Friday, December 2, 2011
Happy Friday! The week's over, you can kick off your work shoes and put on some comfy wedding planning shoes, sit back and check out our favorite blog posts from around the wedding-sphere here in Nashville. Our favorites from this month should prove inspirational; from glamorous weddings to fun, Southern farm weddings and more. Enjoy and have a fantastic weekend!
#10 - The Perfect Paper Goods by Designs In Paper
Pictures by Ace Photography
Designs In Paper created the stationery for this wedding to complement the country theme and the bride's colors. Take a look at the programs and table "numbers" on Designs In Paper's blog here.
#9 - Nashville Wedding Cars
Leaving never looked so good! Williamson County Weddings introduces us to Reggie and his sexy cars - great for your getaway or your grand arrival. Meet Reggie here. We too are BIG fans of his company, Nashville Wedding Cars.
#8 - Chicago Hotel Wedding by Myrick Studios
Whether you are getting married in Nashville or elsewhere, you can take your favorite wed pros with you! Here's a Chicago wedding photographed by a Nashville wedding photographer. There's only one way to describe this wedding - Glamorous! The bride and groom look like film noir pin-ups with the coifed hair and the Drake Hotel as a backdrop. Feast your eyes on more stunning pictures here.
#7 - Fall Chic Wedding Inspiration by Opulent Couture
Orange is a color I always underestimate but Opulent Couture has an eye for wedding design and pulled together some Fall wedding inspiration that may just turn me into a fan! Get some fabulous ideas inspired by the season here.
Picture sources here.
#6 - Pretty In Pink Wedding at the Loveless Cafe by jHenderson Studios
You'd never know this wedding took place in the dead of summer in August with the smiles on everyone's faces. Hard not to when it's such a fun, charmingly Southern celebration! Check out all pretty pictures taken by jHenderson Studios here.
# 5 - A Mini Metropolis
Speaking of jHenderson, we couldn't leave this one out, it's just absolutely adorable. Jenna and her husband have been busy getting a Superman themed nursery ready to welcome their little baby boy Clark! Get it? Up, up and away here!
#4 - Functional, Pretty Hostess or Holiday Gift by Designs In Paper
Need a gift idea? Shop local and share this cute 2012 calendar by Designs In Paper! Each month has its own unique design and is refillable for the following years. More details on how to order here.
#3 - A Delightful Day + A Nashville Couple Are Featured in One of Our Favorite Magazines
We're so proud of A Delightful Day who we all know plans some very exquisite weddings all around Nashville and even outside of it. The wedding they planned and coordinated for Ambra and Aaron was recently featured in Munaluchi Bride and we couldn't be more excited for them! More about the feature here.
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#2 - R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Sticks, stones, and words from others can only do so much, but the respect you share with your spouse/partner/beau is on a different level. Emily Humphries of Simply Yours Weddings lets us in on a chapter in the book she's reading for Bridal Book Club about respect. Curious? Find out more about Bridal Book Club and the chapter here.
#1 - Alisha + Erick's Reception at Houston Station by Jonathon Campbell Photography
The little details of this wedding celebration at Houston Station are just delightful! The space was transformed into a cozy reception hall celebrating the happy couple with the personalized paper goods made by the bride's sister - what a neat gift! See more pictures from the day here.
Houston Station is offering January/February/March 2012 couples the space for their wedding at 2010 rates. For more details on the promotion click here.
With so many great weddings this year, we hope you're able to find even more inspiration. We hope you've enjoyed our favorite blog posts of November and we are excited to see what December has in store for us!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Destination Weds & Honeymoon , Inspiration & Trends, Invitations & Paper Goods, Wedding Resources
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Friday, November 4, 2011
What better way to top off our Food Truck Series than with sweets worthy of any wedding? What's nice about a dessert/sweets truck is that they're not all run by generators, so there's less (or no) exhaust to be concerned with because most of them are actually wagons which you can even have indoors!
After a night of celebrating, dining and dancing, why not treat your wedding guests to a post-reception treat? You can have your wedding caterer provide a sweet send off, like we featured here, or you can have a food truck pull up and serve them as they leave. Either way, your guests will love it! If you choose to hire a caterer, here are some of our partners. If you decide to go the food truck route, we've got a handy list below.
