Monday, April 25, 2011
As a recent bride {married April 2, 2011} and a former bridesmaid (7 times!), finding the right gift for my maids was one of the toughest things I’ve done. The main thing I wanted to avoid?? Something they would never use again.
Between the Internet and local Nashville stores, there are plenty of options. Etsy has been a great resource during our wedding, so I started there. I found these clutches in the Etsy Eclu shop. You can choose the fabrics for the inside & outside, choose the accessory and for $7 you can get a personalized note inscribed on the inside.
Another great option is Neela Bags (NeelaBags.com). They carry reusable bags that are adorable and great for the environment! There are many different patterns and sizes to choose from, and the price is just right!
A great local shop is Social Graces (SocialGracesOnline.com). The shop is in Hillsboro Village and they carry beautiful stationary and gifts. Their collection of paper, with the option to personalize, is a fantastic gift that will be used months after the wedding is over.
Images via Social Graces
The job of a bridesmaid is not an easy one, so a great gift is to pamper your maids with a mani/pedi day! Not only will they love it, this gift also allows for you as the bride to spend some extra time with your best girl friends! Nashville has many wonderful salons and prices start at $15-20 per service.
Local spa Escape in Belle Meade offers group sessions for brides and bridesmaids.
After lots of debate, I have finally picked what to give my girls! Coach has a line of wristlets that cost between $49 - $99. Luckily for Nashville brides, we have a Coach outlet just outside of town in Lebanon. They sell the same wristlets for $39 and there are always sales. I ended up paying around $30/each for beautiful wristlets that I know my girls will love!
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Posted by Newlywed Sara |
Filed under: Bridesmaids & Bridal Party, Guests, Gifts & Favors
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Tuesday, March 15, 2011
As you know, our site is 99% focused on great Nashville wedding finds. BUT, we always enjoy sharing super cute options for your wedding day, whether they are Nashville-based or not. Here are some of our favorite finds over the last few months. Who knows, they might be just what you were seeking!
Image courtesy of Lotus Blossom Photography
Custom Figurines of Yourself:
Instead of just a regular old bride and groom cake topper that looks nothing like you, how about a custom made figurine with with your faces? My Face Figurines (myfacefigurines.com.au) will take your images and customize the figurines to look just like you. You can have them standing or posed in various positions like dancing, or like in the picture above, carrying the bride over the threshold! Even though they're in Australia, they do indeed ship to the U.S! I think they are adorable.
Inspirational Accessories for your Bridesmaids
If you're surrounded by friends who continue to inspire and motivate and you'd like to tell them just how awesome they are, Pure Designs for Living (PureDesignsForLiving.com) has a couple of gift ideas. They have a collection of bracelets called "I am" bracelets have inspiration words such as "Beautiful" or "Blessed" carved into silver that would make awesome gifts. You can even pair those with the "I am" series of candles which also have powerful words on the candle lids. The candles are made of soy in California and come in various scents with each message.
Need guest book ideas? Pure Design also has Blessings Boxes which are a nifty and decorative way to store all the sweet notes and blessings from your guests. It comes with a pen, scented candle, two bracelets and instructions and sits in a nice wooden box you can leave on your guest book table.
Return The Bridesmaids Dresses After
Before you think we're asking you to pull one of those "keep the tags on, return it after the party's over" scams, we're not. RentARunway.com lets choose a dress from their huge inventory of designers and styles, schedule the delivery dates and you keep the dresses for four to eight days. When you're done, just send it back!
They have everything from dresses that you can wear for your rehearsal dinner to bridesmaids dress and with designer names like Badgley Mischka, Diane Von Furstenberg, Tibi and Missoni (to name a few) this also resolves the issue of what the girls are going to do with the dresses after.
Creative Guest Book Ideas
We've seen type writers for guest books, Tabitha used a big Chinese scroll, some couples use polaroids to create an album - people are getting more and more creative in guest book ideas that won't just sit on a shelf and collect dust. Aside from the Blessings Box we just mentioned, Meredith Zeller has a shop on Etsy (Etsy.com/ZellerZazzles)that sells a thumb/finger print guest board customized just for you. You can pick the colors of the stamp pads for your guests and she provides the art. So nifty! She also has some
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Image courtesy of ZellerZazzles
Colored Unity Sand
Choose from an assortment of colors and personalize the jar in which you pour your unity sand to have as a decorative keepsake from your wedding ceremony. SandsationalSparkle.com also has a ton of accessories and wedding decor items from cake toppers to toasting glasses to favors. You can also visit StudioWed Nashville (Edgehill Village area), an official retailer of the specialty sand.
Vibrant colors for a Spring or Summer wedding
A little more subdued.
