Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Ever so often we like to check in with our ABG vendors to see what's new and what's been going on in their world. As we've grown, so have they and it's always fun to see what they're doing now that will benefit you and your wedding planning. We recently featured her son's wedding and talked about some of her new cake designs but haven't properly introduced Vicki Nelson of Signature Cakes by Vicki to you so without further ado, here is today's Sponsor Spotlight.
Contact Information:
Name: Signature Cakes By Vicki
Main Contact: Vicki Nelson
Phone Number: 615-513-2266
Email Address: signaturecakesbyvicki {at} comcast {dot} net
Website: SignatureCakesByVicki.com
How did you get started in weddings and how long have you been decorating cakes?
My grandparents were Italian immigrants and settled 90 miles outside of Boston, Massachusetts. There are wonderful pastry bakeries and amazing family-owned restaurants in the area and so I developed a passion for delectable food and delicious sweets. Before heading off to college, I owned a small Italian restaurant, catered weddings and made wedding cakes. During my college years I continued making wedding cakes and coordinating weddings for extra money.
After my husband and I graduated from college in 1981, we moved to Nashville. I attempted to start a wedding cake business, but Nashville just wasn’t quite ready for me yet. Those were the days that most brides got their wedding cakes at Krogers for $50. So, I went into the corporate world during the onset of the telecommunications software revolution. The corporate world just wasn’t for me. Also, I really wanted to run my own business so I began catering corporate lunches. I would often do event cakes and wedding cakes for particular clients. But, in 2007 I decided to change direction, stop catering and pursue my love of wedding cakes. That’s how Signature Cakes by Vicki was born.
Images by Ashlea Terhune Photography
What do you like most about weddings?
I love the ceremony – the moment when the couple proclaims before God and all those present that they will keep their word, their vows. It gives me chills and makes me cry. Weddings are about marriage, which is the greatest commitment two people can make. Most people think about being in love when they think about a wedding, but I think that falling in love is the easy part. Making a lifetime commitment and keeping it, now that takes work and that’s what marriage is really about. Next, I love the reception. I think it should be a wonderful party with great food, drink, dancing and music. It should be the celebration of a lifetime.
What’s your favorite wedding photo/video and why?
Pictures of cake are wonderful and of course it’s important that the brides can see my work on my website. But, my favorite pictures are ones of the brides and groom’s cutting their cakes. When I see their faces, I see the joy of the moment and I get to be there, even though I wasn’t actually there.
Image by Gray Photography
Images by Chris Weaver
What is your service philosophy?
SERVICE IS EVERYTHING! I don’t care how good a product is, if it isn’t backed up with great customer service – it’s nothing. Once a bride has chosen me to do her wedding cake, I take it from there. I work with her wedding planner and her reception venue from that point on, all the way through wedding day. I communicate with her by way of emails and phone calls. She never has to concern herself again with her wedding cakes. I promise to make sure that her cake(s) are delivered on time, safe, delicious and beautiful, just as it appeared in the full scale drawing that I did on consultation day. But wedding day is not the end. I always follow up after the wedding, because I want to know that she and her guests were pleased on wedding day. I treat every bride like family. Isn’t that how we all want to be treated?
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? Why should a bride hire you?
First, we have a three-fold commitment to our customers.
1. The most beautiful cake that YOU, the customer, can imagine. We make beautiful edible embellishments such as sugar flowers, fruits, fondant ribbons, fabric, bows, birds, shoes and lace. We replicate elements from your dress in hand done piping and molds. We put all those elements together to make a one-of-a-kind, original work of edible art. No one else will ever have your wedding cake.
2. We use the freshest, highest quality ingredients including fresh eggs, butter, cream, raspberries, strawberries, juices, spices, herbs, nuts and various gourmet candies such as Ghriradelli White Chocolate, Lindor Truffles, and Godiva Chocolate, just too mention a few. We combine flavors to make gourmet, original recipes for our cakes and our icings.
3. We provide unparalleled customer service from the initial consultation to our final follow-up after wedding day.
We also have a 5-star 5.0 rating on marthastewartweddings.com with 115 reviews. We have the most reviews in not only Nashville, but Tennessee and all the surrounding states.
Images courtesy of Signature Cakes by Vicki
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors – helpfulness, professionalism, style?
We have many wonderful wedding vendors in Nashville. We have some who have been around a long time and have the reputation that they deserve. We also have some newcomers, who have great potential. My favorite wedding vendors are the ones that brides tell me did a wonderful job on their wedding. Professionalism and quality of service is everything. Instead of giving my personal opinion about who I prefer, I suggest vendors who are members of TWESA (Tennessee Wedding and Events Specialists Association). In order to be a member of TWESA, you must fulfill professional requirements and be of a good reputation in the industry. Furthermore, I suggest brides and grooms choose vendors who have impeccable reviews by independent sources. Remember, anyone can put "accolades" on their own website.
