Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Newlyed Elizabeth Ulrich-Fanguy, owner of Stockroom Vintage, is a passionate chick with an old-soul. She has been collecting vintage pieces since she was a kid. The child of a furniture maker, she was born into a family with an appreciation for handmade, restored, and repurposed beauties. It's no wonder that for her own budget wedding, her family recommended that she use her own pieces. And, that's just what she did.
Soon after she accomplished the feat of a lifetime, a vintage wedding for under $5k, she decided to share her specialty collection, custom-search and event styling services with other Nashville brides. And while her pieces are stunning, she is staying true to her budget wedding roots and amassed a collection that every Nashville bride can afford.
Images from her recent photo shoot (below), which I am lucky to share with you today, give a small peak into her world of antique goodies, which are all available to rent via her website.
Photos: Stef Atkinson Photography
ABG: What was the inspiration behind your photo shoot?
Elizabeth of Stockroom Vintage: This wedding shoot was inspired by the whimsical style of Kate Spade, graphic black and white patterns, and my undying love for confetti and gold glitter. When I first envisioned the shoot, I wanted to make sure I styled it in a way that showed brides how vintage pieces can be incorporated into a more modern look. I adore rustic, farmhouse weddings, but I also love to push the envelope and show people that vintage can also feel really sleek, new, and cool. I love the way the chevron patterns and the gold touches—from the polka dots placed on the walls to the bow-topped-swizzle sticks made with gold lamé ribbon—play off the rustic nature of the worn wood furniture and the industrial look of the space at WestLight Studios. I’ve always been a fan of looks that are both hard and soft, tough, and girlie. It’s unexpected and fun and something guests will remember.
I also incorporated tons of DIY elements to keep the budget low. I always say you should splurge on big things—like an amazing photographer, such as Stef Atkinson, who photographed this shoot—and craft little details yourself to save money. For this shoot, I bought all of the big, girlie blooms at Import Flowers and arranged them into various jars and vintage vessels. I turned some pretty glass drawer knobs from Anthropology into holders for the place cards. I designed the “Make It Rain” envelopes and filled them with hand-cut confetti and made the gold bow drink stirrers. I also made all of the table runners, recovered the mix-and-match vintage dining chairs in a chevron print to tie them together visually and crafted the paper flowers out of pretty party napkins and polka dot tissue paper. And those plates on the dining table? I fell in love with these Ticker Tape Tidbit Plates from Kate Spade, but couldn’t splurge on them. So I bought some white vintage plates at Goodwill and a gold porcelain paint pen at the craft store and whipped up my own version of these confetti-sprinkled beauties for less than $10.
ABG: Stef Atkinson's photos are spectacular! I noticed she also did your wedding photos. Who else participated in the photo shoot?
Elizabeth: Photography was by Stef Atkinson Photography; Venue was WestLight Studios; Flower were purchased at Import Flowers and arranged/styled by Stockroom Vintage.
ABG: I absolutely love the mail collector used for guest table cards! The black and white contrast against the worn wood is genius. What was your favorite piece from the shoot?
Elizabeth: The Vintage Postal Sorter is such a stunner. It’s definitely one of our show-stopper pieces, and I’m so grateful to the old postmaster who set it free. With its worn wood, the remnants of the original paper state labels and all of those cubbies, it’s always so much fun to style. And those cubbies are just begging to be filled with all sorts of vintage goodies and small details. For this shoot, I filled many of the slots with handmade and handwritten escort cards. Old clocks, skeleton keys and a few owls from our collection—along with single stems of tulips and ranunculus—add interest to the vignette and make it even more photogenic. The possibilities for this piece are endless: Use it as a ceremony backdrop, a way to showcase cupcakes at the dessert table and on and on. For the shoot, I placed it atop our Gray Day Table, which serves as a welcome table to guide guests to their seats at the reception. Our Spools and Spindles wrapped in ribbon and adorned with glittery letters set the “Let’s Party” tone for the evening.
ABG: Which Nashville wedding venues do you feel are a good complement for vintage brides?
Elizabeth:
~ Marathon Village: I love everything about Marathon Village, from The Bang Candy Company to Marathon Music Works, the latter of which Stockroom Vintage will be styling with vintage props galore for the Porter Flea independent handmade market on June 16. And the event space at Marathon Village is just as covetable, with the exposed brick, loft-like feel and industrial vibe. Vintage pieces with a more feminine look, like curved leg tables and tufted sofas, really pop in a space like that.
~ Houston Station: I love the warehouse at Houston Station for the same reasons. You just can’t beat hardwood floors, exposed brick and all of those gorgeous wood beams. It has so much warmth and beauty that it wouldn’t take too many unique props and vintage additions to really set it off.
