Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Newlyed Elizabeth Ulrich-Fanguy, owner of Stockroom Vintage, is a passionate chick with an old-soul. She has been collecting vintage pieces since she was a kid. The child of a furniture maker, she was born into a family with an appreciation for handmade, restored, and repurposed beauties. It's no wonder that for her own budget wedding, her family recommended that she use her own pieces. And, that's just what she did.
Soon after she accomplished the feat of a lifetime, a vintage wedding for under $5k, she decided to share her specialty collection, custom-search and event styling services with other Nashville brides. And while her pieces are stunning, she is staying true to her budget wedding roots and amassed a collection that every Nashville bride can afford.
Images from her recent photo shoot (below), which I am lucky to share with you today, give a small peak into her world of antique goodies, which are all available to rent via her website.
Photos: Stef Atkinson Photography
ABG: What was the inspiration behind your photo shoot?
Elizabeth of Stockroom Vintage: This wedding shoot was inspired by the whimsical style of Kate Spade, graphic black and white patterns, and my undying love for confetti and gold glitter. When I first envisioned the shoot, I wanted to make sure I styled it in a way that showed brides how vintage pieces can be incorporated into a more modern look. I adore rustic, farmhouse weddings, but I also love to push the envelope and show people that vintage can also feel really sleek, new, and cool. I love the way the chevron patterns and the gold touches—from the polka dots placed on the walls to the bow-topped-swizzle sticks made with gold lamé ribbon—play off the rustic nature of the worn wood furniture and the industrial look of the space at WestLight Studios. I’ve always been a fan of looks that are both hard and soft, tough, and girlie. It’s unexpected and fun and something guests will remember.
I also incorporated tons of DIY elements to keep the budget low. I always say you should splurge on big things—like an amazing photographer, such as Stef Atkinson, who photographed this shoot—and craft little details yourself to save money. For this shoot, I bought all of the big, girlie blooms at Import Flowers and arranged them into various jars and vintage vessels. I turned some pretty glass drawer knobs from Anthropology into holders for the place cards. I designed the “Make It Rain” envelopes and filled them with hand-cut confetti and made the gold bow drink stirrers. I also made all of the table runners, recovered the mix-and-match vintage dining chairs in a chevron print to tie them together visually and crafted the paper flowers out of pretty party napkins and polka dot tissue paper. And those plates on the dining table? I fell in love with these Ticker Tape Tidbit Plates from Kate Spade, but couldn’t splurge on them. So I bought some white vintage plates at Goodwill and a gold porcelain paint pen at the craft store and whipped up my own version of these confetti-sprinkled beauties for less than $10.
ABG: Stef Atkinson's photos are spectacular! I noticed she also did your wedding photos. Who else participated in the photo shoot?
Elizabeth: Photography was by Stef Atkinson Photography; Venue was WestLight Studios; Flower were purchased at Import Flowers and arranged/styled by Stockroom Vintage.
ABG: I absolutely love the mail collector used for guest table cards! The black and white contrast against the worn wood is genius. What was your favorite piece from the shoot?
Elizabeth: The Vintage Postal Sorter is such a stunner. It’s definitely one of our show-stopper pieces, and I’m so grateful to the old postmaster who set it free. With its worn wood, the remnants of the original paper state labels and all of those cubbies, it’s always so much fun to style. And those cubbies are just begging to be filled with all sorts of vintage goodies and small details. For this shoot, I filled many of the slots with handmade and handwritten escort cards. Old clocks, skeleton keys and a few owls from our collection—along with single stems of tulips and ranunculus—add interest to the vignette and make it even more photogenic. The possibilities for this piece are endless: Use it as a ceremony backdrop, a way to showcase cupcakes at the dessert table and on and on. For the shoot, I placed it atop our Gray Day Table, which serves as a welcome table to guide guests to their seats at the reception. Our Spools and Spindles wrapped in ribbon and adorned with glittery letters set the “Let’s Party” tone for the evening.
ABG: Which Nashville wedding venues do you feel are a good complement for vintage brides?
