• Seasonal Ideas

There’s something so special about New Years Eve. It’s a time for us to get dressed up, dance the night away and be around those you love! When I was sitting over coffee with Laura of Laura Moll Photography and Erica of 1011 Make Up And Hair, and chatting about NYE plans, we sort of birthed the idea of pulling together a disco themed NYE shoot with some amazing ladies we know.

We wanted to share our love for beautifully styled spaces and expertly styled ladies, so we quickly got to work pulling together an amazing team of vendors who brought the vision to life! I styled a balloon champagne wall, had a custom backdrop made that we hung a neon sign on, created a fun lounge area under a rad floral installation by The Florista and then created little artistic moments of accessories. We were so thankful to have Tia from The Bachelor, Alex a model in Nashville and musician/entertainer, Liz Mace, come model for us. Carson Love styled our gals to perfection and the whole thing was a total hit.

And since NYE is here, I thought it would be fun for our stylist, Carson, to share some of her tips as you prepare your look for ringing in the new year:

01 READ THE ROOM //

Think about where you’re going - headed to a rooftop party in nyc or celebrating in your best friend's living room? Plan your outfit, shoes + outerwear accordingly.

02 SEQUIN SEPARATES // 

Most women think they need a dazzling sequin dress or jumpsuit for nye, but if you're a more casual dresser find sequin piece that fits you! For example, snag a sequin blazer or duster that you can throw over a graphic tee you already own with a pair of your favorite jeans, so you feel festive but still comfortable. Other ideas include a sequin midi skirt with a sweater or even a sequin accessory like a headband or purse. And it doesn't have to be sequin either - try a bold, bright color or mix textiles/fabrics like faux fur, leather or velvet into your look. Don't think you have to go buy a totally new outfit for the evening - there's easy ways to inject a fun wardrobe piece you love that also makes you feel festive!

03 RENT YOUR LOOK // 

If you do want to add something super novelty or special that you're not going to get a lot of use of (as it may be something you don't normally wear) think about renting a wardrobe piece or full outfit for a more sustainable option. a favorite local option to rent is The Showroom Nashville. online options include Rent The Runway or Nuuly or FashionPass.

And I wanted to share some tips for creating a magical NYE ambiance-

01 STYLE A BAR CART // 

Whether you have a bar cart, or dedicated “bar” space, you can style the space with a few key things! Grab your favorite glasses and line them up in the corner. Get some cute stir sticks that fit your theme and have those ready to garnish the drink with. Get a favorite bottle of wine or alcohol, perhaps in the color or theme you’re going after (for our shoot, we used Vik Rose in the most beautiful pink flowered bottle that was basically an art piece itself!). Finish the look with some cute signage and any extra florals or small decor items (like disco balls!) if you have any!

02 BALLOON ARCHES ARE HERE TO STAY // 

This was my first attempt at a balloon arch and my biggest take away is, plan ahead and wear some gloves! Balloon arches are all the rage right now and you can buy some cute kits online or hire a balloon company to put one together for you (highly recommend leaving it to the pro’s). Colors are endless and they create such a fun photo backdrop. But if you’re making one yourself, just know it takes a lot of time, and we suggest you get a balloon air machine and do whatever you can to protect your fingers from getting cut when having to tie it so many times!

03 CHAMPAGNE TOWERS FOR THE WIN // 

Gather 12 Champagne coupes and you can create the cutest little champagne tower for all your friends to enjoy! Create a base in a circle shape of 7 coupes, then the second level will have 4 coupes and then the top will have 1. If spaced out properly, the champagne will flow from the top and it’ll jumpstart the party for sure!

We hope you all have an amazing time ringing in the new year! As in the words of our favorite gal, T Swift, “I don’t know about you, but we’re feeling year 2022!”

• Event Planning & Design: Kelsey Rae Designs
• Favors & Gifts: Vik Wine
• Flowers: The Florista
• Hair, Makeup & Beauty: 1011 Make Up And Hair
• Paper Goods & Calligraphy: River & Bridge
• Rentals: Spark Vintage Rentals
• Rentals: Lps Luxe Neon Signs
• Styling: Styled By Carson Love
• Wedding Photographers: Laura Moll Photography