A few weeks ago, I attended The Little Black Dress Revue at the Noah Liff Center (noahliffoperacenter.com) which is quickly becoming one of my favorite Nashville wedding venue. It's contemporary, spanking new, has great windows and has some amazing decor details.
The event was hosted by A Music City Event (wedding planning company) and Gregory Byerline (wedding photographer) and they did a fantastic job! There were some great new wedding finds as well as some great wedding inspiration from established wedding vendors. you can view all of the event photos via Facebook but here's a quick synoposis. Here's what you missed:
Stationery + Paper Goods: Relish provided the event's welcome and thank you notes while Design In August, a fabulous newcomer to the Nashville wedding scene, created the event's overall branding, from the logo and stir sticks to wonderful event program.
Catering and Cake: A Dream Come True Events and Catering provided wonderful food + The Bake Shoppe debuted new and very unique cake flavors. Hamilton Bartending Services (hambarserv.com) kept the drinks flowing and offered service with a smile.
Event Decor: Bonnie and crew of Belles Fleurs created lovely floral designs, from a floral chandelier to incredible centerpieces (bellesfleursdesigns.com). Draping Designs (drapingdesigns.com) used drapes to divide the space into cozy corners. We all fell in love with exquisite linen by The Premiere Event (thepremiereevent.com).
Transportation and Entertainment: The highlight of the evening for me was hopping into the Fantastic Flipbooks booth with the lovely ladies of Relish. I LOVE the interactivity of the concept and the speed at which the images are captured for your wedding guests. Nashvegas All Stars (nashvegasallstars.com) + REM Entertainment (remmusic.us) + Lifestyle Limos (lifestyle-limos.com) also provided entertainment and transportation for the evening.
Our bridesmaids work hard to make us happy on our wedding day. They're spending money on dresses they'll probably never wear again, some of them will even travel just to spend 48 hours with us, their BFF. To make full use of the time, and so they also get to enjoy it (as much as we would like to think our weddings are enough enjoyment!) why not treat them to a little fun.
Here are some of our favorite girl spots. Have other ideas? Please share!
Art and Invention - ArtandInventionGallery.wordpress.com
Feeling crafty? Art And Ivvention is an art gallery in East Nashville and they have a space they rent out for special occasions such as Valentine's Day or even during the holidays to people who want to have a small gathering to make gifts or just to get together and do something fun. Ashley was there for a friend's birthday and said she had a blast and thought, "this would be perfect for girls' night out!"
The space can accommodate up to 20 people, and they are open to what you would like to do - if you want to paint picture frames to give exchange with your bridesmaids, or if you would like to paint pictures on canvas, owners Meg and Bret MacFadyen will provide the paint and equipment, and you provide the people. Bring your own wine, pack a picnic or have it catered and it would be a blast. Or you could top the evening off by going to one of the many wonderful restaurants in the area! Ashley and her friends ended the evening by having dinner at MadDonna's and it was great!
1) Escape Day Spa - EscapeSpaces.com
Make a day of being pampered at Escape Day Spa. The moment you walk in, you forget you're in the middle of a mall.
Calming, very peaceful waiting areas.
The meditation room
The trickling fountains, the soothing music and the delicious scents from candles and herbs take you to a place of relaxation that Calgon can't compete with. Spaces offers a manicure/pedicure package that you can top off with lunch in their cafe. They serve light fare like sandwiches and salads, with their strawberry fields salad being their most popular item. If you'd rather a massage, they offer sessions where two people can be in a room side by side so while some of your girls are getting their nails done, you could be getting the tension rubbed out of your shoulders alongside your maid of honor!
2) Tea Party with Izzy and Bell - IzzyandBell.com
Nothing says "Girl Time" more than a classic Tea Party. Izzy and Bell is a tea party catering company. When Ashley mentioned them to me, I started trying to find an excuse just to have a little tea party! From the pretty tableclothes to the serving platters to the vintage tea cups, Izzy and Bell will provide the decor and rentals, you just have to provide the space.
