Wednesday, April 7, 2010
I met Natasha at You're Invited's Bridal Bliss. Ironically, she'd just emailed me a few days before to get added to my list of Nashville bridal bloggers. We connected immediately. This girl has one of the best blogs around and is full of personality, style and grace. As I read her blog, I crawled (as a true wedding lover does) to see other blogs on her read list. I stumble across another blog of hers -that showcases her calligraphy. I was in love! Her calligraphy is as bubbly as she. I told Cassandra - you've got to follow up with Nastasha for an ABG blog post. This southern bride is getting married and helping brides at the same time!
Passing the keyboard to Cassandra...
Did you ever doodle in your notebook in middle school and high school and maybe even college? I know I did! I doodled mostly hearts, flowers, and Mrs. Cassandra {insert crush’s last name here}. Did you ever think that it would lead you to your career? Did you ever think you would use that doodling for your wedding? Yeah, me neither.
Lucky for us though, one Nashville bride-to-be is doing this! She has taken her doodling to a whole new level by developing them into calligraphic handwritings. Her name is Natasha, and she is currently in the throws of planning her own wedding as well as designing stunning handwriting that any bride, groom, or guest would drool over in a heartbeat!
(Natasha - Nashville bride to be and calligrapher)
Natasha has two blogs. You can follow her daily adventures in life and wedding planning by reading {and following} A Day in the Life. Her wedding is in June 2011 and will undoubtedly by fabulous. You can also view her business website filled with her gorgeous designs at Tres Chic Ink. Her calligraphy site is recently re-vamped and re-launched and promises great things!
Natasha says: I have always been obsessed with handwriting – starting in elementary school, I was always doodling in class, decorating my folders and notebooks with little pictures and forever writing my name, and then the older I got, I was the person who always paint-penned everything for friends in my sorority, designed t-shirts, started painting quotes, and then started wondering if calligraphy was something I would be good at.
They are beautiful works of art that lovingly adorn envelopes meant for wedding guests. She has a wide array of “fonts,” which are pictured below.
As for the different handwriting styles, I sat down one day and just started practicing with different fonts, classic and modern, as I know a lot of brides have different tastes. Each of my fonts is named after a friend of mine that is special to me, and it corresponds to their personality.
There is the Broadway font...
The Miller font...
The Parks font...
The Peyton font...
and The Tate font.
I hope you have enjoyed meeting Natasha and seeing her modern calligraphy options. This is a great Nashville resource for your wedding!
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Posted by Cassandra |
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Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Spring is just around the corner. I know some of you Nashville ladies are ready to be rid of this snow one day; flip flops the next weather! To help with that, I have some wonderfully sunny inspiration for your 2010 or 2011 spring Nashville wedding.
Yellow is one of the quickest ways to warm up your wedding, especially when you use different shades. It is also easily paired with other colors. A popular color combination right now is yellow and gray!
First up - a wonderful spring color tablescape by Opulent Couturier Event Styling & Planning. It's modern, sleek and elegant
Looking for something that says southern comfort casual? This beautiful table featured below was borrowed from a Simply Stunning Events wedding. It uses just a dash of yellow to spice up the perfect simplicity in the white decor. The shade of yellow used is also a great match with the floor. Not something you would normally think of but a great compliment none-the-less.
Wedding by Simply Stunning Events; Photography by Josh Reeder
Invitations are an important part of any wedding. It's one of the first things that guests see, and it gives them a hint to what they can expect from you big she-bang. (No pressure though, right?) The invitation below is a perfect example of simple elegance. It uses yellow but isn't overwhelmed by it.
The cake would also make a perfect addition to any yellow wedding, whether you are using yellow as the main color or accent color. The style of cake is perfect for any wedding as well. The detailing is just exquisite though with an added compliment to the tablescape and the word flooring above.
Invitation by Southall Eden Paperie; Photography by Photographix
Wedding by Simply Stunning Events; Cake by Dulce Desserts; Photography by Josh Reeder
When styling your wedding, floral accessories not only look great but smell great as well! I think when designed as a monogram, like below, it adds an unexpected and sophisticated personal touch.
Floral design by Enchanted Florist
And, what wedding would be complete without food? Yellow is an easy color to add to it all as well. Just take a look below. Yellow was used for the cupcakes, the paper lanterns, and the tablescape. It is an easy way to compliment your color scheme through many different aspects.
