Elevating Rustic: A Garden Wedding with a Touch of Elegance | October 16
Lauren + David’s Elevated & Elegant Rustic Garden Wedding
“The venue is beautiful and the vendors are a joy to work with. Everything was perfect!” – father of the bride
A Dreamy Outdoor Wedding
featuring Emerald Green Velvet, Gold Accents, White Roses and Greenery
Lauren grew up in Brentwood and wanted a hometown wedding to day her vows to her fiancé David.
During most of the planning process, Lauren was finishing up her medical residency in St. Louis and relied on CJ’s Off the Square wedding planner Allison Adams and her mom Kendra, who is local, to help her coordinate from a distance.
The romantic gardens were the perfect backdrop for their mid-October wedding day. The couple knew they wanted a rustic fall wedding with sophisticated touches and personalized details. Together they selected an inviting natural color palette of greens, whites, creams, and pops of gold.
Getting Ready
Throughout their day, Lauren and David included many special moments with their loved ones. The couple wrote handwritten notes to each other to read as they got ready, ahead of their first look. Before Lauren’s “first look” with her groom, she shared one with her dad and gifted him an embroidered handkerchief to remember the day.
David wore a classic light gray suit with a green polka dot tie. Along with his groomsmen, he got ready in our on-site groom’s quarters and prepped for the ceremony. Lauren wore a stunning A-line gown with floral appliqués, buttons down the back, and a V-neckline. She accessorized her gown with pearls and a classic up-do with a bit of sparkle.
The First Look + The Bridal Party
Before their ceremony, the couple shared an emotional first look in the gardens. The afternoon light was perfect for their couple’s portraits. Fall in the garden at CJ’s Off the Square is just so beautiful!
Their bridal party carried their green color palette with long velvet gowns and colorful ties. The luxurious velvet fabric was used throughout the venue as a nod to fall that felt cozy yet fresh.
To complement the bold green, the couple opted for classic florals from The Enchanted Florist featuring a mix of white blooms and greenery. The house, gardens, pavilion, tables, and even bar were overflowing with these timeless flowers that made their roughly 100 guest wedding feel intimate.
The Outdoor Wedding Ceremony
The ceremony space was curated to feel rustic yet sophisticated. Lush greenery took centerstage to compliment the dramatic white drapery on the gazebo. Wooden folding chairs invited the guests into the ceremony space where Lauren’s uncle performed their ceremony.
Lauren was floored by the results, as were her parents — who were a big part of the planning process.
Her dad recalls, “CJ’s Off the Square was the perfect place to hold our daughter’s wedding. From the moment we signed the contract until the day of the wedding everything flowed seamlessly.”
The Garden Wedding Reception
After the wedding, guests were invited under the pavilion for dinner, drinks, and dessert. Greenery was hung from the ceiling, bringing the outside in. Among that lush limbs hung CJ’s Off the Square’s in-house Chloe lanterns to enhance the lighting in the pavilion.
They had family and friends coming to Franklin from all over the country and it was a priority to offer their guests a delicious meal and a fun evening. To bring in David’s hometown, guests could enjoy special Upstate New York wine at the bar. Guests could also grab blankets as the sun set and the evening cooled off.
The couple’s wedding cake was made by Baked In Nashville. The three-tiered cake featured vanilla buttercream and fresh raspberries and strawberries in an elegant Swiss dot design. As an extra treat, the couple surprised their guests with a late-night sweet treat from Oliver’s Ice Box. The adorable bicycle box stand set-up was a hit for both the delicious flavors of ice cream sandwiches, as well as the photo op.
The Rustic Garden Fall Wedding Dream Team
Planning & Coordination: Allison Adams for CJ’s Off the Square
Photography: Lindsay Campbell Photography
Flowers: Enchanted Florist
Catering: Dream Events & Catering
Cake: Baked in Nashville
Rentals: Southern Events Party and Event Rental
Entertainment: Premier the Entertainment Company
Venue: CJ’s Off the Square
See more real garden weddings at our Nashville wedding venue
Or learn more about our venue and all-inclusive wedding packages:
Did you like this post? Is this the kind of wedding day experience you would love to have? Let’s chat! Call or click to learn more about hosting your wedding at CJ’s Off the Square.
(615) 216-7576