The Sugar Wagon
Contact: Jane Nickell
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: SugarWagon.com
Twitter: @SugarWagon
Tracy and Jane with their cute little Sugar Wagon! (Picture courtesy of The Sugar Wagon)
The Sugar Wagon bakes delicious whoopie pies, cupcakes, cookies and these fantastic little peanut butter ganache cups that are perfect for weddings. They also have ice cream sandwiches that the Sugar Wagon's baker Tracy makes from scratch. With flavors like Chocolate Chip with Salted Caramel or Brownie & Mocha Ice Cream, this could be THE detail at your wedding your guests will always remember. Besides the actual wedding of course!
Left: Little bags of cookies make great favors. Right: The happy bride!
Cupcake Collection
Contact: Mignon Francois
Telephone: 615-244-9000
Website: TheCupcakeCollection.com
Twitter: @CupCakeTweets
Minimum: $250 for 2 hours, $2 per cupcake
It was the best day when the Cupcake Collection went mobile with their bus. Now, they can come to you at your special event and bake fresh cupcakes from the bus if need be! Mignon and her team have already been catering weddings with their delicious, perfectly flavored and perfectly sized cupcakes for a while, so they know a thing or two about weddings! Having the bus on site is just an additional, fun detail. The Cupcake Collection can create specialty flavors and you can have your own fillings or frostings - contact Mignon for custom flavors and costs.
Picture courtesy of Lanecia Rouse FB
Tin Can Treats
Contact: Melodie Adams
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: TinCanTreats.blogspot.com
Twitter: @TinCanTreats
Minimum: Call for special event pricing
Meet Doris, the super cute, retro Tin Can Treats wagon from which your guests can have popsicles, cake and vintage glass bottled sodas. I asked owner Melodie what special treats you can have at your wedding and she said, "Doris is loaded with 'old school' favorites like Bomb Pops, Nutty Cones, Creamsicles, Ice Cream Sandwiches, Chocolate and Strawberry Shortcake bars, and popsicles. As the weather turns colder, we can provide home-made hot chocolate, caramel apples, cotton candy, popcorn, and jars full of retro candies. We can also customize our menu to fit any theme, color, or event." Check out pictures from a wedding shoot they did on their website - this would be so much fun for a vintage-styled wedding regardless of the season!
Tin Can Treats pictures courtesy of Tec Petaja Photography
Fleur de Lis
Contact: Tanisha Hall
Telephone: 615-351-6109
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: FleurDeLisFlavors.com
Twitter: @fdlflavors
Pictures courtesy of Fleur De Lis Flavors
Your experience with Fleur De Lis for your wedding is preceded by a tasting session with owner Tanisha Hall. "It's like a cake tasting but it's a snowball tating! You pick the flavors and colors, and it goes over really well with brides." Tanisha's snowballs are served in clear, eco-friendly cups and serving utensils she gets from local eco-friendly company iHospitality. If you choose to use your own cups or printed napkins you definitely can and the snowballs can be served spiked (Booze Balls!) or without alcohol. If you choose the latter Tanisha is happy to suggest the flavors that pair well with alcohol. Tanisha's done weddings where the snowball colors match the wedding's color scheme and I can vouch for the wedding cake flavor (condensed milk) - it's divine.
Picture courtesy of Fleur De Lis Flavors
Maggie Moos Mobile Slab
Contact: Clayton and Kerry Arrington
Telephone: 615-828-5493
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: MaggieMoosCaters.com
Twitter: @MaggiMobileSlab
Now the delicious ice-cream, with the fixins folded in, can come to you! The Maggie Mobile Slab truck is as festive as their flavors list is vast. Maggie Moos offers both ice cream and yogurt which their staff hand-folds with nuts, fresh fruit or candy. Before your wedding, you can pick the flavors you want as well as the mix-ins and they'll make everything fresh just for you.
Picture courtesy of Maggie Moos
Whatever your tastes desire, there's probably a truck out there that's perfect. For the complete list of food trucks in town check out NashFoodTrucks.com and if you have any favorites you'd like to share please do leave the information in comments! We'd love to see what we may have missed in our lists.
(Follow the links to our coverage on Nashville wedding food trucks - Part 1 - intro, Part 2 - popular food trucks, Part 3 - popular trucks, Part 4 - dessert trucks.)
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Cakes & Catering, Inspiration & Trends
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
After giving you a quick low-down on food trucks and weddings, here's our list of some of the fun food trucks in Nashville that would be great for your wedding. There are so many options that we're trying to keep everything varied in terms of cuisine and style, with no order of preference. We hope you aren't too hungry and we hope that this list helps narrow things down for you! A big thank you to all the food truck owners who responded to our queries; we hope to see you all at Nashville weddings soon!
