Need a a Nashville Wedding Caterer? Meet Down South Delights

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Food is an important part of every wedding reception. It helps keep your guests happy and can also help set the tone and feeling of your event. Down South Delights can help you achieve whatever menu you want for your big day. If you are searching for a Nashville wedding caterer, take a few minutes to learn more about Down South Delights via our interview below.

About Down South Delights, LLC:

Main Contact: Rita Rowland
Phone Number: (615) 513-9147
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Visit their website: DownSouthDelightsCatering.com
Become a Facebook fan: Down South Delights

How many years have you been in business?

8 years

How did you get started in weddings?

When I completed culinary school I noticed that there just were not a lot of opportunities in my area for female chefs at the time. This has changed since, but back then women in the kitchen were assigned to baking/pastry work or prep, rarely as an executive chef.

I loved weddings and creating beautiful food so I decided that catering was the route for me. Previously, while working on my bachelors degree in International Business, I had worked as a catering assistant and pastry chef so I had experience in the catering industry. I opened Down South Delights in 2003 and catered one wedding that year. I had only one employee other than myself and now I employ around 25 people. Eight years later and we catered around 150 weddings in 2011!

It has been so amazing that I would not trade it for any other culinary job in the world. 

What do you like most about weddings?

My favorite aspect of weddings is the joy and excitement of the day. It is a special time for the couple, their families, and the guests who come to partake in their special moment. Each wedding is unique and I love the special touches couples create for their weddings.

What’s your favorite wedding picture and why?

Wow, having to choose just one is really tough! If I have to choose one, it is of a sushi display that we created several years ago. I love when clients choose items that are not our normal, daily menu items, as the challenge is always fun. A friend of mine created the display pieces for the table and I love making sushi.

What is your service philosophy?

Our service philosophy is, "Your day, your way!".  We want the clients wedding to be about their personal style and to reflect them as a couple. So we do not place limitations or discourage their ideas. I do offer suggestions if I see something that will be logistically difficult or if an idea can further personalize their experience.

What are your strengths compared to others in your category?  Why should a bride hire you?  

A bride should hire Down South Delights for a variety of reasons: DSD's primary focus is on weddings so we have the knowledge and experience that it takes to properly execute a reception. I also offer our clients a level of personal attention that is second to none. We like to get to know each couple and develop a relationship with them as this will be the most important day of their lives. I am always here to answer their wedding related questions even if they are not food related.

Over 90% of our catering is wedding receptions, so this gives us a huge advantage over other companies that may have a full scale restaurant or have many other catering engagements. I think one of our biggest strengths is the fact that we are constantly evolving as a company. My staff is full of young ladies who are up-to-date on current styles and trends, which we incorporate into our displays and menus.

Our staff has such a wide range of food knowledge that we can create anything that a couple envisions or requests. A large number of local chefs and caterers from upscale establishments have called upon us to handle their receptions because of the endless selections we can offer our clients. I've had couples that want to integrate both of their cultures into the menus and we've created a complimenting menu that showcases dishes without clashing or seeming mismatched.

While our name implies that we specialize in southern cuisine we really do not have a particular specialty. We try to make everyday favorites pop and add exciting elements. Whether you are looking for an old fashioned, southern inspired menu or very modern, haute cuisine we can definitely accommodate.

Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors – helpfulness, professionalism, style?

Liberty Party Rentals (http://libertypartyrental.com/) ~ They are very professional and always there for any last minute orders. They are super helpful to all of our brides and very informative about assisting with sizes, room layouts, and the setup team is amazing!

Details by Margaret (http://www.detailsbymargaret.com/) ~ She is a personal friend and I just love working with her. She has this bubbly personality that just makes you smile and she is super organized. We worked together on a dozen or more weddings this year and she has great, innovative details for her clients. For example, at a reception this September she had a real tree at the entrance with photos and such, instead of the typical framed pictures on a table.

