Crumb de la Crumb is hosting an Open House for engaged Middle TN couples to allow you to taste their specialty cakes and to give you an idea of their design ability. The event will take place Thursday, August 11 in downtown Nashville. It is open to all engaged couples and all you have to do is RSVP online via this link. If you have other engaged friends, make it a girls night. Stop by Crumb and then head to dinner downtown.
Bonus - if you hire Crumb de la Crumb that night, you will receive $100 off of an order of $500 or more (pending date availability).
You'll have to attend the Open House to get a taste of their unique flavors but in the meantime, we're here to share a little cake inspiration. Recently, we talked to Lorie Burcham from Crumb de la Crumb and asked her all about wedding cake and dessert trends, from flavors to designs. Here's what she had to say:
New flavors infused
We are working on new flavors all the time because couples each want something different based on what they like and prefer. We are working on more infusions from liqueurs, like chocolate cake with a Tennessee whiskey infusion. We really encourage our brides to think outside of the box because we can work together to create pretty much any flavor combination to help make the cake unique to that couple.
Color goes personal
As far as colors, we don’t see many trends in that category. Couples are choosing such different combinations for their wedding colors that it really doesn’t matter what the “in” color is that season, it depends on what the couple wants to work with.
Brides seek organic designs
Design-wise, the trend lately is that people want cakes that are more natural and organic looking. Simplicity seems to be key. Brides come into our shop and see our cake models and they love that we can do such unique designs that include textures and other elements above and beyond the standard cake with flowers. We have seen a number of bird themes this year that incorporated a lot of twigs and vines along the tiers of the cake.
All photos provided by Crumb de la Crumb
For more information about Crumb de la Crumb and their delicious desserts, visit their website. Don't forget to join us at their Open House to taste and see for yourself.
On a beautiful day in Hendersonville, TN, Dean and Ginger were married at Historic Rock Castle. The wedding was filled with love, fun, and a sophisticated homage to Jack Daniel's, a favorite southern tradition. Joy and awe can easily be witnessed in every photo captured by Mike and crew of Myrick Studios. Mike is a long time friend of the couple, making the event extra special for him. He not only photographed but he also contributed his musical talents to honor them on their day. That's what friends are for!
We too are honored to share their lovely Tennessee wedding with you.
Bride ~ Ginger Hart
Groom ~ Dean Germain
Married ~ May 7, 2011
Ceremony & Reception ~ Rock Castle
Couple's Theme:
Classic & Elegant
Couple's Unique Wedding Details:
Candle lit crystal globes, sparkle jewels, crystals, bling, and turquoise & silver color scheme
Memorable Wedding Highlights:
The brides entry in the horse-drawn carriage and the groom’s garter dance! As a surprise to guests, Dean lip synced to Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel” while dancing around Ginger before removing her garter.
When Nate and I first got engaged, we sat down and made a list of the things we wanted and needed to make our big day complete. The usual things were on that list – great photography, delicious catering, good music, etc. One thing that wasn’t on it was a videographer. While we would have loved to have it, we just didn’t think we could afford it and if something had to go, that was it. We’d have photos, and surely that would be enough to help us remember our day.
{Bill & Deanna Vincent of First Dance Pictures at work}
{Enjoy our highlight clip courtesy of First Dance PIctures}
As time went on, we started to doubt that we could do without it. Since we didn’t think we could afford a professional videographer, we started to wonder if maybe a friend or a family member could help us out. There are a couple of problems with that idea though. First, none of our friends or family are what we would call “great” with a video camera as far as we know. Secondly, who would we ask? If we asked a wedding guest, they would have to spend the day behind a camera and miss out on the actual festivities. And we didn’t feel right about asking someone who we hadn’t invited to the wedding in the first place.
After a little bit of thinking, and some moving around of the budget, we finally decided to hire a professional videographer. We actually ended up hiring our videographers, First Dance Pictures, because of Ashley’s Bride Guide. I had worked with Bill Vincent, one of the owners, at CMT a few years back and ABG was advertising a special that First Dance Pictures was running – it was perfect! We were able to get amazing videographers for a great price and not break our budget!
Once we met with Bill and Deanna we knew we had made the right decision! They were with us throughout our day and caught some amazing moments! We both cried watching our highlight video and immediately sent it to our family and friends. We received our final DVDs last week and had an afternoon filled with laughter and tears (mostly from laughing too much). It was the perfect way to capture every little moment of our day and we’re so glad that we ended up doing it. The quality of the video is only something that professionals could have brought us. If you are on the fence about hiring a videographer, take my word for it and do it! You will remember your day forever, but there is so much that you won’t see or won’t be able to remember that you’ll be glad you have it on video later on.
