A few weeks ago, Ashley and I braved the Nashville heat and headed to Weddings, the Bridal Show at the Nashville Convention Center. We attend each year which makes impressing us VERY hard. But each bridal show reminds us why we love Nashville weddings and our local wedding vendors. Booth after booth featured samples and elaborate backdrops that showed off each business's strengths and we ooh-ed and ahh-ed our way through the hall, stuffed with cakes and other sweets.
This week, we'll share our favorite bridal show booths, starting with the booth that inspired us the most by Enchanted Florist!
Ashley's Bride Guide's Most Inspiring Booth Pick - Enchanted Florist
The booth was a sight to behold - a luscious, almost gothic combination of red and black that stood like an oasis in the fluorescent desert that was the convention hall. Amy of Swizzle Events mentioned that the wedding concept reminded her of the movie Twilight. We agreed and think it would be great for the Twilight-loving bride and groom.
Wow. Just... WOW. Just when you think Caprice and crew could never top their booth at previous bridal shows, they did it again! Towering floral structures paired with lower containers filled with black river rocks - the combinations and possibilities are endless!
Two long tables flanked a black and white checkerboard aisle complete with rose petals arranged in an "E." Imagine your initials in its place on your aisle and imagine this grandeur for your big day - stunning.
Never one to hold back, Enchanted Florist also had on display other floral arrangements to showcase but it was hard to look away from the booth in its entirity. The single rose floating atop black river rocks on the alternating black and red chargers was a nice touch.
Strands of pearls draped from branches seemed to float above the rich reds. Again... WOW.
Calling this a booth does not do it justice! It was attention grabbing and we weren't the only ones who stopped by that day. For more pictures of their work that will make you gush, visit Enchanted Florist online. You can also find more of Enchanted Florist's gorgeous work in our Wedding Inspiration Gallery. We'll be covering more of the unique, fun booths we saw at the bridal show this week so be sure to check back!
I hate for summer to end but with kids back to school and my birthday past, I know it's inevitable.
But, for you Nashville brides planning a summer 2011 wedding - summer color palettes will be on your mind for the next 8-12 months. To keep you inspired, I'd like to share a blog post that I stumbled upon - Summer Brides at The White Room. It's a great post, chronicling some of their lovely summer brides. Some of my favorites are pictured below. Visit The White Room for even more wedding gowns to love.
Rachel
The White Room (TWR): Rachel wore a strapless lace gown by Jasmine. She created a look of her own by adding a champagne sash to compliment the gown. She even had a family member create her veil to add another special touch.
AshleysBrideGuide.com (ABG): I really appreciate that Rachel added her own special touches to her gown! Based on her wedding pictures, she seems to have impeccable style and grace. I can't wait to see more from her wedding and hope to share her entire day with you soon.
TWR: Courtney wore a Mori Lee strapless mermaid gown and Valentine silk peep toes with jeweled accents by Grazia.
ABG: Another beautiful bride! While traditional, she let her fun and fashionable side peep through in the little details she chose.
Photos courtesy of Sara Rose Photography and Kreslyn Faye Photography
Jennifer
TWR: Jennifer is the epitome of modern elegance in her Allure gown! And her bridesmaids look perfect in their pink dresses:).
ABG: Jennifer and her bridal party are picture perfect in soft pink. Her wedding look is timeless and feminine and a perfect color palette for summer.
Photos courtesy of K. Mosley.
Lauren
TWR: Lauren, wore a Maggie Sottero gown entirely embellished with silk organza roses, lace and beading. Her bridesmaids wore light blue satin dresses which also have pockets!!
ABG: How cute is Lauren's mom? I love her mother of the bride dress - elegant and a great complement to the bridal party. And the bridesmaids' dresses - ADORABLE! I'm a huge fan of pocket dresses, skirts - anything with pockets.
Elisabeth:
TWR: Elisabeth wore a Casablanca rouched satin gown with a pick-up style skirt. Her bridesmaids wore pink baby-doll style dresses with pockets!!
ABG: Pockets again! I just can't get enough of these fun additions to bridesmaid dresses. Babydoll dresses arent for everyone. I really like when a group of girls can all pull them off as these girls did. Plus, the pink dresses really pop.
StudioWed Nashville now has a wedding blog that allows us to keep a pulse on what's happening at their Nashville's wedding planning studio - from events to weddings. One post that caught my eye was the wedding of Kimberly and Rashad. I enjoyed their wedding so much that I wanted to share it with you, especially the wonderful same-day edit video (by McNeal Wedding Films) included below that you must absolutely watch!
