In 2004, I attended a wedding and received a cd as my favor. I wasnt too disappointed because it featured Outkast’s I Like the Way You Move which was my song at the time…Fast forward. In 2008, cds are a thing of the past. (Sorry if thats your favor.) But today’s couple are letting the iPod be their dj and are weaving their personality into every aspect of their wedding.
So, here’s a story I love! Renee is a Nashville recent bride. But, she is also a Nashville wedding vendor. (Funny how so many of us become wedding vendors after our wedding. What was life like before my wedding…oh yeah, health care marketing…thank God my beau proposed and introduced me to this wonderful world of weddings.)
Anyway, Renee was no different. She got married and struggled to find the perfect wedding song, one that wasnt off the shelf, one that spoke to their relationship, feelings. So, what’s a girl to do? When in need, we invent. She created Nashville-based Charmed Life Music and now creates original wedding songs for modern brides like us.
Renee’s wedding was recently featured on TLC The Wedding Story which I missed but am anxiously awaiting the day she places it on her site for us to enjoy.
For now, check out her amazing music. I love her wedding song CD (which you can buy or you can download individual songs). Or, for brides who want everything custom, she can create a song all about your wedding, relationship, etc.
It’s More Than a Song is another Nashville songwriting company that writes custom wedding songs. Ellen is amazing and so is her team.
Bottom line, take advantage of our city’s talent because only Nashville offers amazing talent in every coffee shop and studio. And if your groom prefers Tupac over Music City’s finest, let me know. I know amazing hip-hop producers in Atlanta who can write a Kanye/Ludacris-type custom song just for him! His groomsmen will flip!
There were just so many great aspects of the party that one post just wasn’t enough. If you missed the event, relive the moments virtually…more highlights from the Nashville bridal break.
The Party - Party Patrol
What’s a party without a real jam session? Well, my 27 Dresses was no different. I left the music to Party Patrol, who I’d met at Weddings, The Bridal Show. They were the DJs responsible for the “Shuffle” stampede that I captured on video. If you missed it, you’ve got to check out this post.
When I walked into the event on Sunday, I heard Maxwell! Maxwell? I haven’t heard Maxwell in forever. I knew then I was dealing with a real music connoisseur. It was such a refreshing blast from the past. And the surprises didn’t stop there. Over the course of the afternoon, I was amazed by the hot tunes Party Patrol kept delivering. Of course, I danced to the Cupid Shuffle and the Electric Slide. I’m actually in the dance line pictured below in hot pink. I must admit that I am getting a bit rusty ‘cuz I nearly broke my ankle trying to “act” like I could dance.
The good thing is - I never had a single conversation with Party Patrol about what to play. They sensed the ambiance, the guests and took it from there. That’s a great DJ. Thanks Kelly!
The folks at Tina’s Salon came out and treated my guests to wonderful manicures, hand massages and back massages. I was a bit jealous that I couldn’t partake. Tina’s offers specializes in nail, skin and hair services but they were kind enough to come out and pamper Nashville brides, bridesmaids and moms - giving them a great break from wedding planning. If you need a place for your bridal luncheon or are in need of great stylists for your wedding hair, they would be a great place to start your search.
Tina’s Salon gave each bride a gift certificate for hair and nail services. Thanks Tina!
Getting jealous just thinking about how you need a massage? Yeah - me too:)
Well ladies, it’s hump day. So, I figured I should get off my hump and give you the update you have been waiting for…The unofficial, unauthorized, but oh-so-reliable skinny on the Saturday’s show.
This show had so many new vendors. Many were young women (who know young women) and fellow “brides turned business owners” who have returned to the wedding world to showcase their newly discovered talents. Which I love!
As you know…I went, I saw and I conquered! You saw the Party Patrol video so you already know that I had a ball. But, that was just a taste of the show.
20 vendors made “Ashley’s A-List”. (Hey - if Oprah can have a list so can I:) I will share them all with you over the next few days.
Here are my faves from the paper and music categories. They are all Nashville-based wedding vendors so support local, buy from them and enjoy great local, in-person service.
Get ready to add these fabulous finds to your short list:
myOWNvitations - truly unique stationery and paper products, designed by Shannon (who I almost knocked over while filming the Party Patrol video! Sorry Shannon - thanks for being a good sport.)
Designs in Paper- original, custom stationery, invitations, etc. Really cute ideas that are out of the box. The brainchild of Donette. I love the monogrammed confetti. Can’t wait to get some of my own.
Relish - really cute site that allows you to design your custom invitations online.
Harlow Salon- I met Shana of Harlow on MySpace and was sooooo excited to see her at the show! I adore her work and her grand personality. (grand - a word I picked up from my 90 year old, southern-belle piano teacher.) While she does all things beauty, she seems to love wedding hair and makeup. She is awesome and was doing demos at the show. Check out her wedding hair video in my vendor directory.