Scoobie's Photographic Images (http://www.scoobiephoto.com/) ~ I've worked with them on many occasions and he always bring a great team with him. All of my clients are super pleased and the prices are great. I can say, that I will hire him for my own wedding images.

Houston Station (http://www.eventsnashville.net/houston/) ~ This is one of my favorite venues in the Nashville area. The staff here are so helpful and they really make it simple for us to handle our tasks. The value is amazing and they are very accommodating to all of our clients.  While other venues put so many stipulations on the client that it dampers their fun with planning, Houston Station is there to assist with all their needs.

Rhonda Patton (http://www.rhondapattonweddings.com/#) ~ I've worked many events with Rhonda including her sister's wedding a few years ago. Her style and attention to detail is fabulous. The colors and designs that she uses in all of her floral design are really inspiring. Her bouquets are my favorite and when you take a look at her site or blog you will definitely agree!  She has a true flair for modern design and ingenious creations for the luxe bride. 

What advice would you give to brides on the wedding planning process in general?

I tell all of our clients to enjoy choosing your vendors - this is one of the most exciting elements of the planning process, so have a great time doing it and do not stress if it takes time to find the perfect fit for a particular vendor. I know that is point is said a lot, but make sure you connect with your vendors. You will be working with these people for at least several months so you need to make sure that it will be an enjoyable experience! 

Another thing I like to remind our clients: Do not let other people dictate your choices. It is great for friends and family to offer advice or suggestions, but this is your wedding. Make sure that you are happy with every element of your day as you, the couple, are getting married! 

What would be doing if you did not work in weddings?

If I was not in the wedding industry, I would own a confectionery (candy) company. I've always wanted a large factory that makes all kinds of chic, gourmet candies. I make candy as a hobby and a friend who works for the CEO of Louis Vuitton, Yves Carcelle, let him sample some of my candies. When he personally called me to let me know how great they were, I almost died! So if I ever retire from weddings, making yummy confections will be my next endeavor for sure. 

Contact Down South Delights today for all of your wedding and event catering needs! And just for our ABG readers - receive a complimentary menu tasting (a $100 value)! 

All images courtesy of Down South Delights.

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Posted by Newlywed Sara | Filed under: Helpful Vendor Interviews!, Cakes & Food0 comments »

A Delightful Day: What You Missed at The Inspired Bride Show by StudioWed at Houston Station!

Monday, January 23, 2012

My wedding was almost a year ago (how can that be true?), and even though I did all of the planning, I had only been to one bridal show as a bride-to-be. When I was given the opportunity to go to a show for ABG, I jumped at the chance! And I was even more excited to be able to go to the Inspired Bride show at Houston Station, hosted by Studio Wed. I’ve put together some of my favorite finds at the show, along with the favorites of Betsy, our wonderful new intern, who came along with me!

All images, except where noted, courtesy of Justin Wright Photography.

Southern Events

Southern Events is a go-to shop for many brides and their rental needs. As usual, they did not disappoint. Adding to their stock of rental items, they have farm tables and benches that are adorable! The display was so beautiful and rustic. They also had some whiskey barrels on display that would be great as a guest book table at an event.

Betsy Coughlin {ABG Intern}: “I was immediately charmed by Southern Events’ table display. The table setting was embellished by mix-matched china and delicate lace, perfected by dimly lit candles and robin-egg blue flowers. Their vintage gems are perfect for the classic bride!”

Justin Wright Photography

I’ve always been a big fan of Justin Wright Photography and I loved seeing his display. The canvas prints and books he had out on the table were absolutely gorgeous and really showed the variety of the shots he is able to create.

Tanastacia

Tanastacia is a brand new salon off 8th Avenue that would be a great place to take your bridal party. They had tons of products available to sample, along with facial mapping to help the brides figure out what products would be best for their skin. At the spa, they are able to accommodate parties, and can offer facials and other services all in the same room so that you and your bridesmaids can enjoy your day together.

