For my Sex and the City party, everything was a go - from the plan, the design, food, dessert, shopping. But there was one thing that was definitely needed that was nearly impossible to get due to the event coinciding with Memorial Day weekend - tables!
Weeks leading up to the event, Kristin of Simply Stunning and I called every party place we knew - hoping that someone could help supply tables for the party. Less than 7 days before the event, Julie of Liberty Party Rentals came through! She not only was able to provide everything we needed but she was happy to and served us with a smile. That meant a lot to me and I am forever thankful.
So, if you are in need of rentals for your wedding or event, consider Liberty Party Rental. They took great care of me and I am sure they will do the same for you.
To save you time in your search, here's my Q&A with Julie of Liberty Party regarding the company, philosphy, inventory, etc.
How did your company get started in weddings?
Weddings are what built Liberty Party Rental into what it is today. The first client of Liberty Party Rental was a bride and groom! As a party & event rental company, we have always offered rental items, such as tables, chairs, tabletop items, dance floors and linens that would be of interest to brides and those assisting in the wedding planning process. We have also provided more “wedding specific” items that are geared directly toward weddings and receptions, such as archways, candelabras, cake plateaus, and cake serving sets. Our inventory is constantly evolving to stay current with the trends.
What do you like most about weddings?
Most brides have never planned a wedding before so it is always fun to see what ideas they have come up with on their own. Brides are passionate about planning their dream wedding and they have a specific vision that is as individual and unique as they are. Keeping that vision in mind, at Liberty Party Rental we know how to turn dreams into reality while still keeping within budget. We also always aim to keep the entire process smooth and as stress-free as possible, because we know how stressful planning such an important day can be!
What is your service philosophy?What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
With over 100 years of combined hospitality industry experience, and the largest inventory in middle Tennessee, the Liberty Party Team is proud to help with the rental items for your upcoming wedding celebration. Our team of professionals is comprised of highly resourceful problem solvers with the capabilities to do whatever it takes to fulfill brides’ wedding wishes.
What is your service philosophy? What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you?
With over 100 years of combined hospitality industry experience, and the largest inventory in middle Tennessee, the Liberty Party Team is proud to help with the rental items for your upcoming wedding celebration. Our team of professionals is comprised of highly resourceful problem solvers with the capabilities to do whatever it takes to fulfill brides’ wedding wishes.
If you ask our past brides, they will say that we excel in customer service. Our goal is for each customer to leave Liberty satisfied, not only with their rentals, but also with the overall experience. By providing not only a great selection of rentals but superior customer service, we hope that the bride and groom will recommend us to all of their friends! A quote from one of our brides in May showcases just this, “Now that all the wedding fuss is over, I just wanted to take a second and thank you. You guys were amazing to work with, and I couldn’t have imagined it being as beautiful as it was! You were fantastic, and you better believe I’m telling everyone that I know to go to Liberty Party for anything. Thanks again and God Bless.”
Liberty Party Rental has an extensive new website that not only includes pictures and details on each of their rental items but also hands on tools that brides can keep in their wedding books. From an inspiration photo gallery to a linen chart to event tips, the website is one of the greatest assets for Liberty Party Rental.
Brides can follow up with a visit to the showroom at Liberty Party Rental where they can setup a sample table with their linen, china, glassware, and flatware. Many times brides end up changing their mind on their “rental picks” once they are able to “see it and touch it”! Not only will they be able to see all of the items in person but they also meet their Account Manager face-to-face. We encourage the brides to setup a showroom appointment to ensure that the showroom is available along with their Account Manager.
Another great strength for Liberty Party Rental is that we own all of our rental items that are showcased on the website. We have over 60,000 square feet of warehouse space filled with our inventory here locally in Nashville. This allows us the flexibility with brides so they can increase their order until 24 hours before the scheduled delivery date or decrease numbers 48 hours prior to delivery.
Our resources and your imagination means anything is possible!
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends?
The entire sales team stays on top of the trends by reading the latest bridal magazines and publications, surfing the internet and examining the latest blogs of our peers, attending various industry events and listening to the brides themselves, who often are the most current in wedding styles.
Let’s discuss current wedding trends - What trend do you love?
