Cedarwood Weddings and Events is my favorite new blog! After one visit, you'll see why, especially if you are seeking an outdoor Nashville wedding - like a farm, garden - or a historic home. I could peruse this site for hours...and have:).
Earlier this week, they featured a wonderful organic wedding and I had to share it with you. It's amazing and there are no words to describe it.
Kate (bride), Matt (groom) and their Cedarwood wedding team thought through every aspect of this green, farm wedding and made it look effortless, cozy and joyous. Kate and Matt look super happy, as wonderfully captured by Krystal Mann of Mint and Sage Photography.
Here are some of my favorite pics from their day. I HIGHLY encourage you to visit the Cedarwood blog to read all about this organic wedding - part 1, part 2 and part 3. I'm sure you agree that a wedding recap that requires a 3-part series is clearly a must-read (and will provide more info on the couples' wedding team).
This wedding eye-candy is my Happy Valentine's Day gift to you. You can thank me later:).
Who says eco-friendly can't be fabulous!!
Thanks Cedarwood, Katie, Matt and Mint and Sage for letting me share this wonderful with my readers.
We had so much fun at the Nashville Lifestyles Bridal Show at the Hermitage Hotel. The weather had started to improve, the sun was shining and the turnout was quite good! Lots of brides looking for great ideas and inspiration who attended with their moms and friends. We even saw a couple of grooms and that's always a good thing!
Photo source: NashvilleLifestyles.com
The highlight of the show was the luncheon with Tara Guerard. You might recognize her name from the books Southern Weddings: New Looks from the Old South and Weddings by Tara Guerard; It was exciting to hear what she had to say and she filled us in on her favorite wedding ideas and gave us predictions of trends to come.
The Hermitage Hotel - bridal registration desk
General wedding ideas / answers to attendee questions.
Traditional weddings are back! Modern weds are on the decline as couples return to the basics, focusing on important ingredients
It's a party! You want your guest to really enjoy the event. Have flip flops (summer) or wraps (fall/winter) so your guests are comfortable.
Rehearsal dinner should incorporate what the groom likes - sports, music, maybe at his favorite venue. It should also be very different (menu, vibe) than the wedding reception. If you are doing a seated dinner for wedding, try a buffet for rehearsal.
Guest books rarely get looked through by couple. Try a signed picture, wishing well or something more creative.
Most brides are sporting two wedding dresses - their wedding dress and something short for the reception.
She encouraged working with local vendors (we second that!) and thinking locally - for example, when thinking of your menu try to stick to locally product, and to be as environmentally sound as possible, create your menu with seasonal items. Which brings us to a topic I hold dear...
Food:
Small is the new big. If serving hors d'ouevres, make sure they're actually small enough where just one bite is all your guests need to take. Mini ice cream sandwiches are also a neat addition.
Provide bags for your guests to take wedding cake home (but of course, save some for yourself!)
Minimize clutter and eyesores and instead of having ugly chaffing dishes with a buffet, have serving stations or work with your caterer and florist to make the food stations pretty.
Food in martini glasses are out!
Signature drinks are still very popular and make the reception more efficient by minimizing waiting lines at the bar.
Consider station cocktail parties versus seated dinners.
Try to minimize lines by having a huge bar with ample servers and bartenders. Tara suggested one bartender/server per 50 guests.
Candy bars are still in, which we love:). For one event, she used rolling carts to travel to guests during reception.
Some great finds based on Tara's wedding forecast - Clockwise: Ice-cream sandwiches from marthastewart.com, easy bite hors d'oeuvres from Chef's Market, candy buffet by Rhonda Patton Weddings, snazzy serving station by A Catered Affair
Tara chatting with moms. Photo source: NashvilleLifestyles.com
Color:
"Blue is out" and lavender is still a hot color.
Pinks and pale peaches making their way back into color schemes.
In the fall, expect to see more jewel tones.
Do-it-Yourself:
A huge proponent of DIY, Tara had fantastic ideas for favors. She suggested using etched glass as place cards which, at the end of the night, turn into unique favors for your guests! Don't have the budget to offer every guest an etched glass? Just do etched, monogrammed glasses for the bridal party.
Monogramming is a lovely, traditional detail, and can be even more meaningful when you know an aunt or you have a grandmother who knows how to embroider. Have her monogram some linen napkins just for you and your groom. Or monogram the ribbon that's going around your bouquet for a sentimental touch.
Clockwise: Monogram hanging floral by Enchanted Florist, DIY getaway car decorations and etched glass place setting from MarthaStewart.com, DIY program by The Thirty Something Bride (thirtysomethingbride.com)
For out-of-town guests, keep it simple and print the information booklet yourself. Provide a small container or mints or just a small bag of candy and include bottles of water with labels you made yourself vs over the top, out of town guest baskets. Spend the money elsewhere.
