Beautiful and Affordable Weddings in Nashville Start Here!

Wedding season is upon us, folks! Are you newly engaged and excited to start planning your wedding in Nashville? I'll bet the visions of dancing sugar plums in your head from Christmas have quickly been replaced with visions from wedding magazines and TV shows. Is your mind swirling with new words like escort cards and boutonnieres? It can all get pretty overwhelming pretty fast, right?

CAKES AND FLOWERS AND DRESSES, OH MY!!

Well, I have some good news for you. Holding your wedding ceremony and reception at the Embassy Suites is easy, intimate, and affordable. There really is nowhere else where you can plan a wedding in Nashville and get the experienced staff, flexible packages, great food, and included amenities at such an affordable price! Take a look:

• Garden Atrium wedding ceremonies at half the price of Opryland.



• Wedding coordination included at no extra cost.



• Complimentary ballroom rental for your reception.



• Flexible menu packages that include classic standards like plated meals and buffets, but also fun, themed packages and stations.



• Tables, chairs, linen, silverware, china, glassware, centerpieces, dance floor, cake cutting service, and a complimentary suite for you included at no extra cost.



• Reduced sleeping room rates for your guests that include a nightly open bar and a daily breakfast buffet.

Here, we specialize in easy, affordable, flexible wedding planning. If "simple and elegant" is your goal, we can do that. If you're more "glamourous and sophisticated," we've done that too, plus "fun and whimsical" and everything in between.

If you're ready to see how stress-free wedding planning can be, take a look at our reviews on WeddingWire.com, view our pictures on Flickr, or better yet, give us a call so we can answer your questions. We're excited to show you all the reasons why Weddings Are Sweet at Embassy Suites!

Keep an eye out for us at the upcoming Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show too! Hope to see you there!!

Review for Nashville Holiday Party Venue

Came in today to see a nice note from one of our holiday party planners!

Sent: Friday, December 09, 2011 8:35 AM
To: Amber Payne
Subject: THANK YOU!

Amber,

I just wanted to say thank you to you and your staff. Our event turned out wonderful and your staff was extremely professional and impressive. The food was very delicious as well! Thanks again and we are already looking forward to next year!

Best Regards,
Ashley

Thanks so much, Ashley, and great job Embassy Suites Banquet & Catering staff! It's certainly beginning to look and feel like Christmas around here because of the wonderful job you do!

Review for Nashville Anniversary Venue

Here's some great feedback Sue received about a recent 50th Anniversary Party held last weekend!

Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 1:25 PM
To: Sue Davies-Rephan
Subject: Re: Final Guarantee for Sunday - Embassy Suites Nashville Airport

Hi Sue,

I just want to tell you how much we appreciated you and your staff at the Embassy Suites. Our party was perfectly wonderful, so I am telling my friends what a great job you did and would reccomend that they check with you for any special occasion. Thanks again for all your help. Perfect!!!

~Billy

Congrats to Sue and the banquets & catering staff for another great event! Further proof that Anniversaries Are Sweet at Embassy Suites!

Nashville Wedding Venue Review-- A Fabulous Fall Wedding!

Just received another great review on WeddingWire from one of my November brides, and I wanted to share it with you!

