Thursday, December 19, 2013
Let’s be honest, there aren’t that many grooms out there who truly get a say in the details of their wedding day. So it’s important, ladies, if you want to keep your hubby-to-be happy, to allow him to put his mark on the wedding day, even if it’s in a small way.
That’s where the groom’s cake comes in. The groom’s cake allows your guy to express himself in whatever way he desires, and in this case, the more creative, wacky and outlandish, the better!
Here are a few of our favorite groom’s cakes we’ve seen designed by Signature Cakes by Vicki. Hopefully you’ll get some inspiration from these and dare to try some of your own creations!
Vanderbilt helmet cake, a Nashville favorite
Cake inspired by the M&Ms!
Bass violin cake
Auburn University tree toilet paper rolling tradition
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Posted by Newlywed Leah |
Filed under: Cakes & Desserts, Grooms, Groomsmen & Tuxedos ,
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Have you purchased an engagement ring but aren't quite sure how to guarantee a perfect proposal? Regalo Design offers proposal tips and proposal planning services to help you with everything you need. Their website provides four proposal 'must dos' and a list of proposal services available to help you plan. These services include brainstorming, arrangement of vendors and day-of proposal coordination.

There's NO reason to stress when you have help from the pros who've thought of everything. They will sit down with you, get to know you and your significant other, and together you can design the proposal of your dreams and hers. Then, once you've decided how to do it, Regalo can help you make it happen!
Read more about their proposal planning services via this link. Then, contact Regalo Design at 615-482-1350 to schedule your free consultation. By the way guys, if you are proposing this holiday, I suggest you contact them ASAP. Just looking out for ya!