Brocade Designs

I’m a little biased when it comes to Hillary and her Brocade Designs work since I used her for my own wedding, but she really outdid herself at the show. She brought three different table displays that were all incredible. The first, a rustic farm table with incredible centerpieces and darling lantern details. The second was a brightly colored table with lots of little touches. The third table was so elegant, a white and crystal table with purple touches.

Betsy Coughlin {ABG Intern}: “Never have I seen colors that beautiful in flower petals, only amplified by the elegant lanterns that hung overhead. What highlights Brocade Designs’ splendor from my perspective is its strive to cultivate a relationship with its clients in order to capture the spirit of the couple through a wide array of bouquets, boutonnieres, personal flowers, altar arrangements, ceremony structures, and reception centerpieces. The design of the flowers sings something special about that particular couple. What a lovely concept for a wedding day! 

J. Hilburn

I was excited when we visited the J. Hilburn booth as it is the rare wedding vendor that caters to grooms. They offer custom men’s clothing – shirts, suits, sweaters, ties, etc. and all with a 100% guarantee. The quality of the clothes is great, but the price tag is affordable. And as a bonus, they will come to you for appointments at your home or work!

Image by ABG

Chef's Market

Carol and the rest of the team at Chef’s Market always provide tasty treats, and this show was no exception. They had tacos to serve up to the brides and grooms, and of course dessert! The red-velvet truffles were so tasty – I believe Betsy and I were saying “yum!” for about 5 minutes after we were finished. Along with the Bridal Tasting they are offering on January 26, you can schedule a tasting with them any time!

Image by ABG

Sugar Wagon

To follow up our first dessert, we stopped by the Sugar Wagon booth next! The homemade peanut butter cups are a specialty of theirs, and I can see why. Along with yummy treats, how fun would it be to have a food cart at your wedding? Sugar Wagon is a gourmet ice cream sandwich cart.  

Betsy Coughlin {ABG Intern}: “The contagious smiles of Tracey and Jane, made me love them before I tasted anything they offered! Truly, these women are precious, and their spirits are just as fun as their idea: a pastry company combined with a mobile cart that shares a variety of confections and ice cream goodies! Heart-shaped red velvet cupcakes with white chocolate mouse filling and cream cheese frosting were the centerpiece of their display, showcasing a perfect glimpse of The Sugar Wagon’s charm—captivating for any wedding day!”

The Bake Shoppe

The cakes that The Bake Shoppe had on display were simply amazing! Lots of adorable details were on each cake – it would be hard to choose just one if you had to!

Amber Housley Design

I had heard great things about Amber Housley but had never seen her work in person myself. I was blown away by the number of details and amount of thought that went into each display. My favorite table was elegant but simple with patterned china plates and touches of pink throughout.

Betsy Coughlin {ABG Intern}: “Amber is a master of details, and finds a great joy in weaving distinguished loves between a bride and groom throughout their special day. These are the quirks, the inside jokes, the signatures of your shared story that all who know you take precious delight in. This especially shines through Amber’s sparkle for stationary, which offers the guests a tiny flavor of what the day will present.”

The Bride Room

If I could get married again, the dress that The Bride Room had at their booth would be the one I would wear. They had a beautiful wedding dress, tuxedo and bridesmaid dress on display in the middle of the show in front of a backlit, ruffled curtain. Little accents really made the display, like the sheet music flowers on their info table.

Leigh, Mary Alice and all of the ladies from Studio Wed put on a wonderful show and I’m so glad that we got to experience it.  It was a great window into the amazing things that Nashville vendors will be bringing to weddings in 2012!

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Posted by Newlywed Sara | Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events0 comments »

Cosmo Creations, a DJ Service, Now Offers A New Space & New Wedding Services for You!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Cosmo Creations is a premier DJ service that has served brides from Cookeville to Nashville for 10 years. 2011 brought exciting new additions to their company that will benefit Greater-Nashville brides. They have expanded their service offerings, added a new location, and will showcase their new products at an upcoming bridal show. Keep reading for all the details.

