As summer is coming to an end, I sit here and reflect on some of our favorite events. Every wedding and event has been unique in its own way but one stands out among the rest. We were honored to have been asked by Viacom and MTV Productions to work under Evan Alexander, event designer out of New York, to execute his vision for this country meets modern/industrial CMT Music Awards Show After Party at Marathon Music Works. Below are a few of our favorite shots sent over by Chef’s Market who catered the event.
Other vendors that played a major role in pulling this epic event together: Visual Elements (Furniture and Draping), Music City Tents and Events (Rentals), Southern Events (Furniture), and Chef’s Market for an amazing menu and perfectly styled food displays.
We pride ourselves here at Nashville Event Lighting for coming up with custom lighting designs for your special events and weddings. Included in this are our Custom Lighting Fixtures. If you have an idea, present it to us. We’re always welcoming new ideas. Here are a few photos of some of our recent fixtures being used at various events and weddings.
The Whiskey Barrel Chandelier : This idea was brought to us by Jill Cole from Southern Events. It made it’s debut at A Vintage Affair held at Jamison Hall. Here is a photo of them being used at this event. We fell in love with them!
The following week we used one at King’s Chapel over a vintage seating arrangement (provided by Southern Events).
The Whiskey Barrel: After the Whiskey Barrel Chandelier debuted, it got us to thinking. Why not use just the barrel with an exposed bulb inside? Here is a photo from an event we did at Houston Station with Angela Proffitt.
The next day they were used again at Houston Station for the Nashville Wedding Planners’ meeting.
The Ladder: For this same event we constructed the Ladder Fixture with the exposed bulbs to go along with the theme. We have since used them over bars, head tables, and food stations.
The Exposed Bulb Chandelier: Earlier this spring myself and Clint worked on an exposed bulb chandelier. You may have seen it around town. It was originally used at the Ruby back in March. Pictured below.
We also used it for the wedding reception with Angela Proffitt at Houston Station.
We’ll share more photos on our next blog about the next event but here’s a sneak peak of how they were used for the CMT Awards Show After Party at Marathon Music Works. The designer, Evan Alexander, had custom shades made for them.
You’ve probably seen through our first 2 webisodes of “Why NEL” that we here at NEL like to have fun. We’re not just your average lighting company. We have compassion for what we do and the way we interact with our clients. One way we decided to express this is by giving our fans and clients an inside look at what makes us, us. Our goal is to release a new episode each month that spot lights one of our crew members or aspects of our company and explain why clients choose NEL time and time again.
June’s episode starred me, Abi! We took a look at my goofier side and what keeps me so focused at providing the best customer service that I possibly can. If you know me, then you know that I’m a pretty reserved person. See what happens when the cameras catch me after hours….
We’re days away from Episode 3. Stay tuned!!
CONGRATULATIONS to Fête Nashville!!! Winner of the first ever Nashville Event Lighting “Money Shot Showdown” and the grand prize of a $2,000 lighting package! Thank you so much to all the vendors who competed and to all those who voted!
We wanted to shine a spotlight on Sara Fried of Fête Nashville for the event that took home the “bones”! Fête Nashville is an award-winning event planning and design boutique specializing in luxury weddings. Other claims to fame for Sara are 2012: Winner of “Best of” Wedding Planners from TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com. The ONLY winner chosen from the state of Tennessee.
Here are a few more shots from the 9/10/11 Goldberg wedding that won Fête Nashville the Money Shot Showdown.
Event Planner and Design: Fête Nashville
Venue: War Memorial Auditorium
Florals: Branches
Rentals: Music City Tents and Events & Visual Elements
Draping: Visual Elements
Stay tuned for more fun competitions and events to come in the near future, brought to you by your friends at Nashville Event Lighting!
Who: Nashville Event Lighting & Eight of Nashville’s greatest event industry leaders
Contestants Include: Belle Meade Plantation, Bridal Blueprints, Carnton Plantation, Angela Proffitt, Clean Plate Club, Fete Nashville, Southall Eden & Enchanted Florist
What: Our first ever Money Shot Showdown! These eight contestants submitted their most unique, breathtaking and amazing event photo… that shows off work we have created together for a past event. What’s at stake… A $2,000 Lighting Package Courtesy of Nashville Event Lighting!!! The winner can use their $2,000 Lighting Package on whatever event(s) they choose… company style shoot, promotional event, or a sweet upgrade for one of your best clients!
Where: Nashville Event Lighting Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/nashvilleeventlighting/app_95936962634
When: Voting takes place May 1st – 31st. Voters can cast 1 vote per day, so be sure to set your reminders daily. The winner will be announced announced on Monday June 4th.
