To start, I LOVE Focal Point Cinematic. They consistently deliver high quality, cutting edge wedding videos. Take it from someone whose wedding video SUCKED. I have become a wed video snob and only recommend a few top local videographers, and Focal Point is one of them. They recently launched a great new website with more fabulous videos so it's a great time to pay them a virtual visit and see why you must have a wedding video!
Run by the husband and wife team of Jon + Kelsey Bufkin, Focal Point Cinematic's goal with the new website is to accurately reflect their modern and progressive style of storytelling. "We want couples to have the opportunity to see as much of our work as possible and in a larger screen format. Our website revolves around our wedding films and less emphasis on pictures since we are in fact wedding cinematographers" said Jon.
Brides often forget or even miss many highlights of their wedding. You spend months planning all of the details and without a video, you can't relive them. There are some things that are priceless that are even better seen in real time with sight and sound. Videography is an often left-out aspect of our wedding but with the technology these days, you're not just getting a home movie, you're getting a production. Music, editing, lighting - your own wedding movie. Focal Point Cinematic provides just that perspective for your wedding day, turning videography into almost a movie-like production so your video memories are just as gorgeous and beautiful as your photographic memories.
Focal Point does an awesome job pairing music with their video - everything falls together just right. The instrumentation matches tne country feel of the wedding with the boots and the little chapel. The couple, Grace Ann and Matthew, loved working with them and the satisfaction is apparent in their testimonial: "WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!! We can't wait to see more! We have been showing it to so many people and everyone is so excited to see the rest! Thanks again for everything!"
Wouldn't you like to hear your dad's toast again or see how you and your husband looked during your first dance? Maybe the look on his face when he sees you for the first time that day. There are some things that are priceless that are even better seen in real time with sight and sound.
Photographs aren't the only thing that can be made to look vintage. Remember the days of video tape and when video was recorded on actual tape? Here's an superbly vintage, romantic highlight from a wedding they did in July on Super8 video that I think is going to be all-the-rage once brides realize they can do that. Another testament to the artistry that is Focal Point Cinematic.
Wedding planners aren't just planners anymore - some are multi-talented, skilled professionals with plenty of skills (like coordination, design) to bring to the plate. But beware. There are many so called "one-stop wedding shops" touting they can do everything you need for your wedding (from photography to cakes to video). Most can't deliver on such a wide breadth of services so be sure to really hone in on their true skills - hire them for those.
Sarah Goude, owner of Regalo Design, is a full service planner that I'm excited about!. Sarah is great for Nashville brides who want one person taking the lead, from full planning to floral and event design. She's meticulous and has a great eye for design. I''m thrilled to introduce you all to her and her expertise.
Ashley goes one-on-one with Sarah of Regalo Design!
Number of Years in the Business: 10 years experience in event planning, 4 years official business.
How did you get started in weddings? I always knew that my passion was event planning with a specialty in weddings. I started by planning my friends and family’s weddings 10 years ago. I was also in corporate positions where I planned corporate events professionally. Four years ago, I was in a place in my life where I made the decision to start Regalo Design. I receive confirmation everyday that this is exactly where I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to do in my life.
What do you like most about weddings? Building relationships with my clients. When you ask a married couple about their wedding, good or bad, they remember those people who were involved. My mission is to build quality relationships with all of my clients and leave a positive, lasting impression beyond the wedding day.
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why? My favorite picture was taken at an outdoor wedding held at Fairview Plantation. Although it is a beautiful picture, it is a reminder to me to stay in front of the “storms.” A few minutes after this picture was taken, there was a downpour for 30 minutes. The wedding was still beautiful and dry however; sometimes there are things out of our control. It is important to be able to plan AND adapt to the “storms” in event planning.
What is your service philosophy? It is all about the client’s dreams, not our own. Regalo Design serves as a great resource to brides to help generate creativity and find the perfect vendor for each client. Our service philosophy is based upon listening to our clients needs and suggesting resources while ultimately allowing the client to choose their vendors and products. Some of our clients have been dreaming about this day all their life and it is so important that we serve as a facilitator of those dreams, not a dominator.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? Regalo Design’s strengths are in event planning, floral design and event décor. Brides should hire Regalo Design because we are talented in each of those and once a bride books our wedding planning services we extend our wholesale discounts on flowers, décor, rentals, paper products and so much more.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors? We have built relationships with several vendors and it is hard to pick just 5. Here is a list of those we have worked with and all of them are very helpful, professional and have great style! Most of all, they are good people. Regalo Design truly enjoys partnering with good people in the wedding industry and love to see other vendors succeed in their business.
