Ashley's Bride Guide did a feature recently on one of our weddings this summer. It was a spectacular celebration, but it was also a sincere and sweet ceremony with the union of two very spiritual people. Laura Thomas and Jason Sonn were so fun to work with and it was so great to see Laura's visions come to life and Jason's face light up when that happened. Here is the blog about the glam wedding for you to enjoy...

Laura and Jason are uniquely different but kindred soles. Think Green Acres, the television show from the 70’s! They both share a strong Christian faith and have wonderful senses of humor. As beautiful as they are on the outside, they strive to be as beautiful on the inside. This kind of attitude made it so easy to work with them. Laura has a great sense of who she is and the look she wanted to accomplish. She came to my office for their initial consult with the New York/Old Hollywood idea in mind. She also knew her colors but was really able to narrow the choices with the help of my BBJ Linen swatches. With in a few conversations, we were off on our 6 month venture!




Laura, who has a background in the arts and theatre, had spent time in NY. She calls herself a “city girl trapped”. Jason is a true Nashville southern guy. Cracker Barrel is his favorite restaurant! (See groom’s cake below). Jason was gracious with the fact that this wedding was definitely designed around his stylish bride’s interests and loves. And WOW what a site it was!




Let me break down the design of the evening into Details and Challenges:

Wedding Details:

□ Cerise (hot pink) was our pop of color for the night with accents of gunmetal gray and black. (Marilyn Monroe walking down the steps in her hot pink dress was my visual during design process)

□ Lots of rhinestones and jewels adorned everything including votive holders, throw pillows with chandelier appliqués, drink trays, and the Bride’s bouquet.




□ I designed the women’s bathroom to be a “powder-room” with boutique chairs, mirrored side table, a chandelier, assortments of perfumes and monogrammed paper guests towels.

□ I chose Blue Nova Designs -Maria and Link Tipton, for their draping because they carry this fabulous Austrian Drape that I wanted to use to cover the walls of an outside patio that I would later transform into a beautiful ballroom with a black and white floor.




□ Lounge seating with custom black covers (Liberty Party Rental) provided the chaise feel of the Sinatra days.


□ I am a huge fan of the LED ice cubes that rotate their flash. We used a constant beam of hot pink in the fabulous signature drinks. As guests entered, they were greeted with jeweled covered trays and a pink potion that lured even the manliest of guests.

□ The Bridal cake was changed at least 3 times if not more and the final design was chosen only TWO WEEKS before the wedding. When all ales fail, go with your gut! Laura ended up choosing the cake that she walked in my office with and it was spectacular! Very art deco and Jay Qualls with Maples Wedding Cakes as the designer.



□ The Buffet was beautiful as it was plentiful and designed by Shannon Bates with Chef’s Market.




□ Lighting transformed the original urban space into a pink palace fit for even Marilyn herself.




□ I commissioned Blue Nova Designs to make light box coffee tables that I had been dreaming up for at least 3 years. They were the perfect company to fulfill my dream! I had them make metal framed boxes with a white spandex cover and then top them with mirrors so that guests had table top space at their lounge seats. To add to the vibe…I had Jason Davis with Davis Lighting Design add LED lights to the boxes so they would glow and no cords to mess with!


□ FEATHERS! - Such an important part of the entire design…Laura’s invitations were designed by the fabulous Southall Eden Paperie, Shannon O’Kelley. Shannon accomplished the Broadway feel that Laura requested and she added a feather with a pink jewel and gunmetal wrap to the outside to pull all the elements together. (Even more detail…we chose a square jewel for the invitations because Laura’s engagement ring had a square setting.)I found beautiful feather arrangements through a company I use for wholesale event décor. Premier W.E.D. staff spent many hours assembling the 15” white ostrich feathers for over the top dinner table arrangements.

□ FLOWERS! A Village of Flowers, Dora Bowling-lead designer for this wedding, met with us to create that lush, hot pink feel that Laura loved. I think VOF used over 4 cases of carnations to create the square bases that I designed for the feather arrangements to sit atop. It was something that I felt was necessary to bring them up to a comfortable height for the seated guests, but it brought the element of “pink fluff” that Laura loved. At the ceremony….I talked Laura into doing lacquered branches that were HOT PINK. Of course matching her linens and her custom painted bar. VOF created two 7ft tall arrangements for either side of the foyer of the Woodmont Christian Church adorned with prisms and tufts of hot pink peonies. Davis Lighting Design-Jason Davis added the wireless LED lights into the base of the branches so that I could get the glowing effect from my design.
□ I commissioned artist Ellen Summers to create the NY skyline that I had painted & hung behind the buffet.



□ Last, but NOT least….I couldn’t have captured the before and after with out the help of one of my favorite photographers KEONI KEUR of KeoniK Photography. He flew to NY to shoot Laura for her bridal portraits. I had asked that while he was there that he shoot classic shots of the city (taxis, etc.) in black and white so that I could blow them up and use them as art with in the event space. Those shots were my absolute FAVORITE! The wedding day pictures were amazing as always but limited by light and time with my sweet client being over an hour late to the church. (Hey…can’t judge…no one wants to be rushed on their wedding day and yet somehow they always are!) Even still…Keoni managed to take some really edgy and yet refined shots of the couple. He was able to capture the classic side of Jason and the urban side of Laura.



Event Challenges□ Set up time…..to turn One Eleven into the Old Hollywood/NY glam space that I had designed and Laura had dreamed of was a battle against the clock. One Eleven required my staff and vendors to leave the premises the night before by 5pm and that was limiting. However, it is rare to find a venue that will allow you time at all the day before with out a hefty fee. Of course both days of set ups a key vendor was late and that was a crucial factor in the other vendor’s schedules.
□ Wind….The evening of the wedding was a perfect night except for the winds that blew across the oberservation deck where several of the feather arrangements not to mention candles were toppling over. Tye with A Village of Flowers worked diligently on securing the arrangements to the tables with no luck. A last minute change was necessary to the overall design and drapes with in the space had to be readjusted. Mother Nature…
□ Music…The entertainment agency for the band had burned a disc of the important songs (father daughter dance, first dance, etc.) and when it came time to introduce Bride and Groom…the disc didn’t read on their mother board. Luckily, the lead guitarist had a back up. Ooops! That wasn’t working either! In a complete panic, we were scrounging for a lap top or a wireless service and realized we could download the music straight from iTunes on our sound guy’s iPhone. Thank you God for iTunes! With in a minute, we had downloaded 4 of the special requested tracks and we were ready for the Bride and Groom!
All weddings are a process of ups and downs. I think perfection is what the client dreams of when imagining their special day and absolutely what a planner strives for. However, it is never perfect. Did I mention never? The end result should be perfect and that is what matters. This wedding was just that! The families and the bride and groom were gracious and kind and had a wonderful evening but behind the scenes of getting that perfection? Well, let’s just say I took a long vacation when it was over but I’d do it again tomorrow if asked! I am truly blessed to LOVE my job and the amazing people I work for.
Congrats to Laura and Jason!