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 13, 2012
We love Kerried Away Couture; the fresh, custom designs from Kerri are always a treat to see, which is why we were all too happy to share this wedding with you. Allison hired Kerri to create more than just her bridesmaids dresses and fabric pins, Kerri also designed the sash for Allison dress and her hairpiece.
More than just wedding gowns and bridesmaids' dresses, Kerried Away Couture specializes in taking your fashion design and creating a custom piece just for you. The three-step process includes you choosing the style, fabric, and adding your details. You could create a special occasion dress or skirt for your rehearsal dinner, a New Years Eve party, engagement party, or finally help your mother choose the fit and cut that will flatter her on your wedding day.
Kerri explains Allison's design process, which may help other brides see that their vision can, in fact, come to life:
"Allison visited us in our showroom months before her wedding with various photos of dresses she liked. She knew she wanted a 1920-30s look to the dress so we worked with her to design the perfect bridesmaid dresses that were within her budget. Allison went with a navy silk blend that is very pretty and is more budget friendly than the 100% silk. The final design featured a one shoulder gathered bodice and waist band and was actually a compilation of a variety of dress style ideas that she had brought with her to her first consultation."
"The handmade brooches were a nice touch to the classic dress design and she took it one step further by having us make her a hair pin that mimicked the brooch designs to pull everything together. We had such a great time working with Allison and her bridesmaids and were so happy she entrusted us to help with her wedding day."
Allison + RJ
Wedding Date ~ August 6, 2011
Ceremony ~ Sunken Garden at Centennial Park
Reception ~ Big Band Dance at Centennial Park
Guests ~ 25 at Ceremony (plus many passersby that stopped to watch!)
50 at the following Reception
Budget
Less than $10,000
Wedding Team
Planner | Bride and Groom (We did it all ourselves!!)
Photographer | Alex Embry - Photos by Alex
Bridal Gown | White One by Pronovias (bought online), oyster color
Bride's Sash | Designed by Bride, Custom made by Kerried Away Couture
Bride's Shoes | Steve Madden (I’ve had them forever! They are my favorite!)
Bride's Accessories | Earrings from Charming Charlies, Hairpiece by Kerried Away Couture
Reception dress | Sue Wong Ivory Ostrich Feather Flapper dress (bought on Ebay)
Groom’s Attire | Groom’s Seersucker suit from Jos. A Bank
Groomsmen Attire | Suits from Overstock.com
Bridesmaids Attire | Design inspired by Bride, Custom made by Kerried Away Couture
Hair + Makeup | Natalie Armstrong, Bride’s sister
Stationery | Designed by bride/groom at Mixbook.com (We had a Groupon!!)
Ceremony Musicians | Halfbrass
Reception Musicians | Big Band Dance at Centennial Park (FREE Event)
Transportation | Black 1939 Packard from NashvilleWeddingCars.com
Caterer | Allison Armstrong (bride), Nina Armstrong (bride’s mother), and Betty Malone (bride’s aunt)
Cake Artist | Gigi’s Cupcakes
Floral Designer | Melanie at A Village of Flowers
Guest Accommodations | Holiday Inn Vanderbilt
Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Classic, easy going, fun, and family focused.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We had a 1930’s southern theme. We kept our ceremony low key with only immediate family and the wedding party present. We then used our grandparents’ milk glass serving dishes at the reception and had old black and white photos of them sitting around on the tables for décor. It was very important to us to have them be a part of our special day even though they could only be there in spirit.
We expressed our easy going side by having a public park venue where we knew many passersby would stop and watch from afar if they felt so inclined (and believe me they did!) and then utilizing the FREE Big Band Dance they have in Centennial Park on Saturday nights as our reception venue/entertainment. Everyone had a great time dancing, sitting in their lawn chairs, or relaxing watching others dance!
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
Oh my, we loved it all!! I guess if I had to pick one thing it would be Halfbrass playing “In the Mood” marching us, the wedding party, and all ceremony guests out of the ceremony site and through the street to the reception site. The guests seemed to thoroughly enjoy the peanut butter cup cupcakes from Gigi’s, the Mexican glass bottled cokes (out of my grandfather’s original Coca-Cola ice chest), and most of all the handmade lips, mustaches, and other dress up items with instant photos for the guestbook.
Where did you splurge?
Photography, but it was worth every penny! Alex is an awesome photographer and VERY reasonable compared to others that we received quotes from. She will be our photographer for years to come!
Where did you save/DIY?
We did everything ourselves but make the dresses and the cupcakes! I bought my dresses online (from other individuals, not vendors) and got them for half the price of retail! We made all of the food.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
We should have assigned duties to our wedding party for setting up the reception. Our friends and family worked so hard, but we could have had more time to visit with them if it would have been more organized.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Don’t get caught up in having the absolute perfect day, if something goes wrong, “Oh well” the important thing is that you and your spouse are together and, just think, you will have something to look back and laugh at for years to come.
Thank you to Allison and RJ for sharing their intimate day with us - we loved all of the details. And thank you to Kerri of Kerried Away Couture for explaining your design and custom creation process through Allison's wedding!
