A Summer Soiree - The Designer Bridal Shower / Luncheon by You’re Invited

Friday, July 23, 2010

You're Invited Gifts, Paper and Events is a one-stop shop for your custom wedding needs.  Their Belle Meade event boutique offers wedding planning, event design and custom invitations. 

They have a very special, time-sensitive offer for ABG readers: Now through August 10th, ABG readers receive $150 off any wedding consultation package when you mention ABG plus an additional 10% off any event/wedding invitation.  Definitely give them a call soon and be sure to mention that you're an ABG bride!

To give you a taste of their work, I am excited to feature a recent photoshoot by You're Invited, captured by Jonathon Campbell Photography.  You're Invited's Summer Soiree photo shoot was, put simply, exquisite.  The great thing about this Summer Soiree design is you can contact You're Invited and have them plan your bridal shower, bridesmaid luncheon or event and they can recreate the exact look below OR you can use the concept as inspiration.  Either way - they can help you from plan to design.  It doesnt get much easier than that!

Stephanie Alexander & Anna Peebles of You're Invited

Guest Blogger: Stephanie Alexander of You're Invited Events - Bridal Luncheon Summer Soiree

The photos capture the perfect bridesmaid's luncheon. Hot pinks and lime greens are a combination I love with the white which really pops against those colors. This invitation was the inspiration for this hot pink and lime green Bridal Shower/Bridesmaid’s Luncheon. Oftentimes, I will take an invitation and use it to help develop the overall look and feel of a party. If you need inspiration for your next party, I encourage you to visit an invitation/stationery store for ideas! Birds are a hot trend right now, in both décor and invitation design.

 We packaged the invitations in little white boxes that had been lined in hot pink raffia. I love non-traditional ways of sending a fabulous invitation.

I chose a 60” square table with fuchsia satin linen, and a 48” round table with a lime green linen for the food and beverages. I love using a mixture of square and round tables at parties. I also chose white chiavari chairs. The crisp white really pops against the pinks and the greens. For the 60” square table where guests were seated, we used 4 large green topiaries, a glass pitcher filled with lime slices, wheat grass in ceramic containers and little bird boxes (to continue with our bird theme) and lime green Caspari placemats. In addition, we used monogrammed Pickard china for the placesettings. This Pickard china is extremely popular for bride’s wedding registries. (Rentals were courtesy of Music City Tents & Events).

For this particular arrangement, I used Bells of Ireland, pink larkspur, green curly willow and hot pink dried floral accents. In addition, I filled 8 bud vases with pink sweet peas. I placed these bud vases around the table near each guest’s place setting.

Putting the fresh dogwood blossoms in the jars is brilliant!

I created bird sticks for the dessert shooter glasses. The dessert shooters were strawberries and cream trifle and key lime and cream dessert shots. I wanted to incorporate the pink and green into the food and beverage table as well. I also served sparkling pink punch and rimmed the etched antique glasses with pink sugar. In addition, I utilized glass bird containers in varying heights, and Anna filled them with fresh dogwood blossoms. Another decoration I used on the food and beverage table was wheat grass in wooden boxes. To add another dimension, I added sweet pea stems to the boxes for a pop of pink color.

Dessert shots are a fun, one-serving option

This set up could also be taken indoors, we just happened to have a fabulous day with gorgeous weather but you could create this inside in a beautiful dining area or a screened in porch. A good party can be done indoors or outdoors and as a planner, I always have a back-up plan. If it had rained that day, I had the screened in porch ready to go at the house we shot these pictures at.

Absolutely delightful! Thank you so much for filling us in on the shoot. and thank you to Jonathon Campbell Photography for sharing the pictures with us. What blew me away was the fact that Stephanie did everything herself - the food, the arrangements, the beverages and the dessert. So this set up can be done regardless of your budget and whether you're a D.I.Y. bride or if you have a limitless budge to hire vendors such as You're Invited.

