visit our WeddingWire storefront for more information.

Thanks again!

Sara and Ben- October 10, 2009

2010-02-12T18:59:00.000-08:00

Fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year to get married. The weather, especially in Tennessee, is mild and quite often perfect. The variety of color in nature is phenomenal and sets an extraordinary backdrop for photographs and memories. And the flowers, breathtaking.

The beauty of the fall truly set the stage for the union of an amazing couple, Sara and Ben. Married on a crisp fall day in October, you couldn't have asked for more.

Sara and Ben chose the historic Carnton Plantation as the site for both the ceremony and reception of their wedding. We really can not say enough good things about this venue. Beautiful in and of itself, we highlighted the season by placing fall mums and pumpkins at the entrance. Sara chose a beautiful combination of fall flowers for her bridesmaids to carry: vibrant sunflowers, deep purple mums, hypericum berries, antique white hydrangeas, and mango calla lilies.

The two were married in a picturesque ceremony, officiated by nondenominational minister Ralph Griggs, under the shade of the huge tree outside of the Carnton Plantation as beautiful guitar music was played by Rob Higginbotham.

Following the ceremony, the happy couple and their guests celebrated at a reception with food catered by Red Pony in downtown Franklin and a wedding cupcake tower by Wedding Cake Design by Rebecca. In addition to floral designs by Belles Fleurs, the ambiance was created by awesome lighting from Nashville Event Lighting.

It really was a joy to be able to work with Sara and Ben, a couple very much in love. We wish them nothing but the best and thank them for allowing us to be a part of their day!

Sarah and Ben- November 7, 2009

2010-01-31T16:51:00.000-08:00

We put our whole heart into each wedding we do, but there are some weddings that go beyond. It is when we know the bride or groom that makes creating for the wedding that much more special. We give our heart and soul to see to it that everything is just perfect. This was definitely the case with Sarah and Ben's wedding back in November.

Ben holds a special place in our heart, as he was the web designer for the Belles Fleurs site and we couldn't be more grateful for the amazing work he did. Additionally, Bonnie Colleen, our Design Coordinator, is a family friend of Ben's and has known him for years. Of Ben she said, "We've watched Ben grow into a wonderful man. He is talented, charming, and witty and it was our honor when he introduced us to his college sweetheart, Sarah."

Seeing these two together, you just know they were made for one another. They compliment one another in the perfect way and truly radiate happiness. Yep, we think they are a pretty awesome couple.

So, on a beautiful November day Sarah and Ben exchanged vows at the Riverview Courtyard in Nashville. This venue is absolutely breathtaking. It is chic and has stunning views of the river and downtown.

Complimenting the surroundings, Sarah and Ben chose a sophisticated color palette of blush pink and graphite grey which was stunning with ivory calla lilies and dendrobium orchids that had a natural blush pink to the centers.

Beautiful on any given day, Sarah was absolutely stunning on her wedding day. Her hair and makeup (as well as the hair and make up of the brides maids) was done by the uber cool Pink Mullet Salon.

Following the ceremony, the happy couple and all of their guests celebrated at Cellar One. If you haven't yet seen this place, check it out. It is an amazingly unique space that is just perfect for a reception.
It really the perfect day for this awesome couple to entering into marriage. They will have memories for a lifetime of the day...especially with the help of the talented Gavin Saha Photography.

We are so overwhelmingly happy for Sarah and Ben and wish them nothing but the best of luck in their life together. Thank for letting us be a part of your day!

Top Picks: Evin Photography

2010-01-24T07:35:00.000-08:00

We have the honor to work with some amazing vendors and have developed some great working relationships. We want the best for your wedding, so what better way to introduce you to our favorites than to blog about them? Next up: Evin Photography.

Your wedding day is one you will never forget. It is filled with a flurry of emotions, celebration, and love. Clearly, we believe that flowers are a key element in beauty of your big day, but we do understand that there is another element crucial to ensuring your memories to last a lifetime: photography.

Having an amazing photographer really does ensure that the memories you make on your wedding day are documented for a lifetime. We can't think of a more talented and enjoyable photographer to work with than Evin at Evin Photography.