If you found some really fun items for your wedding online we'd love to know what they are too so please leave them in the comments! We hope these ideas are useful and give you a clearer idea of what's available out there.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Bridesmaids & Bridal Party, Guests, Gifts & Favors, Wedding Resources
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Wednesday, March 9, 2011
There's something really fun and indulgent about hamming up in a photobooth with your best friends and favorite people. While you're still posing, you can't help but be laughing in the midst of it all and the laughter is captured on great little strips you and your guests can keep for a long time. What better way, then, to commemorate your wedding and the people who were there than with a photobooth from Ace Photobooths?
ABG Vendor Spotlight: Ace Photobooths
Contact Info
Name: Ace Photobooths
Main Contact: Douglas Beets
Phone Number: 615-415-7909
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Number of Years in the Business: 4. Even though our photobooth business is 4 years old, we have been in the wedding industry for over 15 years.
What do you like most about weddings?
The love, energy, and family togetherness. A photobooth is perfect to capture the personalities of all your guests, and give them a favor they will not only keep, but cherish as the years go by.
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why?
My favorite wedding always seems to be the last wedding we were at. I fall in love with the couple, the family and the guests. There is something special about each wedding that makes it unique and fun.
What is your service philosophy?
Our attendants are on time, personable and reliable. That’s what I would expect and that’s what my clients deserve. Our booths are state of the art, with the highest quality equipment.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
We are the only Photo Booth in Nashville with an external screen so everyone outside the booth can enjoy the live view photo being taken in the booth and see a slideshow of all photos taken throughout the day. We can also project the images on a wall or large screen. We are excited to say we are now offering Nashville’s first video booth.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors
Historic Cedarwood has an amazing staff and creativity. Ann at Glitz Bridal has a great selection and our brides love her. Street Tuxedo has great customer service. Matchless Limosines is always on time and has a great selection of cars. Chefs Market, not only is the food great, but it looks amazing.
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends?
Grace Ormonde Wedding Style
What trend do you love?
The bride and groom seeing each other before the ceremony. It allows for a private moment for the bride and groom and time for lots of great photos.
What are your favorite wedding websites? / Neatest wedding find?
Ashley’s Bride Guide, TheKnot.com, HistoricCedarwood.com, weddingsunveiledblog.blogspot.com, GreenWeddingShoes.com, etsy.com
What's one way brides can save money / be more economical without sacrificing her vision?
You can actually do a photobooth and save money on favors. It’s also interactive and provides your guests with extra entertainment throughout the reception. If you have great music and a bar, some of your guests may not dance or drink much, but everyone in every age bracket love the photobooth.
What is the biggest misconception about your industry?
That everyone’s a photographer. Photography is one of the only memories you will have of the wedding day. Many people believe they can save money by getting a less expensive, less experienced photographer. In the end, they be very unhappy with the photos and finished products.
These really look like so much fun! For more images from their photobooth visit Ace Photobooth online.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Guests, Gifts & Favors, Photography
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Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Remember when you were little, and to commemorate just how BFF you and your friend were you'd hop into a photo booth and risk your eyesight for a strip of four black and white pictures that you'd tape to your locker or mirror? Now you can commemorate your wedding day with your new BFF (aka new hubby) thanks to an updated version of that old clunky photobooth machine. And this time around, all of your wedding guests will partake in the nostalgia and take home a memorable favor from your special day!
Meet Photo Booth Nashville: A Modern Fun Twist on a Childhood Favorite
Image courtesy of Evin Photography (EvinPhotography.com)
Contact Info
Name: Photo Booth Nashville
Main Contact: Amy Lysyczyn, Owner
Phone Number: 615-340-0882
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Twitter: PhotoBoothTN
Facebook fan page: Photo Booth Nashville
Photo Booth pictures from Our Sex and the City Party. We loved the custom graphics made for our party! You can do the same with your wedding monogram.
Number of Years in the Business: 3 1/2
How did you get started in weddings?
Photo Booth Nashville got started in weddings because owner, Amy Lysyczyn, wanted a photo booth for her own wedding 4 ½ year ago at which time there was not a single photo booth rental company in the state of Tennessee. After months of research and work, Photo Booth Nashville was formed to rent out the BEST photo booths in the market, Model 12 photo booths.
What do you like most about weddings?
Photo Booth Nashville truly does love to bring the FUN to the reception! We like being able to help people just let their hair down from the formality of event and just be silly and smile!
Image courtesy of Meishach Moore Photographers (MeishachMoore.com)
Image courtesy of Photo Booth Nashville
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why Why?
Our very favorite photo of someone using the photo booth was from a wedding we did in our first year. The bride and groom were in the booth and the brides feet were hanging out of the booth while they were enjoying a quiet and sweet moment in our booth.
