Thursday, July 16, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
(Today's blog is a continuation of a blog post from yesterday. Click here to see Part 1 of this Hollywood Hot Pink, Nashville Wedding.) Today's Guest Blogger: Dawn Schenkel, President of Premier W.E.D., a Nashville Wedding & Event Planning Company
FEATHERS! - Such an important part of the entire design, Laura's invitations were designed by the fabulous Southall Eden Paperie, Shannon O'Kelley. Shannon accomplished the Broadway feel that Laura requested and she added a feather with a pink jewel and gunmetal wrap to the outside to pull all the elements together. (Even more detail,we chose a square jewel for the invitations because Laura's engagement ring had a square setting.)I found beautiful feather arrangements through a company I use for wholesale event decor. Premier W.E.D. staff spent many hours assembling the 15 white ostrich feathers for over the top dinner table arrangements.
FLOWERS! A Village of Flowers, Dora Bowling-lead designer for this wedding, met with us to create that lush, hot pink feel that Laura loved. I think VOF used over 4 cases of carnations to create the square bases that I designed for the feather arrangements to sit atop. It was something that I felt was necessary to bring them up to a comfortable height for the seated guests, but it brought the element of pink fluff that Laura loved. At the ceremony, I talked Laura into doing lacquered branches that were HOT PINK. Of course matching her linens and her custom painted bar. VOF created two 7ft tall arrangements for either side of the foyer of the Woodmont Christian Church adorned with prisms and tufts of hot pink peonies. Davis Lighting Design-Jason Davis added the wireless LED lights into the base of the branches so that I could get the glowing effect from my design.
I commissioned artist Ellen Summers to create the NY skyline that I had painted & hung behind the buffet.
Last, but NOT least, I couldn't have captured the before and after with out the help of one of my favorite photographers KEONI KEUR of KeoniK Photography. He flew to NY to shoot Laura for her bridal portraits. I had asked that while he was there that he shoot classic shots of the city (taxis, etc.) in black and white so that I could blow them up and use them as art with in the event space. Those shots were my absolute FAVORITE! The wedding day pictures were amazing as always but limited by light and time with my sweet client being over an hour late to the church. (Hey, can't judge, no one wants to be rushed on their wedding day and yet somehow they always are!) Even still, Keoni managed to take some really edgy and yet refined shots of the couple. He was able to capture the classic side of Jason and the urban side of Laura.
Event Challenges Set up time..to turn One Eleven into the Old Hollywood/NY glam space that I had designed and Laura had dreamed of was a battle against the clock. One Eleven required my staff and vendors to leave the premises the night before by 5pm and that was limiting. However, it is rare to find a venue that will allow you time at all the day before with out a hefty fee. Of course both days of set ups a key vendor was late and that was a crucial factor in the other vendor's schedules.
Wind! The evening of the wedding was a perfect night except for the winds that blew across the oberservation deck where several of the feather arrangements not to mention candles were toppling over. Tye with A Village of Flowers worked diligently on securing the arrangements to the tables with no luck. A last minute change was necessary to the overall design and drapes with in the space had to be readjusted. Mother Nature, Music, The entertainment agency for the band had burned a disc of the important songs (father daughter dance, first dance, etc.) and when it came time to introduce Bride and Groom, the disc didn't read on their mother board. Luckily, the lead guitarist had a back up. Ooops! That wasn't working either! In a complete panic, we were scrounging for a lap top or a wireless service and realized we could download the music straight from iTunes on our sound guy's iPhone. Thank you God for iTunes! With in a minute, we had downloaded 4 of the special requested tracks and we were ready for the Bride and Groom! All weddings are a process of ups and downs. I think perfection is what the client dreams of when imagining their special day and absolutely what a planner strives for. However, it is never perfect. Did I mention never? The end result should be perfect and that is what matters. This wedding was just that! The families and the bride and groom were gracious and kind and had a wonderful evening but behind the scenes of getting that perfection? Well, let's just say I took a long vacation when it was over but I'd do it again tomorrow if asked! I am truly blessed to LOVE my job and the amazing people I work for. Congrats to Laura and Jason!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Resources
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009 I have been stalking Dawn of Premier Wed to share this amazing wedding with ABG since I laid eyes on the brides invitations while visiting Southall Eden Farm a few months ago. When I learned it was taking place at One Eleven and was hot pink, I simply couldn't find enough patience. But I had no choice, after all - the wedding had to take place before I could see the fabulous pictures. So, I have waited and waited for this day. Instead of a Real Wedding Story, I asked Dawn to take us behind the scenes, to really explain how everything came together. This event had a lot of special details and an top-notch design team. It also had its share of challenges - as does EVERY wedding / event. Dawn will share the challenges tomorrow. We are lucky to learn about the challenges and discover first hand how a professional planner resolves every issue. (That's why you should absolutely hire a planner - no matter your budget - hire a professional!! Nearly every bride regrets not hiring a pro. A good planner adds value from the beginning.) Special thanks to Laura and Jason for letting giving us a peek into your spectacular day. Thanks to Dawn for making the time to share all of the details. Today's Guest Blogger: Dawn Schenkel, President of Premier W.E.D., a Nashville Wedding & Event Planning Company
Laura and Jason are uniquely different but kindred soles. Think Green Acres, the television show from the 70's! They both share a strong Christian faith and have wonderful senses of humor. As beautiful as they are on the outside, they strive to be as beautiful on the inside. This kind of attitude made it so easy to work with them. Laura has a great sense of who she is and the look she wanted to accomplish. She came to my office for their initial consult with the New York/Old Hollywood idea in mind. She also knew her colors but was really able to narrow the choices with the help of my BBJ Linen swatches. With in a few conversations, we were off on our 6 month venture!