What advice would you give to brides on the wedding planning process in general?
Very few couples today have an unlimited budget for their wedding. Most couples are trying to make their dollars stretch and still have the wedding of their dreams. The first thing you must do is research! I find that many couples make up an arbitrary budget based on what they "think" they should spend on each category such as reception venue, caterer, flowers, cakes, music, invitations, favors, and photography without actually knowing what the average prices are in their area. Going online to do research is great, but honestly, very few websites actually give the exact prices. And remember, it’s imperative that you compare apples to apples.
The best way to get the most amount of information in the shortest time is to go to a bridal show. At the shows, you can ask specific questions of many different vendors in the same category. You can taste their cakes, food and drinks. You can see the work of the photographers and florists. And you can touch their samples of paper, fabric and finery. Bridal Shows narrow down your choices without spending all your time, which can actually be just as valuable to you as your money.
What is the biggest misconception about your industry?
THE biggest misconception in the wedding industry is that all vendors are "created equal." If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind, original, couture wedding cake in gourmet flavors, choose well. Check reviews, reviews, reviews!!! Read independent reviews written by brides, grooms and mothers. I suggest marthastewartweddings.com and weddingwire.com. Someone claiming to be a baker may be someone who took a few cake classes or has only done a few wedding cakes and may not have the expertise to design and bring to life a cake in art. Cake design involves, baking, art, math and engineering. Cakes aren’t magical, they have to be constructed properly in order to transport well and present well. So, make sure you get the best "value" for the price.
The cheapest price is usually not the best choice. Everyone has heard the old adage, "You get what you pay for." Well that saying is still around because it is usually still true. For example, if you hire "Uncle Fred" to do your videography, it will not be a professional, edited, work of art when you get it back from him. Well, unless of course, Uncle Fred is in the videography business. Another example would be if you hired someone who calls themself a "wedding planner" because she just got married last Spring and "knows everything" about planning a wedding. Again, a certified event planner, with years of experience has the expertise and business relationships to help you have the best possible results on wedding day. Remember, there are no "do-overs" on your wedding day.
Image by Meishach Moore Photographers
We are excited to see what else Vicki and her team have in store for us at the upcoming bridal shows. Rumor has it, she'll be launching a few new flavors and some new designs for her cakes! If Signature Cakes by Vicki was your baker for your wedding, we'd love to see the pictures so please do send them to us along with the photographer's name to add to our gallery! For more Signature Cakes by Vicki, visit their website.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Helpful Vendor Interviews!, Cakes & Desserts, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds
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Monday, September 26, 2011
Not to get all "hey look at me" but today's question from a bride really hits home and I'm sure it will with all of you too. One thing you learn when you are planning your wedding is that a lot of the stress is stemmed from your guests and family. It was in my case at least. Suddenly people are inviting other people you don't even know, or taking complete liberties with what is supposed to be your special day and it's a harsh lesson in not being able to please everybody. If any of you are experiencing this now, we hope that the responses from our industry professionals will help you along too.
Nashville Bride's Question:
My fiance and I want an small, intimate wedding. We weren't planning on giving everyone a plus one. Yet already, people are stating that they are bringing this person or that person. People we don't even know. [My groom] and I really want our wedding to just be shared with the people we are close with. Plus the invitations aren't even out and people are assuming that they have a plus one. What should we do?
Expert Advice from Sarah Willard, Wedding Planner (Music City Events)
This is unfortunately a common thread with many of today's brides. The best way to approach this, with grace, is to explain the situation to people as they mention bringing this or that person and to instruct your parents to do the same. "Josh and I really desire a very private wedding and have decided to keep the guest list small." If your choice is based partly on budget or venue space ("Our budget is tight" or "The church/venue only holds a small amount of guests"), you can add that in, but otherwise don't try to explain it away or act like its a big deal. Just use a very casual, normal tone. More often than not people will respond in the same tones you use. Having said that, etiquette dictates that you invite both spouses in a marriage and the significant other if a guest is engaged. Best of luck! These can be tricky things to navigate.
Expert Advice from Amy Thomas, Wedding Planner (Swizzle Events)
This can be a delicate situation. In days gone by, you would simply address the invitation to those who were invited and your guest would understand that a "plus one" was not included. (The official rule says only those named on the envelope are invited, i.e. Mr. & Mrs. Jones or The Thomas Family). Unfortunately, most people today do not employ the social graces that are expected for a formal event. Whether they just don't know or don't care is a topic for another day, but it still leaves you in a pickle.
