OK, OK. Weddings are not competitions. And they certainly do not have any real impact on the ultimate success of your marriage. But, if you’re a modern bride-to-be, chances are you may be feeling the pressure to out-do Carrie Bradshaw and Princess Diana. Brides today are inundated with advice to stay a step ahead of the trends on their journeys to the altar, even at the expense of becoming exhausted, confused and downright frustrated with the entire affair!

Well, oh-so-chic fiancée of 2008, remember that the best wedding for you is going to reflect your style, your love for your mate and the life that you have cultivated up to this moment. To ease your trip down the aisle, we gathered advice from some top wedding vendors in Nashville. Make good use of their professional prowess, and you’ll capture your essence with the style, elegance and ease of the pros who know. 
   
When it comes to jewelry, think like Tiffany.
“It’s almost impossible for us here at Tiffany & Co. not to think in terms of diamonds. And it’s no wonder that the Tiffany diamond is the standard used to symbolize the love between engaged couples. After all, no two Tiffany diamonds are exactly alike, but they are all extraordinary. We advise you to embrace the unique dynamic that makes your relationship special. Make sure everything about your nuptials compliments your personal style. The one thing you all have in common is that you are embarking on a life-long partnership that will produce and influence generations to come.”
—Brooke McClenny, Sales Manager, and Mark Steiner, Store Director at Tiffany & Co., The Mall at Green Hills, 298-5747, tiffany.com

It really is all about the dress!
“Time of year and location are always the first thing that we ask people. If it is a summer wedding, the gown will be very different than a sit-down formal affair. When it comes to gown design, what you typically wear for street dresses won’t necessarily translate. Wedding gowns are typically structured for specific body types. Let your bridal salon guide this decision. And when it comes to the bridesmaids, don’t make it a group decision! Always pick your wedding gown first. Be mindful of everyone else, but always make it your wedding day. All the gowns need to reflect you and your style and tastes.”
—Karen Kaforey, b.Hughes Bridal Formal/Signature Events, 297-7800, ​
bhughesbridalformal.com

A rose ... or tulip … or orchid … by any other name ...
“A bride needs to look at seasonal flowers. You get better value. There are a lot of flowers that are trans-seasonal. And for the beautiful accent flowers, use ones that are totally available and abundant. Work with your designer to choose things that are in season. Also, you certainly want to be fun, but there’s a wonderful fine line of being interesting and classic with a little tweak toward the contemporary and the bizarre! You want to look back in 25 years at the floral décor and see that it is as tasteful then as it is on your wedding day. It needs to be timeless while capturing the era in which you were married.”
—Joe Smith, Ilex For Flowers, 385-2800

Bon Appetit!
“Be patient! A lot of brides are so excited, they want to know everything right away. They think they can call you and have a proposal in hand next day. Weddings are custom events. If you really want yours to reflect your tastes, you must be patient! And, if you have a budget in mind, share that with the caterer up front. Every caterer needs to have at least a point of reference. And remember, finding a caterer takes a little detective work. But only talk to two or three; don’t go to 10. Look at photos and talk to friends who have recently gotten married. Do your homework on the front end.”
—Monica Holmes, Clean Plate Club, 661-5866, cleanplateclubonline.com

Let them eat cake!
“Find a professional you’re comfortable with, and be willing to talk about who you are. Know yourself and what you really want. Your cake should be able to convey that. Have as much information about your personal style available for your pastry chef. A lot of what we do is psychology … it’s not all about the food. It’s identifying what the bride wants and what works best for her family.”
—Juanita Lane, Dulce Desserts, 321-8700, dulcedesserts.com

One more piece of advice from us to you: the pros are a phone call away. Utilize the abudance of local resources, and be grateful you live in a city teeming with the best in all-things-wedding.  Here’s to the wedding of your dreams.

