Monday, February 18, 2013
Attention all budget-smart or vintage seeking brides: I've got a hot-off-the-press goody for you this week...The Goodwill Wedding Gala Look Book is now available and you can see it here before anywhere else!! Take a few moments to enjoy some of my favorite looks and then check out the entire digital magazine, which includes a small sampling of the dresses that will be on sale (all for under $400) at the Goodwill Wedding Gala.
How gorgeous is this wedding gown! I can't believe it will be available for under $400 at the Gala.
The Gala will will offer dresses for brides, bridesmaids, moms and flower girls too!
Enjoy the full Look Book below! (Visit the last page of the book for vendor credits.)
If you are not familiar with the Goodwill Gala, here's a quick synopsis:
The Goodwill Wedding Gala is the ultimate way to save on your wedding dress. The Gala will take place from 6am to 10am on Saturday, March 16 at the Goodwill Store in Rivergate located at 2101 Gallatin Pike North in Madison, Tennessee.
The dresses:
You will find bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, cocktail dresses, mother of the bride/groom dresses, flower girl dresses, and more from Alfred Angelo, Allure, Eden Bridals, Mary’s, Watters Brides, etc. No wedding gown will be priced over $400!!
The organization:
Proceeds from the sale of these items will benefit the mission of Goodwill. Goodwill helps provide employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities and others who have trouble finding and keeping jobs.
The inside scoop:
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Be sure to arrive early - last year there were 350+ brides in line at 6am to get their dream gown for less!
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Attendees will be treated to refreshments provided by C&K Catering.
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Rhonda Patton Weddings will provide inspirational wedding designs.
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Pre-owned wedding gowns have been cleaned by Nicholson Cleaners.
To read all about the organization, the event, and our tour of the Goodwill facilities, read our full feature via this link. For more information, visit giveit2goodwill.org or call 615-346-1601.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Bridal Shows & Events, Bridesmaids & Bridal Party, DIY & Budget Wed Finds
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Thursday, February 14, 2013
I love bridal shows! As you can probably imagine, I've been to my fair share - some a great, some not so great. But, this Sunday's Perfect Wedding Guide show is sure to be a treat. For that reason, I highly recommend that you go. But, there's a skill to attending bridal shows to ensure maximum benefit and effectiveness. Yes, you could just go. But, you want to make sure you see and find what you need to make the most of your time and your dollars!
Here are 7 simple tips for how to be a savvy bride at this weekend's bridal show:
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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.
Booth #1: The Enchanted Florist
Service - Caprice and her talented crew are floral designer extraordinaires. This top-notch team will make your wedding design dreams come true. Trust me!
Before the bridal show - Swoon over their previous work at enchantedfloristtn.com and then be sure to visit Caprice and team at Sunday's bridal show. Tell them Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide sent you.
Booth #2: Country Music Hall of Fame
Venue - Country Music Hall of Fame is a stuning venue, museum and a world reknown destination.
Before the bridal show - Learn more about the Country Music Hall of Fame via countrymusichalloffame.org, then add them to your list to see on Sunday. Tell them Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide sent you. Schedule a tour to see the venue in person.
Booth #3: Noah Liff Opera Center
Service - The Noah Opera Center is a remarkable, modern, and relatively new location for your Nashville wedding.
Before the bridal show - You really need to see it in person to appreciate its beauty but check out one of our inspiration weddings via this link to get an idea of how it looks. Then, visit noahliffoperacenter.com for package info before you visit their booth on Sunday.
Booth #4: Rhonda Patton Weddings and Events
Service - Rhonda offers floral design for modern, chic brides.
Before the show - Visit rhondapattonweddings.com to learn more about Rhonda because her floral design is fabulous! Then, get to know her in person at Sunday's show.
Booth #5: Signature Cakes by Vicki
Service - Signature Cakes by Vicki delights in designing the "most beautiful centerpiece to your wedding and the most delicious desssert for your reception."
Before the bridal show - Check out Vicki's prolific portfolio of stunning wedding cakes via her website. At the show, you must stop by Vicki's booth to taste her cakes and see the wonderful creations in person. She promises to wow you on Sunday!
Booth #6: Oakwood Cleaners
Service - Oakwood Cleaners is our go-to gown care expert. From alterations and preservation, to bridesmaids measurements, to vintage gown restoration, there is NO job too large or too small. They are a locally-owned and operated business and the owner, Rhonda, is always willing to educate and help ABG brides.
Before the bridal show - if you have any gown needs - before you purchase (i.e. measurements, advice on buying vintage or sample gowns) or after (alterations, preservation, restoration), be sure to stop by the Oakwood booth. They will be a tremendous help with anything regarding gown care. Learn more about their expertise at oakwoodcleaners.com.