Check them all out and let me know your favorites by voting on this blog post. Simply leave a reply with your favorite vendor, based on their website or your experience with them at the show. Did I miss someone spectacular? let me know! (How do you reply? Just click comments below.)
Ok. Next week, I promise to give you a full run down on this week’s bridal shows.But first, you have to check out this video, guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
First, some background.My girl April of Harmony Designs Photography highly recommended Kelly of Party Patrol because everyone always has fun when they hire him as a DJ, as she did for one of her events.
Well, when I saw the Party Patrol booth at Weddings, The Bridal Show this Saturday, I thought I would go up and introduce myself to Kelly.Before I could barely say hello, Kelly grabed me and started dancing.Within seconds, he broke into the Cupid Shuffle.
Anyway, I immediately grabbed my camera and started filming.Here is the result.Now, let me warn you…I was so shocked at the chain of events that I was literally screaming and laughing throughout the filming. So, please excuse my big mouth.But, as you watch, notice the crowd that quickly gathers – including brides and even neighboring vendors.In fact, the guy who joins (in the black jeans, black sweater and white top) was actually working the “Things Remembered” booth.He clearly was more interested in jammin’ than engraving.I wanted to get back in the line but someone had to work, rightJ
On Saturday, I attended the Bridesedge.com bridal show and thought I would recap for those who were unable to attend.
If you are a bride seeking a bargain or looking to plan a million dollar wedding on a $20K or less budget - this show was a must-attend! It offered a great assortment of budget-friendly, Nashville wedding vendors. It was not crowded so it was easy to chat one-on-one with your vendor of interest. The vendors were very nice and welcoming, perhaps because they weren’t exhausted from chatting with thousands of brides:) Everyone was smiling and friendly… how refreshing!
Here’s the best of what you missed:
Cakes by Shara - This was my favorite treat of the day! Simply cute, cute, cute! Loads of talent. Check out this custom cake designer, who’s big on style and taste.
(These cookies and mini cakes are great for bridal showers!)
Amber Leaf Events - What drew me to their booth was the extraordinary table setting pictured below. It was simply breathtaking and would leave your guests speechless. After drooling over the table, the owner told me more about the venue. Amber Leaf is an all-in-one venue that can accomodate up to 250/300 guests for wedding ceremonies and receptions. They can handle everything you need - from decorating to catering to the rehearsal dinner. Love it! I can’t wait to see the venue in person but it sounds like a great option for a bride seeking to minimize her stress. It is located in Gallatin, which isn’t a bad drive.
Myrick Studios - Not quite an option for the budget bride but absolutely stunning work. His images remind me of a fairy tale because they seem to pretty to be real - wow! Mike is a Nashville wedding photographer filled with talent. He looks like a cuter, younger version George Michael and has a laid-back personality. (Your bridesmaids will appreciate him as eye candy:) Visit his site and see for yourself. *Disclaimer - If you are a budget bride looking to splurge - check him out; otherwise, don’t tempt yourself. (Hey - dont want you going in debt for your wedding…but if you have to, this is one splurge item.)
Silver Strings - Linda of Silver Strings had the biggest personality of the day! She welcomed me into her booth and kept me laughing. She is a wedding musician and she seems to love what she does. One thing that really stood out is Linda’s willingness to work with her brides. If she doesn’t know “your favorite” song, she will learn it. That’s rare!
Frozen Moments Photography - Kay is another great photographer with an awesome personality. This guys seems to really “get” photography. And, his wife is really sweet so I am sure they will take great care of your wedding party/parents.
Hampshire Photography - A relatively newcomer but a great value! He offers three packages under $1000. Since he is a newbie, he is willing to work with his brides to ensure they get great pictures without blowing their budgets.
Dream Cakes Bakery - Olivia is the owner of this home-based business. She was the first booth I visited and her cake reminded me of a grandmother’s - simple yet tasty. Her cakes are a great value and she offers a wide range of unique flavors. Her ”Cookies and Cream” and “Elvis” cakes sound yummy. (Schedule a tasting and please invite me!) That’s Olivia with her wonderful cake pictured below. (She wasn’t expecting me to include her in the picture!)
Larrivieres On The Square - This caterer offered the best white chocolate bread pudding ever. I am not a fan of bread pudding but I couldn’t get enough of theirs. While I still can’t pronounce their name, I know it must be French for “yummy”.
Some of the vendors highlighted above are great for budget brides, others are appropriate for all budgets. Check them out and see what you like and what works for you.
Remember, with MyWeddingSecretary.com - you never miss anything going on in Nashville that involves weddings!