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Posted by Megan |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Real Nashville Weddings
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Wednesday, January 11, 2012
You're engaged, you may or may not have found your venue and picked your date, but there's another matter that may be weighing on your mind a little - your gown. What are you going to wear? Where do you start? Where do you go and what do you do when you get there? Today, we ask Melanie, owner of The White Room, some questions to help you keep things in mind when you start on your quest for your dream dress.
Where does the bride start when it comes to wedding gown shopping?
It is important to start your hunt for the perfect gown as soon as you get the ring - and in some cases, even before that (if you anticipate a short engagement and know your date but still waiting on the ring - this is very common - don't stress, we are here to help).
The style of your wedding gown can sometimes set the tone for your entire wedding. Most brides begin by looking at designers' websites and magazines to get an idea of what look they are drawn to. It is ok if the bride would rather start by seeing them in person. (It is our job to help them find the perfect look and they are welcome to come in to either store any time.)
Pictures by Sara Rose Photography and Kreslyn Faye Photography
Would you recommend making an appointment?
Although appointments are not required, we do strongly suggest them. With a small boutique, it is difficult to have enough fitting rooms and staff available at all times to accommodate numerous brides. The White Room offers four bridal fitting rooms in each location and reserves appointments first. We do try to work with every customer that may stop in, but you can be sure to have a fitting room and consultant to work solely with you if you call ahead to schedule something.
ABG Notes: Intricate details from some beautiful gowns at The White Room
ABG Notes: A real Nashville bride wearing a gown by Jasmine, from The White Room. (Picture by Kristyn Hogan)
How much time should a bride devote to dress shopping?
This differs for each bride. Some customers purchase the first gown they try on, while others come back for a second visit to confirm it is "the one." With our trained consultants, an appointment is sure to be relaxed and very productive. In most 2 hour appointments, we not only find the perfect wedding gown, but attempt to nail down a bridesmaid look for your attendants. The most important thing to remember is relax, enjoy your experience, and when you have found the gown for you - say yes and DO NOT continue to confuse and overwhelm yourself by looking at more styles and designers. Be confident in your choice and move on to the next step in planning.
What should she bring/wear to her appointment?
Most importantly we ask our brides to bring an open mind. We are always so excited to start with a new customer and enjoy working with them to find the perfect look!! The White Room offers shoes, slips, and undergarments for our brides to use while trying on sample gowns. We do not require this and of course each customer is welcome to bring anything they feel is necessary in their try-on process.
ABG Notes: Another real Nashville bride wearing a ruched gown from Casablanca. (Picture by Joe Hendricks Photography)
ABG Notes: Lots of styles to look at when you're at The White Room!
Should she bring friends? How many?
We suggest you bring no more than three. Bring the closest friend/family member(s) whose opinion you value and who knows you well and with whom you want to share the experience of buying your gown. Bringing more than three others can take the focus off of you. Again we are a small boutique and with large crowds you may become overwhelmed and frustrated. We want to help you stay calm and enjoy your experience.
How much time should be allowed between ordering the dress, receiving it, and having it altered?
Ordering a wedding gown takes roughly between 4 and 6 months. There are ways to RUSH order a gown if necessary, but this may cause the cost to go up on the gown. The White Room offers preferred seamstresses in both boutiques that will meet with you in the location in which you purchased your gown. The seamstresses prefer to do your alterations appointments 6-8 weeks prior to your wedding/portrait date. Of course we schedule appointments within the 6 week frame if needed due to weight loss, etc.
ABG: Thanks so much Melanie! Ladies we hope this gives you a little bit more encouragement and insight into wedding gown shopping. They've also shared more tips on their blog here. Visit The White Room's website to see the designers they carry at each of their locations and don't hesitate to give them a call and let them know you're an ABG bride who is looking for her dress! Happy shopping!
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Posted by Tabitha |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories
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Thursday, December 8, 2011
Ashley Currie here again, owner of iHospitality and now newly engaged ABG Green Blogger!!! I look forward to providing many more resources in 2012 during my wedding planning process, as I love great budget finds plus "green" options.
I wanted to dive into bridal wear this month. No potato sack designs here, just organic and socially responsible wedding attire with chic, modern, traditional or vintage style.
So, what makes the bridal wear "green?"
1) The Material:
Cotton, Silk, Hemp, and Bamboo make up the major fabrics for current eco-friendly bridal designs. Alfred Angelo, a popular bridal designer created their Purely Alfred Angelo line with eco-friendly materials plus great design that appeals to all types of brides.
Bridal and Formal Shoppe - Purely Alfred Angelo
(line available here)
1630 S. Church St., Suite 119
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
615.890.7141
Website: Bridalandformalshoptn.com
Pictures courtesy of Alfred Angelo, Inc
2) The Reusability
Remember the 3 R's: Recycle, Reuse, Reduce. Bridal consignment is a great way to recycle and reuse bridal wear while saving money at the same time. Second Time Around by Peggy, a bridal consignment shop in Hendersonville, offers great dresses and updates their stock on a consistent basis.
