Finally…Professional Wedding Planning Package for D.I.Y. Brides, From Regalo Design!!!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

If you are a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) bride, you probably come from one of two camps - either you are the next Martha Stewart and craft like no other and want to ensure your wedding has your personal stamp all over it OR you have a limited budget.  Either way - you're smart enough to know you will need a wedding planner in some capacity, especially when it comes to insight on your budget and wedding day-of timeline.  

The truth is, some wedding planners are wiling to help DIY brides, others aren't. Regalo Design is one of wedding planning company that is wiling to help the DIY bride. They have years of experience with DIY brides and have added an affordable new service just for you...

...Introducing the Regalo DIY bride consultation package!

When Damon and Sarah Goude of Regalo Design got married, Damon told us that Sarah was the one who planned and did everything right down to the last detail - "It can be done but even so there were still things she looked at and said, 'I wish we did this or that differently.'"  To avoid that inevitable moment of hindsight, Regalo Design created a $150 consultation package together for you so you don't spend that day worrying and you can execute with ease. What does the package offer the DIY bride?

Left: the Regalo studio; Right: Damon and Sarah

Vendor Recommendations

Regalo Design will, without bias or commission, recommend vendors for every detail you need and will put together a checklist specifically for your wedding that they then will email to you to keep. Regalo Design is a very do-it-yourself driven company that designs and creates unique decor for their brides so they will know the best places you can go to find the materials you'll need.

A Custom Checklist

When you meet with Damon and Sarah, they will go through your ideas for your wedding day with you and help fill in any blanks where necessary. "Sometimes couples don't realize how much actually goes into a wedding, that there are details that often go overlooked. This makes sure you are covering your bases."

After that personalized checklist is finalized and the notes are taken, Regalo sends it all to you to keep and use. We asked if there was anything to bring to the meeting and Damon said, "bring pictures, flower ideas, decor ideas, a schedule if you have one ready and we can make improvements to it if necessary."

Expert Answers

Maybe you want to create your own centerpieces and have certain looks or flowers in mind but have no idea where to start or what to budget. Or you have some guest list questions or etiquette questions for which you can't find answers. Regalo will answer those questions and honestly advise you so you tackle your DIY wedding with confidence. 

Images: Ace Photography

Very rarely will you have access to this information without full-on hiring a planner so definitely take advantage of this wonderful offer from Regalo Design. "We just want to make sure you have it all planned out and you’re taking mental snapshots of the wedding on the day itself and not making a list of what you wish you could have done differently." Book your consultation with them today, whether you're at the start of your planning process or deep in the midst of it already. Click here for the registration form and be sure to let them know that you're an ABG bride!

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Posted by Tabitha | Filed under: DIY & Budget Wed Finds, Wedding Planners & Coordinators 0 comments »

2011 End of Year Roundup - Our Favorite Nashville Weddings

Friday, December 23, 2011

We are ending the week with our overall favorite Nashville Real Weddings from 2011. While this is not an easy task, the weddings below are stunning, unique, and overall flawless.

1) eHarmony Love: Kate + Justin's Zoo-Inspired Wedding

Married: May 28, 2011

The two met on eHarmony and fell in love. Then, giraffe keeper Kate married Justin at Scarritt Bennett with a Houston Station reception. The whole day was zoo-inspired with vintage touches; from a giraffe topper to venue's exposed brick.  See more of this wedding here.

Planner: Austin Floyd with Last Minute Planners; Venue: Scarritt Bennett & Houston Station; Photos: Krista Lee Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG

2) Miranda and Grant's Ecletic Garden Wedding

Married: May 14, 2011

I am a big fan of intimate weddings.  I think it takes a lot of guts to slash that wedding guest list in half and focus on what the two of you really want.  Not only did Miranda and Grant keep it intimate, they were not afraid to mix gutsy flair with traditional details.  You can see their personalities throughout their ceremony and reception and you can tell that they had FUN!  CJs off the Square is always a great backdrop for an outdoor Tennessee wedding and Ace Photography captured the essence of their day splendidly.  See the full wedding feature here.