A Nashville native, Evin knows the best places (and people) in town. She began shooting weddings in 2005 and has worked steadily ever since. One look at her photographs and you will know why. She has a keen ability to truly capture the moment.

Visit Evin at her Downtown Franklin studio, we are confident you will be happy that you did. You can also find Evin Photography online: www.evinphotography.com or on her blog: http://evinphotography.blogspot.com/.

Top Picks: Wedding Cake Design by Rebecca

2010-01-14T19:34:00.000-08:00

We are back after a long hiatus. Hopefully everyone had an enjoyable holiday season. Here at Belles Fleurs, we definitely did! We had the privilege to work on some really exciting weddings over the holidays and we'll be sharing those with you shortly. But, you will have to stay tuned...

For now, we are going to introducing a new series: Top Picks.

We have the honor to work with some amazing vendors and have developed some great working relationships. We want the best for your wedding, so what better way to introduce you to our favorites than to blog about them? First up: Wedding Cake Design by Rebecca.

Wow, where do we even start? Rebecca Schreher of Wedding Cake Design by Rebecca has to be hands down one of our favorite vendors to work with. She is an absolute breath of fresh air...and her cakes? They are to die for.

We do have to tell on ourselves a little though...when Rebecca first contacted us over a year ago about meeting and possibly collaborating, we kindly explained that we already had two preferred cake vendors and didn't really need another. Rebecca may tell the story differently even though we are positive we were nothing but sweet and thankful for her inquiry. :) A few weeks later, Rebecca visited a wedding dress boutique that Belles Fleurs worked with exclusively and she left samples of her cakes. We may have devoured the equivalent of an entire sheet cake in one sitting. Her cakes are amazing! Needless to say, we emailed her and have been recommending her ever since.

Rebecca has over 15 years of baking experience and grew-up working in her family baking business in upstate New York. So, you could say baking is in her blood. She specializes in cakes with butter cream icing and says that her most popular cakes are white, chocolate, and marble. But, let's be honest...everything she makes is great!

We love Wedding Cake Design by Rebecca and know you will too!

Oh, and if the fabulousness of her cakes weren't enough to convince you...this might (Wedding Cake Design by Rebecca will be at the Nashville Premiere Bridal Show on January 17th):

Chicago- January 2010

2009-11-12T09:25:00.000-08:00

Can we just say how much we want to go to this show?

On January 30th 2010, Chicago will be the location for a unique wedding event. The event, called Indie Wed will be the first of its kind in the Midwest, bringing together local vendors with a twist. Indie Wed caters to unconventional couples who are taking a more modern, edgy, or eco-friendly approach to their special day as well as the more conservative couples who simply want to add some special touches. The event will highlight the work of local independent designers specializing in various wedding related fields including stationery, cakes & pastries, fashion, catering, floral design and photography.

Yes, it would mean going to Chicago in January and braving subzero temperatures, but it looks totally worth it. Fingers crossed! It is always great to get to see what others in the industry are doing. Go and check out the Indie Wed site to see the awesomeness.

Ranunculus

2009-11-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

Is this not the most beautiful ranunculus ever? We think so.

Thanks clubha.us for this awesome picture!

Tiffany and Ed- October 24, 2009

2009-11-02T06:43:00.000-08:00

Fall may just be our favorite time of year. The weather is amazing. The colors are so beautiful. And, it is the perfect time for weddings!

Tiffany and Ed found love through E-Harmony and were an instant match. They chose to celebrate their new life together last month at a beautiful ceremony. Friends and family gathered as the two exchanged vows at Brentwood United Methodist Church on a perfect October day.

The events of the day were captured by Mahalo Photography and 2Duce2 Videography. As always, it was an absolute blast to work with Michael and Michelle from Mahalo Photography.

Tiffany chose a beautiful combination of marine blue, purple, lavender, and white for her wedding. It translated stunningly in all details of the day. The bridal party wore marine blue gowns and carried bouquets with lavender, blue, and purple flowers.

Tiffany carried a gorgeous bouquet of hydrangeas, lavender gladiola blossoms, moon carnations, hypericum berries, stock, larkspur, calla lilies, delphinium, roses, freesia, agapanthus, and limonium.

