I could not have picked a better couple to welcome the new year with than Bethany and Bill.  Bethany knew exactly what she wanted right from the beginning with no wavering whatsoever.  I first met her at the Weddings the Bridal Show in Nashville over the summer.  Her sister Eden helped plan the wedding down the the very last detail.  It was amazing and no easy feat with a husband and two young boys at home. 

Bethany and Bill chose to hold both the ceremony and reception at Cheekwood Botanical Garden’s  Massey Hall.  It was SO cold outside it certainly helped set their winter theme.  The hall was divided into two sections for ceremony and reception with the dance floor, DJ (who was a good friend from church) and white lounging benches between.  Bill has some experience in that area as he works for Music City Tents and Events.  I don’t believe it could have been more perfect.

Bethany wanted her day to feel like a Winter Wonderland with as few flowers as possible. It was certainly just that with her colors of ice blue and white with silver shimmery accents.  Her centerpieces were pieces of bushes painted white with hundreds of crystals hanging delicately from the branches.  They were placed in frosted containers and surrounded by faux snow.  There were “icy” trees everywhere from branches Eden had found, painted, and cemented into pots.  The linens were icy blue and chargers were clear with silver beaded edging.  They were my personal favorite detail.  The soft glow of votive candles and strategically placed lighting made the entire hall appear to glow.  There was not a detail that was missed.

Bethany asked me to bring a few different flavors when we met for the consultation but she especially loved two different flavors with chocolate.   She chose Chocolate Chip Cake with Caramel filling and Chocolate Cake with Cream Cheese Filling all iced with traditional buttercream.  Her cake was to have criss-crossed ice blue fondant ribbons on the second and fourth tiers and silver accents on the other two.  She wanted snowflakes placed here and there and larger snowflakes to make up the topper. 

I designed a topper for her cake that I know I will use again.  I loved the look of three larger snowflakes leaned into one another.  I brushed all of the fondant snowflakes with shimmery edible glitter and painted some accents with silver luster dust.  The accents on the top and third tiers were tiny silver dragees placed by hand in a bursting snowflake pattern.  The topper was made of fondant and gumpaste mixed so it would dry very hard but with little chance of breakage.  I was so happy to see other snowflake ornaments placed on the cake table and with the centerpieces.  They tied everything together perfectly. 

Bethany chose to make her cake a little larger by keeping her top tier-an option I leave open for the bride.  I will provide a fresh tier for the happy couple’s first anniversary unless they choose otherwise.  Bethany loved the look of a four tier square cake but with the number of servings needed, a fourth tier would not have been necessary.  Bethany and Bill will enjoy the top tier that has been properly wrapped and frozen on their first anniversary and it will be just as delicious as it was on their wedding day.

Bethany reminded me of a young and beautiful Katharine Hepburn in her wedding gown.  She’s naturally gorgeous and her dress was stunning.  She wore a small blusher veil that gave attention to her delicate facial features and big brown eyes.  It is always said that a bride is the most beautiful on her wedding day and I see that ring true time and again. 

Bethany’s entire family is gifted when it comes to party planning.  One of her sisters takes amazing pictures and the other loves planning and making cakes,  her brother-in-law is a musician and runs sound exceptionally well,  her step dad is a professor in sound and telecommunications, her mom makes cakes (NO PRESSURE!!) and arranges flowers, and Bethany is actually getting a degree in planning and PR.  With a new husband in planning and events the family could be a force to reckon with if they chose to do so!

I’m thrilled that they allowed me to be a part of their special day and even moreso that they were extremely pleased with the results. 

Bethany and Bill, may your love always burn hot enough to melt the ice in a Winter Wonderland!