Planner + Venue: CJ's Off the Square; Photos: Ace Photography; Loved by Ashley of ABG

3) Bethany + Jay's Franklin Wedding

Married: June 2011

The stunning bouquets and flowers throughout are enough to take your breath away, but then you see the ruffled wedding cake that favors the bride's ruffled dress... Oh my! The details are astounding. For all of the University of Tennessee fans, make sure to check out more photos on Evin's blog - including one of the groom's cake (a replica of Neyland stadium!).

Monogrammed Decor: Bella Grace by Bethany (the bride)
Venues: Brentwood Baptist Chapel + The Factory's Bldg 8; Photos: Evin Photography

4) Liesl + Dean's Intimate, Tuscan-Style Wedding

Married: October 20, 2011

This beautiful couple, shot by Kristyn Hogan, hail from South Africa and Australia. The two met in Florida on a yacht and were together for three years before tying the knot in an ode to the time they spent together in Tuscany. Between their story and their elopement on Mooncake Lake, I was enchanted and hope you are too. Read Kristyn's blog for more info and photos.

Planner + Venue: Historic Cedarwood (along with Jessica Sloane); Photos: Kristyn Hogan; Loved by: Meg of ABG

5) Corely + Jake Combine Two Families at their Opryland Hotel Wedding

Married: June 2011

A wedding in the Crystal Gazebo, celebration in the Magnolia Ballroom - with names like that and the added peacock theme, it's bound to be stunning! And the smiles on the bride and groom, as well as those of their sons, proves that this was a happy union. See Joe's blog for more from this happy day.

Planner: A Magical Affair; Coordinator & Venue: Gaylord Opryland Hotel; Photos: Joe Hendricks Photography

6) Jamie + Andy's Downtown, DIY Wedding

Married: April 30, 2011

Jamie impressed us earlier this year when we first shared her wedding, and we just can't get over it! All of the decor she did herself with the help of family and friends. Her amazing husband even DJed part of their reception. The whole day was an impressive success and in the end, they had a great wedding, but these two are more focused on the long term - having a wonderful marriage!

Venue: The Hope Center & The Anchor Fellowship; Photos: Pear Image Photography; Loved by: Sara of ABG

7) Cannery Ballroom Transformed for Julie + Nicholas' Elegant Summer Evening

Married: July 10, 2011

A simple , though lovely, ceremony at Scarritt Bennett would hardly have prepared these guests for the amazing site they would see at the Julie and Nick's reception. The Cannery Ballroom was transformed (in fact, you can watch the transformation on Dove's blog). Intricate details made the room jaw-dropping: crystal and wrought-iron chandeliers, flowers hanging over and overflowing on tables, monogrammed boxes, custom pieces, and even a suspended cake by Jay Qualls.

Planner: Elegant Weddings by Angela; Venues: Cannery Ballroom; Photos: Dove Wedding Photography

8) Sean + Thalia's Greek Orthodox Wedding

Married: July 2011

Greek Orthodox weddings are a true example of devotion and faith. During the ceremony, the bride and groom do not say a word to each other (no vows) as their presence alone is enough to state their devotion to one another. You've got to see the beauty in that! Following tradition, Sean and Thalia's reception was full of dancing, breaking of bread, and there was lots of style with the lovely draping. There was even a bit of teasing - see the blog photos for a shot of the groom with a bottle of Windex ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding").

Venues: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church + Durego; Photos: Joe Hendricks Photography

9) An Australian Marries an American at Kings Chapel: Suz + Philip

Married: October 2011

These two could be models, they are to lovely together! The ceremony took place at the intimate Kings Chapel and the decor was designed by Suz, who chose a vintage theme. Guests traveling from as far as Australia would not be disappointed as the reception hosted an espresso bar from Beve Coffee and chocolate covered marshmallows. See more of the design, treats, and venue on Evin's blog.