Elizabeth:
~ Marathon Village: I love everything about Marathon Village, from The Bang Candy Company to Marathon Music Works, the latter of which Stockroom Vintage will be styling with vintage props galore for the Porter Flea independent handmade market on June 16. And the event space at Marathon Village is just as covetable, with the exposed brick, loft-like feel and industrial vibe. Vintage pieces with a more feminine look, like curved leg tables and tufted sofas, really pop in a space like that.
~ Houston Station: I love the warehouse at Houston Station for the same reasons. You just can’t beat hardwood floors, exposed brick and all of those gorgeous wood beams. It has so much warmth and beauty that it wouldn’t take too many unique props and vintage additions to really set it off.
~ Carnton Plantation: As much as I love industrial spaces, there is something to be said for beautiful gardens filled with trees that have been there for hundreds of years. The sense of history here is amazing, and it’s a perfect complement to vintage pieces because they all share a common sense of soul. And posing and snuggling with your hubby on a vintage sofa in the middle of an open field? It doesn’t get more romantic than that!
~ Rose Mont Mansion: This mansion in Gallatin also has that sense of history that I gravitate toward and a big photogenic porch to boot. Plus, it’s super affordable, which is even more of a reason to love it.
ABG: You take such pride in your wonderfully curated, eclectic collection. What is the newest addition that gives your heart a pause?
Elizabeth: Like a proud mama, I’ll say these pieces are like my children and I love them all equally. But I’m particularly fond of a 19th-century wooden Cobbler’s Rack that is everything I want a great, unique vintage piece to be: worn to perfection, fully functioning (with its original rolling casters!), and ready to be repurposed. When I first spotted it, I instantly envisioned about 10 different ways to use it at a wedding or event. That’s how I know I’m inspired! With all of its shelving, which is made of wooden slats, I can see it being used behind the bar or at a buffet to hold heirloom china and glassware. It would also make for unique storage for guests’ gifts. Or, my personal favorite, as a one-of-kind dessert buffet, where the shelves could be used to store and display cakes, pies, and all sorts of pretty confections.
Elizabeth's newest and favorite rental addition - antique cobbler's rack
Vintage loving brides, you are sure to love Elizabeth, her collection and her delicious vintage blog, which you should certainly add to your list for daily wedding inspiration.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Florals, Details & Design , DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Inspiration & Trends, Real Nashville Brides
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Friday, May 18, 2012
We love featuring local Nashville weddings, but Reagan, TN is local enough and this wedding just shows the importance of finding vendors you love - wherever they are located. For Kyla and John's budget-friendly wedding, Picture This Nashville really brought the fun (all the way from Nashville) and made the day for them and their guests.
Thanks to Shannon Fulton Photography for sending us photos from the ceremony and reception. Other photos are from Picture This Nashville (as marked).
Kyla and John's Picture This Guestbook cover
Kyla + John
Wedding Date ~ October 8, 2011 at 6pm
Ceremony + Reception ~ Outside of a family friend's house in Reagan, TN
Guests ~ 200
Budget
$10,000
Wedding Team
Photo Booth | Picture This Nashville
Photographer | Shannon Fulton
Gown | Allure Bridal - diamond white, one shoulder, mermaid cut
Groom’s Attire + Groomsmen Attire | Chocolate Tux from Brasher's Tuxedo in Jackson, TN
Bridesmaids Attire | Sangria dresses from David's Bridal
Hair | Maria Fucci - Tips to Toes Nail and Hair Spa
Makeup | Rachel Stricklin
Stationery | The Print Shop, Parsons, TN
Ceremony Musicians | Chase Inman, Cord Laster, and Emily Baughn
Reception Musicians | DJ - Scotty Adams
Cake Artist | Liz Whitsitt and Lila's Cake Shoppe, Lexington, TN
Floral Designer | The Flower Basket, Parsons, TN
Tent Rental | Party Pros USA, Florence, AL
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Fun and energetic, up for anything!
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We had a unity firework instead of candle or sand, and we had a big screen TV to play the Tennessee/Georgia game - go Vols!
