Friday, July 30, 2010
Nashville really has a great selection of wedding venues. From the lush, pretty outdoors to the most chic venues - there's a perfect wedding location to suit any style of bride. Today's real wedding post features a romantic, urban wedding that combines nicely at aVenue. The loft-like space with its delicious hardwood floors and exposed brick walls provided a wonderful backdrop to Courtney and David's special day. They also had some of funnest fish favors I've ever seen.
Romantically Hip: Courtney & David's Real Wedding at aVenue
Bride ~ Courtney Hodge Evans
Groom ~ David Evans
May 1st 2010 (The Great Flood of Nashville) at 6pm
Ceremony & Reception Location: The aVenue – Downtown Nashville
Number of guests: 150
Wedding Style
My wedding style?
My wedding style was hip and classic with hints of romance throughout the room. It is not hard to make this already beautiful wedding venue just exactly what any bride would want.
My colors and why I choose them?
My colors were raspberry and green with small bursts of orange. My attendants wore 2 different styles and colors of Bari Jay dresses. The bridesmaids wore green and matrons and maid of honor wore raspberry to coincide with their groomsmen/ringbearers with like alternating tuxes.
My theme?
Fun and elegant – My theme was a very fun. My focus was on convenience and fun for our guests. There are so many weddings that I have been to where you have to travel from the wedding to the venue and I wanted to ensure that my guests were comfortable and were entertained.
Wedding wow factor?
Our guests loved the downtown location and the décor that was used was very original. We received a ton of compliments about how organized and detailed the wedding was as well as the food and drinks were fantastic.
Favors?
Other than the goldfish that we gave to the children, we made a donation to the American Diabetes Foundation in honor of the groom.
Personalized touches?
Some of the personal touches that we added to the party were we had a gobo with our names reflecting onto the wall and we also made a video with our pictures growing up as well as some engagement photos looping on a big screen tv throughout the reception.
Gift for bridesmaids? Groomsmen?
The bride gave each bridesmaid an embroidered towel wrap and the groom gave the groomsmen engraved leather money clips and hot pink patterned socks that were worn under their tuxes to add a lot of color and make for some great pictures.
Most special moment for me?
Seeing my groom privately for the first time. My coordinator arranged for us to see each other before the wedding. David was waiting at the top of the stairs when I walked behind him and he saw me for the first time. There are no words for this moment and how special it was.
For the kids in my wedding?
We had goldfish that were in our table centerpieces we gave to the children in their own individual tanks along with care instructions and fish food.
My Wedding Vendors
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My planner – Laurie Hardman with Randi Events, who manage my venue, aVenue. She made this day so very perfect for me. She exudes professionalism and organization. Even despite the rain and flooding on this day, I had no clue the stresses she took on because of this….thank goodness.
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Cake – From Chef’s Market, was a small sugar free top cake surrounded by cupcakes that were strawberry, chocolate and vanilla decorated with white icing and orchids.
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Caterer – Chef’s Market. We had so many complements on the food for our reception. We had passed appetizers of mini mozzarella and tomatoes, mini bites of tomato, avocado and corn. For dinner we had a buffet style heavy appetizers with mini cheeseburger sliders with all the fixings, a sweet potato and mashed potato bar, Fajita bar served with chips and queso and pecan crusted chicken tenders.
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Photographer – Rich Kalonick (richkphoto.com) – Rich was the best. He was fun, laid back and got the job done to perfection. Despite the rain, he made all of our shots inside beautiful and entertaining. He also had a photobooth set up that our guests really enjoyed. Rich also did our engagement photos and he has such a fantastic eye for what will and will not look good.
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Video – Rich Kalonick
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Invitations – Designs in Paper, Donette did an amazing job on not only my beautiful and original wedding invitations, she also did my Invitations to my rehearsal dinner and bridesmaids luncheon. She can cater to any type of design and adds a perfect artsy flair to everything. She made the headache of invitations completely seamless.
