For my Sex and the City party, everything was a go - from the plan, the design, food, dessert, shopping. But there was one thing that was definitely needed that was nearly impossible to get due to the event coinciding with Memorial Day weekend - tables!
Weeks leading up to the event, Kristin of Simply Stunning and I called every party place we knew - hoping that someone could help supply tables for the party. Less than 7 days before the event, Julie of Liberty Party Rentals came through! She not only was able to provide everything we needed but she was happy to and served us with a smile. That meant a lot to me and I am forever thankful.
So, if you are in need of rentals for your wedding or event, consider Liberty Party Rental. They took great care of me and I am sure they will do the same for you.
To save you time in your search, here's my Q&A with Julie of Liberty Party regarding the company, philosphy, inventory, etc.
How did your company get started in weddings?
Weddings are what built Liberty Party Rental into what it is today. The first client of Liberty Party Rental was a bride and groom! As a party & event rental company, we have always offered rental items, such as tables, chairs, tabletop items, dance floors and linens that would be of interest to brides and those assisting in the wedding planning process. We have also provided more “wedding specific” items that are geared directly toward weddings and receptions, such as archways, candelabras, cake plateaus, and cake serving sets. Our inventory is constantly evolving to stay current with the trends.
What do you like most about weddings?
Most brides have never planned a wedding before so it is always fun to see what ideas they have come up with on their own. Brides are passionate about planning their dream wedding and they have a specific vision that is as individual and unique as they are. Keeping that vision in mind, at Liberty Party Rental we know how to turn dreams into reality while still keeping within budget. We also always aim to keep the entire process smooth and as stress-free as possible, because we know how stressful planning such an important day can be!
What is your service philosophy?What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
With over 100 years of combined hospitality industry experience, and the largest inventory in middle Tennessee, the Liberty Party Team is proud to help with the rental items for your upcoming wedding celebration. Our team of professionals is comprised of highly resourceful problem solvers with the capabilities to do whatever it takes to fulfill brides’ wedding wishes.
What is your service philosophy? What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
With over 100 years of combined hospitality industry experience, and the largest inventory in middle Tennessee, the Liberty Party Team is proud to help with the rental items for your upcoming wedding celebration. Our team of professionals is comprised of highly resourceful problem solvers with the capabilities to do whatever it takes to fulfill brides’ wedding wishes.
If you ask our past brides, they will say that we excel in customer service. Our goal is for each customer to leave Liberty satisfied, not only with their rentals, but also with the overall experience. By providing not only a great selection of rentals but superior customer service, we hope that the bride and groom will recommend us to all of their friends! A quote from one of our brides in May showcases just this, “Now that all the wedding fuss is over, I just wanted to take a second and thank you. You guys were amazing to work with, and I couldn’t have imagined it being as beautiful as it was! You were fantastic, and you better believe I’m telling everyone that I know to go to Liberty Party for anything. Thanks again and God Bless.”
Liberty Party Rental has an extensive new website that not only includes pictures and details on each of their rental items but also hands on tools that brides can keep in their wedding books. From an inspiration photo gallery to a linen chart to event tips, the website is one of the greatest assets for Liberty Party Rental.
Brides can follow up with a visit to the showroom at Liberty Party Rental where they can setup a sample table with their linen, china, glassware, and flatware. Many times brides end up changing their mind on their “rental picks” once they are able to “see it and touch it”! Not only will they be able to see all of the items in person but they also meet their Account Manager face-to-face. We encourage the brides to setup a showroom appointment to ensure that the showroom is available along with their Account Manager.
Another great strength for Liberty Party Rental is that we own all of our rental items that are showcased on the website. We have over 60,000 square feet of warehouse space filled with our inventory here locally in Nashville. This allows us the flexibility with brides so they can increase their order until 24 hours before the scheduled delivery date or decrease numbers 48 hours prior to delivery.
Our resources and your imagination means anything is possible!
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends?
The entire sales team stays on top of the trends by reading the latest bridal magazines and publications, surfing the internet and examining the latest blogs of our peers, attending various industry events and listening to the brides themselves, who often are the most current in wedding styles.
Let’s discuss current wedding trends - What trend do you love?
Mixed seating – using various size tables and incorporating unique lounge seating options as well. We have also enjoyed putting together weddings lately they have utilized a wide array of color schemes. It is sometimes nice to do something a little unexpected.
Lounge seating options and styles
What trend do you hate?
