Friday, February 10, 2012
Sara and Peter, whose wedding we selected to feature today, offer great inspiration for classic Nashville brides. They chose favorite Nashville landmarks that are beautiful on their own. Then they worked with Regalo Design to complement that beauty, adding only minimal yet well-thought wedding decor.
Sara + Peter
Date of Wedding ~ October 8, 2011
Ceremony Venue ~ Scarritt Bennett Wightman Chapel
Reception Venue ~ War Memorial Auditorium
Guests ~ 175
My Budget
$20,000 – 50,000
My Wedding Team
Planner | Regalo Design
Floral Designer | Regalo Design
Stationery | Regalo Design
Photographer | Skipper Photography
Gown & Accessories | Arzelle’s
Groom’s Attire / Groomsmen Attire | Men’s Wearhouse
Bridesmaids Attire | Arzelle’s
Hair | Gloss Salon
Makeup | Gloss Salon
Ceremony Musicians | Conni Ellisor - Violin/Piano, Betsy Lamb – Violin, Carole Rabinowitz – Cello, and David Hobbs - Trumpet
Reception Musicians | Band - The Downtown Band
Transportation | Signature Limousine Services
Caterer | Ribbons of Chocolate
Cake Artist | The Bake Shoppe and Sucre (of New Orleans)
Guest Accommodations | The Sheraton Hotel Downtown Nashville and The Renaissance Hotel
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
Our style is classic, yet understated.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We wanted clean lines, rich colors, and minimal décor. We felt the ambiance of both of our amazing venues provided a lot of the style we were hoping for and we did not want to take away from that.
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
Our favorite aspect of our wedding was having a reason for all of our friends and family that we love so much to have a reason to get together in Nashville for a weekend of beautiful weather, lots of love, and many laughs. Also, the rockin’ party bus for the wedding party – by Signature Limousine Services – and the photo booth (with props!) - by Skipper Photography – provided a lot of laughs throughout the day and into the night.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We splurged on the band – The Downtown Band – because music is important to us. It was definitely worth it because one of our most memorable moments from the entire weekend was when Sarah Goude, our wedding planner, brought us into to look at the reception all set up and decorate prior to the guests’ entrance into the War Memorial. The band was warming up and asked if we wanted to practice our first dance. It was the one time during the fun, event-filled weekend that we had a moment to ourselves. It was very private, intimate, and special!
We saved on our stationary and flowers thanks to our wedding planner with Regalo Design. They were able to design and print our stationary and design and arrange our flowers at cost because all of these services were included with their package.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
There is truly nothing we would do different because we loved the process and the entire wedding weekend. However, if we were to go back and do it all over again we would tell ourselves to trust our instincts (aka – our “guts”) when it came time to making decisions.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
You put so much time and energy into planning this event, so make sure you take time once the day arrives to step back, take it all it, and enjoy everyone and everything around you…it all goes by in the blink of an eye!
Photography by Skipper Photography
Absolutely beautiful! For more great pictures from Sarah and Peter's wedding visit Regalo Design's blog where you'll find more beautiful weddings they've worked on as well as links and information on their wedding planning services and packages.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Luxury Nashville Wedding Finds
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Thursday, February 9, 2012
It's daunting enough to find our own wedding dress and dresses for our bridesmaids, nevermind finding THE tuxedo for our groom. Grooms are getting more and more stylish and luckily, the folks at Street Tuxedo have the men's inventory and keep a pulse on what's fashionable and can help him achieve exactly what he seeks.
We're going to help you jumpstart your tuxedo shopping with some advice from Rachael Street of Street Tuxedo on details that should be heeded and when when to start shopping for his attire.
Picture by Gambill Photography
What is the one thing you feel is overlooked by grooms/brides who come in to get their tuxedo?
They do not realize that they can try on their selection. We feel that the groom should not have to pick his tuxedo from a catalog or mannequin. He should get the same experience the bride got while searching for her perfect dress.
Pictures by Mary Rosenbaum Photography
How can the bride help their groom with tux shopping?
