Monday, January 30, 2012
I am super excited to introduce the Nashville bridal community to our newest blogger, our Spring intern, Betsy. According to Betsy, "My love for weddings began as a child while watching my mom tie loopy bows, arrange elegant flowers, encourage nervous brides, and comfort happy-teared mothers. Holding her hand, I walked many aisles with my mom, enchanted by the weddings she had planned and the princesses of brides she had befriended. Each time I entered a new fairy land. Though these days are long past, few things make my heart do somersaults like a wedding. As a junior at Belmont University, majoring in English Writing, I couldn't devise an internship more perfect than writing for Ashley's Bride Guide. Truly, it's a joy to share in the magic of the wedding world!"
Betsy is a delight; she's super spunky and the sweetest girl you will meet. If you see her at Sunday's bridal show or out and about, please say hello. Until then, enjoy her first interview with Sarah of Noah Liff Opera Center...
Betsy - ABG writing intern!
I had the pleasure of speaking with Sarah Willard from the Noah Liff Opera Center, a Nashville wedding + event venue, to learn more about their fundraising event, “Rubies and Ruffles,” which you won’t want to miss!
What is the Rubies and Ruffles event?
The event is a fundraiser for Wish Upon a Wedding, the first non-profit wedding wish organization in the world, which recently opened a branch in Nashville. Through fundraising and linking arms with area vendors, Wish Upon a Wedding collects money and resources to grant wedding wishes for couples facing terminal illnesses and extreme life-altering circumstances. After an application process, a couple is selected for a free of charge, wedding of their dreams. This event, Rubies and Ruffles, is a fundraiser to help raise awareness and money for Wish Upon a Wedding, which will serve chosen couples in the area.
When does the Rubies and Ruffles event take place?
Rubies and Ruffles is taking place from 6pm to 9pm on February 18, 2012.
Who is hosting the event?
The Noah Liff Opera Center is hosting Rubies and Ruffles. The Noah Liff Opera Center is located about 12 minutes from Green Hills and 10 minutes from the downtown area at address: 3622 Redmon Street, Nashville, TN, 37209. You can learn more about Noah Liff Opera for weddings and events at noahliffoperacenter.com.
Who can attend Rubies and Ruffles?
Anyone is welcome to attend this event!
How do you go about purchasing a ticket?
Tickets can be purchased online at the following website: http://wishuponaweddingnashville.eventbrite.com/
How much does it cost to attend?
There are three varying costs: general admission is $100, per couple $150, and a table of ten is $75 per person.
Any details pertaining to how the evening will unfold?
Rubies and Ruffles is a cocktail/black tie event. This elegant evening includes a delicious dinner, dessert, music, and even dancing, all flawless for a Valentine’s weekend celebration! There will even be some surprise guests to polish the night off!
How can the community participate?
Your presence at this event is key for it being a success! You’re also encouraged to donate through the Noah Liff Opera Center website or through the Wish Upon a Wedding website. Many brides and grooms, for instance, have found a special joy in granting donations to Wish Upon a Wedding in honor of their names newly joined together.
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Posted by Betsy-Intern |
Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events
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Monday, January 23, 2012
My wedding was almost a year ago (how can that be true?), and even though I did all of the planning, I had only been to one bridal show as a bride-to-be. When I was given the opportunity to go to a show for ABG, I jumped at the chance! And I was even more excited to be able to go to the Inspired Bride show at Houston Station, hosted by Studio Wed. I’ve put together some of my favorite finds at the show, along with the favorites of Betsy, our wonderful new intern, who came along with me!
All images, except where noted, courtesy of Justin Wright Photography.
Southern Events
Southern Events is a go-to shop for many brides and their rental needs. As usual, they did not disappoint. Adding to their stock of rental items, they have farm tables and benches that are adorable! The display was so beautiful and rustic. They also had some whiskey barrels on display that would be great as a guest book table at an event.
Betsy Coughlin {ABG Intern}: “I was immediately charmed by Southern Events’ table display. The table setting was embellished by mix-matched china and delicate lace, perfected by dimly lit candles and robin-egg blue flowers. Their vintage gems are perfect for the classic bride!”
Justin Wright Photography
I’ve always been a big fan of Justin Wright Photography and I loved seeing his display. The canvas prints and books he had out on the table were absolutely gorgeous and really showed the variety of the shots he is able to create.
Tanastacia
Tanastacia is a brand new salon off 8th Avenue that would be a great place to take your bridal party. They had tons of products available to sample, along with facial mapping to help the brides figure out what products would be best for their skin. At the spa, they are able to accommodate parties, and can offer facials and other services all in the same room so that you and your bridesmaids can enjoy your day together.