In a reception immediately following the ceremony, Tiffany, Ed, and guests celebrated at the Old Natchez Country Club. It is an awesome venue for a wedding reception with breath taking views. We love this picture of their cake by Dulce Desserts set against the backdrop of the country club grounds. It almost doesn't look real!

We had such a good time with this wedding and are thankful Tiffany and Ed allowed us to be a part of their day!

Randi and Wes- October 16, 2009

2009-10-26T13:27:00.000-07:00

This couple was the epitome of happiness. True soul mates. That fact, was undeniable. From the second you meet them, their love for one another is undeniable.

Randi and Wes met through Christian Cafe after having tried other dating venues. What the site resulted in was this match made in heaven. Their first date was at a Starbucks in Hendersonville and also served as the location of the proposal. It was only fitting that the two had their photographer, Evan Baines Photography, capture some shots of them there on the day of their wedding.

Randi knew exactly what she wanted when it came to flowers. She asked for warm colors and fall tones. Very exciting for us because we really believe that there are few things more beautiful than autumn flowers. The colors are so rich and just breathtaking.

With the wedding held at the Spring Haven Mansion, the somewhat cold and rainy weather did not damper any one's spirits. The venue was absolutely picturesque with each detail beautifully executed.

Randi carried a bouquet with an array of fall flowers: hanging amaranthus, orange red protea, mango calla lilies, circus roses, miniature green hydrangeas, green dendrobium orchids, nora brown mokara orchids, and seeded eucalyptus.

The reception held immediately following the romantic ceremony was held at the Spring Haven Mansion as well. Guests enjoyed food catered by Hometown Catering and a gorgeous cake from Wedding Cake Design by Rebecca.

We wish Randi and Wes a lifetime of the happiness that they know today. Thank you both for allowing us to be a part of your story. You were a joy to work with!

Franklin Bridal Ball- September 24, 2009

2009-10-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

We had the best time at the Franklin Bridal Ball this year! The event was held at the Factory in Franklin and was a huge success. So many of our friends and vendors came out for the event.

We showcased new work and talent at the bridal ball, as we have some new designers on staff. Our work at the bridal ball was inspired by the runway trends at this years Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City. We highlighted the "it" colors and patterns for the Spring 2010 season. What resulted was some beautiful work, if we do say so ourselves. Enjoy!

A special thanks to our friends at You're Invited! for sending us pictures of our booth.

Sable and Jeffrey- June 13, 2009

2009-10-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

It looked like a page in a storybook. Nestled in a wooded area in White House, Tennessee is the Village Chapel at Grace Park, which served as the site of both the wedding ceremony and reception for the union of Sable and Jeffrey. It was absolutely picturesque.

The reception hall was colorfully decorated in beautiful canary yellow, watermelon pink, coral, and Kermit green, which served as the colors of the wedding and were infused into each detail. The bridesmaids wore flowing Kermit green gowns and carried bouquets with pinks, corals, and yellows. The color combination truly was the perfect combination for this festive summer wedding.

Sable, the blushingly bride, carried a bouquet of: white Asiatic lilies, white lisianthus, white freesia, mambo roses, coral gerbera daisies, and white dahlias.

We always enjoy brides who are eager to play with color and flower combinations. This was very much the case for the wedding of Sable and Jeffrey. It was our honor to be a part of this special day. We wish the happy couple years of happiness together. Congratulations!

Tamika and Broderick- June 6, 2009

2009-10-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

If we were giving out superlatives, Tamika and Broderick would most definitely win the award for "Most Affectionate Couple." It is one of the most exciting things about being in this business, meeting some amazing couples that are so very much in love and about to begin a new journey together in life.

Tamika and Broderick met and fell in love in St. Louis, Missouri. They went to a park on their first date and within minutes they were surrounded by dragonflies. For those who do not know, dragonflies signify new beginnings in life. What they didn't know on that first date was that they could not have been sent a more clear sign. From that day forward Tamika and Broderick were inseparable.

