Doing things outside of the norm is what Jaqui + Jason were all about! Their very untraditional wedding consisted of dinner before the ceremony, an outdoor night ceremony and no wedding favors (just a generous donation to charity!). The very laid-back day proved to be something different for guests to enjoy – it wasn't just another Tennessee barn wedding! And when you don't stress during the planning process, you get a non-stressful day! We're so happy to hear Jaqui had the chance to take in every moment of her big day. Let's hear it straight from the bride and see some of their amazing shots captured by Ivory Door Studio!
Jaqui + Jason
Farrar Hill Farms
Manchester, TN
April 23, 2016
150 Guests
Wedding Team
Venue | Farrar Hill Farms
Photographer | Ivory Door Studio
DJ | Premier DJs
Dresses | USA Bridal
Wedding Gown | Casablanca
Hair | Off Mane Street Salon – Sarah Hibbs Williams
Officiant | Marry Me of Tennessee
Cake Designer | Publix
Planner | Ashley Bruce
Honeymoon | Excellence Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Formal wear | Jos. A Bank
#dixonpartyof2
How did you guys meet?
Jaqui: Jason and I met at a New Year's Eve party in the final hours of 2008.
Tell us about your engagement!
Jacqui: We live in Nashville, and a popular Christmas attraction is Opryland. Jason asked me sometime in December if I wanted to go check out the lights (something we have done before, but looking back it's typically me dragging him there, haha!). If you, too, live in Nashville, you know that venturing anywhere near Opryland on December 21 is a huge mistake. I did not want to “sit in the traffic” so I turned the car around!! He suggested we go to Nashville instead and we ended up at a bar on Broadway. After a few drinks, Jason asked me if I wanted to see Riverfront and the lights out there. We ended up walking on the pedestrian bridge and there was ANOTHER COUPLE GETTING ENGAGED. I was all giddy and excited for them and he seemed irritated. We walked a bit further and sat down and before I knew it, he was explaining how much he loved me and I would make him the happiest man in the world if I married him. Of course I said yes, cried, and then was sick for the next two weeks because it was freezing outside. 🙂 Totally worth it!
What was the vision for your wedding?
Jaqui: I sort of have a problem with being different. I saw a photo of a couple underneath a lit tree in wedding attire at some point in my life and knew that is what I wanted to do.. something romantic and gorgeous. We wanted the wedding to be fun for the guests, but also fun for US! So many people told me “you don't have a wedding for you.. you do it for everyone else” and I simply could not stand the thought of that! So we set out to plan a stress free and a new, different experience for people in Tennessee who are probably well-versed in the typical farm wedding by now (NOT that there is anything wrong with burlap and lace – it's just not for me!).
What was your theme and what inspired it?
Jaqui: I think the best words to describe our theme are different, night, and a tad bit of vintage.
What details were used to create your theme?
Jaqui: Lights, lights, and more lights for the ceremony! For the reception, I had half the tables outfitted with lanterns and the other half with floral arrangements. A combination of green, navy, pink, gold, and cream.
Can you share any special moments or highlights from your wedding day?
Jaqui: We had dinner before the ceremony. Another thing that we heard constantly is how you pay for this expensive food and do not even get to enjoy it. We weren't having that and because our wedding was so late in the evening, we didn't want the guests to have to wait to eat dinner until 9pm. It was perfect because Jason and I got to have a private dinner in a gazebo overlooking a pond and have a half-hour to relax and connect before the big moment! Something else I seriously encourage other brides to do is to consider foregoing wedding favors and instead making a donation to a charity you both care about. Jason and I have both lost loved ones who had Alzheimer's so we put a photo of them on the sign on a table, along with a small framed explanation of why our guests weren't going home with a new koozie 🙂
What are some tips you can share with other brides planning their weddings?
Jaqui: Take your time… I can honestly say that I was not stressed out ONE bit because I had about a year and a half to contemplate every detail that was important to me and how we (myself, my mom, and my small army of bridesmaids) would pull this off! I didn't sweat the small stuff and definitely did not splurge on things that I never paid attention to at weddings (e.i., cake… our cupcakes and our “cut cake” were a whopping 70 dollars from Publix and we even upgraded to get cream cheese icing!). We came out of the whole wedding without feeling guilty for over spending which I think helps your marriage start off on the right foot! Lastly… I know you hear this from EVERYONE, and you should listen! It goes by SO fast. It can be crazy busy, but I was very mindful to stop and take it all in several times. I am happy I did that because I have some very fond memories of that day, it was seriously THE best!
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your wedding?
Jaqui: If you're going to spend money anywhere, spend it on the photos and PLEASE get a video… it was so great to relive our day and I hear all the time how people regret not getting a videographer. We now have a really cool memento we can watch every year on our anniversary and remember how great it truly was.
You can read more about Jaqui + Jason's wedding on Ivory Door Studio's blog here.
Thank you so much for sharing your wedding photos with us, Jaqui, Jason + Ivory Door Studio! You can check out more of Ivory Door Studio's work on their website and also on their Instagram page @ivorydoorstudio!
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