My husband and I had our wedding reception at the Embassy Suites Nashville Airport on 11/05/11. It was perfect. From the very beginning, the service and services we got for an unbeatable value were amazing. Amber Payne is my hero. She did a wonderful job of getting our reception to be just what we wanted. She kept me on task in manner that relieved my stress instead of adding to it. I'm a control freak, but I left everything regarding the reception set up in her very capable hands, which was so great. She was able to coordinate with our various other vendors with little to no problems. If we needed any suggestions or help, she was there to offer ideas in her laid back manner that hides a take charge, OMG organized person. If there were any issues, we were unaware of them. My parents had a few specific requests which were met with no fuss and a very accommodating attitude. The food was wonderful and exactly what we wanted. We were able to customize the menu to fit our tastes, which was great, as my husband and I are both picky eaters. We opted for the open bar and the beverage options were varied and very good. The staff who worked the reception were very friendly but professional. Our family and friends loved the food, as well. Our family and friends had invaded the hotel for that weekend and they loved the hotel and all the services they provided, for adults and kids. The morning after the wedding, family and friends who spent the night, got together to enjoy the free buffet breakfast together. That was just icing on the cake. Crazy as it seems, b/c you'd think all the above would cost an arm and a leg, they were one of the least expensive hotels around Nashville that we looked at for reception sites. Overall, we can honestly say our wedding and wedding reception were perfect, thanks to Amber Payne and the amazing staff at this hotel. I can't imagine how anyone could have topped the type and quality of service anywhere else in Nashville. If you are looking for a intimate wedding ceremony and/or reception site that offers small or large spaces, great food, amazing services, unbeatable prices, and kick butt staff, look no further. Just FYI: We had 165 adults and 20 kids at the reception.

Big thanks to Bethany for such sweet comments! We're so lucky to work with such amazing brides!

We always do our best to prove that Wedding Are Sweet at Embassy Suites, and we'd love for you to be next...

Beautiful Nashville Wedding by Elliott Events & Embassy Suites!

We are so lucky to be able to work with fun brides and creative vendors who can help us bring their vision to life. I'm really excited to be able to share some pictures with you from the wedding of Crystal and Demetrius, who held their wedding ceremony and reception here with us at the Embassy Suites Nashville. Check this out!

All flowers, decorating, and coordinating was done by Elliott Events, and let me just say...Tiffanie and her crew are great to work with! If you need help bringing the design of your wedding together, look no further. You can read their blog post about this wedding here.

***Also, I just learned that Elliott Events is currently offering a FREE lighting package with dance floor gobo (like in the pic above) to all new 2012 bookings. Amazing! Call Tiffanie at 615-485-2193 and tell her you heard it here! ***

Happy Wedding Wednesday!

Review for Nashville Wedding Shower Venue -- A Note from the Mother of the Bride

This has been a great week for thank you notes! Here's a great note our Director of Catering, Sue, received today from a mother of a bride:

Sent: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 10:34am
To: Sue Davies-Rephan
Subject: RE: Follow up from Catering at Embassy Suites Nashville Airport

Hello Sue,

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for all your help with the food delivered to Holly's room the morning of Oct. 23 while the girls prepared for the wedding.

What a wonderful job you did!!! I had no idea it would be so nice. We were all impressed and of course, as mother of the bride, I was delighted that it was so nice for the bride and bridesmaids. You and your staff do an excellent job and if ever I would need something again, I would know that Embassy Suites catering is an excellent choice. Not only was it good, it was also a beautiful presentation.

Thanks again for your help,
Susan

Kudos to Sue, and thanks so much for your kind words, Susan! It was wonderful working with you and Holly, and we hope to have the chance to work with you again.

Review for Nashville Wedding Venue -- A Sweet Note from a Sweet Bride

Got this awesome note today from a bride whose wedding was last weekend, and I just wanted to share it with you:

It's so great to know you've helped someone bring all their plans together just the way they envisioned. Thank you for the kind words, Valerie! :)

Nashville Wedding Catering -- New Themed Menu: COUNTRY GLAM

If there's one thing I've noticed while planning weddings over the past several months, it's the current undeniable allure of everything country, Southern, and rustic. Even my sister, who is getting married in June, is crazy about the theme, and we've been gathering burlap table runners and mason jars for wedding favors and wildflower centerpiece ideas for WEEKS! (Not that I'm complaining -- I love the "pretty" part as much as the "planning" part!) No one does this rustic wedding theme better than us in the South, so we thought it was about time we got involved in the fun.

Therefore, it is my pleasure to introduce the first of our five new, themed wedding packages: COUNTRY GLAM

This is our lovely indoor garden atrium, a perfect place for wedding ceremonies, with specialty draping and lighting done by Events Plus, Inc. Photo by Ace Photography.