Plus, the photo booth was so much fun! The guests loved it! And instead of birdseed or bubbles, we had biodegradable confetti poppers.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
The location and gorgeous fall day, beside a pond and historic log cabins.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We splurged on our photo booth (Picture This) and the tent rentals (Party Pros USA). We made it work because when I saw Picture This Nashville at a bridal show I knew right then I had to have them. It was new, innovative, and it was something original which is what I wanted my whole wedding to be. I wanted people to saw "wow I've never seen this before". The photo booth was perfect for our wedding!
We saved on our food - our families made all of the food and we saved on doing the centerpieces ourselves, we borrowed tables, and table linens from our church.
Bridesmaids goofing off with the props and looking through the Picture This Nashville photos, before taking their own.
Why did you decide to hire a photo booth for the reception and at the same time make it your biggest splurge?
I wanted our guest to feel like they had a part in the guestbook instead of just a signature. I wanted them to have fun and the props totally made it fun. And I wanted them to be able to take something with them to remind them us and how fun our wedding was, the prints did that.
It really added to the atmosphere at the reception. Our reception was meant to be fun and it really made it just that; it really added that extra spark that wow'd our guests. They completely loved it and are still talking about it.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
We would have hired a wedding planner! It was way too stressful doing it myself.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Hire a planner, you can enjoy the planning if someone else is doing it.
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Photo Booth, Real Nashville Weddings, Reception Entertainment, Photo Booths
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Thursday, May 17, 2012
Something Old Something New (SOSN) has something for every bride looking to maximize her wedding budget. The wedding consignment boutique located in Nashville's Lenox Village features new, sample, and consignment wedding items at affordable prices, including bridal gowns, bridesmaids dresses, mother-of-the-bride gowns, shoes, jewelry, hair accessories, veils, and reception décor. Something Old Something New also caters to local party-goers, supplying the Nashville area with gorgeous second-hand dresses (most under $40!) perfect for any gala or prom.
Special thanks to Joe Hendricks Photography for kindly providing images of the salon and gowns.
This week is their official grand opening! Wedding vendors are invited to drop by for wine and cheese today (Thursday) from 6-830pm. Brides, neighbors, friends - stop by Friday from 6-830pm and enjoy catering by The Chef and I. The boutique will continue to be open Saturday and Sunday so you can shop all weekend.
Beth - owner
Beth Glascock, owner, opened Something Old Something New so that brides could stretch their wedding dollars further, spending less on gowns and accessories and more on big-ticket expenses such as photography and catering. When designing the boutique, Beth wanted the feel of the store to be “comfortable and special”. “We want you to come and relax and have a good time; I don’t want anyone to feel like this is a high-pressure situation,” said Beth. As most brides know, shopping for a wedding gown can be stressful enough without having a sales consultant hounding you to make a purchase. Something Old Something New prides themselves on putting the bride’s feelings first. Beth has even encouraged indecisive brides to go home and sleep on their decision.
“I had a bride who was hesitant because she was in love with a gown from a different store…I told her she should buy the gown she loved, even if I wasn’t selling it to her.” Beth wants every bride to be comfortable and excited about their purchase, and her enthusiasm and sincerity for her customer’s happiness is obvious. Complimentary private appointments are encouraged and there is no pretense, only an experience that resembles a game of dress-up for the bride and her companions!
Looking to buy?
Something Old Something New is a great option for budget brides. The boutique is also an excellent option for a bride who is looking for multiple gowns for her event. Almost all of the bridal gowns are priced around $200, veils are priced at $50 or less, hair accessories are under $30, and shoes are priced at around $15. Most of the gowns do require some dry-cleaning or mending, but that extra expense is reflected in the prices.
Something Old Something New is open M-F by appointment Only, and Saturdays 10am-5pm. Appointments can be made by emailing Beth at info{at}somethingoldnewandblue.com or by phone: 615-428-8379.
Looking to sell?
There are 5 easy steps that Beth suggests for consigning items at Something Old Something New. Visit their website for details.
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Posted by Lauren |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, DIY & Budget Wed Finds
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Thursday, May 10, 2012
A few months ago, Kim, owner of paperKuts Studio shared advice at our Smart Bride Bootcamp on shopping for wedding stationery. There were so many questions presented by brides at our camp that I thought you, our online readers, might also want to know a little more about wedding stationery. So I reached back out to Kim to ask specific questions that might benefit you.