Since you haven't sent your invitations yet, you will need to face this head-on with your intended guests when they mention bringing a guest. It's really important that you let them know you are so excited to have an intimate wedding and really want them to share in your day because they have played an important role in your life. Then, directly say that you are looking forward to having them at your wedding but you simply have not planned for any guests to bring a "plus one". You could tell them that you have made a very intentional guest list and you hope they will join in your celebration. If necessary, you could also tell them that you are working with a specific budget and simply can't afford a growing guest list. Most people will understand if you approach it in a calm, sweet way. Most importantly, be aware of your tone of voice and body language. The old adage "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar" is very true in this situation. You could also ask your maid of honor, mom, sister, best friend to begin spreading the word that this will be an intimate wedding and that you really hope people will honor your wishes and not bring uninvited guests. Good luck and be brave! Most likely you'll be pleasantly surprised!
Good luck with your planning, hopefully this advice gives you much needed stress relief knowing that you're not alone and that there are solutions to the problem! If you have any questions you'd like answered, please consider hiring a Nashville wedding planner to handle your wedding from AZ or contact us and we'll help you as best we can!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Monday, September 19, 2011
Fall is one of my favorite times of year where the weather is almost perfect and the trees are changing colors and becoming a fiery dance of yellows, reds and oranges, colors that are such a beautiful backdrop for weddings, especially those that are outdoor. As we've mentioned before, Cedarwood has had some stunning weddings both because their venue is great and their design team even more so. We look at a few of their fall themed weddings for inspiration and hopefully you'll be able to find some ideas that catch your eye for your own wedding!
Trick or Treat!
First up is a whimsical, fairy-tale come-to-life Halloween themed wedding. It combined the most fantastic parts of halloween (twinkly lights, bright colors and candy) with the wonders of weddings with beautiful table arrangements and a decked out cake covered in hand-shaped pumpkins, leaves and fall flowers. The matching lanterns hanging over the tables were also a nice touch, adding color from every angle. More from this three-part Halloween Themed Wedding here.
Halloween wedding images by Ace Photography
Orange and Gold
It's hard to not think of UT whenever you hear "orange wedding" here in Nashville. Thankfully, the shades of orange used in this wedding are akin to the orange you see the leaves become in the Fall and are much more pleasant and chic. From the metalic orange monogram to ribbons and flowers, the outdoors flowed into the reception area to create a seamless Fall feel. There are a lot more pictures to be seen - if this is what you envision your wedding day to look like, definitely click here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.
Images by Stephanie Hamlet Photography
Purple and Pink
Some of the more vibrant colors that go well with Fall wedings are the jewel tones like teal and purple. This wedding complements those colors with bright pinks/fucshias to really give pops of color. Using an orchid for a boutonniere is a rather classic look but the contrast of the rich purple against the navy suit lends a more contemporary look and feel. Definitely not for the faint of heart, the purple and bright pink combo isn't as popular as the classic orange/gold/yellow for fall but it's always fun to see and such a treat for all. More from this wedding here.
Images by Rachel Moore Photography
Cedarwood has done tons of gorgeous weddings on their grounds with all sorts of color shemes and themes. Be sure to check out more of Cedarwood's Fall Weddings, or look at our Inspiration Gallery for more great ideas for your wedding! All the best!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Florals, Details & Design , Inspiration & Trends, Wedding Venues and Locations
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Friday, September 16, 2011
Our ABG sponsors are like family, so when one of their own gets married, we get really excited to see the details. Today's featured wedding is that of Sam, whose mom Vicki Nelson runs Signature Cakes by Vicki, and Amber whose wedding was inspired by one of Shakespeare's classic plays. We knew the cake would be fabulous and couldn't wait to see it. We were overjoyed to see that they had several cakes - all custom of course and looking quite awesome. I've never seen a wedding based on a play before and it was fun to see Amber and Sam's take on "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
Amber + Samuel
Wedding Day: Sunday, July 3, 2011
Venue ~ Stones River Country Club
Guests ~ 80
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Nature inspired. We both really enjoy outdoor activities and with that interest it seems to seep into the rest of our lives including household and clothing style.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding
We went for a ethereal, Midsummer Night’s Dream feel. The main color was purple but we brought in a lot of greens as an accent and had real trees inside the reception hall with hanging tea lights on them. It was also important to us to get married outside in God’s beautiful creation. Stones River Country Club has a killer view from their back patio and a variety of scenery out on the course where we had a “first look” documented by the videographers and photographer.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
Don’t stress over the small stuff.
What did you DIY?
We bought fabric to sew our own tablecloths for the top layer on the tables, with sheer panel curtains as the layer underneath (no sewing involved in that layer) that went over the white tablecloths the country club provided.
