Monday, March 5, 2012
The precious title for her business, Simply Yours Weddings, doesn’t even begin to cover the sweet spirit of Emily Humphries, a local Nashville wedding planner who discovered her heart for brides when she realized that oftentimes, their exhaustion hinders them from enjoying their wedding planning. This truth was especially captured when Emily began to sew her own wedding together. She set out to fill a need, granting brides with what she describes as the “gift of time to live your life and enjoy your engagement, and the gift of freedom for you and your family to enjoy your Big Day!”
Merely five minutes of speaking with Emily conveys her deeply-rooted love for what she does, promising beauty for any bride’s wedding day. I spoke with Emily specifically in regards to the ever so popular Do-It-Yourself aka “DIY Bride.” In light of blogs, Etsy, and Pinterest, DIY options are exploding! But does that mean that DIY brides don’t need a wedding planner? Emily offers some wise responses pertaining to this subject, which ultimately reminds the DIY bride just how valuable a planner can be.
Image courtesy of Zach Goodyear Photography
ABG: Do you have experience working with DIY brides?
Simply Yours: Yes, I do! The description of a total DIY bride is a bride who does everything herself, and while not all brides sell out to this description, most brides want to do something themselves, granting every bride a little dash of DIY. Sara Towne, who also writes for ABG, is a good example of a bride in the middle. Sara carefully selected a handful of projects to create, while still avoiding the stress of conquering every detail that goes into a wedding. The question isn’t, ‘Are you capable of doing this [DIY wedding]?’ You’re capable. You’re creative. You’re artistic. The question is, ‘Are you going to want to spend the week of your wedding doing this? Do you have time for everything?'
Image courtesy of Betsy Limbaugh Photography.
ABG: Why do you think brides are attracted to DIY weddings? Is it to save money? To add a personal touch, perhaps?
Simply Yours: The attraction is likely a combination of both. The DIY trend has been growing for several years but the main stream availability of DIY materials has really come about during these hard economic times. Therefore there is often an illusion that DIY is always the less expensive option which may or may not be true. When I was married 4 1/2 years ago, there was not a lot available for DIY projects or even ideas for projects. There was really one major wedding planning website and a lot of magazines. But now with a combination of social media, Etsy, and Pinterest the trend itself and the influx of ideas has multiplied tremendously. Brides now start conversations with "Well I saw this idea on Pinterest..." and that dictates the amount of projects or ideas they have going for their wedding. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it sure can multiply your to-do lists in a hurry!
Left image courtesy of Scoobie Schneider Photography; Right image courtesy of Daniel Meigs Photography.
ABG: In your experience, do DIY brides lean toward not hiring a wedding planner? Do they usually assume they can take care of everything?
Simply Yours: Viewing the wedding planner as unnecessary is a thought for a lot of Brides. I understand it, I started out as one of those Brides myself. A lot of the time, she sends me an email explaining her desired projects, while admitting she has finally come to a point where she does not have time to do all of them herself. OR she needs further direction on how to make the things she really wants come into fruition. Essentially, all brides think that they can do more, but emotional stability—family—time—all of these things weigh heavily on weddings. Feeling the weight of it all isn’t indicative of a bride’s talent or creative ability. It just reveals that our emotional capacity eventually reaches its end. We don’t realize how draining it will be until we’re in the middle of it.
Image courtesy of Betsy Limbaugh Photography.
ABG: What types of projects make the most sense for the DIY bride?
Simply Yours: Fun, personal quirks that polish off a wedding, such as guestbook elements, guest favors, pictures, signs, welcome baskets—things that don't require a lot of time, but weave the couples’ personality into the mix. I like to encourage brides to choose DIY projects that will not make or break their weddings.
Image courtesy of Scoobie Schneider Photography.
Images courtesy of Simply Yours Weddings.
ABG: How can a planner best help a DIY bride?