The wedding and reception were held at the beautiful Millennium Maxwell House Hotel Nashville. And, the entire day was photographed by our good friends Michelle and Michael at Mahalo Photography (formerly Lamberth Photography). A big shout out to Allison of Ala Gala who was Tamika and Broderick's wedding planner and made sure the day ran smoothly and as planned.

The wedding colors were the very popular and very elegant Tiffany Blue and chocolate brown. The bridal party was one of the biggest we have ever done, 12 bridesmaids and junior bridesmaids. This is truly one blessed couple to have so many close friends and family members.

The bridesmaids dressed in flowing Tiffany Blue gowns carried bouquets of a single white rose and baby's breath.

The junior bridesmaids carried bouquets of baby's breath and wore stunning chocolate brown knee length dresses.

To symbolize their new beginning, Broderick wore a dragonfly pin in place of a flower bountonnier. It is the special and meaningful touches like this one that we love to see incorporated into weddings, as this truly carried a great deal of personal significance for the couple.

The bride walked down the aisle and was absolutely radiant. She carried a bouquet of chocolate cosmos, dark mango calla lilies, safari sunset, leonidas roses, and pods.

It was a day of celebration, as this couple very much in love began a new life together. We wish them nothing but happiness and continued love in their life together.

Camy and Cliff- July 18, 2009

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What a fun wedding! It is our absolute favorite thing when a bride isn't afraid to use a little color and play with her flower selection. Camy was a blast to work with because she was so open to being creative and the results were amazing.

Camy and Cliff were married at Brentwood Country Club, which was also the location of the reception. The colors were ivory and black, yet the bride asked for lots of color in the bouquets with beautiful pinks, purples, greens, blues, etc. The bridesmaids carried bouquets with orange snapdragons, purple lisianthus, hot pink gerbera daisies, yellow Peruvian lilies, Kermit button pompoms, bupleurum, and lavender dahlias. Camy's bouquet had white dahlias, white stock, white Asiatic lilies, gloriosa lilies, purple lisianthus, orange freesia, ivory hydrangea, and Kermit button pompoms.

The yummy looking cake was decorated with pink, red, and orange gerbera daisies. Very simple, yet still beautiful.

It was our honor to be a part of this wedding. Congratulations, Camy and Cliff! Best of wishes!

Kristin and Colton- July 11, 2009

2009-09-23T09:16:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more romantic than a couple of childhood sweethearts. Friends since the 8th grade, Kristin and Colton are the quintessential All-American couple. Every one at the wedding remarked that she looked just like a Barbie doll and he was her Ken.

Colton joined the US Army as a senior in high school and serves in an infantry stationed at Fort Riley in Kansas. The wedding took place a couple months before Colton was being deployed to Iraq to allow this very much in love couple the opportunity to enjoy married life.

The two celebrated their nuptials at Monell's at Historic Lillie Belle's in Downtown Franklin and the memories of the day were captured by Evin Photography. Monell's is breathtakingly beautiful, with an outdoor wedding gazebo surrounded by lush gardens. The setting looks like it taken right out of a storybook and every girl's dream for her wedding.

The wedding colors were Tiffany Blue and chocolate brown, which added to the sophisticated elegance of this wedding. Kristin's bridesmaids wore the cutest strapless chocolate brown dresses and carried bouquets of white gerbera daisies wrapped with Tiffany Blue ribbon.

Kristin walked down the aisle carrying a stunning combination of white gerbera daisies with sparkling rhinestones in the center and stephanotis blossoms with pearls in their center.

And, let's not forget the cakes. Oh, the cakes were jaw droppingly delicious looking and were from Wedding Cake Design by Rebecca.

Colton's Groom's cake was in the shape of a military issued gun and rested on a table of camouflage. It was truly unique and also done by Rebecca at Wedding Cake Design.

It definitely was our pleasure to design the flowers for Kristin and Colton. We wish them years of happiness in their new life together.

Thanks guys for letting us be there with you on your special day!

Michelle and Michael- June 13, 2009

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There is nothing more exciting than getting to do wedding flowers for one of your favorite couples. We have worked with Michelle and Michael on several weddings as they are the owners of Lamberth Photography (now Mahalo Photography). Being able to see them in front of the lens and prepare for their special day was so exciting. The couple was photographed by Dara Harris of Dara Harris Photography and the results were absolutely stunning.