Venue: King's Chapel; Photos: Evin Photography

10) Great Gatsby-Themed Wedding: Liz + Jamie

Married: May 21, 2011

Liz and Jamie were married at Cedarwood's unique and amazing outdoor cathedral, with a reception reminiscent of The Great Gatsby. As Cedarwood puts it, moving to the reception, "guests were transported into a wonderland of high stepping vintage style." But words alone cannot do this wedding justice, instead see the full feature on Cedarwood's blog in Part 1 and Part 2, or watch the short video below.

Planner + Venue: Historic Cedarwood; Photos: Dove Wedding Photography

Nashville Wedding Video :: Liz + Jamie from Catchlight Cinema

Really and truly, these weddings are just a few of the highlights from this year. There have been so many great weddings of impressive scale with wonderful vendors; weddings that will be talked of for years to come, but we have one blog post and we must limit the amount shared!! But check out more great Real Weddings that we have featured this year and post your favorites to our comments or our Facebook page. We love being impressed by creative brides and planners!

So here is to a great year of weddings in 2011! We are so looking forward to what 2012 will hold!

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Posted by Megan | Filed under: Cakes & Catering, Photography, Real Nashville Weddings, Wedding Planners & Coordinators, Wedding Venues and Locations 0 comments »

2011 End of Year Roundup - Our Favorite Decor + Design From Nashville Weddings

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

As we continue our trek back through Nashville's 2011 weddings, we bring you the favorite designs and decor as submitted by the Ashley's Bride Guide staff and participating members of the Nashville bridal community. The only thing we regret is that we could only choose a few! Enjoy the ones we have the space to share.

1) Movie Theme at Carnton Plantation

A large percentage of the weddings we see here in Nashville have a Southern twist to them. It's definitely fun to see weddings, like this one from A Delightful Day/StudioWed, in which the couple puts personal touches to their Southern venue with a movie theme! As Kelly Stack says, "I loved the quirky quality of her details, the fabulous ribbon-bedecked biscuit bar and cake buffet, the open-air layout of her Carnton Plantation reception, the long rectangular tables and fruitwood folding chairs, the fabulous mix-and-match florals in vases by Brocade Design Arts, and the Southern cooking by A Dream Come True was heavenly."

Planner: A Delightful Day Event Planning; Photos: The Collection, Erin Lee; Loved by: StudioWed

2) Mason Jar Love

I love, love mixing antique china plates and mason jars, especially for an outdoor wedding; so of course, I had to choose this one! The bride and groom actually own a decor business, which created easy access to vintage decorations, and according to Cali, they toasted each other with Mason Jar wine glasses!

Decor: Not Too Shabby Designs; Photos: Cali Ashton Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG

3) Creative Fall Colors

ABG Blogger Sara loves all of these fall color options, especially those that vary from the typical red/brown/orange palate. More on the inspiration here.

Fall Inspiration: Historic Cedarwood; Photos: Rachel Moore Photography; Loved by: Sara of ABG

4) Eclectic Circus Theme

My first thought when I saw this wedding, it's cooky - in a good, fun way! Marathon Village is love for many indie, eclectic brides and this one takes the cake. From the ring bearers coming down the aisle in a circus wagon, to the elephant centerpieces, cotton candy, balloons, even the cake looked like a three ring circus! The overall theme was well displayed, but in no way tacky.

DIY Design by Bride & Family; Photos: Photography by Susie; Loved by: Meg of ABG

5) Eco-Friendly Options

Sara said that she really likes "the idea of such amazing decorations being eco-friendly since a lot of decorations for a wedding are just tossed at the end of the day." We all agree, which is why we love the green posts by Ashley of iHospitality. More eco-friendly decor options from the extensive decor inventory at Cedarwood.

