Monday, August 15, 2011
The very talented Ace Photography has WOWed us again with Erica and James' Nashville engagement session. We are honored to share photos from their fantastic engagement sesson and look forward to featuring their April wedding.
Erica Camille Carney and James A. Whitaker II
Engagement Date: June 10, 2010
Wedding Date: April 2, 2011
How did you get engaged?
We were at Disney World at Epcot, it was right before the Laser Fireworks show at the end of the night, and James started saying we need to find a good place to stand. I thought it didn’t really matter since it was going to be in the sky but, we eventually found a spot. Then about five minutes before the show James said I talked to your mom, I'm like really what did you all talk about. He said I had to ask her a question, and based on her answer, I have one for you. James got down on one knee opened the ring box and asked "Will you marry me?" I said "Yes I will" and then the fireworks went off! it was amazing.
What's your wedding budget?
$5,000-$10,000
Who did you hire for your wedding team?
Photography I Ace Photography
Videography I Beyond the Still Image
Flowers I Flowers Express, Floral Design bouquets
Groom’s Cake I Amber Tarrant
Wedding Cake I Crumb de la Crumb
Tuxedos I Street Tuxedo
Bridal and Bridesmaid’s Gowns I David’s Bridal
Transportation I Alpha Omega Limousines
Wedding Venue I Celebration of Life Church
Reception Venue I BB Kings Blues Club-Nashville
What's your wedding style?
Classic, Elegant, Minimalist, and Fun
What was it like working with Ace Photography?
They are phenomenal. They meet with you to really connect before the first shoot and they really have a way of making you feel comfortable in front of the camera. They took a gray day in December and made the day look sky blue. They have an unbelievable artistic element and were extremely helpful with all aspects including helping with props. I highly recommend Arline and her team, you will be confident knowing your pictures will be perfect.
Any advice for engaged Nashville couples?
It's your wedding day it should reflect you and your husband to be, breath and enjoy your day!
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Posted by Bethany |
Filed under: Engagements & Proposals, Photography & Videography
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Sunday, August 7, 2011
I'll let you in on a little secret: there are actually four people in this picture! Ok, so it may not be in this particular picture but it was our playful way of saying congratulations to wedding photographers Amber and John Vongsamphahn of Lotus Blossom Photography who are expecting twins later this year!! We couldn't be more excited for them! Personally, I've enjoyed getting to know and working with Amber through AshleysBrideGuide.com and the features we've done on Lotus Blossom, so we thought we'd start the week off with a spotlight on them so you can get to know Lotus Blossom as well!
John and Amber of Lotus Blossom Photography!
Contact Info
Name: Lotus Blossom Photography
Main Contact: Amber Vongsamphanh
Phone Number: 615-804-5134
Email Address: lotusblossomphoto {at} gmail {dot} com
Twitter: @ambervo
Facebook fan page: facebook.com/NashvilleWeddingPhotographer
Number of years in the business?
A little over 3 years.
How did you get started in weddings?
John and I have both enjoyed taking photos since we were photographers for our respective high school yearbooks. After I planned our wedding in 2006 and we realized what a treasure our weddings photos were, it was like a light bulb went off. Photographing weddings is a great way to do what we enjoy and bring happiness to others ☺
What do you like most about weddings?
I love that throughout the day, people tend to forget we are there. I love having the opportunity to capture the candid, emotional moments that only happen at weddings!
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why?
This question is so hard! Every wedding is unique and I have favorite photos from every event we’ve shot. I guess if I had to choose just one, I would pick this one of Suzi and Dave exiting their recent ceremony. I just love the pure joy on their faces!
What is your service philosophy?
I try very hard to make every client feel like our only client.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
I’d say one of our strengths is definitely value for your dollar. We are not the cheapest, nor the most expensive, but I believe that we provide quality images that will stand the test of time.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors – helpfulness, professionalism, style?
Picking 5 is just too hard! Instead I’d like to refer to two organizations I’m a part of that help brides choose great vendors – StudioWed Nashville and The Wedding Shoppe.
What is your favorite thing about working with brides (or grooms)?
