Thursday, July 1, 2010
While some girls at our Sex and the City party were being pampered, others were getting in on the entertainment and shopping. If you are a bridesmaid planning a bridal shower, girl planning a shindig or a bride planning a wedding - here are more resources and ideas to consider for your fun bash.
The Entertainment
Photo Booth Nashville provided great laughs for everyone. It was so much fun to see girls get in to the booth giggling and come out full-on laughing and just having a fantastic time taking pictures. If you have a party - PBN is fun in a box and will add a twist to any event - from weddings to corporate functions.
There was plenty to do with my Sex & The City Trivia (which was so much fun by the way). I created a bingo style ice breaker and all of the participants were eligible to win FABULOUS prizes. I also dug deep for SATC trivia. It was funny watching the girls who were true SATC fans vs the ones who clearly just came for a great party who knew NOTHING about SATC. Ha!
While music was spun in the courtyard by DJ Dan Co, the line grew longer and longer as partygoers waited for their tarot card reading Readings by LeMai offers tarot and numerology readings based on your birthday or name. I knew her booth would be a hit! She even does event numerology to help couples choose "successful wedding dates". There was a line for her services ALL night, surprising for those in the Bible Belt.
Readings by Lemai offers tarot card, astrology and numerology readings.
More partygoers having fun!
The Shopping: Bridal Services
Of course being a bridal resource guide, there were some great resources for Nashville brides. Studio Wed, our main event sponsor, hosted a suite for Nashville brides. All brides in attendance were invited to SW and are now entered to win the diamond necklace pictured below. If you were not able to attend, it's not too late to enter the contest. Simply book an appointment with SW this month and you could win the diamond necklace. (Studio Wed is a wedding planning studio so you must still be hiring wedding vendors to be eligible for the contest.)
The most envious aspect of the party for me was looking through Sandals & Beaches brochures. From destination weddings and honeymoons, offered by Sandals, to girls getways and family fun offered by Beaches - this booth made me want to book a flight to escape! I had no clue they had so many options for brides, girlfriends, couples. If you are a destination bride - be sure to contact A Delightful Day, Sandals Specialist - to learn about their Martha Stewart Collection. It's incredible! Not engaged, grab your girls and getaway to Beaches!
Suddenly I want to grab my sunglasses, flip flops and bathing suit and head to the beach!
Kerried Away Couture was a very popular booth at party, especially for brides seeking one-of-a-kind bridesmaid dresses for their bridal party or rehearsal dinner dresses. What we love about Kerri's designs is that her dresses and outfits are so cute they're really versatile and can be worn for any occasion after the wedding!
McNeal Wedding Films showcased their top-notch wedding films on a super sleek iPad.
McCoy Made introduced brides and women to their sexy boudoir photography options. Boudoir photos are a great gift for the man in your life OR yourself! Hey - your body usually doesnt get any better so take those fun pictures NOW and have them to cherish for a lifetime. Plus, boudoir photo sessions are a fun activity for a girls night out.
More Nashville shopping ideas tomorrow!
Photos courtesy of Jonathon Campbell Photography and Kristyn Hogan Lifestyle Photographer.
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Posted by Ashley |
Filed under: Photography & Videography, Wedding Resources
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
This week is all about Sex...and the City! Last month, we hosted a Girls Night Out to celebrate the debut of the second Sex and City movie. Yesterday, I shared the party's vision, location and overall look. Today, I'll give you the scoop on some of the behind the scenes party elements that are vital to ensure everything is fabulously in line with your event ambiance.
Photos courtesy of Kristyn Hogan, lifestyle photographer, Nashville Lifestyles and Jonathon Campbell Photography.
THE DECOR DETAILS: Event Signage
Relish designed the event flyer based on the movie poster. It was two sided and was postcard size so it was very affordable to print, like $10 for several hundred!
Southall Eden Paperie created the onsite event signage which included event programs, signs and food/drink cards. The signage wowed everyone! My mom kept running around asking - who did the signs? They were incredible! I loved them. The signage alone set the tone even before the rest of the party decor was added.
