Thursday, June 13, 2013
Everyone will snap photos at your wedding and you will probably see very few of the photos, UNLESS you use an app like Wedding Snap (weddingsnap.com), a photo app that allows your guests to upload their photos to your wedding album. You just might be surprised at the great photos your guests capture.
Hillary of Your Day of Fairy Tales happened to mention that her bride Jordan used the app and was elated with the wonderful photos that her guests uploaded, even kids. I interviewed Jordan, whose budget wedding we featured earlied this year, to see what she loved about the app and whether she recommends it for other Nashville brides.
All of the photos shown below were uploaded by Jordan's wedding guests to Wedding Snap.
How did you hear about Wedding Snap?
I went to a friend's wedding a month before mine and she used the Wedding Snap app.
How did you inform your guests/family about the app and how did you instruct them to use it?
I sent out a Facebook message to all who were coming to my wedding as well as an email to those who don't use Facebook. I included information on what the app was and the password. I was worried people would have a hard time finding the app/ getting the password wrong, but nobody seemed to have any problems.
Who uploaded photos?
Family and friends from both sides took photos.
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Who uploaded photos that you didn't ever think would?
My 8 year old niece and 6 year old nephew!
What surprised you most about the photos that were uploaded?
Some of the best moments captured where the ones where people were not posing. People were just having a good time and enjoying the moment whether it be during the ceremony or reception.
What was your favorite photo uploaded?
One of my favorite photos from the night was one my sister took during the reception. You could seen the moon behind the string lights and people sitting at their tables below.
What did you like most about using the app?
I liked giving people the opportunity to be part of the wedding by taking pictures. They felt involved and it gave people something to do.
Do you recommend it and why?
Yes. I recommend it even if you have a professional photographer. You give people the chance to be involved in the wedding and also capture more special moments by having eyes everywhere.
Click here if you missed our full feature with pro photos from Jordan and Jay's $5,000 backyward wedding, earlier this year.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Real Nashville Brides
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Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Most of you already know to take your treasured bridal gowns to Oakwood Cleaners for cleaning and preserving. But, did you know that Oakwood Cleaners is also a great resource for your bridesmaids and mothers?
When my sister's best friend got married in Atlanta, my sister headed over to Oakwood's White Bride Road location and was measured for free. Their service of maids and moms goes beyond just measurements. Here's an overview of what they offer your bridal party:
1) Complimentary measurements
Let's say your bridesmaids are local. Let them know they can call Oakwood Cleaners in Nashville for an appointment and get their measurements taken for FREE! This is a great option if the dresses are being bought in another city or online. For instance, for my sister's BFF's wedding, all of the bridesmaids dresses were being bought in Atlanta so my sister emailed her Oakwood's measurements to the Atlanta retailer. Super easy. The folks at Oakwood were helpful and pleasant. The dress ended up needing only minor alterations. In contrast, for my wedding, my sister's dress needed a lot of altering following less than accurate measurements.
2) Alterations
Once you receive your dress, schedule an appointment and take your dress back to Oakwood Cleaners for alterations.
Tips: Take your undergarments and wedding day shoes (if dress is long) to get an accurate idea of what alterations are required. Allow at least 4 to 8 weeks for alterations to be completed. Less time might be doable if only straps and hems are needed to be altered. They can also alter your dress after the wedding if you want to convert it to a shorter version.
Left: Oakwood assessing alteration needs. Right: Us at the wedding in Atlanta.
The Atlanta wedding party; Photo by Nadia D Photography.
3) Pressing
Often when you receive your dress from the designer, it will be wrinkled, especially if it's been shipped. Take your gown to Oakwood Cleaners and they can press your dress. Many brides drop off all of the bridesmaid dresses so all of the gowns are pressed.
Photo: The Bride Room
Bridesmaids whose dresses were pressed pre-wedding by Oakwood Cleaners.
Brides, bridesmaids, mother of the bride or groom: Contact the Oakwood Cleaners nearest you to schedule your measurement, alteration appointment or to drop off your dress for pressing or of course cleaning.