Videographer: 345 Media
Photographer: Amelia Moore ameliajmoore.com
Cake: The Bake Shoppe http://www.thebakeshoppe.com
Makeup: Heylee Achten with Heylee B heyleeb.com
Hair: Korie Bernard with Unruli 615-599-5339
What are your favorite wedding websites? My favorite wedding website is Ashley’s Bride Guide…I know…I know…this is what I am supposed to say. However, I have a reason to back up my answer. First, Nashville was lacking a central place for brides to search for vendors for their wedding. Regalo Design services several states but wanted a place in which we could reach out to the Nashville market and Ashley’s Bride Guide was the perfect place. Also, as stated earlier, we love working with good people and have enjoyed building a relationship with Ashley who saw the need and created this amazing resource for Nashville Bride’s.
Thanks Sarah!! Huge smiles over here:). What's one way brides can save money / be more economical without sacrificing her vision? Regalo Design extendes all of our wholesale costs to our clients when they book a wedding planning package. We do not feel we need to up charge our clients. Our goal is to pay for ourselves in the savings over and over again. This makes us different and is the perfect way to save money.
For the platinum bride, what is the one thing youve always wanted to see? Working with a platinum bride the beauty is in the details. To be able to have the freedom to work without the worry of a budget is a blessing and a rarity. What I would love to see is every dream made possible for this bride from a celebrity band playing at the reception to personalized gifts for the guests. Every detail would be uniquely made to fit their vision and all of their dreams would come true. Regalo Design strives to provide platinum weddings even if you are working on a nickel budget by providing wholesale cost to our clients. You don’t have to have a platinum budget to have a platinum wedding.
Does your company do anything special that a green bride might want to know? We are able to accommodate an eco chic bride. Each bride is unique and our job is to be an advocate for each bride creating the perfect day whether green or pink!
See more of Regalo Design's work online, follow Regalo Design on Twitter or be their fan on Facebook!
Ashley and I took the afternoon a couple of weeks ago and drove the scenic route on Highway 70 out to Cajun Lake Lodge's open house. The weather was starting to get cooler, thankfully and it was the perfect day to be outside and out west as the sun set. We got to say hi to the lovely Paula Eleazar Johansen who owns Cajun Lake Lodge and met her fabulous family. The lodge itself is a lovely, rustic venue for weddings and is great if you're an outdoorsy bride looking for a destination locale without having to leave Tennessee.
The Guest House is a fully-functional house with a bedroom, bathrooms, full kitchen and a recreational area. There's also tons of parking. When we arrived, there were already plenty of people and cars but we still could find a good spot.
Pool table and fireplace for some R&R. For the boys - a bar and some salt hockey in the basement.
They had really fun, antique decor in the pavillion which is a large, open space enough for a band in the corner, a buffet set up and a bar. The rear of the pavillion extends out for extra room.
It has a really nice, laid back atmosphere.
That fleur de lis was hand-carved into the watermelon.
The pool looked so inviting with tons of areas to lounge or play.
Cajun Lake Lodge is about 45 minutes from Nashville but once you are there - you and your wedding party can spend the entire weekend celebrating as there is plenty of space and lots to do. It would also be a great option for a bridesmaid getaway since it's much closer than Gatlinburg. Give their outdoor wedding venue website a look for more details and contact Paula to learn more!
Every month is a great way to visit StudioWed Nashville, especially if you need help planning your wedding! From helpful workshops to intimate vendor showcases, there's always someone there to help you every step of the way.
This month is no different. StudioWed has another themed Open House in store for you, plus a super giveaway! Here's the scoop:
StudioWed's September Open House: An Opportunity to Meet Nashville Videographers One-on-One
Specially for brides who attend the Open House, if you book one of StudioWed's videographers either that night or by September 28th, you will receive a $200 credit for additional upgrades to the package of your choosing. RSVP here to attend the Open House. Here's a taste of their videography skills.
All Nashville brides who visit StudioWed this month will be entered to win this awesome Bride's Emergency Kit by My Mojuba (Mymojuba.com), which contains everything you could possibly need on your big day to avoid any of those snafu's or wardrobe malfunctions.
For details on how you can win this emergency kit, check out StudioWed's Blog.
Some brides tend to not make hair and makeup a huge priority in the wedding planning process - I know I didn't. But boy am I glad I squeezed out the extra money to get my makeup done by someone other than myself because it was well worth it. Your face is going to be photographed from all angles, all day long both from a distance and close up. While it's not a huge expense, professional makeup can be a neglected detail and I encourage you to really do your research and find a great makeup artist.
My interview today with Amy Lynn Larwig will help you jumpstart your search for a bridal makeup artist. I've seen girls who have had their makeup done by Amy, brides of all skin tones and hair color and they all have, without fail, looked spectacular. Let's get to know her a little better, and be sure to check out her portfolio video at the end of the post!
