Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
If you want to have an stellar wedding, you've got to start with a top-notch team. Many brides start off planning to DIY but then realize they can't complete their lofty goals. Be sure to hire a planner to help. You only get married once so enjoy your day and leave the planning and execution to the pros. Hire teams that will work well together. Visit their blogs and notice who they mention (and who they don't). Just because a vendor recommends a vendor doesn't mean that the vendor being referred is right for you. BUT if a vendor doesn't recommend a vendor, pay attention. For instance, I know (based on many conversations and from reading their blogs) that A Delightful Day and Rhonda Patton Weddings are a great duo. I also know that McNeal Video Blog and Lifetime Weddings have a great working relationship. These vendors work well together, which means there is a synergy. When vendors like working together, your event is much more successful. Check out today's guest blog to get a taste of Mary Alice and Rhonda's joint creation. These chicks are fab working alone but even more creative teamed together. (Plus, the bride clearly had a strong sense of style - her wedding colors were hot, hot, hot.) I mean, I just love the candy topiary that Rhonda created and features below. Rhonda can bring this mix of whimsy and creativity to your event. But, you have to book these vendors fast because everyone knows they're great. For instance, Rhonda is already filling up her 2009 wedding dates. If you have fallen in love with a vendor/venue - make your decision fast-- snooze and lose:). Guest Post: Rhonda Patton Weddings is a Nashville-based, event floral designer. Congratulations to Sylvia and Brice who married last weekend in the Country Music Hall of Fame (CMHF) Ford Theater and celebrated in the CMHF Hall Rotunda! Once again, I teamed up with the ever so delightful ladies of A Delightful Day Event Planning. I enjoyed being apart of this design team! I met with Sylvia and Mary Alice Sublett, owner of Delightful Day on numerous occasions throughout the planning process. This is very common especially for brides who have flowers and decor at the top of their list. The highlights are as follows:
The bride's color wheel represented rich jewel tones in shades of burgundy, eggplant purple and gold
The bride's bouquet was comprised of dahlias, mini callas, cymbidium orchids, vanda orchids, blackberries and gold eucalyptus.
The stem was adorned with eggplant purple midori ribbon and a "key to my heart" gold charm.
The bridesmaid carried a bouquet comprised of dahlias, tulips, kangaroo paw, mini callas, roses and uluhe fern.
THE RECEPTION DECOR
The bride definitely splurged more on her reception decor! Details...Details...Details... is what really creates a divine wedding. With three different centerpiece designs, we mastered the principles of art and design repetition.
DESIGN I
A grouping design: Cylinders of various heights with the focal point cylinder comprised of a submerged orchid and fresh plums. Rose petals and gold floating candles with surrounding votives created a romantic candlescape.
DESIGN II
Unordinary to ornate. This design was a conversation piece - gold manzanita branches placed in an over-sized bubble bowl. The branches were embellished with orchids and roses and the base of the bowl was accented with a gold floating candle.
DESIGN III
Lavish Centerpiece! A remake of a centerpiece the bride found in INSIDE Weddings magazine, standing over 5ft tall- manzanita branches, dangling swarovski crystals, affixed orchids and flower balls completed this design.
More Details...
Sweet Savors. The candy bar was designed by Delightful Day Event Planning.
The bride specially requested a custom centerpiece for her candy display. I made this candy topiary out of double bubble, nerds and tootsie roll pops. Another great conversation piece, the kids loved it!!!
Custom Candy Bags
Contact Rhonda Patton Weddings for your wedding or event florals. Contact A Delightful Day for event planning.
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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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Monday, August 18, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Ever After Weddings is the newest, "official" member of the ABG community. I interviewed her recently so you could learn a bit more about Mindy Longo, the owner. I worked with her on my Sex and the City event and it was a true pleasure. It didn't sweat a bit thanks to her "can-do" approach. Vendor Spotlight: Mindy of Ever After Weddings, a Nashville wedding coordinator
How did you get started in weddings? After planning my own wedding What do you like most about weddings? I love everything about weddings What's your favorite wedding pic/video and why? I am all about the details and these are different styles that reflect each brides, yet the details are still there.
What is your service philosophy? Ever After Weddings and Events is in the dream making industry. Let us take care of all the details for you and most of all take the stress away. We are here to meet all of your needs and make that dream wedding come true! At Ever After Weddings and Events we strive to meet the varying needs of our clients. Every client receives one on one coordination advice and assistance to take any wedding from an idea to reality. You'll be an elegant and confident bride knowing that your event is in the right hands and stress free for you and your family! What are your strengths compared to others in your category? / Why should a bride hire you? Personally I have been there and was a very stressed out bridezilla. I am wanting to take all of that from my brides, so they can enjoy the time in planning a wedding, because it can be fun without all the stress and most of all enjoy the day. Because it only happens once and a bride should not have any regrets when they look back. I want it to be a dream come true and that is the experience I can bring. I also enjoy everything about a wedding and have fun doing it. Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors? I have lots of favorites, so it will be hard to say top 5: Photography: Wharton Photography Floral and decor: Enchanted Florist Cakes and more: Cakes by Shara Invitations and more: Relish Rental and designs: Blue Nova Weddings Who do you recommend when you're not available? Latrice with Bridal Opulence of Tiffani with Creative Designs and Events What do you read/watch regularly to stay on top of wedding/event trends? Martha Stewart Weddings Modern Bride Magazine Bride's Magazine Lot of different online sites... Which trends do you love? I love color, yet elegant!!
