Wednesday, March 7, 2012
It's one of your worst nightmares - the vision of your wedding day is not the reality. You walk in and nothing's right. This is one nightmare that you can avoid with Rhonda Patton Weddings & Events, who believes that, "Sketching is instrumental in the design process." Rhonda Patton is one of a handful of local wedding pros who sketches your design and also offers tangible mocks ups of your wedding design.
To give you an idea of how she works, I'd like to share some photos from Jennifer and Armand's uber-chic Nashville wedding. You may have seen their national featured in Munaluchi Bride, or on several Nashville blogs, including their photographer's, Kristyn Hogan. But today, Rhonda allows us behind the scenes and shares the actual drawings that she created for the couple, that allowed them to see and modify the details of their day, well in advance of their reception.
Rhonda Patton's work is incredible; it is inventive and glamorous. But it's her unique use of visual aids that puts many couples' fears to rest. We are happy to peak into that process and share it with you today.
The Background: The bride and groom chose to use a combination of three vibrant colors: blue (ranging in hues), Sunkist orange, and fuchsia pink. They were married at Riverside Seventh-Day Adventist Chapel and celebrated their reception at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Their stylish and elegant decor really came together with the floral design; it really made the colors pop.
The Design Sketches:
Terrace Chandelier
During the cocktail hour (before the reception), guests were greeted with an overhead chandelier concept of mango calla lilies and clear, globe candleholders.
Focal Point of the Room - Long Table of Repetitive Design
Rhonda says that she used design repetition at the focal point of the room to create that continuous flow of the room's design. It really made for a stunning head table.
They ordered over 2,000 orange and fuchsia roses for Jennifer and Armand's day, and the reception flowers arrived in and were stored in an 18-wheeler until they could transfer them from the controlled temperature to the venue.
Guest Tablescapes
Again, the design held over to the guest tables and the drama continues with the height of the centerpieces. Aren't the groupings stunning?! Her team soaked over 50 oasis balls (which are the center for the roses to sit around and create a pomander), for all of the centerpieces - the soaked centers keep the flowers looking fresh throughout the night.
More Wonderful Wedding Details
Bridal Party Flowers
The bridesmaids carried an array of roses, mini calla lilies, dendrobium orchids and gloriosa lilies. The groom and groomsmen wore mango orange calla lily boutonnieres.
Bride's Bouquet
Jennifer's bouquet was rounded with hydrangeas and accented with roses, dendrobium orchids, mini calla lilies, and gloriosa lilies. The cuff of the stem was dressed in gold Swarovski crystal strands.
Ceremony Entrance
The door to the church was decorated with oversized, cursive "J" and "A" letters - made of fuchsia pink and orange carnations. As guests entered the vestibule, they came upon a 4 ft tall floral design in a uniquely shaped glass vase filled with gold branches, orchids, hydrangeas, calla lilies, and bells of Ireland.
Ceremony
The bride walked down a 60 ft aisle with a dense border of over 200,000 pink and orange rose petals (they filled six 30-gallon bags), and the couple said their vows under a 8X10 canopy. The canopy was accented with a canopy and back drop of crystal strands and individually hand glued blue and orange dendrobium orchid blooms. Hanging votives were layered in for candlelight.
Country Music Hall of Fame Reception
Again, you can see the emphasis they placed on cohesiveness and design repetition. It's all in the details!
Candy Bar
The couple provided Rhonda with a list of their favorite candies and from there she created a candy bar to be remembered! So how did they create a table of such strong aesthetic qualities? They practiced! The candy was delivered a few days before the wedding, and Rhonda's staff created the layout of the candy station on a 8ft rectangle.
Rhonda described the process saying, "we moved, elevated, adjusted, swapped and switched glass vases and apothecary jars until we created the perfect aesthetic design for the candy bar. Once we got it just right, we labeled and packed the jars and took a picture for reference." Impressive, right?!
Many thanks to Rhonda for posting all of this information and letting us share with our readers (see her original posts on her blog). If you are as impressed as we are by her work, contact her and book her immediately! And make sure to mention that you saw her on ABG!
Rhonda will be an expert speaker at our workshop, The Smart Bride. Register now to ask your design questions in person. Click here for your complimentary ticket.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds
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Thursday, February 23, 2012
Get ready to be amazed from 3pm - 5pm on March 3 at Cedarwood, where you'll get to know their wedding designers and see the many facets of what they offer for weddings at their venue. The Cedarwood Style Show promises to be an afternoon of inspiration that will give you a great glimpse into what Cedarwood can do.