Decor: Historic Cedarwood; Photo: Dove Wedding Photography; Loved by: Sara of ABG

6) Destination - Island of Ocean Blues

As a nod to our brides that marry elsewhere but take Nashville vendors with them, here is a beach side wedding that Kelly with StudioWed sent over. "Mary Alice & Leigh RAVED about this gorgeous wedding for months after it happened! The two of them flew to Fishers Island in New York (a "beautiful relic of a bygone era!") for this gorgeous summer wedding." -Kelly

Planner: A Delightful Day Event Planning; Photos: McLellan Style; Loved by: StudioWed

7) Victorian Elegance

I am always impressed or intrigued by photos from Ace Photography, which is why I constantly follow their blog. This elegance of this wedding in a Victorian home really is stunning.

Venue: Top O' Woodland; Photos: Ace Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG

8) Parisian Style

Sara loved this post because it displays all of the different options that brides have when they wed at Cedarwood. We all love this shoot that Kristyn did of French tablescapes - so romantic!

Inspiration Shoot: Historic Cedarwood; Photo: Kristyn Hogan; Loved by: Sara of ABG & Team

9) Backyard Wedding

When you hear "Backyard Wedding" it usually brings to mind a simple affair, perhaps thrown together at the last minute, but this is anything but that image. Doug and Lea actually built the pavilion below just for their wedding. It was an intimate wedding in regards to who they invited - only those with whom they had lasting friendships. The moment I saw the wedding, I fell in love and had to share! (Be sure to check out Joe Hendricks' blog to see more photos - including their rose pinata!)

Planner: Weddings by Mary Natalie; Photos: Joe Hendricks Photography; Loved by: Meg of ABG

10) A Wedding for All Seasons

This summer, the folks at Main Event Productions assembled a dream team of wedding pros for the open house of their new venue, Legacy Farms. The result was pure deliciousness and bridal eye candy! To demonstrate the diversity of the venue and its many options for the Tennessee bride, the design and decor pros styled each area with a different seasonal theme. You can view all of the images via Ace Photography's blog in a Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 series. However, below are Ashley's favorite's from the inspirational shoot. The beauty of such a wonderful inspiration being created in greater Nashville is that you can actually hire this dream team to recreate a similar look for you vs. coveting them from afar!

Inspiration Shoot - Venue: Legacy Farms; Floral Design + Event Styling: Enchanted Florist + Events Plus; Photos: Ace Photography; Loved by: Ashley of ABG

Share your favorite wedding design and decor from 2011 with us, either as a comment below or on our Facebook page. Keep watching for more of our favorites!

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Posted by Megan | Filed under: Advice & Planning, Details, Design & Florals, Wedding Planners & Coordinators 0 comments »

Not Convinced You Need an Planner? Simply Stunning Events Shares 4 Tasks Best Handled by a Pro

Monday, December 12, 2011

We have said it once, we've said it a hundred times: a planner is essential to having a truly successful and stress-free wedding. But in today's world of DIY, it is sometimes hard to see why they are such a key piece. You're a creative bride - you can choose your colors and design a centerpiece that you found on Pinterest. But wait.... who will call your cake artist when they don't deliver the cake on time and your reception is just hours away? You, the creative bride, are busy taking photos with your wedding party. So maybe you are one of the lucky few, and your wedding is problem free, but someone still needs to make sure the bridal party walks down the aisle ahead of you in time to the music.

Still not convinced? Or maybe, you're just thinking a day-of-coordinator will fulfill your needs (and maybe they will!). To understand the value of hiring a wedding planner, read through the tasks that Kristin, lead wedding planner/owner of Simply Stunning Events, has outlined for engaged couples.

Photo by Jen & Chris Creed Photographers

When it comes to planning your wedding, many people may tell you that hiring a wedding planner is well worth it - as having one can save you time, stress, money, and your sanity. Often though, it can be difficult to see exactly what value a good planner can bring as much of what a wedding planner does is behind the scenes. Wedding planners are most known for the obvious tasks of referring the best wedding vendors for your style and budget, helping to create a room layout for your reception space, and answering a myriad of questions you may have throughout the planning process, such as when to send out your save-the-dates or how many invitations you actually need to order.

