Behind the Scenes: Mary Huddleston

Have you ever walked into a wedding or event and been blown away by the seating arrangements? If not, you’ve probably never been to an event styled by Please Be Seated.

Nashville native Mary Huddleston spent her first years in the event industry running the wedding division for Todd Events, an elite Dallas event-planning firm. She planned extravagant weddings featured in the likes of Martha Stewart and Town & Country, dealing with unlimited budgets and endless expectations.

When Mary and her husband, Paul, returned to Nashville in 2013, she realized that while the market for event planning had grown exponentially, it was lacking a local supplier of luxury rental furniture. Designers were looking for new items and custom pieces that Nashville couldn’t provide, and Mary decided to be the one to fix that problem.

Mary founded Please Be Seated in 2014 to provide high-quality seating, tables, bars, stages, lighting and décor for some of the biggest and best events in Nashville, including the Swan Ball and the Frist Gala. She also works with designers on weddings and smaller events, helping her clients’ personalities shine through the details she provides.

She is always on the hunt for new trends in furniture and event design, but she shies away from anything too of-the-moment. “I like to look for pieces that are timeless and classic and updated, but you’re not going to look back at your pictures in 10 years and ask, ‘What was I thinking?’” says Mary, who is a true Southern girl with classic Southern taste. “I love the tradition and timelessness of what we do.”

Please Be Seated has an ever-expanding inventory of furniture, but Mary also works with a local craftsman to create custom pieces for clients. One of her favorite offerings is a custom stage front, which can match any type of décor. Her bar-in-the-round and faux floral wall covered in rosebuds have also been big hits.

While based in Nashville, Mary and her team will travel just about anywhere. So even if you’re planning a destination wedding and want to finish off your look with stunning furniture, don’t hesitate to give them a call. Check out pleasebeseated.com to see how they can add a little “wow” to your next event.

Photo by Anna Rebecca Photography