Booth #7: Street Tuxedo
Service - Street Tuxedo is a family owned and Nashville-based business. Since they are local, so is their vast inventory; and, since they are family owned, customer service is taken seriously.
Before the show - visit their website at streettuxedo.com to learn more about this amazing company and why Nashville wedding pros recommend Street Tuxedo over national chains. Then, enjoy a sample of their inventory in person at the bridal show.
Booth #8: Greenfinch Floral Design
Service - Greenfinch Floral Design is an eco-friendly, floral design company. Denise, the owner and lead designer, is a sweetheart whose heart beats for brides. She wants to serve you well and makes pretty bouquets and floral decor with love for her clients, and the earth.
Before the show - visit greenfinchfloraldesign.com to learn more about Denise and to see her recent weddings. Then, get to know her in person at Sunday's show.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Bridal Shows & Events
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Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Let’s face it, brides-to-be often splurge on the one big item for their day, their wedding dress. And sometimes, the cost of the gown breaks the bank. With this in mind, we’re overjoyed to announce the annual Goodwill Wedding Gala.
The Goodwill Wedding Gala is a one-day, bridal super sale that will take place on Saturday, March 16, at Goodwill’s Rivergate store. Trust us, the store will be transformed into a bride’s dreamland and will be filled with deeply discounted wedding dresses, shoes, veils, accessories, along with dresses for your bridesmaids, mothers, and rehearsal dinner. You want it and it will be there!
To learn more about the Wedding Gala, we took an extensive tour of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee’s main processing plant, which is located in Nashville. We knew that the gala was a great way for brides-to-be to get crazy deals on dresses but we wanted to know about the organization and how the Gala benefits Tennesseans in need of help with their job search. Here’s how:
Betsy and Ashley of ABG. All photos courtesy of Scott of the Goodwill.
Brides-to-be: Get a deal on your dream dress and help someone in your community go from no job to a job.
For you brides-to-be, you’ll have the opportunity to shop among well over 400 new and pre-owned dresses all for less than $400! As a bonus, Nicholson Cleaners’ has graciously cleaned each pre-owned dress!
Previous brides: Donate your wedding attire, receive a tax deduction and help brides-to-be save!
For all you brides who’ve already walked the aisle, we encourage you to spread the word to donate your wedding attire – from your bridal gown to wedding shoes. Ask your bridesmaids to donate their dress.
Everything you and your girls donate (dresses, shoes, accessories, etc) is a tax deduction and will undoubtedly bless future brides. Can you imagine? Something that you loved on your wedding day can now be used to do the same for another love story! It’s time to clean out your closet and give. Stop them from just collecting dust and warm the heart of a new bride! All you have to do is donate your gently-used wedding items to Goodwill’s main office at 1000 Herman Street in Nashville or contact Natisha Moultry at 615-346-1665 to setup a pick up.
Bridal salons + clothing stores: Clean off your racks and make room for your fabulous new collections!
If you own a bridal salon, why wait for a sample sale? Instead, donate your dresses, shoes, veils, and any bridal items to the gala. No donation is too small; it’s tax deductible and will make room for the latest collections with little effort. Goodwill will even pick it up.
How your donation or purchase benefits Tennesseans with their job search:
What you may not know is that every donation helps fund Goodwill’s Career Solutions programs, most of which are free to the thousands of Tennesseans who visit each of the 21 Career Solutions Centers located in Middle and West Tennessee.
After taking a tour of Goodwill’s warehouse with Ashley last Monday, I write these words totally bewildered and nearly speechless. There’s no person out of reach. Every corner of Nashville’s warehouse radiates with purpose and hope. Hundreds of people are working each day at the processing plant simply because of the generosity of area donors. The company has 1600+ employees who work in a variety of departments within the organization, from the warehouse to teaching job skills.
Natisha of Goodwill (right) with Ashley and Betsy of ABG
With each donated item that is sold in one of Goodwill’s 32 stores in Middle and West Tennessee, 88 percent of the proceeds get poured back into the mission through free counseling services, job assessments, trade and skill classes, and many other programs. Almost all of them free! Goodwill is building workers from the ground up while inspiring them to dream big!
We were so inspired by our tour, including the wall quotes placed all over the facility.
Nashville bridal community: Let’s make a difference. At the 2012 gala, our donations and purchases generated revenue for the all the communities served by Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. Donate your wedding dress and accessories now or save the date to find your dream dress at Goodwill’s Rivergate store from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 16.
(Editor's note: This article was first publised in Jan 2012; only important details have been updated. Betsy is a former ABG intern.)
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Bridal Shows & Events, DIY & Budget Wed Finds
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Monday, January 28, 2013
A few weeks ago, we featured a lovely couple - Jessie and Austin - who planned their wedding with the help of StudioWed Nashville. But many of you may wonder what StudioWed is and how they can help you.
