Rob and Hilary Clayton’s highlight reel….courtesy of Baughman Media Works!

*A huge ‘thank you’ to Shane Irwin for the use of these photographs!*

Shane Irwin Photography

This sweet couple wanted a fun, casual, colorful May wedding. “Crazy Daisy” was the inspiration they presented to me and we ensured that this ‘theme’ was represented throughout their wedding day. 

Each member of the bridal party wore a different ‘crazy daisy’ color, these colors were scattered throughout the decor and we used daisies in the bouquets. 

Shane Irwin Photography

My sister, Jena, and I designed the bouquets and bouts for the wedding party.  With gerber daisies, roses, italian ruscus, buttom mums and delphinium, we created a playful (and colorful!) bridal bouquet. 

Shane Irwin Photography

The bridesmaids carried simple white gerber daisies and the bouts were kept clean and classic with white roses.

Shane Irwin Photography

Their outdoor ceremony at Gateway Island was kept sweet and simple.  The couple chose to write their own vows and hired a great jazz duo to play during the processional/recessional, keeping the feel light and casual.

Shane Irwin Photography

The five ‘crazy daisy’ colors the couple loved were utilized at the reception site (Walnut House, Murfreesboro TN).  Flowers in the centerpieces, colorful napkins and their sweet rock candy favors added a playful flair to this concert venue turned reception site. 

Shane Irwin Photography - Favors: Kennedy Occasions

With delicious Mexican food, fun dance tunes, and custom-flavored cupcakes, the reception was one of a kind!  Add clear skies and some incredible outdoor photographs of these sweet newlyweds, and I’d say the day was a success! 

Shane Irwin Photography

Tia and Ryan: we had a wonderful time working with you!  I hope your wedding day was everything you dreamed of!  Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day!

Shane Irwin Photography

Ceremony venue: Gateway Island, Murfreesboro TN

Reception venue: The Walnut House, Murfreesboro TN

Photography: Shane Irwin Photography

Rentals: Southern Events, Franklin TN

Florals: Kennedy Occasions

Jazz band (ceremony): Le Jazz Hot 2

Catering: Victor Garcia

Cupcakes: CoffeyLane Pastries

Invitations/Favors: Kennedy Occasions

Coordination: Kennedy Occasions - Emily Kennedy, Jena Boggs, Anna Jordan

What, you ask, might a “stylized shoot” be?  Well, it’s a collaboration of incredible talent (i.e. photography, makeup, model)…

…an awesome location…..

Lotus Blossom Photography

…a beautiful model…

Lotus Blossom Photography

…fun/beautiful props…

Lotus Blossom Photography

Ta-Da! Amber (Lotus Blossom Photography), Lisa Johnson (makeup artist), Kelly Kizer (model), Clay and I traveled to Twin Springs Farm (Clay’s maternal grandparents’ home/barn) for this unique photo shoot.  Kelly’s makeup was gorgeous and she wore a stunning gown courtesy of The Spoiled Lady.  We paired these elements with rustic props/ DIY bouquets and the finished photographs were AMAZING!!

Lotus Blossom Photography

Lotus Blossom Photography

Lotus Blossom Photography

Lotus Blossom Photography

I had a great time designing bouquets to be used for the shoot.  Deep red roses, dusty miller, waxflower and spray roses paired well with the gown Kelly chose and the rustic “feel” we were hoping for. 

Lotus Blossom Photography

And then things got WILD!  Amber’s inspiration for the shoot was Lizzie Borden, who was famous for (allegedly) murdering her father and stepmother in 1892 (she was acquitted) and memorialized in the children’s rhyme:

Lizzie Borden took an axe
And gave her mother forty whacks
And when she saw what she had done
She gave her father forty-one

Lisa did an amazing job on the hair and makeup transformation and we had fun adding a “murder” weapon, bird feathers, and funky birdcages to the mix to set up a Lizzie Borden scene. 

Lotus Blossom Photography

Lotus Blossom Photography

Lotus Blossom Photography

Lotus Blossom Photography

And there you have it!  An incredible collaboration of talent in a beautiful location!  I’m already looking forward to the next one!  *hint, hint Amber!*

Justin Wright Photography

Yep.  It was THAT beautiful. 