Simply Yours: Orchestrating an endless craft list along with managing a normal life and preparing a solid foundation for a marriage is simply too much. Eventually something has to give. The wedding planner is the give. She’s the support, let her finish it. She has the time and the resources to bring DIY ideas into fruition. She’s the one who understands what tends to fall through the cracks in weddings, and catches them before they do! She’s a master for details, who reminds the bride to be a bride, the mom to be a mom, and the best friend to be a best friend, all the while stepping up herself to complete a bride’s DIY fancies. You can trust her.
Image courtesy of Ulmer Studios Photography.
When projects seem endless, we oftentimes come to resent our creativity! Emily prizes your creativity, and on behalf of wedding planners, wants to implement your imaginative treasures into your special day! To learn more about how Emily can help you plan the day you've always dreamed of, visit her website today!
To get more sage advice from Emily and our host of experts, register today to attend our wedding planning boot camp, The Smart Bride, which starts March 13.
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Posted by Betsy-Intern |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Monday, February 27, 2012
Whether your guests are from out of town or local, you want them all to feel equally welcome and ready to have a great time at your wedding. How do you achieve that goal? Trust us, a well executed wedding takes a pro.
Kristin Kaplan, a professional wedding planner and owner of Simply Stunning Events, puts her couples at ease by guiding them through their planning process and wedding day. Today, she shares advice that will help you think through the finer details of your wedding, so it's enjoyable for all involved.
From Kristin, owner of Simply Stunning Events...
Your wedding is a life changing and important event, but it is also a beautiful day of celebration for your family and friends. You might hear “It’s your day,…do whatever you want…it’s all about you” but I personally feel that’s not the way to go about planning your wedding. One of the most amazing aspects of the day is that it is the ONE time when all of the most important people in your lives from the past and present, all come together to honor and support you as a couple. And these days, weddings are hardly home-town affairs anymore. Many, if not all, of your guests might be traveling from out-of-town, which is even more of a reason to keep them in mind as you plan your day. Therefore, I’ve put together some wedding day topics in which it’s important to really consider your guests so that they will be as comfortable as possible and have a great time!
ABG Notes: Make the smiles on their faces last for the whole night. (Picture by Gray Photography)
The Venue, Travel, & Lodging
In choosing when and where to hold your wedding, it’s important to pick a date and location that won’t make it incredibly difficult for your guests to attend. While long weekends are popular, air travel and hotel rooms can be more expensive, and people may not want to give up their holiday weekend to travel far for a wedding. However, some pros for holiday weekends are that guests may have more time to spend for the wedding events since they already have an extra day or two off - the same goes for Friday or Sunday weddings. Many venues offer discounts to reserve days other than Saturdays but in choosing those days, your guests may have to take extra time off of work to attend. If most of your guests are local, a Sunday wedding is a great alternative.
Regardless of when you choose to have your wedding, if there will be guests traveling from out of town so be sure to reserve a block of hotel rooms, preferably at two different hotels that are each in a different budget range, and assist your guests by giving lots of information about area attractions, transportation (rental cars and taxis), and great places to eat while they are in town.
When considering whether to choose a wedding venue downtown, be aware that parking is often expensive and hard to find in the evenings (especially if there is a big concert, football or hockey game going on), and there may be a lot of noise and partying happening around the venue. Downtown venues are great if most of your guests will be staying in a hotel nearby anyway but if not, consider renting a shuttle to assist in getting them where they need to be, and so as to avoid parking costs.
ABG Notes: Include information on local attractions with your invitation or through your wedding website. (Picture by McCoy Made)
The Food & Drink
The concept of the wedding reception has always been centered around a celebratory meal, typically dinner. In the past, a seated or buffet dinner was always the norm, however lately, couples have become more interested in food stations or cocktail-style receptions. I personally love this trend, when done the right way and for the right reasons.
If you are choosing to host a cocktails only or light hors d’oeuvre style reception in order to serve less food and save money, please keep some key points in mind. First if the reception is happening at a mealtime, you need to serve a meal (and a filling one). The same goes for if you are having a 4-5 hour reception. It is in poor taste to expect guests to celebrate all night long and not feed them an actual meal just so you can save some money. Consider other ways to cut costs such as inviting fewer guests (always the simplest way to reduce your budget!).
