Monday, November 14, 2011
Ruby, named by the architect who considers this venue a “small jewel”, is located just blocks away from Hillsboro Village. This unique new venue will offer Nashville brides a wonderful new option for their wedding needs.
ABG: What makes Ruby different than other venues in the Nashville area?
RUBY: Ruby has been restored from the shuttered Primitive Baptist Church at 2411 Blakemore Avenue in Hillsboro Village. With a 30-foot open ceiling, exposed roof trusses and a broad expanse of windows with park views, it is comfortable and striking without any additions.
ABG: What is the capacity of Ruby for a wedding or event?
RUBY: Ruby will fit 245 for a seated ceremony, 185 for a cocktail reception, and around 110 for a seated dinner. There is an adjacent room that can be used as a dressing room if needed. The outdoor spaces, which include two back courtyards, a front courtyard, and a deck, are prepped for easy tenting, heating and lighting, which add in excess of 1,200 square feet of added space.
ABG: What are the rental prices for events?
RUBY: Rental fees for Ruby vary by time of day and peak/off-peak days. All fees include cleaning and parking and are based on a maximum of 7 hours unless otherwise discussed. For evening events, the cost of rental is $2,000 for off-peak days and $2,750 for peak days. Daytime events cost a bit less at $1,500 on off-peak days and $2,000 for peak days.
ABG: Are there any restrictions or things to consider when hosting an event at Ruby?
RUBY: Ruby can be transformed to fit the vision that you have for your special event. The staff at Ruby will help to simplify the planning of your event with their approved vendors and will facilitate many of the details directly with the vendors you choose. If you’re worried about parking in the crowded Hillsboro area, there’s no need to be. By partnering with the schools next door, Ruby is able to offer parking for up to 300 cars, and a valet is available if needed.
To learn more about Ruby or book it for your upcoming wedding or event, visit their website at http://rubynashville.com/ or contact Dan Cook at 615-512-5751.
All images courtesy of Donald Yeager Photography
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Wednesday, October 26, 2011
While we love Nashville weddings, we understand that many of you will choose another destination for your big day. Choosing vendors can be difficult when you live in a different city, or even country, than where your wedding will take place. But, you can hire many of your favorite and trusted Nashville wedding professionals and take them with you, especially photographers and planners.
Myrick of Myrick Studios is a Nashville wedding photographer that many brides hire for their local or destination wedding. After you see his destination wedding photos, you will understand why. His ability to shoot anywhere is demonstrated in his portfolio.
Whether you choose to hire a Nashville wedding pro of someone from your destination location, there are factors to consider to help you hire the right photographer, wherever you wed. We talked to Myrick, who is clearly an expert, to get some insight on how to choose the best photographer for your destination wedding.
WHO TO HIRE
ABG: How should a couple hire their destination photographer? Is it better to bring a photographer with you from your hometown or to hire someone who is familiar with the area you will be getting married in?
MYRICK STUDIOS: I think its better to hire someone to bring with you from your hometown, or someone that you know as opposed to someone from the area you will be getting married in. If you go with someone from home, you are able establish a relationship beforehand, which adds a trust factor. The relationship between the couple and the photographer is the most important thing in getting great photos.
ABG: What are the advantages to doing it that way?
MYRICK STUDIOS: A pro to bringing someone with you from home is the amount of time you are able to spend with the photographer before the wedding day. For destination weddings that I am hired for, I like to spend a lot of time with my clients. I meet with them and get to know them before we leave, and then once we are there I will attend the rehearsal, the wedding and sometimes we do "day after" sessions as well. If you hire someone on location they will usually just show up for the wedding, do the job and leave.
ABG: What type of questions should a couple ask as they interview each photographer?
MYRICK STUDIOS: Important things to ask different photographers are: how long they have been in the business, do they work with an assistant or alone, do they use lighting (if so, what type), and will you receive all of the images on a DVD. I always offer a DVD of the images with all of my packages.
HOW TO PREPARE
ABG: What things should a couple talk to their destination photographer about before the wedding day?