Something creative and economical that I've seen brides do is recycling their ceremony flowers and incorporating them into reception decor but one thing I've never seen that Tara suggested was using pew markers, ribbons and all, to decorate the getaway car!
A point she reiterated was to think locally and to really work with your vendors especially your caterer and your florist - really involve them in your planning so everything goes together perfectly.
Speaking of vendors, we got to see several of Nashville's premiere companies present at the show too. Some of them made great use of their space. Wedding 101 (wedding101.net) turned their area in the hotel's lobby into a romantic seating area. It really welcomed you to their space.
Social Graces (socialgraces.com) used antique manequins and furniture to display their custom stationery.
We saw our favorite lighting company, Nashville Event Lighting and got to chat for a bit. Models glided around dressed in the prettiest gowns from the Cotton Mill while harpist Phyllis Taylor Starks filled the rooms with classic wedding music. Also there were Maples Wedding Cakes (maplesweddingcakes.com), Classic Party Rentals, the Governor’s Club (thegovernorsclub.com), King Jewelers (kings1912.com), OSHi Flowers (oshiflowers.com - fabulous florals), Feria Cinematic Imagery and American Laser Centers (www.americanlaser.com). We truly were in great company that day.
Thank you to all the brides who came by to say hello, it was such a pleasure to meet you all! If you picked up a 2010 Bride sticker from us that day, don't forget to submit a picture of you with the sticker on your bumper! Remember: each picture of a bride and her sticker on her car means another $5 to our relief fund to help Haiti. You can find more details about that here.
I love that weddings bring together friends, sisters - everyone to celebrate. With this in mind, I went on a search for creative ideas for bridal celebrations. When Amy of Swizzle Events responded and shared this unique bridesmaid getaway, I asked her to share it with you...
Bridesmaid luncheons, bridal teas, and bridal brunches area time to gather your best girls, the ones who have seen you through thick and thin, and celebrate your friendship.Whatever you call it, it’s a tradition that’s as old as time.
So what do you do if you aren’t that traditional bride who loves to visit the tea room?The possibilities are endless!Take a cue from your own favorites.Maybe you'd love a night out on the town or the quiet of a mountain cabin.Perhaps a concert followed by a fusion dinner is more your style.
Maybe you’ll be like Mariska, a recent Nashville bride who traded in the traditional party for aGirlfriend Getaway in the Mountains!
She had a wonderfully large wedding party that included her sister and friends she had made in middle school, high school, college, and church.Here is what she had to say about her unique bridesmaid getaway:
“We went to Blue Ridge, Georgia and stayed in my husband’s aunt’s log cabin in the mountains. The scenery was absolutely beautiful and completely relaxing.I wanted all of my bridesmaids to get to know each other before my big day.I didn’t want them to meet each other for the first time the day of my wedding. It was really nice being able to get away with my bridesmaids for a weekend to have girl time and to discuss wedding details with all of the girls who mean the most to me in my life".
(That's Mariska on the far right. Thanks for sharing your photos Mariska!)
One day, we went into the town (Blue Ridge, GA) and went shopping throughout all the antique stores in town.We ate at a tea room where we all dressed up in hats. So fun!One night we had a bonfire in the backyard of our cabin and had s’mores. We stayed up all night talking by the bonfire and in the jacuzzi outside. It was nice being able to sit and talk outside with the moon and the mountains as our view.
It was a great time for me and my bridesmaids to bond before my big day and for them to get to know each other.Most bridesmaids know the bride for various reasons (sister, childhood friend, college friend, etc) and usually they all don’t know each other.By having a getaway with your bridesmaids, you give them time to get to know each other, which will make your day more special and less awkward for everyone. I had a great time on our trip and made amazing memories with my close friends that will stay with me forever!”
Looking for something a little closer to home?Try a visit to Arrington Vineyards, a gorgeous hillside winery just south of Nashville.They have two tasting rooms and ample seating areas outside complete with picnic tables.You can plan a casual picnic and treat your bridesmaids to a wine tasting and maybe a bottle of wine as a gift.Another fun option is to join them for Music in the Vines beginning weekends in April.You can preorder a picnic dinner from one of their caterers, bring your blankets or chairs and enjoy live music under the stars.You can also rent a private area for larger parties.
Want something more contemporary?How about planning a chic dinner at Virago?With sleek lounge seating and delicious sushi and fusion cuisine, it’s sure to be a hit.Located on Division Street in Nashville, Virago offers a catering menu that you can use to plan your dinner from start to finish or you can simply order from the menu.Looking for something a little more casual?How about the Wildhorse Saloon?You can rent the Riverview Room and enjoy a fabulous dinner.Best kept secret: their private dining room overlooks the river and has a fabulous view.When you’re finished, take the party out to the dance floor and kick up your heels!