When is it ok to serve a light meal?
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If you have a morning or early afternoon reception (a great option for those looking to keep costs down for both the food and bar).
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If you are having a shorter reception that begins late in the evening (for example you are having an 8 PM ceremony, followed by a 2 hour reception from 8:30 – 10:30 PM). In those cases you wouldn’t be expected to serve a large meal.
There has also been a huge increase in recent years of dietary restrictions and deciding on your menu can get a little tricky. Your guests may have allergies to certain foods or choose to be vegetarians or be gluten-free. My thoughts on this are that it’s nice to be as accommodating as you can to these guests, however you are never going to please everyone. Serve the food that you love as a couple but offer one or two options that those with dietary restrictions may be able to enjoy (such as one vegetable entrée and appetizer). Most people with dietary restrictions know they won’t be able to eat much and will usually eat before arriving.
When deciding what type of beverages to serve, there are a few different options and considerations. First, cash bars are a NO-NO! Please, don’t even think about it. Either host the bar, or don’t serve alcohol at all. You would never host a party at your home and expect your guests to pay for their own drinks, so absolutely do not do it at a wedding. You can either serve a full bar (which includes a variety of liquor and mixed drinks) or beer and wine only (which is perfectly acceptable and another great way to keep costs down).
ABG Notes: Let them know what's in store for the evening. (Picture by McLellan Style)
The Gratitude
Lastly, when all is said-and-done, you’re married, you’ve had a fantastic reception and honeymoon, and you are settling into your new life as husband and wife, it’s now time to THANK YOUR GUESTS. Send custom, hand-written thank you notes within 2 months of the wedding date to thank them for the wedding gift and let them know how much you appreciate them for supporting and loving you on such a special day.
Kristin Kaplan and Simply Stunning Events is a wedding planning company. For more information visit them at SimplyStunningNashville.com.
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Posted by Simply Stunning Events |
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Thursday, January 26, 2012
If you are a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) bride, you probably come from one of two camps - either you are the next Martha Stewart and craft like no other and want to ensure your wedding has your personal stamp all over it OR you have a limited budget. Either way - you're smart enough to know you will need a wedding planner in some capacity, especially when it comes to insight on your budget and wedding day-of timeline.
The truth is, some wedding planners are wiling to help DIY brides, others aren't. Regalo Design is one of wedding planning company that is wiling to help the DIY bride. They have years of experience with DIY brides and have added an affordable new service just for you...
...Introducing the Regalo DIY bride consultation package!
When Damon and Sarah Goude of Regalo Design got married, Damon told us that Sarah was the one who planned and did everything right down to the last detail - "It can be done but even so there were still things she looked at and said, 'I wish we did this or that differently.'" To avoid that inevitable moment of hindsight, Regalo Design created a $150 consultation package together for you so you don't spend that day worrying and you can execute with ease. What does the package offer the DIY bride?
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Left: the Regalo studio; Right: Damon and Sarah
Vendor Recommendations
Regalo Design will, without bias or commission, recommend vendors for every detail you need and will put together a checklist specifically for your wedding that they then will email to you to keep. Regalo Design is a very do-it-yourself driven company that designs and creates unique decor for their brides so they will know the best places you can go to find the materials you'll need.
A Custom Checklist
When you meet with Damon and Sarah, they will go through your ideas for your wedding day with you and help fill in any blanks where necessary. "Sometimes couples don't realize how much actually goes into a wedding, that there are details that often go overlooked. This makes sure you are covering your bases."
After that personalized checklist is finalized and the notes are taken, Regalo sends it all to you to keep and use. We asked if there was anything to bring to the meeting and Damon said, "bring pictures, flower ideas, decor ideas, a schedule if you have one ready and we can make improvements to it if necessary."
