Friday, May 11, 2012
When Amy, lead planner of Swizzle Events, told us about this lovely, Tennessee wedding, she started her description with, "Laura Beth and Matthew are a sweet couple with a quintessential sense of style. When we began working on their wedding plans, Laura Beth shared that she wanted a timeless, Audrey Hepburn style combined with a fun nightclub environment. Challenging? Maybe. Fun? Definitely."
Amy and the bride, Laura Beth, really speak to the day's higlights! And of course, the photos from Erin at The Collection are a perfect complement to walk you through the style and design.
Laura Beth + Matthew
Wedding Date ~ June 25, 2011
Ceremony + Reception Venue ~ Manchester - Coffee County Conference Center
Guests ~ 200
Budget
$20,000 – 50,000
Wedding Team
Planner + Floral Designer | Amy Thomas with Swizzle Events
Photographer | Erin Lee from The Collection
Gown | Paloma Blanca from Arzelle’s in Nashville
Bride’s Accessories | Lemon quartz and diamond necklace received before ceremony as a present from groom; pearl bracelet from officiate/close family friend Judge Vanessa Jackson; earrings from Arzelle’s; wedding ring custom made by Giles Dunn
Men's Attire | Custom-fit black suit with black tie; wedding band from Hammer Jewelry in Collierville, TN
Bridesmaids Attire | Blue, one-shouldered cocktail dress by The Dessy Group
Hair | Courtney from Impressive Creations Salon in Tullahoma, TN
Makeup | Meredith Wiseman
Stationery | Mrs. Post Stationery in Memphis, TN
Cake Artist | Jay Qualls
Ceremony & Reception Musicians | Burning Las Vegas
Lighting | Nashville Event Lighting
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Matthew and I are traditional and classic, so we wanted a wedding that reflected our taste and style, but we also wanted to incorporate unique elements into the ceremony.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We chose a blank ballroom as our ceremony and reception site because we wanted a large, open space for our untraditional ceremony. We also knew that Amy (our wedding planner) was a creative event designer, so we wanted to give her space to showcase her talents. Our venue was a wonderful space for this project. We wanted a cocktail hour (technically, half hour) before the ceremony began. So, the guests arrived and received cocktails and passed appetizers. Then, we asked them to create a part in the ballroom, and I entered with my dad.
We had the ceremony with our amazing family and friends surrounding us. It was like being in an intimate fishbowl. We truly felt like everyone was taking part in our vows, and that is exactly what we wanted—we wanted our day to be about us, but we also wanted it to be about our family and friends because they mean so much to us.
As for the colors, we chose a blue color palate because I love blue and white china. My mom and I have been collecting pieces since I was a kid. We’ve found odd and end plates, cups, dishes, etc. in various places, so we have a lovely collection. I wanted to incorporate the pieces into our décor, so we asked Amy to find linens, lighting, and other design elements in every shade of blue to complement the china accent pieces. Every table had gorgeous white flowers and greenery surrounded by mine and my mother’s china collection. It was not only beautiful, it was special and sentimental because it was more than just rentals—these are pieces I now incorporate into my home with Matthew. Whenever I see them, I’m reminded of our beautiful, blue wedding.
What made you choose to do a dual approach to your wedding day with traditional vows and nightclub-esque reception?
Well, I’d say that our ceremony was non-traditional. My close family friend is a judge, and, since she became a judge, I wanted her to marry me (even before I found my groom!). Since it would be inappropriate for her to stand in a church and marry us, we had to think of alternate locations. We wanted tradition and classic elements, but we also wanted an intimate setting followed by a celebration. This wedding was a perfect combination. We had traditional elements, like a bridal party and traditional vows, but we also did it with people literally standing beside us.
Also, we thought of this day as a celebration of our love and commitment to one another, so we wanted our family and friends to have a good time. That’s where the nightclub-esque feel came into play. We didn’t want to cause discomfort from formality. We wanted our guests to feel at ease in a laid-back, fun setting complete with good food, great music, and wonderful company. It was great that no one had to drive to the reception. We said “I do” and the fun instantly began. It was a magical night.
How did Swizzle Events make your vision come to life? Did you enjoy working with Swizzle?