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Dresses – Bari Jay for the bridesmaids and Anjolique for the bride. The bridesmaids wore Hunter Green and matrons and maid of honor wore Raspberry to coincide with their groomsmen/ring bearers with like alternating tuxs.
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Rings – We purchased both of our rings at Zales jewelers. The brides ring is a round cut diamond in a antique style setting in white gold and the grooms is tungsten.
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Music – Our DJ Mark Malatesta out of Memphis (jordabella.com). Mark has very competitive pricing and made our party fun and kept the crowd going and dancing throughout the entire party. He also did our wedding music and made all the announcement and followed a timeline given by the coordinator.
I would most of all highly recommend Randi Event Design team (randilesnick.com). They made my day so very special and seamless. They have the most skilled professionals as well as connections with the best and decoration and catering ideas. They also have a number of venues that they can hold any event at that are stylish and chic through Nashville Event Space.
What I would do differently if planning again?
There is honestly not one thing that I would have changed about my day. The planning went perfectly and I got exactly what I wanted in every way.
Biggest waste of time/money?
My biggest waste of time and money was the parting gift of bubbles. We found these really cute cowboy boots that had bubbles in them and tied ribbons on them with a really cute saying on them. You couldn’t really see the bubbles in pictures at all.
The best value for the service/product?
My photographer was the best service for the amazing pictures that we got back. He caught so many wonderful memories in pictures for us.
Neatest find?
My neatest find was my invitation person. They really were able to design exactly what I was looking for, for the price that was comparable to what I wanted to pay. They went beyond that and gave me professional and personal service with each and everything that I ordered.
This last picture really captures Courtney's vision for utter romance at a hip, modern venue. All the best to the happy couple!
Photos courtesy of Nashville Event Space and Rich Kalonick Photography
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Posted by Tabitha |
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
For my Sex and the City party, everything was a go - from the plan, the design, food, dessert, shopping. But there was one thing that was definitely needed that was nearly impossible to get due to the event coinciding with Memorial Day weekend - tables!
Weeks leading up to the event, Kristin of Simply Stunning and I called every party place we knew - hoping that someone could help supply tables for the party. Less than 7 days before the event, Julie of Liberty Party Rentals came through! She not only was able to provide everything we needed but she was happy to and served us with a smile. That meant a lot to me and I am forever thankful.
So, if you are in need of rentals for your wedding or event, consider Liberty Party Rental. They took great care of me and I am sure they will do the same for you.
To save you time in your search, here's my Q&A with Julie of Liberty Party regarding the company, philosphy, inventory, etc.
ABG Vendor Spotlight on Liberty Party Rental
Number of Years in the Business: 27
How did your company get started in weddings?
Weddings are what built Liberty Party Rental into what it is today. The first client of Liberty Party Rental was a bride and groom! As a party & event rental company, we have always offered rental items, such as tables, chairs, tabletop items, dance floors and linens that would be of interest to brides and those assisting in the wedding planning process. We have also provided more “wedding specific” items that are geared directly toward weddings and receptions, such as archways, candelabras, cake plateaus, and cake serving sets. Our inventory is constantly evolving to stay current with the trends.
What do you like most about weddings?
Most brides have never planned a wedding before so it is always fun to see what ideas they have come up with on their own. Brides are passionate about planning their dream wedding and they have a specific vision that is as individual and unique as they are. Keeping that vision in mind, at Liberty Party Rental we know how to turn dreams into reality while still keeping within budget. We also always aim to keep the entire process smooth and as stress-free as possible, because we know how stressful planning such an important day can be!
What is your service philosophy? What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
With over 100 years of combined hospitality industry experience, and the largest inventory in middle Tennessee, the Liberty Party Team is proud to help with the rental items for your upcoming wedding celebration. Our team of professionals is comprised of highly resourceful problem solvers with the capabilities to do whatever it takes to fulfill brides’ wedding wishes.
