DISTINCTIVELY SOUTHERN WEDDING | The Design
Add Style to the Aisle RENOWNED EVENT DESIGNER TARA GUÉRARD SHARES HER EXPERTISE ON CULTIVATED STYLE Recognized as one of the nation’s leading tastemakers, Tara Guérard of Tara Guérard Soirée has earned a widespread reputation for her ability to create spectacular settings to celebrate life’s most anticipated occasions. Whether it’s a prominent CEO in New York or Southern Belle below the Mason-Dixon Line, brides have turned to Guérard for her understated elegance and impeccably executed events for more than fifteen years. Now she’s coming to Nashville to share her expertise with local bridesto-be at the Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville. This February, Guérard will join a slate of other well-known designers including interior designer and author Nate Berkus, the show’s keynote speaker this year, at the Music City Center, February 3-5, to present her take on the show’s theme, “Cultivated Style.”
PHOTOGRAPHY: SQUIRE FOX
Guérard will take the stage on Saturday, February 4 with her tips on entertaining and event styling using a blend of antique elements, flowers, rich fabrics, the beauty of natural surroundings and a little oldfashioned set-design magic. “To me, Cultivated Style means integrating special personal touches throughout an event space that show a couple’s personality and life together,” Guérard said. “That’s the key to any successful event – incorporating a personal story into traditional design elements to create an environment that is uniquely you.”
Guérard started her career designing parties for friends with no real intention of sticking to weddings. But after taking on a few brides she fell in love with every aspect of wedding design, from the logistical planning to working with the couple to share their love story through the event’s scenery.
“Every year, we have brides from all over the country come to the show to draw inspiration from our antiques and horticultural vendors, gardens and design lectures,” Graham said. “So this year we wanted to cater to those attendees and have an expert in the event and wedding design industry speak, and Tara is just that. Her events are nationally recognized for being perfectly executed and chicly designed.” Following her Event Planning & Design lecture at the show, Guérard will sign copies of her books for guests. Her debut book, Southern Weddings: New Looks from the Old South, was published to rave reviews in 2007, and her second volume, Weddings by Tara Guérard, premiered in early 2010, further establishing her as an authority on gracious entertaining. Guérard has been featured in Southern Living, Town & Country Weddings, Martha Stewart Weddings as well as on The Martha Stewart Show, The Nate Berkus Show and the Style Network, among other media outlets. Additionally, Guérard is a regular on the blog and speaking circuits, dispensing tips and advice on an array of design related topics.
Guérard takes special care to coordinate all of her clients’ wedding elements in-house and with every detail in mind, even designing some of Hollywood’s chicest nuptials.
With a core business in event design, Guérard has also expanded her brand to include furniture design for Frank and Lane, as well as custom invitation suites and printed pieces through Lettered Olive. Interior design services are a recent addition to Guérard’s empire, a natural extension of Tara Guérard Soirée as both are principally about creating a special environment that reflects the client’s lifestyle.
Chairs for the 2017 Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville, Mary Smith and Linda Graham, said they asked Guérard to speak at the show this year because of her ability to seamlessly integrate vintage, personal items into event design.
To see more of Guérard’s work, visit taraguerardsoiree.com. General tickets to the Antiques & Garden Show of Nashville and the Event Planning & Design Lecture can be purchased at antiquesandgardenshow.com.
34 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM | WINTER 2017