RECENT WORK FROM ERIN LEE ALLENDER PHOTOGRAPHY.
Sneak Peek Elegant Cedarwood Garden Wedding - Sara & Connor
Photographs from an elegant garden destination wedding at Cedarwood in Nashville, Tennessee.
I just love these two! Sara’s smile lights up everything around her including a cloudy, raining wedding ceremony. Connor is just the absolute best = they are perfect together. Sara and Connor met while they were both with separate friend groups sitting at different tables at Patterson House. Connor was stationed in Clarksville and Sara was on vacation. Crazily, Sara and one of her bridesmaids both met their husbands that night!
Sara and Connor looked incredible on their wedding day and Historic Cedarwood looked stunning as always. The entire day was overcast and we were hoping that the rain would hold off until the reception but instead it decided to start raining right before Sara walked down the aisle. Sara and Connor were troopers and had their whole ceremony in the rain. They never complained once and STILL looked amazing afterwards. The rain ended almost as soon as we started their portraits leaving us with some really fun light to play with. By far my favorite moment was when Sara was walking down the aisle to Connor on her dad's arm. She started crying and then started apologizing to all her guests for it! It was adorable. Please enjoy this sneak peek of Sara and Connor's Elegant Cedarwood Garden Wedding!
Special Thanks To:
Venue- Cedarwood Weddings
Florals- Cedarwood Weddings
Catering- Dream Events and Catering
Hair & Makeup- One10Beauty
Wedding Gown- BHLDN
Rentals- Liberty Party Rental
Cake- Patty Cakes
Paper Goods - Designs in Paper
DJ- Premier
Sneak Peek Riverwood Garden Wedding - Ashley & Mike
Families that have known each other forever are joined together when their children get married at Riverwood Mansion in Nashville, Tennessee. Photographed by Erin Lee Allender.
Ashley & Mike's families knew each other long before Ashley and Mike met. When they were in elementary school, their dads shared the same room for an office in the Pentagon, but Ashely & Mike didn't meet until high school. Mike eventually won Ashley's favor (which took some time) and they dated through high school and college, but life took them in different directions. Several years later they reconnected and started dating again. If you ever see Mike, ask him about it. He has a rather humorous and slightly embellished version of their rekindled relationship.
I loved these two as soon as I met them and their wedding day couldn't have been any more beautiful! It was amazing to see their relationship with their families and the friends that had become their family in all the different places they have lived. It was a gorgeous day and I am so happy that I got to be a part of it. Please enjoy this sneak peek of their Riverwood Garden Wedding.
Special thanks to their vendors:
Venue & Planning: Larissa from Riverwood
Florist: Enchanted Florist
Caterer: 8 Lavender Lane Catering
Cake: 8 Lavender Lane Catering
DJ: DJ Chris
Ceremony Music: Wedding Musicians Company
Officiant: Ralph Griggs
Transportation: FADDS
Videographer: SheHeWe
Sneak Peek Hamilton Bar Mitzvah - Lawson
A Hamilton bar mitzvah at The Temple and The Omni in Nashville Tennessee photographed by Erin Lee Allender.
Young, scrappy, and HUNGRY was the theme of Lawson's extremely cool bar mitzvah. I got to know Lawson when I photographed his portraits and he is honestly one of the coolest and greatest kids, sorry young man, that I have ever worked with. I really enjoyed getting to know him, his brother, and his parents!
Lawson's bar mitzvah ceremony took place this past weekend at The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom and was followed by a luncheon at The Temple. That same evening a party was held at The Omni in downtown Nashville to celebrate Lawson's coming of age. The event was planned and designed by Sara Fried of Fete Nashville.
Wait until you see the images of the party. Lawson had a Hamilton (loosely) themed party. There was an adult side of the room with a three course meal and an adult cocktail bar. Then there was the way cooler children's side of the room with a burger bar and a mocktail bar. The kids side also had a living room sort of feel with light up tables, a photo booth, a slow motion booth, and at the end of the night a custom nitro ice cream bar. Both sides of the room were connected by a dance floor where Music City Mitzvah had games and entertainment galore for the kids along with music for the adults.
I hope you enjoy these images as much as I enjoyed photographing them. Special thanks to everyone that put this on.