What is your service philosophy? What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
With over 100 years of combined hospitality industry experience, and the largest inventory in middle Tennessee, the Liberty Party Team is proud to help with the rental items for your upcoming wedding celebration. Our team of professionals is comprised of highly resourceful problem solvers with the capabilities to do whatever it takes to fulfill brides’ wedding wishes.
If you ask our past brides, they will say that we excel in customer service. Our goal is for each customer to leave Liberty satisfied, not only with their rentals, but also with the overall experience. By providing not only a great selection of rentals but superior customer service, we hope that the bride and groom will recommend us to all of their friends! A quote from one of our brides in May showcases just this, “Now that all the wedding fuss is over, I just wanted to take a second and thank you. You guys were amazing to work with, and I couldn’t have imagined it being as beautiful as it was! You were fantastic, and you better believe I’m telling everyone that I know to go to Liberty Party for anything. Thanks again and God Bless.”
Liberty Party Rental has an extensive new website that not only includes pictures and details on each of their rental items but also hands on tools that brides can keep in their wedding books. From an inspiration photo gallery to a linen chart to event tips, the website is one of the greatest assets for Liberty Party Rental.
Brides can follow up with a visit to the showroom at Liberty Party Rental where they can setup a sample table with their linen, china, glassware, and flatware. Many times brides end up changing their mind on their “rental picks” once they are able to “see it and touch it”! Not only will they be able to see all of the items in person but they also meet their Account Manager face-to-face. We encourage the brides to setup a showroom appointment to ensure that the showroom is available along with their Account Manager.
Another great strength for Liberty Party Rental is that we own all of our rental items that are showcased on the website. We have over 60,000 square feet of warehouse space filled with our inventory here locally in Nashville. This allows us the flexibility with brides so they can increase their order until 24 hours before the scheduled delivery date or decrease numbers 48 hours prior to delivery.
Our resources and your imagination means anything is possible!
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends?
The entire sales team stays on top of the trends by reading the latest bridal magazines and publications, surfing the internet and examining the latest blogs of our peers, attending various industry events and listening to the brides themselves, who often are the most current in wedding styles.
Let’s discuss current wedding trends - What trend do you love?
Mixed seating – using various size tables and incorporating unique lounge seating options as well. We have also enjoyed putting together weddings lately they have utilized a wide array of color schemes. It is sometimes nice to do something a little unexpected.
Lounge seating options and styles
What trend do you hate?
It is not so much a trend, but often inflexibility is a challenge to work with. At Liberty Party Rental, we have many solutions to maintaining the overall concept, while still staying within the budget. For example, many of our customers want chair covers to hide the boring banquet chairs that many venues already have – they immediately assume the only option is to use a chair cover, but they never think to bring in an alternative chair. A majority of our chairs, all wedding reception quality, are more economically priced than the chair cover itself. We always try to have our brides think outside of the box when met with a challenge – design or financial.
Past trends
Trend I’m glad is gone?
All white – white chairs, white table linens, white china.
What are your favorite wedding websites? Neatest wedding find?
Our new site - libertypartyrental.com and ashleysbrideguide.com
For "budget savvy" brides, what's the one thing you think should always make it into a budget?
Linens, or even overlays, can make quite the statement when walking into the room. They can give the room that “pop” of color needed, without pouring money into florals, and also create a uniform look to the room.
Elegant bursts of color
What's one way brides can save money/be more economical?
Sometimes brides focus on things that guests really would not notice unless it was pointed out to them. For example, a bride could focus her attention on a certain glassware or flatware that is really not within her budget. While the item may add some “wow” to the tablescape, if a more basic glassware line was substituted guests would not necessarily have a different experience or realize that a more cost effective option was used instead.
Clear Tents
Does your company do anything special that a green bride might want to know?
We offer more than just linens, tables and chairs. Lounge seating, outdoor furniture, tabletop décor, tents, and flooring a just a few more items that we rent. Brides can visit our new website to get inspiration and also learn about all of our great products! Be sure to come by our showroom and see firsthand what we have to offer.