Mixed seating – using various size tables and incorporating unique lounge seating options as well. We have also enjoyed putting together weddings lately they have utilized a wide array of color schemes. It is sometimes nice to do something a little unexpected.
Lounge seating options and styles
What trend do you hate?
It is not so much a trend, but often inflexibility is a challenge to work with. At Liberty Party Rental, we have many solutions to maintaining the overall concept, while still staying within the budget. For example, many of our customers want chair covers to hide the boring banquet chairs that many venues already have – they immediately assume the only option is to use a chair cover, but they never think to bring in an alternative chair. A majority of our chairs, all wedding reception quality, are more economically priced than the chair cover itself. We always try to have our brides think outside of the box when met with a challenge – design or financial.
Past trends
Trend I’m glad is gone?
All white – white chairs, white table linens, white china.
What are your favorite wedding websites? Neatest wedding find?
Our new site - libertypartyrental.com and ashleysbrideguide.com
For "budget savvy" brides, what's the one thing you think should always make it into a budget?
Linens, or even overlays, can make quite the statement when walking into the room. They can give the room that “pop” of color needed, without pouring money into florals, and also create a uniform look to the room.
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Elegant bursts of color
What's one way brides can save money/be more economical?
Sometimes brides focus on things that guests really would not notice unless it was pointed out to them. For example, a bride could focus her attention on a certain glassware or flatware that is really not within her budget. While the item may add some “wow” to the tablescape, if a more basic glassware line was substituted guests would not necessarily have a different experience or realize that a more cost effective option was used instead.
Clear Tents
Does your company do anything special that a green bride might want to know?
We offer more than just linens, tables and chairs. Lounge seating, outdoor furniture, tabletop décor, tents, and flooring a just a few more items that we rent. Brides can visit our new website to get inspiration and also learn about all of our great products! Be sure to come by our showroom and see firsthand what we have to offer.
When I got married, I had also just started a new job. This isn’t something I recommend, least of all when planning a wedding halfway around the world as well as another wedding here in Nashville two weeks later. Shortly into the 6-month mark, I honestly thought I was going to go insane and the idea of eloping sounded better and better. I’m usually calm, usually a lot less freaked out by stress and I didn’t realize that with all the time I devoted to the planning, I neglected my own wellbeing and had put my Bikram yoga practice on hold. After one particularly arduous day, I had a breakdown and my wonderful fiancé (now husband) said, “Why don’t you go take a yoga class?”
That made such a difference.
Bikram yoga is one of the best things I do for myself on a regular basis and I am excited to be able to share with you today its most wonderful benefits that are going to help you maintain your sanity and (here’s the cherry on top) look and feel awesome for your big day.
Started by Bikram Choudhury and introduced to America in the 1970's, Bikram's Beginner Yoga Class is a sequence of 26 postures put together systematically for optimal benefits. The postures don't change, just your individual practice which gets stronger and deeper with each day. According to their website BikramYoga.com, Bikram yoga (popularly known also as "hot yoga") should always be practiced in a Bikram certified yoga studio by a qualified instructor who has undergone proper, strict training.
Lucky for us, we have an affiliated Bikram studio here in town. Bikram Cool Springs is run by Tennesse native Sandra Lee who has been teaching this yoga since getting certified in 2007. Sandra’s studio has classes everyday taught by her and her team of qualified instructors. "It's never too late, never too bad, and you're never too old or too sick to start from scratch" as Bikram likes to say. People of all ages practice Bikram yoga the world around and its longevity and popularity are due largely to the fact that it has such obvious, long-term benefits. Take it from me, you'll even see results after just a few classes - better posture, better focus and even your clothes fit better! It's pretty amazing!
The Thirty-Something Bride has been practicing BIkram yoga on and off since 2006 and told us, "It's the best 90 minutes a bride (or a groom) can spend on herself. While the heat might sound daunting - or even be a bit overwhelming for your first class, it's actually a wonderful thing! You don't need to be a yoga expect or guru or anything like that. Every class is a "new" class of flexibility and experience, regardless of how long one has practiced. You'll sleep better, eat better (it just happens!), feel better and stress just melts away. It's the best thing a person can do for their entire body, soul and psyche!"**
The 26 postures in a Bikram yoga class in a sequence that works and stretches every part of your body, head to toe, inside and out.
