Let me introduce you to Todd and Kristie Shafer....
Todd and Kristie were married October 9, 2010 in downtown Nashville on the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. I must admit that their wedding goes up there on my top 3 list. I have never met a bride and groom that were as laid back and fun as Kristie and Todd. If any bride should take a lesson from this wedding, it is that they planned their wedding for their family and friends to enjoy and have fun, and they did not worry about the small stuff. At the end of this post there are some Q&A from Kristie that might help you with planning your wedding. Alright, let's get to the pictures!
I have seen more wedding dresses than I can count, and when I saw Kristie's dress for the first time my initial thought was "pretty". However, when she added the belt to her dress the thought that came to mind was "stunning". You will see what I mean when you see her bridals below!
The beautiful flowers were designed by the talented Hilary Robson with http://www.brocadenashville.com/
Kristie's and Todd's theme for their wedding was country chic. A native of South Dakota, Kristie has grone to love everything about Nashville, from the honky tonks to the tourist landmarks. So pretty much every detail of their wedding was planned on that theme...including the pictures :)
Kristie told me before the wedding that she wanted her pictures to be fun more than anything. She wanted to have her pictures taken in front of the Ryman, on Broadway, and possibly in a display window at a boot shop. Although we couldn't get inside a display window, the nice guys at Trail West allowed us to shoot inside the shop and let Kristie pick out a pair of boots to get her photos taken in. They even helped Kristie get them on! Another must on Kristie's list was to have a few photos taken inside Nashvile landmark, Tootsie's. Everyone was so welcoming, and they even allowed her to get on stage with the band!
Kristie and Todd opted for the "First Glance" rather than waiting to have their pictures taken after the wedding. They met at Hilton Park with the Country Music Hall of Fame as their backdrop.
The middle picture below is what Kristie and Todd like to call their "Signature Pose", so of course they HAD to have one taken of it on their wedding day!
May favorite part of Kristie's and Todd's ceremony wasn't a certain detail or a particular moment, it was the closeness that was shared by their friends and family. Todd's dad was the officiant for the ceremony, which I think made the day even more special.
When it came to the reception Kristie and Todd said that tradition was out. They did not want a first dance or a bouquet/garter toss, and the cake was no exception. Instead of traditional wedding cake, they asked their parents to make their favorite desserts, which is carrot cake for Todd and pumpkin bars for Kristie. The cards in front of the desserts were adorable and described who's favorite dessert it was and that is was a "specialty" of their mothers.
Another great idea they had wasto forego the standard photo signature board that guests typically sign, and instead blew up their wedding invitation on a board with a sign that read "Autograph". Instead of using candy or bubbles as wedding favosr, Kristie chose bottle koozies with a country/western theme that matched the style of their invitation. And what is a country wedding without Jack Daniels? The signature drink of the night was fruit tea and Jack Daniels served in mason jars. In my opinion it was a perfect touch!
For Kristie and Todd's reception backdrop....it doesn't get much better than this in Nashville.
The pictures below do not need an explanation It is pretty clear that everyone had a great time! Scroll to the bottom for Kristie's take on the wedding!
Questions:
1. What was your wedding theme?
We were going for a modern theme with southern flair. We had alot of people travel to Nashville for the wedding and wanted to make sure that it incorporated a southern feel, but make it modern at the same time. I think the food and view gave it the southern, Nashville vibe and the venue gave it the modern vibe.
2. What was the most important thing to you about your wedding?
We wanted the ceremony to feel personal and friendly, not structured and formal. It was important for both Todd and I for the reception to feel like a party. We wanted our friends and family to have fun, but most importantly this was our wedding so we wanted to enjoy it - and we like a good party. Reflecting back on it, it was such a beautiful night (the weather, view, lighting were perfect) so the atmosphere ended up taking center stage. It was the most beautiful night of my life.
3. What was your favorite thing about your wedding?
I'd go with the venue.It was such a unique setting -even the band and caterer seemed excited about it. It wasn't the easiest process to rent, but it was
worth it in the end.
My favorite part of the day was when we were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Todd and Kristie Shafer! It's what the day was all about! I was so happy at that point in time - you can see it on my face in the pics. See image 1607 - you captured it!
5. Why did you pick a band instead of a DJ?
We knew from the very beginning that we wanted a band - this was one of the first things we booked. We wanted a band because it's more unique than a DJ and guaranteed a party vibe. Plus, Nashville is Music City USA and we have so many talented musicians here. We knew how great, quirky, fantastic Bueller was since we'd seen them play a show.
6. Is there anything you would have done differently?
Hmmmm....eloped? But seriously, I can't think of one thing we should have done differently. I guess it's similar to how a parent feels about their children...they think they're perfect!
A side note from Kristie: I hear from people all the time that the pics that you took were the
most beautiful wedding photos they've ever seen! You did such an
amazing job capturing our wedding. Thank you!!!!!
Thanks so much Kristie and Todd for allowing me to capture your day! You guys are the best!
Shanna