Our very favorite photos we of a couple that got engaged in our booth! It was so awesome to be apart of such a special moment.
What is your service philosophy?
Photo Booth Nashville stands by not only the superior quality of its product, but most importantly by the outstanding customer service that we provide to our clients. We go above and beyond to fill the needs of our clients to ensure everything goes smoothly and try to be the easiest vendor the client has to deal with during their big event. Photo Booth Nashville is the Vera Wang of the photo booth business.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
The answer to this question is very similar to the answer above regarding our service philosophy. We want to keep it simple for the client when renting with us, and in doing that we work extra hard for them so they don’t have to worry. Not only is there no other competitor out there in Nashville that can compare our Model 12 photo booths as we are still the only photo booth company in middle Tennessee with a REAL, 800lb steel photo booth but the quality of our product is incredible. From dye-sublimation, 10 second print time and the highest grade photo paper to professional designed scrapbooks and the best staff around, you can’t go wrong with Photo Booth Nashville. More importantly, we’ve been around the longest and were the first to start this trend in the state of Tennessee and with that experience comes knowledge, an impeccable reputation with event and wedding planners and professionalism.
We often tell our potential clients that their decision on a photo booth is very similar to catering. If they want a McDonald’s type of rental rate, they will also get that level of product and service. We are more like a Ruth’s Chris. There is no other competitor out there that is part of the International Photo Booth Association or works solely in the photo booth business like Photo Booth Nashville.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors?
Oh the list goes on and on in response to this question. We love all of our StudioWed Nashville vendor family as well as planner/owner Mary Alice Sublett and Leigh Baker. We also LOVE LOVE LOVE Angela Proffitt.
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends?
We actually keep a close eye on social networking as well as get most of our information from a lot of bridal shows, etc. A huge way that we work towards continued education is by being a member of the International Photo Booth Association. We have great relationships with photo booth companies throughout the world and we all help each other moving forward.
Where can we find you if you’re not working with a bride?
If owner of Photo Booth Nashville, Amy, is not working with a bride you can find her working towards renting booths for other special and corporate events. In her free time out of the office you’ll always find her with her family, especially with her 2 ½ year old daughter Isabella.
What is the biggest misconception about your industry?
What a real photo booth is. Photo Booth Nashville chose the booths that it did because they are REAL photo booths. When we thought back to the days of jumping in the booths at the mall or movie theatre, the fun of it was to get a group of friends or your significant other and cram into that small space and be silly. A green screen with a camera in front of it, a bunch of piping with drapery and a wood or metal box with a camera on a tripod behind the screen…..well that’s just not part of the vision of what a photo booth really is. Some of those are nice options and some can be more cost friendly to your wallet, but if you want a REAL photo booth, Photo Booth Nashville is the only place you are going to find it in Nashville!
Not convinced it'll be fun to have on at your wedding? Give Amy a call or see more fun pictures from the Photo Booth Nashville website.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Our Featured Advertisers!, Guests, Gifts & Favors, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds, Wedding Resources
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Thursday, September 2, 2010
Remember when you were little and you tried to make your own flip book of a stick figure walking or a plane flying? Ok maybe that's just me but I've always loved the concept of flipbooks. That's how cartoons were back in the day and I thought it was just the coolest thing!
When Ashley and I saw the Fantastic Flipbooks (FantasticFlipbooks.com) booth at the bridal show I (confession) squealed a little because it just took me back! What a retro adaptation of an old school innovation! It was high-tech back then and now that it's 2010 Fantastic Flipbooks has managed to take it to a whole new level.
Fantastic Flipbooks will transform a 10' X 10' space and electricity into a great activity that will keep your wedding or party guests happy. This is sure to put a smile on anyone's face and it's so easy to do. Plus, the cute books are a great momento that will serve as a party favor that will not get trashed! Ashley and her niece enjoy flipping through the books of complete strangers (because they are so much fun to just see) so imagine how much fun one featuring you and your bff would be!
They describe the process like this: "We start by taking sixty super-fast pictures of people being fabulous in our booth. They can dress up, perform a skit using our props, be silly or sweet or just flat out crazy. Then in less than two minutes, we print and assemble a cool take-home video (no batteries required) in a paper flipbook. You can even add a message or graphics on a custom cover."
The books can also be customized - They will "work with one of our designers to create a custom cover that matches the theme of your event. Include logos, names, dates or pictures - just about anything you want! We can also have a personalized message scroll across the bottom of the pages like a news ticker."
If you're interested in having them at your wedding, definitely give them a call or email them at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Definitely visit FantasticFlipbooks.com to watch a demo video, and to find out more details on how it works and what your options are! This really would make an awesome favor that you and your guests can take home and enjoy for a long time.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, Guests, Gifts & Favors
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