Tuesday, March 9, 2010
I've got more great wedding finds to share from the Her Nashville / Focus bridal show, just in case you missed the event.
First up, b. Hughes Bridal and Signature Events, two wonderful wedding resources! b. Hughes Bridal displayed their spring collection of bridal gowns. Ruffles, feathers, and flowers are in, as you can see! These styles would look great with vintage and rustic themed weddings. Signature Events has a vibrant personality and was recently featured in Martha Stewart Weddings. You should check them out! They do exceptional things in weddings here in Nashville.
Up next, a catering company called Clean Plate Club. They provided tasty brunch treats in the form of omelets that beautiful morning. They looked and tasted exquisite! So often brides forget that a brunch reception is a great and budget friendly alternative, especially for Sunday weddings. And, really, who doesn't love breakfast?! Ashley certainly did! She chowed down on a cheese omelette while I enjoyed a Mimosa.
Bacon and Caviar was another catering company offering up deletable brunch treats. They served smoked salmon patties with a salad. It was delicious! Their drink of choice was fruit tea, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Truth be told, I'm really particular about my tea, too. If you get a chance, try their fruit tea.
Of course, after those brunch treats, you'd need something sweet. At the bridal show, there were two bakeries - The Bake Shoppe and Cupcake Collection. Each had their own kind of yumminess.
The Bake Shoppe featured cakes inspired by the latest in bridal gown trends. If you missed their series, read about wedding cakes inspired by bridal gowns part 1 and wedding cakes part 2 only on ABG! The Cupcake Collection had some tasty treats as well. My favorites were the sweet potato cupcake, which tasted like spice cake, and the red velvet cupcake. I'm not usually an icing person, but both had deliciously creamy ones.
The Bake Shoppe
Cupcake Collection
Music City Events had another great spring tablescape. They used a soft green linen with white accents on the table. The hydrangeas were also a great touch for the spring tablescape. It would look great for a vintage or rustic style wedding, as well.
Wedding 101 looked great as well. It is a great FREE resource for brides in Nashville and the Middle TN area. They had shabby chic decor as well. This is really prevalent in weddings right now. So, if you're looking for a theme, this could be a good one!
Eyecandy Salon is a hot salon that is all about glamour. They are located downtown and have great pricing for all brides! The salon is also planning a bridal extravaganza called Bridal Carnevale. It is planned for April 18th and has a complete facebook page dedicated to the festivities.
Geny's Wedding and Events floored me as soon as I walked upstairs. I don't know if they did it on purpose, but they took the splashes of red in the Noah Liff Opera Center and ran with it. They used one of my favorite color schemes - red and damask - that I think can be used for any season. To brighten it up, they used green, which lightens the darkness of the black and makes it a perfect spring or summer palette.
It was a great bridal show that showcased wonderful wedding resources. Hope my recap will help you find a few additional ideas or resources for your big day. Thanks to Kristyn Hogan lifestylye photographer for all photos.
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Monday, March 8, 2010
The Her Nashville bridal show is my new favorite bridal show! I loved the venue, Noah Liff Opera Center, which boasts a beautiful, open and airy ambiance that made the show seem very LA:). Seriously, I felt like I'd been transported to a different city. Not that I don't love Nashville but the show had a very different vibe than any I've attended in the past.
I attended the show with Cassie, who is here to share all of our favorite wedding finds with you.
Enjoy ~ Ashley
On the last weekend in February, nFocus and HER magazine hosted a bridal brunch at the Noah Liff Opera Center. The center is centrally located; close enough to all the hottest spots downtown without all the noise and traffic. If you haven't visited the site yet, you should. It is a great new Nashville wedding venue and perfect for any bride! The center is perfect because it will compliment any color scheme, especially with the little pops of red throughout the whole place. I particularly like the drama and sophistication of the red spiral staircase.
Another great thing about the Noah Liff Opera Center is the ambiance and lighting. The floor to ceiling windows are a great touch and would look spectacular at night. Think of the stars twinkling on your wedding night. A great compliment to the twinkling stars in the night sky is the lighting. The small, smartly placed lights overhead look like stars and hang oh-so-delicately. The lights also echo the spiral staircase with their cylindrical appearance.
StudioWed had a gorgeous set up right as you walked up the stairs. Their tablescape was perfect for a spring wedding. The linens were charcoal gray with an accent of a soft, pale green for the napkin linens. They complimented each other in a fabulous way and looked stunning next to the floor to ceiling windows. The ladies of Studio Wed also had a mini candy buffet set up in coordinating colors. In particular, I really enjoyed the coke flavored candy. It was too cute! Their floral design was provided by Brocade Design and were spectacular.
(Notice the cute canvas tote bag on the bride's arm? It's an ABG bag!)
Designs in Paper gave away super cute mini scrapbooks! They were very festive and were filled with the cutest papers. Also given to the brides to be were buttons. The buttons said "Future Mrs." with the new first letter of your last name. I snatched one up for myself, as well as scrapbook since I am a bride to be. Plus, they were just too adorable to pass up. Designs in Paper is great because they do more than stationery. They offer cake toppers, specialized confetti, and other paper goodies.