~ Carnton Plantation: As much as I love industrial spaces, there is something to be said for beautiful gardens filled with trees that have been there for hundreds of years. The sense of history here is amazing, and it’s a perfect complement to vintage pieces because they all share a common sense of soul. And posing and snuggling with your hubby on a vintage sofa in the middle of an open field? It doesn’t get more romantic than that!
~ Rose Mont Mansion: This mansion in Gallatin also has that sense of history that I gravitate toward and a big photogenic porch to boot. Plus, it’s super affordable, which is even more of a reason to love it.
ABG: You take such pride in your wonderfully curated, eclectic collection. What is the newest addition that gives your heart a pause?
Elizabeth: Like a proud mama, I’ll say these pieces are like my children and I love them all equally. But I’m particularly fond of a 19th-century wooden Cobbler’s Rack that is everything I want a great, unique vintage piece to be: worn to perfection, fully functioning (with its original rolling casters!), and ready to be repurposed. When I first spotted it, I instantly envisioned about 10 different ways to use it at a wedding or event. That’s how I know I’m inspired! With all of its shelving, which is made of wooden slats, I can see it being used behind the bar or at a buffet to hold heirloom china and glassware. It would also make for unique storage for guests’ gifts. Or, my personal favorite, as a one-of-kind dessert buffet, where the shelves could be used to store and display cakes, pies, and all sorts of pretty confections.
Elizabeth's newest and favorite rental addition - antique cobbler's rack
Vintage loving brides, you are sure to love Elizabeth, her collection and her delicious vintage blog, which you should certainly add to your list for daily wedding inspiration.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Inspiration & Trends, Real Nashville Brides
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Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Last summer, Ace Photography hosted a Trash the Dress Contest where entrants were asked to submit creative ideas as to how they would "trash their dress", and the winner received a free Trash the Dress Session. (Not familiar with the Trash the Dress concept? Click here.)
Well, as luck would have it, our previously featured bride Kate won. But how could she not? She rocked that frock at the zoo!! Kate is a giraffe keeper - hence her photo shoot choice. She loves animals and as luck would have it, she loves ABG! We were rather pleased when she sent us her wedding to feature; not only was it a beautiful day, but a great venue. And now we get to follow up with her Trash the Dress!
Here are some of our favorite shots from her trash the dress session. For more, head on over to see Kate's dress feature on Ace Photography blog's.
Just as Kate did, if you opt for a Trash the Dress - choose a place or activity that is special for you. While this is essentially the new twist on a bridal shoot, it's also an opportunity to take your time, be relaxed, and let your personality show through. You may never wear the dress again, so make the most of it!
Many thanks to Ace Photography for sharing this post with us! Contact them for your Trash the Dress and make sure to mention that you heard of them from ABG.
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Photography, Real Nashville Brides
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Wednesday, October 5, 2011
We first met Erin and Josh at our bootcamp, The Smart Bride: Wedding Planning Workshop, back in January. Through their short interview, the two told us that the workshop helped them figure out how realistic their budget was and how Josh could be involved in helping Erin plan. From what we've seen so far, Erin and Josh have definitely made their budget work for them! We are so glad they reconnected with us to share their awesome engagement photos!
Shot by Becca Yager, their photos have a very personal edge as they chose locations they love. Some of their photos were taken at their favorite record shop, but most were captured at Old Made Good, an East Nashville shop that repurposes vintage furniture and antiques and sells hand-made jewelry and art from local artisans.The owners, Kate and Ashley, invited the couple to have their photos taken there at the very last minute and provided several props. "They were so hospitable about it and have become friends of ours since then," says Erin.
The couple will wed in Nashville's Germantown area with their reception at Marathon Village. A twist on the popular vintage style, Erin and Josh are leaning towards "industrial" vintage (read on to find out more!). Most of their wedding is DIY and Josh, a local DJ, is doing some of the DJing.
Enjoy their wedding plans and fun vintage photos!
Erin + Josh
Engagement Date ~ December 8, 2010
Wedding Date ~ November 19, 2011
How they got engaged.
Last fall, after spending weeks looking for the perfect engagement ring for Erin, Josh finally found the one. The one with both Josh and Erin's birth stones in the shape of a heart. Josh ordered the ring and waited. And waited some more. And then it came in the mail. And Josh immediately knew this ring would burn a hole in his pocket if he didn't propose as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Erin was hoping Josh was planning to propose during Christmas, slightly fearful that he'd wait until New Years, and extremely afraid he was holding out for Valentine's Day. She originally thought he might propose back in April when they were moving him across the country, but Josh is a bit of a slow mover.
