Decorating a Tent? Or an Outdoor Space?

Recently a reader emailed me with a question about how to decorate an outdoor tent, and I wanted to share some ideas and photos that inspired me.

The first idea is not shown in a tent, but can easily be done for an outdoor tent wedding.
Paper lanterns can be purchased online or at party stores across the country in a wide variety of shades, shapes and sizes. This picture shows traditional white spheres that are about 36 inches in diameter.

Another way to light or decorate a space is by bringing in chandeliers (rentals or ones you find at flea markets, etc). This is a great way to add a variety of "feels" to an event, from formal to vintage to modern

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I love the vibe this image from La Cour in Atlanta gives off, it seems as if it is vintage without trying to hard. It also shows the third way to decorate, which is with tiny lights.

Chattanooga Bridal Show

image from J.Crew

Over the weekend, on Sunday, Premier Bride hosted its Semi-Annual Chattanooga Bridal Show. Premier Bride is a national bridal magazine and online planning site where you can find local vendor information. This was the first time the Chattanooga show has been in January and July, previously it has been help in January and August. This is a great change for Premier Bride and for Chattanooga, and it will keep getting bigger and better every year.

One of the reasons why the Bridal Show is such a great planning tool is because you have any where between 90-150 vendors at your fingertips. It is a useful time to "window shop" and get a good impression of a potential vendor and what they are all about. Some people fall in love instantly and book a place, while others will talk and agree to set up an official appointment later. The Chattanooga Bridal Show also hosts a fashion show to give you an idea of some of the trends in Bridal wear.

In this year's program, the Top 10 Wedding Tips were included, as decided by Chattanooga Premier Bride. The condensed version is:
1. What is your "bridal style?"
2. Be sure to research the marriage liscense
3. Track the gifts received and thank you notes sent.
4.Pair up your OOT (out of town) guest with someone in town to help out.
5. Know your postage. Take your invitation to the post office
6. Make sure your ring is insured
7. Hire a videographer, even if you dont have it edited until later.
8. Talk to your friends so that you are a happy bachelorette and everyone is on the same page.
9. Do not get a facial the week of, unless you are a regular.
10. Keep in mind prom season when you are reserving your limo!

Be sure to check out www.ChattanoogaPremierBride.com and www.Chattanooga-BridalShow.com for complete vendor lists!

Oh, its summertime..

Hello All! I am sorry that I neglected you last week, things were busier than I thought they would be while I was in California. But I am back with a full palate of ideas and a refreshed mind. I wanted to start off July with a reminder of my past post's contest and let you know of another photography contest that is going on.

Don't forget to get your Love Story submissions in to Daisy Moffatt Photography by July 12th! Hopefully one of my readers will be the winner!

In case you haven't noticed, I wanted to mention that I have added another Daily Inspiration - classic bride. She has a wonderful blog that focuses around planning her upcoming wedding, and the posts and pictures are always something to take your breath away. Check out her site for a photography package contest in conjunction with Look Photography Look Photography is amazing at capturing details and would definitely be someone to consider if you were able to pay for traveling cost. They describe themselves as a "Husband and wife team that specializes in documentary, artistic wedding photography. Available for travel worldwide. 614.657.8831 - 937.390.3353, - look@lookphotography.net" Keep your eye on these guys, they have an amazing eye for detail.

I will leave you with pictures of the resort in California where I stayed. Wonderful staff at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa made my visit very relaxing, and the area of Indian Wells is defiantely breathtaking. With golf course, three pools and many restaurants, this resort would be a great place for a wedding or a honeymoon.

Contest anyone?

Recently, a friend of mine used Daisy Moffatt Photography to capture all the exquisite details on her wedding day. Intrigued by Daisy's style, I have been frequenting her blog and come across a contest that might be of interest to you! Here is just a snippet, I have the link at the bottom of this post so you can read all about it on her blog.

Daisy Moffatt Photography is giving away one free love shoot for a couple. This contest ends July 12th and all you have to do is send in your love story. You don't have to be engaged or married to enter this contest, just express how you met and fell in love - simple, right?? You can email her your story at daisy@daisymphotography.com Be sure to include you name, phone number, email and your love story!


Don't forget to check out her website and blog. You can view her post about the contest here.

Update!

I hope you guys have been enjoying Inviting thus far. I am still tweaking the look of the site, so over the next couple of weeks I will be making a few more small changes (like the new logo! So excited that Melissa Peirano was nice enough to help bring my vision to life). Next week I will be out of town, but don't worry, there will actually be two posts while I am away. Monday will be a question from a reader, and the extra posting is about a contest!

Thanks for stopping by!

Inviting meets Hanover Gallery

Recently I sat down and chatted with Hanover Gallery co-owner and artist Melissa Peirano to ask her a few questions about the gallery and an amazing unique service they offer.

LaVerte: Tell us a little about Hanover Gallery and where it is located.
Melissa Peirano: My mother and I opened Hanover Gallery (part of the Shops at Riverview, behind the old Green Life) last summer (2007) to fill a niche in our community. We currently rep 15 artist, half local, half regional. The artwork ranges in style from folk to contemperary with prices from about $40-$4,000. We tried to create a happy, fun environment where anyone, whether a new or seasoned art collector, would feel welcome.



L: I have been hearing about possible being able to register? What a great idea, tell me more!
MP: We decided to offer a bridal, and well any time, gift registry. I already owned a home when I got married and would have loved to get a big piece of artwork, rather than more sheets and towels. If you love it all and cant decide, suggest gift certificates. The art in the Gallery changes all the time. You'll know when the perfect piece comes in! Also, you dont have to be a bride to start a "wish list", we'll keep suggestions for friends or spouses for all those gift giving occasions.

L: How would you suggest picking a piece to buy?
MP: Buy what you love...You might grow tired of a piece you buy for an investment, or even to match an existing piece, but if you love it now, chances are you'll love it forever!

Thanks Melissa for sharing with us this wonderful art gallery with an amazing service! I recommend Hanover Gallery to anyone any everyone!

What does Publix have to do with it?

images from Publix.com

Chattanooga is introducing some wonderful new grocery stores in the area. What, you wonder, does this have to do with my upcoming event or wedding in the near future?

If you haven't stopped by the Publix in East Brainerd yet, you are missing out on some great things. The food is good, but the desserts are better. They have a wide array of fresh baked goods, and the cakes are amazing. The Publix staff is very knowledgeable and can help you create a delicious wedding cake or grooms. The website explains "Our cakes can be customized to accommodate the number of guests you need to serve. We can add or remove tiers, or adjust sizes. Our decorators will be happy to merge our designs to create the wedding cake of your dreams. Please place your order with the Publix Bakery at least four (4) weeks in advance to allow time to procure your favorite ornament along with any other special requirements for the cake of your dreams."

Publix is a great vendor that is often overlooked. Many "knotties" from Georgia rave about the Pubix SuperMarkets in the Atlanta area, and have used the stores for their wedding cake, grooms cake or cupcakes instead of a single cake. These knotties cite the budget-friendly price and great taste as the reason for choosing a grocery store over a cake shop. Take a look at some of the creations they have displayed on the website!

images from Publix.com

Even if these few cakes are not the "look" that you are after, I believe it shows that Publix can do just about anything when it comes to traditional or updated traditional cakes.