She needs to be present and offer opinions. She also needs to understand that, like her, he may have an idea in his head of what he would look like on his wedding day. She should be sensitive to that. She should give him some direction as far as her dress color and bridesmaids dress color as well as the theme/style of the wedding.
What is a realistic budget for tuxedo rental (for the groom/ groomsman)?
Most times the wedding parties are large enough that the groom gets his free (rent 5, 6th free) The average price is $120-160, but we have classic tuxedos starting at $60. Groomsmen pay for their own more times than not.
Just a few of the lines Street Tuxedo carries. More here.
How do guys in other cities get measured for their tuxedos to send to you?
They simply go to any local tuxedo shop and ask for their measurements. The majority of tuxedo shops don't mind at all providing this service. Street Tuxedo does this several times a day for out of town groomsmen, we know where that gentleman will be renting his tuxedo if he ever needs one in the Nashville area.
On the day of the wedding, how should the guys care for their tuxedos and can they avoid incurring any damage costs or replacement costs?
We do charge a $5 accidental damage waiver (DW). This DW however does NOT apply to that groomsman that has had one too many break dancing on the dance floor or decides to take a dip in the pool, FULLY CLOTHED. We just ask that you would treat our tuxedo as if it were your own.
What are the return options? Does Street Tuxedo pick up?
Tuxedos are due back the next business day. They can return to any ST location, it DOES NOT have to be the location they picked up at. We do offer to pick up at local hotels/venues if arrangements are made in advance (fees may apply).
Picture by jHenderson Studios
Picture by Gambill Photography
Fall in love with your handsome groom all over again after Street Tuxedo makes him look awesome. We can't encourage you enough to start (and probably finish) with Street Tuxedo when you start shopping for the right groom's outfit for your wedding or if you need something for his groomsmen that will complement what your bridesmaids are wearing.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Grooms, Groomsmen & Tuxedos
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Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Noah Liff Opera Center is one of Nashville's newest and most stunning venues. For that reason alone, many Nashville brides chose it for their wedding location. By making their website more wedding-friendly and their packages more bride-friendly, they've simplified the planning process and become an even better option for Nashville weddings. Whether you are a wedding planner who likes building packages for your clients or a busy bride who doesn't want to fuss over table and chair rentals, the Liff packages allow you the flexibility to do-it-yourself or just show up and enjoy your day.
Here's what we're loving about The Liff and why you might want to add them to your locations to consider:
Images by Matt Andrews Photography, Scoobie's Photographic Images, and Martin O'Connor
Left, picture by Dove Wedding Photography. Right, picture by Divine Images.
ABG Notes: the opera room completely transforms thanks to beautiful lighting and draping. (Picture by Jonathon Campbell Photography)
The Noah Liff Opera Center now offers four different packages starting with Grande (250 guests), then Medio (175 guests), Piccolo (120 guests), and an a la carte DIY package. All of the prices are included on their website, which is SUPER helpful.
The first three are full-service packages that include custom lighting, rentals, linens, and custom floor plans for your reception as well as your choice of caterer from their extensive list. There is no charge for you to bring in your own alcohol when you sign on to these packages. If you'd rather pick and choose, the DIY a la carte package does not include linens, and each rental item is priced according to your order on top of the room rental rate.
Here are a few more things worth noting about the full-service packages:
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What you see is what you get - there are no hidden costs, no extra taxes, or service charges. They are open and up-front about the pricing.
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You have the entire facility for 12 hours for your event
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There are no price increases for weddings on Saturdays
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A facility manager is on site at all times with janitor fees, set up and break down of all rentals and equipment included in the cost.
What this means for you is complete convenience and a stress-free wedding day. Show up, get ready in their dressing suites, relax and go about your day knowing that your wedding is in good hands with the staff at the Noah Liff Opera Center. There are four event spaces that you can use, the more popular ones being the Ragsdale Family Lobby for cocktail hour and the Opera Studio for dinner. The lobby can also be set up for ceremonies if you choose to do everything at the Noah Liff Opera Center which then gets flipped by the staff and transformed into your reception area.