Dessert Table by Chef's Market
Find even more yellow wedding inspiration in our yellow wedding gallery section.
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Posted by Cassandra |
Filed under: Inspiration & Trends5 comments »
Monday, March 15, 2010
Finding a photographer for your wedding is a daunting task. It can feel absolutely overwhelming at times. However, every so often you stumble across a photographer whose work is stunningly beautiful, such is the case with Jenna Brie of jHenderson Studios.
Jenna manages to capture the love between the bride and groom in a non-stylized but oh-so-natural way. After looking at her work, I'd love for her to just follow me around and capture all the sweet, candid moments in my life. I think you'll feel the same after seeing her work and reading what she has to say.
Vendor Spotlight: jHenderson Studios
Website: jHendersonstudios.com
Blog: jHendersonstudios.blogspot.com
How did you get started in weddings?
When I began working in photography, I knew right away wedding were for me! A friend was getting married about the same time, and that was my way in.
What do you like most about weddings?
I love the beauty of the drama of it all. There is just so much going on, emotions are on edge, people are always moving & interacting…it’s such a spectacle.
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why?
I can’t pick a favorite! It would be like picking a favorite child. Any of the ones in my wedding gallery on my website would be right up there.
What is your service philosophy?
I try to make my clients feel like they’re my only client, even though I shoot 20 or so weddings a year. I also like to make friends with my clients…it makes everything seem less like work.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? Why should a bride hire you?
My strength is my personality. I have the right balance between being assertive enough to orchestrate a large number of people and laid back enough to not sweat the small stuff. Plus, I always work my tail off for my clients! I’ll do what it takes to get the shot!
Who are your favorite Nashville wedding vendors – helpfulness, professionalism, style?
Ashley’s Bride Guide, of course! I’m also a HUGE fan of the gals over at CJ’s Off the Square…And have you had a cake from The Bake Shoppe yet? If not, it’s about time.
Who do you recommend when you’re not available/not a fit?
I usually refer folks to Ashley’s Bride Guide first! I know only top quality vendors are listed here.
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends?
Southern Wedding Magazine & blog is my very favorite! They always show off the most gorgeous and wonderful weddings. I also love Snippet & Ink and Style Me Pretty.
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Posted by Cassandra |
Filed under: Our Featured Advertisers!, Photography, Wedding Resources1 comment »
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
I've got more great wedding finds to share from the Her Nashville / Focus bridal show, just in case you missed the event.
Up first, we have Dynamic Video. They had wonderful set up that showcased their outstanding work. Videography is a great addition to your day because fifteen years later you can look back on it and remember the wonderful details and appreciate your marriage even more.
Then, we have b. Hughes Bridal and Signature Events, two wonderful wedding resources! b. Hughes Bridal displayed their spring collection of bridal gowns. Ruffles, feathers, and flowers are in, as you can see! These styles would look great with vintage and rustic themed weddings. Signature Events has a vibrant personality and was recently featured in Martha Stewart Weddings. You should check them out! They do exceptional things in weddings here in Nashville.
Up next, a catering company called Clean Plate Club. They provided tasty brunch treats in the form of omelets that beautiful morning. They looked and tasted exquisite! So often brides forget that a brunch reception is a great and budget friendly alternative, especially for Sunday weddings. And, really, who doesn't love breakfast?! Ashley certainly did! She chowed down on a cheese omelette while I enjoyed a Mimosa.
Bacon and Caviar was another catering company offering up deletable brunch treats. They served smoked salmon patties with a salad. It was delicious! Their drink of choice was fruit tea, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Truth be told, I'm really particular about my tea, too. If you get a chance, try their fruit tea.
Of course, after those brunch treats, you'd need something sweet. At the bridal show, there were two bakeries - The Bake Shoppe and Cupcake Collection. Each had their own kind of yumminess.
The Bake Shoppe featured cakes inspired by the latest in bridal gown trends. If you missed their series, read about wedding cakes inspired by bridal gowns part 1 and wedding cakes part 2 only on ABG! The Cupcake Collection had some tasty treats as well. My favorites were the sweet potato cupcake, which tasted like spice cake, and the red velvet cupcake. I'm not usually an icing person, but both had deliciously creamy ones.