Laura, who has a background in the arts and theatre, had spent time in NY. She calls herself a city girl trapped. Jason is a true Nashville southern guy. Cracker Barrel is his favorite restaurant! (See groom's cake below). Jason was gracious with the fact that this wedding was definitely designed around his stylish bride's interests and loves. And WOW what a site it was!
Let me break down the design of the evening into Details and Challenges: Wedding Details: Cerise (hot pink) was our pop of color for the night with accents of gunmetal gray and black. (Marilyn Monroe walking down the steps in her hot pink dress was my visual during design process) Lots of rhinestones and jewels adorned everything including votive holders, throw pillows with chandelier appliques, drink trays, and the Bride's bouquet.
I designed the women's bathroom to be a powder-room with boutique chairs, mirrored side table, a chandelier, assortments of perfumes and monogrammed paper guests towels. I chose Blue Nova Designs -Maria and Link Tipton, for their draping because they carry this fabulous Austrian Drape that I wanted to use to cover the walls of an outside patio that I would later transform into a beautiful ballroom with a black and white floor.
Lounge seating with custom black covers (Liberty Party Rental) provided the chaise feel of the Sinatra days.
I am a huge fan of the LED ice cubes that rotate their flash. We used a constant beam of hot pink in the fabulous signature drinks. As guests entered, they were greeted with jeweled covered trays and a pink potion that lured even the manliest of guests. The Bridal cake was changed at least 3 times if not more and the final design was chosen only TWO WEEKS before the wedding. When all ales fail, go with your gut! Laura ended up choosing the cake that she walked in my office with and it was spectacular! Very art deco and Jay Qualls with Maples Wedding Cakes as the designer.
The Buffet was beautiful as it was plentiful and designed by Shannon Bates with Chef's Market.
Lighting transformed the original urban space into a pink palace fit for even Marilyn herself. I commissioned Blue Nova Designs to make light box coffee tables that I had been dreaming up for at least 3 years. They were the perfect company to fulfill my dream! I had them make metal framed boxes with a white spandex cover and then top them with mirrors so that guests had table top space at their lounge seats. To add to the vibe, I had Jason Davis with Davis Lighting Design add LED lights to the boxes so they would glow and no cords to mess with!