Working with brides and grooms takes me back to the days when I was planning my own wedding. Working with people who are in love and excited about starting their lives together really helps to strengthen my own marriage. Positive energy rubs off and being surrounded by it in the form of my brides and grooms is a huge bonus!
What is the biggest misconception about your industry?
Ohhh there are so many! I think perhaps the biggest is that we only work for “X” amount of hours included in your package. I try very hard to educate every prospective client I meet with on our post-process. Not only why it takes the amount of time it does, but why it is important.
If you're looking for a wedding photographer and you feel Lotus Blossom Photography may just be a perfect fit definitely visit them online or just give Amber a call to schedule your appointment.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Our Featured Advertisers!, Photography & Videography, Wedding Resources
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Monday, July 18, 2011
Grant and Miranda's engagement session is a creative dream with props, different locations, and a ton of personality! The photographers at Ace Photography really tuned in to capture Grant and Miranda's fun-loving, adventurous relationship.
There's so much diversity in their scenes. View our favorites from their session and read more about this amazing couple!
Couple: Grant James Thornbury and Miranda Carol Ward
Engagement Date: 11.13.10
Wedding Date: 05.14.11
How did you get engaged?
Grant proposed to me on three different occasions, each special and romantic! The first: moonlit stroll on the beach in Florida. Grant serenaded me with a song he wrote inspired by our love. He read a passage from Song of Solomon (from the Bible) and asked me to be his wife. I didn’t say no, but requested Grant ask again at a later time. We both realized there were aspects of our lives we wanted to mature in before taking that step.
The second: Shakespeare In The Park with chocolate covered strawberries. After watching the play, Grant led me to the pond in front of the Parthenon and asked a second time. Although I wanted to say yes, my response was the same.
The third: road trip to Chattanooga for fine dining. Grant chose Chattanooga because that’s where my family was from. He wanted the two of us to aspire for a marriage like that of my parents (40 years and counting!). Grant took me to my parent’s childhood homes and then to dinner at the most exquisite restaurant either of us had been to, where Grant asked me a third (and what would be the final) time.
Who did you hire for your wedding team?
Music: Notable Occasions
Food: A Catered Affair
Cake: The Bake Shoppe
Flowers: The Enchanted Florist
Make-up: Amy Lynn Larwig
Dress: The White Room
Venue: CJ’s Off The Square
Photographers: Ace Photography
What was your wedding style?
Our overall theme was to bring the inside out, with vintage heirlooms/furniture, silhouettes, and mismatched textures.
What was it like working with Ace Photography?
Before any vender was chosen, including the venue, we booked our photographers. There was never any question; it HAD to be Ace! I (Miranda) had the pleasure of studying bridal portrait photography under Arline Beets and knew what she was capable of. We had exceptionally high expectations and upon viewing our engagement book for the first time, I was so pleased, it brought tears to my eyes. I was so moved, I couldn’t help but hug Arline and thank her tremendously.
Anything else you want to share about your engagement or your wedding day?
Besides the visual aesthetics and intimate atmosphere that CJ’s Off The Square has, they provided so much more. Instead of having to focus on stressful details of the day, everything went better than expected due to the dedicated staff. There wasn’t a detail left untouched from the planning process to the décor. Grant and I are immensely grateful to the team at CJ’s Off The Square because we got to experience our day as we had always dreamt.
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Posted by Bethany |
Filed under: Engagements & Proposals, Photography & Videography
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Thursday, July 14, 2011
When we receive tweets or emails with questions about anything wedding related, it serves as a learning experience for us as well. Recently we had a question about renting bridal gowns which I personally never knew was an option here. It's very common where I'm from and it's nice to know that for those of us who don't see any value in forking over tons of money for a gown we'll only wear once, this question and the answers from our community would be a huge help. In today's Q&A post, we'll tell you how you can rent your dress and answer a couple more questions that will hopefully inform you of what your options are! Starting with this photography question:
QUESTION: How do you figure out where to take wedding photos? We're doing photos before the ceremony and we're getting married on 12south (at the Hope Center/Midtown Fellowship's building). We don't want to go very far because we're on a tight timeline. Obviously there's Sevier Park but does anyone else have any ideas for around 12south?
