Blue and Yellow Wedding at Baylor School
Most girls don't grow up imagining their wedding taking place at their former high school ... but not this bride! Despite knowing that her wedding would take place at Baylor School from an early age, Kate and Adam weren't the first in their family to get married at the school — her brother married his bride at the same location a few years back. Although it's not a typical wedding venue, you can definitely see why they were drawn to the location's historical brick buildings and gorgeous landscaping!
Read on to hear more from Kate about their special day, especially their full budget breakdown. Don't forget that you can always see more details from this blue and yellow wedding in the full gallery here, all magnificently captured by Alex Bee Photo.
From the Bride:Since the age of 14 I've known that Baylor was where I would get married. The turn-of-the century brick buildings that overlook the Tennessee River would draw anyone to this location, but it is the legacy of where my brother and I attended school and my father taught for 30+ years that sealed the deal for me at an early age. My brother also married his bride in the same location in 2006 — making the day all the more special for our families.
From writing our own vows, designing our wedding invitations and using Etsy for the gifts we gave our families and wedding party, it was important to me that every piece of the ceremony and reception be as authentic and unique to my groom and I as possible.
I hand-selected an assortment of flower pots of which my Dad and I spent time together the day before the wedding, filling with yellow and white flowers to line the isle and altar. Two decorative sparrows were placed in the pots to represent the lives of my grandfathers who passed, along with a hummingbird pin that belonged to my grandmother — attached to the inside of my dress.
Along with my my Mom, Aunt and Mother-In-Law, I collected cobalt glass and blue and white pottery for 15 months for the 30 eclectic center pieces. I found that starting early, taking on a few projects at a time and enlisting the help of family made the entire process more fun, relaxing and kept me entertained throughout the entire engagement.
Sticking with the blue and yellow color palette in their selection of candy and sweets turned the Candy Bar into a decoration itself! The candy along with the fabulous cupcake tower and groom's cake created by Chattanooga Cupcakes were sure to keep the guests wired for a evening of celebrating.
What the Bride would have done differently:I most definitely would have changed one very important thing: I would have insisted (and paid the extra cost) to have a full trial run of my hair. I thought my request to have my long hair curled loosely and pulled half-back was a pretty simple idea that the well-known hair salon I chose could have handled. I went in for the "consult" 3 months before my wedding, and the stylist talked to me about what I wanted and we seemed to be on the same page. So, I didn't see any reason to pay $130 to have a trial run.
WRONG. My hair, day-of, was a complete disaster. I'm talking I was a mix between a poodle and 2001 prom hair. It was my worst nightmare coming true, all because I didn't want to pay the small extra to have a trial run. Luckily, one of my bridesmaids is a hair diva, so she was able to re-curl and re-pin my hair with time to spare before photographs begun. Lifesaver. Phew!
Read on to see how much this blue and yellow wedding at Baylor School cost. Please note that costs change as the years go by, and prices are subject to change. This is just one couple’s breakdown to give you a rough estimate on how much a wedding like this may cost you.
Working with a modest budget, I was still able to have everything I wanted with 1 important detail: The ceremony and reception location were all free because they took place at my former high school. This was ideal because it was the location I always wanted, so I didn't feel like I was compromising.
I allotted the bulk of my budget towards things I knew were important to my husband (Adam) and I: photography, food and the string quartet at the ceremony. Flowers were another larger expense, but by buying all of my centerpieces in-advance and using eclectic vases to fill my tables, I was able to purchase fewer flowers to fill the space. I also had the florist suggest flowers that were similar to ones I liked, but cheaper and in season, to create the look I wanted. She also suggested small to medium size bouquets for myself and my bridesmaids that were much cheaper than the large to extra large that many brides use. She was very willing to work to create a look that was within my budget.
The rest of the money I saved was by doing as much as possible, DIY: programs, invitations, potted flowers at the ceremony, pergola at the altar, candy bar, table runners, etc were all curated and made by me and my family.
- Bridal Boutique: Arzelle's Nashville
- Bridal Gown Designer: Wtoo by Watters
- Cake: Chattanooga Cupcakes | Stationary: The Bride
- DJ: Chattanooga Entertainment Group
- Event Planning & Design: CTH Events Paris
- Fashion: Street Tuxedo
- Flowers: The Daily Flower
- Ivory Lace Sash: Simply Bridal
- Makeup: Angela R Makeup Artist
- Ties: Me And Matilda
- Venue & Caterer: Baylor School