Now doesn't that sound exciting? "The best thing a person can do for their entire body, soul and psyche" pretty much sums up the mental, physical and emotional benefits you could get by treating yourself to a Bikram yoga class. I personally have been practicing Bikram yoga for seven years now, quitting the gym shortly after I started in 2003 and I have never looked back. One of the biggest benefits of this yoga is the mental clarity it brings. It has given me the ability to think clearly and concentrate on the moment instead of being all over the place and that really helped me manage my time better with the two weddings and new job.
Sandra explained why this is a common effect of the class: "You are given 90 minutes to focus on nothing but yourself. The yoga helps you tune in with how your body moves and feels and teaches you to stay in the moment. Even those who are still on their third or fourth class area amazed at what it does for their concentration because they are finally able to sleep well at night and wake up feeling refreshed."
This is also a great way to focus on yourself. "My students sometimes come in to treat themselves to 90 minutes of 'me time' before returning to real life." In the frenzy of wedding planning, it's so easy to lose yourself. We always stress that your wedding day needs to be more than the flowers, food and the guest list and that it needs to be about you so rewarding yourself with Bikram yoga just might be the thing you need to keep things sane!
Know what else is amazing about this yoga? You burn at least 600 calories in one class without the wear and tear you get from high-impact cardio exercise. At approximately 105 degrees fahrenheit (the heat is to aid in the detox and flexibility factor) the sequence of yoga poses you go through in 90 minutes will make you sweat, detox and burn. "Your heart rate is raised and lowered, as if you are doing intervals on a treadmill. You get a workout that will make you stronger, more flexbile, it cleanses your body and it makes you feel better overall. The weight loss part is a bonus." Sandra told me. Don't even worry about being in great shape to start, the point is to do this to get yourself in better overall shape. Sandra stressed that this class is at one level only and you don't need to have any yoga experience to know what you're doing "This is Bikram's Beginner Yoga Class and it's for all levels and all ages. You work to your ability and and the progress comes at the pace that's right for you."
In case you're wondering about how just doing yoga can build any sort of muscle tone, well, you should just take a look at Biikram himself. The man is well into his 60's and is in better shape than some guys half his age!
Bikram Choudhury teaching at one of his seminars. Sandra reassures me that the teachers do not ever stand on you in class.
But like Sandra said, the weight loss is a bonus. As a bride-to-be, it's the stress of planning that can get to you and that can distract you from what's important - you and your fiance and the life upon which you're about to embark together. I could go on and on and on about how great this yoga is but it's best to try it out for yourself. Maybe even bring your fiance and take classes together because it is a wonderful bonding experience and could take your engagement and marriage to an even greater level! Here's a video from Bikram Cool Springs with testimonials from their students. Enjoy, and I really hope you'll give it a shot soon - maybe I'll see you there sometime!
Today is our last day of Sex and the City recaps...but I've saved the most delicious for last - I promise!
Last week, we shared our party's vision, decor, details, entertainment and shopping. Today, we'll give you the scoop on the delicious treats - from dessert and food to great party favors!
The Food: Delicious Treats
Because the women at the party appreciate the finer things in life, it was only appropriate that the food we had looked and tasted good as well. Our vendors always come through for us and when they said they'd bring us fabulous food, they definitely delivered! A Catered Affair had a full-on Asian stir-fry station and served the chicken with fried rice in cute Chinese takeout boxes.
A fun stir fry station would be perfect for a wedding or event!
A Catered Affair also provided really chic dessert shots! Served on individual spoons, they're visually appealing, rather unique and easy to manage so people don't have their hands full of stuff when trying to eat!
Dessert Shots by A Catered Affair
Down South Delights covered the heavy hors d'ouevres part of the fare, with tons of options both savory and sweet. I had at least one, if not two of each of the bite sized morsels starting with the Inside Out Sushi with hoisin scallion dipping sauce. The dipping sauce also tasted great on the Chinois chicken spring rolls. One bite of the Hamptons style mini lobster rolls and I instantly knew those would be perfect for a posh garden style party. Very tasty. You can't go wrong with the mini gourmet flatbread pizzas and they ended everything on a slightly sweeter note with the brie and almond wontons with black raspberry sauce.
