If you just got engaged on Christmas, then it's a bit early for you to book your wedding venue. But, if you have been engaged for a while and have been indecisive or haven't fallen in love with a particular venue, then you might want to speed up that process and secure your date before thousands of Christmas and Valentine's Day brides start shopping for their venues.
For instance, sought after venues like Front Porch Farms has already released their remaining 2013 wedding dates. As you will see, only 4 Saturday dates remain, only 1 Friday date and a dozen or so Sunday dates. If you haven't visited Front Porch Farms, schedule your tour this week so that you can rule the venue in our out. My guess is that if you want fancy an outdoor, farm venue with a stunning view of Tennessee, you'll be sold.
August 29 - Saturday (Labor Day Weekend) - This day will go super fast!
October 26
November 2
November 9
SUNDAY
May 5
May 12 (Sunday - Mother's Day)
June 2
June 9
June 16 (Father's Day)
September 01 (Labor Day Weekend)
September 8
September 15
September 22
September 29
October 6
October 13
October 20
October 27
November 3
November 10
Here are some of my favorite photos from 2011/2012 weddings at Front Porch Farms. Oh what a breathtaking venue! Can't wait to see your 2013 wedding at Front Porch Farms!
Let's face it, most of us are still in vacation mode. With another long weekend coming up and that gorgeous new ring on your finger it's hard to stay focused. Today we're going to help you get a little more focused on the priorities at hand - like your upcoming wedding and the bridal shows you're about to attend.
What is a bridal show and why should you attend?
We love bridal shows! A bridal show is an event in which local wedding pros set up a booth and turn it into a mini-boutique or store of their own. Attending a bridal show is like going to a wedding mall where you can meet dozens to hundreds of wedding pros under one roof. You can go and talk to event pros that you will need for your wedding day - from wedding planners to rental companies. Their booths will give you an idea of what they have to offer and the better ones will leave you inspired and wow'ed!
We recommend that you do research FIRST! Spend a few hours on our website looking at our wedding directory and our blog to see what you like and who you might want to see in person. Visit their blogs or websites and see which shows they are participating in and seek them out. While there, check out others that grab your attention. The more prepared you are, the better your experience and productive your day.
Many bridal shows offer a fashion shows allowing you to see tuxedos, bridal gowns, bridesmaid attire. Make sure you time your arrival to see a show.
How to prepare for a bridal show
1) Set your overall budget before you start wedding shopping.
2) Wear comfy shoes and bring a bottle of water to drink. Maybe something salty - You will need it after your 3rd piece of yummy cake.
3) Print 50 info labels that contain your first/last name, email, phone, mailing address - this will save you lots of time when you enter contests and/or give vendors your information.
4) Take a notepad and a pen to write down your favorites.
5) Take a camera to capture the ideas you like.
6) Plan ahead by bringing a shopping list of the vendors that you need and your estimated budget for the category.
7) Go with one friend to keep you focused on your objectives - which vendors you need at which budget.
Which shows to attend?
There are several bridal shows coming up at the start of the year we're all really excited about. In the next few months, you will hear about several bridal shows and events. While you'd probably like to, you will not have the time or energy to attend them all. Here's our list of the Nashville-area shows we plan to attend and think they'd be great to add to your calendar to check out.
January 4, 5: Brides Against Breast Cancer, Sheraton Music City in Nashville TN
Gowns for a good cause - gotta love it! View full details here.
January 6: Pink Bride Bridal Show, Nashville Convention Center in Nashville TN
This is a BIG bridal show. I used to go to the show to get ideas, find new wedding goodies... until we were kicked out by the show producer...like our little Nashville blog is any threat! Moving on - we did like going to this show because it's big! But, we do hear a lot of brides say it's too big. You've been warned. If you want to take a crew of friends along for wedding fun, go, check it out. Sample food and cake and get ideas. Then check out one of the smaller shows, listed below, if you want more one-on-one interaction with potential vendors.
