Beautiful Bridals

We have had another one of our beautiful brides bridal portrait's here at the mansion. Wow, that's a tongue twister. I wanted to share some of the amazing images sent to us by Jack from Silent Light Images. Here are a few of our favorites. Enjoy!

Flexibility with a "Reception Only"

Are you planning a wedding and wanting to incorporate "tradition" and "fun"?

Having a ceremony at a church and a reception at a venue can save money and still give you the ambiance you are looking for to make your wedding one the guests will never forget, not to mention a guest experience beyond comparison.

Imagine, while guests commute from the church ceremony and enter your reception they could be greeted with yummy passed appetizers and speciality cocktails. As guests enjoy the cocktail time, you and your bridal party will be getting those special pictures. Then the fun begins with dancing and mingling with guests because after all they came here for you. This is just a glimpse into what a "Reception Only" could entail.

Pictures provided by Tucker Photography.

March's Open House

What a great Open House!!

We would like to say "Thank You" to all of the brides that came to visit Riverwood for our March Open House. We had a great time sharing the mansion with all of you!

Who would have thought that a March day would have almost 70 degree weather. Because of the wonderful weather, the enchanting gardens were even more enjoyable. Many of our couples took strolls thru the twinkle-light adorned garden.

If you did not get a chance to visit the mansion at our Open House here are a few snapshots to enjoy.

We would like to say a big thanks to Jack with Silent Light Images for capturing all of these faboulus shots of our enchanting facility.

$ Riverwood Value $

What are you getting for your money?

I have a friend that is getting married in May. She recently told me " Wow, keeping track of all the little extras is so hard and it all adds up so fast."

When you start looking for places to get married in Nashville in this economy, cost is at the top of your list. The costs can definitley add up quickly and being informed on exactly what you're getting for your money is vital to keeping your budget in check. When Riverwood Mansion first opened its doors, the owners wanted to create a place where a bride could have it all and at an all-inclusive price.

Here are some of the costs that are inlcuded at Riverwood:

• All inclusive pacakges are available (Priceless... How much is your time really worth?)


• Beautifully manicured, master-designed gardens create a perfect ceremony location ($2,000 value)
  
• On-site rentals which will save on delivery charges and time (Usually will cost 20% of order)


• In-house wedding coordination with full knowledge of the mansion's benefits. This includes meetings to discuss the ceremony, timeline, layout, and flow of the event. ($3,000 value)


• A weather plan with no worries just in case of rain or a cold snap for your ceremony. ($2,000 value)


• A 4,200 sq. ft. heated tent can serve as a perfect area for a reception full of dancing. ($2,000 tent & $750 value in heaters)
  
• The bride can bring in her own alcohol to be served to the guests to save money on a bar. (Approx. $20 per person)


• A bridal portrait session includes 2 hours of full access to the mansion and gardens. ($150 value)

Photos courtesy of: Martin E. O'Connor

Ideas and Inspiration.....

As I was researching new trends and great ideas to pass along to

our Riverwood brides I came along a wonderful website,

http://www.stylemepretty.com/.

This blog was created by an imaginative, Vanderbilt alum that put

her creative talents to use by inspiring brides from all over.

The hardest part of a wedding is getting all of those great ideas

that are stuck in your mind and pulling them together to get that

perfect wedding you have been dreaming of your entire life.

I do agree that inspiration boards are a great way to

showcase the theme of your wedding, plus it can

help translate your vision to others.

Here are some great detail photos I found that

could be included on an inspiration board. These are from some

of our passed weddings that I absolutley love.

Remember to make your wedding your vision!

Photos courtesy of Meishach Moore

A Bridesmaid's Job Description

To help the bride in anyway

possible on the most

important

day of her life

Bridesmaids are usually close friends or family members to the bride and typically play a vital role on the day of the wedding. They host showers, run errands, and help in anyway the bride requests.

They do anything from packing the farewell car to setting out place cards- these are the girls to ask. Some bridesmaids tend to forget that being asked to be in a wedding is an honor and should treat it as such. When asking a friend to be in your wedding, remember there is no etiquette saying exactly who you should choose to be a part of your special day. Try to forget any preconceived notations on what a bridesmaid or bridal party should look like. Don’t try to create even sides during the ceremony between the bridesmaids and groomsmen by asking not-so-close friends to be a part of your special day. There isn't a "norm" and it's wonderful to create your own standard.

At Riverwood a bridesmaid's responsibilty to just to take care of the bride, the Riverwood staff will do the rest.

Photos courtesy of Divine Images

Enjoying Outdoor Weddings

Glorious Gardens... Mother Nature's Backdrop..... The Back-up Plan....

When any bride considers an outdoor ceremony the "what-if's" must be thought about. Having a plan in place can ultimately save the day. Anticipate all of the outdoor elements such as rain (the worst), strong winds, temperature, and even fly-by birds. All of the elements can be accommodated by having a back up plan.




Riverwood has the ability with the mansion and pavilion to have a change over to give the guests a romantic ceremony and a fun reception in the same place, all with no extra costs or work for the bride and the family if rain is anticipated. Rely on your professional vendors to give you advice and their expertise on the way to prepare for the unexpected. Meishach Moore of Meishach Moore Photographers captured the real meaning of the day with these amazing pictures in a not so sunny sky here at Riverwood Mansion.

With the back-up plan in place and an organized staff the amazingly gorgeous bride had a wedding with no wet guests.