So, with ring burning in his pocket all day, Josh drove home from work, hoping to meet Erin at home where they could take Jasper for a walk together and he could drop on a knee in a scenic location in East Nashville.
Erin had other plans. Mostly that she wanted to have dinner with their friend Taylor. And so they went to dinner. And the ring continued to burn in Josh's pocket. He thought of proposing as they were leaving for dinner, but Erin was on the phone with her parents half the drive. And the ring burned on.
Growing slightly antsy on the drive home, Josh tried to figure out how to propose. As they parked outside the house, he told Erin there was something funny he'd seen while walking Jasper earlier that she needed to see. So, in the dark, he led her down the block, pointed into the dark between two houses and, as she turned away from him, he got down on one knee, pulled out the ring and asked her to be his wife.
With the closeness to the holidays, Erin was shocked at the "early" proposal and exclaimed, "But it's just a Wednesday!" Then she started to cry and said that of course she'd marry him.
And then they spent the rest of the night on the phone and driving all over Nashville announcing the news to all their friends.
How many guests are you expecting?
We invited about 180, but we're expecting about 110-125 people.
What is your wedding budget?
$12,000
Who have you hired for your wedding team?
Ceremony Venue | Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Reception Venue | Marathon Village
Photographer | Becca Yager did the engagement session and we're lucky enough to have her for the wedding too!
Catering | Down South Delights (Rita Rowland is amazing!)
Videographer | Ryan Bernal (also awesome!)
Bridesmaid dresses | Kerried Away Couture
The rest is all us, Old Made Good and Etsy!
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Tell us about your fun wedding style.
Do-it-yourself, Nashville industrial vintage. Lots of lace, gingham, bowties, jeans and old work boots. We want it to look like a bunch of old-time factory workers who got cleaned up for a dance.
After a traditional Catholic ceremony, we're having a very laid-back reception where everyone can loosen up and enjoy themselves. Beyond serving dinner and a few toasts, the rest of the night will be one big party! Lots of drinks, dancing (Josh is a DJ and couldn't resist DJing his own wedding, at least for a little while) and merriment. No need to interrupt the good time by tossing bouquets and garters or doing money dances.
Tell us about your invitations.
We had parts of it printed but then crafted a lot of it ourselves.
You fell in love with the shops where you took your engagement photos. What made that special?
We love Old Made Good! (oldmadegood.com) We have bought several decorations, furniture and other bits and pieces for the wedding (and our apartment) from the OMG girls. We first met them a few weeks before our engagement photo session and quickly became friends. They offered to let us use their shop and property for our photos and we ended up spending most of the day with Becca Yager there before pulling off a few shots in Grimey's, our favorite record store. We went to Old Made Good because we wanted a quirky, vintage feel, which they are all about, and we love to support our local artisans, craftsmen and women. We wanted to go to Grimey's because we are avid vinyl collectors and music is a huge part of why we fell in love.
Many thanks to Erin and Josh for sharing their engagement story with us! We were so happy to hear from you! Good luck with your upcoming nuptials - we hope to see more photos afterward!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Engagements & Proposals, Real Nashville Brides
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Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Staying within budget is an important part of wedding planning for every couple. No matter what your budget, there are elements that you have dreamed of that you want to find ways to include in your big day. We sat down with Lori from Crumb de la Crumb to find out a few ways to save on your wedding cakes and desserts.
ABG: Can you share with us some ways for brides and grooms to save money on their wedding cake or desserts while still getting what they have always envisioned?
CRUMB DE LA CRUMB: The first thing is to be honest and upfront with your budget. If I know what your budget is, and I know we can’t meet it, I don’t want to waste your time. If a client doesn’t put a budget on our info form, we encourage them to do that so that we can know whether or not we can work with them up front.
If a client still wants to work with us but we can’t do exactly what they originally wanted, there are a couple of options we can offer:
~ We can make a simpler cake with fewer details and embellishments that will bring the cost down a bit.
~ Or, we can make a smaller cake that will feed up to 100 people.
~ If a couple is having more guests than that, they can get our smaller custom cake and then cupcakes or a kitchen cake (a basic sheet cake without design that is pre-cut in the kitchen). That will save about half on the remaining servings.
Be sure to contact Crumb de la Crumb for all of your event dessert needs. And remember that being upfront with your vendors is the first step to getting the wedding of your dreams for the budget you have in mind!
All photos courtesy of Crumb de la Crumb.