By the way, if you haven't visited StudioWed this month, you should! They are a great offline wedding planning resource. Plus, all brides who visit the studio this month will be entered to win a gift from Tiffany and Co. Visit their blog to learn more about the StudioWed giveaway.
We’re so happy to share with you a wedding from a few months ago where several of our StudioWed Nashville Exclusive Vendors worked together to make one gorgeous wedding for bride and groom, Kimberly & Rashad.
Here are the members who were involved in making the day so beautiful:
Dove Wedding Photography – Photography – Dove did such a beautiful job of capturing the love that Kimberly & Rashad radiate. Stunning!
McNeal Wedding Films – Videography – We can’t say enough good things about McNeal and the incredible job they did on the same day edit of the ceremony that was showed at the reception – WOW! It amazes me how they were able to edit all of those video clips during the reception (see the video below)!
Rhonda Patton Designs (RhondaPattonWeddings.com) – Florals – Rhonda made some of the most beautiful floral arrangements for their reception and we just love the bouquets!! She really knows how to make an event so classy.
A Delightful Day Event Planning – Planner – Mary Alice kept the day running smoothly once again! She certainly knows how to keep a bride and groom happy and at ease throughout the wedding planning process and wedding day!
Nashville Audio Visual (NashvilleAudioVisual.com) – Lighting – Chris Jackson made The Hutton look so welcoming and inviting.
Sweet Life Designs Stationery Studio (SweetLifeDesigns.com) – Paper Goods – Amber Housley designed every paper good for Kimberly & Rashad’s wedding & ceremony and everything looked so gorgeous. Her designs certainly know how to capture guest’s attention.
Amy Lynn Larwig – Bridesmaid’s make up – We just love Amy Lynn, she really knows how to make people feel confident and beautiful.
Hindsight is 20/20. Even with all of the planning, it's hard to avoid the "wouldas" and "shoulda's". One way to minimize the regrets is to start with sound advice.
Today, we share a recent conversation held with Donald Yeager of Donald Yeager Photography. Our goal was to find out how you can keep from looking back with regret and really capture the details and memories you want to keep from your wedding day. Bookmark this post and refer to it as you interview wedding photographers and make your wedding photography decisions.
Finding Your Wedding Photographer 101: Expert Q&A with Donald Yeager Photography (www.donaldyeager.com/)
ABG: There are some brides who are a little more in-tune with what they like and know it when they see it. But for those who aren't sure, what's the best way to find and pick their photographer?
Donald Yeager Photography (DYP): In my opinion one of the most important aspects of wedding planning is the choice of a photographer, because once it’s all said and done the photography is what will remain forever to document the emotions and details of the day. That being said, no bride should rush into making this monumentous decision. I’d recommend that to begin, with brides should feel free to immerse themselves in wedding images. Blogs (like ABG, of course), magazines, websites, and et cetera are all excellent places to begin research.
While seeking out images, take actual notes of the images that you have an emotional reaction to (print them, bookmark them, cut them out and keep them in a binder) as this will help you to identify your own personal style. When you have a nice stack, look through them all and find the common denominator. Usually, one type of photography will stand out from the rest, and while most brides will have a bit of a mix, you will see some kind of majority forming in your favorites pile. For example, you may find that the majority of the images you like the best are documentary or photojournalistic in style, such as the first look between the bride and groom or the flower girl and ring bearer flirting. Or, you may be more drawn to images with post-processing artistry, such as added textures or color enhancement.
After you have established what you are drawn to, start seeking out photographers who present images that are harmonious with the style you love and schedule interviews.
So how many photographers should a bride interview? 3? 5?
I don’t believe there is a magic number to how many photographers you should decide you want to meet with. However, if the number is hovering around 10, I’d strongly suggest the bride re-examine her style and how that it is compatible with her selections. It can be really tempting for a bride to meet with ten photographers whose styles differ in hopes of identifying the style of photography she wants, but I find that generally counterproductive. In the least ideal situation, you may could end up hiring a photographer solely based on their personality, but later discover that their style doesn’t quite mesh with what you envisioned. This is an important decision, don’t rush it. It’s good to take time to evaluate, re-evaluate, and even if everything feels right at the meeting, to walk away and think on it before signing a contract.
Hiring: During the decision process, what are questions the bride & groom need to ask? How, from a photographer's perspective, would you like to be "selected" to be their photographer (chemistry? similar hobbies or interests?)
