Choosing Your Wedding Color Palette

May 12, 2013 by Grand Central Party

Choosing your wedding colors can be great fun. You get to think about the style of wedding you want, your favorite colors, and any special elements you want to include. However, for many couples, it can be a challenge.

Colors all have traditional meanings, and that can be a help choosing a base color scheme if you’re completely stuck. Red, for instance, means passion and love, while blue means faithfulness.

However, when you’re putting together the overall look of your wedding, you’ll want more than just a single color. You’ll want to choose a whole wedding palette that can be applied to everything from your chair covers and table cloths to your menu.

Once you have your main color — the one your bridesmaids will wear — consider that shade’s other hues, as well as contrasting and complimentary colors. Think about what can make your main color pop and look a bit more interesting as it goes across a big space.

If you aren’t sure what to choose for your color palette, ask an expert! If you’re planning a Nashville wedding, we’re happy to help you figure out the perfect color palette for your big day, so get in touch!

Lounge Areas Perfect for Weddings

May 4, 2013 by Grand Central Party

We’ve all been to weddings where the only seating was the chairs at the tables. Even when everyone moves to the dance floor, the only choice is to sit where you ate. That’s where a great wedding trend comes in — lounge areas!

The idea of a lounge area is to give your guests a place to relax away from the dance floor. It’s a place to sit comfortably and have a conversation, or just enjoy a drink.

A lounge area is also a wonderful place for you and your new spouse to sneak a quite moment alone. You’ll welcome a comfortable seat where you can put your feet up and just watch everyone having a great time.

Of course, many venues don’t have a lounge area as part of the reception space. This isn’t a problem, though, as you can rent lounge furniture and turn any room into a special lounge.

To find out more about how you can rent lounge furniture for your Nashville wedding, give us a call!

Michael Jordan’s Big Wedding Tent

April 29, 2013 by Grand Central Party

When a basketball superstar marries a gorgeous model, they can pretty much choose any venue they want. For Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto, the venue of choice was the biggest ever wedding tent a short walking distance from their Florida home.

jordan_wedding_tent

The 40,000 square foot tent was set up at the Bears Club, the Jack Nicklaus golf club in Jupiter, Florida. It was actually around 5,000 square feet larger than their nearby mansion!

The photos of the tent show how it was broken up into a number of rooms for the couple and their 2,200 guests to enjoy. The air-conditioned tent included a reception area, main dining room, ballroom, outdoor band stage, and a separate block of bathrooms.

While the couple could have chosen any type of venue, it’s interesting that they chose the freedom and creativity of a tent. Using a tent for a wedding means you can make the venue do whatever you want it to, and be whatever you want it to be. You aren’t limited by a building’s architecture, which can allow you to be really creative and flexible.

If you want to find our more about how a tent can be used for your Tennessee wedding, give us a call today!

How To Throw a 1920′s Gatsby Themed Wedding

April 22, 2013 by Grand Central Party

That’s right!  The Great Gatsby is coming to theaters May 10th.  Brides have already proven that it’s made an impact on the wedding world by their 2013 wedding trend: 20′s Inspired Gatsby Wedding Themes.   We’ve already seen it’s head rear with the 2013 wedding color scheme of cream and classic black.

great-gatsby-wedding-inspiration

Another Gatsby inspired wedding trend;  chandeliers and drapery.  Here are a few other 1920′s Gatsby wedding trends:

  • Your bouquets could easily be a focal point just by adding some feathers and pearls. Just those 2 small additions change the style and up the glam.
  • Big, fanned out feathers as centerpieces.
  • Headbands, beads, the makeup, it is all so GLAMOROUS!

We know of some fantastic tricks to do with drapery and tents to make your 1920′s Gatsby themed wedding fabulous.  Please give us a call and let’s chat about your vision.

 

How to Start Planning a Tennessee Wedding

April 15, 2013 by Grand Central Party

You’ve said yes and the wedding date is set…now what?  First things first, create your guest list and choose a wedding location.  Why are these the first things you should do?  Because it allows you to “build” your entire event.  Without knowing how many people are coming and where the wedding and reception will be held you won’t know how many flowers you’ll need, chairs and tables, decorations, food, favors, etc.

You’ll notice via a Google Search that wedding planners highly recommend you “draw” the layout of your wedding and reception area in order to get a better understanding as to where tables, chairs and decorations will go.

Wedding Tent Rental Nashville

To help, click here to download a .pdf of a wedding venue Layout Sheet.

  • Next, rent or purchase wedding decor.  Did you know that you can easily figure out how many chairs and tables you’ll need to accommodate your guests?  How?  By using our Space Planner Software.  Grand Central Party Rentals is one of the only companies in Nashville that have such software and it’s been called a lifesaver.  Don’t rent more than you need.  Figure it out now by clicking here.
  • Choose your other wedding professionals and give a copy of your “design” to each one.  That way, everyone will know where they’ll need to set up and how much space they have.

Need help choosing professionals?  We can recommend wedding caterers, entertainers, dj’s, bakers, florists and event planners.  Please get in touch and we’ll help bring your wedding dreams to life.

3 Ways to Use Your Wedding Theme

April 7, 2013 by Grand Central Party

If you, like many of today’s brides, have a wedding theme, you might be wondering how to work it into your wedding. Having a theme isn’t enough – you’ll also need to have some ideas about how to use that theme.

Theme Wedding Ideas

  1. Décor is probably the most obvious way to use a wedding theme. Whether you are having an indoor wedding or outdoor wedding, a theme can be used in a variety of ways. From props to centerpieces, your theme can show up across your decoration.
  2. Food is another easy way to bring in your theme. This can be directly part of your menu, particularly if you have a theme based on your family heritage, or in the way your food is presented.
  3. Favors can be a way of giving your guests a bit of your theme to take home with them. Whether it’s a special shell ornament, a scented candle, or something handmade by you, it can be an easy thing to tie into many themes.