Oakwood Cleaners Locations:
4833 Lebanon Pike in Hermitage, Hermitage, TN, (615) 885-1281
73 White Bridge Road, Paddock Place Shopping Center, Nashville, TN (615) 620-6095
2000 Mallory Lane, Suite 170, Cool Springs Market Shopping Plaza, Franklin, TN, (615) 764-0222
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Alterations + Gown Preservation, Advice & Planning, Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories
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Monday, June 3, 2013
When I got married, I hired a day-of-coordinator at the last minute after I realized that my event coordinator SUCKED! She lost my wedding file the night of my rehearsal and hours of conversation and her meticulous notes went immediately down the drain. She stressed me out more than any single vendor or aspect of my wedding. So as your been-there-down-that girl, I cant stress enough how important it is for you to understand the difference between YOUR planner and the VENUE's coordinator.
Today's expert advice is provided by Sarah Willard, owner of Music City Events. Sarah is a respected planner in the Nashville wedding community and offers full service wedding planning for engaged couples. She's always willing to answer my questions and help brides make better decisions.
All photos are of wedding planner Sarah, in action, helping her Nashville-area brides.
Recently, I have been hearing a lot of comments about the difference and similarities of an event planner versus a venue coordinator. I am also noticing more and more that a lot of brides feel as though the sales managers/coordinators at their venue will suffice when it comes to planning their dream wedding.
As an event planner with a decade of experience in Nashville, I can tell you many differences between the two. My company also manages a venue in Nashville, so we have a unique perspective, because we do both!
There is a very distinct difference between the two and the scope of work is extremely different. They each play a significant role in the execution of a reception but in a very different ways.
Venue coordinators/catering sales managers (in most cases) are primarily responsible for:
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Getting you booked and on their calendar
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Selling the venue features and services
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Passing out tasks to venue or banquet staff
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Oversee the vendor load in and load out and/or food set up and breakdown
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THE VENUE!
They know their space very well. Most venue coordinators and sales managers are certainly there to help but remember, at the end of the day, they are working for the venue and it is quite possible that they have more than one event going on at once. They do not handle any matters with vendors outside their venue or accompany or assist you in design sessions with your florist, lighting and linens, bakery, etc.
On the other hand…
Event or Wedding Planner is responsible for you, your guests and YOUR wedding/event.
An event planner is:
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Work with you from the day you book their services (depending on the package selected) until the end of your wedding reception.
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Provide and assist you in the selection of vendors they have worked with in the past. These trusted vendors are able to perform the requested services. The planner typically accompanies you to vendor meetings and assists in overall design of the day.
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Create detailed timelines and letters to vendors to make sure they are all on the same page prior to your big day
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Coordinate your rehearsal, ceremony and entire wedding day
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Be sure that all ceremony items are in place such as programs, aisle runners, candles etc
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Set up all extra decor and accent items such as favors, place cards, tips and even collect gifts
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Review all vendor contracts
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They allow you to truly be a guest at your own event- no questions asked.
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….and the list goes ON.
Not all venue coordinators or planners are created equally so just make your best judgment. Make sure that your decision is an informed decision. Know the difference between a venue coordinator and an event planner. The event planner is hired to work for YOU. A venue coordinator works for the venue.
There are wonderful venue coordinators and sales managers out there. Most of them love their jobs and really want the best for you. It always best to know what exactly you are signing up for. A venue coordinator and event planner are both very important to have, as they both have specific to ensure you have a beautiful and stress-free wedding! So before you decide you don’t need a planner…do your research. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us!
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Posted by A Music City Event |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Venues and Locations
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Thursday, May 30, 2013
Earlier this year, I read this comprehensive guide to wedding tipping on Yahoo. I wondered if the advice was accurate and if it was relevant to Nashville weddings so I reached out to Damon and Sarah, owners of Regalo Design, a Nashville planning, design and decor company. If anyone would know and would be honest and objective, they would.
Damon and Sarah
Ashley: What advice do you give your Nashville brides when it comes to tipping?
Damon: We get tipping questions all the time. It's a big question. I don't tell couples to based tips on percentages. Instead, I recommend they tip anyone they feel has gone above and beyond and made their day great. But i also tell our couples, "if you have a bad experience - and already have an enveleope set aside with a tip and you don't feel the vendor lived up to expecations - don't feel obligated to give them a tip."
We have some vendors, say bartenders, who say - "if we can put a tip jar out, we not add a service fee." I also know that some photographers include certain verbiage stating that tips are appreciated but gratuity isn't included. Same for caterers.
Ashley: Yes. Some vendors do approach the topic of tips in their contracts. That's one approach.
Damon: I'm always conscious of peoples' budgets so I tell my clients, "If you feel someone has done a great job, give them a tip that you feel comfortable with."
Sarah: It's hard to offer specific percentage recommendations. It's hard to add a 10% tip to a $10K catering bill.
