Monday, February 6, 2012
Let’s face it, brides-to-be often splurge on the one big item for their day, their wedding dress. And sometimes, the cost of the gown breaks the bank. With this in mind, we’re overjoyed to announce the annual Goodwill Wedding Gala.
The Goodwill Wedding Gala is a one-day, bridal super sale that will take place on Saturday, March 17, at Goodwill’s Rivergate store. Trust us, the store will be transformed into a bride’s dreamland and will be filled with deeply discounted wedding dresses, shoes, veils, accessories, along with dresses for your bridesmaids, mothers, and rehearsal dinner. You want it and it will be there!
To learn more about the Wedding Gala, we took an extensive tour of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee’s main processing plant, which is located in Nashville. We knew that the gala was a great way for brides-to-be to get crazy deals on dresses but we wanted to know about the organization and how the Gala benefits Tennesseans in need of help with their job search. Here’s how:
Betsy and Ashley of ABG. All photos courtesy of Scott of the Goodwill.
Brides-to-be: Get a deal on your dream dress and help someone in your community go from no job to a job.
For you brides-to-be, you’ll have the opportunity to shop among well over 300 new and pre-owned dresses all for less than $400! As a bonus, Nicholson Cleaners’ has graciously cleaned each pre-owned dress!
Previous brides: Donate your wedding attire, receive a tax deduction and help brides-to-be save!
For all you brides who’ve already walked the aisle, we encourage you to spread the word to donate your wedding attire – from your bridal gown to wedding shoes. Ask your bridesmaids to donate their dress.
Everything you and your girls donate (dresses, shoes, accessories, etc) is a tax deduction and will undoubtedly bless future brides. Can you imagine? Something that you loved on your wedding day can now be used to do the same for another love story! It’s time to clean out your closet and give. Stop them from just collecting dust and warm the heart of a new bride! All you have to do is donate your gently-used wedding items to Goodwill’s main office at 1000 Herman Street in Nashville or contact Natisha Moultry at 615-346-1665 to setup a pick up.
Bridal salons + clothing stores: Clean off your racks and make room for your fabulous new collections!
If you own a bridal salon, why wait for a sample sale? Instead, donate your dresses, shoes, veils, and any bridal items to the gala. No donation is too small; it’s tax deductible and will make room for the latest collections with little effort. Goodwill will even pick it up.
How your donation or purchase benefits Tennesseans with their job search:
What you may not know is that every donation helps fund Goodwill’s Career Solutions programs, most of which are free to the thousands of Tennesseans who visit each of the 17 Career Solutions Centers located in Middle and West Tennessee.
After taking a tour of Goodwill’s warehouse with Ashley last Monday, I write these words totally bewildered and nearly speechless. There’s no person out of reach. Every corner of Nashville’s warehouse radiates with purpose and hope. Hundreds of people are working each day at the processing plant simply because of the generosity of area donors. The company has 1600+ employees who work in a variety of departments within the organization, from the warehouse to teaching job skills.
Natisha of Goodwill (right) with Ashley and Betsy of ABG
With each donated item that is sold in one of Goodwill’s 30 stores in Middle and West Tennessee, 89 percent of the proceeds get poured back into the mission through free counseling services, job assessments, trade and skill classes, and many other programs. Almost all of them free! Goodwill is building workers from the ground up while inspiring them to dream big!
We were so inspired by our tour, including the wall quotes placed all over the facility.
Nashville bridal community: Let’s make a difference. At the 2011 gala, our donations and purchases generated revenue for the all the communities served by Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. Donate your wedding dress and accessories by March 12 or save the date to find your dream dress at Goodwill’s Rivergate store from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 17.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Bridal Shows & Events, DIY & Budget Wed Finds
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Sunday, January 22, 2012
TLC is taking Kleinfeld Bridal's Randy Fenoli away from "Say Yes To The Dress" and bringing the show on the road, with a stop in Nashville... Randy to the Rescue! Whether you want your 15 minutes of fame or want celebrity help finding your perfect wedding dress, Randy is coming to Nashville on March 11!
Here's the scoop straight from the casting representative:
Some wedding gowns need a train. Others require a semi-truck.