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Posted by Newlywed Sara |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Cakes & Food, DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Real Nashville Brides, Wedding Resources
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Monday, July 25, 2011
Nashville is becoming a melting pot. From 1990-2000, our foreign-born population has tripled. (Source: Wikipedia) Our city attracts people from Seattle (ask Genna) and Singapore (ask Tabitha) to Texas (ask Meg and Danielle). In fact, I'm the only Nashville native on our team! Nashville is becoming more and more diverse, welcoming people of different faiths and cultures. And while you may not see them often, our weddings are intercultural, interracial, and multicultural.
Today we're sharing some our favorite wedding photos that represent our diverse newcomers, cultures, faiths and unions. It's a vibrant look into the colorful, cultural side of Nashville weddings.
East Meets West
Lotus Blossom Photography captured some vibrant, beautiful pictures from the Bengali wedding of Saqi to Alex. The groom is Korean, and the bride and groom also celebrated his culture by donning Korean dress for the reception. They look like such a fun couple! The couple started out honoring the bride's Bengali heritage. For the ceremony they switched into traditional Korean dress.
Some of you may remember the Indian wedding by A Delightful Day Planning that we shared not too long ago. In our feature, Sneha shared her wedding inspiration: "I got my inspiration mostly from my mom’s sarees and other Indian fabrics that I had seen..." Don't you love the beautiful mehndi applied to the bride (and sometimes the groom's) hands and feet. This ritual which can take hours is to signify love and affection in marriage.
Images by McLellan Style
The lovely ladies of The Photographix captured some intimate moments during the traditional tea ceremonies of Heidi and Lan's Korean/Vietnamese wedding. The bride and groom honored both cultures by dressing in each others traditional robes/dress to present tea to their families. Starting with the traditional Korean dress - each aspect from the hats to the sashes and colors have significance to the culture. Tea ceremonies are rituals of respect where the bride and groom offer tea to their elders. The elders, in turn, give the happy couple their blessings.
InterCultural Connections
We enjoyed seeing this beautiful wedding at the Hermitage Hotel captured by Divine Images and shared via their Facebook album. Hodgen and Amber had such an elegant day surrounded by friends and family.
In March, we featured another wedding honoring both the groom's English heritage and the bride's Indian traditions, photographed by Krista Lee Photography. To honor their unique heritages, they "... tried to create a fusion of both our cultures and have the best aspects of each highlighted in every part of our wedding. With our food we served British appetizers, then an Indian feast for dinner, and lastly a rich decadent dessert with a mix of both cultures. With our wardrobe choices we mixed it up with a traditional Scottish Kilt and classy ivory wedding gown for the ceremony, and then a glamourous Indian Lengha and Kurtha Suit for the reception. Our music was also a fusion of Indian bhangra hits and European beats that had our guests dancing all night! Our décor of the room had a touch of old world European romance with the glitz and glamour of a typical Indian celebration!"
Heritage Abounds
As you can see in this wedding photographed by Kristyn Hogan, jumping the broom is a ritual that is sometimes included in African American weddings to symbolize heritage, history and to pay homage to ancestors in America and Africa. This Nashville, African American wedding also inclded to the couple's fraternity brothers and sorority sisters, who are considered extended family.
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Nashville has the largest Kurdish community in the United States, numbering approximately 11,000. (Source: Wikipedia.) This wedding was captured by Jamie Lynn Chevillet and gives us a peek into a large and unique Nashville subculture.
Jet-Setter Celebrations
Let's not forget the cross-continent wedding celebrations of Terri Ann (from the Caribbean via New York) and her husband Berchaun. Their incredibly intimate wedding took place in South Africa and the reception was hosted at Historic Cedarwood. Their reception, which you can enjoy via this link, really was a multicultural affair with family coming from all over the Caribbean and the US.
South African images by Phonix Capture
Nashville reception at Cedarwood; Image by Daniel Meigs Photography.
The Angazas are one facinating couple whose story and mission you'll love. According to their website, "Jared and Ilea lived in Rwanda for two years (a total of four years in Rwanda for Jared), then spent a year back in the US, floating from Los Angeles to New York City to Nashville to establish the business foundation for KEZA. Now they are heading for Mombasa, Kenya to set up the new KEZA headquarters and their new home. They plan to live there indefinitely."
Images left: Shane and Rachle Photography; Image right: Jared Angaza
No matter what the traditions, colors and practices, there's no doubt that weddings and the union of two people who love each other transcend continents and cultures. We would really love to see more pictures so if you have any that you'd like to share or you think ought to be featured on ABG please do send them our way!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Inspiration & Trends, Real Nashville Brides
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