Why: NEL has the opportunity to work with so many amazing wedding professionals in Middle Tennessee, which is the part of our work that we love the most. We got to thinking and realized we wanted to do something for all the vendors that make our jobs worth doing.
Nashville Event Lighting Owner Blake Chaffin, takes you behind the scenes to reveal the secret of what it is that makes NEL’s production team the best at what they do! An exclusive one-on-one sit down interview with NEL’s Production Manager, Clint Pilkinton, gets a little heated when he is asked personal questions about his secret to always remaining cool, calm and collected in the most chaotic event-world situations.
We warn you, what you’re about to watch…..just might disturb you!
Last week I covered the trend of paper lanterns. This week I wanted to cover the latest event trend of chandeliers. If you’re looking for a way to add a little bling to your event decor, chandeliers are the perfect solution. Over the last year we’ve booked our chandeliers in so many venues and numerous arrangements. We’re excited to see where they end up in 2012. Here are just a few ways that we used our chandeliers.
Over Dance Floors – We like to do more than just 1. Why not make a statement with 7?
Over Head Tables – Set your table apart by adding some embellishments with chandeliers!
Over Bars and Lounge Seating
Over Chuppas
Over Cakes
Over Sweethearts
If you have any unique ideas of how to add a little bling to your event, give us a call. Chandeliers have become quite popular this year and are booking fast!
Like all other vendors in the event industry, we are continuously increasing our inventory to stay up with the latest trends. 6 years ago we saw an influx in paper lanterns. Our stock of paper lanterns ranges in over 40 different color choices and various shapes and sizes. We have round, square, beehive, urn, stars, and even beaded paper lanterns. We’ve built our stock up so much that we’ve tried to come up with clever ways to utilize them. At christmas time we stacked the various sizes to create snowmen in our warehouse. For birthdays we like to seal up the bottom and fill them with candy as our own makeshift pinatas. For the Lady Gaga concert we wore them as outfits and headdresses.
Over the last year we’ve seen this trend decrease in usage. Last fall we moved our lantern inventory from there shelves in the warehouse to our loft above our office. We needed the shelf space downstairs for the next big thing, chandeliers. I’m not saying the paper lantern is a dying trend in the event world, but it does seem to be taking a mini vacation from the public eye. Brides and party planners are thinking outside of the box a little more these days and infusing other decor elements. Posted below are a few of our favorite paper lantern events.
Day 4 – April 2, 2011 – War Memorial
Did you know that the Grand Ole Opry once took residence in Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium before it set up shop in the Ryman Auditorium? This is just one of the many events War Memorial played host to. On Day 4 of our Nashville Fashion Week experience, War Memorial Auditorium was the perfect setting for the “X” shaped runway positioned in the center of the auditorium. Guests arrived to cocktails outside in the Plaza before making their way inside.
Day 5 – April 3, 2011 – Pinnacle
Our epic week with NFW came to an end back where it all began on the 21st Floor of the Pinnacle. NFW went out with a bang hosting a killer after party. Big Events and Visual Elements did not hold back on the decor to create the vibrant lounge that we infused with LEDs washing the entire space with blues, pinks, and purples.
I hope you’ve enjoyed our cell phone photo diary of our experience. We’re so excited to be a part of 2012′s Nashville Fashion Week. I can’t believe it’s just 1 month away. For more information on how you can experience this year’s NFW, check out their website at www.nashvillefashionweek.com or follow them on Facebook.
Day 2 – March 30, 2011 – The Arcade
Like many local Nashvillians, I’ve taken countless strolls down our local Arcade and found myself lost in its timeless ambience. This gem is tucked away between 4th & 5th Ave. Its the one place I’ve found in Nashville that you can buy a dozen roses, wander through the art galleries, eat an amazing slice of pizza, and mail a parcel through the post office. Who knew that the team from Nashville Fashion Week sponsored by Lexus had a different vision for this glass covered ally. See how it was turned into a high fashion runway right before our eyes!
Day 3 – March 31, 2012 – Crystal Fountain Church
I’ve seen sermons, baptismals, weddings, funerals, and Christmas Cantata’s in the House of the Lord but never a fashion show. I have to hand it to the crew of Nashville Fashion Week on getting creative with their venue choices and runway layouts. On the 3rd day of our journey, our crew could be found at Crystal Fountain Church located on Russell Street in Historic East Nashville. We walked into a blank slate. A standard church with white walls, drop ceiling, aisles of pews, and an upper balcony. By 7 PM, the aisles were turned into a catwalk.