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Posted by Tabitha | Filed under: Bridesmaids & Bridal Party, Inspiration & Trends, Invitations & Paper Goods, Luxury Wed Finds, Wedding Planners & Coordinators 2 comments »

6 Days of Sex and the City: Our Party Planners, Vision, Event Decor

Monday, June 28, 2010

Last month, AshleysBrideGuide.com hosted a Girls Night Out to celebrate the debut of the second Sex and City movie.  We threw a fabulously fun party at Nashville's Aloft Hotel, which is one of my favorite places to celebrate anything! We just received the party pictures from Kristyn Hogan, lifestyle photographer and Jonathon Campbell Photography!

Over the next 6 days, Tabitha and I will share our "Six Days of Sex" - to take you behind the scenes and give you the inside scoop on the party.  These details will give you everything you need (from ideas to a full list of event vendors) to plan your own wedding, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, birthday party, anniversary or corporate event.

THE TEAM: Nashville Wedding & Event Planners + Me

No successful event can be achieved alone.  With me, no event can be undertaken without wedding and event planners - no event!  I break out in hives just thinking about planning a party.  I dont event like to coordinate dinner plans with friends.  It's just not my thing.  For this reason - I strongly advise brides to hire a professional wedding planner.  Your wedding is much more involved than my SATC party.  You're emotional, trying to manage family and friends who are emotional, spending more money on a day that you will ever spend again - you need a planner! 

Tabitha of ABG (left), Sharon of Jonathon Campbell Photograph (mid), Amy of Swizzle Events (right)

For my event - I turned to ABG wedding planners.  I like to work with planners on my site because I like to know their strengths and who is best to recommend to you as you plan your wedding.  Plus, I know many of them personally and it's always fun to work with people you know and trust.

My SATC planning team was large because I didnt want to overwhelm out any single wedding planner, since this wasnt a paid gig:).  My team consisted of:

Event Planners: Meropi of By Heart and Hand, Kristin of Simply Stunning Events, Amy of Swizzle Events

Event Decor: Toni of Celebrations by Design and Stephanie of You're Invited Gifts, Paper and Events; Jennifer of Reveal Event Style.

Stephanie of You're Invited (left), Toni of Celebrations by Design (right)

THE VISION: The Look and Location

My vision for the SATC2 party was sexy, city chic.  I wanted a venue that was modern and sleek.  Initially, I selected Events @1418, a wonderful downtown venue with exposed brick, rooftop party, great location.  I was concerned about rain because I had to use the rooftop to achieve the "vibe" but I would need a tent as the month of May can often be rainy in Nashville (hence the May flood!) but a tent was not in the budget.  So Events @ 1418 was out:(...for this event - maybe not the next!

Then it hit me - Aloft Hotel! I love their look, it already had the NYC look and was right off the interstate with ample parking, making it equally accessible. (You should also consider accessiblity as you plan your wedding.  It will make your guests happy:).

I called Kristen of Aloft and she said yes!  Aloft made it super easy!  They were flexible, accommodating and worked with us as we transformed their hotel lobby into an all out girls party!  Aloft is a great option for guest rooms, small parties.  All of our partygoers LOVED the look of the hotel.  You really feel like you are in a big city when you're in the hotel.  You should check it out.

THE DECOR: A Sexy Welcome

My one specific request was that you needed to know it was a SATC party when you walked in.  That wasn't easy! By the end of the party planning - a few days before the event, those famous SATC pink letters were no where to be found.  I turned to two wedding magicians to help - Jen of Reveal Event Designs who then referred Designs in Paper.

Jen is the girl when you need hard to find design elements or are planning an event that requires out of the box styling.  She designed movie sets and is one of the most creative folks I know.  I told her that I needed a backdrop that guests could take pics in front of and one that would also serve as our entrance.  She said "no problem!".  And like that - my sexy backdrop problem was solved.  She turned to Blue Nova Designs and together, they created the party's entrance wall with custom draping. It wasnt easy due to the space's ceilings but Blue Nova made several trips from their warehouse to the hotel until it was perfect!

I told Jen that I still needed the SATC letters and she informed me that Designs in Paper created a vinyl floor monogram for one of her brides.  I spoke with them on Monday to tell them what I wanted and by Wednesday, the letters were done and were EXACTLY what I wanted.  These letters are vinyl stickers that adhere to just about any surface and are removable!  I reached out to a few printing companies to quote the letters and their rates were double DnP's rates! 