I gave owner Crystal De Luna-Bogan a call, and she was such a delight to speak to. She told me that the Traditional Tea Party is most popular with brides - it has a very vintage feel with the antique style cups, traditional English cakes and biscuits. petit fours and dainty finger sandwiches. But she puts a modern twist on things by using as many local ingredients as she can find. Or you can go with the Japanese Tea Party package which includes a more zen style menu of sushi, wasabi deviled quail eggs and green tea pana cottas, just to name a few of the more Eastern style treats. You can follow them on twitter (Twitter.com/IzzyandBell), or contact Crystal for availability and to schedule your tea party with your girls!
Pictures courtesy of Izzy and Bell
3) Bikram Yoga - BikramCoolSprings.com
Be refreshed, energized and relaxed all at once with a yoga class at Bikram Cool Springs.
This 90-minute class is a workout that will get rid of any last minute stress, and it will mentally prepare you for the big weekend ahead with lots of family members and friends. Join in one of their classes, or give studio owner Sandra Lee a call for a small group class where you and your girls will have the room all to yourselves. Tons of people, including me, swear by Bikram and I even got Ashley to take a class there. It was an experience she will never forget!!
4) Girl's Night at Cabana - CabanaNashville.com
Ashley and I LOVE, love, love Cabana (we went there to celebrate our birthdays this year). Great excuse to get a little dolled up, grab your girls, bring your iPod and have your own dinner party in the privacy of a cabana at, well, Cabana!
From behind a sheer curtain, you can still see people walk by, but you'll still feel slightly hidden and away from the crowd as you feast on some lobster brie mac n cheese, fresh pizza or any of their delicious dishes. It's the perfect place to people watch while having a few girly cocktails with your girls! Plus, Wednesday night is Ladies Night so drinks and food are a steal!
What are some of your favorite places to go? Or maybe you have a great suggestion on what brides can do with their bridesmaids? Tell us what they are in comments we'd love to hear them!
At bridal shows, we're always blown away with the latest in wedding guest seating. Now, you can really wow your guests with a wedding reception area that goes beyond the typical 60" round banquet tables with chairs around them. Why not make your wedding look and feel like you've invited your guests into your home? Comfy, cozy lounge seating makes it easier for people to gather and mingle. If you're a little apprehensive about stepping out of that box, Julie Hurst of Liberty Party Rental has the tips and ideas for the hottest lounge seating trends for your wedding.
Lounge seating comprises of several elements, the most distinct of which are banquettes and axis furniture. Banquettes are the larger, bench seats you will recognize, a lot of times with a taller back to them almost like you're at a chic, L.A. club. Axis furniture are the smaller, 2.5 foot by 2.5 foot sectional pieces that come in a corner piece, a chair or ottoman. "Both are just as nice, they're all very versatile. Some people have used both banquettes and axis seating, but a majority of clients go with one or the other," advised Julie.
Liberty Party Rental is the only rental company in Nashville that carries their banquettes. "They come in four different colors (black, brown, ivory and white) and some of our brides have brought in their own fabric which we can wrap around the banquettes for a smaller extra cost." This is such a great idea, since lots of wedding decor is based on color schemes so this way, your furniture could complement your palette if you want to branch out beyond the four basic colors offered.
So what are some ways that lounge seating has been used? One way is what Julie has dubbed a Quiet Room. "Brides had a bar set up separate from the dance are, where people could mingle away from loud music, filled with lounge furniture instead of tables and chairs they had banquettes and butcher block coffee tables and groupings of axis furniture. They created an actual lounge.
Left: Banquettes. Right: coffee table for a more relaxed option
Estate Style is when banquettes are set up on one side with chairs set across a long dinner table. This also works for plated dinners where guests don't constantly have to get up to get more food.
Estate style seating. I love how it lends a touch of elegance to a garden style party.
Using a punch of color with colored pillows is also a fun way to complement your wedding's theme. Julie tells me that what's been popular among brides is renting the white or natural seating and having pillows as accent to pull their colors in. Liberty Party Rental has pillows available in an array of colors. You can see what your options are under "Creations" on the Liberty Party Rental site under the "Elements Collection" that is a list of all the items that go into lounge decor. If you can't find a color that works, you could also find pillows you do love to use. "Depending on the colors, some brides have purchased pillows themselves to use as accents to match their color scheme."