It is not so much a trend, but often inflexibility is a challenge to work with. At Liberty Party Rental, we have many solutions to maintaining the overall concept, while still staying within the budget. For example, many of our customers want chair covers to hide the boring banquet chairs that many venues already have – they immediately assume the only option is to use a chair cover, but they never think to bring in an alternative chair. A majority of our chairs, all wedding reception quality, are more economically priced than the chair cover itself. We always try to have our brides think outside of the box when met with a challenge – design or financial.
Past trends
Trend I’m glad is gone?
All white – white chairs, white table linens, white china.
What are your favorite wedding websites? Neatest wedding find?
Our new site - libertypartyrental.com and ashleysbrideguide.com
For "budget savvy" brides, what's the one thing you think should always make it into a budget?
Linens, or even overlays, can make quite the statement when walking into the room. They can give the room that “pop” of color needed, without pouring money into florals, and also create a uniform look to the room.
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Elegant bursts of color
What's one way brides can save money/be more economical?
Sometimes brides focus on things that guests really would not notice unless it was pointed out to them. For example, a bride could focus her attention on a certain glassware or flatware that is really not within her budget. While the item may add some “wow” to the tablescape, if a more basic glassware line was substituted guests would not necessarily have a different experience or realize that a more cost effective option was used instead.
Clear Tents
Does your company do anything special that a green bride might want to know?
We offer more than just linens, tables and chairs. Lounge seating, outdoor furniture, tabletop décor, tents, and flooring a just a few more items that we rent. Brides can visit our new website to get inspiration and also learn about all of our great products! Be sure to come by our showroom and see firsthand what we have to offer.
This week is all about Sex...and the City! Last month, we hosted a Girls Night Out to celebrate the debut of the second Sex and City movie. Yesterday, I shared the party's vision, location and overall look. Today, I'll give you the scoop on some of the behind the scenes party elements that are vital to ensure everything is fabulously in line with your event ambiance.
Relish designed the event flyer based on the movie poster. It was two sided and was postcard size so it was very affordable to print, like $10 for several hundred!
Southall Eden Paperie created the onsite event signage which included event programs, signs and food/drink cards. The signage wowed everyone! My mom kept running around asking - who did the signs? They were incredible! I loved them. The signage alone set the tone even before the rest of the party decor was added.
Southall Eden Paperie created the event program...
I sent Shannon, lead designer at Southall, the content for the event program. With no input from me - she designed the most incredible programs. They were better than I imagined. She choose the paper (shiny shimmering gray), font (fun yet contemporary in black and pink), layout/size "purseable".
If you are creating an affair to remember, these are the details that will make your luxe affair a signature event. Amazing and well thought event signage says "you didnt miss a beat" in ensuring your wedding guests are informed regarding locations, directions, food options, etc. Southall can create everything you need - from your save the date and invitations to restroom signs in your signature font.
THE DECOR DETAILS: Florals
For the florals, I turned to my girl Hillary of Brocade Designs. Hillary and Jen of Reveal Event Style worked together to create beautiful florals in shoes - so sexy! The party didnt need a lot of florals because the space itself is so colorful and captivating, so I asked for just a few simple but stunning pieces.
THE DECOR DETAILS: Specialty Event Lighting
Lighting, lighting, lighting - it's so important! Nashville Event Lighting (NEL) added girly gobo (lighting design effects) to floors and walls. They also added hot pink lighting throughout the event. Lighting makes a big difference and can completely change the ambiance or feel of an event. The best events are well lighted events. You may not think it makes a difference but it does.
If you are on the fence about lighting, visit NEL and let them show you the difference between how your cake will look to your guests and in pictures with lighting vs without. Or, how much better your photography will be with well thought lighting.
NEL let me choose the gobo lighting design that I wanted on the floor! You could choose your own design or have them create one based on your wedding monogram.
Up-lighting at pool area and around seating area by NEL
NEL also offers hanging lanterns, willow lanterns and paper lanterns to accessorize your event.
NEL specialty lighting made the party pop and venue shine at night.
THE DECOR DETAILS: Linen and other Rentals
Another small detail that adds major wow is linen. There is a big difference between basic polycotton white and dazzling textured black. When you are looking to create an event that wows - specialty linen is a great way to achieve that extra oomph. Connie Duglin Specialty Linen was our choice because they are easy to work with and have an incredible selection. They provided all of our event linen.
