Thursday, October 27, 2011
Designs in Paper is one of my favorite go-to resources for wedding invitations. I've worked with them since they first arrived on the scene years ago and their work was great then, but it keeps getting more and more creative.
If you have followed any local or national bridal blogs, you're sure to have seen their work. Their custom paper goods have been featured just about everywhere, from Style Me Pretty to international magazines. What stands out about Steve and Donette, at Designs in Paper, is that they simply can't say no to a challenge. Believe me, it's really neat to see how they interact with one another and how their ideas start swirling at the mere mention of a new wedding project.
Here are a few of my favorite creations from Designs in Paper from Nashville weddings this summer. If you are seeking something fabulous for your wedding day - from understated elegance to over-the-top glam, your options are limitless with Designs in Paper.
Great Gatsby Summer Wedding
Here's a great wedding paper suite by Designs in Paper created for a Great Gatsby themed wedding at Cedarwood. As you can see, they designed all of the paper elements - from table numbers and menus to the wedding program.
Read more via this link. Photos by Dove Wedding Photography.
Hello Sunshine
Here's another fun and fabulous Cedarwood wedding with small but incredible details. Designs in Paper took sketches of the barn, house and truck and converted them into their overall design. How's that for a one-of-a-kind guest book poster!
sketched guest book poster that complemented their wedding invitation
custom favor signs
Read more via this link. Photos by Kristyn Hogan.
Inside Out
I love this colorful, vibrant, and elegant wedding! Designs in Paper created lovely invitations along with gorgeous signage to accompany their candy bar and other fun reception details. This also happens to be another fantastic Cedarwood wedding.
Read more via this link. Photos by Souder Photography.
Don't you love their work! Contact Designs in Paper to create a just-for-you paper suite for your wedding day.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Invitations & Paper Goods, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds
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Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Ever so often we like to check in with our ABG vendors to see what's new and what's been going on in their world. As we've grown, so have they and it's always fun to see what they're doing now that will benefit you and your wedding planning. We recently featured her son's wedding and talked about some of her new cake designs but haven't properly introduced Vicki Nelson of Signature Cakes by Vicki to you so without further ado, here is today's Sponsor Spotlight.
Contact Information:
Name: Signature Cakes By Vicki
Main Contact: Vicki Nelson
Phone Number: 615-513-2266
Email Address: signaturecakesbyvicki {at} comcast {dot} net
Website: SignatureCakesByVicki.com
How did you get started in weddings and how long have you been decorating cakes?
My grandparents were Italian immigrants and settled 90 miles outside of Boston, Massachusetts. There are wonderful pastry bakeries and amazing family-owned restaurants in the area and so I developed a passion for delectable food and delicious sweets. Before heading off to college, I owned a small Italian restaurant, catered weddings and made wedding cakes. During my college years I continued making wedding cakes and coordinating weddings for extra money.
After my husband and I graduated from college in 1981, we moved to Nashville. I attempted to start a wedding cake business, but Nashville just wasn’t quite ready for me yet. Those were the days that most brides got their wedding cakes at Krogers for $50. So, I went into the corporate world during the onset of the telecommunications software revolution. The corporate world just wasn’t for me. Also, I really wanted to run my own business so I began catering corporate lunches. I would often do event cakes and wedding cakes for particular clients. But, in 2007 I decided to change direction, stop catering and pursue my love of wedding cakes. That’s how Signature Cakes by Vicki was born.
Images by Ashlea Terhune Photography
What do you like most about weddings?
I love the ceremony – the moment when the couple proclaims before God and all those present that they will keep their word, their vows. It gives me chills and makes me cry. Weddings are about marriage, which is the greatest commitment two people can make. Most people think about being in love when they think about a wedding, but I think that falling in love is the easy part. Making a lifetime commitment and keeping it, now that takes work and that’s what marriage is really about. Next, I love the reception. I think it should be a wonderful party with great food, drink, dancing and music. It should be the celebration of a lifetime.
What’s your favorite wedding photo/video and why?
Pictures of cake are wonderful and of course it’s important that the brides can see my work on my website. But, my favorite pictures are ones of the brides and groom’s cutting their cakes. When I see their faces, I see the joy of the moment and I get to be there, even though I wasn’t actually there.
Image by Gray Photography
Images by Chris Weaver
What is your service philosophy?
SERVICE IS EVERYTHING! I don’t care how good a product is, if it isn’t backed up with great customer service – it’s nothing. Once a bride has chosen me to do her wedding cake, I take it from there. I work with her wedding planner and her reception venue from that point on, all the way through wedding day. I communicate with her by way of emails and phone calls. She never has to concern herself again with her wedding cakes. I promise to make sure that her cake(s) are delivered on time, safe, delicious and beautiful, just as it appeared in the full scale drawing that I did on consultation day. But wedding day is not the end. I always follow up after the wedding, because I want to know that she and her guests were pleased on wedding day. I treat every bride like family. Isn’t that how we all want to be treated?
