Bride Alert!!

Happy Friday!

There are a few wedding events going on this weekend that are great resources in helping you plan your big day! Bridal shows are a great way to meet professional wedding vendors in your area! ABG (www.AshleysBrideGuide.com) has a great review of The Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show held a few weeks ago at the Frist. Happy Hunting!

February 26-28th, 2009
Tara Keeley Trunk Show at Faccio (in Franklin, TN)

A great trunk show featuring the Tara Keely bridal collection. This is the first opportunity to see the collection in Tennessee!
Appointments are strongly recommended, and all purchases qualify for special savings.
RSVP: 615.778.9437 or info@facciobridal.com

Saturday, Feb 28th, 2009
94FM Fish Bridal Show (11a - 5p)
Where: Opry Mills mall
Free but be sure to register online

(http://wffh-fm.fimc.net/Article.asp?id=1092335)

ENJOY!!

October 2008 Bride & Groom featured in Jet Magazine!

I just wanted to share that Daren & Lovette Curry are in this weeks Jet Magazine!

They were married October 11, 2008!

Congratulations Daren & Lovette!

(Photo provided by Shanna Mahoney Photography)

"Sweet" Celebrations!

Over the past few years we’ve seen the candy buffet/bar appear more and more at wedding receptions. I love the idea of personalizing different elements of the wedding and reception around the bride and groom and I think a candy bar is a wonderful way of doing just that!

Another buffet trend that is becoming more popular is the dessert buffet/bar. This buffet/bar consists of one bite or individual servings of decadent confections! I love this idea as well because you can incorporate favorite desserts of the bride and groom!

Now that these two have become very popular, there are many more options for you to choose from! This trend can be about any favorite that the bride and groom! You can easily incorporate this idea for all different types of candy, desserts, popcorn, ice cream…the list just keeps growing and growing!

This trend is not just for weddings...you can add this to any celebration! Birthday's, anniversaries, open house, housewarming, baby showers, and bridal showers! The possibilities are endless!

Here are a few ideas on www.bride.com and www.marthastewart.com of a few candy and dessert buffets/bars along with a few container ideas…

Celebrations by Design has added custom candy & desset bars to our extended services!

Check back with us for the full details!

Check back with us for more wedding and event tips and inspirations!

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Another important decision in the wedding planning process is selecting your photographer. It is very…very important to be careful when selecting your photographer. You only have one shot at this and you can’t go back and take your wedding pictures over again. Your wedding photos will last forever and you want to make sure that your day is captured in the best way possible. Your happiness will depend on finding someone who can capture your wedding day in a way that you want to remember it. The sentiment, intimate moments shared between you and your new spouse, and not to mention the fun shots! As a wedding planner I’ve seen it all when it comes to wedding photos…trust me! And selecting the right photographer is priceless!

Here are a few tips on selecting ‘the’ photographer for you!

Style – No two photographers are alike. Photography is an art and your photographers are artists in their own right. Make sure you do your research when selecting your photographer. Attend wedding shows, browse the internet, and ask friends and family for referrals. View different photographers portfolios to determine which style appeals to you most and that should help narrow down your search.

Pricing – If you heard this once you’ve heard it a thousand times…”You get what you pay for.” Photographers can get a little expensive, but in the long run it’s worth it. Do not get excited because you found someone that was cheap…because that’s exactly what you are going to get. Remember…these are your wedding photos and these portraits will be passed on for generations to come and don’t you want your children and grandchildren to look at your pictures and be in awe at how good you looked on that day and feel the love that you two shared!

Expertise – Make sure that your photographer is experienced and shows you his work from several weddings. Make sure that he or she has experience and knows what they are doing. Ask for referrals in you need to…remember this is your wedding day and you should be able to trust your vendors.

Compatibility - This is just as important as your photographer style. You will be spending the majority of the day with your photographer. You want to feel relaxed with them and feel comfortable enough that you can express yourself without and pressures. Another thing that you need to avoid is photographers that will talk to you up until the day of your wedding and then send someone else to photograph your day. Make sure that whoever you initially talked with and feel secure with is the one that will be taking your wedding photos.

After you’ve selected your photographer make sure that you make a list of every shot that you want and make sure that you give this information to your photographer. This will ensure that you get the special shots that you want and if you have a great photographer it will be better than you imagined!

www.AshleysBrideGuide.com is a great resource for some of the most talented photographers in Nashville!

Good Luck and Happy Hunting! :-)

"MADEA GOES TO JAIL"

Today is the opening of Tyler Perry’s “Madea Goes To Jail”. This is a must see and I can’t wait to see it myself! Take some time away from your wedding planning and go enjoy the comedic antics of one of the most talented producers in the business! Trust me…you’ll be glad you did!

ENJOY!

"The" Dress...