Image courtesy of Michael Howard Photography
Answers from Nashville Bridal Community:
Vickie Stanton of Bella Weddings suggested Sevier Park and the fun, yellow mansion in the park, Historic Sunnyside. Lindsey of DandyLion Events suggested several cool/quirky shops like savant.
But our favorite advice came from photographer Gregory Byerline who said, "That's largely the part of a great photographer". We agree! Your photographer should work to suggest great locations given your constraints and vision.
The picture above by Michael Howard is a great example of what Gregory is talking about. Taken next to a random, vibrant wall on 12th Avenue South, Michael made something simple into a pretty cool picture. Peter and Whitney of Dove Photography found a really cool detail at Sevier Park and took an intimate photo for their couple. (See below). This goes to show that sometimes you don't need specific locales, just a photographer with a good eye.
Image by Dove Wedding Photography
Question: Help! I'm a Murfreesboro bride and im getting married in October and I'm still without a reception site! Can you send a list of places in the Murfreesboro, TN area that are under $1800 and can fit about 200 for a cocktail reception?
Answers from Wedding Pro:
We turned to Emily of Kennedy Occasions, a planner based in Murfreesboro who would better know great venues in the area . Here's what Emily suggested:
"A couple of suggestions for venues in the M'boro area:
- Bungalow Events at 118 West Vine Street in Murfreesboro. A newly renovated building right off the square, this venue is new to the area. I have not worked with them, but have seen photographs of some lovely events!
- Oakland Mansion, also located downtown, this venue has great Southern charm! More information on rental policies, etc. can be found at OaklandsMuseum.org.
Image by La Photographie Nashville (LaPhotographieNashville.com); Image courtesy of CityProfile.com
- Carriage Lane, also located downtown, this charming location has a lovely garden and can handle your catering and rental needs as well! (Booking this location in "off" months or for Friday or Sunday weddings can save you quite a bit of money!)"
Question: Where can a bride rent her gown in the Middle TN area?
Answers from Nashville Bridal Community:
Our Facebook fans really came through for this one, thank you to Lindsey and Natosha for your responses! First is Jacqueline's Bridal Formal. They rent bridal gowns of all sorts, from classic ivory/white gowns to ones with colors and various textures. Jacqueline's also has bridesmaids dresses for rent.
Image courtesy of Jacqueline's Bridal
If you're looking to dress your entire party, both girls and guys, you're in luck because American Tuxedo (AmericanTuxedo.com) rents it all from gowns to dresses, tuxedos to suits.
Thank you to our brides for sending in questions, and thank you to our industry experts for stepping up and providing the information. Keep them coming, you can either leave us a message, write on our Facebook Page wall or Tweet it! We look forward to getting your questions.
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Photography & Videography, Wedding Venues and Locations
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Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Nashville brides are super creative. That's why when I heard about this Trash the Dress giveaway, I had to share it with you.
Ace Photography is hosting a Trash the Dress contest. They are looking for the most creative idea for trashing your wedding dress. Send your idea to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to enter. Contest ends July 18th! It's a simple contest but you only have a few days to submit your best idea.
The winning bride's innovative session will be featured on our blog as well as the Ace Photography blog. So enter asap because we're anxious to see your winning entry.
Image by Ace Photography
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Not familiar with the Trash the Dress concept? According to Wikipedia, "Trash the dress, also known as fearless bridal or rock the frock, is a style of wedding photography that contrasts elegant clothing with an environment in which it is out of place. It is generally shot in the style of fashion and glamour photography."
Need a little inspiration to get your creative juices flowing? Visit Google images and search for "Trash the Dress" like I did. Here are a few of my favorite finds:
Source: The Wanna Be Bride
Image by Blue Nalo Photography via The Wanna Be Bride
To find more Nashville wedding contests, like our Facebook page. For Nashville wedding savings, visit our bridal savings page.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Contests, Giveaways, Specials, Photography & Videography
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