Wednesday, August 24, 2011
I don't know why I am even providing intro text. I know you are here just to see the pictures! :)
Today, Tabitha and I are excited to share the cakes and catering for Sunday's Perfect Wedding Guide bridal show. But before we jump into our finds, I want to introduce Horace, an engaged Nashville groom (pictured further down the page). I've asked Horace to provide his commentary on the show - from a groom's perspective, bridal show attendee and shopper for Nashville wedding pros. Click here to go back and read yesterday's post on the planners, designers and florists as I've updated it with a few of Horace's thoughts.
Sophisticated, classic wedding cake designs...
Stunning & Scrumptious Cakes - Signature Cakes By Vicki
signaturecakesbyvicki.com
Tabitha: I'd been looking forward to seeing the new cake designs by Vicki and had no idea what I was in for till I got to the booth. First of all, that carousel cake is amazing!! It's so much fun, and the details are divine. My next favorite is the simple white cake with the cascading pink sugar flowers. So romantic. I'd get that cake in alternating strawberry and vanilla flavors. It'd be a nice surprise when it's sliced and guests see the strawberry under the white fondant!
Ashley: I could not take my eyes off the horse carousel cake! The details were exquisite; the colors popped and after seeing the design, I was again sold that Signature Cakes by Vicki could design just about anything a bride or groom requested.
...meet garden chic and whimsy! Very few cake designers cake design at this level of precision. Maybe that's why Signature Cakes has such rave reviews from Martha Stewart Weddings
Good for the Soul - C&K Catering
chefcorey.com
Tabitha: Sweet and regular mashed potato bar with the regular toppings, but you could also get chicken alfredo or meatballs to go with it.
Ashley: Can you go wrong with a Mashed Potato Bar? According to the line of brides waiting for a taste - no. Tabitha and I jumped in the line, got our mash on and saw a few wedding pros (who I won't name) in line too. I liked the chicken alfredo mash.
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"Fall" in Love - The Bake Shoppe
maineventpro.com
Ashley: I'll tell you the truth - I didnt even see the cakes on the table! After eating a sample of their sour cream almond cake (my absolute favorite), I mentally checked out of the show. I was in heaven. If you did not attend the show and haven't hired your cake artist, do me a favor - have a tasting with The Bake Shoppe and try this cake flavor.
Horace (guest groom): The cake was moist and extremely good. The cake made me smile. Their designs were clean. The Bake Shoppe may be high on our list.
While they chose to present cakes with a fall theme, since their cakes are custom you can work with their team to design the look that's right for you.
The "buttons" and details were hand molded using fondant.
A Lil' Something for Everyone - Ribbons of Chocolate Catering
RibbonsOfChocolate.net
Tabitha: I'm all about sweets but Ribbons of Chocolate saved the day with their delicious mac 'n' cheese! After being told by three people to have some, I just had to. Plus it made going back around for more cake so much better. It looks like the crowd around their booth agreed.
Meet Horace and his lovely fiance, Mone'tt. I'll include Horace's take on Sunday's Nashville bridal show over the next few days.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events, Cakes & Food, Wedding Resources
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Tuesday, August 23, 2011
On Sunday, Tabitha and I attended Nashville's Perfect Wedding Guide bridal show at the Loew's Hotel. We had a blast! There were hundreds of brides in attendance and everyone - from brides to wedding pros - was having a great time. The show had glamour, bling, southern charm - a bit of everything for diverse Nashville brides.
All week we will share our raves and reviews so be sure to visit our blog every day to get bridal candy and great resources to call to add to your wedding team.
Wedding Planners + Event Stylists + Floral Designers
I'm sure you left the show wondering who is who. Are you a planner or a designer or a rental company? Well, because there is so much creativity, there is some overlap. A lot of talented planners do event design too. You can hire them for just your wedding planning or they can do both. Some planners only focus on wedding planning but will help you find the perfect wedding stylist or floral designer to bring your vision to life. No approach is right or wrong. It's really a personal call based on whose style and personality work for you. But, you can't go wrong with any of the folks below.
Contemporary Couture with Touches of Bridal Bling - Rhonda Patton (Floral Designer)
www.rhondapattonweddings.com
Tabitha: For such a cute, petite woman, Rhonda's designs are larger than life and just gorgeous. For this show she chose a theme fit for either a ballroom in a grand hotel or under a beautiful white tent. Orchids tower over a table that sparkled and shined. Even the menu card was decked out in crystals!
Ashley: Rhonda's work is elegant, chic and modern. My favorite part of her wedding design was her custom made chair covers! Rhonda custom-designed the chair covers (as she would for your wedding) to serve as a perfect complement to the table's decor. And while I'm a bold color loving gal, I appreciated the rich, sophistication of the color palette.
Horace (groom's perspective): I was impressed by the designs that Rhonda Patton and her team put together. She definitely has an eye for detail.
Simply Red - Enchanted Florist (Floral Designer)
www.enchantedfloristtn.com
Tabitha: Whether large or small, Enchanted Florist knows how to decorate a space and make it feel special. With a fabulous arm chair by a grand piano, Caprice had bouquets hung in a custom screen and a beautiful dinner table set up, really showcasing her talent for decorating, well, ANYTHING with flowers.
Ashley: As always, the Enchanted Florist booth was attention grabbing. I especially loved the huge, breath-taking centerpiece (pictured below, left). How did they do it? I thought it was an oversized candle but it's a black + white vase surrounded by cylinder! The black and red color scheme was very popular.
Bridal bouquet ideas
Country Chic - Regalo Design (Wedding Planner / Floral Designer)
www.regalodesign.com
Ashley: What a fun couple! Sarah and Damon are a wedding planning duo/couple and they also offer floral / event design. You couldn't miss their lively personalities and fun rustic table details. I love the use of chalkboards at weddings.