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? Why should a bride hire you?
First, we have a three-fold commitment to our customers.
1. The most beautiful cake that YOU, the customer, can imagine. We make beautiful edible embellishments such as sugar flowers, fruits, fondant ribbons, fabric, bows, birds, shoes and lace. We replicate elements from your dress in hand done piping and molds. We put all those elements together to make a one-of-a-kind, original work of edible art. No one else will ever have your wedding cake.
2. We use the freshest, highest quality ingredients including fresh eggs, butter, cream, raspberries, strawberries, juices, spices, herbs, nuts and various gourmet candies such as Ghriradelli White Chocolate, Lindor Truffles, and Godiva Chocolate, just too mention a few. We combine flavors to make gourmet, original recipes for our cakes and our icings.
3. We provide unparalleled customer service from the initial consultation to our final follow-up after wedding day.
We also have a 5-star 5.0 rating on marthastewartweddings.com with 115 reviews. We have the most reviews in not only Nashville, but Tennessee and all the surrounding states.
Images courtesy of Signature Cakes by Vicki
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors – helpfulness, professionalism, style?
We have many wonderful wedding vendors in Nashville. We have some who have been around a long time and have the reputation that they deserve. We also have some newcomers, who have great potential. My favorite wedding vendors are the ones that brides tell me did a wonderful job on their wedding. Professionalism and quality of service is everything. Instead of giving my personal opinion about who I prefer, I suggest vendors who are members of TWESA (Tennessee Wedding and Events Specialists Association). In order to be a member of TWESA, you must fulfill professional requirements and be of a good reputation in the industry. Furthermore, I suggest brides and grooms choose vendors who have impeccable reviews by independent sources. Remember, anyone can put "accolades" on their own website.
What advice would you give to brides on the wedding planning process in general?
Very few couples today have an unlimited budget for their wedding. Most couples are trying to make their dollars stretch and still have the wedding of their dreams. The first thing you must do is research! I find that many couples make up an arbitrary budget based on what they "think" they should spend on each category such as reception venue, caterer, flowers, cakes, music, invitations, favors, and photography without actually knowing what the average prices are in their area. Going online to do research is great, but honestly, very few websites actually give the exact prices. And remember, it’s imperative that you compare apples to apples.
The best way to get the most amount of information in the shortest time is to go to a bridal show. At the shows, you can ask specific questions of many different vendors in the same category. You can taste their cakes, food and drinks. You can see the work of the photographers and florists. And you can touch their samples of paper, fabric and finery. Bridal Shows narrow down your choices without spending all your time, which can actually be just as valuable to you as your money.
What is the biggest misconception about your industry?
THE biggest misconception in the wedding industry is that all vendors are "created equal." If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind, original, couture wedding cake in gourmet flavors, choose well. Check reviews, reviews, reviews!!! Read independent reviews written by brides, grooms and mothers. I suggest marthastewartweddings.com and weddingwire.com. Someone claiming to be a baker may be someone who took a few cake classes or has only done a few wedding cakes and may not have the expertise to design and bring to life a cake in art. Cake design involves, baking, art, math and engineering. Cakes aren’t magical, they have to be constructed properly in order to transport well and present well. So, make sure you get the best "value" for the price.
The cheapest price is usually not the best choice. Everyone has heard the old adage, "You get what you pay for." Well that saying is still around because it is usually still true. For example, if you hire "Uncle Fred" to do your videography, it will not be a professional, edited, work of art when you get it back from him. Well, unless of course, Uncle Fred is in the videography business. Another example would be if you hired someone who calls themself a "wedding planner" because she just got married last Spring and "knows everything" about planning a wedding. Again, a certified event planner, with years of experience has the expertise and business relationships to help you have the best possible results on wedding day. Remember, there are no "do-overs" on your wedding day.
Image by Meishach Moore Photographers
We are excited to see what else Vicki and her team have in store for us at the upcoming bridal shows. Rumor has it, she'll be launching a few new flavors and some new designs for her cakes! If Signature Cakes by Vicki was your baker for your wedding, we'd love to see the pictures so please do send them to us along with the photographer's name to add to our gallery! For more Signature Cakes by Vicki, visit their website.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Our Featured Advertisers!, Cakes & Food, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds
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Monday, September 12, 2011
This Thursday, we are hosting a wedding planning workshop with Kerried Away Couture. {See details and rsvp here.} If you aren't familiar with Kerried Away, we're here to tell you more about this special company.