The event begins at 11am for Cedarwood's brides and from 3 - 5pm everyone is welcome to take a tour and visit. You'll get a chance to check out the property which has a beautiful house, a really cool barn - perfect for a reception, and their outdoor cathedral. Oh, and, one of my favorite little details - their swing out front, hanging from a tree branch, something that's always adorned with ribbons and is one of the first things your guests will see when they drive on to the property. It's a small detail, but boy does it set the mood for a wonderful day. With sprawling, natural grounds a lake, and beautiful architecture there are tons of areas for great pictures on your wedding day.
Not only is Cedarwood an incredible wedding location, their staff is known city-wide for their all-inclusive wedding packages, which include wedding design and coordination. Cedarwood works closely with their brides to plan the wedding day; their on-site event director will coordinate everything from start to finish to the wedding design and decor. They have a tremendously creative staff. Their designs have won awards and at their disposal is a huge inventory of decorative accessories. Whatever your style, there are plenty of options from which to choose - vintage furniture, props, accessories, or glamorous and modern ones, and it's all included in your venue fee.
Picture by Kristyn Hogan
Picture by Krystal Mann
ABG Notes: These are but some of the many props and custom decor items Cedarwood has. (Pictures by Cedarwood)
Pictures by Krista Lee Photography
ABG Notes: Cedarwood's stunning "Burlap & Bling" wedding design (these last two pictures) has been featured in national and international magazines. (Picture by Dove Wedding Photography)
Picture by Ace Photography
These pictures are but the tip of Cedarwood's creativity iceberg and it's going to be a style show you won't want to miss. It's free to attend but you must RSVP first (click or email: courtney{at}historiccedarwood{dot}com), then, set your calendars. Go, be inspired and enjoy yourself at Cedarwood's Style Show from 3pm to 5pm on Saturday, March 3. If you need a little more convincing visit Cedarwood's blog for more gorgeous weddings and pictures and be sure to let them know you heard about it from us!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events, Details, Design & Florals, Wedding Venues and Locations
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Everyone has an opinion when it comes to wedding gowns and what you should wear. "No, no, white will wash you out, go with ivory" or "Ivory is too (whatever) go with a really, really white dress!" How do you pick? Where do you start and what is the difference between white, diamond white, winter white, cream, or ivory?
Event designers, surprisingly, get the "ivory vs white" question a lot as brides try to decide whether their dress color will impact their wedding design. My wedding dress was ivory and I felt compelled to use ivory everywhere instead of white. I found that ivory accessories were harder to find and often cost more. So, I was elated to see that Rhonda Patton of Rhonda Patton Weddings and Event Design tackled the whole ivory and white quandry via her very helpful wedding blog. Here's what she shared...
Image: The Collection
Rhonda Patton: I tend to have the biggest debate with brides over the color WHITE versus IVORY. Does it really matter?
Yes, it does matter!
The differences between ivory, cream, or white is highly significant when it comes to the subject of wedding gowns and flowers. Ivory should not be viewed upon as another shade of white like eggshell, diamond white, off-white, cream, or ecru - whatever that is! In terms of color, WHITE is stark white, pristine and mixes no shades of any other color - like pure white milk.
Let's examine gowns from one of my favorite bridal gown designers, AMSALE.
White gown by Amsale
IVORY has a slight tint of yellow or cream. Cream tends toward the warm, off-white tends towards the cool. Cream tends to be palely yellow with some sand tones. Off-white tends to use grays and browns as tones.
Diamond white gown by Amsale
Most women love wearing the unsullied color called white for their wedding gown. However, a huge number of women are opting for ivory shades of wedding gowns.
Ivory gown by Amsale
As per old wives tale, white is the color for virgin brides but it holds little relevance in today’s world. Whether you want white or ivory is totally a personal choice. The ultimate decision should rest on your skin tone (warm versus cool). For example, white can show off the paleness of your skin. However, some brides believe that white can be too austere. Ivory, having a touch of cream can actually be flattering to pale complexions.
Left to right: White, ivory and cream
The better choice for lighter skin tones is an ivory or antique white. Women with medium to dark-toned skin can often pull off a diamond white beautifully. Bright whites on darker skin tones are stunning!
Side Note: I've opted to wear white on my wedding day!
In regards to flowers, they are available in white, cream, or ivory. Some flowers work well with all three colors, (i.e. calla lilies and hydrangeas). Flowers that are available in stark white (roses, gladiolus, carnations, gardenias, paperwhites, stephanotis, stock).