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Posted by Ashley |
Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, Wedding Resources
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Wednesday, July 28, 2010
I'm excited about these two opportunites and I hope you will check them out:
Nashville brides - Don't forget that this is the last week to visit StudioWed (SW) to qualify for their Ultimate Diamond Giveaway. If you haven't visited SW or made your appointment yet, this is a great time to do so! Check out the studio and their wedding vendors and while there, enter to win a super cute diamond necklace. One lucky Nashville bride will win it and the chances are really good that it could be you!
Tennessee wedding pros - Wish Upon a Wedding is "the world's first non-profit wish granting organization that helps couples facing terminal illnesses and serious life altering circumstances get married and renew their vows". They are seeking wedding service/goods donations for their Bid Your Wish for Wedding Bliss event to benefit terminally ill individuals.
Here is where Tennessee wedding professionals come in:
About Bid Your Wish for Wedded Bliss:
On October 1, 2010, Wish Upon a Wedding will begin auctioning off hundreds of products and services, in 46 cities throughout the country, to help couples create the perfect wedding or event, all at incredible prices! All proceeds raised will help grant wedding wishes for terminally ill individuals. Your donation will provide them with the crucial funding needed to make these wishes come true.
When:
Donations will be accepted until August 31, 2010. Their auction committee will approve submissions during September, at which time you'll be contacted. The auctions will be open for bidding during October and November, in conjunction with the Blissful Wishes Ball in November.
Why Donate:
By donating an item or service, you'll be helping to make wedding wishes come true for terminally ill individuals, and you'll receive great exposure for your business in return. You'll get a mention on our site that can link back to your own web page, as well as a spot to advertise your logo and photos from your company! It's a great way to PAY IT FORWARD, and gain business in return.
What You Can Donate:
Example: "A Custom Cake for 100 guests, maximum value $600.00" rather than $100 off any Custom cake order.
How You Can Donate:
Visit Bid Your Wish for Wedding Bliss and click on "DONATE AN ITEM" to submit an item for consideration. If approved, your donation will be featured in their nationwide online & live auctions, which will be open for bidding during October and November. These auctions will be heavily marketed in many areas.
Let's show them that TN wedding professionals' hearts are as great as our skills!
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Posted by Ashley |
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010
I'm sure there's some sort of psychological study somewhere that proves that our good childhood memories remain familar and continue to attract us. It might be grandma's cooking, or a certain smell or the great times we had playing with our friends. For Marti and Justin, an engaged Nashville couple, things came full circle when these childhood friends finally (at the hands of their mutual friends) got together. Today's real engagement is evidence that sometimes, you just need to look at what's around you to find joy.
Marti and Justin just exchanged vows this Saturday and we want to wish them both all the best in their new life together! P.S: We can't wait to see the wedding pics!
An ABG Couple's Engagement Story!
Her Marti Bryson
Lebanon, TN
Him Justin Latimer
Mt. Juliet, TN
How did you meet?
We have known each other since we were 5 or 6. We went to the same school until high school. After college I moved away for about 5 years when I came back Justin was attending the church I had grown up at. It was then that mutual friends began trying to set us up. We finally gave in!
The Proposal
Where? The Grand Canyon
When? February 16, 2010
How? We had gone to Las Vegas for the week, Justin rented a truck and we drove up to the Easter Rim of the Grand Canyon. We were walking around and Justin sat down on a huge rock that was sitting close to the edge with an amazing view. I sat down beside him, we were talking and the next thing I know he was asking...and he had the ring!
Did you enjoy your engagement photo session?
Yes! To be honest I was not looking forward to it, I do not really like to take pictures. But we both had a blast, it was so hot, and I think I swallowed 3 mosquitoes but we still had so much fun. Mike made it very laid back and casual...it was like we were just all hanging out. I loved all of the pictures, we were very pleased!
What matters most as you plan your wedding?
That at the end of the day on July 24th me and Justin are married and will be spending the rest of our lives together!
Has any decision triggered a meltdown in your wed planning process?