Southall Eden Paperie created the event program...
I sent Shannon, lead designer at Southall, the content for the event program. With no input from me - she designed the most incredible programs. They were better than I imagined. She choose the paper (shiny shimmering gray), font (fun yet contemporary in black and pink), layout/size "purseable".
...drink and food menus...
...themed satc quote signs + vendor table signs...
... and directional signage.
If you are creating an affair to remember, these are the details that will make your luxe affair a signature event. Amazing and well thought event signage says "you didnt miss a beat" in ensuring your wedding guests are informed regarding locations, directions, food options, etc. Southall can create everything you need - from your save the date and invitations to restroom signs in your signature font.
THE DECOR DETAILS: Florals
For the florals, I turned to my girl Hillary of Brocade Designs. Hillary and Jen of Reveal Event Style worked together to create beautiful florals in shoes - so sexy! The party didnt need a lot of florals because the space itself is so colorful and captivating, so I asked for just a few simple but stunning pieces.
THE DECOR DETAILS: Specialty Event Lighting
Lighting, lighting, lighting - it's so important! Nashville Event Lighting (NEL) added girly gobo (lighting design effects) to floors and walls. They also added hot pink lighting throughout the event. Lighting makes a big difference and can completely change the ambiance or feel of an event. The best events are well lighted events. You may not think it makes a difference but it does.
If you are on the fence about lighting, visit NEL and let them show you the difference between how your cake will look to your guests and in pictures with lighting vs without. Or, how much better your photography will be with well thought lighting.
NEL let me choose the gobo lighting design that I wanted on the floor! You could choose your own design or have them create one based on your wedding monogram.
Up-lighting at pool area and around seating area by NEL
NEL also offers hanging lanterns, willow lanterns and paper lanterns to accessorize your event.
NEL specialty lighting made the party pop and venue shine at night.
THE DECOR DETAILS: Linen and other Rentals
Another small detail that adds major wow is linen. There is a big difference between basic polycotton white and dazzling textured black. When you are looking to create an event that wows - specialty linen is a great way to achieve that extra oomph. Connie Duglin Specialty Linen was our choice because they are easy to work with and have an incredible selection. They provided all of our event linen.
Specialty linen by Connie Duglin, Tables rented from Liberty Party Rentals
I'm closing today's recap (of course there will be more from the SATC party tomorrow) with a company that really came through for my event - Liberty Party Rentals. Julie and crew made the event possible. Because my party fell on a holiday week, many of the rental companies didnt have what I needed or were too busy to respond. Not Liberty. Julie was busy but Kristin of Simply Stunning Events kept calling her (thank you!) until what we desperately needed was secured. I rented an unsexy Uhaul truck and my dad went and picked up the tables for our event. Without Liberty, I dont know what we would have done. They were willing to offer whatever we needed. I highly recommend them because they came through at the last minute, providing service with a smile!
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Posted by Ashley |
Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, Wedding Resources
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Monday, June 28, 2010
Last month, AshleysBrideGuide.com hosted a Girls Night Out to celebrate the debut of the second Sex and City movie. We threw a fabulously fun party at Nashville's Aloft Hotel, which is one of my favorite places to celebrate anything! We just received the party pictures from Kristyn Hogan, lifestyle photographer and Jonathon Campbell Photography!
Over the next 6 days, Tabitha and I will share our "Six Days of Sex" - to take you behind the scenes and give you the inside scoop on the party. These details will give you everything you need (from ideas to a full list of event vendors) to plan your own wedding, rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, birthday party, anniversary or corporate event.
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THE TEAM: Nashville Wedding & Event Planners + Me
No successful event can be achieved alone. With me, no event can be undertaken without wedding and event planners - no event! I break out in hives just thinking about planning a party. I dont event like to coordinate dinner plans with friends. It's just not my thing. For this reason - I strongly advise brides to hire a professional wedding planner. Your wedding is much more involved than my SATC party. You're emotional, trying to manage family and friends who are emotional, spending more money on a day that you will ever spend again - you need a planner!