We also made our own programs and reserved table signs, as well as fudge for favors. The favor boxes and cake boxes were ridiculously cheap because we bought them from papermart.com. We found this website by NOT using the word WEDDING in our google search but just purple boxes. We also used Oriental Trading for some items we used throughout the weekend (rehearsal dinner and wedding) which is another cheap website. Lastly we cut down some young maple trees from Sam’s parents’ property to put in the reception hall.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Have a wedding binder with all of your related information in it and don’t let other people influence the decisions you make; stick to your own guns.
Designs in Paper's custom menus
Signature Cakes' gorgeous sugar flowers and detailing.
Yes, that is a cake- a bible cake made of dark chocolate truffle!
How cool is this groom's cake?
Wedding Team
Cake Artist: Signature Cakes by Vicki
Photo Booth: Ace Photobooth
Stationery: Designs In Paper
Gown & accessories: David’s Bridal (dress & veils)
Groom’s tux/suit: Men’s Wearhouse
Bridesmaids attire: Belsoie by Jasmine
Groomsmen attire: Men’s Wearhouse &
Hair: Lora Day
Makeup: Lora Day
Officiant: Lonnie Nelson (groom’s father)
Ceremony musicians: Nashville Wedding Guitarist (classical guitar & cello duet)
Caterer: Stones River Country Club
Florist: Debbie’s Weddings & Things
Photographer: Chris Weaver Studio
Videographer: 2duce2videography
Reception Musicians: Expressions of Music
Transportation: Black Tie Limo
Guest Accommodations: Doubletree Hotel Murfreesboro
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings
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Thursday, September 15, 2011
Just because your wedding venue is a plantation or a farmhouse doesn't mean you are limited to just "country chic" or "rustic" or even "vintage" looks. Especially in a location like Legacy Farms where you can choose from a few different settings both indoors and out to create a look and feel that is right for your wedding. At their recent open house, I had a chance to see each space decorated in a certain fashion from (of course) country style to a fall-inspired table to a gorgeous Winter Wonderland. When Enchanted Florist is involved, you can expect floral and event decor that's nothing short of phenomenal and once again, the guests and I at the Open House were wowed by their imagination and design skills which seem to know no limits.
And the amazing photography...Ace Photography!
All images by Ace Photography
The covered bridge at Legacy Farms is my personal favorite area. They turned it into a ceremony location with chairs lined up on both sides and flower petals that match the suspended Asian umbrellas strewn on the ground. It's such a fun, festive look but the bridge looks like it could be transformed to be a wonderland of any sort.
Front of the Mansion
What greeted me as I arrived at the venue was a gorgeous fall-inspired ceremony and reception dinner table set up. Rows of wooden pews with an the aisle flanked by pumpkins and leaves faced the house where you could exchange your vows on the front steps. For the dinner, there was a beautiful long table decorated in oranges and yellows. This would be perfect for an October or November wedding or, really, if you're just that into fall and are over summer!
Inside the Mansion
Set by a French window overlooking the front lawn, a long, elegant dinner table was set. Candlesticks, votives, silver chargers and serving pieces sat with shimmery silver ornaments and votives and a luxurious center arrangement of roses and flowers sat atop beautiful linens.
Main Event Hall
The main area (which we've seen set up for a wedding here) was used to accommodate visitors with a live band and buffet. Upstairs, there was more great design to be seen. There were audible gasps of delight as you entered the barn loft upstairs in the main event hall. Upon entry, there was a table set up in a Winter Wonderland theme with sparkly ornaments, cool purples and blues and silk and satin fabric. It was exquisite.
The table was but an extension of the ceremony area around the corner where twinkly lights, frosty tree branches feathers and more floral arrangements completed this Winter Wonderland and if not for the fact that it was in the high 90's outside, it would have felt like we were actually at a winter wedding.
How's this for winter wedding inspiration?
Courtyard
Every usable area at Legacy Farm was decorated - even outside there were antiques set up to show what they have on hand for decor. The courtyard between the Event Hall and the Mansion also had tables set up and tucked away, in a sheltered area, was a country style section. There seemed no limit to the design capabilities of all the vendors involved that day and I'm glad I was able to visit!
Thank you to Legacy Farms for hosting a beautiful Open House, we look forward to seeing more weddings take place there. Big thank you as well to Ace Photography, who has shared their style shoot at the Open House in three parts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
Design Team:
Floral Design: Enchanted Florist
Styling/Decor: Enchanted Florist, Events Plus Nashville (EventsPlusNashville.com)
Specialty Lighting: JD's Music (JDsMusic.com)
Stationery/Paper Goods: Designs In Paper
Rentals: Main Event Productions and Legacy Farms Fabu, Southern Events,
Gown: The White Room
Photography: Ace Photography
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Inspiration & Trends, Wedding Venues and Locations
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