I loved working with Amy/Swizzle. She is a dream maker. She was patient, kind, creative, and positive. Our path to the wedding was not paved with perfection; there were bumps along the way. We changed venues, we changed concepts, we changed the ceremony. Amy listened to our thoughts, and made our ideas come to life. If something we suggested wasn’t practical, she told us, but she also told us ways to make it better. She took our thoughts and turned them into something better than what we expected—you can’t always say that about event planners. Amy did wonders with lighting, rentals, and linens. We had a blank ballroom that she turned into this amazing, swanky nightclub with tall cocktail tables, elegant floral designs, and sleek white lounge furniture. It took my breath away.
What was your (or your guests’) favorite aspect of your wedding?
We had several compliments on our unique ceremony. People kept telling us that they felt like they were a part of our vows. That touched me more than I thought it would when we initially designed the ceremony. I love that people felt like they were involved in that special moment. We also had a lot of positive comments about the band. People love to dance, and Burning Las Vegas is a ball!
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
The band, Burning Las Vegas, was the best splurge we made! They are one rocking good time. Huge crowd hit! We had to scoot people off the dance floor so we could do our exit—no one wanted to leave. While we did not save on invitations, we did choose not to do thermography, which saved money without taking away from the beautiful print. We also decided not to do individual welcome bags. Instead, we reserved one room at the guests’ hotel and filled it with food, drinks, maps, itineraries, and other goodies. We called it our hospitality suite. It became more of a “hang out” room, though, which was a great place for mingling.
Also, we gave the bridesmaids a long, large calla lily tied with a blue ribbon and surrounded with some small greenery instead of giving them each small bouquets. They were beautiful and sleek and helped us stay within our flower budget.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
I wish I would have taken more pictures. It all goes by so quickly!
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Fun is the best thing to have.
From Amy of Swizzle Events:
"Our venue gaves us a blank slate that was transformed into a fusion of classic Southern beauty and contemporary club. Sleek white lounge furniture mixed with traditional table seating provided a supper club atmosphere that allowed plenty of room for dancing. And with Burning Las Vegas on the stage, everyone danced the night away! Using even the smallest details in the design plan, we deliberately blended the two styles - classic Southern blooms of blue hydrangea alongside sophisticated white orchids, chic linens and specialty lighting for the night club feel with a menu that highlighted southern delights. A clean, classic color palette of blue, white and green provided a common thread throughout the details.
Perhaps most importantly, Laura Beth and Matthew wanted their wedding day to be remembered as a fun celebration. By keeping the ceremony efficient and succinct, the reception became the focus of their wedding. To create the sophisticated party that they wanted, we spent a great deal of time planning the flow of the evening. The timeline was precise and involved an orchestration of many subtle details and cues from lighting to music to placement of the bridal party. As the guests arrived, they enjoyed cocktails and mingled with the bridal party and family. Thirty minutes into the cocktail hour, subtle lighting changes were executed and the bridal party smoothly took their places in the center of the room. As the band played 'Unforgettable', Laura Beth was escorted into the room and met Matthew as he waited surrounded by their bridal party, family and friends. Once Matthew was told to 'kiss his bride', the celebration kicked into high gear and cocktail hour transitioned into dinner and dancing, dancing, dancing!I was truly honored to share in the planning and coordination of their fun, sophisticated wedding celebration. Laura Beth and Matthew's wedding encompassed a fusion of two distinct styles that created a memory to last a lifetime.
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Unique Wedding Ideas, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Monday, March 12, 2012
First of all we'd like to extend a huge thank you to StudioWed for pushing back their open house so you can come to our Smart Bride Boot Camp, which starts tomorow. This doesn't mean there won't be a StudioWed Open House, quite the contrary, the date has just been pushed to Thursday, March 15. So to tide you over, we thought we'd give you a glimpse at one of StudioWed's newest vendors that the ABG team is quickly becoming giddy about...
Meet Hardink Calligraphy, a custom stationery/calligraphy company that I have a feeling you'll love too.
