Thursday, December 9, 2010
Why should brides get all the fun? I'm talking about getting dressed and dolled up for our wedding (and showers and rehearsals) but what about the boys? Our grooms deserve to look their best too and don't we want them to look good while they stand at the end of that aisle as we approach them? No, we don't want no scrubs.
I've consulted with our local expert at Street Tuxedo, Rachael Street. The question?
Why a tuxedo and not a suit? How do we decide?
Even when I was getting married, I heard a few mumbles of reluctance from my husband about wearing a tux. He didn't own one, he'd had previously bad experiences as a groomsman with rental places but at that point, Street Tuxedo wasn't on our radar. But I'm sure his excuses aren't exclusive to him so this will be a good way for you to reason with your man when it comes time for his excuses!
"Why can't I just wear my suit?"
First of all - how much money did you spend on your gown? Nevermind the money, how much TIME did it take you to go shopping to pick THE gown? That took effort didn't it? That's like getting all dolled up for a date only for him to show up in ratty jeans and flip flops. Not to discount how nice his suit is but if it's something he's worn several times over, or something he wears to work, it doesn't exactly say "special occasion."
Photo courtesy of Michael Howard Photography
"The bride spends hundreds if not thousands on a dress so why would you wear something you already own?" asked Rachael. "History has shown that tuxedos are set aside for a special occasion and what’s more special than your wedding day?"
This is probably the foremost reason for him to at least put in the effort to wear something different and more formal and special for your wedding day. You want everything to have the right feel and for it to fit and nothing says "special" more than a man dressed to the nines in a tuxedo.
"Tuxedos are expensive."
Rachael tells us that as far as rentals from Street Tuxedo go, tuxedos are much more affordable than suits and said, "suits can be more expensive to buy or even rent compared to a tuxedo." Yes, he could always make the argument that he'll wear the suit again but if he doesn't already wear suits as a habit, there's nothing economical about buying one specially for this.
“My ushers and groomsmen don’t have to wear tuxes”
Everyone appreciates it when you try not to have your wedding party spend too much money on their tuxedos or dresses. However the risk you run when it's just the groom in a tux and the groomsmen in a mish mash of suits they own is not matching which makes for messy pictures. The bridesmaids all wear dresses that are the same color/fabric or style or both so it's only right if the guys wear the same thing as well.
Imagine what this picture would look like if the guys wore their own suits. (Photo courtesy of Street Tuxedo)
Even when they're not in a row, the guys still look sharp in the same style tuxedo. (Photo courtesy of Street Tuxedo)
"I'm going to look like a waiter/penguin."
Tuxedos aren't all about tails or top hats. Street Tuxedo has so many styles from which to pick, a huge array of colors for their vests/ties/cumberbunds and the tuxedos can be cut really simply or they can be as formal as you'd like for them to be without having to look like a waiter. "Choose from one/two/three buttons, from three different kinds of lapels (peak, shawl, notch) and satin trimmed - You can dress them down to where they look more casual or make it really really formal." said Rachael. Not to mention the other options such as vests or no vests, bow tie or regular tie, pocket square, no pocket square - the choices seem to be endless.
An updated look to tuxedos with suspenders. Not stuffy at all. (Photo courtesy of J.Henderson Studios)
Match the guys' accessories with your girls' dresses or your flowers or color scheme. With so many shades available, your wedding party is going to look fabulous.
The men & women wore lapis. (photograph by Allan Williams Photography)
The bottom line is, there's no excuse for not wearing a tuxedo unless your wedding isn't extremely formal or if you're just not that picky about it. But when you look at your professional pictures years from now, wouldn't it be better if your thoughts were "Wow everyone looked awesome!" vs. "Wow the guys looked terrible?"
Street Tuxedo is there if you have any doubts at all about renting a tux - visit them online or give them a call or better yet stop by at one of their three locations and let them know Ashley's Bride Guide told you about them! Don't forget - they will also be at the StudioWed Open House next Tuesday evening so you can ask them your questions then!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories,
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Why sit around wishing for money to fall out of the sky to finance your uber-lavish wedding? Instead, put in some elbow grease and WIN the wedding of your dreams from Her Nashville and Wedding 101!