Do you dream of walking down the aisle with the help of New York City’s premiere bridal expert but your budget doesn’t include a trip to the big apple? Never fear! It’s Randy to the Rescue!
For the first time ever, TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress fashion expert (and resident “FOB” – friend-of-the-bride) Randy, is heading off the floor of Kleinfeld and behind the wheel of a big rig – to bring his favorite gowns, his unsurpassed dress knowledge, and his signature “head-to-hem” styling approach to you!
If you love TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress but live miles away from New York City, now is your chance.
To learn more about the show + the bridal gown tour, visit this link - TLC.com.
To buy tickets to see Randy during his Nashville stop, visit this site - TheWeddingGuys.com.
To be considered for the show, email your name, age, location, and wedding date ASAP to randytotherescue {at} gmail {dot} com.
OUR NEXT STOPS…
San Diego, CA-2/4
Las Vegas, NV-2/18
New Orleans, LA-2/26
Nashville, TN-3/11
Cincinnati, OH-3/18
Boston, MA-4/1
Minneapolis, MN-4/15
Mark your calendars for March 11 and send in your emails!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Bridal Shows & Events
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Friday, January 13, 2012
We love Kerried Away Couture; the fresh, custom designs from Kerri are always a treat to see, which is why we were all too happy to share this wedding with you. Allison hired Kerri to create more than just her bridesmaids dresses and fabric pins, Kerri also designed the sash for Allison dress and her hairpiece.
More than just wedding gowns and bridesmaids' dresses, Kerried Away Couture specializes in taking your fashion design and creating a custom piece just for you. The three-step process includes you choosing the style, fabric, and adding your details. You could create a special occasion dress or skirt for your rehearsal dinner, a New Years Eve party, engagement party, or finally help your mother choose the fit and cut that will flatter her on your wedding day.
Kerri explains Allison's design process, which may help other brides see that their vision can, in fact, come to life:
"Allison visited us in our showroom months before her wedding with various photos of dresses she liked. She knew she wanted a 1920-30s look to the dress so we worked with her to design the perfect bridesmaid dresses that were within her budget. Allison went with a navy silk blend that is very pretty and is more budget friendly than the 100% silk. The final design featured a one shoulder gathered bodice and waist band and was actually a compilation of a variety of dress style ideas that she had brought with her to her first consultation."
"The handmade brooches were a nice touch to the classic dress design and she took it one step further by having us make her a hair pin that mimicked the brooch designs to pull everything together. We had such a great time working with Allison and her bridesmaids and were so happy she entrusted us to help with her wedding day."
Allison + RJ
Wedding Date ~ August 6, 2011
Ceremony ~ Sunken Garden at Centennial Park
Reception ~ Big Band Dance at Centennial Park
Guests ~ 25 at Ceremony (plus many passersby that stopped to watch!)
50 at the following Reception
Budget
Less than $10,000
Wedding Team
Planner | Bride and Groom (We did it all ourselves!!)
Photographer | Alex Embry - Photos by Alex
Bridal Gown | White One by Pronovias (bought online), oyster color
Bride's Sash | Designed by Bride, Custom made by Kerried Away Couture
Bride's Shoes | Steve Madden (I’ve had them forever! They are my favorite!)
Bride's Accessories | Earrings from Charming Charlies, Hairpiece by Kerried Away Couture
Reception dress | Sue Wong Ivory Ostrich Feather Flapper dress (bought on Ebay)
Groom’s Attire | Groom’s Seersucker suit from Jos. A Bank
Groomsmen Attire | Suits from Overstock.com
Bridesmaids Attire | Design inspired by Bride, Custom made by Kerried Away Couture
Hair + Makeup | Natalie Armstrong, Bride’s sister
Stationery | Designed by bride/groom at Mixbook.com (We had a Groupon!!)