Brocade Designs
I’m a little biased when it comes to Hillary and her Brocade Designs work since I used her for my own wedding, but she really outdid herself at the show. She brought three different table displays that were all incredible. The first, a rustic farm table with incredible centerpieces and darling lantern details. The second was a brightly colored table with lots of little touches. The third table was so elegant, a white and crystal table with purple touches.
Betsy Coughlin {ABG Intern}: “Never have I seen colors that beautiful in flower petals, only amplified by the elegant lanterns that hung overhead. What highlights Brocade Designs’ splendor from my perspective is its strive to cultivate a relationship with its clients in order to capture the spirit of the couple through a wide array of bouquets, boutonnieres, personal flowers, altar arrangements, ceremony structures, and reception centerpieces. The design of the flowers sings something special about that particular couple. What a lovely concept for a wedding day!
J. Hilburn
I was excited when we visited the J. Hilburn booth as it is the rare wedding vendor that caters to grooms. They offer custom men’s clothing – shirts, suits, sweaters, ties, etc. and all with a 100% guarantee. The quality of the clothes is great, but the price tag is affordable. And as a bonus, they will come to you for appointments at your home or work!
Image by ABG
Chef's Market
Carol and the rest of the team at Chef’s Market always provide tasty treats, and this show was no exception. They had tacos to serve up to the brides and grooms, and of course dessert! The red-velvet truffles were so tasty – I believe Betsy and I were saying “yum!” for about 5 minutes after we were finished. Along with the Bridal Tasting they are offering on January 26, you can schedule a tasting with them any time!
Image by ABG
Sugar Wagon
To follow up our first dessert, we stopped by the Sugar Wagon booth next! The homemade peanut butter cups are a specialty of theirs, and I can see why. Along with yummy treats, how fun would it be to have a food cart at your wedding? Sugar Wagon is a gourmet ice cream sandwich cart.
Betsy Coughlin {ABG Intern}: “The contagious smiles of Tracey and Jane, made me love them before I tasted anything they offered! Truly, these women are precious, and their spirits are just as fun as their idea: a pastry company combined with a mobile cart that shares a variety of confections and ice cream goodies! Heart-shaped red velvet cupcakes with white chocolate mouse filling and cream cheese frosting were the centerpiece of their display, showcasing a perfect glimpse of The Sugar Wagon’s charm—captivating for any wedding day!”
The Bake Shoppe
The cakes that The Bake Shoppe had on display were simply amazing! Lots of adorable details were on each cake – it would be hard to choose just one if you had to!
Amber Housley Design
I had heard great things about Amber Housley but had never seen her work in person myself. I was blown away by the number of details and amount of thought that went into each display. My favorite table was elegant but simple with patterned china plates and touches of pink throughout.
Betsy Coughlin {ABG Intern}: “Amber is a master of details, and finds a great joy in weaving distinguished loves between a bride and groom throughout their special day. These are the quirks, the inside jokes, the signatures of your shared story that all who know you take precious delight in. This especially shines through Amber’s sparkle for stationary, which offers the guests a tiny flavor of what the day will present.”
The Bride Room
If I could get married again, the dress that The Bride Room had at their booth would be the one I would wear. They had a beautiful wedding dress, tuxedo and bridesmaid dress on display in the middle of the show in front of a backlit, ruffled curtain. Little accents really made the display, like the sheet music flowers on their info table.
Leigh, Mary Alice and all of the ladies from Studio Wed put on a wonderful show and I’m so glad that we got to experience it. It was a great window into the amazing things that Nashville vendors will be bringing to weddings in 2012!
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Posted by Newlywed Sara |
Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events
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Sunday, January 22, 2012
TLC is taking Kleinfeld Bridal's Randy Fenoli away from "Say Yes To The Dress" and bringing the show on the road, with a stop in Nashville... Randy to the Rescue! Whether you want your 15 minutes of fame or want celebrity help finding your perfect wedding dress, Randy is coming to Nashville on March 11!
Here's the scoop straight from the casting representative:
Some wedding gowns need a train. Others require a semi-truck.
Do you dream of walking down the aisle with the help of New York City’s premiere bridal expert but your budget doesn’t include a trip to the big apple? Never fear! It’s Randy to the Rescue!
For the first time ever, TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress fashion expert (and resident “FOB” – friend-of-the-bride) Randy, is heading off the floor of Kleinfeld and behind the wheel of a big rig – to bring his favorite gowns, his unsurpassed dress knowledge, and his signature “head-to-hem” styling approach to you!
If you love TLC’s Say Yes to the Dress but live miles away from New York City, now is your chance.
To learn more about the show + the bridal gown tour, visit this link - TLC.com.