Faccio Bridal displayed superb dresses for a spring wedding. They were flowy, detailed, and accentuated the waist. The bridesmaids dresses complimented the bridal gowns well too. They echoed the strapless look of the gowns but in a beautiful fushia color, which is perfect for spring and summer weddings. I also enjoyed the use of the sash on the flower girl's dress; it matched the bridesmaid dresses, which is a great way to tie in the colors.
Creative Designs and Events had another great spring/summer tablescape. They used black and yellow with hints of silver and gray. It was a perfectly simple design and would look great for an evening wedding. The yellow roses were a great added touch to brighten up the design and the space. The candles added great ambience too. I also loved the custom invitations and menu cards that used the same patterned fabric.
More highlights tomorrow! Thanks to Kristyn Hogan lifestylye photographer for accompanying us and capturing our favorite finds.
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Friday, February 5, 2010
This is a post to forward this post to your maid of honor:)…
When you think about a traditional bridal shower, I’m sure you probably picture a bunch of ladies all sitting around in a circle, chatting & snacking & tittering, while the bride opens her gifts. I know I do. But, who said you have to be traditional? Who said you had to have your bridal shower at your fiance’s mother’s sister’s house? That sounds a little complicated, if you ask me. And, really, who wants to clean up after a bridal shower? There’s food to be dealt with {who’s taking what? what’s being thrown away?} and wrapping paper to be dealt with eventually. Then, you have to wash dishes! {I hate washing dishes. Don’t you?}. Plus,your bridal events should all be fabulous and easy for everyone to enjoy - from hostess to hosted.
In order to quell your new desire to have your bridal shower elsewhere, I have a few ideas for you. I’m sure one of them will be right up your alley. These venues range from modern to chic to intimate, which is sure to make your mind swirl with so much inspiration that you won’t know what to do with yourself!
aLoft Hotel
Have you visited this little gem? It is boasts a modern atmosphere with fun, popular music pumped in through the speakers and bright, energetic colors that help to brighten any mood. If you are bride that wants to be remembered and has many unique aspects planned for your big day, I recommend this facility. They have different, versatile spaces [both inside and outside] that can be used for any sort of occasion - like a bridal shower! [If interested, contact Kristin McBryde at 615.435.8700.]
Monell’s / Lillie Belle’s
One of my friends had her bridal luncheon here a little over a year ago. If you are a bride that plans on having a soft, vintage wedding, this would be a great venue choice for you and your bridal party. It is an old English style house that has been renovated into a tea room. It definitely has a lot of down South charm too. Whether you are having a small gathering or a large one, this facility is equipped to handle it all. And, if by chance you are looking for other locations for parts of your wedding festivities, they are able to accommodate that as well! Be sure to take a look this this sweet little treasure.
The Palm
If you are a downtown bride who likes all things fancy and classy, then this is the place for you. This venue screams elegance and formality. It’s a place everyone is familiar with, even if they have never been there. My favorite part of it all is the cartoon drawings of all the regulars from the past 80 years. What a great conversation starter or game to play with your favorite ladies (and gentlemen).
Mere Bulles
Can’t make up your mind? Why not try a combination of all three? Mere Bulles has just about everything a girl could dream of for her bridal shower. There are many private rooms in which to hold your shower, and each have their own unique flair which is sure to jive with your wedding vibes and ideals. If the photo and room variety don’t convince you, then I’m sure the Southern charm will. The plantation/antebellum mansion feel is enough drive any Southern bride to their establishment. And, if you happen to need a little more visual stimulation for this venue, check out the virtual tour provided by Dynamic Video.
When we asked others in the Nashville bridal community for their favorite bridal shower venues, here were some of the responses:
@TnBellaWeddings to @weddinggirl: …Don’t forget Cabana! It’s loud & hip w/great drinks & delicious food! And for a less noisy party the room in back is great.
@RhondaHendricks to @weddinggirl: Hotel Indigo
@SwizzleEvents to @weddinggirl: For a trendy/contemporary bridal shower, I love Virago’s. Delicious sushi and awesome lounge seating.
@HartzPhotograph to @weddinggirl: What about Arrington Vineyard, low key, beautiful, great wine and you can bring your own food or have it catered in!
@dandyLionevents to @weddinggirl: rumours east! chic, rustic, chill.
Cakes by Shara says: “Gaylord Opryland Hotel,Hermitage Golf has beautiful room you can rent for showers plus on site catering. Mambu has little rooms that might be cool for a shower, Sambuca has a upstairs room as well as The Acorn that are really nice for private parties. The Park Cafe is nice too. Chappy’s, Miro, The Pfunky Griddle, You can also rent out the Big Bad Wolf Smokehouse grill for a shower some of the best smoked meats I have ever had!”
