As part of my new business resolution of Pay it Forward, here is the first free download.

Love the new paisley inspired wedding trend?  Enjoy these postcards with a paisley theme. These 7 postcards are in the newest colors. All of these postcards can be used for Save the Dates.  Of course, they can also be used for invites, parties, thank-you and much more.

Paisley is fresh and new again and appearing everywhere. This bright and graphic pattern adds pizzazz to your wedding elements.

These cards have been designed with classic colors as well as newer shades.  

Download Here

Technical Stuff:

Format: JPG

Size: 5.6 X 4.25

Printing Info: These cards can be used and printed through any software you prefer.  For affordable and easy printing, let me tell you about a great resource - Express Copy.   They will print a 2-sided color postcard and mail it to your address list for $.61 (or less).   Other sizes and options are available.  They have great pricing and very quick turnaround.  Their customer service has been great the few times I've needed it.    Simply upload your own design or use one of their large selection of pre-designed postcards.  

If you don't want them to mail your postcards, they can also just print them and mail them back to you.  Either way, this is a big time saver for busy brides. 

Enjoy!

Just like most brides, wedding planners have to stay very organized.  It can be very difficult when inspiration strikes while walking around shopping or sitting in traffic.  It isn't always practical to walk around with a folder of notes and photos either.

Now a great solution -

Evernote

.  After reading people rave about it on Twitter, I decided to give it a try.  I already love how organized it makes things.

First, Evernote is a free application.  Second, it has applications for desktop, web browser and mobile and they all sync together.

I use it to keep track of wedding trends and great ideas for my blog, as well as notes from brides.  You can jot down a note on your phone and then add onto later sitting at your computer.  With the web browser app, you can click one button and save the website you are reading.  Or just select the text and photos you want and save them for later, like when you are shopping and trying to remember which way that dress looked online.  Simply look up your notes on your phone.  Its a pretty smart application.

You can edit and delete notes just like any document.  You can also print and email from inside the app as well.

This is screenshot from my desktop app while making notes for new blog posts.

You can organize the notes inside of notebooks as well as add tags.  There is also a search function to help you find specific notes or topics.  The best part is that Evernote can recognize text within images as well as handwriting.  Want to keep track of your vendors, take photos or scan their business cards.  

You can also record audio notes and use the draw function to sketch. You are given a custom email address so that you can email things directly into your Evernote account, such as the floor plan from the lighting company or the rental list.

Brides, use this great resource to keep your wedding information organized and easily accessible.  Visit Evernote

Merry Christmas to all brides, recently married, just engaged or celebrating 50 years of happiness.  The holiday season is a great time filled with friends, family, happiness and goodwill.

For many brides planning their wedding, this is also a GREAT time to grab some bargains.  Almost every retailer has an after Christmas sale to mark-down holiday merchandise.  So stock up on ribbon, candles, electric candles, white lights, and so much more.  In addition to decor, some brides have confessed that they purchased cases of wine glasses, dishes, linens and so much more.  These are things they could not have afforded if not for this sale.

Beyond the traditional red and green, most items can be found in white, silver or gold or with gold or silver trim.  These are colors that can be easily incorporated into all weddings.  Some stores also offer decorations in pinks, blues, purples, etc - colors that can work for a lot of weddings.  Think large vases filled with pink or purple ornaments.

For the DIY bride, many craft supplies go on sale during this time as well.

Also think outside the box.  All those packaged gift sets of lotion, perfume and toiletries, can be repacked into nice guest baskets for the bathrooms.

If your wedding isn't too far after Christmas, all those chocolates and truffles can make nice favors or be used in hotel welcome bags for guests.  Also keep in mind the rehearsal dinner and other parties.

Happy Shopping

Deana and Phillip had a beautiful wedding at Lost River Cave in Bowling Green, KY.   The blue color scheme was used throughout the reception.  In keeping with the cave ambiance, all of the reception tables had gem names.

Here are a few photos from the event.  (For more of these great photos, see the photographers below)

VIP Bartending

Photographers:

 -

JenniGrace Photography

-

Monica Z Photography

Wildberry Catering - 615-812-1724

DJ - Scott Lewis 270-846-3020

Bradfield Stage Lighting

This holiday helps to remind me to be grateful for all the little blessings in my life...food, clothes, housing.  It also reminds me to cherish my friends and family and the most amazing blessings in my life.

I hope your life is filled with abundance and blessings this holiday.