The couple exchanged vows in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. They could not have asked for a more perfect summer day. It was definitely summer in Tennessee (very hot) and very beautiful.

Michelle carried a bouquet of blue,violet, and white hydrangeas, lisianthus, and green cymbidium orchids. It was a replica of one that Michelle found on theknot.com and fell in love with. The results were pretty amazing...it looked so similar and we were happy to give Michelle her dream bouquet.

After celebrating their union, the couple took off to honeymoon in Hawaii. It was true paradise for this photography couple and even inspired the name for their new company, Mahalo Photography.

We wish them a lifetime of happiness and can't wait to work with them again!

Clover and Emerson- May 9, 2009

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We can't say enough good things about the wedding of Clover and Emerson. An artist and a med student...apparently the recipe for an amazingly fun couple and even better wedding.

Before we even get into the details of the nuptuals, we have to say how much we love Zach and Jody of Gray Photography. They are absolutely the best, but we don't need to tell you...the pictures do all the talking. The. Absolute. Best.

The two exchanged vows at West End United Methodist Church the day before Mother's Day and could not have asked for better weather. It was originally suppose to rain, but it held off...giving them perfect weather.

The bride carried a bouquet of white hydrangea and white California garden roses. And her seven attendants carried bouquets of white hydrangea.

We left our mark on the groom as well, with a single calla lily boutonniere.

After the ceremony, the Bride, Groom, and all of their guests traveled to the beautifully exquisite Hermitage Hotel for the reception. You couldn't ask for a more romantic setting. The room was adorned with candles everywhere casting an elegant glow on all of the tall cylinders of Granny Smith Apples and vases of California garden roses.

And the cake? Stunning! Dulce Desserts did an amazing job!

We had an absolute blast and were thrilled to be a part of this wedding. We can't help but think that our flowers made the evening (yep, shameless self promotion).

We wish Clover and Emerson nothing but the best! Thank you again for letting us being a part of your day!

Anne and Ed- May 2, 2009

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It was the bride's love for gardening that inspired this colorful wedding, highlighted with beautiful periwinkles and vivid corals.

The marriage of Anne and Ed took place in early May. The two exchanged vows at Franklin Cumberland Presbyterian Church and they celebrated with a beautiful outside reception held at the family home.

Anne was absolutely radiating, as she carried a bouquet of blue hydrangeas and deep coral roses. It was a joy to be a part of their special day.

Rachel and Eli- April 18, 2009

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It was clear after our first meeting with Rachel that this was going to be a fun wedding to be a part of. Rachel is absolutely the coolest girl with a very artistic sense, so the we knew the wedding would be nothing less than a blast.

Married at the Cool Springs House in Brentwood, Tennessee the wedding and reception took on a picnic style theme on the perfect spring day. There were handmade quilts everywhere and guests enjoyed fresh squeezed lemonade and chicken salad sandwiches from Merridee's (our favorite place in Franklin). Plus, there was an adorable cupcake tower from none other than Curious Gourmet Cupcake Cafe.

Rachel carried a beautifully unique bouquet that complimented the purple and green theme. It included white and green hydrangeas, green hypericum berries, purple moon carnations, purple anemones, and purple and white lisianthus.

It definitely was a fun wedding to be a part of and we wish Rachel and Eli nothing but the best!

Photographs compliments of Jonathan Frazier Photography.

Danielle and Jeremy- January 17, 2009

2009-09-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

This wedding truly was a labor of love. We met Danielle and her mom our first day at David's Bridal in Franklin, where we serve as a preferred vendor. Bonnie Colleen, our Design Coordinator, and Danielle's mom quickly formed a great friendship and worked in tandem to help Danielle plan her special day. With Danielle's mom being out of state, Bonnie served as the wedding planner for Danielle and Jeremy.

For memories to last a lifetime, the entire day was documented by Lamberth Photography.

After months of planning, the big day had arrived. It was what felt like the coldest day of the year, but the temperature virtually went unnoticed as the love that this beautiful couple had for one another could be felt in the air.