Specialty linen by Connie Duglin, Tables rented from Liberty Party Rentals
I'm closing today's recap (of course there will be more from the SATC party tomorrow) with a company that really came through for my event - Liberty Party Rentals. Julie and crew made the event possible. Because my party fell on a holiday week, many of the rental companies didnt have what I needed or were too busy to respond. Not Liberty. Julie was busy but Kristin of Simply Stunning Events kept calling her (thank you!) until what we desperately needed was secured. I rented an unsexy Uhaul truck and my dad went and picked up the tables for our event. Without Liberty, I dont know what we would have done. They were willing to offer whatever we needed. I highly recommend them because they came through at the last minute, providing service with a smile!
I simply could not wait to feature this art-nouveau photo shoot created by some of Nashville's best wedding vendors.
First - I love working with Swizzle Events, the planner/event designer who was the mastermind behind shoot. Second, the bridal shoot took place at Houston Station, one of Nashville's newest, up-and-coming wedding venues that offers a clean slate for creative brides. I've heard nothing but amazing things about the venue.
It's always fun to see what happens when a group of creative minded wedding professionals get together on a project. I had the chance to have a quick chat with Amy a while ago and she said that everything came together after she and all the vendors discussed the details and they came up with an art nouveau inspired shoot. "A little more art deco but quite floral" as she explained.
The coolest part about this wedding design concept is that you can easily get this look without busting your budget! Amy says, "What people may not realize is, it looks really luxe and glamorous with the crystal and glass elements but there's really a lot of D.I.Y. elements involved in the details!" She went on to tell me that her intent was to do something contemporary, but not so outrageous and edgy that the everyday bride wouldn't be able to wrap her mind around it. So as you're looking at the pictures, bear in mind that, while everything looks exquisite and out of reach, they're all details that an experienced event planner such as Swizzle Events can help you attain without breaking the bank!
Can't argue with that!
Guest Blogger, Amy Thomas, Swizzle Events: Art Nouveau Conceptual Photo Shoot at Houston Station
When I began this design, I wanted to do something a little vintage, a little retro and a little edgy. What I came up with is Art Nouveau meets the modern bride. Art Nouveau as a style has been around since the late 1800”s. Filled with lovely floral patterns and free-form lines, it was a predecessor to the very popular Art Deco age. But, I couldn’t just leave it there. I wanted to take a lovely retro style and combine it with modern touches. Reach out to those brides who enjoy a little frill, a girly touch of romance but are also strong, confident women.
The beautiful linen is a perfect example of our modern Art Nouveau style. The strong, vibrant colors of fuschia, purple and sterling grey speak to the modern bride. The floral pattern was right out of the pages of Art Nouveau history. Eureka! I found the perfect combination of old and new!
The tablescape was designed around the bold pattern of the linen. Layers of clear glassware add sparkle and a touch of glam. Carnations were the perfect choice for echoing the ruffled floral look of the Art Nouveau style. Clean lines and repetition of pattern is also a very intentional element to give a strong, clean look. You can see this in the circular pattern of the floral balls, glass pedestals and candleholders. It shows up again in the beautiful lines of the chameleon chairs and the sweeping precision of the drape and chandelier.
Each little detail is delicious. The sparkle of the brooches, and the clean lines of the ribbon used on the placecards. The tiny jewels on the mini cake pedestals echo the design of the brooches. And, let’s just enjoy those little cake stands for a moment. Something so simple, yet so stunning. A touch of glam added to bring it all together. And, the pink lemonade cakes filled and iced with fluffy perfection. Scrumptious!
Speaking of details, I want to point out the exquisite use of lighting. The beautiful chandeliers add another dimension of glamour to the style. It was very important to have a vertical element above the table and the chandeliers gave a beautiful patina to the overall look. With a hint of vintage glam, they are perfect! We were also very intentional about utilizing color wash on the walls to add dimension and spotlighting to make each detail sparkle.
And, oh the dessert table! We filled it with a combination of decadent desserts and old favorites. Featuring cake truffles, chocolate berry cups and sparkling jars of candy, the crowning glory of the table is definitely the ruffled wedding cake. Another example of combining the vintage Art Nouveau with a modern flair, the cake has a decadent ruffled feature with a touch of glam in the sparkly buttons.
That flower detail carries over into the bridal fashion, as well. The lovely bride is breathtaking in a soft white gown with appliquéd silk rose buds and flowers. Bold accessories were chosen to add a unique touch – a black silk peony for her hair, a chunky necklace of white and silver. The groom is striking in a Calvin Klein sterling grey tuxedo with a pop of fuschia found in a perfect peony boutinniere.