I’m excited to share this sweet couple’s wedding and I think the pictures say it all!  Michelle and William are laid back, fun and incredibly easy to be around.  Their wedding party was calm, cool and collected and she worked with super talented vendors!  With no detail overlooked, Michelle planned each aspect of her wedding day perfectly.  Kennedy Occasions was on site the weekend of her wedding to ensure each element of her wedding was tended to and organize key players. 

(A HUGE THANKS to Justin Wright Photography for the use of these photographs!)

And now, the fun part…

Justin Wright Photography

Justin Wright Photography

Justin Wright Photography

Justin Wright Photography

After a beautiful ceremony, guests joined the newlyweds at aVenue, downtown Nashville.  With delicious food and lively entertainment, guests were in for a treat! 

Justin Wright Photography

Justin Wright Photography

Justin Wright Photography

What a great wedding “favor”!  These bookmarks were designed and created by the bride’s father and were paired with fun-flavored Olive and Sinclair chocolate bars! 

Justin Wright Photography

Now for the REAL fun!

Justin Wright Photography

Justin Wright Photography

(Our sweet bride danced ALL. NIGHT. LONG.  And, of course, she still looked incredibly gorgeous after hours of dancing with friends, family and her new husband!)

Justin Wright Photography

It was an absolute pleasure working with these 2 on their wedding day.  Their vendors – excellent, location - perfect & details – exceptional.  Thank you Michelle and William, for allowing us to be a part of your special day!

Justin Wright Photography

Ceremony: Cathedral of Incarnation

Reception: aVenue, 3rd Ave. South

Catering: Chef’s Market

Photography: Justin Wright Photography

Florist: Terry White with The English Garden

Band: Burning Las Vegas

Limo: Matchless Limo

Coordination: Kennedy Occasions - Emily Kennedy, Jena Boggs and Megan Saunders

I feel like I’m always behind with blog posts.  Always.  I think it just gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list sometimes, especially when we are really busy, which we have been….

March and April have been great!  We’ve worked some great events, met some awesome new vendors and worked with sweet friends.  I’m hoping that I can get these events up on the blog ASAP.  Bear with me guys.

To start off our March/April highlights (to be seen on the blog in the near future!), I want to share the wedding of sweet friends, Domenic and Nicole.  As a fraternity brother of Clay’s, we have known Dom for 10 years….I think…something close to that, anyway!  Nicole has been a perfect addition to our group of “couple friends” and we were so honored to be working with them to ensure their wedding day was spectacular!

Nicole was incredibly organized and knew exactly what she wanted.  The couple worked well together to organize the details and plan the traditions that are included in a large Italian wedding.  (Did I mention that Dom is Italian?  Yea…his name is Domenic Vitro….the 18th. BIG Italian wedding!)  From special wedding favors to a delicious “sweets table”, this wedding was full of fun Italian traditions!  Don’t be fooled though!  It wasn’t all about Dom!  Everywhere you looked, you noticed Nicole’s feminine details.  From lush floral centerpieces to the bridesmaids’ sparkling jewelry, the wedding was a lovely blend of Italian traditions and modern feminine touches.

* A HUGE thank you to Paul Wharton for the use of these beautiful photographs! *

Italian "sweets table"

 Aha!  Now I have your attention!   I’m getting ahead of myself so let’s rewind. 

The ceremony took place at the Assumption Church and could not have been more perfect for this couple.  With very little decor needed in this beautiful church, the couple kept things simple, only adding simple markers on the first few pews.

Assumption Church – Nashville, TN

With a palette of black, white and red, the couple let their style shine with tasteful bridesmaids’ dresses and elegant flowers (The Enchanted Florist) and a traditional Catholic service.

Floral design - The Enchanted Florist, Nashville TN

 

 Following the ceremony, guests were invited back to the reception at The Embassy Suites in Murfreesboro to join the couple in celebration.

Probably my favorite element of the evening: an incredible Same Day Edit video by Baughman Media Works!  This talented team took footage shot from the ceremony, edited it in lightning speed, and featured it outside the banquet hall for guests to view as they mingled! 

And please, tell me this is not the most awesome groom’s cake you’ve ever seen?!  Dom, a pilot and Sigma Nu, worked with the talented crew at The French Confection to create this one of a kind groom’s cake!  The fraternity guys LOVED it!