It’s the little things that happen behind the scenes on the wedding day that typically make a good wedding planner worth their weight in gold. Here are four often-overlooked aspects of the wedding day that wedding planners can handle for you.

Photo by Chris & Adrienne Scott Photographers

The Timeline

Weeks before you finally put on that gorgeous dress and walk down the aisle to your groom, you’ll need to start developing a plan and a schedule for your wedding day. After all, many, many people are involved in pulling everything together and it must be timed just right so that the ceremony musicians play the right song as your mother is seated and the food is the right temperature when it is served.

Wedding planners don’t just create an overview of your wedding day; they are experienced in creating highly detailed production schedules that take all sorts of crazy minute details into account. They will have the foresight to be sure the linens are on the tables before the florist arrives with the centerpieces, or that the photographer has enough time built in to get all the group shots they need. Or the planner is there to ensure that the band is not trying to load in all their gear at the same time as the catering company, when there is only one loading dock at the venue.

Since wedding planners have witnessed so many events, they know precisely how long things will take and can make suggestions as to how to keep a good flow to the day.

Photos by Kristyn Hogan

The Flow

Speaking of flow, a good event has just the right mix of action and time for guests to relax and enjoy themselves. Wedding planners can help with scheduling the activities of the reception in a way that keeps people entertained and excited for what’s to come, but also doesn’t make your guests feel like there is so much going on that they don’t have a chance to eat, mingle, and dance.

On the actual wedding day, sometimes the timing can get a little off (photos run longer than expected or guests take a while to find their seats) and a wedding planner will work with the timeline on the fly and be sure that all the other vendors are kept up to speed on any changes. Planners often work very closely with your DJ, bandleader, or whomever is MC’ing your event, to be sure that everyone knows when the key activities such as the first dance or the cake cutting are happening. If you’ve ever been to a wedding where things appear to run seamlessly and effortlessly, chances are there is a wedding planner behind the scenes coordinating each activity, handling the flow of the event, and adjusting the schedule as needed.

Photos by Kristyn Hogan

Transportation & Guests

Another area that planners can be a great help on wedding day is managing the various forms of transportation and vehicles for both the wedding party and the guests. Often at weddings we plan, there are a couple of limousines or shuttles for the bridal party as well as larger guest shuttles that facilitate in getting the guests to the ceremony, then to the reception, and back again at the end of the night.

It is very helpful to have someone oversee this process and be sure that shuttles arrive/leave on time, and continue to run loops back to the guest’s hotels as needed. Especially when an event is occurring downtown, the shuttles can’t always park exactly where you need them to be, and often someone needs to be in charge of calling them when they are needed.

Photo by The Collection

The Set-Up Details

Lastly, it is the responsibility of wedding planners to handle all those tiny set-up details that tend to fall into the miscellaneous category.

Did you know that florists are not responsible for pinning boutonnieres and corsages? Or that caterers often do not place the table numbers or menu cards out? Don’t leave those tasks to a relative or close friend, as typically these sorts of tasks need to be handled while other very important things are happening such as your family portraits or the actual wedding ceremony.

Most wedding planners will take all your wedding “stuff” off your hands in the days or weeks before the big day (escort cards, toasting flutes, ceremony programs, favors, etc.) and make sure that they all get to where the need to go and that they are set up properly. They will also be sure that each table has the correct number of place settings, the napkins are folded the way you’d like them, the cake knife is on the cake table, and much more.

Photo by McCoy Made

When making such a huge investment of time and money for your wedding, it truly is invaluable to hire someone to pull it all together and the right planner will do that and so much more, so that you can relax on your wedding day and just take it all in!

Photos by Kristyn Hogan

Thanks Kristin for all the info! If you are interested in contacting Simply Stunning Events for more information or to hire for your planning needs, visit their website.

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Posted by Megan | Filed under: Advice & Planning, Wedding Planners & Coordinators 1 comment »