MYRICK STUDIOS: Once a photographer has been chosen, your timeline is an important thing to talk about. Its important to know how long I will be at the destination with the couple to know how much time we will have together. When I shoot a destination wedding, I ask that I can stay where the family and bridal party are staying for the night of the rehearsal and wedding. This helps me get to know the whole wedding party outside of the wedding day format, which helps me get to know their personalities better and how the family relates and interacts.
ABG: You’ve done many destination weddings before – how do you have to prepare differently than when you shoot a wedding at home?
MYRICK STUDIOS: Having the travel plans laid out is really important. Making sure I have my passport ready, if necessary, along with any other travel documents is key. I also try to get to the destination a day or so early to make sure I know the area well in case something comes up. This also gives me time to get my computer set up and make sure that I have everything I need. Once the bride and groom arrive, I touch base with them to make sure we are all on the same page for what they are wanting.
ABG: What advice would you give a bride and a groom who are planning a destination wedding to get the absolute best photography they can?
MYRICK STUDIOS: When you're investing the money, you want to make sure the photographer knows how to use natural light and artificial light. They should know how to make the best of the location you have chosen (sunshine, sunset, etc). Spend time researching and looking up photos that you want or styles that you like and share those with photographers you talk to.
ABG: What are some of the most common problems that can occur during a destination wedding? How can couples be prepared ahead of time to avoid those?
MYRICK STUDIOS: Not having back up gear can be a big problem. I've had lights go bad while I was shooting but fortunately I had back up lights with me. There is also more opportunity for travel issues to come up when you are away from home. The best way to prepare is to just make sure that everyone is aware of everything they need to get to the destination and be on time for the events that have been planned.
YOUR DESTINATION WEDDINGS
ABG: What are your three favorite destinations/destination weddings to date?
MYRICK STUDIOS:
Dominican Republic.
Ecuador. I spent a week here with the bride/groom and their families. It was such an amazing opportunity to shoot not only the wedding, but their engagement portrait two days before their wedding!
Cancun & Aruba. I shot at both of these locations last month, and in both places it was myself, my assistant, and the couple. We were not only the photographers, but also the witnesses!
ABG: What is your dream location to shoot a destination wedding?
MYRICK STUDIOS: Bora Bora…simply breath-taking.
Follow his blog at blog.mikecowart.com to see more of his incredible portfolio. To book Myrick Studios for your next wedding or event, visit their website at myrickstudios.com. Remember, our readers receive $500 off of your package. Just mention ABG when you first contact Myrick Studios.
All photos courtesy of Myrick Studios.
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Filed under: Destination Weds & Honeymoon , Photography1 comment »
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Yesterday, we shared popular wedding reception desserts from 2011 Nashville weddings. Today, Rita of Down South Delights is back to share her sweet predictions for 2012 wedding desserts. If you are planning your Nashville wedding and want a fun and unexpected dessert for your reception, tune in!
ABG: What are your predictions for the next big trends to hit reception desserts?
DOWN SOUTH DELIGHTS: For 2012 I have several predictions for new trends. The chocolate dipped strawberry is a classic, but we have reinvented it to be more chic and interesting. Our chefs are injecting them with champagne, Grand Marnier, Bourbon, and Amaretto. We then finish them in white, dark, or milk chocolate to accentuate the berry and the filling. Guests are so surprised with delight when they bite in and get that extra kick!
Banana pudding shots & chocolate covered strawberries by Down South Delights
Confections and candies will be a big addition in 2012 for sure. They are an item that can be offered as a display and then double as the favor with a small box or bag for guests to take one home at the end of the evening. We at DSD have a team of confectioners that work each week on creating custom flavors and such for brides. Everyone loves candies/chocolates so it is an option that all your guests will love for sure. Our clients like to include local, Tennessee specific flavors in truffles and candies to represent Nashville of course. Jack Daniels' Whiskey Balls are a top choice to showcase to guests traveling from out of town.