Invitations give your wedding guests the first impression and taste of your wedding style; so, it helps to get expert advice on how you want to be represented and where you can save vs where not to cut-corners. Here's what Kim had to say about wedding stationery during our Q+A.
What exactly does a wedding stationery set include?
There are two basic elements for wedding stationery: invite and RSVP card. Everything else would be considered additional items, such as: reception card, accommodation card, maps, related events…you name it! You can add anything to your invite that you want or need.
What are some great ways to save on wedding stationery?
Ways to save can include:
*eliminating the extras (lined envelopes, embellishments, etc.)
*order standard sized invites (saves you from spending extra on postage)
*include RSVP on invitation
*basic printing (use black ink)
*order extra invitations with your initial order so you don’t have to order more expensive ones if you run out
The best way to save on invites is the DIY way! Even with that, you have to be careful. If you are not a ‘crafty’ person, then it can become costly if you make a mistake, have to purchase more, etc. With the Internet, you can find anything, so, to me, knowing your budget is primary. You can easily get an estimate on how much your stationery will cost.
Are there trends you're seeing brides do for wedding stationery that's both affordable and creative?
Sometimes what’s trending is not what a bride wants. So, I believe it is truly the brides decision and what she wants for her big day! I’ve had brides that purchased a basic invite and added a crystal or a bow. Some have used calligraphy to add a special touch. Also, having a custom invite can be affordable and specific to meet the bride’s needs.
What are some red flags? Are there things that appear to be inexpensive for wedding stationery that actually turn out to be surprisingly expensive?
Items that turn out to be expensive really depend on the needs of the bride. Any additional item that you add on will add to the cost of the invite. What I really find to be costly is waiting until the last minute, not proofing the invite (and not catching mistakes before they are printed) and not ordering enough invites. Most invites are ordered in increments of 25. When you have to go back and order more, it is expensive.
What do you think brides should keep in mind when they're sorting out their wedding stationery?
Brides should keep in mind their budget, what the impression is that they want to convey, and their primary needs.
How does the theme of a wedding affect wedding stationery?
I believe your invitation sets the tone for any event that one is having. If a bride has a certain theme in mind, it can really affect her choice of stationery, the cost, and if the invite will have all of the additional items that she might need (RSVP, accommodation, etc). A custom invite might be needed in this case.
Can you tell me a bit about paperKuts studio and what it offers to the bridal community?
paperKuts studio is a cozy, home-based business. I offer stationery for any occasion and can provide all of the bride's needs, from beginning to end - napkins, favors, programs, shower invites, etc. I try to make my brides feel comfortable and confident in their choice of stationery. It is an honor if a person chooses to work with me and I want the experience to be a pleasurable one for all. Stationery makes me happy and I want anyone that visits to be just as excited about their paper choice as I am.
All invitations shown are a few of my favorites from the Marsupial Invitation line (via their Facebook page). This chic invitation line and others are available by contacting Kim of paperKuts studio.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Invitations & Paper Goods
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Friday, April 6, 2012
I had the pleasure of meeting Erin and Josh at our 2011 Smart Bride Boot Camp. Over the 3 week camp, they shared their vision for their wedding and what mattered most to them. This was a couple in love and one with a signature style, so I couldn't wait to see how they would personalize their wedding to ensure it represented them, authentically.
We featured their fun engagement photos last Fall (which you can view via this link). And today, we are excited to share their wedding photos to inspire you to stay true to what's uniquely you.
It's not easy to pull off a theme like "industrial, American vintage with a depression-era feel", which Erin and Josh described as their wedding style, but they did! Their colors are soft and the yellow is a strong contrast to the rustic touches and sweet lace. It's rather unique, which is perfect since Josh and Erin are a unique couple! They completely let their personalities shine as the highlight of their day. And Becca Yager did an amazing job of capturing all the details, making you feel like they traveled back in time to say "I do."
We hope you enjoy their photos as much as we do!