James over at Going to the Chapel (Nashville wedding music service) shared some really good tips on selecting music for your wedding ceremony. It was very informative so I thought I would share it with you. I had live music at my wedding - a trio - and my guest thought it was a great touch. It adds such class and sentiment to your affair.
Hope the info from James helps! If you have questions or need music for your wedding day, please do not hesitate to reach out to James. He’s a great starting point. (Check out his photo, doesn’t he look like he knows what he’s talking about:)
You’re Not Planning to Wear Just “Any Old Gown,” so Don’t Neglect the Ceremony Music!
I marvel at how selecting live music for one’s ceremony often takes a back seat to choosing flowers, gowns and other physical elements. After years of watching brides during the planning stages, I’ve concluded they don’t really mean to undervalue music, but often feel ignorant or intimidated. Don’t worry—I won’t go into a discourse on the Importance of Music here. Let me just say that well-chosen, well-played music keeps your guests entertained and moves everyone into place at the right time. It gets you in and out with an air of elegance and dignity. Even though it may seem fleeting and ephemeral, music is as concrete a presence at your ceremony as the candles and boutonnieres. When you play back your video for years to come, guess what’s in the background? A soundtrack! Make it as much a priority as planning the other details.
So what do you do when you don’t know Mozart from Beethoven, and find it easier to buy matching gloves for the bridesmaids than select your wedding march? This is where a knowledgeable wedding coordinator and/or a music planner will be of great assistance. As you shop around, beware of sites or vendors who only focus on reception music. There’s more to a wedding than the party afterwards! I know of one statewide association whose music page mentions nothing about the ceremony—only celebrating when it’s over. In a similar vein, don’t let a DJ talk you into doing your ceremony. IMHO, playing a CD in place of live music is like wearing blue jeans down the aisle.
Some musicians place restrictions on what is considered proper for ceremonies. This is an injustice to the client. That’s why it’s so important to communicate with musicians before hiring. View their websites. Contact their references. Find out if he’ll play “Evergreen” during the prelude. Ask if she can play the Widor “Toccata” for the postlude. After you pick someone, you and your fiance should schedule a consultation to audition pieces from their repertoire. Or you may listen to recordings and convey your choices by phone, fax or email. You can greatly assist the process prior to the consultation by listening to and identifying the style of music which most appeals to your tastes. Specific composers (like “Schubert”) and periods (like “Romantic”) and names of works (such as “Ave Maria”) will greatly aid the performer and make the consultation session more productive. Bring sheet music of favorite songs, tapes, or programs from other weddings, too. Many wedding music sites list suggested pieces with sound samples and online retailers like Amazon offer 30 second clips from CDs —and often that’s all it takes. Brides don’t have to take an Intro to Music course to make good choices. In fact, you don’t have to know anything at all about what you’re listening to. The main criterion is that you like it! After all, it’s a matter of taste, and it’s your day to design as you wish. Then again, some brides have no musical preferences and elect to have the professionals choose the music.
If you are having your ceremony in a church, use discretion when requesting love songs and other secular music, keeping in mind the sacred nature of the event and place. Your minister or wedding coordinator might offer guidance on this subject. Rules defining restrictions vary from church to church, so ultimately these decisions should be made in conjunction with the officiating minister. If your ceremony is at a mansion, country club, garden, or is simply less religious in tone, find musicians who are open to non-traditional styles of music.
Plan ahead. There has to be time for your musicians to obtain sheet music for specially requested songs, to work out arrangements, and to practice! Stay in touch with your organist or music planner. If you have a wedding coordinator, make sure she keeps in contact with your musicians. One last word of advice: Take your rehearsal seriously. The walk-through of the bridesmaids’ processional, bridal march, and recessional should be done in real time to give the organist or other performers a sense of exactly how much is required to get people from point A to point B. It also alerts the bridal party to their cues so everything runs smoothly.
A Nashville bride recently told me that she was having a tough time finding wedding songs for her ceremony. I thought about it and started researching. I found a great resource on on Wedding Wire that does an awesome job of listing out songs for your entire wedding day! The tool even allows you to preview the songs via iTunes or Media Player.
This is a great way to find the perfect song for your wedding day. For my wedding, I listened to a cd that I picked up at the Wedding Musicians Company booth (at Weddings, The Bridal Show in Nashville). The cd had tons of songs. Now, their play-list is available online. I liked the music so much that I ended up hiring Wedding Music Chamber to perform at my ceremony! FYI - they top my vendor list! Russ Davis was the easiest person w/whom to do business. He even helped me finalize my music selection, didn’t stress me out, showed up early and played wonderfully. In fact, I am one of their biggest fans.
So, I found a wedding song CD (and a great vendor in Russ); Wedding Wire has a song tool…bottom line…you got options girl!
Hope this helps! If you know of other song resources, let me know.