More Great Local Wedding Finds:

FLORISTS
Anita Huedepohl Aifd
205 Powell Place
Chesapeake Building
Brentwood, TN 37027
417-4710

Blooming Boutique Flowers & Gifts
4507 Charlotte Avenue
Nashville, TN 37209
(800) 392-8207 or 383-4310
thebloomingboutique.com

Branching Out Event Florist
1112 Clifton Lane #22
Nashville, TN 37204
385-1006

Emma's Flowers
2410 West End Ave.
Nashville, TN 37203
(800)-355-0202 or 327-0202 • emmasflowers.com

Eye Design Floral
791-4212‎
eyedesignfloral.com

Garden Delights Fine Florist & Gifts
2179 Hillsboro Road
Franklin, TN 37069
(800) 588-5899‎ or 599-9950‎
gardendelights.citymax.com/

Ilex for Flowers
4542 Harding Road, Nashville
385-3800

Joy's Flowers & Gifts
2412 West End Ave.
Nashville, TN 37203
329-3875‎
joysflowers1.com

Rebel Hill Florist
4821 Trousdale Dr
Nashville, TN 37220
383-1988‎ or 833-8555‎
rebelhillflorist.com

Raintree Florist
643 Devon Drive
Nashville, TN 37220
777-7246‎
raintreeflorist.com

Tulip Tree Inc
95 White Bridge Road, #102
Nashville, TN 37205
352-1466‎
thetuliptreeinc.com

Catering
A Matter of Taste Fine Catering
2401B Franklin Pike
Nashville, TN 37204
383-5530
amatteroftaste.ypguides.net/

A Dream Come True Catering
704 51st Ave N, Nashville
259-0848
adctcatering.com/

Ambrosia Catering
2605 Grissom Drive, # B, Nashville
254-3783‎
ambrosiacateringtn.com

Black-Eyed Pea Catering
1210 Briarville Road, Madison
(877) 304-2283
theblackeyedpea.com

Briarpatch Catering
1808 Hayes St., Nashville
329-4645‎

Cater to You
419-4342
catertoyou.net

Catering Company
850 Hillwood Blvd., # 6, Nashville
352-0527‎
eventsnashville.com

The Clean Plate Club
661-5866
cleanplateclubonline.com

Masterpiece Creations Catering
601 Commerce St., Nashville
742-2185‎
ovationsfoodservices.com

Unique Flavors Catering
4825 Trousdale Drive, # 234, Nashville
333-6259‎
uniqueflavorscatering.com

Wedding Cakes

The Bake Shoppe
1418 Church St., Nashville
321-2394
thebakeshoppe.com

Cakes by Shara
www.cakesbyshara.net
513-1500

Classic Cakes
912 Sunny Hill Road, Brentwood
373-4100

Dessert Designs
850 Hillwood Blvd., Nashville
354-9555‎
dessertdesignsbyleland.com

Dulce Desserts
Address: 1207 Villa Place, Nashville
321-8700‎
dulcedesserts.com

Nashville Cake Creations
904 McGuire Court, Brentwood
430-6374‎
nashvillecakes.com

Signature Cakes by Vicki
615-513-2266
signaturecakesbyvicki.com

The Sweetest Day
533 Highcrest Drive, Nashville
833-2965‎
thesweetestday.com

 
Jewelry Stores
Barker Diamond Company
2200 21st Ave. S., Nashville
292-1212‎
barkerdiamond.com

Brentwood Jewelry & Gifts
7012 Church St. E., Brentwood
373-5959‎
brentwoodjewelry.com

Cindi Earl
5101 Harding Road, Nashville
353-1823

J Yontef Diamonds & Jewelry
4004 Hillsboro Pike, # B224, Nashville
383-9200‎
jyontef.com

Jerry Lindsey Custom Jewelers
5008 Thoroughbred Lane, Brentwood
373-2902
jerrylindsey.com

Tiffany & Co.
2126 Abbott Martin Road, Nashville
298-5747
tiffany.com

Village Jewelers
1716 21st Ave. S., Nashville
383-1226‎
diamondsandplatinum.com

Wedding Dresses

b.hughes Bridal Formal
4231 Harding Road, Nashville
297-7800
bhughesbridalformal.com

Bella Bridesmaid Llc
2817 West End Ave., # 219, Nashville
320-9659

The Bride Room
2209 Bandywood Drive, Nashville
297-9899

David's Bridal
1728 Galleria Blvd., Franklin
731-2721
davidsbridal.com/index.jsp

Muna Couture Bridal & Formal
3404 West End Ave., Ste. 207, Nashville
297-1053

Village Bridal
1814 21st Ave. S., Nashville
383-8896