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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Friday, February 3, 2012
Nashville is full of so many venues, and here we are sharing a venue we have yet to feature - the Gaylord Springs Golf Course. Yes, even with the Southern charm of Nashville, you can still have a lovely wedding on an award-winning golf course.
James and Shannon sent us their outdoor wedding to view and we were all too happy! They chose a more modern, but very classy venue for a very timless feel. Even with a vintage, classic edge, the couple still showed their personality and fun side by giving a nod to Shannon's hometown, New Orleans, at the reception.
All of the photos were captured (and so graciously sent to us) by Becca Yager Photography.
Shannon + James
Date ~ September 4, 2011
Ceremony ~ Gaylord Springs Golf Course (outside under the pavilion)
Reception ~ Gaylord Springs Golf Course (in the clubhouse)
Guests ~ 180
Budget
$20,000 – 50,000
Wedding Team
Photographer | Becca Yager
Planner | A Magical Affair - Jennifer
Videographer | Josh Martinez, Cine Shot Productions -- wedding video
Gown + Accessories | Ballew Bridal and Formal Salon (Collierville, TN)
Groom’s + Groomsmen Attire | Street Tuxedo
Bridesmaids Attire | Satin pencil dresses from White House | Black Market
Hair | Shauna at Elegant Hair Expressions
Makeup | Andrew, Green Hills MAC
Stationery | Jaron Jackson: Graphic Designer, Etc
Florist | GreenFinch Floral Design (Denise Bann)
Ceremony Musicians | St. Kellye was the vocalist and Kevin Mathews and Jarvis Simms musician
Reception Musicians | DJ Zoom from Memphis TN
Transportation | Nashvilleweddingcars.com
Caterer | Gaylord
Cake Artist | Gaylord
Guest Accommodations | Radisson Gaylord
My Wedding Details
How would you describe your style as a couple?
I consider our style to be unique. We feel that fashion has no rules so we express ourselves accordingly. For our wedding we chose a vintage look because we feel that we have a classic/ timeless love for one another. We wanted to pull from the authentic feelings of romance from the past.
How did you incorporate that style into your wedding?
We had a vintage style wedding. The style of our wedding was incorporated in numerous ways. First, we wanted a vintage feel through our color scheme. We chose classic ivory and black as our décor with a pop of lime green in the florals to add some drama. Our bridesmaids wore black pencil style knee length satin dresses. My vision to execute the vintage feel included their hair being pulled into a side bun with makeup that included false eyelashes and a statement red lip.
The groomsmen were dressed in black tuxedo jackets and ivory pants. They all wore black bowties and cummerbunds. We chose a slimmer fit for the tuxedos to execute our vision. The groom wore a slim ivory tuxedo with black bowtie and cummerbund and I was dressed in an ivory full lace gown. I wore my hair pulled to the side and my veil was a birdcage vintage look.
Our ceremony was under a pavilion, which I feel added to the style and romance of our ceremony. The chairs were wooden and had lace cloth wrapped around them. The groomsman walked the bridesmaids up under umbrellas and I was dropped off at the ceremony in a classic green vintage car. There was a slight rain that added to the style (totally not planned).
The reception was located at the same venue. There were floor to ceiling windows and an amazing view of Gaylord Springs. We wanted an open lighting and we choose ivory tablecloths with black sashes. We had dainty centerpieces with twigs and stones. We really wanted the romance of the reception venue to speak for it itself with minimal décor. I am originally from New Orleans so we had a second-line celebration and we had decorative umbrellas placed behind our head table. As we left our guest threw rice and we rode away in our vintage car. (see exit image below)
What was the favorite aspect of your wedding?
Our favorite aspect of the wedding was the love. We wrote our own vows, therefore our ceremony was very intimate. Many of our guest pointed out that the love that we have for each other was felt throughout the ceremony.
At the reception we made a point to inhale every moment. We got our food to go because we knew we would have a hard time eating. We spoke to every single guest and danced as if the party would never end. We truly enjoyed ourselves. The fun at the reception and love displayed at the ceremony was our favorite aspect of the wedding.