When it comes to personalizing you wedding, nothing expresses your personality more than your wedding dress and when that dress is custom made for you by a company as talented as Kerried Away Couture, let's just say it can't really get better than that! Kerri Zelenik Burton, owner of Nashville based design shop, Kerried Away Couture, was kind enough to give us the inside info on her business, her passion for creating custom gowns and dress designing for her own wedding last summer. Sit back and settle in because it's time to let yourself get carried away by the beauty and talent of 'Kerried Away Couture'!
How did you get started in weddings?
A photographer learned of Kerried Away’s concept and saw the designs that we offer for everyday wear for women and made the suggestion that I look into working with brides. As I explored this market segment I realized that this was a perfect fit for brides. At the time I was engaged myself and I was having a hard time finding exactly what I wanted so I knew there were others out there struggling with finding the right bridesmaid dress or rehearsal dinner dress that also fit into their budget. Working with brides is now probably 80% of our business.
Beautiful fabric swatches at Kerri's showroom in Murfreesboro.
What do you like most about weddings?
We enjoy how each bride always has a unique idea, detail, or color they want to incorporate in their dresses. Most brides enjoy designing their bridesmaid dresses or a fun party dress that fits their personality – it’s really a fun process for all involved.
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Kerri at her wedding last summer with her bridesmaids in their custom designed dresses (made by Kerri of course)! Photo courtesy of Divine Images.
What is your service philosophy?
We want the bride to be happy and we will work to make sure the design process is enjoyable and stress free. With a variety of fabric and design options, we also strive to offer each bride the opportunity to design something unique but within their budget.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
Our strength lies in the business concept. We are able to offer brides the ability to completely customize a dress and also have fittings with the actual seamstresses that make their dresses. In addition, we do not use rack sizing, instead we actually measure the bride or bridesmaids and do our best to fit their measurements on the top and bottom. We also offer a fitting package that brides and/or bridesmaids can choose to purchase in which we can guarantee a great fit – no need for alterations if they choose this package. We meet with each bride and keep in contact with them through the entire process so there is a personal aspect that we offer as well.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors – helpfulness, professionalism, style?
There are so many wonderful vendors in Nashville its difficult to choose just a few but below are four that we have had a lot of experience working with and would recommend to anyone. Brides can take advice and recommendations but when it comes down to it the most important thing is that the bride feels comfortable and compatible with her vendors. We love working with -- Planner: Kerry Dunn, No Detail UnDunn; Planner: Tiffani Helms, Creative Design Events; Caterer: A Catered Affair; and Photographer: Divine Images.
Melanie, a designer for Kerried Away Couture, in a beautiful Kerried Away dress!
Who do you recommend when you’re not available/not a fit?
We would recommend Bella Bridesmaid or b.Hughes. Both have a variety dress options and provide great service.
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends?
Ashley’s Bride Guide of course! We also follow the popular entertainment blog Pizzazzerie which has great party design ideas and fun projects. In regards to wedding magazines, we prefer Instyle Weddings. The Knot and Brides.com are also great online resources.
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The ladies of Kerried Away Couture and Paige's Pantry at the grand opening of their joint showroom in May!
What advice would you give to brides on the wedding planning process in general?
Enjoy this time in your life. It goes so quickly and there are times when it can be stressful and a bit busy but you will be so glad in the end if you really try to enjoy it and soak it all up all along the way. Also, choose vendors that you feel you have a good connection to you and your fiancé. Choosing the right vendors can really make all the difference in the entire planning process and ultimately the wedding day.
A BIG thanks to Kerri for giving us a glimpse into dress design. Can we just talk about those stunning bridesmaid dresses for a second?! Gorgeous! For more information on Kerried Away Couture be sure to check out her website right here or visit her showroom in Murfreesboro! And don't forget to mention ABG for a special discount!
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Posted by Genna |
Filed under: Our Featured Advertisers!, Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Bridal Shows & Events, Bridesmaids & Bridal Party, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds
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Thursday, June 9, 2011
Hi, It's Ashley of iHospitality {not to be confused with Ashley of ABG}. I offer green consulting and sourcing services. What's that mean? I can advise you on your green event or help you find great green supplies and vendors.
Okay, so this month I went on the hunt for a green minded invitation & stationary company in Nashville. This search was way more daunting than expected, but I can now say I found one. Actually, I found a pretty awesome company along with including one of my favorite event planning company's and a pretty cool Georgia wedding.