Image courtesy of Mas Tacos
Mas Tacos
Contact: Teresa Mason
Telephone: 615-543-6271
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Twitter: @mastacos
Minimum: Call for details
Picture courtesy of Ethan Luck
Probably the first food truck in Nashville (at least the first that I know of that moved around), Mas Tacos has a huge following and rightly so - their tacos and food are muy delicioso. If tacos and tasy Mexican fare is what you're seeking for your wedding, this would be a good truck to call for catering. If you can't find them anywhere to eat their food, stop by their brick and mortar location in East Nashville and eat to your heart's content because there's a lot to choose from and all of it is good.
Mere Bulles Truck
Contact: Carlin McQuiddy
Telephone: 615-467-1945
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Twitter: @MereBullesTruck
Website: MereBulles.com
Picture courtesy of Alex Bee Photography
With the Mere Bulles food truck, your menu options span their catering capabilities. This means you are not bound to just one kind of cuisine, but you'll be able to serve Mere Bulle's delicious She Crab Bisque and other popular dishes, with the charm of a food truck. Their truck has a full-service kitchen: they can grill, fry, bake, boil, and just cook, to serve upwards of 500 people. For more on the Mere Bulles food truck, read our post on whether they're right for your wedding or not here.
Grilled Cheeserie
Contact: Crystal De Luna Bogan
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: The Grilled Cheeserie
Twitter: @GrlledCheeserie
MInimum: $1,000 minimum for events
One of the premiere food trucks in Nashville, The Grilled Cheeserie serves up some of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I've ever eaten. For events, they can even do a paired down menu that's a combination of a melt and a side for faster service, which is perfect if you know you have at least 100 people attending who all want food from the truck. You can choose from their current menu of items for your sandwich or create your own. The Grilled Cheeserie uses only biodegradable materials (including their utensils), so this is perfect for the eco-friendly bride and groom. Need dessert? Serve your guests some of the Grilled Cheeserie's pudding which they make themselves and tastes just heavenly!
Nutella and Caramelized Banana Chocolate Pudding Cups (Pictures courtesy of The Grilled Cheeserie)
Riff's Fine Food Truck
Contact: Carlos Davis or BJ Lofback
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: RiffsTruck.com
Twitter: @RiffsTruck
Minimum: Contact for details
Unlike other food trucks, Riffs doesn't have a particular theme to its food. Owners BJ and Carlos are chefs by trade, who also offer event catering, and their culinary skills mean they can create flavors that will knock your socks off (their fish tacos are the best I've ever had). If you're seeking a food truck and would like a more customized menu or a variety of what they serve, Riffs would be a good truck to have. From Thai banh mi sandwiches to the tastiest, most flavorful shrimp and grits you'll ever eat from a truck, Riffs won't disappoint! They also offer dessert and make a killer bread pudding.
Pictures courtesy of Riffs Truck
Barbie Burgers
Contact: Hillary Fulwider
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: BarbieBurgers.com
Twitter: @BarbieBurgers
Minimum: Contact for details
You can't (and won't want to) miss the cute pink caravan that transports Barbie Burgers around town. Barbie Burgers offers cheeseburgers, portobello burgers, a grilled chicken option, and if you're feeling experimental, you can build your own burger. They even offer a fried egg as a side. This big pink truck would be such a fun detail at your wedding and what guest wouldn't want a burger at a fun shindig such as your wedding?
Picture courtesy of Barbie Burgers
Smoke Et Al
Contact: Shane Autrey, 615-601-5993
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Twitter: @smokeetal
Minimum: $500 (or $11 for per person at a minimum of 45 people)
Picture courtesy of Smoke et Al
Nothing says Southern like a little barbecue at a wedding! Smoke Et Al is bringing some Memphis barbecue to Music City and if your guests want some down-home, Southern fare then their hot brisket sammie with horseradish sauce may just be the thing to kick up your wedding a notch. You can opt to have them bring their smoker on-site for an extra cost, but even without it, the food's going to be served fresh out of their truck.
Follow the links to our coverage on Nashville wedding food trucks - Part 1 - intro, Part 2 - popular food trucks, Part 3 - popular trucks, Part 4 - dessert trucks.
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Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The food truck craze has hit Music City, with people filing out of their offices in droves to get a delicious, piping hot meal from a truck parked outside. If you've fallen in love with these gourmet meals on wheels and thought "could this work for my wedding?" stay tuned all week as we cover EVERYTHING you need need to know.
Picture by Alex Bee Photography
What is a food truck?