January 13: Enchanted Brides Show, Hutton Hotel in Nashville TN
The Hutton Hotel hosts the Enchanted Brides show. This evening event also shows off the hotel's beautiful ballroom with great views of the city. Pre-register here. The Enchanted Brides show is always a great show! You will get tons of ideas and meet some of the city's most exclusive wedding professionals. View show details here.
January 13: Clarksville Brides Show, Wilma Rudolph Event Center in Clarksville TN
I've attended this show several times in the past. Good show! I caught their cake dive contest a few years ago. What a hoot! If you live near the area, plan to attend because this is one of the best ways to find great local wedding pros. View show details here.
February 10: Here Come the Brides Bridal Show, Franklin Factory in Franklin TN
This was a fun show! Kathy, the show producer, wanted couples to come out and have fun together while they shopped for wedding pros. They show is medium sized - not too big and not too small. The vendors are some you won't find at other shows that you may also attend. The venue is easy to get around. View show details here.
February 17: Perfect Wedding Guide Show, Nashville TN
The folks at the Perfect Wedding Guide magazine organize a quality, high energy bridal show with lots of our favorite wedding vendors. View show details here.
For a complete list of upcoming bridal shows visit our events page to stay informed and ready to go! Happy planning!
90% of the Nashville brides that I have interviewed who didn't hire planners (hired one late in planning or hired one for limited services) said they regretted that decision. They gave me three reasons for not hiring a planner and I'm sure you've entertained these same thoughts....
3 Reasons Why Brides Don't Hire a Wedding Planner:
1) Money - a planner was just not in the budget. The brides felt that the amount they would have to pay was better spent on other aspects.
2) They just didn't think a planner was worth the investment - some girls felt that what a planner could do, her friends or family members could also do for free.
3) How hard could a wedding be? It's a party isn't it? After all the planning was squared away with every detail confirmed, brides felt they had it all under control and there just wasn't anything left to worry about. What could possibly go wrong?
In hindsight, they realized that a planner's help would have helped them significantly, and that a wedding isn't "just a party."
I'd like to encourage you to take their advice and hire a reputable Nashville wedding planner ASAP! You deserve to enjoy your entire engagement. You deserve to not "work" on your wedding day and to allow your family not to work on your day so everyone can savor every minute, dance, morsel.
3 Reasons Why a Bride Should Hire a Full-Service Wedding Planner:
1) They offer professional help finding quality resources + making sound decisions.
Planning can get really overwhelming with contracts and negotiation, not to mention arrangements you have to make for your guests and yourself. It can start to be too much. Wedding planners and professionals exist so you don't have to give yourself a headache trying to figure it all out on your own.
Mary Alice Sublett of StudioWed Nashville has had years of experience as a planner and working with vendors and had this piece of advice.
"Hiring a planner, whether to help you through the whole process, or for month of assistance, is the best investment you can make at the start of your planning journey! Planners can assist you through the to-do tasks, guide you into making the right vendor decisions, keep the planning process as stress free as possible, and provide you the advice you need to have a wonderful wedding experience.
Be thorough in choosing your planner by interviewing several to find the right personality and service fit for you and your fiance and once you find the right one, trust them to walk you through this process "hand in hand". Don't see hiring a planner as a luxury item, but as a must have item in your budget, as it will make the difference between a wonderful planning experience and a stressful one."
2) They have years of experience orchestrating wedding days
You have enough to worry about that day, why add on the stress of having to worry where all your vendors are at any given moment? A Nashville wedding caterer explains this from a caterer's (and wedding vendor's) point of view:
"Having a planner involved with the process is definitely a big help from a caterers perspective. On the day of the reception we have a defined "go to" person that can answer questions and assist with details. If the bride chooses not to have a planner then vendors usually end up having to seek out a family member or the bride herself. The planner typically will email us a very detailed timeline so that we know the exact moment that we should be cutting cake, opening stations, opening the bar, preparing toasts, etc."
"If a bride chooses a full planning package then the planner and I can go through all of the details without having to constantly contact the bride with information that she may not have knowledge of. Opting for a day-of planner is still a great help for us. That means that someone will be on site to light candles, arrange cake toppers, organize seating charts, etc. The planner or their assistant keeps the entire reception rolling smoothly, prompting the couple when it's time to move on to the next aspect of the day.