WIth the savory comes the sweet. Down South Delights brought us some fabulous Sex & The City themed desserts like pink champagne truffles, mini mimosa parfait, layered gelees and cosmopolitan mousse, plus my favorite, French macarons. A great mix of flavors and colors, it really made the buffet table festive.
You can't have a Sex & the City Party without serving cupcakes! The show is what put cupcakes back into trendy vocabulary in the first place! So in celebration, Crumb de la Crumb brought chocolate cupcakes with pink buttercream frosting and to accompany the cupcakes, little petit four style cakes!
The cake did not last very long!
Kernels Southern Gourmet Popcorn provided a fun and tastty popcorn bar, a unique alternative to the ever popular candy bar. Kernel's gave partygoers flavored, specialty popcorn for us to scoop and pack into our individual bags.
The Swag: Bags full of goodies
Our local vendors were so generous with everything they gave us. There were two types of goodie bags we gave out that night, one for our brides-to-be that had swag to celebrate their upcoming wedding, and those for the fabulous women who came to celebrate SATC.
There were so many great items and I'll list our super swag run-down because these items would make great wedding favors, ideas, or overall gifts for yourself or your friends!
Opulent Couturier - monogrammed drinking glasses, something that would make great wedding favors. Everyone marveled at this cute (and affordable for favors) glasses.
Swizzle Events - as a wedding planner, Amy knows great wedding favors. She created swizzle sticks and added her business card. You could do something similar OR call her to help with your favors or wedding planning in general!
McNeal Wedding Films + AshleysBrideGuide.com (ABG) - we partnered to create the CUTEST "I'm a Carrie..." buttons that were available for each character, all guests! We also cr
Relish + AshleysBrideGuide.com (ABG) - we partnered to create custom ABG/Flood 2010 tnotes and the proceeds benefit the Red Cross. If you like them, you can order your own for thank you notes, Nashville wedding invitations, etc.
Nico and Lala - VERY popular! This fab girl design team gave every guest a super cute luggage tag that said 'Honeymoon Bound" or was a pink and green gingham print pretty version. I love mine!
Chef's Market - boxes of truffles, good for a OOT gift basket or favors
Sandals Honeymoon Travel - bath salts to get us in a tranquil mood and thinking of sandy beaches
Bikram Cool Springs - complimentary yoga class - You need to relax girl! If you attended the party - be sure to use your coupon!
PaperKuts Studio - 20% off coupon + magnets in a wide array or colors and can be matched to your wedding colors
Kerried Away Couture - mini tape measures, one of my favorites, to help measure your bridesmaids!
Olive and Sinclair - locally made artisan chocolate which were all the rave!
ABG's SATC buttons - Designer luggage tags from Nico and Lala - Magnets from Paperkuts Studio, Truffles from Chef's Market - Chocolate bars from Olive and Sinclair + Nashville tnotes by Relish from ABG - Monogrammed glass from Opulent Couturier
The Giveaways: Our guests got hooked up!
The party's giveaways were even more over the top than some of the swag! Jonathon Campbell Photography gave away an amazing bar set - complete with martini glasses, alcohol and shakers that I wanted to steal. Kristyn Hogan lifestyle photographer and McCoy Made hooked 2 brides up with free lifestyle sessions, valued at well over $500+. Then Stella and Dot, Nala Style, J. Bangs Salon and J. Nichelle Hair Artistry treated winning partygoers to jewelry, accessories, hair cuts and manicures. Unreal! The list really went on and on. We gave away thousands of dollars in prizes. Yes - we treat our partygoers well! We love to pass on our goodies to others. Hope you got in on the fun. If not, be sure to join us next time!
If you missed our SATC party - we hope these recaps help you create an ultimate list of Nashville wedding/event resources or goodies to treat yourself any day of the week!
I am very excited to announce that StudioWed (our site sponsor) is giving away the diamond necklace below! Yes, it's gorgeous and Tabitha and I want it, but it's for a special Nashville bride. Here's how you can win the necklace.
How does the studio work?
StudioWed is a (free service) wedding planning studio.
You make an appointment with Leigh or Mary Alice (the lovely owners) and share details about your wedding. They listen and help you find great wedding vendors based on your style, budget. Their goal is to help you create the wedding day of a lifetime! And, when you visit this month only, your visit qualifies you for an entry in the diamond necklace contest.