Erin + Josh
Wedding Date ~ November 19, 2011
Ceremony Venue ~ Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Reception Venue ~ Marathon Village
Guests ~ 100
Josh + Erin from Ryan Bernal Films on Vimeo.
My Budget
$13,000
My Wedding Team
Planner | Me!
Photographer | Becca Yager
Videographer | Ryan Bernal
Gown | The Perfect Dress, Toms River, New Jersey
Bride's Accessories | Fascinator - Tessa Kim
Groom’s + Groomsmen Attire | Levi's jeans, J. Crew blue gingham shirts, vintage boots, Wickham House wool bow ties, Urban Outfitters suspenders
Bridesmaids Attire | Kerried Away Couture custom dresses
Hair | Michael at Trim (12 South)
Makeup | Giovanni at Trim (12 South)
Stationery | Invitation - Wedding Paper Divas; self-designed "Things to do in Nashville" sheet; engagement photo printed on Shutterfly; all tied in twine by us! Programs - self designed with help from a friend.
Reception Musicians | History of Painters (band), Josh Mock (groom, DJ); Kevin Buster (DJ)
Transportation | Rented a 2012 Chevy Tahoe from Enterprise
Caterer | Down South Delights
Cake Artist | Aunt April's Bakery
Cupcakes | Cupcake Collection
Macarons | Sweet 16th
Floral Designer | We did this ourselves using rusted tin cans and dried flowers
Guest Accommodations | Hilton Garden Inn; Extended Stay America
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Josh and I are both lovers of all things vintage and American. Nashville is a perfect place to live for both these things, providing an endless amount of history, and countless antique and vintage shops to find perfect pieces to decorate with, like old wooden crates, rusted tin cans and vintage lace tablecloths.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We started off with a gray, navy blue and autumn yellow color theme. We picked Church of the Assumption in Germantown for our ceremony because it needed zero decoration to look perfect, allowing us to focus our energy on decorating the reception venue at Marathon Village. For our wedding party we decided that, given the old Marathon factory as our setting, dressing everyone in something classy and comfortable that conveyed a stylish, Depression-era vibe would be perfect.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
Decorating! We did everything ourselves. It was so much fun doing all the shopping and crafting to come up with everything. Everyone said they'd never seen a more custom-fit wedding, which I think was a testament to the DIY effort we put into it. I truly loved the way the lace tablecloths looked over the colored linens and our custom-made, Hatch Print style vintage wedding poster people signed instead of a guest book.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We definitely splurged by getting a videographer at the last minute, but I have to say that bringing on Ryan Bernal was probably the best big-money decision we made. We are also glad we spent on such a great photographer as Becca Yager. We saved thousands by DIY-ing the decorations like the rusty tin cans and Scrabble boards, borrowing a lot of decorative items from our friends at the store Old Made Good and buying used books from McKay's, which we later got some money for by selling them back! A good friend also inspired our programs by drawing a caricature of us, which we ended up using for our wedding programs, which we designed and printed ourselves.
We also saved by having my brand-new husband, Josh, DJ half the reception (an idea he couldn't pass up, which ended up being one of the most fun moments of the night) and having our friend Kevin take over for the rest of the night. Having people who get your musical taste plug in their laptops is so much nicer than hiring some unknown wedding DJ that plays the same stuff every weekend. We truly loved working with every one of our vendors. They were all so professional and accomodating.
Rita from Down South Delights was especially helpful, getting her catering team to match our decor, and everyone who came said our Thanksgiving-style turkey dinner was the best wedding meal they'd ever had. She also was extremely helpful in helping me avoid several of my very tricky food allergies.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
Honestly, I wish I would have let the bridesmaids pick out navy blue dresses in the style of their choosing. While Kerried Away Couture did a great job in the end, I could have saved my girls stress and time since I trust them to find something perfectly to their liking. We also wish we had coordinated our families better to get better family photos before the reception. Turns out it's really hard to get 40 people in the right place at the right time! But overall, we have no major regrets!
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Set a vision and stick with it no matter what others think, and if anything goes wrong, don't worry: you'll still be married at the end of the day!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Real Nashville Weddings
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