To buy tickets to see Randy during his Nashville stop, visit this site - TheWeddingGuys.com.
To be considered for the show, email your name, age, location, and wedding date ASAP to randytotherescue {at} gmail {dot} com.
OUR NEXT STOPS…
San Diego, CA-2/4
Las Vegas, NV-2/18
New Orleans, LA-2/26
Nashville, TN-3/11
Cincinnati, OH-3/18
Boston, MA-4/1
Minneapolis, MN-4/15
Mark your calendars for March 11 and send in your emails!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Bridal Shows & Events
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Friday, January 20, 2012
Sunday is the Her Nashville bridal show and the crew at AshleysBrideGuide.com will attend to see what bridal goodies we can find to share with you next week. I reached out to Christy at Her Nashville to see what's in store for you. Here's what she had to say, " There will be a runway show (1pm) featuring gowns from Arzelle's, hair and make-up by Jon Alan Salon and flowers from Emma's. It's a great chance to meet with and talk with the vendors in a comfortable and intimate setting."
The show promises to be "The most fun way to plan your wedding is back! Join Her and Nfocus for an exciting wedding fashion show including food, mimosas or Cuestion tequila sunrise, and exhibitions from the best vendors in the wedding industry. It’s a one-stop shop to help you plan your perfect wedding..."
We're sold! To get your tickets, follow this link. We hope to see you there. If you see anyone from our team, say hello!
Date/Time:
Jan 22 from 11am-2pm (1pm runway show)
Location:
W.O. Smith School of Music
1125 8th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
Vendors include:
5 Hour Energy | AmosEvents | Arzelle's | Cheekwood | Cuestion Tequila | Emma's Flowers | Fanciful Ink | Girl with the Pearl | Jon Alan Salon | Julia From Scratch | Maggiano's Little Italy | Nero's Grill | Perl Catering | Platinum Jewelers | Radisson Hotel | Stella & Dot - Kim Wright | The Corner Market | Wedding 101
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events
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Thursday, January 19, 2012
Mark your calendars and register to attend a stellar (and very tasty) bridal event on Thursday, January 26th. Chef's Market is hosting a bridal tasting for Nashville area brides-to-be and one guest to attend for free with your R.S.V.P. This event is worth attending if you're looking for a wedding caterer that doesn't just provide extraordinary food but also offers incredible food presentation and great service backed by years of wedding experience.
Ashley and I attended last year and it was scrumptious. The food was creative and delicious. To give you a better idea of what to expect at this year's tasting, I asked Genna Dufault of Chef's Market for a little more information.
What can we expect at this bridal tasting and what will the experience be like?
Brides can expect a relaxed and fun night to come out and try an assortment of our most popular foods for weddings and events in a cocktail hour setting. Guests will have the chance to sample everything from hors d'oeuvres and short plates to desserts and beverages. We're putting together a reception style set up so brides can get and idea of what it means for us to create a 'tablescape' and use decor/props for wedding receptions. Additionally, each member of our sales team will be on hand to answer questions and talk weddings. On top of all this, we've invited Nashville wedding planners and venue managers to come out and sample the food as well, so there will be a fun mix of industry professionals and brides!
Each bride will receive a gift bag filled with Chef's Market's favorites and will have the chance to talk with all three members of our sales team and our owner Jim Hagy.
Describe the style of wedding Chef's Market is "right" for:
Chef's Market is perfect for any wedding, in which the reception venue allows for an outside caterer! Seriously though, we're a great fit for brides who want amazing food, incredible presentation and the chance to really create a wedding menu that reflects who they and their fiancé are as a couple.
How will couples benefit from working with you?
After 14 years of catering every kind of Nashville wedding imaginable (indoor, outdoor, rain, shine, intimate and large receptions) our knack for logistics and design means your event will go flawlessly from the first meeting to the last bite at the reception. No matter what kind of wedding a bride is planning it's always our goal to make her wedding feast feel special and unforgettable.
ABG Notes: Not just a caterer - Chef's Market also can create special treats and favors for you. (Pictures: left, Ace Photography. Right, Enchanted Brides Magazine)
ABG notes: They're also phenomenal when it comes to event design and decor. (Picture: Alex Bee Photo)
ABG Notes: From Southern fare to sushi, you will probably get what you crave for your wedding! (Pictures: Chef's Market)
Be sure to RSVP for the Bridal Tasting with Chef's Market by emailing Genna (genna {at} chefsmarket {dot} com). You can bring one guest, and any additional guests pay $35 a person. This is going to be a fun, casual, and interactive event where you'll be able to meet the staff from Chef's Market and see them in action. We'll see you there!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Bridal Shows & Events, Cakes & Catering
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