Planning & Design - Fete Nashville
Ceremony Location - The Temple
Party Location - The Omni
Florals - Enchanted Florist
Drape & Rentals - Visual Elements
Lighting & Light up Tables - Bright Event Productions
Linens - BBJ Linens
DJ - Music City Mitzvah
Slow Motion Booth - Full Frame Cinema
Food at Luncheon - Goldie Shepard Catering
Food at Party - Omni
Reception Stationary - Tenn Hens Design
Sneak Peek Greek Wedding at Noah Liff - Maria & Matt
A magical wedding at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and Noah Liff Opera Center photographed by Erin Lee Allender in Nashville, Tennessee.
Maria and Matt (aka M & M) were married yesterday and I don't think that I'm over exaggerating by saying that it was absolutely magical. From their Greek Orthodox ceremony at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church to their lively reception at Noah Liff Opera Center, their day was perfect and a photographer's dream. I had a beyond wonderful couple, a bride whose smile lights up any room, great families, and a dance floor that never quit. Add in Maria surprising Matt by singing "The Story" by Brandi Carlile and making everyone cry, including me, and some plate smashing Greek dancing and you get the longest sneak peek I have ever posted. Congratulations Maria & Matt! I am so happy that you hired me to be your photographer. Special thanks to all their fantastic vendors -
Wedding Design & Planning - Music City Events
Florals- Enchanted Florist
Makeup- One10 Beauty
Hair- Eric Wiuff
Reception Music - Music City Rhythm Revue
DJ - Sensational Sounds
Drape - Quest Drape
Lighting - Nashville Event Lighting
Bakery - Dulce Desserts
Rentals - Music City Tents and Events
Transportation - Anchor Transportation
Catering - Dream Events
Bartending - Hamilton Bar Service
Glam & Jewel Tones Winter Wedding at aVenue- Sasha & Darian
A warm, glamorous jewel tones winter wedding with family elements at aVenue in Nashville, Tennessee photographed by Erin Lee Allender.
I met Sasha when I photographed Erin & Victor's wedding. At every wedding there is one person other than the bride and groom that you find yourself photographing a lot because they just have that something and they photograph beautifully. You end up photographing them so much that you have stop yourself from taking too many of them...which tends to make look like a stalker. Sasha was that person that day. So when she and Darian contacted me to photograph their wedding, I was thrilled. Sasha and Darian quickly became some of my favorite people. I could talk to them for hours. They are so much fun and have such wonderful hearts (Sasha is a hospice/palliative care physician) that you can't help but love them.
Sasha and Darian's wedding was my first wedding of 2016 and it was gorgeous. It was a surprisingly warm February day in Nashville and we took full advantage of it. Their decor for their winter wedding had rich jewel tones mixed with gold sequins, chandeliers and candelabras. Family is very important to them and they added touches of family heirlooms and memories throughout their venue, aVenue, by using things like family furniture and serving lemonade at dinner from an aunt's special recipe. Darian's mother passed away several years ago and they included her in the ceremony and reception by having a chair reserved for her and placing a framed photograph of her in the chair. They had the band play a special song in memory of her and even I started crying. Please enjoy some of my favorites from the day! Special thanks to Sarah Miller with Randi Events, aVenue, Enchanted Florist, Visual Elements, Music City Tents & Events, G Catering & Events, Southern Events, and Bright Event Productions.
A Vivid & Chic Symphony Center Wedding – Laura & Ben
Lots of bold color and gorgeous lighting at this Schermerhorn Symphony Center Wedding in Nashville, Tennessee photographed by Erin Lee Allender.
Laura and Ben were married in July on the hottest day of 2015. Fortunately their wedding took place at The Schermerhorn Symphony Center which has a never ending list of places inside to photograph. We snapped a few photos out in the courtyard but for the most part we stayed in the building and I still didn’t get to photograph half the places that I wanted to. Sarah Willard of Music City Events and Laura came up with a gorgeous design for their day. There were vivid purples, orchids, grand vases, and a purple wash with a subtle floral design over the concert hall. All of this was under the amber glow of the Symphony’s chandeliers. It was magical. Laura and Ben looked stunning and there was so much laughter and love that day that it made it really hard for me to pick my favorites! Just take a look at Laura’s face after the cake cutting or the photo of everyone singing along to Journey. It really was a fabulous day and I hope that you can see that in these photos. Special thanks to all the vendors – Music CityEvents, Nashville Symphony Center, Music City Tents and Events, The Frosted Affair, Knestrick by Design, Bacon & Caviar, Top Tier Band, Nashville Silver Stings, and Amy Lynn Larwigg.