"Lounge furniture has become the trend with weddings – even if brides are on a tight budget they’re figuring out how to splurge to have at least a section of lounge furniture. More and more people are doing the lounge because it’s becoming a décor item. It’s a focal point, like if they have a dance floor, they surround the dance floor with axis furniture." Julie and her team at Liberty Party Rental will work with you to make sure you're making full use of your budget, whether or not lounge seating is what appeals to you. And if it is, you've definitely gone to the right place for it. Click here to visit their website if you haven't already found a great rental company with which to work for your wedding!
And if you're a bride who has used lounge seating for your wedding, we would love to see your pictures!! You can email us, or if you have a blog, let us know how to find you! We'd love to see what inspired you.
When I first entered the Nashville wedding scene, A Delightful Day Wedding & Event Planning was a fairly new wedding planning company that I connected with immediately. Mary Alice, the founder, was dedicated and it showed. That was in 2007 and year over year, I've seen A Delightful Day grow into an even more amazing group of fabulous planners with creativity, great execution and a zeal for serving Nashville brides. Their brides love them and if you need a planner, I'm sure you will love them too!
Ashley's One-on-One with A Delightful Day:
Company Name: A Delightful Day Event Planning
Website: http://www.adelightfulday.com
Main Contact: Mary Alice Sublett
Associate Planner/Coordinator: Leigh Barker
Contact: 615.938.0711 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Number of Years in the Business: 5 1/2 years
How did you get started in weddings? I got started in the wedding industry in college and as a newly engaged bride to be. With my personalty, I love being involved in details and really seeing a wedding brought to life, so after working on some weddings for some friends and bride's that arrived by referrals, A Delightful Day was born. Being a native Nashvillian, it has certainly given me the opportunity to get to know many in the industry here and know what Nashville has to offer local brides and destination brides to Nashville. We have grown into a company that offers many different facets to brides and provide the support that they need to plan the wedding of their dreams; planning their event, design/florals, and custom papergoods!
What do you like most about weddings? I love all of the excitement of the planning process, the stresses and all, and seeing a bride walk down the aisle to her groom, tears in their eyes and anxious thoughts, and know that we have everything under control. Also, seeing the overall design come together that we have worked so hard with our brides on and see their excited faces when they see it for the first time! We really try hard for that first look experience so that we can enjoy their enjoyment of their wedding dreams come true!
What’s your favorite wedding pic/video and why? We had a wedding in May of this year, Tami and Brent, and Tami and I had put in so much work together to create this dream day for her and Brent. Their wedding was the following weekend of the flood and we had to find a new location for her in 5 days. It was stressful, but we stayed calm through it all and had a beautiful event that Tami and Brent loved every minute of. That’s what makes this passion worth it every day!
What is your service philosophy? We go above and beyond for our brides and aim to provide our clients with a stress-free and positive experience. Brides are so busy now with careers, family, sometimes kids, social lives, so wedding planning is something that we want them to be hands-on with, but not left feeling overwhelmed. We also pride ourselves in guiding our clients in creating a "signature look" that is unique to each couple. From colors, theme, to florals and small details, we make experienced recommendations for our clients in creating an intimate celebration that is truly their own!
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you? I feel that we have a interesting connection with each of our couples and that is truly a relationship that you can not only trust that we're going to advise our clients on what is best for them, but also we have the ability to share our opinions on what has worked in the past and what hasn't. Also, being in the same age group as the majority of our brides I feel we have the best understanding of trends, education, and experiences to help them plan the best wedding for them. Also, the wonderful relationships that we’ve built with fellow wedding vendors in our years of experience gives brides a more personalized experience.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors – helpfulness, professionalism, style? There are so many FANTASTIC Nashville vendors, but here are a few of my favs: I love Jay from Maples Wedding Cakes! His flavors and tastes are to die for, as well as design. We love Dove Wedding Photography for their style, but also the friendship and trust that we have developed in them. Alison Bryant at Classic Party Rentals has been my calm in so many storms... what would I do without her. Rhonda Patton has such a grasp for modern design and displays that with our clients. Brocade Design Arts, Hillary Robson, has such an eye for florals and talent that just oozes out of her! She is always looking for new challenges for brides designs.