Here's the scoop directly from Her Nashville:
"Have a unique engagement story? Her Nashville and Wedding 101 are excited to provide a special Her Nashville reader with a FREE dream wedding. Brought to you by the vendors at Wedding 101, the winning pair will receive nearly $20,000 in services and goods for their wedding! Visit hernashvlille.com to submit your story by December 31st, 2010 at 5 p.m.
Five lucky finalists selected by the Her Nashville staff will be announced at Bridal Brunch. Bridal Brunch is a champagne social featuring a fashion show and Nashville’s elite wedding vendors. Once the finalists have been declared, each couple will film viral videos where they recount their special engagement stories. These videos will then be posted on hernashville.com and our readers will determine the winning video through online voting.
The winning couple will be announced on HerNashville.com on Valentine’s Day! Good Luck!"
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Contests, Giveaways, Specials,
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Whenever someone mentions Buca di Beppo, my stomach starts doing happy little fliips - there's nothing more comforting than a family style meal in this fun, really eclectic Italian restaurant. We mentioned them in our "Favorite Nashville private party restaurants" list last week, and thought it fitting to elaborate a bit more on them today.
Buca di Beppo is a great option for your rehearsal dinner, bridal shower or just a fun night out with the girls (boys for you grooms). Don't forget to order the tiramisu (which Ashley + I love). You can thank us later.
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Contact: Buca di Beppo
Address: 1722 Galleria Blvd
City, State, Zip: Franklin, TN 37067
Area of Town: Cool Springs
Main Contact: Holly Curtiss
Phone Number: 615-778-1321
Email Address: [email protected]
Website address: bucadibeppo.com
Facebook fan page: Buca di Beppo
Overview of Venue
We serve family-style Italian in an eclectic, vintage setting and offer exceptional group menus and banquet packages. Celebrate your upcoming wedding by holding your rehearsal dinner, shower or bachelorette party at Buca di Beppo. We can accommodate groups of 15-200.
Motto/philosophy: “TO BE THE FIRST CHOICE FOR CELEBRATORY DINING”
Payment options accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express & Discover due the date of the event.
What options does your venue offer? Rehearsal dinner, Bridal Shower’s or Bachelorette Parties
What type of room(s) is available? Semi-Private
How many people can you accommodate? Our largest room will accommodate 70 total but we do have capability to have groups of 200.
How many events do you take per day? Unlimited depending on schedule
What are the specialty menu items your establishment features for large events? We offer 7 specialty banquet menus with several options to fit any bride's budget.
Is outside alcohol allowed? Outside wine is allowed however there is a $15 corkage fee per bottle
Is an on-site event coordinator available? Yes
How many people do you have on staff? As needed
What is your pricing model? $23.95-$53.95 per person
Which bride budget do you serve? All
How far in advance should a bride book your venue? I would book as far out as possible to ensure availability.
When is the initial deposit/final payment due? Payment is due directly after event.
What makes your venue so unique? Our venue is unique in the fact that we create a fun environment with great service and food!
What do you pride yourself on? Customer Service
Be sure to let Holly know that you saw their spotlight on Ashley's Bride Guide when you call her about your upcoming dinner/party! See what else Buca di Beppo has to offer on their website.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Helpful Vendor Interviews!, Bridal Showers, Luncheons, Parties, Cakes & Desserts, Wedding Venues and Locations,
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Monday, December 6, 2010
A few weeks ago, I attended The Little Black Dress Revue at the Noah Liff Center (noahliffoperacenter.com) which is quickly becoming one of my favorite Nashville wedding venue. It's contemporary, spanking new, has great windows and has some amazing decor details.