Photo shoot credit:
Jonathon Campbell Photography - photography/pictures Swizzle Events - event design & styling Rhonda Patton Design - event styling & floral Houston Station - venue Nashville Event Lighting - lighting Blue Nova Design - draping
Romantic Creations - bridal gown (RomanticCreationsBridal.com) Street Tuxedo - tuxedo
Sherita Leslie - hair & make-up (SheritaLeslie.com)
4th Leaf Studio - paper design (4thleafstudio.wordpress.com/) Crumb de la Crumb - wedding cake & desserts
BBJ Linens - linens (bbjlinens.com)
Classic Party Rental - rentals (ClassicPartyRentals.com) TruLu Couture - bridal accessories
Stella & Dot, Krystal Mann - jewelry (StellaDot.com)
Each month, the Tennessee Wedding and Event Specialist Association (TWESA) brings together Nashville wedding professionals - photographers, make-up artists, rental companies, venue managers. I was invited to attend last month's meeting by Sarah of Fabu. Every meeting is different - from location and food to style. Each offers a inspiration and education for wedding pros.
The last meeting was held at Classic Party Rentals (ClassicPartyRentals.com), where the space was turned into several themed areas, cleverly designed by my dear friend Jennifer Neal Edwards Reveal Event Style. Jen is one of the most creative folks I know. With a background in movie set design, she truly brings a unique perspective to wedding design and can transform any space.
She turned a rental warehouse space into a festive party using the vast array of rentals available by Classic Party Rentals. Before I turn the keyboard over to Jen to tell you more about the decor, I also want to mention that the music, provided by Spangler Entertainment, was awesome!!! Every song was a top 20 current hit - from Ludacris to Kanye, which I LOVED. If only I'd brought my crew - we would have danced all night:). The food - provided by A Dream Come True - was also super tasty. They provided a pasta bar and I went back as many times as I could for yummy chicken alfredo!
Next up - the always stylish, always sassy Jen to share her inspiration for the event's design and decor ideas into your Nashville wedding or event.
Bill Reynolds, of A Dream Come True Catering, invited me to partner with him to design the TWESA “Spring Fling” at Classic Party Rentals. What a fun opportunity to “play” with their inventory! Being familiar with Classic inventory in Los Angeles, I asked if we could have a few items brought in from California. My mission: to create an atmosphere of creative options for event design while showcasing Classic Party Rental's product. And in response to the very recent flooding I wanted to come up with options where flowers and water were not the main feature of tablescaping.
There were 4 themes: "Dancefloor", "Rites of Spring", "Coastal Chic" and “Rustic Italian Spring”.
Rites of Spring
My creative process begins with eliminating the obvious. Round tables are my nemesis! Though often a necessity there is no reason they cannot be interesting and unique. My rule of thumb is to take my first thought and go two thoughts further. And a side note: if rounds are the only option, mix up the sizes! Any variation in a sea of same shapes, color or artful element is more interesting. My solution to the “round” table is what I call a donut table, which was a great way to display the various fabrics which consisted of “Lemon Linen” , “Golden Rod Poly," “ Yellow Gingham” and the feature linen “Sunflower Sheer," which was the inspiration for the detail and décor.
RItes of Spring
I dress a table as I would approach fashion - coordinating patterns and textiles to create interest and accentuating shapes and how a fabric hangs or drapes from it’s frame. And this table’s linens were the tablescape. The texture of the folds and layering created the look that did not need additional accessorizing. The centerpiece became the lighting. I worked in some of the sunflower detail into the bountiful paper lantern cluster which simply and effectively completed the look. I loved the puff, inspired by the “Sunflower Sheer”. I wanted the table to emulate the shape of a flower.
I do not limit cocktail tables to low design either. Not every table should be a tall design but it’s a little unexpected and if you don’t want people to camp at these tables it’s a way to keep things moving, not to mention interesting and beautiful.
The texture of the green fabric mimicked grass and I wanted to bring in a fresh detail that didn’t take away. I wanted the tablescape to reflect another spring element level which were my little birds which I found at A Village of Flowers. I love art on a table and these provided mini sculpture as well as a vessel. Pairing the birds with weeping willow and braided raffia detail as if they were gathering for their nests I felt was a nice touch. This look was a little like a painting where we might be beneath a circle of trees and one would walk upon this gathering unaware!
Rustic Italian Spring
For A Dream Come True Catering's area, the wanted to bring in a rustic Italian spring look, which I detailed with a lovely pear tree wrapped in rough hewn yarn for a lovely texture. The pears brought together the new life of spring and the earthy, rustic tone of the menu. Crossing the room, a stark black and white mini dancefloor was laid but detailed with zebra print tape and vinyl decals by Designs In Paper which perfectly reflected the pattern of the barrel shades above from Fabu . The black and white dancefloo added a subtle twist. Just like an outfit, accessorizing means everything!