Dynamic Video says: “…CJ’s off the Square for a bigger reherseal. Have one at Tayst next weekend should be yummy”
Jennifer Edwards Milam of Reveal Events adds: “Loaga (low-sha, not sure how to spell that) in the Cheekwood Mansion, Southhall Eden Farm, Hermitage Hotel Veranda, Belle at Bell Meade, Tent in any park are the first that come to mind:)”
Ashley adds - if you have a small bridal shower, Hutton Hotel has a great private room, seats 15-20. No fee - just food and drinks for your intimate crowd.
Whatever you choose, I hope you have an enjoyable bridal shower. Oh - some of these venues would also work for a rehearsal dinner location.
Have fun planning, ladies!
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Thursday, February 4, 2010
3.2 months. 14.2 weeks. 100 days. 2400 hours. 144,000 minutes. 8,640,000 seconds. And, it all comes down to one moment. The moment you walk down the aisle to the one you love, the one to whom you are going to pledge the rest of your life. Could you plan your wedding in that short amount of time? Nashville newlywed Amber did, and she wrote about her journey on the blog aptly named 100 Days to Plan a Wedding.
Thoroughly impressed by this concept and her hard work, I think it only right to share with you Amber’s inspirations and reflections for her wedding day. Not only did she plan a wedding in 100 days, but she also did it on a budget! {Brides, start taking notes!}
1. What was your biggest splurge that you thought was well worth it?
Photography! It was the one think I was willing to blow my budget on. Once the flowers are dead and the cake is stale, the photos are all we have to remember our big day. I was so blessed to find Matt Vietti and his creative eye! {you can read about her decision here & here}
2. What did you think was the biggest waste of your money?
Nothing. We were very frugal and thought out all our purchases. {be sure to check out her budget recaps}
3. What was your favorite Do-It-Yourself project?
The Paper Poms! They were very time consuming, but they were a lot of fun to do with my mom, and my various friends and family who stopped in and helped make one.
4. What would you go back and have someone else do that was originally a DIY project?
Invitations! DIY invitations were a great idea in theory, but they were, by far, the most tedious and annoying thing we had to do. They required a lot of assembly we didn’t know about until we got home and opened the box. The invitations were an odd size so we couldn’t print them at home. We ended up having to spend $60 extra and take them to Kinkos. {be sure to read about it here & here}
5. Why 100 days?
Dave {her husband} knew his brother was being deployed to Iraq in October and his best friend was also leaving in October for Naval boot camp. He wanted both of them to be a part of our special day and didn’t want to wait another year plus to get married so he popped the question in June! By the time I had processed what was happening, I realized we only had 100 days to go. That is what inspired the blog and my thought process throughout the entire planning process!
Today’s blog was written by Cassandra, an ABG bridal blogger. She is also a Nashville bride-to-be and writes from her unique perspective! Read more about Cassandra’s here.
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Monday, February 1, 2010
Every so often there comes a trend where you just have to stop and stare in awe. Some times you stop and stare because you can’t believe someone did that. And, some times you stop and stare because you love it and want it in your wedding!
At Weddings: The Bridal Show, I had one of those moments, and it was fabulous. But I was warned.
Ashley had told me before the show, “be sure to check out The Bake Shoppe” and I’m glad I did. They’d worked with Arzelle’s Bridal to find the five most popular wedding dresses. From there, The Bake Shopped used the gowns for inspiration to give Nashville brides and idea of how you can take your dream gown and use it to inspire your wedding cake!
We got the exclusive and are elated to share the entire, delicious process with you - from the gown and the sketch - to the final, inspired cake.
First up - An Alvina Valenta bridal gown (Style # 9609). This gown is perfect for the bride who wants to add drama to her wedding. It is ideal for a night wedding with candlelight surrounding the bride and her groom. The sash is a perfect touch to add just the tiniest bit of romance.
In the sketch below, you can see how the cake designer picked the sash as the focal point. It drapes down the cake just as the sash drapes down the dress.
You’ve seen the dress and the design; now, see the final product. It is a beautiful cake that accents the high point of the dress without overtly pointing it out! How incredible!! I’m still in awe.
Next - The Cotton Bride by Chris Kole bridal gown (Style # B1047). This gown is fitting for an outdoor setting in the summer. It is made with a light fabric and would be quite comfortable on your big day. No need to worry about “glistening” {since we fine Southern ladies do not sweat}.
There is no sketch to go with this gown/cake transformation, but you really don’t need one with it anyway. You can see which detail the designers chose to showcase, which is the intricate pattern. With the cake, they used soft spring color hues that would look lovely at an outdoor wedding.
Then - a Watters & Watters bridal gown (Style Positan0). This gown is for the pure bride who dreams of the simple and beautiful. This gown makes a statement but isn’t overwhelming. It is a perfect destination wedding gown.
For the cake, the designers chose to highlight the intricate details throughout the dress. The centerpiece of the cake is definitely the simplicity of the design.
After seeing the dress and the cake design, you will not be surprised to see the end result. The designers took their time and really thought about how to make it all flow together just like the pattern on the dress flows.
Check back tomorrow to see the other two cakes. You won’t want to miss them!
Today’s blog was written by Cassandra, an ABG bridal blogger. She is also a Nashville bride-to-be and writes from her unique perspective! Read more about Cassandra’s here.
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