Recently, Ashley sat down with Amy Lysyczyn of Photo Booth Nashville for a virtual interview to get some home buying tips for Nashville couples. Aside from her work at Photo Booth Nashville, Amy is also a realtor at Crye-Leike in Smyrna. Her work with Nashville brides and couples gives her extra insight into this important time in a couples life. For many couples, one person may already own a home. Or it might be the first time for both to buy a home and they are unsure about when the best time is to make that leap. Amy walks us through the process with tips to help you out along the way.
{Ashley's interview with Amy - Part 1}
Some of the main things that Amy emphasizes during the interview are:
Every situation is different. Be aware of yours and what obligations you already have.
Be honest when looking at yourself and your partner in the mirror. Are you ready for this step in life?
Don’t live in a fantasy world – be realistic financially! Talk with your partner and make sure that you are both on the same page. Be honest with how much you want to spend.
Find a good mortgage company. Your loan does not have to come through your bank. Do your research and find the company that is right for you.
If you are not 100% sure, get an apartment or rent a house before you are both committed to owning a home.
You can change the deed or the loan after you marry to add your new spouse if that's of interest.
If you have questions, are considering a home purchase/sell before you wed, contact Amy at (615) 480-4692.
They discuss a lot of great questions about home buying as it relates to engaged couples and newlyweds so be sure to view both videos to get the full scoop from Amy & Ashley!
Once some of the big wedding details are figured out, many couples start looking into planning the honeymoon. There are so many options out there, and depending on what kind of trip you are looking for, it can be very overwhelming. We talked to Mary Alice Sublett of A Delightful Day Event Planning to get some advice on honeymoon planning. Not only does Mary Alice plan amazing events in the Nashville area, she is also a Sandals Certified Travel Specialist, which means she can help couples with every last detail, down to the honeymoon!
ABG: How far in advance should a bride and groom begin planning the honeymoon?
Mary Alice: Depending on your engagement and the amount of time prior to your wedding, I would suggest booking a honeymoon anywhere from 6-9 months in advance, sometimes further in advance depending on the location, resort, and size of the resort that you’re most interested in. Also, when considering different locations, consider the season for that location and if hurricanes would be an issue at all. Resorts and airlines will not reimburse you for this should you not be able to travel, and there is honeymoon insurance, however Sandals does now offer hurricane insurance should this be an issue for your travel dates. This gives you the ability to travel on alternative dates, if needed.
ABG: What types of things should a couple think about when choosing a destination?
Mary Alice: When choosing the right location for you and your soon to be husband/wife, consider what locations you both or individually have been to at one time or another. Do you want to revisit one of those locations? If not, what areas of the world are you both interested in? Also, consider how much time you both have off of work, as you might not want to go to a location that requires extensive travel therefore taking time out of your relaxation time. When your time of the year has been chosen, also consider if the location you want to go to is prone to hurricanes. The typical hurricane season time is June 1st through November 30th, however there is never a guarantee that a hurricane will hit during those specific dates. One other thing to decide is whether you want a location that is all about relaxation with beach, cocktails, and spas, or do you want something adventurous.
ABG: What are the most popular destinations?
Mary Alice: With the couples that we have choosing Sandals resorts, a lot of them are most traveling to St. Lucia, Antigua, and Jamaica. Other couples are choosing locations such as the Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Belize.
ABG: Are there certain times of year that are more popular for honeymoon travel? Are there times that are cheaper to travel?
Mary Alice: Certainly the most popular times are those that coincide with the most popular wedding dates, May-July and you will have your popular Fall dates as well. For cheaper times of travel, that will depend on the location and it’s always good to invest in a travel agent that can make suggestions on cheaper times to travel depending on air fares and an on or off season time for the location.
ABG: Is it OK to plan a honeymoon without a travel agent? What are the benefits to using an agent?
Mary Alice: It is certainly okay to plan without a travel agent, however they can certainly be a guide as to what locations to choose and when, if someone has had a bad experience at a location, and can provide guidance for discounted or reduced rates at different resorts and times of year.
ABG: You are a Sandals Certified Travel Specialist – what makes Sandals resorts more desirable to honeymooners?
