Snyder Entertainment started postin' up blogs in 2014, and although we have blogged about some of the most beautiful weddings since then, we feel like every once and awhile it would be nice to recap some past weddings that we haven't featured online. To kick this first Throwback Thursday off, I thought I would start with a wedding that's near and very dear to my heart: my own. Yep, you read that right. My husband Ben and I selected Snyder Entertainment to DJ + MC our wedding from the ceremony, to the cocktail hour, to the reception. Not only did they turn our reception into a full blown dance party, as you'll see pictures of later, but they also helped us decide on song selections, create the ceremony + reception playlists, and agreed to play our Alma mater fight song, "Rocky Top", all night long. The Snyder team did such a great job in 2014 that upon our recent move back to Nashville, I sent Brian a quick email asking if he had any job opportunities available. Life has a funny, yet great, way of working out. Let's rewind back to 2014..
#TBT
After my incredible proposal in the Smoky Mountains, on the Appalachian Trail, we started looking for the perfect space to say "I Do." We had to find a venue and Ben refused to be married anywhere other than in his hometown. We were married at Mint Springs Farm in Nolensville, Tennessee, a small town located just south of Nashville. One of the most picturesque places we have ever seen, the farm is located down Nolensville Road, just 15 minutes from Ben's house. Mint Springs is one of the most uniquely beautiful, timeless, classic meets country venues in the south. It is an all-inclusive venue that creates and customizes every detail of your wedding day. They made it so easy for us to plan from Houston, working virtually along side us like there weren't 976 miles in between.
Mint Springs Farm brought my dream wedding to reality.
Past clients, like myself, have hosted destination weddings from all over the country just to be married at the farm. On top of a gorgeous all-inclusive venue, the team at Mint Springs Farm did a fabulous job; our wedding was literally so perfect that to this day I cannot tell you one detail that I felt like we missed out on or wish that we would of done differently. They think of everything, they include everything. (Even all of the orange we had to have in honor of our beloved Tennessee Vols.) When you select MSF as your wedding day venue, you are contacted by your very own personal wedding planner; ours was the very sweet + talented, Jamie Kiser. Jamie made me feel like she was just as excited about my wedding as I was, and that is something you can't put a price on. She introduced us to the select vendors that work exclusively with MSF; during our first in-person meeting, on one of our first visits to Nashville for wedding specifics, Jamie scheduled a meeting for us to talk with someone at Snyder Entertainment. Well specifically the man, myth, legend himself, Brian Snyder.
Brian's level of music expertise, professional appearance, and outgoing friendly personality only assured us that our wedding entertainment would be top quality. Both of us having grown-up in Nashville know that there are tons of incredibly talented musicians in the area, but after meeting Brian our minds were already made up: we wanted his team to be a part of our wedding day. Leading up to the wedding, we used the Online Planning Tool provided by Snyder Entertainment. This tool made it easy to begin making music choices, helped song selections be less of a headache, and allowed us to make all kinds of playlists. We got so into it that we even made a "Do-Not Play List" which obviously included "Sweet Home Alabama." We're Tennessee fans, we met in Knoxville, on campus, we bleed orange, #beatbama all day.
So as we continued planning online, via phone calls + skype dates with Jamie, we were keeping a countdown of days left until 11-09-14, and before we know it we're boarding a plane, leaving Houston, and landing in Nashville for the week of our wedding. Only one of the most important days of our lives, no pressure. We set up final meetings including one scheduled 2 days before our wedding to meet Brian for coffee to finalize some details, song choices, and just take a few minutes to breathe. Fast-forward to the meeting, and we're reviewing special dance song choices. Brian's reading off the song titles we had chosen when we get to the father-daughter song. Oh no, I thought, he's gonna freak out on me when I tell him... Um, so Brian my dad and I weren't sold on our song choice, it's almost too fast to dance to but we love the lyrics. Without hesitation or panic in his voice, he said "Okay, well I know you had chosen "My Girl" by the Temptations and if you want to slow it down, let me play you a few different covers of that song I've heard and see if you like any of those." Stop. It. He played the cover by Dave Barnes and I knew that was the perfect cover of the song for me and my dad. (Check it out here.) In less than 5 minutes Brian had helped me solve a song choice issue that I had been battling with in my mind for months. He's like the ultimate, walking, talking iTunes library.
