Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Today, I am excited to introduce a new feature called "When the Planner Plans", by Kristin Carolan of Simply Stunning Events. Kristin got engaged a few months ago and I was so excited to hear all about her wedding plans. So, I was honored when Kristin offered to write a monthly article about her wedding plans - from start to finish. I always wondered if wedding planners practiced what they preached. Would they follow these stupid etiquette rules when they planned? Who would they hire? What neat aspects would they incorporate into their wedding day? Now, we'll find out:). Over the next few month, she will give us the inside scoop on her wedding plans, her planning process, etc.
Congrats on your engagement Kristin and Brian! Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Guest Post: Kristin of Simply Stunning Events is a Nashville, TN-based wedding and event planner who is currently engaged to Brian Kaplan, a Nashville wedding photographer.
Choosing a Date
When I got the ring on my finger, I was just like any other bride, I was excited...first things first - I needed to choose a date. I had been dreaming of an October wedding and figured with five Saturdays in October 2009, one had to work! Unfortunately, the 31st was out since the children at my wedding would feel gypped out of trick-or-treating. The 10th and 24th were out due to venue availability and I was already attending a wedding out-of-town on the 17th. The 3rd it is!! Yay! On a whim I decided to call my friend Adam at the Hilton downtown to make sure I could block off plenty of rooms. Turns out, the International Bluegrass Music Association (the what?) was holding their annual convention and nothing was available. So much for my October wedding (sigh). I was bummed for a few days then realized that there was nothing wrong with September and in the end it didn't really matter.
As a "bride planner" to fellow Nashville brides to be, remember to cover all your bases and always be flexible! Here are my recommended steps for choosing your date?
1) Consider a season or month you prefer. Spring and fall weddings are obviously the most popular but there are perks to winter or summer weddings as well. For one, you can often get deals from vendors during the off-season (November - March) and summer weddings can be very convenient if you have many children or college age folks invited since they won't be in school.
Inspiration by Season
Winter Inspiration Board from Wedding Bee
Fall Images from Nashville's own, Kate Crafton
Spring/Summer Inspiration Board by Snippet & Ink
2) Check with venues. If you have a preferred venue already, check the availability since the decision could be made for you if they only have one day open.
3) Check with key family and friends. Be sure to run your possible wedding date by those who will be in the wedding as well as immediately family members as to avoid any conflicts. It's always possible that an important person in your wedding party may have a vacation planned or be attending another wedding.
3) Check with hotels. Before you shout your wedding date from the rooftops, double-check the hotels in the area! This is often not thought of until much later in the planning process, but you could be in a lot of trouble if you book everything for your wedding only to find out your guests will have no where to sleep because a large convention has taken up all the hotel space in Nashville.
Yes, it could happen, trust me!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Inspiration & Trends, Real Nashville Brides, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Friday, November 21, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Guest Post: Ever After Weddings is a Nashville-based, wedding planner.
(If you missed yesterday's post on 2009 Wedding Color Trends, be sure to start there.)
All shades of purple will be very popular and carried over into decor. Sky blue combined with lilac, lavender, and periwinkle will be very popular for the 2009 season.
Photography by Kathy Ziegler Art & Photography
Photo by one of Ashley's favorite wedding websites, Southern Weddings
Tiffany Blue and light aqua portrays a calming and refreshing atmosphere...
...and will be paired with green floral, yellow and lavender. It's all about breaking up the white decor and wedding gown with hot flashes of color.
Do not despair; the elegant and classy black tones will remain constant in 2009. Roses or rosettes, black table linens and black and white color combinations continue to make a really sophisticated statement.
Cakes by Shara
The colors of your wedding can be anything you would like them to be. Add personal touches, splashes of color and try to keep as much of a theme going as possible. Just remember that colors represent the unique style of the bride and groom and trends are merely designed to serve as a guide. No matter what the trend, it's your day and it's about you. Trends by Ever After Weddings Invitations by Relish Photography by Kathy Ziegler Art & Photography
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, Inspiration & Trends
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Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A good planner will not just help you execute but help you figure out everything from your vision, style to color palette. So, when I wanted to know the wedding color trends for 2009, I reached out to one of my wedding planner friends - Mindy of Ever After Weddings. Mindy helped me with my Sex and the City party. I knew she was great at execution and coordination but she really helped give me the color forecast and how to bring the colors of 2009 into Nashville weddings.
Guest Post: Ever After Weddings is a Nashville-based, wedding planner.
Fabulous Wedding Color Trends of 2009: Here's the Pantone color report for Spring 2009. This is a good place to start.