Hardink is owned by Elizabeth, our Twitter pal, who is a Nashville calligrapher. Out of her own need for unique, cool calligraphy when she was getting married, Elizabeth began designing and hand-lettering her own work. From then on, she's worked with brides to create their own hand-lettered paper products for their special occasions - be it showers, personalized stationery, or for their wedding invitations.
(Photo credit: Donald Yeager)
(Photo credit: Donald Yeager)
I asked Leigh Barker, who runs StudioWed why they picked her as one of their vendors and I could just hear the excitement in her voice, "She has fantastic, whimsical, gorgeous calligraphy and she's easy to work with and affordable." Leigh also mentioned something special that Hardink does which she recently treated herself to. "We had her create a stamp for my husband and I to use for return addresses!"
ABG Notes: This would be such a cool way to address your RSVP envelopes or cards!
Hardink Calligraphy is one of the vendors that StudioWed hand-picked for their studio. This makes it really easy for you to plan your wedding because they believe in their skills and know them very, very well to help you piece it all together. During their free, monthly open house, you get to speak to Leigh and Mary Alice about each vendor and ask all sorts of questions with no obligation whatsoever. So mark your calendars for March 15 and RSVP soon!
All stationery images courtesy of Hardink Calligraphy
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Invitations & Paper Goods, Unique Wedding Ideas
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Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Marathon Village, which was originally made up of factories, is becoming one of the hottest neighborhoods in Nashville. A few weeks ago, they added yet another treasure, Marathon Music Works, Nashville’s newest music and event venue. It's a super new venue so you'll want to contact them for more details and to see it in person. Here's high-level info to get you started...
ABG: What makes Marathon Music Works different than other venues in the Nashville area?
MARATHON MUSIC WORKS: Marathon Music Works has been designed to meet every type of event need, making it truly a multi-use space. Attention to various details has made it ideal for planners, vendors, event guests, concert goers, and musicians alike. Located in the historic and creative Marathon Village neighborhood, MMW is located in a newly renovated warehouse that dates back to the early 1930's. Marathon Music Works offers an environment rich in history and character with all of the modern amenities.
ABG: What is the capacity of Marathon Music Works for a wedding or event?
MARATHON MUSIC WORKS: We offer a versatile layout that can host up to 300 guests for a formally seated dinner, up to 800 for a cocktail reception and 1500 for standing room only. The design of the space makes it easily scalable for all events big or small.
ABG: What are the event rental fees?
MARATHON MUSIC WORKS:
Facility Cost: $3,600
A deposit of $1,500 is due upon signing of contract (remainder of balance due 7 days prior to event by check or credit card).
Bartender Fee: $150 per bartender for hosted bars (1 bartender per every 100 guests).
Facility costs include the following:
250 mahogany wooden chairs
(25) 60 inch round tables
(5) 6 ft tables
Exclusive use of venue for up to 12 hours
Glassware for up to 250 guests
Doorman during event
Facility Coordinator to assist on day of event
Cleaning Fee
Set up/Breakdown for tables & chairs
Complimentary Parking with parking attendants
ABG: Are there any restrictions or things to consider when hosting an event at Marathon Music Works?
MARATHON MUSIC WORKS: We offer a full service bar and cannot allow outside alcoholic beverages to be brought in. Marathon Music Works exclusively offers full in-house catering services from Flavor Catering & Special Occasions.
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Marathon Music Works is open and ready to host your event! For details of events and concerts, visit their website at www.marathonmusicworks.com.
All images courtesy of Evan Tardy Photography.
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Posted by Newlywed Sara |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Unique Wedding Ideas, Wedding Venues and Locations
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Friday, August 26, 2011
Tabitha, Horace (our guest groom) and I are back with our final recap of the Perfect Wedding Guide bridal show. Overall, we loved the show! Loews Vanderbilt made a great location; the vendors were super nice; the show was well operated and there was lots of creativity. We had a great day and met lots of great new wedding vendors and were happy to see many of our wonderful website sponsors.
While we could'nt cover all of the show's wedding service providers, we'll cover a few of our remaining favorites today - from photography and photo booths to music and unique services.
First up, the photo booths...