This centerpiece embodies the idea of COUNTRY GLAM -- pretty, relaxed, comfortable, with rustic elements like wood, lace, and fresh flowers. Linen provided by Connie Duglin Linen, draping and lighting by Events Plus, Inc., floral design by Creations by Debbie, and cake by Cakes by Shara.

I totally love this package because of the feel and the food options that are available. If you like comfort food and you want that atmosphere of Southern hospitality at your wedding reception, check out these options:

• Garden Shots


• Fried Green Tomatoes


• Ambrosia Salad


• BBQ Brisket Carving Station with Yeast Rolls


• Fried Pickles


• Chicken Wings


• Macaroni & Cheese Bar


• Shrimp & Cheese Grits


• Apple Turnovers, Mini Pies & Cobblers


• Marshmallow Truffles to match your color scheme


• Fruit Tea and Raspberry Lemonade

Those are just a few of the many menu options you can choose from for the COUNTRY GLAM package. If you'd like more information, call me at 615-522-5448 or email me at amber.payne@hilton.com.

We've got lots of things going on at the hotel, and I've got four more new packages in addition to this one, so keep in touch! We'd love to show you why everyone says Weddings Are Sweet at Embassy Suites!

REAL NASHVILLE WEDDING: Laura and Rick -- Florida, Dolphins, and the Engagement That Almost Didn't Happen

BRIDE: Laura


GROOM: Rick
WEDDING DATE: May 21, 2011


WHERE ARE YOU BOTH FROM ORIGINALLY?: Laura is from Wisconsin and Rick is from Tennessee.


WHAT DO YOU DO?: Laura works in accounting and Rick works in IT.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TOGETHER?: 9 years

HOW DID YOU MEET?: (Laura) We met at Blockbuster -- he was an assistant manager and I was a lowly worker-bee. It was NOT love at first sight for either of us. We actually didn't like each other much, but that obviously changed!

WHAT'S YOUR ENGAGEMENT STORY?: (Laura) We were on vacation in Florida with some friends. Among all the activities we had planned, I had planned on swimming with the dolphins because it was something I'd wanted to do forever. Our friends took pictures of me and the dolphins with their camera. Later in the evening, before we went to dinner, we decided to walk down to the pier to take some pictures. We were walking back, and the camera bag was slung over someone's shoulder and accidentally fell into the water. Everyone starts to panic, and I think it's because of the camera, but I had no idea that Rick had hidden my ring in the camera case and everyone knew he was going to propose, so everyone thought the ring was gone! They were able to fish the camera out, and after dinner we took a walk on the beach. It was then that Rick got down on one knee and grabs my hand, and he had the ring in his other hand. The first words out of my mouth were, "Are you serious?!" I honestly thought he was playing a mean joke on me until I saw the ring in his hand and started crying. So that was my most perfect day ever!

WHAT ARE YOUR WEDDING COLORS AND/OR THEME?: Black with yellow, orange, purple, and pink

IS THERE A DETAIL ABOUT YOUR WEDDING THAT YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR GUESTS TO SEE?: My dress. The beadwork looks like Cinderella's carriage.

IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL YOU'RE DOING TO PERSONALIZE YOUR EVENT TO MAKE IT UNIQUELY "YOU?": Probably the music. The rest was very simple and traditional.

WHAT'S SOMETHING YOU'VE LEARNED AS YOU'VE BEEN PLANNING YOUR WEDDING?: Get a 12-month planning book and follow it, but don't get ahead of it. Also, get a day-of coordinator, whether it's someone you hire or a friend / family member.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?: We would highly recommend Embassy Suites to anyone! Everything we were promised was delivered, and it was an all-around enjoyable experience.

New Nashville Wedding Stuff! -- Part One

Happy Friday, blog readers! It has been too long since I've posted, but I promise I have a good excuse...WOW has it been busy here! This post is "Part One" because I'll have more to share with you over the next few weeks, but I wanted to pass on some tidbits now since I know many of you are deep in the midst of planning your weddings right now.