Unless you're an uber organized couple, then a planner can make your life a lot smoother for the duration of the planning process. For most couples this is this the first time they've had to deal with linen sizes, seating arrangements, processional info, etc - a planner can handle all of this for you and keep all of us vendors on point with timing! Basically, a planner takes care of all the stuff that a bride doesn't want to have to worry about during her reception."
I can't agree more: A bride shouldn't be the conductor of this fine-tuned orchestra. You were part of the planning process, you're very aware of every single thing that's involved, but you shouldn't have to be the ones wrangling them on your wedding day. Save your breath and adrenalin for yourself and your family. And if things go wrong, that shouldn't be something you have to fix! Which brings us to our next point
3) They create plans and back-up plans to handle unexpected challenges (from family discord to floods)!
Things can go wrong. This isn't to say they WILL go wrong but that if there's a bit of a mix up, do you really want to know and do you really want to be the person on the phone that day trying to deal with it? On that note, do you want your mom or aunt or best friend to be that person? Not ideally. This is where your planner comes in. Sharon Campbell brings home the point:
"We do shoot several weddings with no planner or coordinator at all (there is a difference) and without fail something always goes wrong, even if its something little and doesn't really matter in the end. I do notice that when that happens, the bride is always the go-to person for the family or venue, caterer, etc and it always creates the risk of being unnecessarily stressed on the day of your wedding.
No matter what your budget, I suggest it is a wise investment to have someone who is experienced and is not a family member or friend be the go-to person that can handle some of the mishaps and also help keep your day on track. As a photographer, we have a schedule, but we are there to capture your day and while we help in any way we can, we would not be able to answer questions or make decisions that could in any way alter your day. Do not expect your other vendors (not even the venue manager) to coordinate the day for you.
Make sure you have people that are excited about your wedding, trust them to do the job you hired them to do and then relax on the day your start your family!"
This is key - that you, your groom, your parents, siblings, and friends have fun. You invested in all these professionals, make it worth your while.
For the newly engaged, the beginning of your wedding planning is such an exciting time. You probably don't know this, but more Nashville brides will get engaged between Christmas and Valentine's Day than any other time of the year. What does this mean? The wedding planning season has officially started and you'll be bombarded with commercials, wedding shows on TV, bridal shows, magazines, etc. That's awesome and a little overwhelming at the same time.
But, it doesn't have to be overwhelming if you love with your heart and plan with your head. How?
1) Slow down!
There is absolutely no need to rush. Not to set a date. Not to share the news with others. Not to commit to anything. Savor every moment and don't feel pressured to do or decide anything. Pause the Pretty.
2) Have a game plan BEFORE you start any wedding planning - know your priorities and values.
What will you value most: family, fun, spending time one on one with family, a big lively party, stress-free planning that allows you to enjoy every moment? What are your priority items? His? Do you love flowers? Does he want a vintage car? Rank all wedding expenses and their importance. Know "must haves" versus "nice to have."
3) Use your priorities and values to help you create a realistic budget and stick to it.
Don't overspend - It causes unnecessary stress and strain on you, your fiancé, and your families.
4) Determine two to three splurge items in advance, based on your values and priorities.
I recommend splurging on a great planner (a must), an amazing photographer, and a top-notch videographer. A great planner will make your life easier. She will help you brainstorm, create a solid plan, find and negotiate with vendors, and keep you inspired and focused - 90% of the brides I interview wish they'd hired a planner.
5) Shop smart - Don't shop or visit a bridal show or read another blog until you have a clear budget.
Know exactly what you plan to spend on all items (even splurge items) so you don't run out of money before you've made important purchases. It will keep you from buying what you don't need or what doesn't fit your style.
6) Reduce long-term stress and mishaps by researching EVERY vendor before you hire anyone or pay for anything.
Hire vendors with integrity and a good reputation.