Visit ABG on Friday as Dawn shares more details and challenges from this amazing wedding!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Details, Design & Florals, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Resources
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Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 On June 15, A Delightful Day launched a fantastic series for brides called "1 Month to Plan a Wedding". The series was created for brides who can't necessarily afford a full planner but is really for ALL brides. The ADD team has shared wedding planning nuggets that can benefit every bride. Why am I just sharing this with you? Bc I wanted to wait until the 30 day series was well under way so you could just sit and read all of the great info vs having to wait for each new post:). No really - it really is a helpful series that you should check out. Here are the topics they've covered & excerpts: Finding the Bridal Gown - Your dress typically takes between 3-6 months, sometimes less or more, before you will receive it after ordering, depending on the designer that you choose. With only one month before your wedding you would have to start searching the stores for a purchase off the rack. Location, location, location - First in looking at locations, consider your guest list and how many guests you're planning on attending. Location: The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville Managing the Guest List - Guest lists are something that cause one of the biggest arguments that a lot of engaged couples and their families deal with. How to separate the guest lists between the families? Working with Floor Plans - Floor plans are such a boring, yes, boring, topic to discuss, but can also be a very tedious task. If you don't have a planner, not many of the books out there can assist you in that topic. Budget - If you haven't noticed everything in your wedding goes back to budget, budget, and more budget. Budget should ultimately be the first thing that you discuss with your fiance' and parents to decide on how much you want to spend on the wedding, what's available, and who is going to contribute. Hiring a Professional Planner - Having a Professional Wedding Consultant or Planner can be one of the greatest things that you spend money from your budget on. Of course me being a Planner I am a bit of a fan of having a Planner, but from so many of my brides I have heard, "What would I have done without you?". Hiring a Photography - As a bride, this is the most beautiful day of your life. You will never look more glamorous than you do in the wedding dress of your dreams, hair styled, makeup done, you're posed and ready to be in every shot possible. Photo curteosy of Inara Studios. Selecting your Officiant - In thinking about your wedding plans, one of the last things on brides minds is the officiant. Many brides already have someone in mind, maybe their family pastor or priest or a family member who could perform the ceremony. Others will opt to find a local minister available to perform their ceremony. Selecting your Stationery - Stationery, including your save-the-date, invitation, programs, menus, etc., are such a fun part of your wedding design! This is your opportunity to really infuse your theme into the first looks at your wedding that your guests are going to have. Hiring a Caterer - Catering and the cake are the yummiest part of wedding planning. Having great food and good fun are the two elements of your reception that can create the ultimate party, or kill the buzz! Selecting a Cake - Cake tastings are another fun to-do when wedding planning, getting to try the frosting's, the fillings, and the flavors of cake. Many couples follow the tradition of a wedding cake and a ceremonial cake cutting, however, some couples are choosing to change up the look of a "traditional" cake with cupcakes or doing desserts.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Thursday, May 7, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009 Guest Blogger: Bridal Opulence is a Nashville-based, wedding coordinator who offers services ranging from full planning to day of wedding coordination. More & more brides are becoming very eco chic when planning their wedding! In fact, Nashville brides are leading the pack when incorporating eco friendly decor and materials to make a huge impact on their wedding carbon footprint. What's a carbon footprint? A carbon footprint is the measure of impact that human activities have on their environment in regards to the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide. Track your carbon footprint There are a number of fabulous websites that allow brides to track their wedding carbon footprint. Carbon footprint allows your wedding guest to choose a gift of planting a tree in your honor, which also helps to prevent climate change! As the recipient of this eco gift you will receive a gift certificate dated with your wedding date and a listing of how many trees will be donated by your guest.
tree planting event in Kenya - Oct 2006
latest tree growth - Feb 2009
TerraPass is a resourceful site that allows you and your planner to track your wedding carbon footprint, which is pretty useful if you are a true eco chic bride. Give green bags In search of a eco friendly out of town {OOT} bag? I love these great eco friendly bags from Bliss Wedding Market. These eco friendly bags are silk screened & made of 100% natural cotton. These bags are available in various city designs, however I did not see Nashville listed in the cities, but hey - we are Music City so maybe with enough influence they will create a bag for Nashville Brides!!
To add to Latrice's brilliant options for reducing your carbon footprint, I'd like to add a few more ways to go green: Give green gifts My friend Sarah started Partners Tea. While she travels the world, she is based in Nashville and is "dedicated to connecting tea lovers with tea growers to improve the lives of both". She has introduced a new blend, which she calls "love" probably in honor of ABG brides. Only kidding. No seriously, I wanted to share it with you because I think it would be a great gift - if you are a tea lover - for your wedding guests.