Rustic Italian Spring
Coastal Chic
The last look was what I liked to call “Coastal Chic”. I was inspired by the “Orange Cirque” linen that I had previously used along with the “Sunflower Sheer” at an event in Ojai, California. But I wanted to mimic the embroidery as the tablscape theme, a mélange of visual delights. I loved utilizing the umbrella, but NOT in the middle of a ROUND table! And I wanted for the illumination to come from below and not above. We created a rectangular table from 4 6’ tables with an LED light board in the center illuminating from the void below. I coordinated fabric with complimentary texture with an edging of aqua blue to bring it together.
The tablescaping here was more about creating an extension of the textiles. If you are on the beach you have the elements to deal with. Wind being a huge factor, this is a great way to keep your event decor from flying away! The flowers, golden cymbidiums and golden button mums, were my flower of choice. They were pinned to the fabric or can be literally glued to the vessels. I love the element of surprise and simplicity which is often what clients become so excited about! I found these pre set crystal apliques at Michaeal’s for around $4.00 to create this haute couture linen treatment.
Coastal Chic
My favorite new bobble are these acrylic balls that beautifully difuse candleglow and any light around it. They are a great option to candle glow as they captured the sunlight and the lighting that was set in this case in the void beneath the table. Some of the patterns were created from flat glass marbles; multiple elements working to create one look and a table that you want to walk around and experience! The gobo lighting even mimics the linen patterns. Repitition is the key to conveying any look.
The tables on either side, though round, were still sources of inspiration for me. One I chose to draw from the turquoise linen color, and I wanted to feature these very cool Mexican glasss cubes with a dahlia pattern from FABU. A cube doesn’t have to be filled to the brim with flowers or water. Here I utilized a few callas which served as vessels adorned with jewels and nestled with flowers and loosely placed with a candle placed inside which creates a sexy glow and also accentuated the pattern on the vase. This is a way to totally rethinking a traditional floral look without spending a lot of money. Interesting always trumps over done. And this look appears to be expensive with out being so.
That is actually what all of my looks accomplish. The coordinating cocktail table combines all the linen colors in a braid that binds the table linen with a circle of sleek bud vases a glow with a single candle in the center and orchid blooms below. Again on the beach, this would offer a design that would not tip over in the wind and the candle would not blow out!
Tablescaping is an art form. My events encompass the entire look and experience. My tables do not follow any rules. They include flowers, illumination, but they become so much more. Spending the same amount of money (or less) to have your guests talk about your event for years to come is priceless!
Thank you to Jennifer and to Alison Bryant of Classic Party Rentals for providing the pictures.
Last week I shared my first recap of the q&a that took place at Brides' Night Out where lucky brides in attendance got to ask their burning wedding questions of local wedding experts. On the panel were wedding professionals from Signature Events, Dulce Desserts, Music City Tents & Events (MusicCityTents.com) and the Country Music Hall of Fame (CountryMusicHallofFame.org).
Here's the advice that you may have missed. Hope it helps as you plan!
Which trends are you seeing in weddings?
Video summary:
Dessert trends - Cupcake trend over? No! Great price point. People are really into cookies.
Rentals / linens trends - Couples are showing more of theri personalities - no rules anymore. We're seeing more squares, burlap, fancy mixed with handstitched linens, mix and matching of casual and fun. soft lounge seating vs table and chairs, live mingling.
Planning trends - budget, budget, budget is first! Prioritize - food, venue, cake - what's important? Let those answers determine how limited budget is spent so it best reflects your budget.
What have been some popular bridesmaids gifts lately?
Video summary:
- Some great gift and favor ideas are bags of cookies, sweets from local purveyors like Olive + Sinclair (who has donated yummy chocolate to our SATC2 party swag bag!), The cocoa tree - anything local and handmade
- Favors - create a brand for your event using Hatchshow Prints - such as custom save the dates, poster unique to bride and groom, which is a true work of art
The brides (and I) received awesome advice from the experts! It's good to know that we have such good resources and vendors right here in Nashville! Next week's installment will be about that question you know you want to ask - how do we invite only adults to our wedding and, for the more child-friendly celebrations, what can you do about childcare? Stay tuned!
At Ashley’s Bride Guide, we’re always on the lookout for innovative and exciting wedding ideas.
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