First, I want you all to meet Sue Davies-Rephan, our new Director of Catering.

Sue is a Colorado native who has lived in Nashville for 18 years. During her time in Tennessee, she has planned weddings for Natural Design, Top O'Woodland, and Opryland. She co-authored a book about wedding planning. She is left-handed, she adores her blue-eyed, Red Merle Miniature Australian Shepherd (Izzi) and her Jack Russell (Jasmine), she plays guitar, she loves to garden, she's an ordained minister and a florist...to say she is multi-talented is an understatement. We are thrilled to have her here, and, to borrow a famous line from one of my favorite TV cooks, she is helping us "kick it up a notch" in weddings. BAM! :) She and I are BOTH taking care of weddings now, so you've got even more experience and creativity working for you when you hold your event with us.

One of the first things Sue did here was pick out some lovely new centerpieces for our lunch and dinner functions. Many of you are familiar with our traditional mirror tile / hurricane globe / taper candle centerpiece, which definitely has its merits, and that will continue to be available for any of you who would like to use it. In addition, we'll now be offering our new Feng Shui centerpiece!!

This is a bowl made out of a dark resin with 4 glass containers on top. This matches pretty much everything -- think of the versatility! Four candles, four flowers, add something taller in the middle...it's just endless. Here, we chose 2 candles and 2 floating flowers. We are happy to offer the base and the cups COMPLIMENTARY for all of our wedding packages. Just bring in your own flowers and marbles / pebbles, and you're done!

Another recent development here is the complete re-vamping of our wedding packages. We'll still be offering the ones you're used to, but we'll soon be introducing some themed ideas for receptions. Ever described your reception style as "URBAN CHIC?"

Or are you more "VINTAGE CHARM?" What about "COUNTRY GLAM" or a laid back "ISLAND STAY-CATION?" We've got great ideas for menus and decor for all of those styles, plus a couple more. We're putting some really fun packages together with draping and lighting that will allow you to have a beautiful wedding with a great value. I'll have some absolutely incredible pictures to show you in a couple of weeks, thanks to Events Plus, Ace Photography, Connie Duglin Linen, and Cakes by Shara. We're VERY excited about our new ideas, and we hope you'll love them too!

Lastly, I've added a new display in our lobby / atrium dedicated specifically to weddings. If you're ever in the neighborhood outside of normal business hours, you can always stop at this table to see some pictures, grab my card or Sue's, and read about the latest and greatest news in weddings at Embassy Suites Nashville.

So there you have it...lots going on here! Hope you all have a great weekend, and keep an eye out for PART TWO coming in about two weeks.....

REAL NASHVILLE WEDDING: Brittney and Brian -- The Tropical Lovebirds

BRIDE: Brittney

GROOM: Brian

WEDDING DATE: March 7, 2011

WHERE ARE YOU BOTH FROM ORIGINALLY?

Brittney is from Clarksville, TN and Brian is from San Diego, CA.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Brittney is a dispatcher at a non-emergency ambulance company and Brian works as a driver for a propane distributor.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TOGETHER?

4 years, 8 months

HOW DID YOU MEET?

We met at work at a previous company.

WHAT ARE YOUR WEDDING COLORS AND/OR THEME?

Our wedding reception colors are purple, silver, and white. There is not much of a theme to the reception, but we definitely wanted the atmosphere to be inviting to our closest family and friends.

IS THERE A DETAIL ABOUT YOUR WEDDING OR RECEPTION THAT YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR GUESTS TO SEE?

We got married in Hawaii and we're having the reception two weeks after we get back. It was just the two of us for the actual ceremony so we really wanted to bring something back for our family and friends to see. We had the wedding recorded, including photography, and we'll play this at our reception during the dinner hour. We can't wait for everyone to see it!

IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL YOU'RE DOING TO PERSONALIZE YOUR WEDDING OR RECEPTION TO MAKE IT UNIQUELY "YOU?"

