Today’s recap is about a topic close to my heart - dessert. There definitely wasn’t a shortage at the bridal show and we were more than delighted to sample the bite-sized treats.
THE BAKE SHOPPE - thebakeshoppe.com - In case you’re wondering why dresses were on display, The Bake Shoppe was debuting cake designs that were inspired by actual wedding gowns! Look at the intricate detailing on the cake and on the sash. Tres chic!
So elegant, so classy, and not a single detail was missed, right down to the pleats. We’ll have more of the great cakes from them next week but for now here’s a few more from the show that we just adored.
MAGGIE MOO
Everybody loves ice cream, especially ice cream buffets! Here I am making a decision on what flavor to sample (I went with chocolate and a couple of toppings).
It’s just $6.00 per person (less if you have a lot of people), and guests can choose from three flavors, choose the toppings and their staff will mix it for you really quickly on the ultimate action stations. This is a great dessert option, especially during the warmer months.
MAPLES WEDDING CAKES - maplesweddingcakes.com -You know you can’t go wrong with a cake designer and baker who’s been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings.
Jay had his best flavors for us to sample and while I think their sour cream almond tastes divine, my new personal favorite is their lemon cake. Maples’ cakes definitely taste as good as they look.
DULCE DESSERTS - dulcedesserts.com - Juanita, owner of Dulce Desserts was the first person to come up to our booth that morning during set up to say hi. She’s such a treat to be around, and her desserts are a reflection of what a sweet, vibrant person she is.
I highly recommend their chocolate layer cake. Love it!
CRUMB de la CRUMB - I met the good folks of Crumb de la Crumb at the bridal show last year and have always been quite taken with their cake designs. This year we were neighbors at the show and with such easy access, it was hard to resist sampling more than once.
Their cake designs are more contemporary and almost pop art-ish. Really cute, and perfect for the mod-inspired bride.
I love how subtly “Alice In Wonderland” this one is.
Love the flower detail on the cake’s little corset.
JO’S CUSTOM CAKES
We were blown away by how stunning Jo’s Custom Cakes are. They really do look like works of art.
I would never have thought of using peacock feathers. Quick tip - we’re actually going to look at a slowly growing trend in peacock feathers next month so be sure to check back. As if that cake wasn’t fabulous enough, the one below is actually shaped and sculpted with white chocolate.
It looks almost too beautiful to eat. But I’ll bet it tastes fantastic.
FABU - fabubride.comOur view was exquisite to say the least - right across from us were the awesome ladies from Fabu. They had decked out their corner in a colorful, East Indian style lounge area complete with colorful votives on pedestals.
What a day! The fun started at 10a.m. sharp when the brides made their way in to the convention center hall. Our booth saw a good mix of “ooh, what do you guys do?” and “I LOVE ASHLEY’S BRIDE GUIDE!” Thank you, by the way, to everyone who stopped by to say hello. Congratulations everyone!
Over the next couple of days, we’ll give a run down of our favorite booths, starting today with the bridal booths that wowed!
Each of these booths gave me such great ideas and opened my mind to so many more possibilities on event decor. Check out my video tour, where all you have to do is sit back, or keep reading for quick highlights.
FABU- Hundreds, maybe thousands of orange and white rose petals covered the ground and were scattered over the huge floor pillows that sat around a low dining table.
They covered the booth frame by draping fabric over the sides and put tiered paper umbrellas into the corners. It was a gorgeous booth.
The booth caught the attention of many brides who walked by and I know they left with a great idea for a reception or rehearsal dinner theme!
THE ENCHANTED FLORIST - enchantedfloristtn.com For either your ceremony or reception or both, Enchanted Florist showed us that they will provide all the details you need.
Because they are floral designers you’re not just getting any old bouquet or centerpiece, you’re getting floral elements that become integral parts of your entire design.
I thought the letters made from flowers and ribbon were pretty unique. It’s a pretty and rustic alternative to regular monogram letters.
CHEF’S MARKET - chefsmarket.com Chef’s Market brought their A game to the show. Their booth was a scaled down event area, where they served braised beef with Asian slaw to people who stopped by to talk to them.
Their booth shows the versatility in what Chef’s Market can do for your event - not only are they a top-notch catering company, they also know how to decorate and are quite good at event design.
Jennifer of Reveal Events always knows the most fabulous and artistic people. For her wedding, she commissioned Otis James to create custom grooms and groomsmen attire to accompany their tuxes.
She told me I had to feature his work. Since there are so few surprises in life, I asked Cassandra to reach out to Otis and surprise me with what she found:). Hey - I like to wake up and read something new about Nashville weddings every once and a while too:).
Most brides {and people} stress over details. I know I do! And, what’s more important than wedding details?! There’s the flowers for the centerpieces, the color scheme, the garter, the time that everything will occur, the music playlist, the monogram, the debate of whose initial goes first for the monogram, etc. I could honestly go on for hours; maybe even days about all the wedding details people {mainly brides} fret over.
But! I bet you hadn’t considered customizing your groom’s and groomsmen’s attire. Am I right? I assume {and I could be completely wrong in this assumption} that most brides just get their groom and his men a tux and are done with it. Why not surprise him with a little something extra? Get the tie carrier - the little part that the tie is tucked into - customized. Have your names written on it, your wedding date, or both!