Horace: Regalo Design had a nice appeal with a number of options to assist in the wedding planning/design.
Sarah also creates brooch bouquets as pictured above.
Painting the Perfect Day - A Magical Affair (Wedding Planner)
www.amagicalaffair.com
Ashley: This was probably the most fun booth of the day. And, it demonstrated that you can have an elegant wedding that's fun for everyone. Courtney of A Magical Affair commissioned Heidi Schwartz of Paint Your Event Live to paint the scene, as she does for weddings. Then Courtney employed her two sons, dressed in tuxedos, to serve guests (bridal show attendees) popsicles. Everywhere I turned, there were popsicles. I love brides that add a little wedding whimsy and a creative planner can help you find what's right for you.
Vintage Prop Shop - Southern Events (Event Rentals)
southerneventsonline.com
Tabitha: Colorful candy meets earthy burlap, Southern Events gave the normal vintage look a whimsical twist with giant lollypops and candy themed ribbons. The girls have such a great imagination and a great versatility when it comes to styles of decor from this vintage look to decadent or chic.
Ashley: I fell in love with the candy! I love color and thought the addition of candy made a fun color pop on the table. This could be so neat for your wedding! The use of small candy jars as favors doubling as placecards - brillant. As an event rental company, you can rent everything you need from them - from specialty linen to vintage props. Can you say easy!
"Kate Spade" Sleek - Decadent Details Events (Wedding Planning)
decadentdetailsevents.com
Ashley: I love modern, sleek color palettes and this one is classic. The ladies of Decadent presented a sophisticated wedding lounge concept that had pops of pink that wouldn't make your groom run away.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events, Details, Design & Florals, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, 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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Wednesday, August 10, 2011
I met Vicki Nelson of Signature Cakes by Vicki at a bridal show many years ago, where my sister absolutely fell in love with her still-not-topped caramel icing. Since then, I always visit her bridal show booth to preview her new cake designs and flavors.
This year is no different. I've been told that she's got something great in store for brides attending the convention center show on 8/14 and the Perfect Wedding Guide show on 8/21. If you need a wedding cake, be sure to check out her booth at either show so you can taste her new and classic flavors for yourself!
Until then, enjoy some of my favorite wedding cakes by Signature Cakes below.
A little whimsy!
From ornate to simple sophistication
Incredible details
Don't you love them! I'm excited to see what else Vicki and her team have in store. Hope to see you at her booth. Save a few cake samples for us!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Cakes & Food, Inspiration & Trends, Wedding Resources
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Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Photo booths have become a popular fixture at wedding receptions over the last few years. Not only do they provide a fun activity for guests, the photo strips can be used for favors or your guestbook. We sat down with Amy from Photo Booth Nashville to get some information on the best ways to compare photo booths when booking your wedding or event.
ABG: What features should couples look at when comparing different photo booth companies?
Photo Booth Nashville: This is a great question. Most photo booth companies will offer unlimited prints and customized graphics. Make sure to ask to see sample photos to compare. If a company offers digital copies of the photos from your event, ask about the file size of the digital copies provided. At Photo Booth Nashville, our files are between 210-300kb each, and we not only provide the composite photo, but each individual shot with a native image of 11" X 17" so if our clients want to re-print photos and enlarge them, they'll be crystal clear.
Other things to ask about are the construction of the photo booth (is it a homemade "pipe and drape" booth?), print process (we use dye sublimation printers, the same ones at professional processors), sitting time, and printing time. Unlimited prints don't do you much good when it takes three minutes for each sitting.
ABG: What is the difference between the photo booths you offer and ones that other companies may offer in the area?
Photo Booth Nashville: We're the only Middle Tennessee provider of the patented Model 12 digital photo booth. The booths that we have are in over 40 markets worldwide, and there are constant updates and upgrades to our equipment. The Model 12 booths are made with sturdy, steel construction and they're modeled after vintage photo booths so they really feel like photo booths. There are many choices in Middle Tennessee now, and most of them are homemade and most companies only have one booth so in the event of a malfunction, you may be in trouble. We've always got an extra photo booth on our truck, so we're prepared for any unlikely problem that may occur.
ABG: What options do couples have to choose from with your photo booths?
Photo Booth Nashville: In addition to customized graphics, a disc with all the digital photos from the event, formal drapery, and a great variety of props, we pride ourselves on having the most professional and courteous attendants in Nashville. Unless a client specifically requests it, we always provide an attendant for the duration of the rental. We're proud of the reputation we've built and the number of high-end event and wedding planners that use us exclusively. Potential clients can take a look at a few testimonials on our website.
ABG: What things do a bride and groom need to think about when considering a photo booth? Venue size? Load-in and load-out of the photo booth?
Photo Booth Nashville: The most important thing a bride and groom should think about when considering a photo booth at their wedding is the same thing they should think about when choosing other vendors. There aren't many other days in a person's life as important as their wedding day, so it's not a time to sacrifice quality to get a "bargain." You can find a photographer to shoot your wedding for a few hundred dollars, and you can have your meal catered by a fast food restaurant, but you may not be satisfied with the results. With all the "photo booth" companies out there, it's imperative to do your homework. With regard to venue size and load-in and load-out, there's really nothing to worry about. During the booking process we go over every detail of load-in with our clients, and if there's any question we send a technician to the location to make sure there won't be any problems.
All photos courtesy of Photo Booth Nashville
If you're looking to add that special touch to your wedding reception or special event, contact Amy at Photo Booth Nashville for all of your photo booth needs.
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Posted by Newlywed Sara |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Unique Wedding Ideas, Wedding Resources
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