Friday, September 6, 2013
There are several bridal shows in the Nashville area. More than likely, you can not attend them all. Who has the time! There are two bridal shows this month that I plan to attend that I think you also would enjoy. If you see me out and about, please introduce yourself, and let's chat about your wedding!
Enchanted Brides: This Sunday, September 8, 2013: Cheekwood
Perfect Wedding Guide: Sunday, September 22, 2013: Sheraton Hotel
Here are 7 simple tips to help you prepare for bridal shows:
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Set your overall budget before you start wedding shopping.
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Wear comfy shoes and bring a bottle of water to drink. Maybe something salty - you will need it after your third piece of yummy cake.
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Print 50 info labels that contain your first/last name, email, phone, mailing address - this will save you lots of time when you enter contests and/or give vendors your information.
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Take a notepad and a pen to write down your favorites.
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Take a camera to capture the ideas you like.
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Plan ahead by bringing a shopping list of the vendors that you need and your estimated budget for the category.
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Go with one friend to keep you focused on your objectives - which vendors you need at which budget
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Bridal Showers, Luncheons, Parties,
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Friday, August 16, 2013
Our ulitmate list of Nashville bridal shower ideas concludes today with our final ideas. From zany to crafy, these unique and interactive experiences will keep the party and the bride fully entertained.
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Bridal Showers with Crafty Activities
25) Paint + Canvas - website
6913 Lenox Village Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
Contact (615) 499-0543, email
If your bride is a modern day Picasso, surprise her with a canvas painting bridal shower.
At Paint + Canvas, located in Lenox Village, private parties are $35 per person, with a minimum of 15 guests and a maximum of 30. You may bring in outside food and beverages to enjoy during the 3 hour party. Reservations are secured with a credit card and there is a $200 non-refundable deposit if an event is cancelled. Cancellations require a 72 hour notice (or a 50% cancellation fee is charged).
Private parties are only available on dates without pre-registered public classes, so book early in order to get your bride’s requested date.
Paint + Canvas; Photo: company's Facebook page
26) Brushfire Pottery Studio - website
Green Hills Court next to Flower Mart; 4004 Hillsboro Pike #150, Nashville, TN 37215
Contact: (615) 385-5334
“Pottery Painting Showers are easy to do plus the bride or Mom-to-Be receives gifts that last a lifetime.” – Brushfire Pottery Studio
This studio can host any number of guests. The cost is a $6 studio fee, per person, plus the price of the pottery piece that is painted (this typically ranges from $6 to $18). The studio can divide the cost of the bride’s piece up so that party members (or the party planners) are able to cover her expense. Pottery is then left at the studio to be glazed, fired and is ready for pick up one week after the event.
Brushfire Pottery Studio welcomes you to bring your own food and refreshments and promises to help with cleanup.
Reserve space for the bride’s shower at Brushfire Pottery Studio by calling (615) 385-5334. No fee is required, just a name, phone number and expected party size.
Brushfire Pottery; Photo: company's Facebook page
27) Let’s Make Wine - website
103 N. Spring Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, Just off the Historic Square
Contact: Cheryl, (615) 427-5084, email
If your bride loves wine and painting, consider a wine glass painting class at Let’s Make Wine, located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Let’s Make Wine supplies the glasses and materials, you bring in the drinks and refreshments.
The studio can accommodate parties as large as 16. The cost is $15 per person and the entire experience typically lasts 2-3 hours, with souvenirs to take home immediately (or give to the bride).
Let's Make Wine; Photo: company's Facebook page
Beautiful Non-Restaurant Spaces for Bridal Showers
28) Wedding 101 - website
230 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37064
Contact: Amy Hill Dickerson, Co-Owner, (615) 791-9771, email
Wedding 101 refers to itself as a “bride’s place to plan”. Any bride would appreciate having her shower and getting a few planning ideas in at the same time.