Expert Answers
Maybe you want to create your own centerpieces and have certain looks or flowers in mind but have no idea where to start or what to budget. Or you have some guest list questions or etiquette questions for which you can't find answers. Regalo will answer those questions and honestly advise you so you tackle your DIY wedding with confidence.
Images: Ace Photography
Very rarely will you have access to this information without full-on hiring a planner so definitely take advantage of this wonderful offer from Regalo Design. "We just want to make sure you have it all planned out and you’re taking mental snapshots of the wedding on the day itself and not making a list of what you wish you could have done differently." Book your consultation with them today, whether you're at the start of your planning process or deep in the midst of it already. Click here for the registration form and be sure to let them know that you're an ABG bride!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Friday, December 23, 2011
We are ending the week with our overall favorite Nashville Real Weddings from 2011. While this is not an easy task, the weddings below are stunning, unique, and overall flawless.
1) eHarmony Love: Kate + Justin's Zoo-Inspired Wedding
Married: May 28, 2011
The two met on eHarmony and fell in love. Then, giraffe keeper Kate married Justin at Scarritt Bennett with a Houston Station reception. The whole day was zoo-inspired with vintage touches; from a giraffe topper to venue's exposed brick. See more of this wedding here.
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Planner: Austin Floyd with Last Minute Planners; Venue: Scarritt Bennett & Houston Station; Photos: Krista Lee Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG
2) Miranda and Grant's Ecletic Garden Wedding
Married: May 14, 2011
I am a big fan of intimate weddings. I think it takes a lot of guts to slash that wedding guest list in half and focus on what the two of you really want. Not only did Miranda and Grant keep it intimate, they were not afraid to mix gutsy flair with traditional details. You can see their personalities throughout their ceremony and reception and you can tell that they had FUN! CJs off the Square is always a great backdrop for an outdoor Tennessee wedding and Ace Photography captured the essence of their day splendidly. See the full wedding feature here.
Planner + Venue: CJ's Off the Square; Photos: Ace Photography; Loved by Ashley of ABG
3) Bethany + Jay's Franklin Wedding
Married: June 2011
The stunning bouquets and flowers throughout are enough to take your breath away, but then you see the ruffled wedding cake that favors the bride's ruffled dress... Oh my! The details are astounding. For all of the University of Tennessee fans, make sure to check out more photos on Evin's blog - including one of the groom's cake (a replica of Neyland stadium!).
Monogrammed Decor: Bella Grace by Bethany (the bride)
Venues: Brentwood Baptist Chapel + The Factory's Bldg 8; Photos: Evin Photography
4) Liesl + Dean's Intimate, Tuscan-Style Wedding
Married: October 20, 2011
This beautiful couple, shot by Kristyn Hogan, hail from South Africa and Australia. The two met in Florida on a yacht and were together for three years before tying the knot in an ode to the time they spent together in Tuscany. Between their story and their elopement on Mooncake Lake, I was enchanted and hope you are too. Read Kristyn's blog for more info and photos.
Planner + Venue: Historic Cedarwood (along with Jessica Sloane); Photos: Kristyn Hogan; Loved by: Meg of ABG
5) Corely + Jake Combine Two Families at their Opryland Hotel Wedding
Married: June 2011
A wedding in the Crystal Gazebo, celebration in the Magnolia Ballroom - with names like that and the added peacock theme, it's bound to be stunning! And the smiles on the bride and groom, as well as those of their sons, proves that this was a happy union. See Joe's blog for more from this happy day.
Planner: A Magical Affair; Coordinator & Venue: Gaylord Opryland Hotel; Photos: Joe Hendricks Photography
6) Jamie + Andy's Downtown, DIY Wedding
Married: April 30, 2011
Jamie impressed us earlier this year when we first shared her wedding, and we just can't get over it! All of the decor she did herself with the help of family and friends. Her amazing husband even DJed part of their reception. The whole day was an impressive success and in the end, they had a great wedding, but these two are more focused on the long term - having a wonderful marriage!
Venue: The Hope Center & The Anchor Fellowship; Photos: Pear Image Photography; Loved by: Sara of ABG
7) Cannery Ballroom Transformed for Julie + Nicholas' Elegant Summer Evening
Married: July 10, 2011
A simple , though lovely, ceremony at Scarritt Bennett would hardly have prepared these guests for the amazing site they would see at the Julie and Nick's reception. The Cannery Ballroom was transformed (in fact, you can watch the transformation on Dove's blog). Intricate details made the room jaw-dropping: crystal and wrought-iron chandeliers, flowers hanging over and overflowing on tables, monogrammed boxes, custom pieces, and even a suspended cake by Jay Qualls.
Planner: Elegant Weddings by Angela; Venues: Cannery Ballroom; Photos: Dove Wedding Photography
8) Sean + Thalia's Greek Orthodox Wedding
Married: July 2011
Greek Orthodox weddings are a true example of devotion and faith. During the ceremony, the bride and groom do not say a word to each other (no vows) as their presence alone is enough to state their devotion to one another. You've got to see the beauty in that! Following tradition, Sean and Thalia's reception was full of dancing, breaking of bread, and there was lots of style with the lovely draping. There was even a bit of teasing - see the blog photos for a shot of the groom with a bottle of Windex ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding").
Venues: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church + Durego; Photos: Joe Hendricks Photography
9) An Australian Marries an American at Kings Chapel: Suz + Philip
Married: October 2011
These two could be models, they are to lovely together! The ceremony took place at the intimate Kings Chapel and the decor was designed by Suz, who chose a vintage theme. Guests traveling from as far as Australia would not be disappointed as the reception hosted an espresso bar from Beve Coffee and chocolate covered marshmallows. See more of the design, treats, and venue on Evin's blog.
Venue: King's Chapel; Photos: Evin Photography
10) Great Gatsby-Themed Wedding: Liz + Jamie
Married: May 21, 2011
Liz and Jamie were married at Cedarwood's unique and amazing outdoor cathedral, with a reception reminiscent of The Great Gatsby. As Cedarwood puts it, moving to the reception, "guests were transported into a wonderland of high stepping vintage style." But words alone cannot do this wedding justice, instead see the full feature on Cedarwood's blog in Part 1 and Part 2, or watch the short video below.
Planner + Venue: Historic Cedarwood; Photos: Dove Wedding Photography
Nashville Wedding Video :: Liz + Jamie from Catchlight Cinema
Really and truly, these weddings are just a few of the highlights from this year. There have been so many great weddings of impressive scale with wonderful vendors; weddings that will be talked of for years to come, but we have one blog post and we must limit the amount shared!! But check out more great Real Weddings that we have featured this year and post your favorites to our comments or our Facebook page. We love being impressed by creative brides and planners!
So here is to a great year of weddings in 2011! We are so looking forward to what 2012 will hold!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Cakes & Food, Photography, Real Nashville Weddings, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Venues and Locations
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Tuesday, December 20, 2011
As we continue our trek back through Nashville's 2011 weddings, we bring you the favorite designs and decor as submitted by the Ashley's Bride Guide staff and participating members of the Nashville bridal community. The only thing we regret is that we could only choose a few! Enjoy the ones we have the space to share.
1) Movie Theme at Carnton Plantation
A large percentage of the weddings we see here in Nashville have a Southern twist to them. It's definitely fun to see weddings, like this one from A Delightful Day/StudioWed, in which the couple puts personal touches to their Southern venue with a movie theme! As Kelly Stack says, "I loved the quirky quality of her details, the fabulous ribbon-bedecked biscuit bar and cake buffet, the open-air layout of her Carnton Plantation reception, the long rectangular tables and fruitwood folding chairs, the fabulous mix-and-match florals in vases by Brocade Design Arts, and the Southern cooking by A Dream Come True was heavenly."
Planner: A Delightful Day Event Planning; Photos: The Collection, Erin Lee; Loved by: StudioWed
2) Mason Jar Love
I love, love mixing antique china plates and mason jars, especially for an outdoor wedding; so of course, I had to choose this one! The bride and groom actually own a decor business, which created easy access to vintage decorations, and according to Cali, they toasted each other with Mason Jar wine glasses!
Decor: Not Too Shabby Designs; Photos: Cali Ashton Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG
3) Creative Fall Colors
ABG Blogger Sara loves all of these fall color options, especially those that vary from the typical red/brown/orange palate. More on the inspiration here.
Fall Inspiration: Historic Cedarwood; Photos: Rachel Moore Photography; Loved by: Sara of ABG
4) Eclectic Circus Theme
My first thought when I saw this wedding, it's cooky - in a good, fun way! Marathon Village is love for many indie, eclectic brides and this one takes the cake. From the ring bearers coming down the aisle in a circus wagon, to the elephant centerpieces, cotton candy, balloons, even the cake looked like a three ring circus! The overall theme was well displayed, but in no way tacky.
DIY Design by Bride & Family; Photos: Photography by Susie; Loved by: Meg of ABG
5) Eco-Friendly Options
Sara said that she really likes "the idea of such amazing decorations being eco-friendly since a lot of decorations for a wedding are just tossed at the end of the day." We all agree, which is why we love the green posts by Ashley of iHospitality. More eco-friendly decor options from the extensive decor inventory at Cedarwood.
Decor: Historic Cedarwood; Photo: Dove Wedding Photography; Loved by: Sara of ABG
6) Destination - Island of Ocean Blues
As a nod to our brides that marry elsewhere but take Nashville vendors with them, here is a beach side wedding that Kelly with StudioWed sent over. "Mary Alice & Leigh RAVED about this gorgeous wedding for months after it happened! The two of them flew to Fishers Island in New York (a "beautiful relic of a bygone era!") for this gorgeous summer wedding." -Kelly
Planner: A Delightful Day Event Planning; Photos: McLellan Style; Loved by: StudioWed
7) Victorian Elegance
I am always impressed or intrigued by photos from Ace Photography, which is why I constantly follow their blog. This elegance of this wedding in a Victorian home really is stunning.
Venue: Top O' Woodland; Photos: Ace Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG
8) Parisian Style
Sara loved this post because it displays all of the different options that brides have when they wed at Cedarwood. We all love this shoot that Kristyn did of French tablescapes - so romantic!
Inspiration Shoot: Historic Cedarwood; Photo: Kristyn Hogan; Loved by: Sara of ABG & Team
9) Backyard Wedding
When you hear "Backyard Wedding" it usually brings to mind a simple affair, perhaps thrown together at the last minute, but this is anything but that image. Doug and Lea actually built the pavilion below just for their wedding. It was an intimate wedding in regards to who they invited - only those with whom they had lasting friendships. The moment I saw the wedding, I fell in love and had to share! (Be sure to check out Joe Hendricks' blog to see more photos - including their rose pinata!)
Planner: Weddings by Mary Natalie; Photos: Joe Hendricks Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG
10) A Wedding for All Seasons
This summer, the folks at Main Event Productions assembled a dream team of wedding pros for the open house of their new venue, Legacy Farms. The result was pure deliciousness and bridal eye candy! To demonstrate the diversity of the venue and its many options for the Tennessee bride, the design and decor pros styled each area with a different seasonal theme. You can view all of the images via Ace Photography's blog in a Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 series. However, below are Ashley's favorite's from the inspirational shoot. The beauty of such a wonderful inspiration being created in greater Nashville is that you can actually hire this dream team to recreate a similar look for you vs. coveting them from afar!
Inspiration Shoot - Venue: Legacy Farms; Floral Design + Event Styling: Enchanted Florist + Events Plus; Photos: Ace Photography; Loved by: Ashley of ABG
Share your favorite wedding design and decor from 2011 with us, either as a comment below or on our Facebook page. Keep watching for more of our favorites!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Details, Design & Florals, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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