Damon: We've some couples have an envelope with $10 per envelope and others with $100 per vendor. Tips arent mandatory but a way to thank others for good service - that could be $10, 20 gas gift card or $100 cash per person - whatever you can do to say thank you for being there, thank you for making the day great and helping make our day memorable.
Ashley: I like that. This approach encourages people to consider tipping vendors who have served them well versus not thinking of tipping at all. Generosity always goes a long way.
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I'd love to hear from other Nashville pros, recently married and engaged couples. I'm sure most of you will agree with Sarah and Damon that there's no single approach but how have you handled it? What are your thoughts? Leave a comment, tweet to @weddinggirl or Facebook me to let me know.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Tuesday, May 7, 2013
As a bride who had a lot of guest who traveled to Nashville for my wedding, I can't say that I was the most thoughtful bride. My reception venue required a 20 minute drive from my ceremony location. I did set up a wedding website that included some directions but I didnt really give my guests ideas for local activities. I did make sure my guests enjoyed a cocktail reception while we took formal photos. I also choose a hotel that offered a free breakfast the morning after my wedding. (That was one of my better decisions actually.!) Overall, I'd give myself a B-. I simply just didnt think all of how I could have made different decisions that would have been good for me and for my guests. their needs through. But when you know better, you should do better.
What I now know is that when you are planning a destination Nashville wedding or are catering to many out of town guests, it's important to start with a solid game plan that considers your guests and makes their journey to your wedding as easy and enjoyable as possible. But how do you do that?
I reached out to Jalessa of the Nashville City Club for advice on weddings with a large number of out of town guests. As an all-inclusive wedding location in the heart of Nashville, they attract a large share of out of town brides who 1) love Nashville and have chosen our city for their big day 2) prefer a central, downtown venue and 3) are planning remotely and need a strong team that knows Nashville to help with details. With their expert help, you should have a much better luck planning your destination Nashville wedding and accomodating your out of town guests.
Above images: The Collection
Above images: Dove Wedding Photography
Above images: Scoobie Photographic Images
Above image: Kery Woo Photography
What should brides consider as they plan a destination Nashville wedding or if they anticipate a good number of out of town guests?
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All inclusive venues - They will make it easier as you plan. They are less work for the bride and groom. Unless you go with an all-inclusive venue, you will definitely need a planner.
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Transportation - Be sure that you have a plan. Think this through for your guests. The easier you make their travel, the better.
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Activities - Provide highlights of Nashville and give them something to do. Highlight why you choose Nashville and provide suggesttions for their weekend.
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Staff - Make sure you are comfortable with any vendors that you hire. Make sure they are readily accesible and are good about communication. Develop a good relationship with them because you will be depending heavily on them.
The Nashville City Club was voted the "Best Place to Get Married" and "Best View of Nashville" by TheTennessean's readers. Here's what makes them a favorite place for destination weddings and out of town guests:
1) Downtown location
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easy to get to from any part of the city, including airport
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walking distance to hotels, no car needed to get around downtown area
2) All-inclusive packages
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reduces the number of local vendors to contact, hire
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single contact for most wedding needs - food, basic linen, ceremony, reception, beverages
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complimentary parking for wedding guests
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can host ceremony and reception in one easy location, saving money and travel time for guest
3) Unmatched views of city
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view on 20th floor - great view of city
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unique backdrop - floor to ceiling windows
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voted best view of city serveral years in a row
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great venue that shows off city
4) Walking distance to hotels and nightlife
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so many lodging options all around
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guests don't have to worry about driving to wedding
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with signed contract, Nashville City Club provides couples a list of hotels in area that offer NCC brides discounts on room blocks
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free shuttle to hotels that are not located in walking distance
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walking distance to nightlife on Broadway, Printers Alley
5) Helpful concierge program
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Nashville City Club's concierge has relationships with Nashville event venues like the Ryman and Bridgestone Area as well as restaurants. Brides, grooms and out of town guests can work with the concierge for event tickets, reservations or activity suggestions. Couples can even work with the concierge to plan special events for their bridal party or post-wedding events for out of town guests.
Above images: The Collection
Contact Jalessa at 615.620.1327 for a tour of the Nashville City Club or to learn more about their all-inclusive venue for local and destination brides. (All photos of Nashville City Club weddings and in downtown areas around venue.)
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Destination Nashville Weddings!, Advice & Planning, Wedding Venues and Locations
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