We have done lots of stuff ourselves, like our favors and invitations, so we have personalized a lot of those things. We picked our favorite colors and an awesome wedding cake topper with the bride and groom running with a football. We just chose what we liked when it came to the small details.

WHAT'S SOMETHING YOU'VE LEARNED AS YOU'VE BEEN PLANNING YOUR WEDDING?

It can be stressful!...and that's okay. We both got to a point where we realized it will all come together and to stop worrying so much about it. The people / vendors we chose have been so helpful that it became easier to trust them with the harder stuff so we could really focus on the smaller / easier details.

ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER BRIDES-TO-BE?

You will know when it's right. For the longest time we couldn't find a place to hold the ceremony. We are both shy and wanted to really focus on each other instead of everyone looking at us! So we opted to have a more intimate ceremony and celebrate with everyone at a later date. Not everyone was thrilled at first that we decided not to have the "traditional" ceremony, but we did what was right for us. In the end, it has all come together and we will have even more time to spend with our guests on the day of the reception.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?

Have fun!!!!

REAL WEDDING: Jenna & Christian -- Sunshine, Birds, Flowers, and a Light-Up Dance Floor

THE BRIDE: Jenna is an Operations Assistant at The Background Bureau, and she is originally from Owensboro, KY.

THE GROOM: Christian is a Project Analyst at The Nielsen Company, and he is originally from Monticello, KY.

TOGETHER FOR: 2 1/2 years

HOW DID YOU MEET? They went to U of L together. Christian was working the front desk at a dorm on campus, and Jenna was there to meet a friend. They all went out to dinner that night, but Christian and Jenna never stopped talking to each other.

YOUR FAVORITE STORY ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP: One Easter, Christian found out Jenna had never been on an Easter egg hunt. Jenna came home to find the door to her living room locked. When Christian let Jenna inside, he informed her that he had hidden Cadbury creme eggs around the apartment. They always try to find creative ideas like this to surprise each other.

YOUR ENGAGEMENT STORY: Christian got down on one knee to ask Jenna after a candle-lit breakfast.

WEDDING DATE: June 9, 2012

WEDDING COLORS OR THEME: Navy, Yellow, and Hot Pink. They'll focus on sunshine, birds, summer, and love.

IS THERE A DETAIL ABOUT YOUR WEDDING/RECEPTION THAT YOU CAN'T WAIT FOR YOUR GUESTS TO SEE?: The light-up dance floor!

IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL YOU'RE DOING TO PERSONALIZE YOUR WEDDING/RECEPTION TO MAKE IT UNIQUELY "YOU?": [Jenna] We're personalizing a lot of different things about our wedding. My dress has been called "SO YOU" by every person who's seen a picture of it. We'll have memorial candles for our lost loved ones. The light-up dance floor is a must because we both like to dance so much. And since our monogram is a T, we're toying with the idea of including tea and teapots or teacups in some way, possibly as a favor.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU'VE LEARNED AS YOU'VE BEEN PLANNING?: [Jenna] The wedding is just one day; the important thing is the life you build together AFTER the wedding.

[Christian] Some things are insanely more expensive than originally planned while others are ridiculously more cheap than imagined.

ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER COUPLES?: [Jenna] Focus on the marriage, not the wedding. It's not worth it to go into debt for one day of your life.

[Christian] Keep your future husband in the loop.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?: [Christian] Don't forget the reason for your wedding in the first place.

New Wedding Blog Feature! Announcing REAL NASHVILLE WEDDINGS at Embassy Suites!

If you're a regular to the world of wedding blogs, you know that lots of bloggers occasionally feature "real weddings" to give brides and planners alike some inspiration and ideas about what's popular for weddings. While I enjoy reading these and looking at the pictures as much as the next gal, I do sometimes find it frustrating because I wonder how "real" some of the features are. Too often there is little explanation about the people themselves or all of the work that went into their event. Or it is quite apparent that their "budget" is limitless, which is not something to which most of us can relate.