Brent Cantrell, who started Cosmo Creations, and the rest of the team care deeply about what the bride and groom want and envision for their wedding. This is so important, that they decided it was essential to have a place to meet with clients in an intimate setting to get the feel for what is needed to make their client's day perfect. 

New Location

Cookeville couples - DJ's Brent Cantrell and Josh Rose are both Cookeville residents and local business is very important to them since the area has helped shape the business into what it is today. They will have an open house at the new location from 4 pm to 8 pm, Thursday, January 19.  If you are a Cookeville area bride or wedding pro, you should go check out their new office at 135A Pigeon Rd, Cookeville, TN.

Nashville couples - The Cosmo Creations crew has and will continue to meet their Nashville brides at StudioWed Nashville. 

New Services

Cosmo Creations has a number of incredible services that they offer to couples on their big days. They have packages for every event at every budget. Music can be provided with or without an emcee, and ceremony music with a lapel microphone for the officiant is also available. They have the latest technology in lighting and video projectors available for rent. Music videos showcased through the projectors and on flat panel TVs have been a big hit at weddings.

If you want a more interactive affair, karaoke is available and always a fun idea. They include over 1,000 karaoke songs, two microphones, and a television monitor. The DJ's at Cosmo Creations make it their mission to read what style music the guests would enjoy listening to and they never disappoint.

In addition to all of those features, Cosmo Creations has added another exciting element to their arsenal - the photo booth! With Cosmo Creations, you can customize photo strips and take an unlimited number of high-quality photographs in color and/or black and white. Attendants are present to assist and ensure the host gets a copy of each photo taken in the booth. Instead of a traditional guest book, brides can opt for a scrapbook of these images that guests can then sign. They provide props to add to the fun along with online galleries for the digital copies of all of the images. Check out their Facebook page to see online galleries of the photo booth and past events.

To check out Cosmo Creations/Cookeville Photo Booth in person, visit the Cookeville Bridal Show from 1pm to 5pm, Sunday, January 15, 2012 . They will have their photo booth set up, so drop by to try it out and register to win a FREE photo booth rental!

If you would like to learn more about Cosmo Creations and to see a more detailed list of their packages, please visit their website. You can also call 931-265-2934 or email Brent at CosmoCreationsDJ {at} gmail {dot} com to schedule a meeting. 

We congratulate Cosmo Creations!  

All images courtesy of Cosmo Creations.

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Posted by Newlywed Sara | Filed under: Helpful Vendor Interviews!, Bridal Shows & Events, Contests, Giveaways, Specials, DJ, Band, Lighting + Transportation0 comments »

Nashville Wedding Find: Marathon Music Works, a New Venue in a Historic Part of Town

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Marathon Village, which was originally made up of factories, is becoming one of the hottest neighborhoods in Nashville. A few weeks ago, they added yet another treasure, Marathon Music Works, Nashville’s newest music and event venue. It's a super new venue so you'll want to contact them for more details and to see it in person.  Here's high-level info to get you started...

ABG: What makes Marathon Music Works different than other venues in the Nashville area?

MARATHON MUSIC WORKS: Marathon Music Works has been designed to meet every type of event need, making it truly a multi-use space. Attention to various details has made it ideal for planners, vendors, event guests, concert goers, and musicians alike. Located in the historic and creative Marathon Village neighborhood, MMW is located in a newly renovated warehouse that dates back to the early 1930's. Marathon Music Works offers an environment rich in history and character with all of the modern amenities.

Marathon Music Works is open and ready to host your event! For details of events and concerts, visit their website at www.marathonmusicworks.com.

All images courtesy of Evan Tardy Photography.

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Posted by Newlywed Sara | Filed under: Advice & Planning, Unique Wedding Ideas, Wedding Venues and Locations0 comments »