AshleysBrideGuide.com is a wedding planning website. Every day, we introduce you to great wedding vendors or share important wedding information or ideas. StudioWed Nashville is a wedding planning studio, a bit like our website, only in in-person. The help is complimentary and the team - Mary Alice and Leigh - meet with brides every day to help them find wedding vendors for their wedding day.
StudioWed has connected brides with some of Nashville's best wedding vendors and has given them a conveniently located space to use for wedding meetings. StudioWed Nashville is great for brides who want in-person, hands on help with hiring wedding planners, floral designers, and other wedding pros.
Learn more about the studio in my Q+A below.
Leigh + Mary Alice, owners of StudioWed Nashville
Contact Info
Name: StudioWed Nashville
Main Contact: Mary Alice Sublett or Leigh Barker
Phone Number: 615.739.5477
Email Address: maryalice at studiowed dot net
Twitter: twitter.com/StudioWedNash
Facebook fan page: facebook.com/studiowednashville
How did you get started in weddings?
StudioWed celebrates its third anniversary next month! But we’ve been in the weddings industry since 2000 & 2005!
A StudioWed wedding (Photo: Kristyn Hogan) For more, click here.
How did you get started in weddings?
Leigh's wedding career began in 2000 when she was first asked to photograph a wedding. Her love for photography and creativity only grew from there as she began to photograph several weddings a year. In 2004, she coordinated her first wedding and decided to take it on full-time after a few years!
After planning her own wedding, Mary Alice decided to pursue a career directing others' weddings. She earned her certification by the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants and completed an internship with Mary Dann, a renowned California event coordinator. She's been in business since 2005 as a planner/coordinator at her company, A Delightful Day.
The two of us worked together for a few years at A Delightful Day and decided in 2009 to open a franchise of StudioWed in Nashville! And here we are!
A StudioWed wedding (Photo: Mary Rosenbaum) For more, click here.
A StudioWed wedding (Photo: McCoy Made) For more, click here.
What do you like most about weddings?
Mary Alice - The decor! I love seeing the different fabrics, florals, and paper goods come together to create an amazing wedding design! Leigh – The details and especially the dress!
What is StudioWed? What service do you provide newly engaged couples?
StudioWed Nashville is an exclusive collection of Nashville’s finest wedding professionals, available in a fun and modern studio. Our vendors include photographers, venues, wedding cakes, florists, and everything in between to plan your Nashville wedding. We invite both Nashville brides and brides whose wedding destination is Nashville to come in and enjoy the relaxation and ease that planning your wedding should be!
StudioWed’s services are completely complimentary; just call and we’ll set up the appointments with the vendors you want to meet, or we can introduce you to a variety of wedding professionals who will best fit your needs, style, and budget.
What is your service philosophy?
To provide a luxury experience through personalized wedding design and exceptional service from expert vendors who guide brides through an efficient planning process in a relaxing and inspiring studio.
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Photo: Lotus Blossom Photography
Who are your vendors?
For all list of all ofStudioWed's Vendors click here.
Some of our vendors include:
Planning - A Delightful Day Event Planning, Simply Stunning Events
Make-up/ Dress/ Style - Amy Lynn Larwig, The Bride Room
Catering/ Cakes - Chef’s Market
Venues - Cedarwood, Nashville City Club, Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, Noah Liff Opera Center, CJ’s Off the Square, Events @ 1418
Photo/Video - Kristyn Hogan, Lotus Blossom Photography, FocalPoint Cinematic Weddings, Photo Booth Nashville
Lighting/Decor/Floral - Brocade Design Arts
Entertainment - Cosmo Creations DJ Service, Wedding Musicians Company, Prime Source Entertainment
Rustic floral arrangement by Brocade Design Arts
Stationery by Amber Housley
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends?
Bride Tide, The Knot, Pizzazzerie, GreenWed, Brides, Weddings Unveiled magazine and Unveiled blog... so many places!
What are your favorite wedding websites? Neatest wedding find?
Style Me Pretty, Southern Weddings, Snippet & Ink, 100 Layer Cake.
Where can we find you if you’re not working with a bride?
MA - Scrapbooking and spending time with my hubby and pooches, Lucy and Gracie.
Leigh – Working on the house with my hubby!
What would be doing if you did not work in weddings?
MA - Teaching!
Visit StudioWed Nashville's website for more information, inspiration and to give them a call at no obligation! Be sure to tell them that their friends at Ashley's Bride Guide sent you. Happy planning!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Helpful Vendor Interviews!, Advice & Planning, Bridal Shows & Events, Wedding Resources
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Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Newly engaged brides, or brides still looking for THE perfect wedding gown, Modern Trousseau and StudioWed Nashville are collaborating with some fabulous vendors for a one-of-a-kind, personalized bridal event on January 24th!
Contact StudioWed, email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 615-733-0155 to RSVP or for more details.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events
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