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Sarah inspecting rooibos harvest with Barent, Cedarburg Mountains, South Africa, January, 2009
Love tea blend is a sweet and lively pomegranate white tea with cacao nibs and rose petals. They are $4 each and make a great wedding or shower favor, especially for a green minded bride. Partners Tea Company is a local Nashville company dedicated to making a difference through sharing our Fair Trade and Organic teas. Sleep eco-friendly When you are planning your wedding and want to calculate your footprint, you will quickly see that some things like air flights and hotel usage really impact the environment. Some changes are easier to make than others. I can't help you with the airline impact but here are some green hotel options: aloft Hotel "Today's green-savvy guests will find plenty of eco options at aloft Nashville-Cool Springs, thanks to our see green program. It starts at arrival, with park-like landscaping that offers the chance for a breath of fresh air. Inside, natural materials like cork and sustainable wood veneers are integrated into the hotel's design. And in guest rooms, less landfill litter is the thinking behind our in-shower product dispensers non-biodegradable bottles, be gone! Guests can also choose to reuse towels and linens, that is to help save water and energy. Let's go green!" Also - Kristen gave me the following specifics about aloft's green program: 1. We use compact fluorescent lighting throughout the property thus saving nearly 1000 tons of CO2e 2. We have lighting timers in all closets and back of house areas 3. All guest room HVAC systems have 9.4 EER 4. All HVAC unit temperatures in the common areas are set at a 2 variance 5. Certain BOH HVAC unites cycle off from 5pm - 6am 6. aloft is Energy Star Approved Hutton Hotel According to Conde Nast, "The newest hotel in Nashville is also the city's greenest. The Hutton Hotel opened in mid-February, and counts among its eco-friendly attributes bamboo flooring, reclaimed wood furnishings, and card readers that turn off lights when guests leave their rooms. The hotel is green enough for Al Gore--a Tennessean himself--who will be holding his Climate Project annual meeting there in May." Millenium Maxwell Millennium Hotels and Resorts is committed in working towards preserving the environment, with eco-friendly initiatives across all 15 U.S. hotels and at the corporate level. We are working towards these initiatives as a first step of the company's long-term focus on being green. Gaylord Hotel In 2008, Gaylord Opryland was awarded Good Earth Keeping Awards from both the Tennessee Hotel & Lodging Association and the Greater Nashville Hotels & Lodging Association. The resort also earned an Environ-Management Award in 2006 from the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Your day is your day, period. While bridal magazines, websites (even ABG) are full of ideas, the key is getting inspired to create your own ideas, ideas that reflect the uniqueness of your love, your story, and your relationship. Tamika and Robert, the couple featured below, have done a great job (with the help of their planner) selecting a venue, theme, and other aspects that represent their uniqueness. You can find more about their love story on their planner's blog. The key is to brainstorm and work with your planner to ensure that "you" are infused in "your" day. Guest Post: Toni of Celebrations by Design, a Nashville wedding planner
One thing that I love about weddings is how personalized and unique they've become. Growing up and attending weddings I always loved the 'magic' of wedding day! I would think of them as productions! Lights!...Cameras!...ACTION! The dresses, the flowers, oh and let us not forget the CAKE! That was always one of my favorites! The more weddings I attended I would look at everything and question if something else could have been done or they needed something 'extra'...or maybe that special touch.
When planning your wedding always be true to yourself and your future spouse. Start your planning by listing all of your favorites! Think of ways to incorporate the special things that you share, like to do, or something that makes you two laugh...even if you two are the only ones that get it! I love working with clients that want to make their wedding day a true celebration and they have a little fun while preparing for their big day!
One couple that I'm currently working with fits that description to a "T"! Tamika Bryant and Robert Hudson will be married July 11, 2009! They are too cute together! The couple has opted for a morning wedding and a brunch reception, but they wanted the atmosphere for their reception to be interactive, fun, and have a relaxed 'lounge' feel. The colors of choice for this wedding are black, white, and green. The bride wants to use black and white Damask as an accent. Tamika & Robert have defined their reception style as "A Modern Chic Cocktail Brunch"
The couple has contracted the services Ace Photography for their special day! They have received their engagement photos and I think they turned out beautifully!
Here's a sneak peak of Tamika & Robert's engagement photos!
I told you - too cute! They are having a great time together and it shows!
Great job Ace Photography!
Here are a few pictures and inspiration boards that capture the look and feel the bride is going for...
(Pictures and inspiration boards were found on www.Kugab.blogspot.com & www.tastefullyentertaining.blogspot.com)
Since the reception will be at a martini bar I suggested these centerpieces to the bride. I think this type of centerpiece would be a great addition to the reception decor.
My objective in sharing Tamika & Robert's wedding inspiration and engagement photos is while planning your wedding HAVE FUN and make it ALL your own!
Selecting the right vendors for your wedding is one of the best investments you will ever make during this entire process! Having a good relationship and rapport with your wedding vendors is also a great investment. Feeling comfortable with your vendors helps because you will be spending a lot of time with some of them and you communicate better...so why not enjoy the company along the way!
Introducing...Tamika & Robert's Glam Squad!
Planner - Toni Smith - Celebrations by Design
Catering - Down South Delights
Videography - Focal Point Cinematic WeddingsÂ
Ace Photography - Ace Photography
Cake - Dulce Desserts
Other - Snap Happy Photo Booth Rental
Check out my blog for more pictures of Tamika & Robert, their love story, and the proposal!
Happy Planning!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Photography & Videography, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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