What are your favorite wedding websites? Neatest wedding find? Some of my favorite wedding websites include: iloveswmag.com, the Southern Weddings blog is full of southern inspiration and goodness!; The ultimate in southern gorgeousness, the Weddings Unveiled blog, weddingsunveiledblog.blogspot.com and their magazine is incredible for inspiration; stylemepretty.com of course has been a source of all types of inspiration for brides; weddingchicks.com is another great blog for continual inspiration and they have a great little wedding boutique; one other website for great inspiration, DIY projects, and real wedding galleries based on type is oncewed.com, which also offers the ability to purchase used wedding dresses.
A neat wedding find would have to be the Etsy wedding section. Absolutely wonderful unique pieces that speak who you are for your wedding, for example these adorable cufflinks you could give your lovebug (i.e. fiance’):
What's one way brides can save money / be more economical without sacrificing her vision? When you begin your planning, really sit down and discuss with your fiance’ what your priorities are. Create three items that are your top priorities, i.e. photography, having a videographer, hiring a planner, florals, favors like a photo booth, having a full bar, etc. and that will assist you in delegating your budget appropriately. From there, you can see what items aren’t necessarily as important to you and you won’t plan to spend as much of your budget on those items. One way to really enhance a space, but not necessarily dig too deep into the wallet is lighting! Many brides believe lighting is a luxury/high end item, when in reality it is more affordable than you think and can truly create a completely different space. With that, you can be a little more savvy with your florals/floral budget, and not require an extreme amount of florals for your space.
For the platinum bride, what is the one thing youve always wanted to see? Oh.... SO MANY THINGS! One item in particular is doing a completely separate, decked out area for a lounge/dance party complete with unique lounge pieces, extreme lighting, and truly modern vibe! I love seeing the pictures of these in magazines and just yearn for that event one day!
Does your company do anything special that a green bride might want to know?For our brides, a lot of times we will contact a local hospice company that will take their wedding day florals and rearrange them to take them to hospice patients and nursing homes for them to enjoy for the rest of their floral life! Many brides wonder what will happen to those florals, and I think that that becomes an area of waste, so this in turn allows for someone else to have a little cheer from their wedding for several days following!
You can follow A Delightful Day on Twitter, become their fan on Facebook and see more beautiful weddings they've done on their website.
Photography credits: McLellan Style, Phindy Studios, Gray Photography, Creative Push, Joy Marie Photography, Chris & Adrienne Scott.
Some brides tend to not make hair and makeup a huge priority in the wedding planning process - I know I didn't. But boy am I glad I squeezed out the extra money to get my makeup done by someone other than myself because it was well worth it. Your face is going to be photographed from all angles, all day long both from a distance and close up. While it's not a huge expense, professional makeup can be a neglected detail and I encourage you to really do your research and find a great makeup artist.
My interview today with Amy Lynn Larwig will help you jumpstart your search for a bridal makeup artist. I've seen girls who have had their makeup done by Amy, brides of all skin tones and hair color and they all have, without fail, looked spectacular. Let's get to know her a little better, and be sure to check out her portfolio video at the end of the post!
Picture courtesy of Daniel Meigs Photography (DanielMeigs.com)
Number of years as makeup artist: 8.5 years
How did you get started in weddings? By accident. I didn’t want to do weddings originally. But I got asked by some photographer friends of mine, so I tried it out and kinda fell in love.
Picture courtesy of Gregory Byerline (GregoryByerline.com)
What do you like most about weddings? Everyone is happy! It’s a fun occasion and I’m around during the girly time, so the mood tends to be light.
What’s your favorite wedding picture and why?
