Friday, October 8, 2010
I often wondered what a dress designer would dresses their bridal party. I am sure there's great pressure to make the dresses perfect...while planning your wedding. Not an easy task. But apparently, they stop nothing short of wow for their bridal party, as Kerri of Kerried Away Couture did! I didn't expect anything less but I also didnt expect to absolutely fall IN LOVE with her bridesmaid long, black, one shoulder gowns. Of course she designed and made them, making her girls super fab!
This summer, Kerri walked down the aisle and said "I do" to her (now) husband Lucas. Their beautiful wedding took place at Scarritt Bennett, followed by a reception at War Memorial Auditorium. We wish Kerri and Lucas all the best, and we're so glad they could share pictures from their day with us!
Kerri of Kerried Away Couture Shares Her Nashville Wedding!
How would you describe the "theme" of your wedding?
I would say our wedding was traditional and classic with touches of glamour and full of fun! (A great band and a really fun photo booth added lots of entertainment to the evening. I still love looking through the guest book with all the notes and photobooth photos!)
What inspired the design/look/feel of your wedding?
I would say alot of my favorite things and some of my husbands inpsired our wedding. We chose our venues because we both like the look and feel of older historic buildings, we also both love living in the city thus the War Memorial Auditorium downtown and Scarritt Bennett were perfect. We had our rehearsal dinner at The Hermitage Hotel because we actually got engaged on the veranda there. I love pink and white together so I decided these would be my colors. I wanted to bring in an evening feel so I added black and silver to the mix. For flowers I think the side of me that likes the look of symetry showed through. Almost all the the centerpieces were various sizes of round rose and hydragea balls. During our cocktail reception outside we wanted a more relaxed feel so we had black and white floral table clothes with pink sashes on high tops and served mini burgers and grilled cheese. Inside we wanted to create a more formal feel so we used white jeweled overlays on half of the tables and solid light pink on the others with touches of black and silver throughout.
Where did you get your gown?
I got my gown at Saks Fifth Avenue Bridal Salon right before it closed in Atlanta. The dresses were all between 50%-70% off. I ended up getting a beautiful Kenneth Pool gown.
How did you come up with the design for your bridesmaids dresses?
I wanted a dress that was formal, traditional, that looked good on alot of body types, and that they could wear again. The one shoulder design I went with is very flattering on almost any body type. I chose black because I have always loved the traditional black dresses with black and white tuxedos - I think its stunning and classic. I made the dresses floor length to create a more formal feel and gave the girls the option to hem all the dresses off afterwards so that they had a knee length dress that maybe they could wear again. I added a large bow detail at the shoulder because I love bows and to add a little something to the dresses. However, the bow was actually detachable, so again, if they didn't want to wear the bow later all they have to do is unsnap it from the dress.
What was your favorite part/moment of the wedding?
I think I have 2 favorite moments. Seeing Lucas for the first time and our ceremony. We decided to see each other before the wedding and I am so glad we did. It gave us some time to just be spend a few moments just the two of us on our wedding day. At the ceremony, we went with traditional wedding vows and my best friend said an irish blessing - the ceremony was so special.
Absolutely beautiful! Kerried Away Couture makes custom gowns and dresses for your bridal party and if that is what you've been seeking for your wedding, visit their website and get in touch with Kerri!
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Posted by Tabitha |
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Wednesday, September 29, 2010
When your mind is set on certain colors, it's hard to stray from your decision. It's all part of the grand vision that is a wedding, and when Tim and Lauren put together their red and orange themed wedding, they made sure the theme stayed true throughout right down to the last detail. Lauren enlisted the help of custom bridal designer, Sara Marie of Designs by Sara Marie to design and creat the attire for the bridal party. The beautiful, bright red silk dresses the bridesmaids wore were darling and matched the red the couple picked out perfectly.
I love red and orange as a color palette. Plus, Im all about pocket dresses so I hope you love this wedding as much as I did!
Redtastic Wedding featuring Custom Bridesmaids Dresses by Designs by Sara Marie
Wedding Team:
Bridesmaid attire - Designs By Sara Marie
Cakes - The Bake Shoppe
Flowers - Shannon Russell with Designs by Shannon
Catering - Bacon and Cavier, baconandcaviar.com
Venue - Houston Station, houstonstationnashville.com
Photography - Matt Andrews Photography, mattandrews.biz
Day of Coordination - Mary Natalie with Weddings by Mary Natalie, weddingsbymarynatalie.com
Stationery and Posters - Amy McNeil with 4th Leaf Studio, 4thleafstudio.wordpress.com
Band - The Nick Carver Band - nickcarverband.com
Linens, Tables and Chairs - Southern Events
Lighting - Nashville Event Lighting
The happy couple.
From the programs to the flowers - vibrant tones of reds and oranges.
I love how simple and chic the cake is with a shock of color on top. Brilliant.
Staying true to the theme - bright daisies and beautiful reds.
I'm not sure I'll ever tire of lanterns!
So cool how the ties match the dresses.