Your florist can help determine what type and which shade of flower works best. In conclusion, white/cream/ivory does matter and it's important you convey the color or provide a color swatch in advance to your wedding vendors.
For more great planning and wedding inspiration visit Rhonda's website at RhondaPattonWeddings.com.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Details, Design & Florals
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Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Today's roundup features more favorites from the year - more beautiful work today in flowers, specifically bouquets. The colors would make a rainbow jealous! Check out these gorgeous arrangements put together by the deft, skilled hands of our favorite florists and crafty friends. Enjoy!
Photo by Ace Photography. Loved and designed by Cedarwood Weddings.
1) Special Touches
If you look carefully at this seemingly classic bouquet by the design team at Cedarwood (yup! Not just a venue!) you might notice the tufts of antique lace tucked into the peonies, ranunculus, and roses. Brilliant.
2) Simply Enchanting
Enchanted Florist lives up to their name with very mesmerizing, consistently beautiful bouquets. We asked Caprice to send us a few of her personal favorites and we have to say the anemone bouquet (below left) is absolutely stunning with the vivid, purple and green centers surrounded by the soft, white petals. The bouquet on the right is just so soft, dreamy, and vintage - beautiful!
Left: Photo by The Collection. Right: Photo by Ace Photography. Loved and submitted by Caprice of Enchanted Florist.
3) Tres Chic
This loose, Tuscany inspired bouquet looks like they just picked wild flowers and tied them together for a dreamy, natural look. (By Cedarwood).
Photo by Kristyn Hogan. Loved and submitted by Cedarwood
4) Pop of Color
Yellows and whites make for such fun, warm bouquets like this very full, round arrangement also by Cedarwood.
Photo by Brandon Chesbro. Loved and submitted by Cedarwood.
5) Absolutely Unique
This succulent bouquet from Miranda and Grant's wedding (here) reflected the couple's unique personality and style and is kind of arrangement I hope we see more of in 2012.
Photo by Ace Photography. Bouquet by Enchanted Florist. Loved by Megan and Tabitha of ABG
7) Do-It-Yourself Beauty
There wasn't really anything about this wedding we didn't love. The bouquets were hand made by the bride, Jamie, using fabric and are just so cool! See the rest of the wedding details here.
Photo by Pear Image Photography. Bouquet by the bride. Loved by Megan of ABG.
8) Back in Black
While I do love flowers, it's always really cool to see what floral designers can do to kick things up a notch. This next bouquet is unlike anything I've seen before and I would love to see a brides take on this style for a wedding - it's adventurous, it's edgy, and so darned cool. More from the shoot here.
Inspiration Shoot + Photos by Hartz Photographic. Bouquet by Brocade Designs. Loved by Tabitha of ABG.
9) True Blue
More anemones and a beautiful, elegant all-white bouquet for the bride. This is one of Sara's favorites from this Nashville bride's destination wedding in Savannah, GA.
Photo by Lotus Blossom Photography. Loved by Sara of ABG
10) Falling for Fuchsia
The vibrancy of this next bouquet is not to be ignored. Fuchsias, purples, and lavenders are clustered together for a rustic yet chic look for a statement bouquet by Cedarwood. As Sara said "I love the bright colors of this bouquet and how it stands out so well in pictures." See the rest of the beautiful details here.
Photo by The Collection. Floral design by Cedarwood. Loved by Sarah of ABG
10) Red Hot
There's something so sexy about rich reds and blacks. This next bouquet made by GreenFinch Floral Design has black magic roses and red roses with feather accents - VERY awesome.
Photo by Karen Alisa Photography. Floral design by GreenFinch Floral Design. Loved by Sara of ABG
Truth be told, it was hard to just pick a few. Be sure to check out our gallery for more awe-inspiring pictures of floral design and bouquets by our local designers - they're quite breathtaking. Again, if you have any of your own to share, please do send us the pictures on our Facebook page because we firmly believe you can't have too much inspiration!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Details, Design & Florals
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Tuesday, December 20, 2011
As we continue our trek back through Nashville's 2011 weddings, we bring you the favorite designs and decor as submitted by the Ashley's Bride Guide staff and participating members of the Nashville bridal community. The only thing we regret is that we could only choose a few! Enjoy the ones we have the space to share.