Which trends do you hate? Personally, I am not crazy about the orange and red colors together, unless in the fall season!!
But, when it comes to trends, I am open to anything. A wedding should reflect the style of the couple, not my style. Which trend are you glad is gone? Themed costume weddings! What are your favorite wedding websites? http://www.ashleysbrideguide.com 
http://www.theknot.com http://www.weddingchannel.com http://www.allaboutweddingsnw.com Advice for brides? Planning a wedding can be fun and stressful, take the stressful out and just have FUN, that is what ever bride deserves!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Resources
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Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
I couldn't wait to see and share this wedding! Aside from being beautiful, the bride and groom are really an amazing couple. Ben, is the co-owner of Signature Tents and his bride, Brittany is such a sweet cutie! Brittany emailed me and said she "loved every minute" of her wedding. Partly because she loved Ben but also because she hired a planner, Angela Proffitt, one of the best wedding coordinators you can find! So, enjoy this super sweet wedding story as told to me by Brittany, the bride.
A Bride's Story: Brittany and Ben (Photographer: Silent Light Photography) Bride: Brittany, Hometown: Huntsville, AL Groom: Ben, Hometown: Waverly, TN (Waverly High School) My wedding details: - Wedding date & time: 6-14-08 @ 7 PM - Ceremony location: Hillsboro Church of Christ (our church) - # guests 250-300 - Reception location: lawn of church under a huge beautiful tent supplied by Signature Tent My wedding style: - My wedding style: classy, and elegant with a little vintage - My colors: chocolate brown, taupe, cream, ivory, cafe (neutrals)
- My theme: Coffee was a theme throughout...I used coffee beans in the candle votives in the centerpieces and in glass jars around the coffee station. I also gave coffee favors away. I had a stamp made that said Brittany and Ben, The Perfect Blend, 6-14-08. I stamped all the bags and Portland Brew filled them with freshly ground coffee...AMAZINGLY good coffee!! I am a huge coffee lover! Wedding wow factor: I walked into a non-traditional song by Cindy Morgan, called Make Us One. Instead of carrying a bouquet of flowers, I carried daisies in memory of the little boy, Max, I babysat through college. He passed away over thanksgiving in a tragic accident. He once gave me a bouquet of daisies with a red rose in the middle. He knew daisies were my favorite flower and he insisted on putting a red rose in the middle of them b/c that's what The Bachelor did on TV. His parents were sitting close to the end of the aisle and I gave them to his mom Margo when I got to them. Very emotional! Our ceremony was also very personal and Ben and I both wrote a letter to each other that we read right before we exchanged vows. We wanted traditional vows, but added a traditional. He made his funny/sweet, so it was pretty entertaining for our guests . Our college minister conducted the ceremony and told the details of our story so guests felt like they were apart all the way up until that day. We also showed a slide show before the ceremony began that showed baby pictures through us pictures, and it ended with the footage from our engagement in the Grand Canyon. I'm not a flower person, so there were no big arrangements in the church, only candles the lined the ledges at the front of the church. I also had a friend lend me two large banners with the verse from 1 Corinthians 13 about love written on them. They were my colors, brown and cream. Simple, understated and perfectly elegant. I loved that I did not go over-the-top with ceremony dacor.
At the reception, under the big beautiful pole tent:), I had jazzy type, crooner music (Frank Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr., Norah Jones, etc). I had a coffee station and Ben's cake was chocolate with Reese's cups crumbled all over it and a sculpted basketball on top. I had a kids food station (gold fish, cheese puffs, chicken nuggets, etc). I framed a picture of Ben with Steve Nash and put it next to his cake (best day of his life is when he met his hero, Steve Nash...it was the best day in his life up until our wedding day haha)
I also had a photobooth for my guest...they loved it. The food was amazing too. (Burton Catering...Mrs. Burton goes to my church so that is how I knew about her).
I continued the understated elegance theme into the reception dacor as well. I only had two floral centerpieces under the tent, one on each food station at either side of the tent (Have two food lines if you can!).