What do your emotions say about you; joy, jubilation, love, excited, cheerfulness? What colors would you use to express those emotions; purple, yellow, red, blue, green? Let's think outside the box of basic colors and take it a step further. 2009 is being predicted as the year of vivid shades; turquoise, fuchsia, aqua, lime, periwinkle.
Photography by Kathy Ziegler Art & Photography
Colors not only enhance the appearance of a wedding, but they can also influence the behavior of the wedding. Imagine a wedding reception decked in pink and tangerine.
Pink is a top choice for color in spring of 2009. Brighter colors will be brought forward, from invitations to linens, wedding stationery and wedding cakes.
Invitations by Relish
Pink will be everywhere; in tents, tablecloths, flowers, and trimmings. Watermelon and fuchsia will also be "in." Trends by Ever After Weddings Invitations by Relish Photography by Kathy Ziegler Art & Photography
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, Inspiration & Trends, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Rhonda Patton doesn't follow trends; she sets them. Designers and brides from all over the country watch her every move to get ideas to make their wedding and events fab. So, when she talks wedding trends, I listen! Lucky for us Nashville based folks, we can follow her and hire her! Check out her post below on 2009 Wedding Trends in Floral Design. Guest Post: Rhonda Patton Weddings is a Nashville-based, event floral designer. Wedding planning for 2009 is underway! Brides are flocking to the coolest venues and consulting with the most fashionable style team {"wedding vendors"}. Learning about the season's hottest trends can make your wedding even more unforgettable. 2009 will call for an enticing mix of modern and classic designs. Brides want anything but ordinary. DRAMA…OPULENCE… ELEGANCE and CHIC will be the bridal buzz words for 2009. COUTURE WEDDING FLOWERS "Couture" {koo-toor} typically referring to high fashion design and dressmaking has now shifted into the wedding industry from couture gowns to couture flowers, the term "couture" is being widely used. Couture in the floral industry encompasses monochromatic palettes (or jarring), unexpected, unusual textures and unique shapes.
Rae Leytham Photography for Southern Weddings Magazine
Rae Leytham Photography
From couture flowers to bespoke bouquets, contemporary-modern will pre-empt traditional floral designs. Posh nosegays, beautiful biedermeiers and cascading will be the most requested bouquet styles in 2009. Embellished Bouquets... Bouquet wraps add glamour at hand while sparkling adornments such as rhinestones {BLING}, jewels, pearls, brooches, floral or bullion wire can take an average bouquet from lackluster to luxe. More and more brides are requesting unique bouquet wraps. {Note the unique wraps in the pictures above} WEDDING TABLESCAPING Out with contrived centerpieces and in with tablescaping - another bridal buzz word for 2009. Low centerpieces will be the top contender for 2009 weddings. Grouping of low, multi-leveled vases featuring multi-color and multi-textured flowers will dominate wedding table decor.
Traditional brides may prefer low designs for a more cozy and intimate ambiance while modern brides may prefer more dramatic designs with taller arrangements. Nevertheless, brides are requesting an overabundance of candles (floating, pillars and votives) to be incorporated creating a romantic ambiance.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, Inspiration & Trends
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Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday, October 28, 2008
Today's Guest Blogger: A Delightful Day, Nashville Wedding & Event Planners http://www.ADelightfulDay.com
I was searching through one of my favorite websites, Martha Stewart Weddings, and found some beautiful, and bold may I add, color combos for the new season. I love finding new colors and matching those that you wouldn't ordinarily put together. Enjoy! 
The first color scheme is Gold and Aqua. I very regal combination, with the girly addition of the blue. I love the slight touches of gold and the girly blue ribbon on the cake stand. I love old fashioned cake stands. If you have a cake small enough on the bottom tier, I definitely encourage you to search in antique stores for a cake stand you can use at your wedding, and keep for future entertaining.
I love the modification of the monogram. This would be a perfect set up for any color combination! It's such a simple, yet glamourous set up!
A beautiful touch of color is perfect for bridal jewelry. A beautiful company to look at for colorful bridal jewelry is TenThousandThings.
Traditional letterpress would be gorgeous in this gold!
I love the non-traditional color of the cake itself, blue, with the gold as the stand out accents.
This gorgeous bouquet with incredible texture is composed of mini phalaenopsis orchids and ochre garden roses, yellow tree peonies, fuzzy bunny tails, and millinery flowers feels as if it has just been picked from a field of dreams. A gold satin ribbon ties it all together.
This is a beautiful spin on the traditional seating cards, bringing in luxurious satin ribbon in a solid and a print.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Inspiration & Trends, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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