Arboreal Paper (ArborealPaper.com) - provides lovely, earth-loving wedding invitations
Contact: Erin Pfister
Email: hello at arborealpaper dot com
Twitter: @arborealpaper
ABG adds - We loved Aboreal at first sight! We saw their work at The Bride Room's party and believe us, it's even prettier in person.
Arboreal is an invitation & stationary company based right here in Music City. I definitely feel my search was worth the wait because I absolutely love their products. Erin Pfister is the brains behind the company and the designs. She really has a knack for merging eco-friendly paper with upscale, sleek designs that brides will love. She credits her knowledge of all things paper to her days at Social Graces in Hillsboro Village. Erin’s role at the store allowed her a chance to really listen and learn what brides were looking for. She realized they did care about the environment but still wanted great looking invitations that did not have the usually flecked or “dirty” paper look as you see with many eco-friendly style papers. So, in December 2009 Arboreal was launched right inside Erin’s Nashville home with a focus on eco-friendly paper, soy inks and great design. Of course, the great design was effortless as Erin has been a graphic designer for over 10 years.
When I first found the Arboreal site, I was clicking through like a kid in the candy store…uncovering a new style of eco conscious stationary & invitations. I sent her a quick email then waited and hoped she would have a teeny bit of time to chat with me. Thank goodness she did! Erin was a wealth of knowledge and I could truly tell how much she loved what she did. She also wants to sit down and chat with each one of her brides to make sure they will love their custom invitations. Erin kicks it into high gear delivering flawless custom invitations meant just for your big day. Personalized service and her ability to add “green” to her projects is what sets Erin a part from the crowd. Arboreal also carries a full line of stationary and recently introduced journals & hang tags in several boutiques in Tennessee, Alabama & Florida.
dandyLion Events (DandyLionEvents.com) - a sustainable event planning company
Contact: Lindsey
Telephone: 615.439.0652
Email: Lindsey at dandylionevents dot com
Twitter: @dandyLionevents
dandyLion Events is a sustainable event planning company and one of the first true green event vendors I encountered in Music City. They offer floral design, photography, event design & planning with sustainability always in mind. Lindsey Huddleston is the owner and I actually meet her when she did a blog post on my little ole company back in 2010. Lindsey has a great spirit and even greater ideas, just check out the company name (yes the lowercase “d” is on purpose). This company is perfect for the bride looking for a unique wedding day experience.
dandyLion started in February 2009 and this 3 women team creates experiences for their clients by incorporating reclaimed, recycled & upcycled items while encouraging clients to use their own home decor pieces in their event. They are all about taking a blank canvas and transforming it from top to bottom. Being green is also part of their core operation as they operate paperless and use local vendors. This will also not be the last post on dandyLion, as I think the owner is great plus they have several green inspired events coming up, including a Nashvegas inspired wedding along with a dark carnival theme wedding. Stay tuned, I definitely can’t wait.
Green Wedding Inspiration
I thought it only fitting to highlight one of dandyLion event weddings as our Real Green Wedding feature this month. dandyLion put on a sweet, simple wedding on April 30, 2011 at The Solarium in Decatur, GA. Brent & Jessi Cerrato choose dandyLion for their design and event planning. The couple went with local vendors for each aspect of their wedding including locally grown food at their reception. I love the handmade paper cranes incorporated in the ceremony décor.
Their invitations included a perforated rsvp card that could be mailed back as a postcard (how flipping neat is that). They also incorporated personal items for their reception décor along with reusable pieces. The exposed duct work and wood floors provided a great palette for their paper lantern inspired design. Brent & Jessi really dove head first into making their big day absolutely memorable and green.
If you are a wedding vendor in town that incorporates green into your mix, I want to hear from you! Contact me at ashley at ihospitalitytn dot com or visit www.ihospitalitytn.com. Seeking green vendors for your event? See how iHospitality can help.
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Posted by Green Nashville Weds |
Filed under: Eco-Friendly Weddings, Invitations & Paper Goods, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Resources
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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
We are huge proponents of the mantra “you get what you pay for” especially when it comes to weddings. Whether it’s photography, décor or food, you have your priorities and you will do all the research needed to figure out how you’re getting the most bang for your buck. For the bride whose priority item is her cake, and even if it’s not, today’s post will give you a better idea of why a custom designed cake is the right choice for you as we go one-on-one with Signature Cakes by Vicki’s own Vicki Nelson who lets us in one what goes into one of her beautiful and delicious cakes.
Signature Cakes by Vicki is a custom wedding cake design company - they don’t work from templates. “We don’t have a point at the book cake” like grocery stores do Vicki tells me. This means when you meet with Vicki, she wants to know everything about you and your wedding to make you a cake that is unique to you and your tastes.