The first part of my promo video showcases a bridal shoot I did with Chris & Adrienne Scott. I loved this shoot. The bride has such a presence. She let me have free range to do what I wanted, so I pulled her hair back to keep it simple and easy to maintain. And added some silver shimmer to her lids to really light up those blue eyes. A soft pink lip and cheek kept the look romantic and fresh.
Picture courtesy of Chris & Adrienne Scott (ChrisandAdrienneScott.com)
What is your service philosophy? I create clean, modern looks that fit you. Each face I work on is personalized and made to fit your unique style.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? What sets me apart from other vendors, is the attention to detail. Before a brush even touches your face, a ton of questions about your skin, makeup routine, and wedding have to be answered. All these elements are pulled together to customize a look. Each high end product used has been tested personally by me and is applied with the utmost precision. Once the look is complete and you feel great in it, it’s all written down on a face chart and pictures are taken to ensure continuity on wedding day. There are other details included to make sure the beauty portion of your day is an experience, not just a task.
Picture courtesy of Evan Baines Photography (EvanBaines.com)
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors?
Chris & Adrienne Scott (ChrisandAdrienneScott.com) - This couple not only creates images that will melt you, but they are an absolute joy to be around. They make the experience such fun and really pull YOU out.
StudioWed - Technically, not a vendor, but a tremendous resource for brides and a great place to meet and talk about your wedding.
Chef’s Market - By far, the most amazing catering in Nashville. Beautiful food, and everything is delicious. They really take the time to build the perfect meal for your event and tastes.
The Bride Room (thebrideroom.com) - These women make each bride feel as if her day is the most important one ever. They get to know their brides individually and are so super sweet.
CJs Off The Square - A beautiful venue that makes planning your wedding a complete breeze. Amy and CJ are great listeners that take into account every detail of your dream day. They are super organized and definitely know how to get things done.
Picture courtesy of Zach Goodyear Photography (ZachGoodyearPhotography.com)
What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends? I read the local wedding blogs. I also keep up with fashion magazines to see the upcoming trends. Zink is probably my favorite mag for fashion/ makeup.
Is there a wedding trend that you love? Casual, fresh looks. Loose tousled hair and clean, young makeup. Lots of pinks on the cheeks, bright eyes, and soft lips.
Photo Courtesy of Evoke Photography
Which wedding trend are you tired of seeing? The vintage thing. Red lips are pretty, but they tend to be hard to maintain. Especially during, “You may kiss the bride”.
Is there a trend that you are glad is gone? In the words of a hairstylist friend of mine, “Deep fried updo’s” Crunchy curls pinned up prom style.
Pictures courtesy of Google.com
Which trend are you sad to see leave the scene? A lot of brides are letting go of false lashes, which breaks my heart. I think even the most natural pair just give such an “umph!” and everyone looks good in them.
What are your favorite wedding websites? I'm really jamming on custom made hair pieces. They are a fun way to add some pizzaz to your wedding ensemble. Anything by Jessica Frame (HeadlineofFluffandFringe.com)
Custom headpieces by Jessica Frame. Pictures courtesy of Chris & Adrienne Scott
Etsy has some great stuff too, such as Bridal Couture - etsy.com/shop/bridalcouture or Tallulah Opal (etsy.com/shop/TallulahOpal)
What advice would you give to brides on the wedding planning process in general? “It’s just not that serious." This tends to be my advice for life in general. Some brides spend all their time fretting over the perfect shade of green, or the precise amount of flowers in their bouquet, or the height of their bridesmaid’s shoes. They lose sight of the reason for this celebration in the first place…. You are getting married! When you find wedding planning becoming overwhelming, keep in mind that the number one priority is starting your marriage together.
What is the biggest misconception about your industry? “I can do my own makeup.” This is HORRIBLE! You might do a great job on your makeup for work and hanging out with friends. But makeup for camera is a whole other beast. It takes special products and techniques to look good in professional pictures. It makes a world of difference in the end result of those images.
At Ashley’s Bride Guide, we’re always on the lookout for innovative and exciting wedding ideas.
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