StudioWed Nashville Diamond Necklace Giveaway
Here's all you have to do to enter the giveaway for the beautiful bling:
1) Be a Nashville bride or planning a Nashville wedding
2) Have wedding vendors that you still need to hire. If you've already hired all of your vendors, the Studio will not be as beneficial so the contest is open to brides who are still hiring wedding professionals.
3) Contact StudioWed (615.739.5477 or leigh at studiowed dot net) now to schedule your "diamond giveaway" appointment. Your appointment must be between July 7 and July 31.
4) Visit the Studio and get entered to win the necklace!
Nashville brides - this is THE time to check out StudioWed. Get complimentary wedding planning help, meet great professionals and maybe win some diamonds! If you are not a bride, please spread the word via Facebook + Twitter so your brides can win the bling!
(If you attended our SATC party as a StudioWed brides, your name has automatically been entered into the drawing for this beautiful diamond necklace. Because many of you weren't able to participate at that time StudioWed is extending the drawing til July 31st to give all Nashville brides a chance to win. All you have to do is call StudioWed and make your appointment to see Leigh and Mary Alice and let them connect you with some of the best wedding vendors in town!)
The stage was set for the year's most fabulous party - the details, the lights and all the hard work and planning came together. When all the ladies got to the party, we had even more for them to do than just sit pretty and sip on cocktails! There was so much shopping and who doesn't love that! Yesterday we recapped our great bridal options, today it's all about what women loved at our party in terms of everyday goodies from Nashville female entrepreneurs with great clothes, jewelry, clothes and accessories. There was something for everyone!
The Shopping: Pretty Paper
It was hard to decide where to start. For example, stationery companies, You're Invited, Paperkuts Studios and Relish showcased wonderful stationery options for personal stationery, wedding invitations, parties and showers. With such pretty paper options, it was a great way for everyone to see, touch and even purchase!
Relish allows you to build your own super cute stationery online.
Located in Belle Meade - You're Invited is a one stop spot for gifts and stationery.
Paperkuts Studio is located off Lebanon Road and has a plethora of fun paper goods. They also sell a great line of ethnic items that includes African American and Hispanic stationery. Photo courtesy of Nashville LIfestyles Magazine (who were there to party with us! Thanks for coming ladies!)
The Shopping: Fabulous Nashville Women's Clothes, Jewelry and Accessories
Val's Boutique had a huge rack full of the cutest little dresses and blouses! Girls were able to shop for the latest fashions. I was so busy I didnt get to check out the selection but I plan to!!! Hopefully Val still has the first dress on the rack. I love it!
Ginger, the owner of Nala Style is so chic! She travels to LA all the time to bring Nashville ladies the hottest in jewelry and shoes. You wont see these styles anywhere else locally. From the most delicate earrings to the boldest statement necklaces, these statement pieces take any outfit to a whole new level.
Those of us looking to update out wardrobes also got to choose fun purses, hair accessories and dresses. Nala Style had a huge selection of bags and clutches.
We're still so in love with Stella & Dot which has some of the prettiest, eye-catching accessories. Best part? Stella & Dot stylist Kim Wright was on site to help girls fine the piece that was right for them.
The Shopping: Sustainable Indulgence for Us & Mother Earth
Eco-friendly products don't always guarantee "pretty" things. Changing all that is iHospitality whose owner, Ashley, believes that there's beauty in sustainability that won't take away from the overall fabulous look of your event. Her "Simple Sets" product line is great for eco brides (or event planning women) who want disposable products that are kinder to Mother Earth.
Maintaining intimacy is fun; maintaining intimacy with some fun products makes it even more enjoyable. Girls had a blast picking through products from Pure Romance whose lotions and oils looked delightfully exciting (and naughty!)
Our last shopping vendor was Thistle Farms, which you MUST know about. We'll feature them on ABG in a few weeks (after my tour of their farm) but for now, take a few moments to check them out. They have a great story/cause and an even better line of body products. They are Nashville based (yippee) and all about empowering women.
At Ashley’s Bride Guide, we’re always on the lookout for innovative and exciting wedding ideas.
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