Thursday, January 31, 2008

Don’t forget to rsvp for the Lipstick Jungle event tonight.

As you know, this week I am introducing the folks who helped with my 27 Dresses party. The following vendors provided treats on Sunday:

Down South Delights - Rita, the owner, reminds me of Mallory from Family Ties. I think it’s her stunning eyes. Anyway, she’s very professional, her food is tasty (especially the chicken!) and everything is presented so perfectly. Your guest will love the food and her remarkable presentation will bring instant decor to any room.

Edible Fruit n’ More - Fruit is such a colorful, healthy addition to any party and I love these adorable fruit arrangements. These are especially great for bridal showers/luncheons.

Wedding Cakes by Rebecca- Wondeful. Elegant. Yummy.

Thanks Rita, Maryan and Rebecca!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Been waiting to hear all about the 27 Dresses Party? I couldn’t wait to share all of the details and now I have the pics!

First - Congratulations to Dawn, the ABG member who won the “Sparkling Josh” mug contest. Her wedding colors are chocolate, pink and green. She chose the apple green mug to match her fabulous wedding colors.

The Guests & the Goodies:

I have so much to share that I’ll have to share over a couple of days. It was so much fun! I met so many wonderfully cute brides, bridesmaids and moms. (Nashville must have the most beautiful brides2be.) I especially loved meeting all the wondeful moms.

It was great meeting ABG brides in person. I have gotten so many emails from you. I am glad you enjoyed yourself. Hope you liked your swag bag from our sponsors.

The Planners: A Magical Affair (Courtney and Hillary)

Organization - When I arrived, the planners were already there. They were so easy to work wtih that it reminded me over and over again why I should have hired a wedding planner for my wedding. To be able to walk in and know things are under control is simply priceless. There main concern was reducing my stress and making sure the party was fantastic. They organized every detail leading up to my event and were awesome the day of the event. (Plus, Kenneth and Don, their significant others came too and were sooo helpful. Kenneth was passing out directions, Don was cutting notecards - it was a family affiair.)

I didnt have to do ANYTHING but show up and greet my guests. That’s what I consider a perfect party. You should not have to worry about the details; you should be able to actual “enjoy” your event. So, thats what I did:)

Personality - I didn’t hire a wedding planner for a few reasons. The main reason was that I couldn’t find anyone that I “connected” with. Sorry, but a lot of the planners were better suited for my mom. They were all about etiquette and tradition and were like 30 years older than me. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure they were very experienced BUT I wanted someone who could relate to the modern, contemporary bride who didn’t want to be beaten over the head with tradition every step of the way. I wanted my day to represent me. That said, hire a wedding planner who works with your personality. Its important that they are flexible, willing to understand your priorities and someone you like being around. A Magical Affair is one of the planning companies that fit my personality. It is important to hire a wedding planner but do keep searching until you find the one thats right for you.

Decor - Everything was beautiful and in my website colors (pink, chocolate, oranges, etc). My fav touch of the event was the lemondade bar! Take 121 offered wine which was great but I really wanted a fun beverage. I simply asked A Magical Affair for lemondade, nothing fancy. But fancy it was:) Check out this wondeful assortment of lemondade and fruit tea.

The Flowers: Sherrell’s Floral Design, 615-289-5211

Speaking of decor, I asked Sherrell’s Floral Design to provide the floral arrangements. I have been a big fan of Tonya’s work for a couple of years. Now, I am working with Tonya on the website thing, b/c she doesnt have one. But, she had amazing floral design. Plus, Tonya is so precise. She asked really good questions when trying to create the perfect flowers for my event.

The Place: Take 121

The ladies of A Magical Affair secured the venue. I had complete faith in their ability to find something super. A few days before the event, I started wondering if that I was totally nuts for doing so but when I arrived I knew we were in good hands.

Aside from being a funky spot, Nanette (of Take 121) took great care of us and made sure we had what we needed at all times. If you are looking for a venue thats accessible, fun and full of character - Take 121 might be your spot. Only drawback is the $10 parking spots adjacent to the building. But, if you dont mind a short stroll, cheaper parking is only a few feet away. Space standouts - love the hardwood floors, artsy feel, and great bathroom decor (black walls and super chic appliances).

Well, it’s time for breakfast. I’ll share more details on Thursday! Check out these great wedding pros in the meantime. Or, share your thoughts on the message board.

Thanks Brides, Courtney/Hillary, Tonya and Nanette!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

When I got married, I reserved several hotels based on different budgets, for my out of town guests. I really appreciated the hotels that offered complimentary breakfast for my guests and affordable rooms for families.

In my search for great options for Nashville brides, I visited Kimberly of Courtyard Marriott to learn more about their guest rooms. Since I am a big trip advisor fan, I favor candid hotel pics, provided by travelers over pics provided by hotels:). So, after Kimberly provided me pics to place on the Courtyard’s listing in the vendor directory, I decided to go and view them myself…

Pleasantly surprised! The hotel looks just like the pics Kimberly sent me. She told me the hotel had been remodeled just a few years ago which is why the rooms look so new. (See candid pics below.)