Bridals magazines, websites, and planners will give you an extensive list of specific questions to ask photographers like what coverage entails, packages, second shooter availability, ect. Since this information is widely available, I am going to recommend some different advice. Just spend some time with your photographer and get to know one another on a personal level. This will help you better judge if your personalities are compatible. Remember, you are hiring this person to follow you around on the most important day of your life. Wouldn’t it be better to hang out with someone you get along with and know personally than someone you don’t know at all?
DYP: The bride's family's roots are in Cuba, and she is very proud of that heritage. She used a book that was full of images from her family's native land as a guest book.
From a photographer’s perspective, the same rules hold true. The better I can get to know my clients personally, the more they are willing to show emotion and allow me to authentically capture their wedding. I love when I show up on a wedding day and I really know who my bride and groom truly are. It enables me to better capture each little nuance from the day; from a bride’s tattoo that her father has never seen...
... to the finally crafted homebrew beer that the groom spent months perfecting.
DYP: The bride took hours upon hours to hand-make each program. She wanted everyone's program to be a little different so she meticulously coordinated so that one program would not look identical to another.
ABG: We just love this ABG bag spotted behind the scenes at a Donald Yeager Photography wedding!
Once the contract ink has dried, how can the couple best work with a photographer to get everything in place for the big day and to make sure the wedding day itself is best captured?
I think that communication and honesty are key—if open communication exists from the get go, I feel that the bride and groom will be all the more comfortable with sharing their expectations and desires. If they are working with a wedding coordinator—a wonderful investment for any bride and groom to make—that professional can help facilitate the exchange of expectations. I always ask my couples if there are certain must have shots or locations that they’d like to see, and I’m always honest with them about the realities of timing and will not hesitate to let them know if something is not feasible.
DYP: This is an image of the bride and her son, Justin. We were getting a couple of shots of the bride and groom when all the sudden he wandered over and just wanted a hug from his happily married mother.
I try to be game for anything and everything, because being spontaneous and having fun usually produces the best shots. I also advise my couples to remember to be flexible with their day—know that things may go awry, things may not go to schedule, things might not be perfect—but with flexibility we’ll make sure that the very best moments are captured. Either way, it all comes down to trust and good communication on both ends, and that’s why starting, and keeping—a dialogue from the day we meet until after they marry is absolutely necessary.
The next picture is from after an epic engagement session - Ben and Amanda insisted that we head over to their house so they could make Ben's family world famous lasagna rolls!
Thanks for all of the honest and helpful advice! These are great pictures that examplify how finding the right photographer and establishing a good comaraderie with your photographer can really pay off.
For more gorgeous pics, visit Donald Yeager Photography and view his gallery. You'll also find more of his favorite pictures on his blog.
It's easy to assume that catering companies focus solely on food and that's it. Fact is, there are catering companies who believe in providing more than just food but also great presentation and quality service. Chef's Market is one of those companies that not only serve tasty, delicious and even cutting edge food but the experience is enhanced by creative presentation and great event decor. Say goodbye to boring ol' chaffing dishes sitting in a row on a table and hello to interesting buffet tables and food that tastes as exquisite as it is presented.
Nashville Vendor Spotlight: Chef's Market, a Wedding Catering Company
Number of years in the business:
We’ve been in business for the past 13 years in August, time has definitely flown by!
How did you get started in weddings?
Jim Hagy, the owner of Chef’s Market has been involved in the restaurant industry his entire life, in fact he’s a third generation restaurateur, so when Chef’s Market opened in 1997, getting into catering and more specifically weddings just felt very natural for the business.
What do you like most about weddings?
We truly believe that food brings people together and having the opportunity to provide that service at such significant a celebration as a wedding is very gratifying for us as a business. We also love designing and creating unique and beautiful food displays and table décor, it’s one of the things we’re known for and it’s always fun incorporating a bride’s vision into our food presentation.
Photo source: Divine Images
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
We have an amazing team of people who make our events happen and we think the fact that everyone from our Catering Director to our Prep Chef is personally invested in each event has a lot to do with our success as a catering company. Our talented staff has the ability to see the event through from start to finish, including overall event design concept and style. We do not just focus on the food, we also “get” the big picture! Our emphasis on design and presentation really makes us stand out and our innovation and quality of food and service are only a few reasons why a bride should look into having us cater her wedding.