The event was hosted by A Music City Event (wedding planning company) and Gregory Byerline (wedding photographer) and they did a fantastic job! There were some great new wedding finds as well as some great wedding inspiration from established wedding vendors. you can view all of the event photos via Facebook but here's a quick synoposis. Here's what you missed:
Stationery + Paper Goods: Relish provided the event's welcome and thank you notes while Design In August, a fabulous newcomer to the Nashville wedding scene, created the event's overall branding, from the logo and stir sticks to wonderful event program.
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Catering and Cake: A Dream Come True Events and Catering provided wonderful food + The Bake Shoppe debuted new and very unique cake flavors. Hamilton Bartending Services (hambarserv.com) kept the drinks flowing and offered service with a smile.
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Event Decor: Bonnie and crew of Belles Fleurs created lovely floral designs, from a floral chandelier to incredible centerpieces (bellesfleursdesigns.com). Draping Designs (drapingdesigns.com) used drapes to divide the space into cozy corners. We all fell in love with exquisite linen by The Premiere Event (thepremiereevent.com).
Transportation and Entertainment: The highlight of the evening for me was hopping into the Fantastic Flipbooks booth with the lovely ladies of Relish. I LOVE the interactivity of the concept and the speed at which the images are captured for your wedding guests. Nashvegas All Stars (nashvegasallstars.com) + REM Entertainment (remmusic.us) + Lifestyle Limos (lifestyle-limos.com) also provided entertainment and transportation for the evening.
Bridal Attire: The White Room
Videography: Focal Point Cinematic
Little Black Dress Revue 2010 from FocalPoint Cinematic Weddings
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events, Wedding Resources,
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Friday, December 3, 2010
After a crash course in traditional Chinese weddings when my husband and I got married, I have a newfound respect for ethnic wedding traditions from all over. There are no shortcuts; every little thing is symbolic and the wedding ceremonies, though long, are as beautiful and meaningful as they are elaborate. In today's real wedding feature, we get a quick glimpse into what I can only imagine to be an amazing day for Sneha and Lee. Starting with a traditional Indian wedding ceremony, the couple cap the night off with an elegant reception. The wedding was photographed by McLellan Style (who we LOVE) and planned/coordinated by A Delightful Day Event Planning (who we also LOVE). It's thanks to them that we get to share this spectacular wedding with you!
South Meets East - An Indian Wedding in Nashville
Bride ~ Sneha Channabasappa
Groom ~ Lee Oakley
Wedding Date & Time ~ June 5, 2010
Ceremony ~ 10:30 a.m. at Sri Ganesha Temple
Reception ~ 6:30 p.m. at the Hutton Hotel
Guests ~ 250
Wedding Style
What was your wedding style?
I really wanted our wedding to be a reflection of me and Lee, and we both like very clean, modern designs. So, I would say that our style was modern and chic.
What were your colors?
Why did you chose them? Pink and gold. Pink and gold are two of my favorite colors.
Did you have a theme? What was it?
I love the Indian paisley design and I really wanted to incorporate it into our wedding. We did it on a minimal scale, so as not to overdo it. For example, our florist made a large paisley design out of rose petals on the wedding aisle-runner, it was incorporated into our wedding cake design, in the lighting elements at our reception. We also had paisley themed wedding invitations in our pink and gold colors.
What did you use for inspiration?
I got my inspiration mostly from my mom’s sarees and other Indian fabrics that I had seen. Because Indian weddings aren’t always featured on wedding blogs and websites, I did a lot of Google searches to find designs that I really liked.
Wedding Scoop
What was your budget?
We did not have a budget, but our wedding ended up costing around $100,000.
What was your wedding WOW factor?
Our guests continue to tell us how much they loved the flowers from Oshi Flowers and the food from the Hutton. We also received a lot of compliments on our ice sculpture. My favorite WOW factor element was the giant chandelier we used over the dance floor.
What did you give as favors to your guests?
We gave out two favors. At our wedding, in traditional Indian fashion, we gave gift bags that contained a box of Indian sweet and savory snacks, along with some fruit. For our reception, we gave everyone personalized Loveless Café jams. The labels had our names, wedding date and the phrase, “Spread the love.” They were so cute!