Located inside The Factory at Franklin, Wedding 101 can host a weekend bridal shower, with up to 80 guests, during non-business hours (after 5 p.m. on Saturdays and during afternoon hours on Sundays).
Wedding 101 offers two types of special event packages:
- Studio rental only: Exclusive use of the Wedding 101 studio. External food and beverages and set-up and clean-up must be provided by you. The cost for this option is $150 for 2 hours (minimum) and $50 per each additional hour.
- All inclusive bridal shower: Rental of the Wedding 101 studio as well as invitations (addressed, stamped and mailed), hors d’oeuvres, desserts, beverages and champagne provided by the staff at Wedding 101. They will also take care of set up and clean up. The cost for this option is $250 for up to 20 guests, $475 for up to 40 guests, $675 for up to 60 guests and $850 for up to 80 guests. The studio rental fee (of $150 for 2 hours) is also required with this package.
Full payment is required when booking a bridal shower at Wedding 101. Cancellations must be made 7 days prior to the scheduled event for a 50% refund. No refund will be given if the event is cancelled less than 7 before the event.
Wedding 101; Photo: company's website
29) Noah Liff Opera Center - website
3622 Redmon Street Nashville, TN 37209
Sarah Willard Facilities & Event Manager The Noah Liff Opera Center, (615-832-5242), email
Noah Liff Opera Center offers two distinct, modern spaces to choose from for your bridal shower, comfortably accommodating 10 to 80 guests! Located just off West End, the Noah Liff Opera Center is centrally located to downtown, Brentwood, Green Hills and the Hermitage area! Enjoy your private space with lovely floor to ceiling glass walls with beautiful views. There are no minimum food or beverage requirements; clients have 8 different caterers and over 40 linen colors to choose from!
Noah Liff Opera Center; Photo: company provided
Bridal Shower Excursion
30) Tennessee Central Railway Museum - website
220 Willow Street, Nashville, TN 37210
Contact: (615) 244-9001
Is your bride a fan of the railway? The Tennessee Central Railway offers passenger excursions that include Murder Mystery trips, Train Robbery trips, Super Fall Foliage excursions and even a trip down the fall mile-long yard sale event in Watertown, TN. These excursions can be an all day event – ranging from 6 to 10 hours – so plan appropriately. The cost ranges from $32 to $62 depending on which excursion you select.
Tennessee Central Railway Museum; Photo: company's website
For more bridal shower ideas, be sure to read part 1, part 2 and part 3.
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Posted by Intern Laurie |
Filed under: Bridal Showers, Luncheons, Parties, Wedding Resources,
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Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Bridesmaids, maids or matrons of honor, sisters, mothers, best friends or any one that the bride is entrusting with this honor:
Are you trying to plan a bridal shower for the wife-to-be but don’t know where to start? When a private residence is not an option, finding the right shower venue isn't easy. We've been in your shoes, and we most certainly have some ideas for you!
We reached out to Nashville wedding pros, brides, and previous bridesmaids and asked for their recommendations. Based on the community's feedback and our research, we found restaurants with private or semi-private rooms to be the most common route for a Nashville bridal shower.
Below is the ultimate list of scrumptious restaurant locations that are sure to leave your mouth watering, and are ready and able to pamper your bride.
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Bridal Shower Venues with Traditional, Southern Cuisine
1) Mere Bulles - website
5201 Maryland Way, Brentwood, TN 37027
Contact: Randy, event coordinator, (615) 467-1945
If your bride appreciates southern charm, consider booking her shower at Mere Bulles.
Mere Bulles offers tiered lunch options, starting at $17.99 per person, that allow guests to pick from multiple entries. With three different rooms to choose from (depending on your party size and the room availability), this former mansion requires no room rental fee. There is a minimal food and beverage fee which ranges from $300 to $500 (depending upon which room you select) during the lunch hours.
Randy, your event contact at Mere Bulles, will cover your tables with an overlay of the bride’s choosing and provide cloth napkins to match. What a nice way to incorporate the wedding colors into the shower!