If you need letter so for your dance floor or accent walls - contact DNP!  It would be great for a wedding monogram that you could then remove and place in your home.

We placed the SATC monogram on the floors, the fabric backdrop and the bar.  These vinyl letters from Designs in Paper can also go on windows, doors, anywhere!

THE DECOR: Sexy Party Rentals & Accessories

The party had to be sexy, vibrant and fun!  Aloft didnt require a lot of decor since it's colors are vibrant and modern. Plus, the space was very limited so my decor team had a lot of contraints.  I was "that client" who had a list of wishes but no budget AND many obstacles:).  I told Toni and Stephanie, my decor experts, that I wanted it sexy and sleek but they couldnt have any floor space.  Yikes!  The delivered! 

They headed to the party planners dream resource - Fabu Event and Wedding Decor!  The goal at Fabu was bling!  They were looking for stunning elements that could be used in limited space.  They did a great job with my crazy restrictions.  The also went to Hobby Lobby for the oversized SATC letters which they spray painted and glitterized.

The large bar cylinders are from Fabu.  They added pop and bling without taking up space.

The jeweled votive holders are also from Fabu; letters from Hobby Lobby and customized by You're Invited.

Don't miss more party details tomorrow!

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Posted by Ashley | Filed under: Inspiration & Trends, Wedding Resources, Wedding Planners & Coordinators 0 comments »

We Love: Vintage + Retro Wedding Ideas from Swizzle Events + Crew at Houston Station

Friday, June 18, 2010

I simply could not wait to feature this art-nouveau photo shoot created by some of Nashville's best wedding vendors.

First - I love working with Swizzle Events, the planner/event designer who was the mastermind behind shoot.  Second, the bridal shoot took place at Houston Station, one of Nashville's newest, up-and-coming wedding venues that offers a clean slate for creative brides.  I've heard nothing but amazing things about the venue.

It's always fun to see what happens when a group of creative minded wedding professionals get together on a project.   I had the chance to have a quick chat with Amy a while ago and she said that everything came together after she and all the vendors discussed the details and they came up with an art nouveau inspired shoot. "A little more art deco but quite floral" as she explained.

The coolest part about this wedding design concept is that you can easily get this look without busting your budget!  Amy says, "What people may not realize is, it looks really luxe and glamorous with the crystal and glass elements but there's really a lot of D.I.Y. elements involved in the details!" She went on to tell me that her intent was to do something contemporary, but not so outrageous and edgy that the everyday bride wouldn't be able to wrap her mind around it.  So as you're looking at the pictures, bear in mind that, while everything looks exquisite and out of reach, they're all details that an experienced event planner such as Swizzle Events can help you attain without breaking the bank!

Can't argue with that!

Guest Blogger, Amy Thomas, Swizzle Events: Art Nouveau Conceptual Photo Shoot at Houston Station

When I began this design, I wanted to do something a little vintage, a little retro and a little edgy. What I came up with is Art Nouveau meets the modern bride. Art Nouveau as a style has been around since the late 1800”s. Filled with lovely floral patterns and free-form lines, it was a predecessor to the very popular Art Deco age. But, I couldn’t just leave it there. I wanted to take a lovely retro style and combine it with modern touches. Reach out to those brides who enjoy a little frill, a girly touch of romance but are also strong, confident women.

The beautiful linen is a perfect example of our modern Art Nouveau style. The strong, vibrant colors of fuschia, purple and sterling grey speak to the modern bride. The floral pattern was right out of the pages of Art Nouveau history. Eureka! I found the perfect combination of old and new!

The tablescape was designed around the bold pattern of the linen. Layers of clear glassware add sparkle and a touch of glam. Carnations were the perfect choice for echoing the ruffled floral look of the Art Nouveau style. Clean lines and repetition of pattern is also a very intentional element to give a strong, clean look. You can see this in the circular pattern of the floral balls, glass pedestals and candleholders. It shows up again in the beautiful lines of the chameleon chairs and the sweeping precision of the drape and chandelier.

Each little detail is delicious. The sparkle of the brooches, and the clean lines of the ribbon used on the placecards. The tiny jewels on the mini cake pedestals echo the design of the brooches. And, let’s just enjoy those little cake stands for a moment. Something so simple, yet so stunning. A touch of glam added to bring it all together. And, the pink lemonade cakes filled and iced with fluffy perfection. Scrumptious!