So...What Goes Into a Custom Designed Wedding Cake?
Example - This cake will serve 150 people and starts at $1000 / $850 with your ABG discount! This cake by Signature Cakes by Vicki is made with blue colored fondant and hand-painted, hand-molded gold embellishments. Photo by Alex Bee Photography
Per my conversation with Vicki, “The average cake has about 135 - 150 servings. That could be a four-tiered round cake or a three-tiered square cake.” Signature Cakes by Vicki starts at a minimum of $400 and increases depending on the number of servings, customization and embellishments. Basically, the more ornate the cake, the more work is involved and the more it will cost. Here is what drives the costs:
Local and Limited Baking – Signature Cakes dedicates each week to their cakes and this includes the baking, frosting and decorating. Many store bought cakes are shipped in frozen.
Vicki did inform me that if a baker says they bake your cake that day, to take it with a huge grain of salt: “Bakeries aren’t just baking your wedding cake. They may have up to 25 brides that week. It’s a process that professional bakers are not rushing through.”
She added, “It’s not impossible to make 20 cakes in one day, it would require a huge staff and it’s not a good idea. After all, once in a while everyone makes a mistake and extra time should be built into the schedule to allow for that.” For the bride who cares about her cake and wedding, a professional baker who puts the effort and care into her cake is worth every penny.
Quality Frosting - Signature Cakes by Vicki uses a buttercream made using the Italian Meringue method which uses egg whites, butter, boiling syrup and Madagascar vanilla. They have one person dedicated to making this buttercream fresh every week and the process lasts two days to make enough for all their cakes. Cakes are then stacked and frosted and ready to be decorated.
Exquisite Decorating - Before you say “ew” at the mention of fondant, note that with custom cake bakers like Signature Cakes and similar bakers, the fondant used is a quality fondant, not one that you get from a craft store, so it will taste better and is rolled and made fresh with everything else that goes into a cake. All the cakes are completed on Friday in time for Saturday deliveries.
Gold/silver/pearl paint is all hand-painted on the decorations. “We use an edible powder that we paint on with a paintbrush. Metallics cost more – park place: completely decorated, put together and the whole thing is painted with a paintbrush, mix powdered edible paint. Melissa’s cost more than superpearl.
This cake looks simple but took a long time to make because of the lavender fondant, extremely detailed piping and the gold colored ribbon.
Left – the cake was hand-painted with Superpearl edible coloring. Right, the gold paint costs a little more more than superpearl.
Signature Cakes by Vicki is best known for their sugar flowers which look almost real. Each flower is painstakingly shaped and crafted by hand. “We work in the off-season to do the more popular colors like pinks, reds, greens that normally go onto cakes.”
Left: How many varieties of very life-like sugar flowers can you find? Right: More sashes formed and painted by hand. So regal! (Photos by Ace Photography)
The flowers need to be cured and allowed to solidify for several days so if you want sugar flowers, know that you cannot make any design changes within 60 days of your wedding – “this is to keep price affordable and you can’t make them the week of the wedding. “
The fruit on the cake is made by hand and this labor-intensive cake costs more than $1000. The bride and groom kept the fruit to use as centerpieces at their holiday parties.
Larger than the picture shows, this cake clearly took a lot of time and handywork. Everything, including the gumpaste birds, are handmade. In this case, the tiny pink flowers were done fresh and laid soft onto the larger, cured flowers.
Signature Cakes places quality above all else. “I am first and foremost a baker and a wedding cake should taste amazing” said Vicki. “Remember, cake is food and there’s nothing worse than a beautiful cake that tastes horrible.”
Delivery costs in the greater Nashville area also included in the pricing of Vicki’s cake but it can vary depending on the baker so definitely ask up front what all the costs are. As for Signature Cakes, when you make your appointment with Vicki, she sends you a preliminary email with a list of what to bring with you and things to keep in mind. “Bring in anything that will help you design your cake – swatches, pictures, pictures of your flower, event space, gown, anything that has to do with the wedding that is important to you to give a good feel for the theme and design and colors.”
Photo by Ashley's Bride Guide
Some last words of advice from Vicki: “Go with a vision, don’t be afraid to state your budget and ask your baker if they have any specials.” For more information on flavors, pricing and how to better prep for your meeting with your baker, visit Signature Cakes by Vicki online where you'll see many more samples of cakes they have done from weddings and other special events. Big thanks to Vicki for taking the time to share this all with us, we really appreciate it!
Be sure to mention that you're an ABG Bride to receive 20% off your custom wedding cake order!
Cake images by Signature Cakes by Vicki unless otherwise stated.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Cakes & Food, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds
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