The two were married at First United Methodist Church in historic downtown Franklin. And, Danielle walked down the aisle carrying a bouquet of white lilies and blue delphinium. She was absolutely stunning!

After the ceremony, family and friends continued the celebration at the reception held at Mere Bulles Restaurant where they enjoyed a to die for cake from The Cake Lady.

As Danielle and Jeremy creep closer to their one year anniversary, they are still as in love as ever. They also have exciting news to announce. Danielle, a talented vocalist, has begun performing regularly. She's been the wedding singer at two of our weddings to date...and we anticipate many more in the future. Check her out: http://daniellerichardson.com/

Congratulations, Danielle and Jeremy! Thank you for letting us be a part of your big day!

Emi and Michael- November 28, 2008

2009-09-16T21:52:00.001-07:00

The day after Thanksgiving set the stage for the beautiful union of Emi and Michael. In all of our years seeing couples join together, we are at a loss for a more beautifully perfect couple than these two.

Married at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Franklin, Tennessee with the reception held at The Hermitage Hotel, the entire day was breathtakingly beautiful.

Emi carried a bouquet of white tulips, white stock, mango calla lilies, ivory spray, California garden roses, hypericum berries, and roses.

The bridesmaids' bouquets were just as beautiful, made up of mango calla lilies, lily grass, and hypericum berries.

The cake looked to die for delicious and was designed by Jo's Cakes and Catering.

And the stunning photographs for the entire wedding were taken by our dear friends, Peter and Whitney, at Dove Wedding Photography.

Crystal and William- October 18, 2008

2009-09-16T21:29:00.000-07:00

Our first out of two weddings on the beautiful October afternoon could not have been more perfect.

Although they grew up in what would seem like polar opposite environments, with Crystal being from Canada and William being from California, they joined together in perfect harmony. Crystal looked absolutely stunning and carried a bouquet of Black Magic and Orange Unique roses.

During both the ceremony and the reception, Crystal's violin and fiddle students from Vanderbilt University serenaded guests. It truly was an event overflowing with love and happiness, where everyone close to the couple was involved- including their dog, Mandy, who greeted guests with an array of flowers adorning her collar.

Meeting Crystal just one month before her ceremony at the Love is in the Air Bridal Fair at the Cool Springs Galleria was a blessing for both of her and Belles Fleurs. We all were able to relish in the beauty of the day, the flowers, and the love.

Carla and Brian- October 18, 2008

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What do you get when you combine the perfect October day and an an outdoor wedding? Perfection.

Carla and Brian exchanged vows at the bride's home in Nashville and the results were simply stunning. See for yourself...

The bride's bouquet was a beautiful mixture of antique green hydrangeas, pink roses, and miniature calla lilies.

Much like the bride's bouquet, the three bridesmaids dressed all in black carried bouquets of big antique green hydrangeas and pink roses.

It truly was a beautiful wedding. We were happy to be a part of Carla and Brian's big day.

Selina and Ryan- August 30, 2008

2009-09-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

So much can happen in a year. It seems like it was only yesterday that we were gearing up for one of our first weddings. And, what a treat to be able to provide the flowers for such a wonderful couple.

As Ryan was home on leave from active duty with the United State Marine Corp, he and Selina tied the knot in the romantic ceremony on August 30, 2008 on Nashville's own General Jackson. It was the perfect evening for a couple very much in love.

We wish Selina and Ryan a very happy one year anniversary! May the love you shared on your wedding day last a lifetime.

And our blog begins...

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It is believed that the tradition of tossing the bouquet is a way of passing the bride’s good fortune on to others. It is this good fortune that comes in the form of petals and leaves and tied up with beautiful ribbon. The magic of flowers extends far beyond that one beautiful bouquet. Flowers are used to represent the bride and groom’s style. They create a mood and aid in the formation of a theme. And, they assist in making that special day a dream come true.

At Belles Fleurs Designs, we understand the desire of every bride to have the wedding of her dreams. Understanding that, we assist brides in realizing their dreams through the infusion of flowers into the event. Whatever the theme: classic and timeless, romantic and sweet, big city chic, or country casual...we see to it that the event creates memories to last a lifetime.