This is such an exciting time in your life!As you get ready for the great journey of marriage, remember to take some time and enjoy the remarkable ladies in your life.
A few weeks ago, Allison at b.Hughes Bridal sent over the Vera Wang Fall 2010 Look Book to us. When Ashley asked if I'd like to be the one to review it I could hardly contain my excitement. When I finally got it together, I managed a, "um, yes please." As I looked through each design my heart just ached with envy for all the lucky brides who will get to walk down the aisle in these creations. Vera Wang, once again, shows her flair for designs that are nothing less than stunning.
Exclusively at b. Hughes, Nashville brides will have easy access to some of the most elegant, beautiful gowns by Vera Wang. Her Fall 2010 collection will be available at b. Hughes very soon.
Let's start with my favorite. Meet Eliza:
I'm not usually a fan of full gowns but I can't help but gush when I see this one. I just love how delicate the bodice is with the lace! The pleats just seem to dance around the dress and the black grosgrain bow just completes the ensemble.
The look book describes this next gown as an "Ivory stretch mikado strapless mermaid gown with swirling flange skirt and black grosgrain bow at waist." (Style no. 122010) You might recognize this from when Khloe Kardashian wore it in her wedding!
The model wears a seed bead and crystal rose petal shrug, which comes separately. So romantic!
The sash is made of horse hair, with pleating that complements the organza and horse hair biased tiered gown. (Style no. 123610) This is a little more traditional looking for the classic bride.
b.Hughes will also carry all the belts, sashes and ribbons by Vera Wang.
Another strapless number that's just dreamy, almost as if she has a cloud on. "Tulle strapless ballgown with allover shirring, floating crystal petals, and horsehair bow at waist." (Style no. 123610)
The back is spectacular with the way the shirred tulle seems to cascade its way around and down the dress.
Lastly the piece de resistance. This one also has a name. Say hello to Esther, a gown with "Illusion sweetheart soft A-line gown with elbow length sleeve, layered floating chantilly lace appliqué with French tulle overlay and horse hair bow at waist."
It's so classic and angelic and edgy all at once. And if this looks familiar, it's because Ivanka Trump wore it when she got married last year.
Vera Wang's bridal gowns never cease to amaze me. It's enough to make a girl like me want to get married again! Well... almost enough!
(Big thanks to Allison of b.Hughes Bridal for sending us the pictures!)
Creating a great website is far from easy. But, I wanted to create a new site for all you loyal ABG site readers; give you some fresh eye-candy. You visit my site daily (thank you) and I want to make sure it is always helpful, inspiring and easy to use.
Last Fall, I reviewed your favorite site pages and made it my mission to create a new, upgraded version of ABG. Today, I'm pleased to share it with you and I really hope you like it.
Here's what you're sure to love about my new site:
1) Improved layout that makes everything easier to find!
Search - The search box is at the very top of the page, making it easy to type in your keywords and find what you need. The search box at top will search entire site - gallery, real weddings, vendor directory, blog, etc. There is also a search option in the vendor directory that allows you to search wedding vendors only.
Images - I've also added a larger space to showcase Nashville's amazing wedding photography. I love large wedding pics (and I am sure you do too.)
Real Weddings, DIY, Luxury Bridal - I've placed quick links in the top navigation bar to take you directly to these favorite pages. Yes, I know those are your favorite destinations on my site. Now, you can find them in one quick.
Events and Savings - These pages are now sortable by category. So, if you are looking for an exclusive offer from a wedding planner, you can do so in a matter of seconds by sorting by planners. Easy!
Nashville bridal events are right on the homepage so you know what's going on immediately. Plus, I've added vendor events - come on vendors, send me your business workshops, seminars info.
This is a completely new section on the site that i LOVE. I have already spent way too many hours looking all of the great weddings that have taken place, bridal gowns, cakes, etc. You could spend hours in this new section alone. It will be updated each week with new stunning images so be sure to bookmark and check often.
Blogs are hugely popular and a great way to learn more about a wedding vendor or connect with a real Nashville bride. So, I've placed many blog links on this page so you can discover, bookmark, connect with other brides and wedding pros. It also includes their most recent posts. So each day, you can start by checking this page for dozens of updates from local bloggers.
I love our new site badges. I worked with my designers to create every conceivable badge that I thought you'd want for your site, blog, or facebook page. Go on and find your fave. Once you've added it to your site, let me know and I will add you to the links page.
Like the new website? I hope you do because it was created with you in mind. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.
At Ashley’s Bride Guide, we’re always on the lookout for innovative and exciting wedding ideas.
Send us your wedding tips, creative ideas, or your own wedding
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