Now that you are officially engaged…I know that you can’t wait to start the process of selecting your wedding dress! Choosing your wedding day attire is one of the most important decisions in your wedding planning process. Your gown should reflect your personality, style, and taste. Trying on various gowns in different styles is recommended and this will help you decide what style works best for you. When selecting your gown, you’ll want to make sure that timeless elegance is a key factor in your decision. You want to be able to look at your wedding pictures 10 years from now and still be as beautiful to you as you were on your special day.

Deciding on a silhouette is important as well. You want to select a gown that best compliments your figure. Do your research and know what you are looking for or at least want to try.

Here are a few explanations of the different gown types for your figure…

Ball gowns have very full skirts and generally will look beautiful on any body type, unless the bride is very short and small. In this case, it may be overwhelming to her small frame. Ball gowns generally either have crinolines built in or a slip you must wear to support the shape of the gown. Be advised that this extra fabric can be heavy and bulky and will require extra care to wear.

A-lines usually have a fitted bodice with a skirt that flares gently from the waist to form an "A" shape. They generally work for everyone as well, and are a terrific choice for someone who would like to hide lower body flaws, but does not want a ball gown. A-lines are not as full as ball gowns.

Sheaths flatter women with slim, balanced figures. They shouldn't be worn by brides who dislike their figures. This gown will not hide any flaws. If you think your thighs or butt are too big, you'll be miserable in this type of dress. Don't try to pull it off because you found a gown you love in this style. You don't want to risk being uncomfortable or self conscious on your wedding day, or regretting your choice every time you look at wedding photos.

Empire waist gowns have a skirt that falls from just below the breasts. Although usually listed with various waistline types and not always considered a type of silhouette, they are a wonderful choice for a casual, non-formal wedding, or weddings in a tropical climate. They're usually made of light, flowing fabric. They're also excellent for pregnant brides, because they provide extra room in the waist, making them a comfortable choice. They also won't draw as much attention to the belly as a dress with a lower waistline would.

I was searching on Brides.com and thought I would share a few dresses with you! These are a few favorites from Maggie Sottero and Demetrios - Princess Collection!

Check back with us for more helpful tips in planning your wedding!

You've said "YES!"...now what?

Valentine’s Day is known to bring out the hopeless romantics in us all and with that comes PROPOSALS! After Saturday…I’m sure there are some congratulations in order!

CONGRATULATIONS on your engagement!

Now that you have the love of your life AND the ring it’s time to begin the process of one of the most important days of your lives together! Here are a few suggestions to help you get the ball rolling!

SET YOUR DATE!! When setting your date consider favorite time of year, convenience for you and guests (especially if the majority of your guests will have to travel), vacation availability, city/state location, an idea of where you want the wedding to take place, and sentimental dates as well.

After you’ve decided on your date you can now determine the level of formality of the wedding you desire (Example…formal or themed), the wedding party, your guest list, and your budget. When setting your budget make sure you are including all contributing parties with having this discussion.

Once you completed this step it’s time to start finding your wedding vendors. Make sure you surround yourself with experienced professionals to insure your day will be its best AND stress free! A wedding planner/coordinator should be your first stop!

The best places to begin your search are the internet, local wedding websites…example for Nashville, TN…www.AshleysBrideGuide.com :), local wedding shows, local magazines, and newspapers!

Check back with us for more posts on how to begin your wedding planning! ;)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

I found this quote that I thought was a perfect fit for the great loves celebrating today!

"Within you, I lose myself. Without you, I find myself wanting to be lost again."

-By Unknown

Enjoy life...love...and most importantly each other!

Accessorize!!

Here are a few wedding and bridal accessories that I came across on etsy.com. These are elegant and timeless pieces that would add the perfect touch to your wedding!

Beauty on a Budget…Priceless!

I’ve always loved the different possibilities when it comes to bridal fashion. I’m working with a bride right now that wants to wear a bird cage veil instead of the traditional veil/ blusher. There was a bride on www.AshelysBrideGuide.com and few weeks ago that wore one and she looked beautiful! I thought her look was very chic and timeless!

During these difficult economic times some of these veils can get a little expensive. I did a search on www.etsy.com (one of my favorites!) and found a vast selection of affordable veils in different colors and with different accessories! Here are a few that I thought would add the perfect touch to any diva bride!

Invitations to DIE for!

I'm a firm believer that your invitations are just as important as your dress, flowers, and cake! Your invitation is the first impression of your event! Think about how many invitations you've received in the past and the ones that really got your attention were the events that you surely did not want to miss!

The following invitations are some of my favorites!

Tell me…how excited would you be if you received on of these in the mail? Would this be an event that would definitely be added to your calendar? I know it would be if it were me!

These invitation are available at

http://www.nickelsoninvitations.com/.

We've caught the BLOGGING BUG!

Celebrations by Design has joined the wonderful world of blogging! We love wedding and event planning/designing and all that comes with it! We are too excited about sharing our stories, favorite finds, along with design and life’s inspirations. Check back with us and experience all things grand in wedding and event planning!

Celebrations by Design…Designing celebrations for all of life’s precious moments!