Grooms cake - French Confection, Nashville TN

And because Nicole was a *stunning* bride, I wanted to share some of the sweet photos from their downtown shoot that immediately followed the ceremony.

We had a wonderful time working with these two!  Their vendor line-up was full of incredible people and this post is not complete until we acknowledge those who made this event possible!

Ceremony venue: Assumption Church, Nashville TN

Reception venue and catering: Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro TN

Photographer: Paul Wharton

Videography: Baughman Media Works

Florist: The Enchanted Florist, Nashville TN

Cakes: The French Confection, Nashville TN

Wedding Coordination: Kennedy Occasions – Clay and Emily Kennedy & Megan Saunders

Guys, it was a pleasure!  Congratulations!

Some of you might think I’m crazy, but I have an idea.  And I kindof like it.  As you know, our last name is Kennedy (surprise!).  Currently, our wedding “collections” are titled with precious jewel names (aw, how sweet, right?) but I’m thinking it’s time for a change.  So here’s my thought…..*drumroll please*…..FAMOUS KENNEDY NAMES!!!  Genius, right?! (Of course when I say “famous Kennedy’s”, I mean women!  Who would really book the “Ted Collection”?!)   Clay doesn’t really agree.  Before you side with him, let me make my case, then I want to hear some feedback!  I’m thinking of using the names “Jacqueline, Caroline and Kathleen”, most likely in that order. 

“Jacqueline” would represent our full service collection.  Known for her class and style, Jacqueline is an icon; a woman to be revered.  A president’s wife and a patron of the arts, she was a lady, in almost every sense of the term.  The “Jacqueline Collection” would be suitable for brides looking for assistance in every step of the planning process.

“Caroline” would represent our mid-level planning and coordination collection.  Caroline, Jacqueline’s daughter, is a strong-willed woman; someone who knows what she wants.  An educated woman and political figure, she can figure many things out for herself, which is why I believe her name and representation to be perfect for our “you do some, we’ll do some” collection. 

“Kathleen” (who!?) would represent our day of/month of coordination collection.  A relatively unknown (thanks Sarah!) Kennedy, Kathleen was an avid volunteer.  Spunky and athletic, she worked closely with the Red Cross, always helping others.  A perfect collection for those brides who want to do 90% of the planning with a little help towards the end, right?

In sum, Clay thinks I’m crazy (okay, okay, I did want our company name to be “A Kennedy Affair”. I admit: bad idea.) but I’m kinda digging this.  I’ve had some positive feedback but I want to hear what you have to say!  Let me know….

Dom, a pilot, is gone much of the week flying for a regional airline while Nicole has spent months planning their dream wedding, using a color palette of red, black and white.  The couple also registered for a Mikasa china pattern with hearts….thus establishing our theme “Love is in the air”! 

The date was set for February, almost exactly one month before the wedding and we were able to utilize the heart-shaped decor of Valentine’s Day.  Megan and I had fun conjuring up “sweet” and “lovey” details, including serving champagne and strawberries, heart-shaped doilies and sweet (no pun intended!) favors that shared a fun message with the use of candy names (thanks Megan!)!

From beautiful flowers to classic linens, we focused on using sky blue and bright red to decorate the room.  We had a great time decorating the room with bunting, flowers and LOTS of hearts and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves!

Dom and Nicole are working to plan their honeymoon and registered at Upon Our Star, an online registry where guests can purchase fun gifts like “Dinner for 2 on the beach” or “Scuba Diving lessons”.  Purchasing these gifts is super easy for guests; simply search for the couple’s name, choose the fun gift on their registry and a notification is sent directly to the email address on file for the couple! 

Sadly, we forgot to take a picture of the hosts with the guests of honor!    Overall, a great success: good friends, yummy finger foods, champagne (!) and lots of “love in the air”!  (HAHAHA! I couldn’t resist!)