- Check the Better Business Bureau. When I got married, I hired a videographer who had a great booth at a bridal show. I watched a video highlight of a wedding and was sold. No one was blogging back then and there wasn't a public forum. But there was BBB. I failed to check it and ended up screwed. He failed to capture key moments and I was devastated. When I mentioned it to him, he was defensive. It didn't go well. Moral - be sure to research every vendor you hire. At least check the Better Business Bureau for negative reports.
- Read blogs, ask brides. Brides are usually brutally honest. If they like someone, they will say. If they don't, they will say! This is a great way to find vendors they love and hate and exactly what happened.
- Read between the lines. Most vendors will not tell you if a fellow vendor sucks. Why? Because they/we have to work with these vendors for years to come and we can be sued. BUT we will often redirect you to another, more competent vendor. Vendors do this all the time but often brides and moms disregard the advice and move full steam ahead ignoring the subtle hints or recommendations.
For instance, a bride asked me about a photographer. I hesitated and asked her questions about her experience, then I rattled off a few other photographers that were qualified. She didn't get it, but mom got it. Another time, a bride asked me about a cake baker. I recommended others based on what she needed. She ignored my recommendation and called me a week before her wedding, frantic with a major emergency. By that time, it was too late and there wasn't much I could do.
- Hire vendors who specialize in what you need. Not every vendor can do everything. In this economy, some vendors are tempted to extend their services to make more money. Very few people can do everything. Whatever they promise they can do should be supported by a stunning portfolio of quality, consistent work. Ask them for referrals - if they refuse, that's a huge red flag.
- Ask questions like you're interviewing someone for a job. As a previous recruiter, I can share a few behavioral questions that might work for weddings. For instance - "Tell me about your most difficult bride (family dynamic, vendor, etc), what happened and how did you handle it? What did you learn?" Or, "Tell me about a day-of emergency and how you resolved it." One really good question is, "Tell me about a bride who simply could not be pleased, perhaps a real bridezilla who was dissatisfied. How did you handle the situation?"
- Don’t be teased by teasers. Ask to see the entire video or photo album. Ask to see more than one invitation or sculpted cake if that’s what you are hiring them to do. They should not be hesitant to share their work so you can look for quality and consistency.
- Make sure your caterer/cake baker is “legal” i.e. their kitchens are up to health codes so that what they prepare is safe for your guests. You don’t want anyone to get sick! They should be willing to show you their health score just like restaurants post.
- Trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not. If you find yourself debating, asking others for advice - you probably know something is wrong. Don’t stick around waiting for resolution that won’t come, just move on. Things usually get worse after you pay, not better. There are many more vendors and venues vying for your business so do not settle. Bridal salons and venues are the worst offenders. Expect good customer service and do not accept poor service. As Beth and Elizabeth at Faccio Bridal said, “This is the most expensive dress you will ever buy. You should expect good service.” I agree!
7) Protect yourself
- Get everything in writing. If a vendor makes a promise, make sure it’s documented.
- Pay with credit cards when possible. Most credit card companies will protect you from fraud, loss, service issues. If you have decided to use cash instead, consider using a credit card and immediately paying off the charge with cash.
- If you have an unresolvable issue, contact the BBB for help mediating. If you can’t remedy the problem, at least you have a paper trail from your credit card company and an experience that will help other brides who might consider hiring this vendor.
8) Lastly, spend less time planning your wedding and more time building a strong foundation for your marriage. Your marriage should always be the focal point. I know it is easy to get excited and sidetracked by all the to-dos and the pretty wedding things, but remember the whole point is the marriage, not the wedding.
- Invest time and money in premarital education/counseling. Don’t just do the required, really invest time and resources in people who can help you build a great foundation from the start.
- Have date nights where no wedding talk is allowed. Avoid what I call “drive-by wedding planning” where your fiancé walks in the door and you start discussing wedding plans. Carve out a specific time/day to discuss the wedding and only discuss your wedding during that time, unless there is an emergency or you have to make the decision right then. This will allow him to enjoy your time together versus feeling like all you do is discuss the wedding. This applies to your friendships too - you don’t want to run them off.
- Focus on your values - don’t sweat the small stuff. And have fun.
At Ashley’s Bride Guide, we’re always on the lookout for innovative and exciting wedding ideas.
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