(Photo: Kristy Vest Photography)
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Engagements & Proposals, Grooms, Groomsmen & Tuxedos , Wedding Planners & Coordinators,
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Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Ladies, how many of us have been in charge of planning a bachelorette party for a best friend? And how many of us have struggled to plan the perfect night out for the bride to be? I bet if we were all in a room together I’d see a lot of hands raised! Well, worry no more…. We now have Bachelorette Nashville to help make the “last fling before the ring” a complete (and easy) success!
Whether you are local and have out-of-town friends or are traveling to Nashville just for your party, Bachelorette Nashville is our city’s newest one-stop-shop bachelorette planning service that offers both customizable and pre-planned party packages for your ideal girls' night out!
I had the opportunity to chat with Bachelorette Nashville’s Robbie Goldsmith to learn a little more about what this innovative company offers:
Tell us a little bit about what Bachelorette Nashville does.
BacheloretteNashville.com is a fully customizable bachelorette party planner in Nashville, TN. We have over 40 partners in Nashville and are the resource to make your bachelorette party organized, memorable and stress free!
Why did you start Bachelorette Nashville?
Any good business solves a problem. As I learned about the stressful experience of making sure the bride-to-be has fun during her "last fling before the ring", I quickly saw this was a problem. Many close friends experienced this stress and loved the idea of BacheloretteNashville.com, so we decided to do something about it!
Why should a bridesmaid choose Bachelorette Nashville over planning the night herself?
We add some great value for the planner:
1) We relieve the stress of planning a bachelorette party for a group, in a destination city like Nashville, TN.
2) The bride never pays with BacheloretteNashville.com! Want to make her feel special; we have 10 ways to do so and they are all FREE!
3) We offer split group payment, so each girl pays for her part. No more maid of honor collecting or fronting money for people!
Who typically books a night out with Bachelorette Nashville?
We find that we are a great value for out-of-town brides who use Nashville as a destination! Typically, these parties might not know the ins and outs of a Nashville weekend, and that can be stressful. We are here for them! (But great for people in town also, because of our awesome partnerships!)
Can you tell us a little bit about your different packages?
We offer nine pre-set packages, which can range from a basic "Country Star" guide to Broadway for $38.99/person all the way up to "The Full Monty" for $200+/person. The great thing about us is that you can customize any package! So depending on the bachelorette's interests and style, our party planner will find just the right fit!
Why is Nashville a great city to celebrate a bachelorette?
Nashville is the new "IT" city! Nashville combines all aspects to make a great weekend - southern hospitality, live music, great food, beautiful people and did we mention there are rarely any cover charges?
Can you give us an example of what a night out with Bachelorette Nashville might include?
Sure, a popular package would be something like this: A group activity during the day (like a pole dancing class or mani/pedi), then a great dinner (at partners like Hard Rock Cafe or Sambuca), and of course a night out on the town using all the coupons and perks from the "Country Star" gift bag we will have waiting upon your hotel arrival!
Anything else you’d like for us to know?
Of course! For the men in your life, we will be offering BachelorNashville.com in January 2014, and then watch out for our operation's expansion across the United States in 2014!
Be sure to visit Bachelorette Nashville’s website to start planning your big night out in our great city!
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Posted by Newlywed Heather |
Filed under: Destination Nashville Weddings!, Bridesmaids & Bridal Party, Grooms, Groomsmen & Tuxedos ,
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Thursday, September 19, 2013
Nashville's 12th Annual Enchanted Brides Show at Cheekwood was another great opportunity to meet top-notch wedding resources. Listing them all would be a feat, but for those of you who missed some of the booths or were unable to attend, here are my 15 favorites.
1) Arzelle's Bridal - arzellesbridal.com
I swooned when I saw this simple but elegant gown at the Arzelle's booth. Isn't it a beauty? The other gowns were equally exquisite but this Marchesa was my fave. See these gowns and more at their salon on West End.
2) Wedlock Images - wedlockimages.com
Wedlock's photographic style is crisp, sleek and akin to magazine-style. Their work appeals to the edgy, modern bride who is getting married here in Nashville or is taking Wedlock to her destination wedding. It was great listening to co-owner Donice chat about Nashville venues she loves. (Great insight: You may want to talk to photographers before you book your venue!) She also told me about a new, farm venue near Murfreesboro, Events at East 96. Heard of it?
3) Classic Party Rentals - nashville.classicpartyrentals.com
Classic's inventory for Nashville weddings and events is massive. I visited their warehouse one time and they have just about everything you need. This tablescape is just one idea of many that they can help you design.
4) West Meade Wine and Liquor - westmeadewines.com
West Meade was a new find. They offer liquor, beer and wine in cases for weddings and events. This is a great way to save money if you decide on a venue like Houston Station, which allows you to bring in your own beverages.
West Meade also offers a bar registry for those who have everything they need but would appreciate a well-stocked bar! You know who you are. No judging. :)
5) Dulce Desserts - dulcedesserts.com
Juanita! I've known Dulce Dessert's owner and cake artist since I first started in weddings in 2006. (Wow!) She was one of the first wedding pros I met. She's always been sweet to me and her cakes have always been inventive and consistently scrumptious. I can never, and I do mean never, pass by her booth or store without being tempted to indulge. If you have not tasted her cakes, you simply must. Our blog intern Laurie had Dulce cupcakes for her wedding. Without a doubt - she loved them!
6) Designs in Paper - There is no doubt in my mind that owners Steve and Donette can create anything with paper! You really have to meet with them to see some of the previous wedding paper goods. They take pride in creating paper products that are custom to each engaged couple. At the bridal show, they shared many invites that were printed in white ink. You read that right, white ink. This chalkboard flyer will give you an idea of what they can do. They also print on fabric; think burlap looking fabric, for a rustic wedding. Lovely!
7) Capital Theatre - capitoltheatretn.com
This was a new find. The theater is located in Lebanon, TN and can accommodate all bridal events, from showers to receptions. Their spaces are very unique, ranging from an auditorium to an attic.
8) Street Tuxedo - streettuxedo.com
Street Tuxedo keeps a pulse on what's hot for grooms. For outdoor weddings, peach and khaki pair well. Sangria is a fun new color that can add a pop to a classic wedding. Neither of these work for you? Street Tuxedo has hundreds of swatches to match your color palette and several suit/tuxedo styles to complement your groom's style.