Small wedding or big wedding? I had a hard time deciding. But me and Justin are blessed with so many great friends and family that we love and we wanted everyone to be there!
What has been your major couple disagreement and what have you done to compromise?
DJ or Band? Justin wants a dj and I want a band. Haha we still haven't decided!
What's the one must-have for your wedding day? His? Hers?
I want it out at my parents house where I grew up...and I want no RAIN! Not much to ask for huh?
Your wedding details...
- style-I like things that are different but very simple. I love simple!
- colors-Shamrock green, Navy and White
- venue-My parents house, they live on the lake.
- vendors we've hired to date-Well...you would need to talk to my mom!
What do you most look forward to after marriage?
Duh...the honeymoon! And after that...coming home every night and knowing Justin is going to be there!
Any words of wisdom for newly-engaged couples?
Just have fun with it. Involve your family and when people want to help let them help!
What a great engagement session! Their story is a testament to how great pictures are possible when the photographer puts you at ease. Thanks so much to Myrick Studios for sharing these photos with us. So fun!
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Posted by Ashley |
Filed under: Engagements & Proposals, Photography & Videography
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Monday, July 26, 2010
It's all in the details isn't it? You put in the effort to find your perfect gown that by the time it comes to the shoes and accessories, you may be sapped of your energy! You may be at the point where you think, "oh whatever, I'll just get a veil and a pair of heels and call it a day, I'm so worn out." We encourage you to take a breather, and invest the same energy you put into finding your gown to finding the best, complementary pieces to go with it - why ruin things with a veil or accessory that clashes with your beautiful gown right?
To make it easier for you to know what your options are, we went to Melanie, owner of The White Room and a fabulous ABG site sponsor, to get her input on what's been popular in bridal accessories.
ABG Interview with Melanie Long, Owner of The White Room
Brides have so much to choose from now they’re not just stuck with a few options. When brides come into The White Room, we work with them to explore all their choices with our gowns and accessories. If they love everything on their gown except one thing we aren’t afraid to have that changed. We have a wonderulf seamstress who works with our store who can alter or make changes when the gown comes in.
When it comes to the accessories you choose, it really depends on your gown as to what look works. It’s important to have good accessories because it’s something you can pass down. Think of your accessories as heirloom pieces. We have tons of brides who wear their moms’ veils, or a necklace or bracelet that their moms wear on their wedding day and it’s such a special thing for their mom and daughter to share.
Headpieces:
I love veils and it just depends on the gown they’re wearing and where they’re getting married. Our veils are customizable. We have two or three companies we work with who will do custom work. This is perfect for the bride who doesn't want lace all over but just in certain parts of the veil. We pick out the length, send a sketch to the companies and show them where we want the lace to work to get the bride exactly what she wants.
Pretty lace veil from Erica Koesler
Birdcage veils and little headbands have been trendy lately as well.
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Erica Koesler birdcage veils.
Glamorous! Headbands from Malis-Henderson
Headpieces by MariaElena. This black piece also doubles as a belt but I think it's gorgeous in her hair!
Shoes:
Lots of color! We have lots of brides who choose not to wear white shoes and instead we have brides pick a color of shoe they love. That’s kind of a fun thing they can do for themselves.
Peep toes shoes are popular. People really like bling or sometimes even a little lace on the shoe. A shoe we order quite a bit from Grazia Shoes is the Valentine shoe (below center). It's a 4-inch peep toe with a brooch at the toe and it's one of our number one shoes right now. It’s a beautiful shoe!
Again it’s comfort level and sometimes even the groom’s height. We do still sell a lot of Dyeable shoes which can be dyed to match your other accessories.
Gianna peep toe platform from Dyeables
Thanks Melanie! It looks like they has you covered from head-to-toe - all these veils, headpieces and shoes are available through The White Room! Not to mention customizable veils really opens up lots of options for you too. You can visit The White Room online, and learn more about the new trends in bridal fashion on their blog!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Attire & Accessories
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