If you’re planning a theme wedding here in Tennessee, get in touch with us to find out how we can help get your venue perfect for your theme.

4 Ways to Use Your Wedding Theme

If you, like many of today’s brides, have a wedding theme, you might be wondering how to work it into your wedding. Having a theme isn’t enough – you also need to know what to do with it.

Food: Nautical theme? Try serving a seafood buffet. Working your theme into your menu is a great way of bringing it into your menu. It can give guests something special to eat – rather than just the chicken or beef choice – while also showing off your theme.

Décor: This is probably the most obvious way to bring a theme into a wedding. When you have your theme, incorporate aspects of it into your wedding decorations. This can be as subtle or as over the top as you want, too. Some couple prefer a nod to a theme while others want to transport their guests into their theme.

Attire: If you’re having a vintage theme, consider a vintage gown for the bride and a vintage suit for the groom. You can also request that guests arrive in theme-specific attire, but do be prepared for a few objections.

Favors: When you give your guests something to remember your wedding by, make sure it fits into your theme. A rustic Italian wedding can be a chance to give your guests a bit of pottery, or a coffee-scented candle in an espresso cup. Be creative!

Are Smartphones At Weddings A Bad Thing?

April 1, 2013 by Grand Central Party

Smartphones at weddings are one of the modern bride’s etiquette dilemmas. On the one hand, most guests will show up with them and they can be great for photos. On the other, you don’t want people live-tweeting your ceremony.

The use of smartphones for photosharing can be a great addition to weddings, and can make it faster and easier to get the candid shots that you once had to hunt down from guests. Of course, this can mean instant access to photos, but that isn’t always a good thing.

The candid photos your guests have taken might not show you (or others) in the best light, and might make you cringe. Many brides would prefer to see the official photos first.

Of course, the main part of the smartphone debate comes down to the distraction factor. Like any cell phone, they can be a nuisance if a guest leaves the ringer on or does the unthinkable and replies to texts or takes calls during the ceremony.

However, smartphones have added distractions built in, such as Facebook, Twitter, news apps, and games.

One way to keep smartphones in check is to include your smartphone wishes in your day. This can be a polite note in the invites, and a reminder of it at the venue.

To find out more tips about wedding planning, and potential worries, get in touch with us to find out how we can help make your big day something extra special.

 

Spring 2013 Wedding Trends

March 25, 2013 by Grand Central Party

With spring officially here, it means wedding season is going to be upon us before we know it. This year we’re expecting lots of great wedding trends that make the most of the season.

Spring wedding trends

  • Pastel colors are a spring standard, and 2013 is no different. This year’s pastels are showing up in the usual places — flowers, cakes, decor — but also in a lot of bridal gowns. Look out for lots of pale pink and mint green this season.
  • Fresh foods are going to be bigger than ever. With food scandals as a backdrop, the desire to have fresh, seasonal, local foods will be huge. This is great for everyone, and will mean some very creative and delicious meals.
  • Bird themes are set to be popular. Bird designs have been gaining popularity, and they’ll really find their own with spring weddings. They’ll be showing up in silhouette designs, cake toppers, and more. As part of this trend, we also expect plenty of ornate bird cages to be dotted around venues, too.

To find out more about this season’s biggest wedding trends, or to find out how we can help with your Tennessee wedding, get in touch today!

Setting a Wedding Budget

March 17, 2013 by Grand Central Party

When you plan a wedding, one of the most important things to figure out is your budget. A wedding can come with a big price tag, and without knowing your budget you can quickly find yourself starting your married life buried in debt.

Wedding Budgets

The average Tennessee engagement is a little less than a year, meaning you have a lot to figure out in a short amount of time. Knowing your budget at the start can make every part of your planning easier.

For example, you’ll be able to know how many guests you can afford to invite, and what to include in your big day. When you meet with wedding vendors, it can make the process much smoother if you know what you have to spend, too.

If you’re planning a wedding or other event in the Nashville area, give us a call. We can help you figure out the details that can make your event great.

Wedding Planning: Indoor vs. Outdoor

March 10, 2013 by Grand Central Party

When you’re planning your wedding, there are a lot of decisions to make. As you decide on a venue, you’ll also need to figure out whether you want an indoor wedding or an outdoor wedding. Each can have its own benefits and challenges.

Indoor weddings

Indoor event

Pros: An indoor wedding is weather-proof. Whether it rains, sleets, snows, or is blisteringly hot, you and your guests are completely protected from the elements.

An indoor wedding also gives you easy lighting options, meaning it’s perfect for day or evening receptions.

Cons: An indoor wedding can slip into feeling like a meeting, especially if you don’t do extra decoration of the room, such as chair covers and table linens.

Indoor weddings can also mean you miss out on things like a gorgeous sunset ceremony, or the twinkling lights of a candle-lit path.

Outdoor Weddings

Outdoor event

Pros: An outdoor wedding isn’t limited to a specific room. This means you can set up your wedding and reception however it suits you, whether the dance floor is in the middle or everything is centered on the cake.

Outdoor weddings are instantly relaxed. Being outside, your guests will enjoy the fresh air, making it a more relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Cons: The weather can hit you. Of course, this can be handled by renting a wedding tent, but you still might have guests complain about having to eat al fresco.

You still might want indoor access. Consider things like bathrooms and food preparation areas for your outdoor wedding. Will you be next to a building, or will your guests need other facilities.

Whether you opt for indoor or outdoor for your wedding, we can help you with all the rental you’ll need, from dance floors to table linens.