Mere Bulles; Photo: Alex Bee Photography
2) Harding House at Belle Meade Plantation - website
5025 Harding Road, Nashville, TN 37205
Contact: Anna R. Hodges, (615) 356-0096, email
Hidden inside the Belle Meade Plantation is a gem of a restaurant named Harding House.
It features southern favorites such as fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese spread and candied pecan spinach chicken for your bridal shower guests to enjoy.
Packages start at $15 per person and max out at $31 per person.
Even though the Harding House does not have a private room, there is a back room that is used for large parties on a regular basis. Harding House also offer extra touches, at an additional cost, that the bride might be interested in such as - custom printed menus, white linens and custom flowers.
Harding House at Belle Meade Plantation; Photo: company's Facebook page
3) Monell's - website
2 Locations
Historic Germantown Location (min 40 for reservation)
1235 6th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208
Monell’s at the Manor (min 50 for reservation)
1400 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37217
Contact: Suzanne Henkle for special event reservations, (615) 365-1414, [email protected]
Monell's is a Nashville favorite, so if your bride is a lover of music city she will be sure to enjoy a lunch party with her best friends here. This family style restaurant offers country cooked meals that are passed from person to person around the table. At Monells, you have two dining options:
-Space for a party of 20 or more can be reserved for lunch at Monells’ Manor on Murfreesboro Pike. This special reservation allows guests to choose from a luncheon menu that with prices set at $24.95 per person.
-A party of less than 20 can enjoy lunch at Monells’ historic Germantown location for $14.99 per person; however, no reservations can be made (it is first-come, first-served), but the restaurant staff will do their best to seat your party at grouped tables. There is no private room option available at Monells’ historic Germantown location.
Monell's; Photo: company's Facebook page
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Bridal Shower Venues at Charming Cafes
4) The Cottage Cafe - website
160 Belle Forest Circle, Nashville, TN 37221
Contact: Lorie Burcham, (615) 673-2223, café@crumbdelacrumb.com
The Cottage Café offers tea time hours perfect for a bridal shower.
From 3:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. (reservations required) you can partake in either the light tea (at $19 per person) which includes tea, scones and muffins, mini gourmet pastries and desserts, assorted tea sandwiches and fresh fruits or the full tea (at $24 per person) which includes tea, scones and muffins, mini gourmet pastries and desserts, assorted tea sandwiches, Quiche or a soup and salad combo and fresh fruits.
The Cottage Cafe; Photo - Style Blueprint
5) The Garden Brunch Cafe - website
924 Jefferson Street, Nashville, TN 37208
Contact: Karl and Jennifer Carpenter, owners, (615) 891-1217
The Garden Brunch Cafe is one of Ashley’s favorite brunch spots!
The owners host bridal showers, rehearsal dinners and even a small wedding reception. If your bride is interested in dinner at The Garden Brunch Cafe, the cost runs about $25 per person. Bridal Showers and other special events are held “after hours” so your party will have the entire restaurant to itself. There is no room rental fee. The restaurant can hold up to 50 people in its main room.
Make sure to contact Karl or Jennifer at least 2 weeks in advance of your event. Half of the estimated cost is due when the contract is signed, the other half is due at the time of the event.
Garden Brunch Cafe; Photo - Cindy McCain's Rich Life blog
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Bridal Shower Venues with a City Chic Vibe
6) 1808 Grille at The Hutton Hotel - website
1808 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203
Contact: Whitney Eccher,(615) 340-0012, email
Located on West End inside the Hutton Hotel, 1808 Grille is a nice choice for an upscale bridal shower.
The brunch (on Saturdays) or lunch (Monday through Friday) options average around $25 to $30 a person, before tax and gratuity. 1808 Grille’s Bourdeaux Room can accommodate up to 20 guests.
There is a required $250 minimum spend on food and beverage that accompanies this room, but as long as this minimum is met there is no room fee.
