Meeting, engaged, and married all within one year, Erika and Austin met via Instagram in January of 2021. Due to COVID restrictions many businesses were closed, so for their first date, they settled for a walk with her Goldendoodle through Germantown. Within three weeks both knew this love was genuine. In May, Austin proposed where they fell in love—his home. Erika’s advice—open your eyes to love in the most unexpected places.
Due the pandemic the bride wanted an intimate, and family-focused, microwedding. She selected the Germantown Inn to ensure some of her favorite people could stay under one roof for an entire weekend wedding experience. Guests lounged in their pajamas, took advantage of our walkable city and ate at Monell’s multiple times (especially the bride’s father).
News Anchor Erica Glover and Physician Assistant Austin Bragdon transformed the historic Germantown Inn into an urban oasis for their December 2022 Wedding.
Their plan was to wed on the outdoor courtyard, proceed to the rooftop for jazz and drinks and then to the backyard for dinner and reception. But Mother Nature had other plans. Amid tornado warnings and day-of storms, the ceremony took place inside, the rooftop scratched and the reception under heated tents in the back. And it was as glorious as if it had been planned that way all along.
Event planner Nora Melton of Nora & Co. honored the winter, (without being over holiday-ish), with modern black and white place settings, simple bud vases, sleek tapered candles in simple hurricanes and evergreen garland wrapped throughout. The white themed flowers of poppies and white roses were done by Meg Hutchinson of The Florista with a stunning “cloud” designed over the center of the table.
Local calligrapher, Anna Lora Whitley of Silt & Pine, kept the place cards simple and designed the barware with custom illustrated napkins with the couple’s beloved dogs. A champagne shelf donned with greenery and set with glasses of bubbly greeted guests as they entered the reception.
Signature him and her’s cocktails were devised by Aperitif Events & Cocktails for a curated bar experience. A lighted custom sign, “Ain’t2Proud2Brag” designed by Nash Neon hung over the bar. It’s now in the couple’s home bar.
Rachel Schut of RachCakes Vegan Baking made the stunning white wedding cake decorated with the poppies. Sweet potato cupcakes from The Cupcake Collection were served after the reception for hungry guests.
For artists and musicians, Sarah and Matt, the beautiful 70-acre Red River Farms in Springfield, Tennessee was the perfect spot for their vows.
Their wedding included interactive art, was full of family heirlooms and was designed to highlight their love of music, family, friends, food and all things vintage.
They were married outdoors on a wooden stage beneath an open air flowered and linen framed pergola atop a Turkish rug that now lives in their home. Guests sat on antique wooden church pews looking out over fall-colored rolling hills and blew bubbles as they walked down the aisle as newlyweds.
The centerpiece of the wedding was an interactive art piece called Dream Scapes, designed by Sarah who owns Lily Bunk Design. At the reception guests were invited to “help them tie the knot” by literally tying a piece of fabric onto a 6-foot piece of West Coast driftwood set up on a gold clothing rack. “It gave the guests an opportunity to participate in the creation of an art piece that represents our love. It hangs in our home now and brings us so much joy.”
They designed custom coffee mugs with #szlahara printed on one side (a combo of both names) and a sharpie drawn photo of them with a John Lennon quote, “Love is you, love is me, love is knowing we can be.” Along with the mug each guest received a personally selected 45 with their name on it.
Tables were set with napkins handmade by the bride and her mom from collected heirloom vintage table linens, along with mason jars with rosemary, champagne flutes, tea candles, wild flowers and mixed metaled candelabras. Turkish rugs lay on top of the cement floor and throw pillows warmed up the antique wooden church pews.
Music for the reception was super eclectic: a jazz trio made up of musician friends and amidst speeches and toasts, friends performed their favorite love songs, some that were orchestrated just for the newlyweds. In addition, both Matt and Sarah wrote and performed a song for one another. And to take the evening into the wee hours, a dear friend and DJ spun records.
For a Dream Scape at your wedding contact Sarah at lilybunk.com.
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