The Bake Shoppe
Cupcake Collection
Music City Events had another great spring tablescape. They used a soft green linen with white accents on the table. The hydrangeas were also a great touch for the spring tablescape. It would look great for a vintage or rustic style wedding, as well.
Wedding 101 looked great as well. It is a great FREE resource for brides in Nashville and the Middle TN area. They had shabby chic decor as well. This is really prevalent in weddings right now. So, if you're looking for a theme, this could be a good one!
Eyecandy Salon is a hot salon that is all about glamour. They are located downtown and have great pricing for all brides! The salon is also planning a bridal extravaganza called Bridal Carnevale. It is planned for April 18th and has a complete facebook page dedicated to the festivities.
Geny's Wedding and Events floored me as soon as I walked upstairs. I don't know if they did it on purpose, but they took the splashes of red in the Noah Liff Opera Center and ran with it. They used one of my favorite color schemes - red and damask - that I think can be used for any season. To brighten it up, they used green, which lightens the darkness of the black and makes it a perfect spring or summer palette.
It was a great bridal show that showcased wonderful wedding resources. Hope my recap will help you find a few additional ideas or resources for your big day. Thanks to Kristyn Hogan lifestylye photographer for all photos.
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Posted by Cassandra |
Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events, Wedding Resources0 comments »
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Her Nashville bridal show is my new favorite bridal show! I loved the venue, Noah Liff Opera Center, which boasts a beautiful, open and airy ambiance that made the show seem very LA:). Seriously, I felt like I'd been transported to a different city. Not that I don't love Nashville but the show had a very different vibe than any I've attended in the past.
I attended the show with Cassie, who is here to share all of our favorite wedding finds with you.
Enjoy ~ Ashley
On the last weekend in February, nFocus and HER magazine hosted a bridal brunch at the Noah Liff Opera Center. The center is centrally located; close enough to all the hottest spots downtown without all the noise and traffic. If you haven't visited the site yet, you should. It is a great new Nashville wedding venue and perfect for any bride! The center is perfect because it will compliment any color scheme, especially with the little pops of red throughout the whole place. I particularly like the drama and sophistication of the red spiral staircase.
Another great thing about the Noah Liff Opera Center is the ambiance and lighting. The floor to ceiling windows are a great touch and would look spectacular at night. Think of the stars twinkling on your wedding night. A great compliment to the twinkling stars in the night sky is the lighting. The small, smartly placed lights overhead look like stars and hang oh-so-delicately. The lights also echo the spiral staircase with their cylindrical appearance.
StudioWed had a gorgeous set up right as you walked up the stairs. Their tablescape was perfect for a spring wedding. The linens were charcoal gray with an accent of a soft, pale green for the napkin linens. They complimented each other in a fabulous way and looked stunning next to the floor to ceiling windows. The ladies of Studio Wed also had a mini candy buffet set up in coordinating colors. In particular, I really enjoyed the coke flavored candy. It was too cute! Their floral design was provided by Brocade Design and were spectacular.
(Notice the cute canvas tote bag on the bride's arm? It's an ABG bag!)
Designs in Paper gave away super cute mini scrapbooks! They were very festive and were filled with the cutest papers. Also given to the brides to be were buttons. The buttons said "Future Mrs." with the new first letter of your last name. I snatched one up for myself, as well as scrapbook since I am a bride to be. Plus, they were just too adorable to pass up. Designs in Paper is great because they do more than stationery. They offer cake toppers, specialized confetti, and other paper goodies.
Faccio Bridal displayed superb dresses for a spring wedding. They were flowy, detailed, and accentuated the waist. The bridesmaids dresses complimented the bridal gowns well too. They echoed the strapless look of the gowns but in a beautiful fushia color, which is perfect for spring and summer weddings. I also enjoyed the use of the sash on the flower girl's dress; it matched the bridesmaid dresses, which is a great way to tie in the colors.
Creative Designs and Events had another great spring/summer tablescape. They used black and yellow with hints of silver and gray. It was a perfectly simple design and would look great for an evening wedding. The yellow roses were a great added touch to brighten up the design and the space. The candles added great ambience too. I also loved the custom invitations and menu cards that used the same patterned fabric.
More highlights tomorrow! Thanks to Kristyn Hogan lifestylye photographer for accompanying us and capturing our favorite finds.
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Posted by Cassandra |
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