Bourbon balls, coconut bon bons & raspberry truffles by Down South Delights
The ice cream sundae station is a classic choice that is here to stay. Cake and ice cream just go so well together and for spring and summer receptions, it is a refreshing conclusion to a warm evening outside. Ice cream is really such a blank slate that you can customize any way you so choose. Simple or elaborate, everyone loves ice cream and guests really enjoy being able to create their own little sundae. Gelato is slowly creeping onto the ice cream sundae scene with more local stores carrying it in stock, making customers more familiar with it's flavors and texture.
Ice cream sundae station & assorted custom desserts by Down South Delights
Fresh fruit desserts are becoming a very popular choice and trend that is going to follow into 2012. The vibrant colors that a fresh fruit dessert offers really gives any dessert table that extra "pop" of color. Fresh baked pies, tarts, mini parfaits, our inside out shortcakes with blackberries or raspberries, and even the vintage fruit pizza are showing up.
Fruit pizza with shortbread crust & fresh berry French tarts by Down South Delights
Chocolate fountains are definitely diminishing in popularity and we have seen a decline in these by over 50% this year alone. In its place, brides are choosing to offer their guests a chocolate fondue with rich dark chocolate and white chocolate options. The fondue display is an elegant alternative with the "dippers" also being more sophisticated- macaroons, berries, handmade marshmallows, shortbread, and layered cake bites are options.
Mini designer cakes & mini apple pie and peach cobbler by Down South Delights
Another cool trend that is popping up with dessert are signature beverages. Fun, fruity, brightly colored punches and drinks are being served alongside cake and dessert displays. Offering a punch with cake has been passé for the last 10 years. It is one of those items though that is coming back into style as people are becoming more nostalgic and wanting to have a retro aspect to their receptions. We get many requests to create a family members punch recipe and serve it in an antique punch bowl with little crystal punch cups.
Vintage style punch by Down South Delights
Mimosa dessert shots & strawberries and cream shots by Down South Delights
Customizing your reception desserts to fit you as a couple is a great way to showcase your personalities to your guests. Rita and the team at Down South Delights can help you create a unique treat just for you. Be sure to visit their website (downsouthdelightscatering.com) to find out how they can assist you in adding that special touch to your day.
All dessert and images courtesy of Down South Delights.
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Monday, October 24, 2011
Wedding cakes have always been a staple at receptions, but more and more, couples are choosing to add either add their favorite desserts to accompany their classic wedding cake, or opting to replace the cake with fun desserts altogether. We spoke with Rita from Down South Delights to get the latest on the current trends in wedding desserts along with her prediction for the next big sweet to show up at weddings in 2012.
Spumoni parfaits
ABG: What trends have you noticed in desserts for receptions over the last year or so?
DOWN SOUTH DELIGHTS: One notable trend is the evolution of the groom's cake. Over the years I've seen many grooms have a cake that represented a specific team, hobby, sport's stadium etc. More often than not, most of the groom's cake ends up untouched. Clients are definitely noticing this and now the new groom's option is "his favorite dessert" - whether it is an old fashion icebox lemon pie, blackberry cobbler, strawberry shortcake, or grandma's cookie recipe.
Triple chocolate shots & inside-out blackberry shortcake bites
Small desserts continue in popularity, with dessert shots, mini cobblers, truffles, and ethnic faves such as canollis. Couples want to reflect their heritage more than ever and offer guests a taste of that culture. We are getting numerous requests to replicate an ethnic favorite. This summer we recreated a Mother-of-the-Bride’s Swedish butter cake into a large 4-tier wedding cake complete with the traditional curds on the side for guests to customize their slice.
Pink champagne truffles & dessert shot tower
ABG: Are cupcakes for weddings still popular?
DOWN SOUTH DELIGHTS: The cupcake is still the reigning champ when it comes to alternative sweets at receptions, but brides are opting for classic flavors more than ever. In 2010, cupcake flavor trends were "the more exotic the better", but now the classics are resurfacing. Dark chocolate, vanilla bean, caramel, and spice cupcakes are our most popular for this year.
Classic summer cupcakes
We'll continue this sweet feature tomorrow with 2012 dessert predictions. In the meantime, visit their website (downsouthdelightscatering.com) to find out how they can assist you in adding that special touch to your day.