Ace Photo Booth's video photo booth
A Video Photo Booth - Ace Photobooths
acephotobooth.com
Tabitha: It was almost more fun watching the people in the photo booths as it can be to get in one. Everyone seemed really pleased with their pictures. My favorite was when the two girls (pictured above) both showed their ring fingers to the camera. Alas, my amateur photography skills didn't capture it properly!
Ashley: Yeah, I'd agree. I think photo booths are a great addition to a wedding reception and this one takes video! So, not only are you entertained taking pics but you share the fun by watching your friends inside! As the bride and groom, you get to watch everyone's shenigans over and over and enjoy their personal messages, recorded especially for you.
Horace: I enjoyed all of the photo booths; they varied to give you a better plan to pick the best one. The jury is still out.
A Mini Photo Booth - Nashville Photo Booths by Snyder Entertainment
nashvillephotobooths.com
Tabitha: Snyder Entertainment's photo booth was a little less bulky which makes it easier to fit larger groups of people in the picture. It seemed to appeal to lots of brides who stopped and chatted with them.
Ashley: Brian of Snyder is such a great guy and I love that his booths offer couples a scaled down version of some of the larger booths. As you can see, it could fit just about anywhere.
Wedding Photography - The Collection
thephotographycollection.com
Tabitha: Always a pleasure to see these ladies. You can't miss their booth, it's set up like a cozy living room in which you can view their good work and chat with them. Very inviting, very personable, just like their photographers.
Ashley: The booth was like a mini-studio that spoke well for the company - vibrant colors, great eye for details, and super cool team of approachable, customer-service focused, fun photographers. You can tell a lot about a company based on their presentation; always trust the initial impression. The Collection was inviting and warm - just like their team of photographers. And, their wedding photography is outstanding.
L - R: Jessica, Erin & Sarah of The Collection (Thanks for the picture ladies!)
Wedding Photography - Roland's Photography
weddingsbyroland.com
Ashley: I really like this couple! They love what they do and it shows.
Horace (groom's perspective): They were quite helpful and had a great collection of their work. They really know how to capture the moment.
Tabitha: Roland and his wife were super friendly, I really liked the tile photo frame (pictured) and thought that was a cool way to have your picture on your wall. I wonder if you could make that part of your backsplash in your kitchen?
Roland's debuted the above framed work where images are printed on tile rather than paper.
Wedding Photography - Scoobie Photographic Images
scoobiephoto.com
Tabitha: I was impressed by their guarantee that couples get online viewing of their finished wedding images in just 7 days. They also make discs to give to parents of the couples so no more annoying "Can you email me that picture with you standing here with your dad again?" from either parent!
Ashley: Ditto. I think what Scoobie Photographic offers is truly rare. His turnaround time is unheard of. He also offers a traditional style of photography which parents and classic brides love!
Pretty Stationery - Designs In Paper
designsinpaper.com
Tabitha: It was so simple, but I really liked the "mom" tealight holder. That'd be a great place holder at the head table. You could even have one that says "Just Married" or "Mr" and "Mrs" for the bride and groom. Possibilities = Endless!
Ashley: This booth was so popular that I could barely get in it! But, I've worked with Designs in Paper for years and know that they can do ANYTHING with paper - from paper bouquets to buttons to one of a kind wedding invitations.
Funkalicious - Party Patrol
partypatrolonline.com
Tabitha: I wish DJ Kelly was able to break out some funky tunes to get the party started but it just wasn't that kind of show I guess. One thing's for sure, he was really cool and friendly, two things I'd like from my DJ.
Ashley: I was shocked to see Kelly so laid back. Normally, he is in party mode, as you can see on my funny video from a previous show here. If you need a wedding DJ, he brings the party!
Definitely Dapper - Street Tuxedo
streettuxedo.com
Tabitha: It seems like each time I see Street Tuxedo's booth at a bridal show, they've added more colors to their rainbow of swatches. The guys who modeled their tuxes were certainly very sharp-dressed men! Hopefully that encouraged the brides at the show to use Street Tuxedo for their grooms.