1) Movie Theme at Carnton Plantation
A large percentage of the weddings we see here in Nashville have a Southern twist to them. It's definitely fun to see weddings, like this one from A Delightful Day/StudioWed, in which the couple puts personal touches to their Southern venue with a movie theme! As Kelly Stack says, "I loved the quirky quality of her details, the fabulous ribbon-bedecked biscuit bar and cake buffet, the open-air layout of her Carnton Plantation reception, the long rectangular tables and fruitwood folding chairs, the fabulous mix-and-match florals in vases by Brocade Design Arts, and the Southern cooking by A Dream Come True was heavenly."
Planner: A Delightful Day Event Planning; Photos: The Collection, Erin Lee; Loved by: StudioWed
2) Mason Jar Love
I love, love mixing antique china plates and mason jars, especially for an outdoor wedding; so of course, I had to choose this one! The bride and groom actually own a decor business, which created easy access to vintage decorations, and according to Cali, they toasted each other with Mason Jar wine glasses!
Decor: Not Too Shabby Designs; Photos: Cali Ashton Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG
3) Creative Fall Colors
ABG Blogger Sara loves all of these fall color options, especially those that vary from the typical red/brown/orange palate. More on the inspiration here.
Fall Inspiration: Historic Cedarwood; Photos: Rachel Moore Photography; Loved by: Sara of ABG
4) Eclectic Circus Theme
My first thought when I saw this wedding, it's cooky - in a good, fun way! Marathon Village is love for many indie, eclectic brides and this one takes the cake. From the ring bearers coming down the aisle in a circus wagon, to the elephant centerpieces, cotton candy, balloons, even the cake looked like a three ring circus! The overall theme was well displayed, but in no way tacky.
DIY Design by Bride & Family; Photos: Photography by Susie; Loved by: Meg of ABG
5) Eco-Friendly Options
Sara said that she really likes "the idea of such amazing decorations being eco-friendly since a lot of decorations for a wedding are just tossed at the end of the day." We all agree, which is why we love the green posts by Ashley of iHospitality. More eco-friendly decor options from the extensive decor inventory at Cedarwood.
Decor: Historic Cedarwood; Photo: Dove Wedding Photography; Loved by: Sara of ABG
6) Destination - Island of Ocean Blues
As a nod to our brides that marry elsewhere but take Nashville vendors with them, here is a beach side wedding that Kelly with StudioWed sent over. "Mary Alice & Leigh RAVED about this gorgeous wedding for months after it happened! The two of them flew to Fishers Island in New York (a "beautiful relic of a bygone era!") for this gorgeous summer wedding." -Kelly
Planner: A Delightful Day Event Planning; Photos: McLellan Style; Loved by: StudioWed
7) Victorian Elegance
I am always impressed or intrigued by photos from Ace Photography, which is why I constantly follow their blog. This elegance of this wedding in a Victorian home really is stunning.
Venue: Top O' Woodland; Photos: Ace Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG
8) Parisian Style
Sara loved this post because it displays all of the different options that brides have when they wed at Cedarwood. We all love this shoot that Kristyn did of French tablescapes - so romantic!
Inspiration Shoot: Historic Cedarwood; Photo: Kristyn Hogan; Loved by: Sara of ABG & Team
9) Backyard Wedding
When you hear "Backyard Wedding" it usually brings to mind a simple affair, perhaps thrown together at the last minute, but this is anything but that image. Doug and Lea actually built the pavilion below just for their wedding. It was an intimate wedding in regards to who they invited - only those with whom they had lasting friendships. The moment I saw the wedding, I fell in love and had to share! (Be sure to check out Joe Hendricks' blog to see more photos - including their rose pinata!)
Planner: Weddings by Mary Natalie; Photos: Joe Hendricks Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG
10) A Wedding for All Seasons
This summer, the folks at Main Event Productions assembled a dream team of wedding pros for the open house of their new venue, Legacy Farms. The result was pure deliciousness and bridal eye candy! To demonstrate the diversity of the venue and its many options for the Tennessee bride, the design and decor pros styled each area with a different seasonal theme. You can view all of the images via Ace Photography's blog in a Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 series. However, below are Ashley's favorite's from the inspirational shoot. The beauty of such a wonderful inspiration being created in greater Nashville is that you can actually hire this dream team to recreate a similar look for you vs. coveting them from afar!
Inspiration Shoot - Venue: Legacy Farms; Floral Design + Event Styling: Enchanted Florist + Events Plus; Photos: Ace Photography; Loved by: Ashley of ABG
Share your favorite wedding design and decor from 2011 with us, either as a comment below or on our Facebook page. Keep watching for more of our favorites!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Details, Design & Florals, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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