1808 Grille; Photos - company's website
7) Sunset Grill - website
2001 Belcourt Ave, Nashville, TN 37212
Contact: Elizabeth Con, Event Coordinator, (615) 516-1915
Sunset Grill offers customizable menu options for breakfast (starting at $14.99 a person plus tax and gratuity), lunch (starting at $14.99 a person plus tax and gratuity) and dinner (starting at $34.99 per person plus tax and gratuity).
Vegetarian entrees are also offered.
Sunset Grill has various private rooms that can be sectioned off to accommodate parties from 20 to 125. There are seprate one time rental fees for each of these rooms and minimum food and beverage spends (separate fees apply to separate days and meals, so make sure to call Elizabeth for more information).
A 30% deposit of the estimated total cost is required to reserve any room.
Sunset Grill; Photos - company's Facebook page
For more bridal shower ideas, be sure to read part 2, part 3 and part 4.
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Posted by Intern Laurie |
Filed under: Bridal Showers, Luncheons, Parties, Bridesmaids & Bridal Party, Wedding Resources,
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
paperKuts Studio, a Nashville invitation boutique, has just added the fun and fabulous DynaSmiles stationery line. DynaSmiles specializes in stationery featuring colorful character illustrations for women of color.
Bridal Shower ~ Couple's Bridal Shower ~ Baby Shower ~ Couple's Baby Shower ~ Graduation ~ Birthday Parties
The DynaSmiles line has invitations for weddings, baby, birthdays, graduations and other social events. While the invitations can be ordered directly, I always recommend that you meet with a local stationer and order from a pro because you can see and feel the products and receive one-on-one help on wording, etiquette. Often, pros can even show you a proof so that you know exactly what you are getting and can correct any errors.
paperKuts is a home-based retail store located in the East Nashville area and offers a no pressure, helpful environment that ABG brides have appreciated. Contact paperKuts' owner Kim directly to schedule an appointment to see the DynaSmiles line or other chic invitation lines. Phone: 615.885.0231 or email.
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Bridal Showers, Luncheons, Parties, Invitations & Paper Goods, Multicultural, African-American weddings,
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Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Jason and Lori, owners of Crumb de la Crumb bakery and The Cottage Cafe are hosting their first, by demand, Supper Club. The May 31st event is expected to be an upscale, one-of-a-kind dinner with live music. And if you know anything about this team, you know to also expect an inventive twist on the menu.
If you are open to something outside the run of the mill date night, RSVP for The Cottage Cafe's Supper Club in Bellevue, TN. The scrumptious menu is below.
"For our first Supper Club, we will be featuring some of our favorites. A set menu of 4 courses with a choice of two different main entree's. Live music will also be on tap for what is going to be a great evening.
(Due to our space being limited, it's a reservations only event. We will be operating under our "shared seating" policy. This means your party may be joined with another party so that we can accommodate everyone.)"
Menu
Seafood Feast
Charleston She Crab Soup
Caramelized Scallops with White Balsamic Strawberry Salsa
Main Dishes :
Pistachio Encrusted Salmon with Lemon Basil Butter Sauce served with Lemon Sea Salt Roasted Asparagus and Cherub Tomatoes
Or Low Country Shrimp and Grits (These shrimp are fresh off the boat, brought in especially for this event). Lorie's special recipe!! Trust us, the best you've ever eaten!!
and....
A trio of Lorie's delectable dessert creations. She's way more than cake, people!! *This event will be a BYOB event, with a corkage fee for those who bring wine.
Price per person $38.00
Please respond with your entree choice(s) when you purchase tickets.
Suggested gratuity of 18% is NOT included. Corkage fee will be collected on the night of the event.
Link to Details and Tickets
Not interested in the Supper Club? Know that The Cottage Cafe is also a great location for bridal showers, bridal luncheons and Crumb de La Crumb offers fantastic wedding cakes.
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Bridal Showers, Luncheons, Parties, Cakes & Desserts, Wedding Venues and Locations,
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