Speaking of details, I want to point out the exquisite use of lighting. The beautiful chandeliers add another dimension of glamour to the style. It was very important to have a vertical element above the table and the chandeliers gave a beautiful patina to the overall look. With a hint of vintage glam, they are perfect! We were also very intentional about utilizing color wash on the walls to add dimension and spotlighting to make each detail sparkle.

And, oh the dessert table! We filled it with a combination of decadent desserts and old favorites. Featuring cake truffles, chocolate berry cups and sparkling jars of candy, the crowning glory of the table is definitely the ruffled wedding cake. Another example of combining the vintage Art Nouveau with a modern flair, the cake has a decadent ruffled feature with a touch of glam in the sparkly buttons.

That flower detail carries over into the bridal fashion, as well. The lovely bride is breathtaking in a soft white gown with appliquéd silk rose buds and flowers. Bold accessories were chosen to add a unique touch – a black silk peony for her hair, a chunky necklace of white and silver. The groom is striking in a Calvin Klein sterling grey tuxedo with a pop of fuschia found in a perfect peony boutinniere.

Photo shoot credit:

Jonathon Campbell Photography - photography/pictures
Swizzle Events - event design & styling
Rhonda Patton Design - event styling & floral
Houston Station - venue
Nashville Event Lighting - lighting
Blue Nova Design - draping
Romantic Creations - bridal gown (RomanticCreationsBridal.com)
Street Tuxedo - tuxedo
Sherita Leslie - hair & make-up (SheritaLeslie.com)
4th Leaf Studio - paper design (4thleafstudio.wordpress.com/)
Crumb de la Crumb - wedding cake & desserts
BBJ Linens - linens (bbjlinens.com)
Classic Party Rental - rentals (ClassicPartyRentals.com)
TruLu Couture - bridal accessories
Stella & Dot, Krystal Mann - jewelry (StellaDot.com)

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Posted by Ashley | Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, Inspiration & Trends, Luxury Wed Finds, Wedding Resources, Wedding Planners & Coordinators 1 comment »

Bold & Beautiful: Wedding Color Palettes that We Love!

Monday, June 7, 2010

We love seeing how wedding enthusiasts and brides all over are inspired to find their theme. Browsing the blogosphere, we constantly stumble upon eye candy that gets our creative gears going. Ashley recently directed me to TwirlBoutique.com, a bridesmaid blog which featured their favorite color schemes for 2010 and they are fabulous!

The first combination is navy, pink and purple.  These colors can take a theme in varying directions - stoic navy and the brighter pinks and purples can become a funky, preppy style. Or a soft, pastel wedding gets a burst of life with brillant purples and dark blues.  It's elegant without losing a sense of fun!

Top L-R: Table design by Sasha Souza Events; Engagement session by Kristyn Hogan, lifestyle photographer; Navy invitation by Southall Eden Paperie. | Middle Left: Event Design by Premier W.E.D.; Right: Silk navy peep toe pumps by J.Crew. | Bottom L and R: Wedding photography by Kristyn Hogan, lifestyle photographer

Navy, pink and purple really complement and whether you do just navy and pink or purple and pink, it'll all work really well.  Now, if that's not so much your cup of tea but you're still looking for a wow-factor to your colors then you might like this next color combo better:

Top L - R: Bridesmaids dress from Lazaro.com; Flower girl floral design by Enchanted Florist; Yellow invitations by Southall Eden Paperie | Center L - R: Teal platform shoe from Nordstrom.com; Yellow calla bouquet from InStyleWeddings.com | Bottom L - R: Groom's suit picture courtesy of KimLePhotography.com; Tablescape picture (and color palette ideas!) from twirlboutique.com

Whether it's the brightest shades of pink, or the richest shades of yellow matched with unexpected yet perfectly matched shades, I hope these inspiration boards give you a better idea of the millions of colors you can incorporate into your wedding day.  I'm curious to know what you think of these and if you have other sources for great colors send them our way and share them in comments!

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Posted by Tabitha | Filed under: Advice & Planning, Inspiration & Trends 0 comments »