I decided today that OUR brides should get some internet love and attention, so I'm going to start a new blog feature for REAL NASHVILLE WEDDINGS at Embassy Suites! I have the great pleasure of working with some wonderful couples on real weddings all throughout the year, so it's time you met them too! Check back soon for the first installment, and keep an eye on our Facebook page and Twitter for updates. We're looking forward to showing you how Weddings Are Sweet at Embassy Suites!

Beautiful and Affordable Weddings at Embassy Suites Nashville Airport -- We're the Bride's Choice for 2011!

We've been chosen as a recipient for the 2011 Bride's Choice Award from WeddingWire! Read on for a special press release from them:


Nashville, TN -- Tuesday, January 25, 2011

WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce the Embassy Suites Nashville Airport has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards 2011 for Ceremony and Reception Venues!

Recognition for the Bride's Choice Awards 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

The Embassy Suites Nashville Airport stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

"WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community," said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire's Chief Executive Officer. "With the annual Bride's Choice Awards program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud the Embassy Suites Nashville Airport for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year."



We are happy to announce that the Embassy Suites Nashville Airport is among the very best Ceremony and Reception Venues in Nashville and within the WeddingWire network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride's Choice Awards 2011!

For more information and to see our reviews, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today by clicking here.

For more information on the Bride's Choice Awards 2011, please visit www.weddingwire.com.

Thanks so much to everyone who voted! Our past clients have great things to say, so for those of you considering us for your wedding ceremony or reception, we look forward to being your choice as well!

Bridal Shows & Wedding Planning in Nashville

We exhibited at the Her Nashville Bridal Brunch this past Sunday, January 9th -- so much fun! This was our first time at that particular event, and it was a very cute boutique show with knowledgeable vendors and a wonderful fashion show at the end. It was definitely a great way to spend a chilly Sunday afternoon! Here's a quick shot of our booth:

I decided to use navy, bright yellow and pink, and a little crisp white as a color scheme, and I paired it with a bird motif that is so popular now. We're all looking forward to springtime and warmer weather, so it's a great look for spring and summer weddings!

If you're looking for another bridal show, don't forget ours is THIS WEEK -- on Thursday, January 13th from 5:30pm - 7:30pm here at the hotel. It is called the "Looking Forward" Wedding Showcase, and it will give you a chance to see the hotel, enjoy refreshments, win prizes, and speak to some of the amazing wedding professionals we work with on a regular basis. We love them, and we know you will too! The show is absolutely free, and you can RSVP here. Feel free to call or email me with any questions. Hope to see you there!

BRAND NEW Nashville Wedding & Bridal Show!!

That's right -- We are hosting our very own mini bridal show next week!! Make plans to attend our "Looking Forward" Wedding Showcase, dedicated to reducing your stress during your wedding planning and keeping you focused on all the things you're looking forward to!

The event is absolutely free and no tickets are required; however, it is helpful for everyone if you RSVP so we'll know how many people to expect. We'll have food and drinks for everyone, as well as some wonderful prize giveaways, but you must be present to win.

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Garden Atrium -- 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Embassy Suites Nashville Airport Hotel

10 Century Blvd

Nashville, TN 37214

(615) 522-5448

amber.payne@hilton.com

This event will feature:

The Embassy Suites Nashville Airport

Baughman Media Works

Cakes by Shara

Choice DJs

Clarksville Strings

Connie Duglin Linen

Lace * Paper * Flowers

Last Minute Planners

Brides by Lisa

We all hope to see you at the show, and we look forward to helping you plan an incredible wedding!

Wedding Show in Nashville This Weekend!

Happy 2011 everyone! Just wanted to post a quick reminder that we'll be exhibiting this weekend at the HER Nashville Bridal Brunch!!

You can purchase tickets for the show here. Come to visit with some wonderful professionals who can help you with every aspect of planning your wedding in Nashville. I'll be there to share info about the Embassy Suites Nashville Airort and everything we have to offer as a venue for your bridesmaids' luncheon, rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, or wedding reception. Stop by my booth, grab a "mar-teeny" and say hello!