Picture source: Divine Images
Picture source: Divine Images
What is your specialty?
While we cater everything from plated meals to buffet style menus, lately many brides have been opting for heavy dinner stations. We’ve never boxed ourselves into any specific category as far as cuisine is concerned as we love to try new recipes and presentation styles, however in general we love to give ordinary food a gourmet twist, such as adding a flavorful Red Pepper Jelly to spice up ordinary Ham Biscuits.
Do you provide bar service?
Although Chef’s Market does not have a liquor license, we are happy to lend our expertise in planning for bar services, including suggestions of beer and wine brands, quantity, etc. Additionally, we offer the following bar services; bar-set-ups, mixers, juices, fruits, ice, bar tools, soda, bottled water and ABC Certified Bartenders.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors – helpfulness, professionalism, style?
This is a tough one because Nashville has such an incredible wedding industry! We really feel than any vendor who’s apart of TWESA (Tennessee Wedding Event Specialists Association) is not only going to know what they’re doing but also be professional, creative and passionate about weddings, which are all necessary qualities for building a working relationship with each other in this industry.
Who do you recommend when you’re not available/not a fit?
There are many great caterers to choose from but we often recommend both the Clean Plate Club and A Catered Affair for any reception that we’re unable to cater ourselves.
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event/food trends?
Catering is a business that’s continually evolving, which is great, as it keeps us moving forward with menu and design ideas. We’re constantly reading restaurant and catering trade publications as well as local and national blogs in order to stay ahead of the game. We also make sure to attend at least one catering conference per year.
Let’s discuss current catering trends
Are there currently any popular menu items or dining styles that you’ve seen or even would like to see?
What’s most popular right now is for Brides and Grooms to choose foods they love, which really means that anything goes when it comes to catering. It’s nice to see that couples are not afraid to express themselves through their food choices. Instead of having the same menu at every wedding, we are seeing a wide variety of different items!
What is your favorite dish to serve at a wedding/event?
For a recent wedding of ours, the Bride and Groom asked for personalized sushi rolls, which was a lot of fun for us to put together! Our favorite dishes are always the ones where we get to truly ‘cater’ the food to the couple getting married.
Which food trend do you dislike?
While mashed potato and macaroni bars are always going to taste great and be popular for weddings, we have done so many that it’s not as fun for us as other menu items.
Which catering trend are you glad is gone?
Hmm, we’d have say satellite cakes from the 80’s…it happened once, we hope it never happens again!
Boy I'd love to see a picture of that cake! What are your favorite websites for inspiration and to stay on top of food/catering trends?
We love reading both local and national food blogs, there’s just so much diversity out there and it’s great to see what others are writing about. Some of our go to blogs are: Love & Olive Oil, Lannae’s Food & Travel, Confections of a Foodie Bride and The South in My Mouth.
What's your favorite TV show and why?
Top Chef is great not only because it’s interesting to see what industry’s up and coming chefs create, but the time crunch is often reminiscent of our catering kitchen on big event days!
Chef's Market complements it's great food with stellar food/table design! Photo Source: Joe Hendricks Photography
Grilled canteloupe fruit pearls. Photo source: Chef's Market
While I can't cook, I love Top Chef too!! What is your favorite thing about catering weddings?
We love meeting all of the different couples who hire us as their wedding caterer. No two weddings are alike and there’s always something new, it’s hard to get bored in this profession!
What is the biggest misconception about your industry?
People often assume that the quality of catered food is not very good, when in fact; it all depends on who you choose to do the catering. The old “rubber chicken” analogy is thrown around a lot, but in fact catering food can be great! A good caterer knows what foods will and will not work, given the venue restrictions, time lines, etc, and they will guide you in choosing a menu that will be great for your event. Maybe you have dreamed of sweet potato fries for your day, but your venue doesn’t allow cooking on site. An experienced caterer will have the courage to tell you that your sweet potato fries may fall flat….(literally!)...but they will also be able to suggest good alternatives. Every catering company needs to have a fantastic Culinary and Sales team that understands the intricacies of logistics and planning in order to be successful, and we feel really lucky to have both of those at Chef’s Market!
Thank you Genna and Shannon for filling us in on Chef's Market. It's exciting that there's a caterer in town with whom brides can work with to really achieve their vision! Brides, let us know if you've worked with Chef's Market or if you're about to work with them on your wedding, we'd love to hear your feedback in our comments!
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
photos to share. We’d love to hear from you »
.jpg)
.jpg)