Ceremony Musicians | Halfbrass
Reception Musicians | Big Band Dance at Centennial Park (FREE Event)
Transportation | Black 1939 Packard from NashvilleWeddingCars.com
Caterer | Allison Armstrong (bride), Nina Armstrong (bride’s mother), and Betty Malone (bride’s aunt)
Cake Artist | Gigi’s Cupcakes
Floral Designer | Melanie at A Village of Flowers
Guest Accommodations | Holiday Inn Vanderbilt
Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Classic, easy going, fun, and family focused.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We had a 1930’s southern theme. We kept our ceremony low key with only immediate family and the wedding party present. We then used our grandparents’ milk glass serving dishes at the reception and had old black and white photos of them sitting around on the tables for décor. It was very important to us to have them be a part of our special day even though they could only be there in spirit.
We expressed our easy going side by having a public park venue where we knew many passersby would stop and watch from afar if they felt so inclined (and believe me they did!) and then utilizing the FREE Big Band Dance they have in Centennial Park on Saturday nights as our reception venue/entertainment. Everyone had a great time dancing, sitting in their lawn chairs, or relaxing watching others dance!
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
Oh my, we loved it all!! I guess if I had to pick one thing it would be Halfbrass playing “In the Mood” marching us, the wedding party, and all ceremony guests out of the ceremony site and through the street to the reception site. The guests seemed to thoroughly enjoy the peanut butter cup cupcakes from Gigi’s, the Mexican glass bottled cokes (out of my grandfather’s original Coca-Cola ice chest), and most of all the handmade lips, mustaches, and other dress up items with instant photos for the guestbook.
Where did you splurge?
Photography, but it was worth every penny! Alex is an awesome photographer and VERY reasonable compared to others that we received quotes from. She will be our photographer for years to come!
Where did you save/DIY?
We did everything ourselves but make the dresses and the cupcakes! I bought my dresses online (from other individuals, not vendors) and got them for half the price of retail! We made all of the food.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
We should have assigned duties to our wedding party for setting up the reception. Our friends and family worked so hard, but we could have had more time to visit with them if it would have been more organized.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Don’t get caught up in having the absolute perfect day, if something goes wrong, “Oh well” the important thing is that you and your spouse are together and, just think, you will have something to look back and laugh at for years to come.
Thank you to Allison and RJ for sharing their intimate day with us - we loved all of the details. And thank you to Kerri of Kerried Away Couture for explaining your design and custom creation process through Allison's wedding!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Real Nashville Weddings
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Wednesday, January 11, 2012
You're engaged, you may or may not have found your venue and picked your date, but there's another matter that may be weighing on your mind a little - your gown. What are you going to wear? Where do you start? Where do you go and what do you do when you get there? Today, we ask Melanie, owner of The White Room, some questions to help you keep things in mind when you start on your quest for your dream dress.
Where does the bride start when it comes to wedding gown shopping?
It is important to start your hunt for the perfect gown as soon as you get the ring - and in some cases, even before that (if you anticipate a short engagement and know your date but still waiting on the ring - this is very common - don't stress, we are here to help).
The style of your wedding gown can sometimes set the tone for your entire wedding. Most brides begin by looking at designers' websites and magazines to get an idea of what look they are drawn to. It is ok if the bride would rather start by seeing them in person. (It is our job to help them find the perfect look and they are welcome to come in to either store any time.)
Pictures by Sara Rose Photography and Kreslyn Faye Photography
Would you recommend making an appointment?
Although appointments are not required, we do strongly suggest them. With a small boutique, it is difficult to have enough fitting rooms and staff available at all times to accommodate numerous brides. The White Room offers four bridal fitting rooms in each location and reserves appointments first. We do try to work with every customer that may stop in, but you can be sure to have a fitting room and consultant to work solely with you if you call ahead to schedule something.
ABG Notes: Intricate details from some beautiful gowns at The White Room
ABG Notes: A real Nashville bride wearing a gown by Jasmine, from The White Room. (Picture by Kristyn Hogan)
How much time should a bride devote to dress shopping?
This differs for each bride. Some customers purchase the first gown they try on, while others come back for a second visit to confirm it is "the one." With our trained consultants, an appointment is sure to be relaxed and very productive. In most 2 hour appointments, we not only find the perfect wedding gown, but attempt to nail down a bridesmaid look for your attendants. The most important thing to remember is relax, enjoy your experience, and when you have found the gown for you - say yes and DO NOT continue to confuse and overwhelm yourself by looking at more styles and designers. Be confident in your choice and move on to the next step in planning.