This past spring I had the pleasure of working on a website launch party for ARC Design Build Inc, a green remodeling company in Huntsville, AL.    The event was held at downtown Huntsville's most eclectic historic venue A.M.Booth's Lumberyard.  The venue is full of unique decor and indoor/outdoor spaces.

 Events by Elaine provided planning, decor and event staff. We used a simple, muted color scheme with candles and some limited flowers. Here are some of the photos from my camera phone:

We filled these large cylinder vases with translucent gems and put lights inside for a great nighttime effect

We used simple flowers in the gold family of colors

We filled two dozen jars with candles and used them to light the walkway in the venue.

All the catering was provided by Emma's Tea Room.  The food they provided was fabulous and the presentation was better than most I have seen. 

The menu included a fruit and cheese tower made of glass shelving and vases with fruits cascading down. Fresh vegetable platters with dips.  Homemade crackers served with a variety of spreads.  Carving station  roast beef served with small sourdough rolls and gourmet mustards and aoli spreads.  Warm stuffed tomatos filled with cheese. Warm grilled vegetable skewers served with flavored dips and oils on the side.Warm homemade falafels with yogurt sauce on the side. Little freshly made fruit tartlets.  Brownie bites with freshly made whipped cream and berries chocolate covered strawberries.

Photos: Meishach Moore

In addition to the dessert by the caterer, there was a custom cake in honor of the event.  Look at this impressive cake by Slice at a Time.  Everything is edible except the computer screen, which is covered with edible decorations.  The actual cake (which includes the laptop and briefcase) is white chocolate and chocolate mud cake with layers of swiss meringue buttercream.  The coffee cup is all cake with fondue icing and raspberry fudge filling.  

If you are planning a corporate or event party, be sure to contact us to see how we can help you. 

Wedding planning can appear glamorous and fun.  However, for most brides it can amount to the workload of a second job.  There are also some unexpected bumps in the road.

Photo: Creative Commons

There are hundreds of books, websites and forums to get ideas and inspiration.  Unfortunately, all that creativity can also be overwhelming. How do you choose between fushia and pink?  It can be daunting to choose between  all of the fabulous options that exist.

Once you decide on the perfect flowers and cake, you realize how much its going to cost.  Everything costs money and it can be a little depressing to realize you can't afford to do all of the great things you planned.

So you decide to cut some costs by trimming the guest list and the catering menu.  That's the moment when everyone from your mom to your hairdresser starts giving you suggestions and telling you who to hire.  "We have to invite great-aunt Edna because she was invited to your cousin's wedding."   The one person who may not express any opinion or offer advice is your groom. Some guys just don't have a true opinion about all the little details involved in wedding planning.

While you can't avoid every detour and issue that arises, being aware can help you to step back and look at it as part of the process.  Try to take a few breaths and relax.  Stress only creates wrinkles (Oh, did we forget to mention that everyone will be talking about how you look.)

A professional day of coordinator can be your best resource for your wedding.  There are a lot of things they handle, freeing you to relax and enjoy the day.

helping the flower girl during the grand entrance....

Without a coordinator, you will be the contact for everyone from your out of town relatives to the caterer needing outlets.   A coordinator CAN be the point of contact for all vendors, the bridal party and immediate family.  A coordinator CAN'T shield you from everyone wanting to ask questions or from all the out of town relatives.

A coordinator CAN'T prevent all the issues and emergencies from occurring. We CAN have solutions for most of the common problems that arise.

A coordinator ISN'T psychic.  Since you have planned your wedding, your coordinator will need to know all of the smallest details to keep your wedding running smoothly.  A coordinator IS good at juggling all the details and timing involved in a wedding.

A coordinator CAN assist other vendors throughout the day, e.g. caterer, DJ or photographer.  A coordinator CAN'T do this if she is also supposed to be handling other tasks at the same time.  A good coordinator will also point this out to you while creating or reviewing the timeline.

A coordinator IS excited to see all of your idea come together on your wedding day.  A coordinator ISN'T a fairy godmother who can create extra centerpieces or decor if it wasn't planned.

Most coordinators WILL work long hours the day of your wedding and spend hours on their feet.  A coordinator WON'T know that you have planned for them to tear down and pack everything unless you have talked about this before.  Please communicate this beforehand so the coordinator can plan accordingly.

A day of coordinator can be your best investment for your wedding.  Just have realistic expectations of what they can and can't do for you and be sure to communicate what you need.

I had the pleasure of working at the wedding of Emily and Jerrod.  They were just the happiest couple, always smiling and laughing.