How did you personalize your wedding?
We used a lot of my mom’s vintage sarees and Indian fabrics for decoration, did custom “Just Married” M&Ms in our wedding colors with our save the date picture on them (our save the date picture had our faces photoshopped onto a little cartoon Indian bride and groom).
What did you give your bridesmaids and groomsmen?
We purchased all of their bridal party outfits and jewelry for them.
What was your most special moment of the day?
Walking into the Temple wedding hall and seeing all my family and friends, and having Lee and his family participate in our cultural traditions. It meant a lot to me. It was also so exciting to see Lee waiting for me.
Did you have kids at your wedding? What did you do for them?
We had kids at our ceremony, but not at the reception.
Did you Do It Yourself? Or, did you leave it to the professionals?
We left a lot to professionals, but my mom and her friends made all the snacks and sweets that were given in our gift bags and out of town guest bags.
Wedding Vendors:
~ Planner: Mary Alice Sublett, A Delightful Day
~ Cake(s): Maples Wedding Cakes
~ Caterer(s): Hutton Hotel; Sitar Indian Cuisine; Woodland’s Indian Cuisine
~ Photographer: McLellan Style
~ Videographer: None
~ Stationery: Ajalon Printing and Design (Santa Rosa, CA)
~ Bridesmaid Dresses: Om Boutique (New Jersey)
~ Rings: Genesis Diamonds
~ Music: Aaron Hartley of Hartley Entertainment
~ Decorations/Detail: Oshi Flowers, Specialty Ice Carvings, Nashville Event Lighting, Classic Party Rentals
~ Bridal Gown: Shamika Silks (India) and Om Boutique
~ Tuxes: None.
~ Accessories: Mother’s and Grandmother’s jewelry
~ Flowers: Oshi Flowers
~ Transportation: None
~ Gifts: Loveless Café and homemade
~ Henna: Beth Boyd Hendrickson of New World Henna (Memphis)
~ Hair and Make-Up: Chase Taylor (Hair); Rachel Dwyer (Make-up)
Who were your favorites? {the ones you would highly recommend to your best friend}:
McLellan Style (Sean and Melanie McLellan are amazingly talented and wonderful to work with); Beth Hendrickson (so sweet and super talented); Maples Wedding Cakes; Oshi Flowers. Actually, I would recommend every vendor we worked with. They were all amazing and made the day perfect!
Wedding Rewind
What would you do differently if you could start back at the beginning?
I would invite more people – we had so much fun and I would just want more people to join us for it!
What do you consider the biggest waste of time and/or money?
I feel like we used our wedding dollars very wisely. I can’t really think of anything that we “wasted” time or money doing. I carefully considered every decision, so if I thought it was a waste money (e.g., limousines), I just didn’t do it.
What do you consider the best value for the service and product?
I felt like the lighting, chandelier and ice sculpture provided huge designs elements for little money. I had originally wanted to do a lot of draping in our reception ballroom, but found that I could get a bigger WOW factor with these three elements for far less money.
What was your biggest {and best} splurge?
Definitely flowers. Flowers were one of my most important elements. We used a lot of orchids and they were gorgeous! We rented 12 foot palms for the cocktail area and ballroom at our reception. They were a little expensive, but really worth it. They were gorgeous and really made the rooms feel you were transported to the tropics. We also splurged on our letterpress invitations, but they were gorgeous and really set the tone for the event.
Thank you Sneha and Lee for giving us a look into your very vibrant, extremely beautiful wedding day! We hope you're both having a blast being married to each other and we wish you all the best in your life together. Thank you also to A Delightful Day Wedding planning and McLellan Style (McLellanStyle.com) for sending us the pictures, they're gorgeous! Please don't hesitate to visit A Delightful Day online to find out more about them and to check out some of their other weddings. Be sure to let them know you're an ABG bride and you'll receive a special gift when you book them for your wedding!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings,
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