Mary Alice: Being that the Sandals resorts are all-inclusive, that is their biggest selling point! A groom can contact us and say these are the dates of travel and this is the location we want to go to. From there, the honeymoon is planned with ease. He can choose excursions that the couple would like to partake of, romantic dinners on the beach, couples massages on the beach or in their suites, spa trips for his new bride, etc. With the resorts being all-inclusive, there isn’t a need to go off site for things other than excursions. When you have had the stress of planning a wedding for months at a time, you want the simple ease of your honeymoon and not having a stressful travel experience. Sandals takes care of the stress that planning a honeymoon could involve.
ABG: If a resort is all-inclusive, what does that generally include? And what types of things might cost extra?
Mary Alice: For the Sandals resorts, the all-inclusive pertains to your lodging, food/beverage, and tips. Most all-inclusive resorts operate under this inclusivity. Under the Sandals resorts, if your reservation/room is in the Butler category, this also includes your butler tips. Also, if you’re at a Sandals location that includes exchange privileges with another Sandals resort, you have the ability to enjoy other genres of food and nightlife under your all-inclusive incentives. Other extras to consider would be: transfer from airport to resorts, water sports, spa trips, and any off resort or off island excursions.
ABG: Are there different levels of Sandals resorts? If so, what are the differences between them?
Mary Alice: There are a variety of Sandals resorts and they each have their own individual incentives and themes. The resorts are located in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, and the Bahamas. For the resorts, they each have their own particular levels of stay, however the levels are mostly the same at all resorts. There are some resorts that are butler category only, meaning that you have a butler available to you 24/7 for the remainder of your stay. They offer one-bedroom suites, villas, and plunge pool suites, beach-front suites, and the Millionaire suites for those have no limit to their honeymoon budgets.
ABG: What papers or documents should a couple take with them on their honeymoon?
Mary Alice: Every location is going to be different, so certainly make sure to check with your destination location to see if they require something different. However, for the Sandals resorts and their honeymooners privileges you need to have a copy of your marriage certificate and/or fax a copy of your wedding invitation, as this will get you a night of turndown service and a breakfast in bed. For all overseas/out of the country traveling you need to take with you a copy of your marriage certificate, passports, visas (if needed), some locations will require vaccinations, travelers cheques to prevent cash or cards being stolen, any foreign currency if needed, all of your flight and honeymoon confirmations printed, and any travel guides/books that you might need. Also, be sure to share all of your itinerary and travel information with several people at home so that they know where you are and what you’re planning to do for “just in case”.
ABG: You are a Sandals Certified Travel Specialist – what makes Sandals resorts more desirable to honeymooners?
Mary Alice: Being that the Sandals resorts are all-inclusive, that is their biggest selling point! A groom can contact us and say these are the dates of travel and this is the location we want to go to. From there, the honeymoon is planned with ease. He can choose excursions that the couple would like to partake of, romantic dinners on the beach, couples massages on the beach or in their suites, spa trips for his new bride, etc. With the resorts being all-inclusive, there isn’t a need to go off site for things other than excursions. When you have had the stress of planning a wedding for months at a time, you want the simple ease of your honeymoon and not having a stressful travel experience. Sandals takes care of the stress that planning a honeymoon could involve.
ABG: What things should a couple keep in mind when traveling internationally?
Mary Alice: It’s always good to research ahead of time about the location that you’re traveling to and any tips/suggestions to keep in mind. I think some good tips would be; respect the land, people, and customs of the country that you’re traveling in; be cautious about who you travel with and who you trust to get you from place to place; make sure to fill in your emergency information in your passport and travel information should it be needed; talk to your insurance companies about overseas insurance, as you never know when an accident or sickness might occur; familiarize yourself with their local laws; don’t make yourself a target, don’t carry large amounts of cash or wear lots of jewelry, as that can only entice.
All image courtesy of Sandals.com
ABG: What do you think about travel registries instead of gift registries?
Mary Alice: Sandals offers a honeymoon registry option for their guests and I certainly think it’s a great idea, especially if you’re a couple that is older and has a lot of the “household” items you might receive from family and friends, or have already lived together for a while and have made your home, and you want to have a wonderful honeymoon instead! It gives you the ability to know that you have cash to spend while you’re away or use it for activities or paying for portions of your honeymoon.
We hope this information will help you plan the honeymoon of your dreams!
At Ashley’s Bride Guide, we’re always on the lookout for innovative and exciting wedding ideas.
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