Left: Opera room set up with gorgeous lanterns (Picture by Noah Liff Opera Center). Right: The Ragsdale Family Lobby set up for a ceremony. (Picture by Joshua McCoy)
Picture by Gregory Byerline
You'd never expect such an elegant venue to be tucked away in the quaint neighborhood of Sylvan Park. Whatever your style, the Noah Liff Opera Center is a great blank space in which you can celebrate your wedding however your vision dictates. Not only do you have the experience wedding planner extraordinaire, Sarah Willard, as the venue's event manager, you also get an extremely comprehensive package when you book your event with them.
If you need a little more reassurance, check out what other people have said about having their event at the opera center on their Rave Reviews page. If you have any more questions, contact Sarah Willard to schedule a tour of the facility. Visit their website at NoahLiffOperaCenter.com and be sure to let them know that we sent you!
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
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Tuesday, February 7, 2012
"Now that's a couple in love!" That's what I said to my friend after leaving my meeting with Nyk and Cali of Cali Ashton Photography. Their newlywed love is sweet, pure, and unafraid of onlookers; a love I wish for all of my ABG couples. They truly care for one another and aren't afraid to express it non-verbally and subtly, which is probably why they are so great at capturing emotion via photos. They are also truly committed to the couples they photograph and their long term success together. They want your marriage to be as special as your wedding day.
Meet them and you will agree that they are a special hubby/wife photography couple. I'm honored to introduce you to them today.
About Cali Ashton Photography:
Main Contact: Nyk Huber
Phone Number: 615-598-6331
Email Address: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Website: http://caliashtonphotography.com/
Follow them via Twitter: @CaliAshtonPhoto
Become a Facebook fan: www.facebook.com/caliashtonphotography
How many years have you been in business? 4
How did you get started in weddings?
Weddings were always something that seemed overwhelming as a photographer at first. It wasn't until we really started to hone in on what we were most passionate about that we realized that wedding photography was right up our alley. We love photography, but even more than that we love people and we love capturing a story. When Cali and I started taking on weddings we fell in love with not only the impact we had on other people's lives but the impact they had on ours!
What do you like most about weddings?
What a hard question! Really though, the thing we like most about weddings is the marriage. Their story is one that will last beyond the wedding day and we love being there to make sure they remember that day just like it happened.
What’s your favorite wedding picture and why? Why?
Aside from our own wedding pictures, it changes all the time. We give our couples all their photos for them to put up on Facebook and as a photographer it sometimes confuses me when they pick a photo of themselves as their profile picture that I never would have picked. For the longest time I was dumbfounded, they weren't bad pictures but out of all the ones we gave them they weren't the best. One day it hit me.They see something in those pictures that I don't see, something that reflects their relationship that I couldn't possibly know about. All the creative processes and rules to photography that make a great photo "great" take the back burner when our brides see something in a photo of them that captures their feelings for one another. Those photos have become my favorite! Here are a couple others I really like too!
What is your service philosophy?
Keep the focus on the marriage, not a wedding event that ends when the bride and groom make their exit. Cali and I remember a lot about our wedding day and we know some of those special moments wouldn't have been the same if a photographer was in our face flashing away. We know when to put the camera down and allow those private moments to remain private. We also use zoom lenses to get those sweet moments from far away so we aren't altering the atmosphere by snapping those shots.
What are your strengths compared to others in your category? Why should a bride hire you?
Man, we know a lot of great wedding photographers and I wouldn't say we're better than any of them! Each photographer has their style and that makes a big difference in why a bride should choose a photographer for her wedding. Cali and I have a very photojournalistic approach to wedding photography. We get those 'posed' shots that the family wants but specialize on getting all the detail shots of the day. Being a young husband and wife team has done wonders for us in getting close to the bride and groom. Cali spends the first half of the day with the bride getting shots of them putting on their makeup and getting ready and I hang with the groom and do the same (minus the makeup). We are both real laid back and love to have fun and click real quick with the wedding party, I can't imagine doing anything else. What a great life!