9) Geny's Bridal - genysbridal.com
Geny's is a Nashville staple. They offer three floral options: 1) wholesale flowers for floral designers, 2) retail flowers for DIY brides and 3) full service floral design for brides. Geny's recently added bridal gowns to their inventory in order to provide a more one-stop service for brides. They carry several exclusive lines and accessories. I had no clue they launched a bridal boutique. Their gowns are gorgeous!
10) A/P Couture - 615-545-2742
Alain Patterson, the owner and lead designer, creates custom veils for fashion-focused brides.
11) 2Travel Anywhere - 2travelanywhere.com
Carlie's a delight. She is a honeymoon specialist and helps engaged couples plan their honeymoon vacations at no cost to them.
12) Michael's Cafe & Catering - eatatmichaelscafe.com
They had me at banana pudding. I was told it was Michael's grandmother's recipe. Thanks grandma! It was absolutely delicious. Michael also served mac and cheese and BBQ chicken. Assumed southern cuisine? You are correct. And, based on the food they served at the show, they know what they're doing.
13) Elizabeth Jean Photography - elizabethjeanphotography.com
Elizabeth Jean does great work. I discovered her work this summer after seeing photos from a styled photo shoot at the Nashville Zoo (which we will feature very soon). It was great putting a face with her high-quality work. Be sure to visit her website to see her portfolio.
14) Grand Avenue - grandavenueworldwide.com
Transportation for the bridal show attendees was provided by Grand Avenue. It was posh! If you have a large bridal party or family that you want to ensure is easily transported (in style) between your bridal events, Grand Avenue should certainly be on your list.
15) Stay tuned. I'll share it on Friday.
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Bands, DJs, Music, Bridal Shows & Events, Cakes & Desserts, Florals, Details & Design , Grooms, Groomsmen & Tuxedos , Honeymoon and Post Wedding, Invitations & Paper Goods, Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds, Wedding Resources,
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Monday, August 19, 2013
As the owner of a Nashville-based business, I take pride in promoting other locally-owned businesses. We are the backbone of our community. When you support businesses like ours, three times the dollars stay in Nashville versus when you shop at chains.
Aside from keeping more money in our backyard, supporting Nashville-based businesses generally results in better service for you. The owners are more likely to personally train their employees, and to be reachable by you and their staff. All of these things really matter when you are planning the biggest day of your life!
Take Street Tuxedo, a tuxedo store that is locally owned and operated. You can visit just about any of their four locations and bump into a Street-family member. They actively run the business and are dedicated to stellar customer service.
Before you head to the mall for your groom's wedding attire, consider Street Tuxedo. Not only are they our neighbors, their service differences might surprise you.
1) Street Tuxedo carries the same inventory as the large retailers.
Has your groom fallen in love with the look of Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren tuxedos? Street Tuxedo carries those and other top designer lines, just like the national chains.
Street attends the same fashion events as national chains, and has access to the latest tuxedo styles. But, being a smaller company means they can respond to trends faster, because they make all the decisions ...you guessed it, locally. New style? Hot color? They can change their inventory in weeks or months versus years.
Photos: Formal Fashion Week, via Street Tuxedo's Facebook page, where the Street Tuxedo team spent the week looking at the latest in tuxedos and dresses for weddings!
2) Since ownership is local, the owners are involved; staff is well trained.
There's nothing like knowing that the boss is likely to pop up at anytime!
Street's owners are in-store six days a week. Such involvement keeps service strong at Street Tuxedo, where employees have, on average, six years with the company. They are well trained and are likely to be in store, when you place your order and when you pick it up. It's always helpful to have that level of continuity.

There are 4 locations in the Nashville-area. The above is the Green Hills location. Photo: Kevin Wimpy Photography
3) Street Tuxedo's inventory is also local, so they can respond to your needs faster.
They carry the same designers as the big chains, but guess what? Their inventory is kept right here in Nashville. Their warehouse is local, so no shipping is required. This means that you can try on the tuxedos to find out exactly which style you like instead of shopping from a catalog.
It also means they can better respond to emergencies like last minute orders, split pants, change-outs, or wrong fit. With national chains, your tux has to be shipped. If you lose (or gain) weight and your tuxedo is too big...sorry! It's yours for the next 24 hours.
4) They can serve your groomsmen all across the country, no matter where they live.
Say your groomsman lives in California. He'd follow the same process as if you went with a national chain. He'd go to the tuxedo partner in his area. Ask them to take his measurements. Send the measurements to Street Tuxedo. Easy.
5) They carry the same colors as other stores and can match bridesmaid color swatches.
Some bridal gown stores will tell you that if you buy your dress at their store, you have to go to a specific tuxedo store to get matching colored, tuxedo accessories. That's not true. You can rent your tuxedos wherever you'd like. Street Tuxedo usually has the same colors and swatches as any other store.

Photo: Scoobie's Photographic Images
6) They make Nashville grooms and their groomsmen look great!
Above all else, Street Tuxedo takes pride in styling Nashville men and giving them an experience like no other.
Here are photos from a recent wedding, whose groomsmen were styled by Street Tuxedo.
Wedding Photos: Joe Hendricks
I am not alone in loving the helpful service and local inventory that Street Tuxedo affords brides and grooms. Wedding pros all across the city will gladly recommend Street Tuxedo. We know they will take care of you and make your groom feel as special about his tux as you do about your dress.
Schedule an appointment and let me know about your experience.
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Posted by Ashley King |
Filed under: Grooms, Groomsmen & Tuxedos ,
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