UnVeiled Bridal Event: Luxury Wedding Advice + Trends from Tara Guerard
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
UnVeiled, presented by Nashville Lifestyles Weddings took place a few weeks ago. Ashley and I greeted brides at the ABG and I was asked to check out Tara Guérard, the speaker.
It was a great night with great tips! For the fourth year in a row, Tara Guerard returned to speak to all of the eager brides at The Avenue on 3rd street! Tara Guérard ,“recognized as the southeast’s leading event designer, has earned a national reputation for her exceptional ability to create spectacular settings celebrating life’s most anticipated occasions for clients both locally and across the United States.”
According to Tara, many of the hottest trends right now are DIY and Tara complimented those trends by taking us “Back to the Basics” and providing her top 10 pet peeves that easily can get overlooked at weddings. Here's what you missed...
Your wedding is a celebration of your love, but it is also about enter taining your guests and keeping them happy. Below are 10 ways Tara shared that can easily cause and add stress to a wedding, so make sure these are checked off your list to have a fantastic celebration!
The Bar
- A great rule of thumb is 1 bartender per 50 guests and even double that if the budget allows.
- Have a full bar and try and avoid cash bars! If it is in your budget to offer champagne and punch then get creative and offer the best champagne/ punch bar your guests have ever seen!
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Signature drinks are great addition to your bar options. (Image courtesy of Keoni K.)
Dimmers
- Always have dimmers on all your lighting effects, this will help to set the right mood, regardless of the time of day, location or request from your guests!
Event lighting and image courtesy of Nashville Event Lighting.
Event lighting by Nashville Event Lighting. Image courtesy of Dove Photography
Seating
- Always offer a minimum of 30% seating available to guests
- It is important for guests to at least have a location where they can set down drinks!
Layout
- When designing the flow of your reception, make sure the dance floor is the middle
- Never put the bar stations and food stations side by side. Guests will always be at those locations, so make sure they are spread out to avoid lines and clusters of guests!
Food & Catering
- Don’t serve food for appetizers that requires a fork and knife when there is no place to sit.
- Each little plate should be in bite size that is easily carried.
- Guests appreciate stations that food is already made and on the plate.
Pretty appetizer set-ups by Chef's Market
Simple, tasty appetizers and small bites that are easy for guests to pick up by Down South Delights.
Invitations
- It is not proper etiquette to include a sheet of tissue paper in the invitation - Tissue paper was created as a separator between different pages to avoid ink from transferring onto the next page
Band & DJ
- When negotiating contracts, discuss that they are hired help at your wedding.
- They are not to take breaks, drink alcoholic beverages or eat at the event.
- They are part of the entertainment and experience your guests will enjoy
Make it Personal
- Do what you love and add your touch to it. Even if the idea, color and or theme has been used over and over, if you love it, use it and incorporate your personal touch!
From a real wedding in Nashville planned by A Delightful Day Event Planning with specialty lighting by Nashville Event Lighting (Image by McLellan Style)
Photographer
- A photographer is by far the best use of money spent. At the end of the day, 10 years down the road, the pictures are all that you have to relive and share with friends and family.
- Find a fantastic photographer, one that you love and enjoy every moment of your wedding!
You don't ever see yourself walk down the aisle. A good photographer will capture the things you may not have seen. (Image courtesy of Kristyn Hogan, lifestyle photographer)
Afterwards she shared with us some beautiful pictures from several weddings in 2010. Regardless of budget or theme, pick something from your wedding and incorporate it into the entire weekend from colors, and flowers to invitation designs or calligraphy!
Tara had some beautiful ideas, not to mention her website and books were incredible. Take a look and see what inspiration you can find!
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Posted on February 23, 2011 |
Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds
