Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Tueday, September 29, 2009
Tonight, I am speaking at Wedding 101 and sharing inside secrets that will keep you sane and help you hire the best wedding vendors! If you are free tonight, be sure to register and come out as I spill the beans! Also, there will be great wedding vendors showcased and you'll get to chat with them one-on-one. Today, I am happy to share my interview with Hillary of Your Day of Fairy Tales. She is 100% focused on serving budget brides and loves finding great vendors / fab finds for less! In fact, she is planning her own wedding on a tight budget so she can totally relate to real conversations about money (or the lack thereof):). She sees smaller budgets as wonderful challenges versus liabilities. She's here to rescue the recessionista bride! Spotlight on Your Day of Fairy Tales Hillary Capes, Nashville Wedding & Event Planner http://www.YourDayOfFairyTales.com How did you get started in weddings? I have been around weddings my whole life. My mom is a florist, my grandma is a cake decorator and my dad was a wedding photographer in Illinois. I started my company in June 2008 with a year of college left to go. My degree is in Event Planning from MTSU and I love what I do! I wouldn't change it for anything!
What do you like most about weddings? I love planning special events and being detail oriented. Most women have dreamed of their wedding day since they were little and being able to help them plan their fairy tale day and make that dream a reality is what it is all about.
What's your favorite wedding pic/video and why?
(Photo Courtesy of Mary Davidson Photography)
I love this photo because of the simplicity of the event. This bride was not one who wanted frills and lace, but very simple. I love how using candles and lighting and a few florals completely transformed this church! What is your service philosophy? My service philosophy is that every bride should be able to have a wedding planner for their day no matter their budget. Events become stressful and that is where I come in. No bride should have to be under stress during these fun times in their lives. What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you? It takes a lot to plan a wedding. I can easily handle any given task and am super flexible. I am not going to tell you something can be done if it can't with the budget or resources you have. I believe in honesty and integrity and that is what my business was founded on.
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors' helpfulness, professionalism, style? 1) Alison at Classic Party Rental - She is my savior on Auto Cad! She can make any space work for any number of people! 2) Amber with Lotus Blossom Photography - We haven't had the opportunity to work together on a wedding yet, but she is super creative and love reading her blog! 3) Blair from Nashville Party Authority - I have worked with Blair and NPA for many years even before I started wedding planning and they never seize to amaze me! They put on one party! 4) Mark and Noelle from McCoy Made - I just met these two and they are such good people and so talented! My Fiance and I actually are booking them for our wedding next July! 5) Bride's Boutique in Clarksville - Carly and Edith are super talented and are very upfront and honest with you! If a dress does not look good on you, they will tell you when they see it and don't push things on you, such as a more expensive dress! What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends? I read the Martha Stewart Weddings Blog as well as the DIY Bride Blog. Southern Weddings Magazine is another favorite of mine! Let's discuss current wedding trends. What trend do you love? I love that outdoor/country themed weddings are so hot right now. With the green movement and natural, it makes for a really gorgeous wedding. I also love the unique catering ideas that brides and their caterers are coming up with!
What trend do you hate? Gobos with your name on the dance floor! They are nice, but they are starting to be over done! Oh no! I was gonna say - I love gobo monograms on walls. Ok - now, which past trends that you are glad are gone? Matching bridesmaids dresses! I love it when a bride has her maids where different styles of the same color dress!
(photo from weddzilla)
Trend you're sad is gone? Unique wedding bouquets not just in round shapes! Brides see these pictures in magazines of hand tied bouquets, and I wish that they would go back to having varying shapes such as crescents and cascades! What are your favorite wedding websites? / Neatest wedding find? I am IN LOVE with weddingbee.com and projectwedding.com. They both have so many inspirational pictures and great DIY Tips. Advice for brides? Have fun and don't get so stressed that you want to call off the wedding. If you get to that point, call in a wedding planner and let them help! It is okay to ask for help! Remember it's just one day that leads to the many other years of a marriage!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Resources
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Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 Kristin of Simply Stunning Events is back to give us an update on her wedding! Be sure to check out her last post on selecting wedding colors to get a great insider's perspective.
Guest Post: Kristin of Simply Stunning Events is a Nashville, TN-based wedding and event planner who is currently engaged. It truly hit me this week that my wedding is a little over a month away! And there's still so much to share about the planning process! Many months ago I made a trip down to Murfreesboro to visit one of my favorite cake bakers, Jay with Maples Wedding Cakes! He has a beautiful showroom and I highly recommend making the drive to see it. Being able to view actual cake displays makes it much easier to make decisions about the size, shape, and decorative elements.
For myself, choosing a cake baker was definitely a tough decision because I know and love so many here in Nashville but when I really thought hard about it, I just couldn't resist Maples' sour cream and almond cake flavor and knew we had to have it for our wedding. When I met with Jay, I still tasted a variety of delicious flavors so that we could pick a second flavor for our guests to choose from. He had vanilla, chocolate, sour cream almond (of course), strawberry, lemon, and orange dreamsicle (another Maples favorite!) for me to try.
We also discussed the design of the cake and I immediately fell in love with one of his displays. We will be doing a square variation of this gorgeous four-tiered cake. I loved that it was simple and elegant but had the wow factor with the stunning broaches.
There are a few tips to remember when deciding on a wedding cake. First, be sure you have enough cake for everyone, don't skimp on servings to save money. It's always better to have a little extra left over than not enough. Be sure the cake baker is licensed and insured and has a commercial facility that has been inspected by the state health inspector. Ask whether they rent cake stands. Some shops do and some don't but there is almost always an extra cost to rent one. They don't just come with the cake so if you'd like to have a cake stand make sure to discuss it. Happy tasting!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Cakes & Catering, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
I always look forward to seeing Weddings With Reese (WWR) wedding because I always hear good things from her brides about her strong execution skills. In fact, she just announced that she is giving away free day of wedding coordination via her blog. If you haven't hired help for your wedding, you need help so this might be your shot! Today, I am glad that she is sharing a Shelby Street Bridge wedding - which many of you are interested in. So, I hope you enjoy!
Guest Post: Weddings With Reese is a Nashville-based, wedding planner.
This wedding was very close to my heart, as Christa is my best friend! So not only was I her wedding planner (of course), I was also her matron of honor. And it was an honor, for sure. Christa is a very chic city girl, and this wedding needed to reflect that. Everything we did was to reflect the true Nashville feel.
From the local musician we tracked down to play acoustic guitar for the ceremony, to the constant amazing views of the skyline, I think we hit it right on. The ceremony on the Shelby Street Walking Bridge was the perfect setting, with the perfect weather, for the vows. As a venue you can use for your entire wedding if you so desire, I think this is sort of a hidden gem. The Titans Stadium Club provided an amazing view of the city, and the perfect place for Christa and Michaels' 200+ guests.
The most beautiful bride!
Who is this guy!?? It was funny though!
That's what happens when you get married on the same day as Beer Fest!
The light was perfect and Chris and Adrienne captured it perfectly.
Gorgeous!
Yum!!! Thanks Mignon!!!
Oh so sweet!
Wedding Coordination - Weddings With Reese Photography - Chris and Adrienne Scott Cupcakes - The Cupcake Collection Hair and Makeup - Amy Lynn Larwig Flowers - Caprice of The Enchanted Florist Catering - Centerplate Catering I cannot say enough to all of the vendors. Everything was flawless, and though I was in the wedding, and felt like I needed to "work", I didn't even have to!! Thank you all! Obviously all of our vendors were AMAZING! I wouldn't have picked them if they weren't!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Real Nashville Weddings, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Resources
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Wednesday, August 11, 2009 If you haven't already, please take a moment to answer 6 quick questions. Click here to take my bride survey. Today, I am spotlighting Mary Alice of A Delightful Day (ADD). We started our wedding businesses around the same time, so I feel like we've grown up together in this industry. I am so proud of the success they have achieved and always look forward to their fanciful weddings which are always spectacular. All of the images below are images from real ADD weddings. While they are all unique, they have one thing in common - they're all delightful. Spotlight on A Delightful Day Mary Alice, Nashville Wedding & Event Planner http://www.ADelightfulDay.com 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.