Their wedding was a gathering of family while showing their favorite thing - Tennessee orange.  They had their grand entrance to Rocky Top.

Cake: Hermitage Bakery
Photography: Lori Quarles Photography
Reception: Hermitage Golf Course
DJ: Mad Dog
Florist: Sandy's Florist and Gifts

When looking for a favor idea, it can be challenging to find something that guests will want and something that the bridal couple feels is important.

Here's an idea that might solve both.  Maple Syrup.  Yes, the simple stuff you pour on pancakes and waffles.

Maple syrup is made from Maryland to Vermont and along the Appalachian mountains from the sap of red and sugar maples.    Each year, large amounts of maple syrup is bottled by small family farms.   These farms rely on the sales of syrup to supplement income from other operations such as dairy farms and livestock.

Chris and Zea were inspired by peacock feathers for their wedding.  They used those colors in everything from the custom invitation to the bridesmaids dresses to the centerpieces and beyond.  They also used feathers randomly throughout.

The ceremony and reception was help in the Rymer Gallery downtown Nashville.

The table centerpieces were vintage blue and green vases the bride collected.

The cake was inspired by their favorite piece of artwork.  Instead of a groom's cake, they had cookie bars and milk shooters.

Photography: Gina Bilyeu Photography


Catering: Ambrosia Catering


Cake: Maples Cakes - Jay Qualls


Florist: Melissa Marie Floral Design

 It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. - Abraham Lincoln

For brides wanting a wedding in the mountains, western North Carolina is a perfect location filled with beautiful venues.  I frequently travel to areas of western NC including Boone, Hickory, Franklin, Cashiers and Smoky Mountain National Park.  Here are some venues centered around Franklin and surrounding areas.  

http://www.highhamptoninn.com/

http://www.highlandsinn-nc.com/wedding.htm

http://www.innsite.com/inns/A000191.html

http://www.skyvalleychapel.com/sky_valley_chapel_002.htm

http://www.smokymountainmansion.com/

http://www.theblueridgehighlander.com/millrace-farms-weddings-in-the-mountains/index.html

http://www.chaletinn.com/

http://www.fontanavillage.com/

http://www.castleladyhawkeweddings.com/

One very traditional dessert is becoming a non traditional item at many wedding - the pie.   Depending on the formality and "feel" of you wedding this might be an option for you.

Pies are fabulous instead of a groom's cake.  They are versatile allowing you to provide numerous flavors - fruit, cream, meringue, silk and so many more...

Mini pie display at a wedding reception (Affordable wedding photography)

The are inexpensive compared to the serving cost of a cake.  You could have a pie for each table for a much lower cost than an individual cake.

Pies can still be decorated or finished to look as appealing as cake without the cost.  Plus, you guests can find a flavor they love.  You can display them in many ways and add lots of Southern charm. 

Slices of pie (Sarah Gilliam photography)

For Middle TN brides, a great flower resource is Import Flowers on Murphy Rd off West End.  They offer a wide selection of flowers, stems and greenery.   The flowers are fresh and very pretty.  If you don't see something you want, be sure to ask.  They can purchase most any flower at auction and have it available within a week.

If you visit, be sure to bring a jacket year-round.  The big walk in coolers can be pretty cold.

I have gone on many "field trips" with my brides to look at flowers and we always have a good time.  The staff is always friendly and glad to answer questions about pricing, availability and color selection.   Here are some of the floral arrangements I have created from these beauties. 

Coffeebreak roses, baby kale, hypernium berries, poppies and cockscomb make a stunning brides bouquet. 

Sweet and simple hand-tied bouquet with lace

Kristen and Dustin were married on a beautiful day in downtown Nashville.  The ceremony was held at the Downtown Presbyterian Church, which contains both Egytian Revival architecture and decor.

At the end of the ceremony, the bagpiper let the guests around the corner and down the few blocks to the reception on Broadway.  Truly, a memorable moment.

The reception was held at the rooftop venue, Aerial overlooking the city.  The Groom is a member of the band,
Queens Boulevard, and during the reception the band performed a few songs for the bride and the guests.

Photographer: Mary Davidson Photography
Florist: Rachel Short Designs
Harpist - Heidi O'Gara Jellison
Bagpipes: Todd Boswell
Trolley: Air Apparent Group
Ceremony:Downtown Presbyterian Church
Reception: Aerial
Band: Nashvegas All Stars
Cake: The Sweetest Day
Caterer: Down South Delights
Videography: LookMom