Tabitha of ABG (left), Sharon of Jonathon Campbell Photograph (mid), Amy of Swizzle Events (right)
For my event - I turned to ABG wedding planners. I like to work with planners on my site because I like to know their strengths and who is best to recommend to you as you plan your wedding. Plus, I know many of them personally and it's always fun to work with people you know and trust.
My SATC planning team was large because I didnt want to overwhelm out any single wedding planner, since this wasnt a paid gig:). My team consisted of:
Event Planners: Meropi of By Heart and Hand, Kristin of Simply Stunning Events, Amy of Swizzle Events
Event Decor: Toni of Celebrations by Design and Stephanie of You're Invited Gifts, Paper and Events; Jennifer of Reveal Event Style.
Stephanie of You're Invited (left), Toni of Celebrations by Design (right)
THE VISION: The Look and Location
My vision for the SATC2 party was sexy, city chic. I wanted a venue that was modern and sleek. Initially, I selected Events @1418, a wonderful downtown venue with exposed brick, rooftop party, great location. I was concerned about rain because I had to use the rooftop to achieve the "vibe" but I would need a tent as the month of May can often be rainy in Nashville (hence the May flood!) but a tent was not in the budget. So Events @ 1418 was out:(...for this event - maybe not the next!
Then it hit me - Aloft Hotel! I love their look, it already had the NYC look and was right off the interstate with ample parking, making it equally accessible. (You should also consider accessiblity as you plan your wedding. It will make your guests happy:).
I called Kristen of Aloft and she said yes! Aloft made it super easy! They were flexible, accommodating and worked with us as we transformed their hotel lobby into an all out girls party! Aloft is a great option for guest rooms, small parties. All of our partygoers LOVED the look of the hotel. You really feel like you are in a big city when you're in the hotel. You should check it out.
THE DECOR: A Sexy Welcome
My one specific request was that you needed to know it was a SATC party when you walked in. That wasn't easy! By the end of the party planning - a few days before the event, those famous SATC pink letters were no where to be found. I turned to two wedding magicians to help - Jen of Reveal Event Designs who then referred Designs in Paper.
Jen is the girl when you need hard to find design elements or are planning an event that requires out of the box styling. She designed movie sets and is one of the most creative folks I know. I told her that I needed a backdrop that guests could take pics in front of and one that would also serve as our entrance. She said "no problem!". And like that - my sexy backdrop problem was solved. She turned to Blue Nova Designs and together, they created the party's entrance wall with custom draping. It wasnt easy due to the space's ceilings but Blue Nova made several trips from their warehouse to the hotel until it was perfect!
I told Jen that I still needed the SATC letters and she informed me that Designs in Paper created a vinyl floor monogram for one of her brides. I spoke with them on Monday to tell them what I wanted and by Wednesday, the letters were done and were EXACTLY what I wanted. These letters are vinyl stickers that adhere to just about any surface and are removable! I reached out to a few printing companies to quote the letters and their rates were double DnP's rates!
If you need letter so for your dance floor or accent walls - contact DNP! It would be great for a wedding monogram that you could then remove and place in your home.
We placed the SATC monogram on the floors, the fabric backdrop and the bar. These vinyl letters from Designs in Paper can also go on windows, doors, anywhere!
THE DECOR: Sexy Party Rentals & Accessories
The party had to be sexy, vibrant and fun! Aloft didnt require a lot of decor since it's colors are vibrant and modern. Plus, the space was very limited so my decor team had a lot of contraints. I was "that client" who had a list of wishes but no budget AND many obstacles:). I told Toni and Stephanie, my decor experts, that I wanted it sexy and sleek but they couldnt have any floor space. Yikes! The delivered!