What do you like most about weddings? I love all of the excitement of the planning 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. What's your favorite wedding pic/video and why? Why? I love getting a picture with the bride and groom because they are after all why we are in the business that we're in and we develop a relationship and connection with them. 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. Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors? 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. Phindy Studios is my new favorite photography team for not only their kindhearted natures, but their artistic talent.
Who do you recommend when you're not available/not a fit? Kristen with Simply Stunning Events is fabulous planner that I have been able to get to know and truly trust that she will do a fabulous job when we're not available or not a fit. What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends? I am a big blog follower. Some of my favorites include; Green Wedding Shoes, 100 Layer Cake, Once Wed, Southern Weddings... and so many more. I also love when I get my Martha Stewart Weddings in the mail! Let's discuss current wedding trends - Which trend do you love? I love using candles... they can truly light up a room, create a romantic space, and they are less expensive than tons of flowers.
Which trend do you hate? Hum.. this takes some thought. I would have to say feeling like you have to follow more of a "tradition" of the garter and bouquet toss... create a tradition all your own. Which trend are you glad is gone? Moving past chinese lanterns.. Love the look, but I think they've been overused. Trend I'm sad is gone? Hum... another stumper... I would say creating a matchy/matchy environment. More and more are going eclectic, and I do like this look completely, but I'm a symmetrical person and even elements sometimes bother me. What are your favorite wedding websites? Neatest wedding find? http://www.oncewed.com and their fabulous DIY section! Parting advice for brides? Invest in a wedding planner, whether for your complete process, assistance in certain areas, or even for "Month of", because being able to enjoy the incredible process and be a guest at your own wedding, enjoying with family and friends, rather than stressing about the little things is priceless. Invest in your sanity!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Resources
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Friday, July 31, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
A few weeks ago, ABG hosted a night out for engaged brides at Aloft hotel and we had a blast!
Special thanks to the planning team: Here are the vendors who helped make the event possible: Bride invitations/planning/hosting- Sarah Elizabeth (ABG bride) Floral design - Brocade Design Arts Event director - Simply Stunning Events Catering - Down South Delights Venue - Aloft Hotel The event - all photos courtesy of Donald Yeager Photography Brides chatted, mingling, asked lots of questions of one another and the vendor speakers. Thankfully, Sarah (Planning with Sarah Elizabeth) and Kristin (Simply Stunning) were my co-hosts for the night because I was at the Toast of Music City awards program. They greeted brides in the Aloft and directed them to the courtyard for mingling and cocktails.
bride discussing florals with Brocade
Kristin of Aloft spoke about party packages. You can download the packages here for bachelorette parties, bachelor parties and bridal showers. Aloft then offered specialty cocktails - apple and blueberry. My favorite was the apple.
We then proceeded to the private room where Aloft had the cutest gift bags for brides. The bags included Sophia wine, lotion, pens, etc.
perfect room for bridal shower, small parties
event florals by Brocade
delicious shrimp!
Down South Delights catering was setup and Down South Delights offered a medley of food. I like simple food - my palette is very kid-like, unsophisticated, I'll admit that. So, I gravitated to the shrimp cocktail and the dessert. Shrimp - yummy! Vanilla bean cupcakes - tasty! Lemon pudding - OMG!! I had like 6 of them - I kid you not.
very pretty
but, this was my favorite - lemon smoothie pudding
Rita of Down South Delights gave tips on catering and shared trends. The main takeaway - don't be bogged down by rules. If you want to have dinner at 3pm - go for it.
Budget Savvy Bride
Next up - Jessica of Budget Savvy Bride. She shared some of what she learned while planning her wedding and many DIY ideas. Brides asked questions and we all discussed money saving tips. One thing that stood out was the fact that it rained on her wedding day and luckily, she had a great team that had a plan b and c. Her team, including a day of coordinator, took care of everything without letting her know anything. Lastly, Kristin of Simply Stunning shared wedding planning advice. She discussed ways to handle a difficult father in law who is footing the bill, makeup artist/hair/beauty recommendations, and her own wedding planning. We wrapped up the event with more mingling. I found out that a lot of the brides are blogging.
Sarah, Cat, me, Chelsea, Jessica
Here's a pic of most of the bloggers - we're a fabulously cheesy bunch! Check out their blogs.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Cakes & Catering, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Resources
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