For more on how you can get your own custom made bridal attire, visit Designs by Sara Marie or read her blog for more inspiration and pictures! Thank you to Tim and Lauren for sharing your pictures with us!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire & Accessories, Real Nashville Weddings
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Tuesday, September 21, 2010
If you haven't broached the subject of getting a tuxedo with your groom just yet, today's post may help you out a little. Gone are the stiff, old fashioned tuxedos your dad might have worn back in his day and now there are more modern, less stuffy cuts of tuxedos that will help your groom and groomsmen feel like the handsome, dapper men they are. I went to our source for tuxedo trends, Street Tuxedo, and got the scoop on what's hot for guys this fall and into the rest of the year.
Tuxedo Trends with Megan Ledbetter of Street Tuxedo
Start with a color palette, groom's style
Before we get into what's cool or trendy for tuxedos, it always pays to be prepared. The first thing Megan recommends you do is to have your color palette, namely for your bridesmaid dresses. "That’s a good start. Then come in and geta a sense for the different styles the grooms want. Are they more fashionable? Are they traditional? Do you have budget restrictions?" Also, visit Street Tuxedo's website because it is really easy to work with and you can see everything they offer. There you can look at the different styles and tuxedos they offer. Street lets grooms try on as many tuxes as they want unlike other tuxedo rental places so there's no rush and the process isn't painful in the least. The staff that works at Street has been there for a long time and they are extremely experienced, extremely passionate and aren’t typical sales people - they want to make sure you're comfortable and that your groom looks his best at your wedding.
That said, let's move on to some styles you could consider for your wedding!
Gray Tuxedos
Gray Tuxedos are making their way into fall and winter weddings. Megan recommends the Calvin Klein, two-button tux with a notch lapel and satin trim. It's a light weight material compared to some of the black tuxedos in a lighter shade of gray that goes with almost every color you might dress your bridesmaids in.
Gray complements a lot of color palettes. Lots of people loved it during the summer but it’s popular for fall as well. Gray Looks great with dark shades of colors – reds, purples. It goes with a lot of different looks. Most of the time, guys wear a matching gray vest and add a pop of color for the tie and maybe a pocket square.
Picture source: KateSchelter.com/blog
Picture source: Street Tuxedo
White Tuxedos
"For later in the fall and winter," said Megan, "The two-button, white shawl lapel is a great choice."
Picture courtesy of The Photographix (ThePhotographix.com)
"It's very Rat Pack looking, worn with a black tie or bow tie and cummerbund. Very classy, very humphrey bogart." I personally do think it's a sharp look for guys. White tuxes are slowly catching on, and I think it's a style most guys should embrace just to steer away from the usual black tux black tie look. Mix it up a little!
Going old school
Another cool look Megan mentioned is the tie/bow tie and suspenders look. Especially when worn with flat-front tuxedo pants, this look lends a very contemporary look that's flattering on most men.
Picture courtesy of jHenderson Studios
Picture source: GreenWeddingShoes.com
There are so many looks available for guys of all body types and tastes. It all boils down to what your vision is, the colors and what your groom would like to see himself in. Another cool thing about Street Tuxedo is they can help you match more than 100 shades of color so you could get something close, if not exactly like the colors of your flowers or your bridesmaids dresses.
I will tell you this much - it's always really fun to see the guy you love in a tux. Hot. Check out Street Tuxedo online.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Attire & Accessories, Grooms
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Friday, September 3, 2010
From September 11th through the 13th, The Vanderbilt Breast Center presents Brides Against Breast Cancer, a fund-raising event for the Making Memories Foundation which works specifically to help people who have Stage 4 breast cancer.
Brides, if you haven't found your wedding dress yet, plan to attend as you will have an opportunity to help others while finding your dream bridal gown (for less)! The event will feature hundreds of beautiful gowns including designer and couture gowns available at discounted rates.
Brides and breast cancer supporters will travel from all over the state to attend so be sure to tell your friends that the Airport Marriott is offering a special room rate of $99 for brides and guests on Saturday September 11th and Sunday September 12th. For more details visit our bridal events page or Brides Against Breast Cancer.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire & Accessories
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Monday, August 30, 2010
Wedding dress trends are everywhere - magazines, websites, blogs, we just love our gowns. What about our grooms? Don't we want them to look good too? For the longest time, we kept hearing one name mentioned from the mouths of brides whose grooms have looked sharp at their weddings - Street Tuxedo. We are really excited to shine our spotlight today on Street Tuxedo, a locally owned and operated tuxedo rental company whose goal is to make the wedding experience enjoyable and easy for your groom.
There are many reasons that I love Street Tuxedo (and invited them to be an ABG sponsor). They take care of Nashville couples. They have great inventory which is all available locally (so they can respond faster than places that have to order.) When you go to their stores, they take care of you like family because it's a family-operated business. They are accessible, with 3 Nashville-area locations: Cool Springs, Murfreesboro and Green Hills. Added bonus - If your groomsmen are not in Nashville, Street can also serve them - via their partners - from coast to coast. They should be your first stop for attire for your groom, groomsmen.