They headed to the party planners dream resource - Fabu Event and Wedding Decor! The goal at Fabu was bling! They were looking for stunning elements that could be used in limited space. They did a great job with my crazy restrictions. The also went to Hobby Lobby for the oversized SATC letters which they spray painted and glitterized.
The large bar cylinders are from Fabu. They added pop and bling without taking up space.
The jeweled votive holders are also from Fabu; letters from Hobby Lobby and customized by You're Invited.
Don't miss more party details tomorrow!
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Posted by Ashley |
Filed under: Inspiration & Trends, Wedding Resources, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Friday, June 25, 2010
Did you know that wedding professionals all over Nashville offer exclusive savings for ABG brides? Every week, I update my wedding deals page with new specials that you have to read and mention ABG to receive. These deals allow you to save money with some of the city's top wedding pros. Here are some of those savings...
PLANNER SAVINGS
A Delightful Day Event Planning - With a booking from ABG, brides receive a special gift to help them through them in their planning process!
A Music City Event - Mention ABG when you book your full planning package and receive 50% off your bridal shower or rehearsal dinner planning ($250 value)!
You’re Invited Gifts, Paper and Events - Get $150 off any wedding coordination package through the end of August 2010, if you mention ABG. Or, Get 10% off any event/wedding invitation through the end of August 2010, if you mention ABG.
Simply Stunning Events - Receive 50% off any rehearsal dinner, bridesmaids luncheon, or day-after brunch package when you book a full or partial planning package and mention ABG! (a $150 value).
Signature Events, Inc. - Free rehearsal dinner planning packing for all those that book the top planning package in 2010.
Sasha Souza Events of TN - Mention Ashley's Bride Guide to receive $100 off your next event service.
BRIDAL GOWNs & ACCESSORIES SAVINGS
Designs By Sara Marie - Save 5% off custom designs thru ABG
Kerried Away Couture - Mention Ashley's Bride Guide and receive 10% off dresses for your wedding, including bridesmaid, mother of the bride/groom, or a special dress for your rehearsal dinner.
The White Room - Mention seeing us on ABG and receive 20% off your wedding shoes!!!
CATERING SAVINGS
Down South Delights, LLC - 5% Catering Discount when you mention our ABG promotion upon initial contact
VENUE SAVINGS
Front Porch Farms - For a limited time, we are including a 40x100 tent and tables & chairs (up to 100 guests) with booking. ABG Brides will receive free overnight accommodations with our already value-packed packages.
PHOTOGRAPHY SAVINGS
KRISTYN HOGAN lifestyle photographer - Complimentary Engagement or Bridal Session with your Wedding Collection when you mention Ashley's Bride Guide at booking.
jHenderson Studios - For a limited time "Shoot & Burn Special": $1800 This includes 5 hours coverage and a DVD with full printing rights. Additional hours $200 each. Date must be in 2010 on September 11,12, 17,18,19, 25, 26, or October 1, 2.
Lotus Blossom Photography - Take 20%* off any package when you mention ABG. *excludes a la carte options.
Myrick Studios - Mention ABG and receive $500 off of your package!
WEDDING INVITATION SAVINGS
paperKuts studio - Mention ABG and receive 20% off your order!!!
EVENT STYLING SAVINGS
Opulent Couturier Event Styling & Planning - ABG brides will receive 10% off their event styling or planning services & a custom monogram tote.
View more wedding savings on my exclusive wedding deals page! You can also subscribe to receive newly added savings via RSS by clicking here.
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Posted by Ashley |
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Monday, June 21, 2010
Running a successful business requires good planning and there are few who are better at planning than Mary Alice Sublett of A Delightful Day. Aside from her planning business, she now also runs StudioWed here in Nashville with her associate, Leigh Barker. StudioWed is comprised of some of this city's finest wedding vendors. It's a stellar list includes some of your favorite photographers, stationery designers, makeup artists, videographers, boutiques and local event companies and their one-stop approach to sourcing for vendors is nothing short of a benefit to you and your wedding planning.
What exactly is StudioWed? I'll let Mary Alice herself explain it.