All images courtesy of Down South Delights.
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Posted by Newlywed Sara |
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Friday, October 14, 2011
ABG Welcomes Jenn Cady Design Photography to our team of Nashville wedding resources!!
If you dream of wedding photos that you will cherish for a lifetime, Jenn Cady Design Photography should be one of the first places you look. Jenn has assembled a dream team to help capture your day with quality and that special touch that even stars come calling for (check out her galleries that include Thompson Square, Jessie James, and so many more).
We love Jenn for her work in wedding photography and her ability to make a bride into a star through her images; but, interestingly enough, this star expertise comes from remarkable experience with Miss America. Not only has Jenn photographed Miss America and Miss America’s Outstanding Teen, but she has also been a sponsor of pageant competitors. Mostly through this work, she has been featured in many national magazines, including full page spreads of her work. Pretty impressive, right? Oh, I forgot to mention, she was also crowned Miss West Virginia in 1994. Now, Brides, don’t you want someone who can capture you like a supermodel?
About Jenn Cady Design Photography:
Company Name: Jenn Cady Design Photography
Main Contact: Jenn Cady, Jarrett Gaza, Tina Biship (Studio Coordinator)
Phone Number: 615-265-8806
Email Address: info {at} jenncady {dot} com
Website: http://jcgweddingphotography.com
Twitter: @JennCady
Like their Facebook fan page: Jenn-Cady-Design-Photography
How many years have you been in business?
5 years as a professional photographer
How did you get started in weddings?
I was a professional Wedding Coordinator at a private club for two years before becoming a Wedding Photographer. My profession as a wedding coordinator introduced me to the wedding industry and I quickly became a specialist of the wedding experience and flow of the wedding celebration. I can bring distinguished artistry and credible experience to your day. Master Photographer Jarrett Gaza, team member and mentor of Jenn, has been an Elite Entertainment photographer for over 25 years and has photographed stars along the lines of Carrie Underwood, George Strait and Tim McGraw. Jarrett and I have teamed up together to shoot creative weddings that have a unique and “star quality” flare.
What do you like most about weddings?
We love taking the couple’s unique vision and fusing it into a composition that will last that couple a lifetime of memories. We make each and every wedding event personal and we love finding that “wow” factor in every wedding or photo shoot. We love when the couple opts to do the “First Look”. We find this moment to be without words and best described through the emotions captured by our lens.
What's your favorite wedding picture and why?
We love this picture of a bride just walking the church isle before her ceremony in anticipation of the “first look”. It was an amazing moment where the light hit her back perfectly. It is just a simple but BEAUTIFUL picture.
What is your service philosophy?
A photographer must record the emotional content of this special day along with the ritual of events. We love to grasp and capture the unseen moments by most and create a visual montage that reflects your individual personality as a couple.
We truly have a passion for what we do and we find so much joy in it. There is nothing more gratifying than the rite of passage of a wedding day and we could hardly call it just another day at the office. We are simply there for YOU!
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? Why should a bride hire you?
With a unique combination of a highly experienced team, artistry, skill and anticipation, we have a very unique gift of telling your story through our lens. Plus, we really like to have fun and bring out your best with an unobtrusive approach in documenting your moment. Expect a treasured collection of images that will bring the essence of your wedding day to life, for you and your family for generations to come.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors - helpfulness, professionalism, style?
We love working with:
Studio157 (studioonefiftyseven.com)
Faboo Cakes (faboocakes.com)
The BIG TO DO (hair - facebook.com/pages/The-BIG-TO-DO/241082177327)
Regalo Design (http://www.regalodesign.com)
Opryland Hotel (GaylordOpryland.com)
For beautiful wedding photos that you will love for a lifetime, contact Jenn Cady Design Photography today at http://jcgweddingphotography.com. And, if you book now, you will get a Formal Bridal Session for FREE! Just remember to mention ABG when you first contact Jenn Cady Design Photography.
All photos courtesy of Jenn Cady Design Photography.
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