Anyway, we chatted about guest accommodations in general and here’s what I learned.

What should brides know about this hotel?
This hotel boasts smartly appointed guest rooms, plush new bedding and furnishings ergonomic workspaces and free high-speed Internet. There’s a fitness center or outdoor pool for unwinding. A 24-hour market for sandwiches salads snacks and beverages. And each morning an affordable breakfast buffet in the Courtyard Cafe featuring eggs cooked to order. A business library is located by the lobby and offers high-speed Internet a computer printer work stations and informal meeting space.

This airport hotel in Nashville is also conveniently located 2 miles from the Nashville International Airport with free shuttle service available (contact hotel directly or use phone board at baggage claim).

Hotel Highlights:
- This hotel is nonsmoking
- Courtyard Nashville Airport has 145 spacious newly renovated guest rooms with upgraded bedding
- This airport hotel in Nashville is less than 2 miles from the airport with free shuttle service
- You’ll find Nashville’s famed attractions entertainment and sports near this Nashville TN hotel
- Complimentary on-site parking
- King rooms or dbl/dbl rooms for your wedding guests
- Outdoor pool and indoor hot tub

Do you offer a discount/complimentary room for bride/groom?
Yes, I can give the couple a discount with 10 paid guest rooms.

What’s required to reserve the room block?
Contract; Rooms will be held up to 2 weeks prior to date of arrival. At check-out, guests are billed for their rooms individually.

How do you handle welcome gifts, weekend agendas, directions?
We can give guests their welcome gifts upon arrival along with directions or any other items.

Can you coordinate transportation from your hotel to the bride’s wedding events?
Yes. We can work to arrange transportation for a fee.

What advice do you offer Nashville brides as they consider guest accommodations?
Consider families as they have special needs than couples/singles.

If you need guest accommodations, consider the Courtyard Marriott. Their rooms are nice and new and they are close to the airport, Opry Mills and Gaylord. Plus, Kimberly is offering a special rate ($89-99) and FREE breakfast (which I asked her to include:) if you mention ABF. The hotel is a great, clean and comfortable option for all budgets and family sizes.

Call Kimberly for all the details -615-493-2941.

Monday, January 28, 2008

I was so excited after yesterday’s bridal break that I couldnt sleep last night. I ended up watching the “I Love New York Reunion” show that I TIVOed weeks ago and some documentary until like 6am. So, I asked Corrine of Weddings with Reese to share a wedding I liked of hers. As you can see, the wedding features pics by Mel of McLellan who everyone knows I love (as does Jessica - an ABG bride to be who blogged about McLellan last week.) Plus, the unique wedding colors are so refreshing.

BTW - I have watched this video SO much that I woke up singing the song from the video and wondered how I even know the song. Just realized today where I first heard the song.

Hope you enjoy this beautiful wedding as much as I have. Kudos to the Brianne and Dan (couple), Weddings with Reese (their Nashville wedding planner) and the wonderful vendors who made it happen.

Guest Blogger: Corrine Reese
Contact: Weddings with Reese
www.weddingswithreese.com
615.364.6334

First of all, I cannot even start this blog without saying a huge THANK YOU to McLellan Studio of Franklin. They are certainly at the top of my list for photographers, and you can see why by viewing the slide show above. Some of the pictures were not done justice by this slide show, so I will sporadically post other pictures throughout this post.

Brianne and Dan were married this past September at the Carnton Plantation in Franklin. The venue is amazing. There is not enough to be said about the old Southern charm that is apparent in every aspect of the property. Although I did manage to scare a few of the catering staff with stories of the ghosts that are said to roam the property, everyone managed to get through the night without seeing any of them!

Suzette with Constant Cravings put on an amazing spread for the reception of good traditional Southern food. A 3 piece string quartet played before and during the ceremony and then Four on the Floor kept everyone rocking into the night at the reception; the dance floor was always full! The kids (young and old alike) had a great time with the fully stocked candy bar.

Brianne’s biggest desire was to have a colorful wedding, and I think we pulled that off without a doubt. Gobo lights on the ceiling set the mood, and colorful candle holders and bridesmaids attire tied it all together. One of the cutest things was that the bridesmaids all wore red shoes, and the bride wore blue! There is a great shot of that in the slide show above. The cake was beyond amazing and also included all of the colors that were featured throughout the night.

This wedding was one to remember for sure! The families were amazing, and the bride and groom were so much in love.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Okay, I am super excited about my party for Nashville brides today! Hillary of A Magical Affair, my event planning team, just created a fantabulous “sponsor swag” sheet that incorporates my signature stripes, my logo and my colors; it looks fantastic. (I still can’t believe that we have event sponsors! I feel so fancy.)

A Magical Affair has a gift for event/wedding planning. I can’t wait to see all the neat touches they have planned for my bridal party. You know I’ll share everything next week - from the cute brides and moms in attendance to the decor; but here’s your sneak peak.