Ashley: Street Tuxedo gives Nashville grooms swag! Their team keeps a pulse on the latest in grooms fashion. I believe in supporting local businesses and love that Street Tuxedo is a Nashville-based, family-owned and operated business. When you go into the store, you will meet someone from the Street family. As such, they value each customer. Their inventory is also local so they can quickly get what you need.
Horace ( groom's perspective): They had a nice selection of tuxes with the wide variety of tie designs.
Great Idea - Music City Sitters
nashvilleweddingsitters.com
Tabitha: Why didn't I think of this? What a great idea. They provide games, toys and entertain your guests' children so everyone has a wonderful time at your wedding and no one has to leave because of a cranky child. Brilliant.
The Groom's Perspective
Horace's take on other wedding vendors at the bridal show:
Olia Zavozina: The wedding dresses were eye catching and definitely got a response out of the attendees.
Catch Light Cinema: I was really impessed with how the company makes you the star of your wedding day.
Tuxedo Avenue: Tuxedo options for the groom were limited but they seemed eager to accommadate.
(Message for wedding pros + show producers: Horace would have liked to have seen more vendors in these categories: spa, transportation, favor vendors, fitness, lighting vendors.)
Be sure to read our recap of our favorite of the show's wedding planners, designers and florists and wedding cakes and catering.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Bridal Shows & Events, Grooms, Groomsmen & Tuxedos , Music, Lighting + Transportation, Unique Wedding Ideas, Wedding Resources
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Friday, August 19, 2011
Brides, grooms, and wedding guests love photo booths. Every time I watch a wedding show on TV (Four Weddings is one of my favorites), the brides and guests name the photo booth as their favorite aspect of the wedding; they are still crowd pleasers. It's great entertainment. And no matter whether you go with the traditional booth or a new concept, like Picture This - it's sure to make the event more fun for your guests.
I attend bridal shows to see what's new and what brides are loving. At the last bridal show I attended, the Picture This Nashville booth was very popular. It's a virtual booth, one that uses a computer monitor/kiosk instead of a physical booth that guests climb into. It's a unique service to add to your reception and to get a full appreciation of how it works, you need to see, touch, play with it.
There are two things that I think are great about Picture This Nashville: 1) They offer a full refund if you change your mind* and 2) Their booths take up very little space, if that's an issue at your wedding venue.
Read my interview with newlywed Elaine, co-owner of Picture This Nashville, and then head over to their website to learn more.
Contact Info
Name: Picture This Nashville
Main Contact: Elaine Pardo Ingram
Phone Number: 615-352-0024
Email Address: elaine {at} picturethisnashville {dot} net
Website: www.picturethisnashville.net
Twitter: picturethisnash
Facebook fan page: Picture This Nashville
How did you get started in weddings?
My husband & I were looking for something new and exciting for our wedding. When we came across this company we loved it so much we bought the rights to the Nashville - Middle, TN Area.
What do you like most about weddings?
I love dealing with happy people. Working a wedding and seeing the smile on peoples faces makes what we do so much fun.
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why?
This video show how much fun using our service can be.
What is your service philosophy?
We understand that in the glory days of planning your event you want it all but the reality is as you get closer the expenses get out of hand. *Picture This Nashville will give you a total refund 60 days before the event. I was a bride that lost a lot of money on wedding show specials.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
A bride should shop around to make sure that they like our service. We are not the traditional photobooth by any means. We take up less space then the big booths and for cost of one machine you can have two. The biggest selling point is our guestbooks. We really take pride in those. We understand what the couple is going through and want to make it as smooth as possible.
Touch screen photo booth kiosk...
with a customizable screen.
A few Nashville wedding pros working + having fun at recent Nashville wedding!
Customizable Photo Guestbook
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors?
Visions by Valeshia – Photography – Valeshia rocks
Trupix Wedding video – Luke and Samantha are so much fun and they get you a great product.
Branching Out florist – Vikki really does magic
Fontanel Mansion – Bradley is a hoot
Designs in Paper – Donette and Steve make ordering your invitations and programs so easy.
Visit Picture This Nashville to learn how their photo booth works and see if it's a good addition to your wedding entertainment.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Our Featured Advertisers!, Inspiration & Trends, Music, Lighting + Transportation, Unique Wedding Ideas, Wedding Resources
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