A food truck, especially where Nashville vendors are concerned, are mobile units that include trucks, wagons, and even buses that serve food either previously prepared or freshly made on site. The trucks are usually powered by generators and can have grills, fryers, and ovens on board to ensure that the food served isn't stale or left sitting out. Nashville has a ton of food trucks serving cuisine from all over (Thai, Mexican, Japanese and Western) to trucks that serve sweets, candy and dessert! You can find a list of all the food trucks here at Nashfoodtrucks.com.
Image Courtesy of Life a la Mode
The Cupcake Collection Bus! (Image courtesy of The Nashville Scene Bites Blog)
What kind of weddings are ideal for food trucks?
Food trucks are a lot more casual and are great for less formal, almost whimsical weddings. You're not going to expect your guests to retrieve their own food in disposable (albeit eco-friendly and sometimes customizable) plates at a black tie wedding, just as you wouldn't expect fine china and polished silverware at a country-themed, outdoor wedding.
Trucks like the Grilled Cheeserie or Mas Tacos or Deg Thai obviously serve food of a particular theme and style. Then there are trucks like Mere Bulles or Riffs Truck who are experienced caterers and who can serve more of a variety of food, making the style of cuisine something you should consider as well.
Crystal (Twitter: @grlldcheeserie) comes from a family of food truck proprietors. Having lived and worked in Los Angeles, which has been ahead of the curve with food trucks, Crystal offered an alternative way to feature a food truck or two at your wedding as an after-dinner, late night snack option. "I worked at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills after their plated high end dinner food trucks are being hired for the midnight after wedding snack, waiting for the guests at the entrance of the venue." So this is great if your wedding dinner has ended, the night's still young and you want your guests to keep partying, but not on an empty stomach - have a food truck there to serve little bites in the later half of the reception!
Photo courtesy of Bryson Leach Photography
What kind of venue is well-suited for food trucks?
"Most event sites where wedding are held are ideal," advises Crystal De Luna Bogan, owner of The Grilled Cheeserie. "I think as long as the grounds are leveled (like a hilly field would be hard for a truck to get leveled to set up) or a tight space where the truck would hinder the movement of the event site. It should be an accent to the party not the center of attention."
Of course, it pays to always check with your venue first. Carlos, chef and one half of the Riffs Truck duo, stresses that if you're at a venue that already has in-house catering or isn't an open venue to check with your wedding venue. "The bride should arrange with the hotel or venue as to where we are able to park."
Linda Wright who owns and runs Cedarwood brought up some good points to remember about food trucks and weddings:
1. Service personnel: Normal caterers provide staff for things normally expected at a wedding. Would food trucks be willing to include staff? (clearing tables, refreshing beverage stations, cake service, coffee service)
2. Most trucks would have a hard time servicing 175 people in a timely manner. If they set up a buffet line outside the truck, it would lose some impact of the styling/novelty.
3. Disposable products vs. china/glassware -- would brides have options?
With regards to the second point of servicing a large group of people, Carlos of Riffs Truck suggests having more than one food truck: "For every hundred people, you should have one food truck. Two food trucks would guarantee less wait time and more food options." The Grilled Cheeserie echos the sentiment, saying that for a wedding of upwards of 300 people, "we suggest other foods to be offered so not everyone rushes the truck at one time. Which helps with the wait time."
Other trucks like the Mere Bulles food truck are larger and have a full-service kitchen and are able to churn out more food.
As I've mentioned, food truck dining is casual so definitely keep it in mind when including this aspect in your overall wedding vision!
ABG Notes: Smaller, portable wagons like The Sugar Wagon can fit into venues and don't have any exhaust, so it's something to consider! (Picture by The Sugar Wagon)
How do food truck costs compare to traditional wedding catering?
Tomorrow, we will cover the costs per person and mininums a bit more in-depth. Some trucks' catering rates are comparable with traditional wedding catering, especially those that offer full menus and high customizations. They are essentially, mobile restaurants. Others price their meals around the same price as you will find if you walked up to the truck, at $7-$10 per person. Even with these seemingly low prices, there are still factors to consider - like how your guests will be served, clean up, travel fees, etc. So, be sure to ask and compare apples to apples.
How do you contact the trucks, taste the food?
We will provide an introdution and full contact info for the majority of the trucks throughout this week. But here's what you should know: Tastings for each truck will vary. Some trucks offer private tastings and others do not. We've found the easiest and most convenient way to know whether you like their food is to find out where their truck will be located and go out and experience them first hand. Some of the food trucks have websites, others do not. Most of them do post their location of the day via their Twitter accounts.
And finally...