Wes Anderson Inspired Engagement Shoot - Meghann & Chris
A Wes Anderson inspired engagement shoot at a campground on Percy Priest Lake in Nashville, Tennessee photographed by Erin Lee Allender.
When Meghann said that she wanted to do a Wes Anderson inspired engagement shoot, I was super excited. Meghann and Chris like to go camping and spend as much time outside as possible so they chose a favorite campground outside of Nashville, TN and set up a pup tent when they got there. This was all them! They came up with the whole concept. We had a gorgeous fall day with gorgeous fall light! Please enjoy!
Second Line at One Cannery Row- Nicole & Cal
A bright New Orleans themed wedding at One Cannery Row with a couple that's life dramatically changed right before their wedding. Photographed by Erin Lee Allender in Nashville, Tennessee.
This is Nicole and Cal’s wedding at One Cannery Row. There is so much that I want to say about this couple but I don’t even know how to put it into words. Shortly after I photographed their engagement session Nicole started experiencing neurological issues. She went from an extremely independent flight attendant to struggling with tremors so bad that she now has a very difficult time walking. She and Cal did not let this change their wedding day. You will see so much laughter and joy in these photos. The day of a wedding we worry about rain and things not going as planned, but Nicole, who was joking about how she was going shake down the aisle, worried about nothing. All she cared about was marrying Cal and all Cal cared about was marrying Nicole. It was extremely beautiful. Even to this day they are the most positive people that you will meet. Even though it can sometimes be impossible to find places that are easily accessible for Nicole's scooter, they still go on trips. They don't dwell and they do what they can to have a normal life. They are truly inspirational.
Some fun things to mention about their wedding- They both grew up in New Orleans so they wanted to incorporate that into their day. They had delicious New Orleans’ inspired food, started the reception off with a Second Line, and did the traditional Cake Pull.
So much thanks to everyone that made this happen: Allison Jones of One Cannery Row, Frosted Affair by Jay Qualls, Lauren Marie Atkinson Designs, Music City Tents and Events, Dream Events and Catering, The Respectables, Phyllis Sparks, harpist, Tara Keely gown from Finery Bridal Boutique, and Hair/Makeup Sarah Terry
Fall Greenway Engagement Session - Ashton & Ruddy
Beautiful fall light, a stream, and nature. What more can you ask for in an engagement session. Check out the photographs from Ashton & Ruddy's Nashville engagement session photographed by Erin Lee Allender.
I photographed this lovely engagement session the fall before the couple's March wedding. Ashton and Ruddy love the outdoors and really wanted a stream in their engagement session. After much searching the three of us this location via Yelp. Now you know the secrets of photographers. I loved this couple! Stay tuned for their wedding post!
From Bonnaroo Proposal to Ruby Wedding - Ginger & Daniel
The fun and colorful wedding at Ruby of a couple that had their first date and later proposal at Bonnaroo Music Festival. Photographed by Erin Lee Allender in Nashville, Tennessee.
Ginger and Daniel were married at Ruby in Nashville, TN. I have to say, I liked these two and their story instantly. They had their first date at Bonnaroo Music Festival. Anyone that is willing to get to know someone for the first time at a dirty, hot music festival is alright in my book. Years later Daniel proposed there as well. They are the sort of people that could connect with anyone they met and you could tell that they have a strong bond with their family and friends. The day was full of sweet and fun moments. Ginger balled when she received a homemade card from Daniel. She clutched it to her chest and cried for a good 5 minutes. The bridesmaids were a riot and the night was complete when all the girls sported knee high fluorescent socks with their Converse and the glow sticks were brought out. It was so very obvious that everyone at the wedding had an extremely good time.
Special Thanks to Ruby, Liberty Party Rental, and The Clean Plate Club.