Picture courtesy of Daniel Meigs Photography (DanielMeigs.com)
Number of years as makeup artist: 8.5 years
How did you get started in weddings? By accident. I didn’t want to do weddings originally. But I got asked by some photographer friends of mine, so I tried it out and kinda fell in love.
Picture courtesy of Gregory Byerline (GregoryByerline.com)
What do you like most about weddings? Everyone is happy! It’s a fun occasion and I’m around during the girly time, so the mood tends to be light.
What’s your favorite wedding picture and why?
The first part of my promo video showcases a bridal shoot I did with Chris & Adrienne Scott. I loved this shoot. The bride has such a presence. She let me have free range to do what I wanted, so I pulled her hair back to keep it simple and easy to maintain. And added some silver shimmer to her lids to really light up those blue eyes. A soft pink lip and cheek kept the look romantic and fresh.
Picture courtesy of Chris & Adrienne Scott (ChrisandAdrienneScott.com)
What is your service philosophy? I create clean, modern looks that fit you. Each face I work on is personalized and made to fit your unique style.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? What sets me apart from other vendors, is the attention to detail. Before a brush even touches your face, a ton of questions about your skin, makeup routine, and wedding have to be answered. All these elements are pulled together to customize a look. Each high end product used has been tested personally by me and is applied with the utmost precision. Once the look is complete and you feel great in it, it’s all written down on a face chart and pictures are taken to ensure continuity on wedding day. There are other details included to make sure the beauty portion of your day is an experience, not just a task.
Picture courtesy of Evan Baines Photography (EvanBaines.com)
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors?
Chris & Adrienne Scott (ChrisandAdrienneScott.com) - This couple not only creates images that will melt you, but they are an absolute joy to be around. They make the experience such fun and really pull YOU out.
StudioWed - Technically, not a vendor, but a tremendous resource for brides and a great place to meet and talk about your wedding.
Chef’s Market - By far, the most amazing catering in Nashville. Beautiful food, and everything is delicious. They really take the time to build the perfect meal for your event and tastes.
The Bride Room (thebrideroom.com) - These women make each bride feel as if her day is the most important one ever. They get to know their brides individually and are so super sweet.
CJs Off The Square - A beautiful venue that makes planning your wedding a complete breeze. Amy and CJ are great listeners that take into account every detail of your dream day. They are super organized and definitely know how to get things done.
Picture courtesy of Zach Goodyear Photography (ZachGoodyearPhotography.com)
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends? I read the local wedding blogs. I also keep up with fashion magazines to see the upcoming trends. Zink is probably my favorite mag for fashion/ makeup.
Is there a wedding trend that you love? Casual, fresh looks. Loose tousled hair and clean, young makeup. Lots of pinks on the cheeks, bright eyes, and soft lips.
Photo Courtesy of Evoke Photography
Which wedding trend are you tired of seeing? The vintage thing. Red lips are pretty, but they tend to be hard to maintain. Especially during, “You may kiss the bride”.
Is there a trend that you are glad is gone? In the words of a hairstylist friend of mine, “Deep fried updo’s” Crunchy curls pinned up prom style.
Pictures courtesy of Google.com
Which trend are you sad to see leave the scene? A lot of brides are letting go of false lashes, which breaks my heart. I think even the most natural pair just give such an “umph!” and everyone looks good in them.
What are your favorite wedding websites? I'm really jamming on custom made hair pieces. They are a fun way to add some pizzaz to your wedding ensemble. Anything by Jessica Frame (HeadlineofFluffandFringe.com)
Custom headpieces by Jessica Frame. Pictures courtesy of Chris & Adrienne Scott
Etsy has some great stuff too, such as Bridal Couture - etsy.com/shop/bridalcouture or Tallulah Opal (etsy.com/shop/TallulahOpal)
What advice would you give to brides on the wedding planning process in general? “It’s just not that serious." This tends to be my advice for life in general. Some brides spend all their time fretting over the perfect shade of green, or the precise amount of flowers in their bouquet, or the height of their bridesmaid’s shoes. They lose sight of the reason for this celebration in the first place…. You are getting married! When you find wedding planning becoming overwhelming, keep in mind that the number one priority is starting your marriage together.
What is the biggest misconception about your industry? “I can do my own makeup.” This is HORRIBLE! You might do a great job on your makeup for work and hanging out with friends. But makeup for camera is a whole other beast. It takes special products and techniques to look good in professional pictures. It makes a world of difference in the end result of those images.
At Ashley’s Bride Guide, we’re always on the lookout for innovative and exciting wedding ideas.
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