Crystal: Think of the fact that people will not want to wait in a line or more than 5-10 minutes for their food so the menu should be simple and easy to eat. Also, the client has to be very clear about what they are expecting from the food truck because most food trucks are used to serving in a more casual setting, while the bride may be expecting something that would come from a high end catering company.
Carlos: With food trucks you are limited to the theme/type of food each truck offers and it may not be a full spread of food - truck food menu is more eclectic. (ABG adds - there are a few trucks, like Mere Bulles, that are actually full service mobile kitchens. With full service kitchens, the menu options are more extensive.)
So when you contact your favorite food truck about catering your wedding, be clear and open on the details and keep these factors in mind to make sure it all goes smoothly and you and your guests have a great time!
(Follow the links to our coverage on Nashville wedding food trucks - Part 1 - intro, Part 2 - popular food trucks, Part 3 - popular trucks, Part 4 - dessert trucks.)
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Cakes & Catering, Inspiration & Trends
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Friday, October 28, 2011
The foliage is a brilliant orange, red and yellow and Fall is officially here. Grab a warm cup of coffee or tea, or whatever hot beverage you like, get comfortable and check out a round-up of ten of our favorite blog posts from around the Nashville wedding community in this month's Bridal Candy.
#10 - Recycled Centerpieces and Great Ideas from iHospitality
Ashley Currie of iHospitality shares this wedding that had great ideas for being eco-friendly by using recyclable and recycled materials for centerpieces. SO charming! Read the article here.
Image by La Photographie
#9 - Caught on Film: Groomsmen Sing-off by McNeal Wedding Films
This is probably the sweetest show of friendship and love from a group of guys I've ever seen. The groomsmen from this wedding are precious, working together on an acapela rendition of Jackson 5's "I'll Be There" just for the happy couple! Watch the video here.
Image by McNeal Wedding Films
#8 - Fun Twist on Photobooths by Kristyn Hogan
I absolutely love the backdrop with framed cut-outs for this photobooth that Kristyn Hogan had for a wedding - what a great way to incoroporate more people into the shot without crowding them onto one chair or making them all just sit or stand in a row! Laugh along with them here.
#7 - Things to Think About Before Hiring A Caterer by Southall Eden (Via WedCandy)
HIring a caterer? You should definitely read this article first. Shannon O'Kelley, owner of Southall Eden Farm shares some true horror stories of working with shoddy, unreputable caterers, and the perils you could face if you don't do proper research. Find out what could happen and how to avoid it here.
Image by The Photographix
#6 - Your Marriage Isn't Just A Photoshoot by Nashville Marriage Studio
Something to remember as you're planning your wedding day - Your Marriage Isn't Just A Photoshoot. Thank you Marie for the sage advice as always. Read the post here.
#5 - Online Book Club with Simply Yours Weddings
Sometimes, all a girl needs is a good support group to help her get through life. In this case, Emily Humphries of Simply Yours Weddings has collaborated with Marie McKinney Oats of Nashville Marriage Studio to bring brides-to-be and new brides (or seasoned brides) an outlet and some help to better understand marriage and relationships. Check out the details of how you can join this online book club here.
Picture courtesy of Anna Hardy
#4 - A Christmasy Wedding by Chris & Adrienne Scott Photography
The bright Christmas red against the black gowns and tuxes make a chic color scheme in this Franklin wedding, photographed by Chris and Adrienne Scott. The couple, Ryan and Katie, married at Bethlehem United Methodist Church and had their reception at Durego; but for some awesome bridal party shots, Chri and Adrienne took everyone to Harlinsdale Farm. Get some great ideas and look at the beautiful pictures from the original post here.
Image by Chris & Adrienne Scott
#3 - The Great Gatsby Romance, a Wedding at Cedarwood by Dove Wedding Photography
Dove Wedding Photography captured the fun, meaningful details at this Gatsby-inspired wedding at Cedarwood. The happy couple also show us that college sports pride will have its place even in a non-sports themed wedding! It's so cute we had to share both pictures of the groom's cake! More from Liz and Jamie's wedding here.
Images by Dove Wedding Photography
#2 - Bridal Market 2011 with The Bride Room
The ladies from The Bride Room went to the Big Apple for Bridal Market and gave us a sneak peek into some of their favorite designers's lines. Try not to swoon too hard! (More gowns here)
Image by The Bride Room
#1 - For Wedding Pros: Content Matters by Think Like A Bride
Having a blog for the sake of having a blog isn't good enough. That's why Ashley's Bride Guide is having a blog camp to help you get started on social media to get the attention of brides and grooms. Not convinced? Study that infographic a little! Article here.
Image by Think Like A Bride
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Inspiration & Trends
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