The day of our wedding was finally here, and everything was perfect. Again, another huge thank you to the team at Mint Springs Farm for making that day stress-free, easy and completely enjoyable. I spent the day with my mom, maid-of-honor and best friend Lindsey, all of my beautiful bridesmaids, Ben’s mom and Nannie, getting our hair and make-up done by the incredible, Leslie Ellis and team. My mom helped me into my wedding dress, we took a minute as mother and daughter to take it all in. This was it. We had been planning for this day for 11 months. Do I cry? Laugh? Instead I just hugged my mom. Sometimes a hug from your momma is all the moment requires. Leslie placed my flowercrown on my head (made custom for me by the florist at Mint Springs Farm; I know right?!), touched up my lipstick, and it was time to get in the limo to head to the ceremony pavilion.
As the ceremony begins, "When God Made You" played while our families walked in and were seated. The instrumental version of "The Tennessee Waltz" that played as my husband came down the aisle to stand and wait on his bride, and it continued to play while his groomsmen and my bridesmaids individually made their way down the aisle. Four bells ring, the doors open, and I came down the aisle with my daddy on my arm to the classic "Bridal Chrous" playing in the background. My brother, Pastor Bud Moss, told our love story, prayed with us, and before continuing asked "who gives this woman to be married to this man?" My dad kissed my hand, placed it in Ben's, and I said what any girl says to her daddy, her first love, her hero on her wedding day: 'I love you, Dad' (and I pray I never, ever forget that moment).
We read our vows to one another, cried a little, laughed a lot, my brother John read a poem, we promised forever, and sealed our commitment with a kiss. We turned to our friends and family members gathered before us, Pastor Moss introduced us for the first time as Mr. and Mrs. McGee! And suddenly you heard a familiar tune start playing, a sea of orange + white pom-poms go up in the air. You already guessed it, we walked out as newlyweds to "Rocky Top."
We took more pictures while our guests enjoyed music and hor d'oeuvres + drinks at the cocktail hour, until Ben and I, our parents and bridal party were ready for the entrance at our reception. Brian was our MC for the evening, introducing the bridal party in pairs, parents of the groom, parents of the bride/hosts for the evening: my parents, and then it was the McGee's turn. All while Luke Bryan's "I Don't Want This Night To End" is playing. Then we went straight into our first dance, "Mean to Me" by Brett Eldridge. After that it was time to eat (Chef Penelope is amazing! Her mac + cheese y'all) the food was honestly so good and looked incredible, and Ben's signature drink was served, "Jack & Coke Slushies." Some more special dances, including the father/daughter dance which was absolutely perfect! Onto cake cutting, tossing the bouquet and garter, you know the whole 9-yards. But all night long, we had people on the dance floor. JClark was our DJ, he kept the songs coming one after one, more people flooding the dance floor as the lights slowly dimmed around us. Brian and JClark did such a great job that after Ben and I left our fairy-tale wedding to start our honeymoon, our guests stayed and danced to a few more songs before they had to leave for the night. Who else can say that every single guest stayed until the very end of the night dancing?? That's how great of a job Snyder Entertainment did at our wedding.
That's why I wanted to work here. That's why I am so passionate about good music, talented DJ's and MC's from Snyder Entertainment being a part of YOUR wedding! That's why I know this team will exceed your expectations. So what are you waiting on? Call us today. Let's make your wedding as magical and memorable as mine was.
(Are you a past Snyder bride too? Email me details about your wedding, we can't wait to feature you! jenny@briansnyderentertainment.com)
Wedding Details:
Wedding Venue (All-inclusive decor, floral, etc.) : Mint Springs Farm + DJ/MC: Snyder Entertainment + Photographer: Cleckner Photography +Videography: Affordable Wedding Videography (Shane + Rachel Williams) + Hair/Make-Up: Leslie Ellis + Catering: Chef Penelope + Wedding Cake/Desserts: Signature Cakes by Vickie + Wedding Dress Designer: My brother, Pastor Bud Moss, for creating a beautiful ceremony for us before the Lord; Matthew Christopher + Special Thanks to Volunteer Traditions for the Groomsmen Ties!
To see even more photos from our wedding, check out my Facebook album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10204125840804119&type=1&l=bac916dc53
Written by: J McGee