There are numerous options for this customization too! Why stop at a necktie? You could have the pocket square detailed with his name. You could have a specialized bow tie made. And, why stop there? Get something made for yourself, like a garter or a handkerchief. Whatever your heart desires could probably be created.
Who’s going to make these wonderful details though? Otis James! He stumbled into this career on whim, and he’s ready to go wherever it takes him. While at film school, he frequently need to take in the clothing he bought so that it would fit. At the time, he would ask girlfriends do it, but as months went by, Otis’ interest in the concept of sewing grew. He began to envision intricate designs for his clothing and a desire to create them!
After a bike trip across the country, Otis set up shop here in Nashville. He joined the team at Street Tuxedo in Cool Springs and has been creating beautiful works of art ever since! He is working on a website, and you can check it out at www.otisjamesnashville.com.
Today’s blog was written by Cassandra, ABG’s newest bridal blogger. She is also a Nashville bride-to-be and writes from her unique perspective! Read more about Cassandra’s here.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Lynette of McNeal Wedding Films {formerly known as McNeal Video}. She is wonderful and very passionate about what she does. It was quite interesting to hear what she had to say. My first question to her was all about the exciting name change.
1. What made you want to change the name of the company?
Nowadays, when shooting a wedding, it has become more about making a film surrounding the big day rather than shooting a video. Each of our videos is customized from the music in the film to the movie poster for each couple. It’s about giving the couple what they want and feel that they need. We wanted the company name to reflect what we do and the commitment we make to every couple.
2. What’s new for brides in terms of wedding films for 2010? Same Day Edits are finally making their way to the east coast. They are all ready popular on the west coast in places like California! It’s a great concept, and we are excited to start offering it to our couples. Essentially, highlights from the day {the getting ready, the ceremony, etc.} will be shown at the reception for all the guests to see.
3. Why should brides choose you?
We spend a lot of time editing the footage from every couple’s special day, which makes them quite entertaining to watch. Our films are also timeless so that ten to twenty years you don’t have to worry about looking back and wondering, “Why did I do that?” Plus, we offer customization for all our bride and grooms based on their personalities. This includes everything from the soundtrack that is played in tandem with film, to a movie poster that has a name reflective of the bride and groom. As if that wasn’t enough, we also give you two ceremony videos; an abridged version and a full-length version. This is important because not everyone wants to watch your entire ceremony. Additionally, the team is made up of all women; so, we have a keen eye for all the important details that the bride spends hours prepping for her big day.
4. What’s your favorite wedding video? Why? It’s hard to pick just one video. They’re all my favorite. My lastes edit is usually my favorite until I edit the next:). It is so rewarding to complete the film and give it to the couple. Their reactions are priceless, always. {Enjoy the detailed story of Natalie & Michael and then see their video below,}
5. Why do you think filming weddings is so important? A wedding film is so much more than a photograph. With a film, you can relive a moment without having to remember how you got there. It gives you the complete experience! With a photograph, you can’t hear what’s being said or happening. That’s why you need film; it adds a whole other dimension and level of emotion. {see the difference here}In addition to gaining all this information, I learned that the logo has special meaning behind, which I thoroughly enjoyed but you’ll have to visit the McNeal Wedding Films blog to learn about it yourself….
I love cupcakes. I’m not going to lie, I don’t think I want to see the cupcake trend go away anytime soon.
Naticakes is in a quaint, cozy coffee shop on Main Street in Downtown Franklin. It is locally owned and operated by Nicole Sloan who founded naticakes to honor her niece Natalie who, at just 23 months, passed away. According to their website, “Nati’s gift of laughter and love for sweets was the perfect recipe to inspire her aunt Nicole to create a cupcake concept that is almost as sweet as this little girl.”
(Photo source: McLellan Style)
(Photo source: naticakes)
(Photo source: McLellan Style)
With cupcake names like Pretty Princess, Tuxedo, Opera Cake and Hi Hat, this is not your ordinary cupcake shop with run-of-the-mill flavors. The frosting is light and tasty, and the cake is dense enough to be substantial, but not so heavy that you can’t have more than one. The flavors are all distinct, and you’re not left with an overwhelming sugar rush that brings you crashing down. You can tell that good ingredients were used, and the cakes taste like no other. Especially if you’re a fan of Italian buttercream icing - this is the cupcake place for you.
(Photo source: naticakes)
Naticakes caters events and can accommodate large orders. Not only are their cupcakes delicious, they’re visually stunning as well. These pretty liners are such a great touch - it’s a cupcake cake table fit for a deluxe bride.
(Photo source: naticakes)
(Photo source: McLellan Style)
I like to support local entrepreneurs and support fellow local businesses. With 10% of Naticakes’ profits going to the Natalie Wynn Carter Foundation to improve the lives of children, not only will you be supporting a local entrepreneur, you’ll also contribute to a worthy cause. What a tasty way to help others - the ultimate win/win.
At Ashley’s Bride Guide, we’re always on the lookout for innovative and exciting wedding ideas.
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