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Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
We splurged on our venue. James and I wanted our guest to have an ideal experience. We paid for an open bar for our guest and picked an awesome menu, and that was the bulk of our cost. We saved our money through all other vendors. James located the best deals in town on our florals, photography, videography, graphic designs, and our car.
Now that the wedding day is over, is there anything about your planning process you feel you could have done differently?
Because our guest did not stick to their RSVPs, we would have gone lower with the guest count. We paid for food and liquor that wasn’t consumed.
In one sentence, what words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Have fun with this, relax and enjoy this moment.
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Posted by Ashley of Ashley's Bride Guide |
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Thursday, February 2, 2012
Happy February!
Ashley with iHospitality, here to give you a monthly dose of all things green in Nashville. As I began making a checklist for my own upcoming wedding, I thought it would be cool to share some green tips that can easily be incorporated into your big day..
1) Choose vendors that give back
Many vendors are starting to give a percentage of their sales to local charities or environment groups. Why not sleep easy knowing your wedding made a positive footprint in the world?!
Catalyst Weddings & Events is a wedding planning service that works with brides on ways they can contribute to charitable organizations with their wedding.
Celladora Wedding Photography donates a portion of their wedding photography profits to the charity Water.org (Picture courtesy of Celladora Photography)
2) Reduce your guests' travel
It is always great to choose a location where you can have your ceremony and reception in one place (like Houston Station, Cedarwood, or Nashville City Club) or at least in close proximity to the majority of your guests, cutting down on un-needed transportation. If a combo location is not an option, consider a location where guests can walk to their hotel after your reception. If you reception isn't centrally located, inquire with the venue and see if they offer a complimentary shuttle to transport your guests in bulk to their hotel or to the airport for departure (Sheraton Music City and Holiday Inn Express have complimentary shuttle service to airport).
The downtown Nashville Hilton is centrally located to lots of fun activities and great wedding venues for your guests' convenience. (Picture courtesy of Hilton Nashville Downtown)
3) Eliminate flowers by using props to decorate your tables or recycle your flowers
Centerpieces do not have to always be flowers: candles and lanterns are a great alternative to cut flowers. Live plants can also compliment your guest tables. Remember, the first goal is always to reduce your impact on the environment. You will always have options that still fall inline with your wedding decor. If you must have cut flowers, make sure to offer your centerpieces to guests at the end of night instead of tossing them in the trash.
Tissue poms made from recycled paper and tons of other recycle/used items became centerpieces in this eco-friendly wedding. (See more here. Picture courtesy of LaPhotographie)
The hand-made fabric bouquets from this Nashville wedding means no extra costs on flowers that will just wither. (Picture by Pear Image Photography)
Venues like Cedarwood use salvaged, recycled materials to achieve the looks of their beautiful weddings. (Picture by Cedarwood)
4) Consider locally grown and in season food
Always request a local, seasonal menu when working with your caterer or venue. This supports your local community and allows you to receive natural, fresh ingredients. Also, make sure to work out a plan with your coordinator or venue to donate any unused food to your local food bank or shelter.
For a comprehensive list of Ashley's food recommendations go here.
Local restaurants and chefs like Jeremy Barlow of tayst and Local Kitchen Catering provide great food made from local ingredients. (Pictures by tayst)
Perl Catering uses locally sourced ingredients, decreasing and limiting the carbon footprint and keeping your wedding catering delicious and eco-friendly. (Pictures by Perl Catering)
5) Serve your beverages in bulk
It is always great to serve up your beverages in large containers. This helps to eliminate massive amounts of packaging and single use bottles. The less items in the trash, the better.
Caterers like Chef's Market have the means to serve drinks in decor-friendly containers that hold enough for everyone.
Rental items (such as these from Southall Eden) can take the place of bottled drinks to cut down on trash.
This quick checklist is great to reference through out your planning process. Going green does not have to be a hassle but a fun way to set your wedding apart, while making a difference.
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Posted by Green Nashville Weds |
Filed under: Advice & Planning, Eco-Friendly Weddings
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