On the tables I used glass cylinders (in three difference sizes) filled with coffee beans and candles. Some were filled with water and willow branches. On the bistro tables, I used small votives with coffee beans at the bottom and small candles inside. I candled the place out! It made for a stunning impact though when guest walked in as the night fell. Oh and I loved my dress. It was designed by 2Be and I added the brown sash with the broach. - Favors: Coffee bags Brittany and Ben, The Perfect Blend 6-14-08 with Portland Brew coffee inside.
- Personalized touches: Coffee favors, daisies with red rose as my bouquet, the guys set up RockBand in their dressing room and played that as they waited. - Gift for bridal party: I found small purse-size bibles and had them personalized with their names. I also made the pearl necklaces and earrings they wore for the wedding. Ben gave the groomsmen each a gift card to their favorite store - Most special moments for me: My entrance...the bridal party walked in to Canon in D. My song played all the way to the crescendo and then I walked in (its a very dramatic song)...it was perfect, and Ben looked so handsome. It was the BEST moment ever. The ceremony was perfectly personal...hard to pick a favorite moment, it was all so great! Ben did a little dance when Stan pronounced us husband and wife...right before he kissed me...so funny and cute! My wedding vendors: - Planner- Angela Proffitt of Elegant Weddings by Angela. SHE IS THE BEST!!!!!!! - Cake- Rebecca Schreher of Cakes by Rebecca. AMAZING cakes!
- Coffee favors: I kind of came up with the concept on my own and made them myself. Portland Brew ordered the small coffee bags for me, a friend did the design for me, and then I sent the design to a stamp making company here in Nashville. I stamped the bags, dropped them off at Portland Brew and they filled it with coffee. So it was kind of a team effort...love their coffee, and it's locally owned and operated. - Photography - Jack Menard of Silent Light Images. I LOVE Jack and Valerie...they are amazing! - Tent- Signature Tents - We used the tent for our rehearsal and the reception.
- Aisle runner- Kat Coffen of Selah Style (LOVE her!!) - Rings- Ben got my ring at Genesis Diamond - they were so sweet too! - Décor – Southern Events helped with linens - Nashville Photo Booth- very cool and we had so much fun looking at the pictures of everyone afterwards. They gave us a scrapbook at the end of the night with personal messages from everyone. - Reception catering - Burton Catering- Knew them through Hillsboro (church) no website, but they are divine! Ask for Becky Daniel -(615) 292-2760 - Rehearsal dinner catering - Baja Buritto aka Blue Coast Burrito - Our FAVORITE restaurant, catered the rehearsal and everything was decorated with a mexican flair complete with pinatas for the kids and one for Ben and me filled with things for our trip - Video, florist, invitations, dresses, music etc were all done either by friends or were done in Huntsville (my hometown), - My faves: seriously, ALL OF THEM! My wedding rewind: - What I would do differently if planning again? Seriously, nothing! I may not freak out as much about the guest list...it kinda got outta control for a bit, but the number we budgeted for ended up coming. I heard that you can expect the same amount of people as invitations you sent. It was just about right for me. - Biggest waste of time or money? Um, nothing...it was all perfect - Best value for the service/product? Jack Menard (Silent Light Images) You get all the digital proofs to keep, included in his price. An amazing value and he is so great to work with. Also, having Angela as the coordinator. - Neatest find? My coffee bags... Advice for brides? I had a lot of programs left over as well as bubbles (for our exit). If you have a late evening wedding count on about half or less of your guests being there to see you off. Also, remember that not EVERY person will need a program. Save some money and cut back on the number you order. Angela Proffitt is WELL worth every penny you will spend. Having her the weekend of was phenomenal. Not only is she such a fun person to be around, but she completely took over every detail we had discussed, and I had absolutely no stress about the day coming together beautifully. What I loved most, is that my mom was able to be by my side all day long instead of running around like a mad woman doing all the work of a coordinator and stressing out. Save you and your mom the stress, HIRE a Coordinator that's done this before. Even if it is just for the day of...you will be very thankful you did! Especially if it is Angela or the lovely coordinators that work with her.
(Angela Proffitt and Brittany)
Throughout the planning I decided on the details that meant the most to me and only worried about those going smoothly. For everything else I tried to be flexible and realize, if the centerpiece did not turn out EXACTLY as I had pictured, it was OK. No one else knew but me, so no need to stress. I tried to not have an exact picture in my mind of how the night would look or go. Then, if things turned out as planned I was happy, if they looked a little different than planned, I was still happy. Be content that day...you're marrying your best friend and your family and friends are pouring out so much love for the two of you that day! Be prepared to receive a lot of love and soak it all up. I prayed a lot in the weeks leading up to it, that I could take it all in from start to finish. I am not sure I caught every moment thrown my way, but you also have a lot of close friends and family that you can rehash the day/night with afterwards. Its fun coming back and hearing other peoples perspective! The whole thing is just fun! Control what you can, and let go of the rest..live every moment and SMILE...its your wedding day!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Cakes & Catering, Photography & Videography, Wedding Planners & Coordinators
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