Second Time Around by Peggy
121 Indian Lake Rd.
Hendersonville, TN 37075
615.822.6961
Website: SecondTimeAroundByPeggy.com
Left: picture by Second Time Around. Right: Picture courtesy of Lazaro catalog, available in size 10 at Second Time Around.
3) The Social Responsibility
Make sure your dress is made responsibly and not outsourced to sweatshops or other non-monitored facilities. Justin Alexander, a well known bridal designer, is a perfect example of a company that publicly talks about all they do towards maintaining social responsibility including: complying with relevant environmental regulations, minimizing waste, preventing pollution and establishing other key objectives to reduce their carbon footprint. Justin Alexander also makes an organic bridal line, PURE by Justin Alexander.
Pictures courtesy of Justin Alexander
Be sure to check out the Justin Alexander Trunk Show at Glitz Bridal (February 24-26, 2012)
Glitz Bridal
241 Old Hickory Blvd
Nashville, TN 37221
615.646.9964
Website: GlitzBridal.com
I hope my simple green bridal wear guide will help make your Music City search an eco-friendly success!
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Posted by Green Nashville Weds |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Eco-Friendly Weddings
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Monday, November 28, 2011
You've spent days, even months, searching for THE wedding dress. Whether you are restoring an heirloom, modifying an original, or simply cleaning your own gown after your big day, your dress is precious. While you may not think that where you take it matters, it does!
Oakwood Cleaners plays an important part in ensuring your dress is perfect, prior to your big day with fittings or after, preserving your memories forever.
When I mentioned Oakwood Cleaners to a recent bride, she replied, "Oh - I took my gown to Oakwood. I simply asked the most snobby woman I know where she took her dress and she said Oakwood. I knew she'd know the best place to take an expensive bridal gown for excellent service."
While her comment made me chuckle, we in the industry know that Oakwood is the trusted cleaner for gown care. But searching for a cleaner is not fun so we've done the research so you can enjoy other aspects of your wedding planning or get on with your new life together!
Meet Oakwood Cleaners
Contact Info
Name: Oakwood Cleaners
Main Contact: Rhonda Wernick
Phone: 615-620-6095
Email: Rhonda {at} oakwoodcleaners {dot} com
Twitter: @oakwoodcleaners
Facebook: facebook.com/Oakwood.Cleaners
Number of Years in the Business:
12 years
How did you get started in weddings?
We bought this wonderful business 6 months ago and one of the perks was our involvement in wedding gown cleaning, preservations, and alterations. It is so fun to come to our store at White Bridge Road and see all of the beautiful gowns.
What do you like most about weddings?
Watching the expression on the grooms face as the bride walks down the aisle. I also love all the creative ways everyone decorates the room and the different ways the food is served.
What's your favorite wedding picture and why?
Grace Kelly as a bride – she was gorgeous.
What is your service philosophy?
We know this is the most important time in your life and we want your experience here to reflect how special you are. We aim to do our best to make sure your wedding dress is altered to fit you like it was made for you and after your wedding, to clean your dress so that it looks as beautiful as you did wearing it on your special day.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? Why should a bride hire you?
We have one of the best wedding gown specialists here at Oakwood, DeNeal. She has a great eye for what can and needs to be done to your gown to make it fit like a glove. We also have our production manager at the plant, Natasha. She is our expert when it comes to cleaning your wedding gown, along with the girls that press it. Our employees at the White Bridge Road location have been thoroughly trained to carefully preserve your gown so it will look beautiful every time you open your box to take a peek. We strive to use the safest, earth friendly cleaning solutions so there will be no left over chemicals that could ultimately cause yellowing of your dress or odors.
Who are your favorite Nashville wedding vendors – helpfulness, professionalism, style?
Jayne Bubis Events (jaynebubisevents.com)
The Bride Room – Stephanie (thebrideroom.com)
Joy Marie Photography (joymariephoto.com)
Does your company do anything special that a green bride might want to know?
The gowns are dry cleaned using Green Earth® cleaning solvents. This is a silicone based cleaner that is earth friendly, gentle on fabric, delicate lace and bead work, and has no odor. We are a proud partner of Carbonfund.org, a leading nonprofit carbon offset and climate solutions organization. With each preservation we offset all carbon dioxide emissions that result from the process of cleaning and preserving your wedding gown – your trip to and from our specialist, all cleaning and the wedding chest’s manufacture.
What is the biggest misconception about your industry?
That any dress can be altered, no matter how big or small, and that we can get any stain or ground in dirt out of the gown. Some also believe that once their dress is preserved that they should not open the box for any reason. That being said, DeNeal does seem to work miracles with the gowns. I have seen her take a long sleeve, high neck gown and turn it into a sexy strapless vision. Natasha and the rest of our plant crew can take most gowns and restore them to their original state. We do ask that if you do want to look at your gown that you please open your preservation box and use the white gloves we have placed as often as you would like.
For any of your alteration, cleaning or preservation needs, please contact Oakwood Cleaners (www.oakwoodcleaners.com).
All images courtesy of Oakwood Cleaners.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Our Featured Advertisers!, Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Eco-Friendly Weddings
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