What is the concept behind StudioWed?
The concept behind StudioWed is that brides have one location to come to with pre-screened vendors who you can trust at your fingertips! No more long and crowded bridal shows, but an intimate and modern location where you can have a glass of wine and relax during the wedding planning process. You can save yourself the run around and meet vendors in one location, several meetings in one day, or meetings over a period of time AT YOUR SCHEDULE! We take the headache out of vendor searching and finding out who is reputable, trustworthy, and going to provide you the service you deserve, we've done this process for you!
Equal parts brains and beauty, Leigh Barker and Mary Alice Sublett of StudioWed Nashville (Photo credit: Phindy Studios)
What does StudioWed offer that similar businesses don't?
We offer one on one attention. We are a "by appointment" only studio so that brides can have mine or Leigh's attention at your specified time without interruption and knowing that we are going to be detailed with you about the vendors that will fit your wedding and needs.
Why does a bride need StudioWed?
Not all brides can afford a full service planner that can provide them the guidance for what vendors are best suited for your event and guiding you through this process. We want to educate brides about what vendors can, and do, provide, and we give them the attention they deserve. Without that planners guidance, sometimes brides can be disallusioned with what vendors offer and we certainly aren't going to have a vendor in the studio that we wouldn't personally recommend to our own clients.
Photo source: Phindy Studios
Three of StudioWed's Vendors L-R: Shannon O'Kelley, Southall Eden Paperie; Kristin Kaplan, Simply Stunning Nashville; Amy Lynn Larwig
StudioWed features several vendors in each category
- How did you pick the vendors?
Vendors were picked according to who we personally have worked with, or have been highly recommended to by our fellow vendors in the studio. They are chosen according to their capabilities, price points, personalities, client interaction abilities, and products they offer. If a vendor is in the studio, we would recommend them to any bride.
- How do you maintain cooperation amongst them and minimize competition?
All of the vendors are their own individual. Each of them offer something different to each client and will have personalities that different couples are going to interact best with. We don't see it as competition for them, as we want for them to feel comfortable enough to refer their fellow StudioWed members to clients should they not be available. We are all in this together and there is certainly enough to go around! Each vendor has the best client for them!
Photo source: Phindy Studios
Photo Source: Kristyn Hogan Photography
How do you and your team stay current when it comes to wedding trends?
Being a planning company that runs and owns the StudioWed Nashville, we are able to keep our knowledge up to date with planning conferences, blog reading, our own clients, and educational seminars.
Photo Source: Kristyn Hogan Photography
What are a couple of trends you've seen that you love?
I love that vintage details are being brought into weddings. Many couples use them in such unique ways. Serving your guests with fun luxuries to make an event yours, for instance cigar bars, specialty desserts, favorite snacks of the couples available for their guests, etc. is a great way to incorporate personality and customization to their event. Also, I love brides stepping out of the box with their accessories and even bringing back the "going away" attire!
What are your three favorite bridal resources:
Love Southern Weddings, the magazine and blog. weddingchicks.com, oncewed.com, and Weddings Unveiled magazine is truly for a southern, modern bride!
What goals do you have for StudioWed and its role in the wedding community?
Our goal is to make StudioWed the go to location for brides-to-be in planning their wedding, whether they have a planner or not. We want to be a great resource for brides to provide them the quality vendors that they deserve. We want to have many events in the studio that brides can participate in and get lots of information and resources for their wedding.
Photo Source: Kristyn Hogan Photography
Photo source: Phindy Studios
Any upcoming StudioWed events brides should know about?
We are planning a Weddings Unveiled event in August of this year and are working on setting dates for wedding planning seminars and events. Look for dates on the Nashville bridal calendar soon!
What's your advice for brides?
Always research your vendors!! Take a look at references, follow up with past brides, make sure that you can trust your vendors because there are many out there to choose from which doesn't mean that they're reliable. This will make your process so much simpler and less stressful. You can always look to your planner for this direction!
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Posted by Tabitha |
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