Who are your 5 favorite Nashville wedding vendors – helpfulness, professionalism, style?
Oh man, there are so many. I think for us the location is what stands out the most. Front Porch Farms, Traveller's Rest, the Sam Davis Home, Chef's Market Weddings & Special Events
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Monday, February 6, 2012
Let’s face it, brides-to-be often splurge on the one big item for their day, their wedding dress. And sometimes, the cost of the gown breaks the bank. With this in mind, we’re overjoyed to announce the annual Goodwill Wedding Gala.
The Goodwill Wedding Gala is a one-day, bridal super sale that will take place on Saturday, March 17, at Goodwill’s Rivergate store. Trust us, the store will be transformed into a bride’s dreamland and will be filled with deeply discounted wedding dresses, shoes, veils, accessories, along with dresses for your bridesmaids, mothers, and rehearsal dinner. You want it and it will be there!
To learn more about the Wedding Gala, we took an extensive tour of Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee’s main processing plant, which is located in Nashville. We knew that the gala was a great way for brides-to-be to get crazy deals on dresses but we wanted to know about the organization and how the Gala benefits Tennesseans in need of help with their job search. Here’s how:
Betsy and Ashley of ABG. All photos courtesy of Scott of the Goodwill.
Brides-to-be: Get a deal on your dream dress and help someone in your community go from no job to a job.
For you brides-to-be, you’ll have the opportunity to shop among well over 300 new and pre-owned dresses all for less than $400! As a bonus, Nicholson Cleaners’ has graciously cleaned each pre-owned dress!
Previous brides: Donate your wedding attire, receive a tax deduction and help brides-to-be save!
For all you brides who’ve already walked the aisle, we encourage you to spread the word to donate your wedding attire – from your bridal gown to wedding shoes. Ask your bridesmaids to donate their dress.
Everything you and your girls donate (dresses, shoes, accessories, etc) is a tax deduction and will undoubtedly bless future brides. Can you imagine? Something that you loved on your wedding day can now be used to do the same for another love story! It’s time to clean out your closet and give. Stop them from just collecting dust and warm the heart of a new bride! All you have to do is donate your gently-used wedding items to Goodwill’s main office at 1000 Herman Street in Nashville or contact Natisha Moultry at 615-346-1665 to setup a pick up.
Bridal salons + clothing stores: Clean off your racks and make room for your fabulous new collections!
If you own a bridal salon, why wait for a sample sale? Instead, donate your dresses, shoes, veils, and any bridal items to the gala. No donation is too small; it’s tax deductible and will make room for the latest collections with little effort. Goodwill will even pick it up.
How your donation or purchase benefits Tennesseans with their job search:
What you may not know is that every donation helps fund Goodwill’s Career Solutions programs, most of which are free to the thousands of Tennesseans who visit each of the 17 Career Solutions Centers located in Middle and West Tennessee.
After taking a tour of Goodwill’s warehouse with Ashley last Monday, I write these words totally bewildered and nearly speechless. There’s no person out of reach. Every corner of Nashville’s warehouse radiates with purpose and hope. Hundreds of people are working each day at the processing plant simply because of the generosity of area donors. The company has 1600+ employees who work in a variety of departments within the organization, from the warehouse to teaching job skills.
Natisha of Goodwill (right) with Ashley and Betsy of ABG
With each donated item that is sold in one of Goodwill’s 30 stores in Middle and West Tennessee, 89 percent of the proceeds get poured back into the mission through free counseling services, job assessments, trade and skill classes, and many other programs. Almost all of them free! Goodwill is building workers from the ground up while inspiring them to dream big!
We were so inspired by our tour, including the wall quotes placed all over the facility.
Nashville bridal community: Let’s make a difference. At the 2011 gala, our donations and purchases generated revenue for the all the communities served by Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. Donate your wedding dress and accessories by March 12 or save the date to find your dream dress at Goodwill’s Rivergate store from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 17.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
Filed under: Attire - Bridal Gowns, Wedding Dresses & Accessories, Bridal Shows & Events, DIY & Budget Wed Finds
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