What should she bring/wear to her appointment?
Most importantly we ask our brides to bring an open mind. We are always so excited to start with a new customer and enjoy working with them to find the perfect look!! The White Room offers shoes, slips, and undergarments for our brides to use while trying on sample gowns. We do not require this and of course each customer is welcome to bring anything they feel is necessary in their try-on process.
ABG Notes: Another real Nashville bride wearing a ruched gown from Casablanca. (Picture by Joe Hendricks Photography)
ABG Notes: Lots of styles to look at when you're at The White Room!
Should she bring friends? How many?
We suggest you bring no more than three. Bring the closest friend/family member(s) whose opinion you value and who knows you well and with whom you want to share the experience of buying your gown. Bringing more than three others can take the focus off of you. Again we are a small boutique and with large crowds you may become overwhelmed and frustrated. We want to help you stay calm and enjoy your experience.
How much time should be allowed between ordering the dress, receiving it, and having it altered?
Ordering a wedding gown takes roughly between 4 and 6 months. There are ways to RUSH order a gown if necessary, but this may cause the cost to go up on the gown. The White Room offers preferred seamstresses in both boutiques that will meet with you in the location in which you purchased your gown. The seamstresses prefer to do your alterations appointments 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding/portrait date. Of course we schedule appointments within the 6 week frame if needed due to weight loss, etc.
ABG: Thanks so much Melanie! Ladies we hope this gives you a little bit more encouragement and insight into wedding gown shopping. They've also shared more tips on their blog here. Visit The White Room's website to see the designers they carry at each of their locations and don't hesitate to give them a call and let them know you're an ABG bride who is looking for her dress! Happy shopping!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories
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Thursday, December 8, 2011
Ashley Currie here again, owner of iHospitality and now newly engaged ABG Green Blogger!!! I look forward to providing many more resources in 2012 during my wedding planning process, as I love great budget finds plus "green" options.
I wanted to dive into bridal wear this month. No potato sack designs here, just organic and socially responsible wedding attire with chic, modern, traditional or vintage style.
So, what makes the bridal wear "green?"
1) The Material:
Cotton, Silk, Hemp, and Bamboo make up the major fabrics for current eco-friendly bridal designs. Alfred Angelo, a popular bridal designer created their Purely Alfred Angelo line with eco-friendly materials plus great design that appeals to all types of brides.
Bridal and Formal Shoppe - Purely Alfred Angelo
(line available here)
1630 S. Church St., Suite 119
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
615.890.7141
Website: Bridalandformalshoptn.com
Pictures courtesy of Alfred Angelo, Inc
2) The Reusability
Remember the 3 R's: Recycle, Reuse, Reduce. Bridal consignment is a great way to recycle and reuse bridal wear while saving money at the same time. Second Time Around by Peggy, a bridal consignment shop in Hendersonville, offers great dresses and updates their stock on a consistent basis.
Second Time Around by Peggy
121 Indian Lake Rd.
Hendersonville, TN 37075
615.822.6961
Website: SecondTimeAroundByPeggy.com
Left: picture by Second Time Around. Right: Picture courtesy of Lazaro catalog, available in size 10 at Second Time Around.
3) The Social Responsibility
Make sure your dress is made responsibly and not outsourced to sweatshops or other non-monitored facilities. Justin Alexander, a well known bridal designer, is a perfect example of a company that publicly talks about all they do towards maintaining social responsibility including: complying with relevant environmental regulations, minimizing waste, preventing pollution and establishing other key objectives to reduce their carbon footprint. Justin Alexander also makes an organic bridal line, PURE by Justin Alexander.
Pictures courtesy of Justin Alexander
Be sure to check out the Justin Alexander Trunk Show at Glitz Bridal (February 24-26, 2012)
Glitz Bridal
241 Old Hickory Blvd
Nashville, TN 37221
615.646.9964
Website: GlitzBridal.com
I hope my simple green bridal wear guide will help make your Music City search an eco-friendly success!
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Posted by Green Nashville Weds |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Eco-Friendly Weddings
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