From bridal to baby, there are a variety of types of showers to celebrate a myriad of milestones in one’s life. Though the planning and execution of the shower can be very stressful for the hosts, when done well, showers can be very rewarding for all parties involved. For example, they can: 

• Temporarily unite family members or friends that do not tend to get along. I hosted a shower for a bride that was marrying into a family where some relatives stopped speaking many years ago. These particular relatives are not typically present at the same functions because of the issues that ensue, and the bride and I were worried that they may make a scene on her wedding day. She wanted them both included in everything, so we invited them to the shower for a trial run. They both came, and they actually spoke to each other and ended up hugging! We were all stunned! The bride was able to feel comfortable that these two would behave themselves on her big day.
• Make the groom or daddy-to-be feel more included. Let’s face it, most of the showers, parties, etc. are pretty much centered around the ladies. You don’t hear most people saying they can’t wait to see the groom’s tux or the daddy’s belly! Having a couples’ shower (or one just for the guy!) involves the man and gives him a chance to share in the celebration. Going the couples’ route also takes a little pressure off of the bride or mommy-to-be. Instead of her sitting there alone and opening gifts while everyone watches her, she gets to feel a little more comfortable with him by her side.
• Give the honoree(s) a chance to relax and enjoy some time with their friends and family prior to the wedding or baby’s birth. Preparing for a wedding and a new baby can both be very stressful for the bride or mommy-to-be. Showers should be a time for the honoree to have some fun and chat with some folks that she may not be able to visit with as much as she’d like during the hustle and bustle of the big event.   

Hello Kennedy Occasions’ blog readers, I’m Amy Kinslow, your local sweet and southern graphic designer. I’ve recently graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. I have been independently designing for family and friends for the past fews years and have just recently begun branching out to small corporations and business owners with my design talents. Wedding invitations, save-the-dates, dinner place cards, thank you notes, tags, labels, stickers, business cards, company catalogs, brochures, posters, flyers, logos, postcards; you name it, and I can help you create it!

 What excites me most about what I do? I love collaborating ideas. Combining a client’s need, idea, and desire with one of my original designs gives me a feeling of accomplishment and self-worth. Creative thinking, designing, and strategizing are what gives me daily excitement and challenge in my career. I’m not a person for monotonous tasks, and I know that with each client my assignment will be a new challenge.

I am different from any wedding invitation boutique or stationery store because I create all custom made designs. So, you have two different wedding invitations, but love both, show me and I can combine the designs to make a unique and original invitation that only you will have and no other bride. Need a couple’s logo? Want a special printed lining for your envelopes or simply just want a truly rememberable invitation that is a reflection of you and your spouse’s style? I can help with that!

A few tips that I have for brides and all clients is to do some research for what it is you are looking for (i.e. wedding invitations or company business cards). Gather an idea of the style you like, colors, fonts, the way something is positioned, paper type, etc.. Also, do a little research or thinking about what you don’t like or need. These few tips will help me get a running start on your project and design needs; making the process run quicker and more smoothly. I am happy to sit down and discuss any idea under the sun and show you idea examples. Whether it’s your save-the-dates or company catalog no idea or project is too large or small.

Want to know a little more about me? I’m so glad you asked! This past summer I had the wonderful opportunity to be a design intern for CMT/MTV Networks in Nashville. I became highly educated on the music entertainment industry and it’s relationship with CMT. I’m a huge country music fan and it was literally like a dream come true to become part of their design staff. I am an avid visitor of the dieline.com website with a huge passion for package design. What is package design you might ask? Package design is anything from a wine bottle, a retail store’s shopping bag, to a savvy chic candle box. Really, it’s anything 3D. Take a look at my restaurant packaging images and designs for my fictional lobster house restaurant, “The Catch.” I’m fascinated with how design and sculpture can combine to create something quite useful that also looks good.

I grew up in Lebanon, Tennessee just east of Nashville on a farm. I always knew growing up that I would be in the art field one day. Living in the country, in a small town, and in the South I feel has influenced my passion for everything southern. I LOVE southern quotes, country accents, antiques, old signs, overalls, pearl snap shirts, county fairs, Forrest Gump, blue jeans, pearls, sweet tea, and cowboy boots! Although I do enjoy the country lifestyle, I do frequent the Frist Arts Museum and Nashville’s Hillsboro Village shopping!

Thank you Clay and Emily for allowing me this spotlight on your blog. To anyone who is looking for an event planner or just someone to help you with your many wedding events please consider Clay and Emily. They are a pleasure to work with and have a wonderful personality.

Feel free to contact me by email or phone for any of your design needs!
amykinslow@gmail.com | 615.604.7141

–
Amy Kinslow
graphic designer
amykinslow@gmail.com
615.604.7141