Company Name: Street Tuxedo
Website: http://streettuxedo.com
Locations: Cool Springs, Murfreesboro, Green Hills/Nashville
I love this photo by Joe Hendricks Photography. Disclaimer - this picture is from a real Nashville wedding not a party at Street Tuxedo, even though that would be one way to encourage him to go!
Ashley's Bride Guide goes one-on-one with Meghan (Murfreesboro location) of Street Tuxedo
Number of years in the business: 26
How did you get started in weddings? Mr. Street bought Kornman’s Department store in Madison, TN in 1984. He rented tuxedos there as well as sold mens clothes (jeans, underwear, etc.) He realized that a lot of the profit was coming from the tuxedo sales and rentals. So he decided to sell off all of the random men’s wear and focus solely on tuxedo sales and rentals. And here we are 26 years, 3 locations, and thousands of weddings later.
What do you like most about weddings? I love when the bride and grooms come in to pick out their tuxedos. The bride’s entourage watched her try on countless gowns now it is her turn to sit back, relax, and watch the groom model different looks until the perfect one is found. Another thing that we always enjoy is when all of the groomsmen and the groom come in to pick up their tuxedos. The camaraderie and fellowship with each other is so fun to watch. Everyone is so excited to be reunited for the happy occasion.
What’s your favorite wedding picture and why?
I love this picture because of the pure joy you see on both of their faces. They are a lovely couple.
What is your service philosophy? We have to remember that although we see multiple weddings done each weekend, the brides and grooms that come into our stores are doing this for the first time. And we have to stay excited and fresh about what we do. Each Groom has a different idea of what he wants to wear on his special day and we will try our best to help him find his perfect look!
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? First: We are family owned, therefore we care about what we do and treat our brides and grooms like family. Second: We have tuxedos in stock available for try-on. Why should your groom pick his tux out of a catalog? Third: We go above and beyond the call of duty when necessary (taking a set of studs and cuff links to the church just minutes before the wedding begins) Lastly, we have the largest selection of styles and colors in Middle Tennessee.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors? We work very closely with the ladies at The Bride Room and I think that the brides and grooms appreciate the convenience of the 2 stores being so close. We have so many photographer friends and wedding planners that we love working with that it is hard to narrow it down. I must say that the Nashville Wedding industry has some top notch vendors. Nashville brides are so lucky to have such fabulous people to choose from.
Who do you recommend when you’re not available/not a fit? If we do not have what they are looking for then it must be something really off the wall so I usually recommend GOOGLE!!
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends? I watch the awards shows - ESPY’s, Oscars, Globes. We may not always agree with what the celebs are wearing but they have a big influence on the current trends.
What trend do you love?
I love the grey tuxedo look…it is very versatile. It can be used in casual weddings as well as semi-formal weddings…and it looks great with all dress colors.
What trend do you hate? I don’t hate any of our tuxedos….but I am tired of BROWN! I have been there, done that….about a million times! We still get calls about brown tuxedos all the time.
Which trend are you glad to see go? Long tuxedo coats!!
Which trend are you sad is gone? I think the wedding industry has gotten away from formal weddings. We are seeing more and more neck ties, suits, even no coats at all. I miss the days of the ultra formal weddings…so classy.
What are your favorite wedding websites? I love to look at photographers blogs: Gray Photography, Kristyn Hogan, Jonathan Campbell, Evin Photography, Gambill Photography and of course Ashley’s Bride Guide!!
Neatest wedding find? Neatest wedding find is the new Fantastic Flipbooks, they were at a recent bridal show and after a long day of speaking with brides the Street Tuxedo crew went to their booth and made a flipbook, HILARIOUS!! It’s so much fun! Love this idea!
I KNOW! My niece loves the flipbooks. She makes me flip the books over and over. She likes the pictures and the nice breeze the flipped books provide on her face:).
For the platinum bride, what is the one thing you’ve always wanted to see? Being a tuxedo shop, we love when the bride and groom “make it formal”, meaning white tie and tails for the wedding party and all guests in tuxedos as well.
What is the biggest misconception about your industry? There are a few..COLOR! We have every color imaginable. Not everyone knows that you can also RENT SUITS, it’s not just tuxedos. Also, tuxedo shoes get a bad rap…the manufacturers have started making tux shoes more comfortable, we get compliments on the comfort all the time! Another misconception is if you have out-of-town groomsmen they can go get measured at any tuxedo shop across the country. It is a courtesy we all do for each other!
I'd also like to give a shout-out to Rachel Street (member of the Street family who serves grooms/brides at at the Green Hills location) who is engaged!! I love that her wedding will be intimate (15 people!) and all about what's important to her + her fiance. Kudos for sticking to your own priorities.
You can view more info on real Street Tuxedo weddings in our inspiration gallery or on their Grooms/Groomsmen Facebook photo page.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire & Accessories, Grooms
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