Wedding Tip Wednesday!

For Beautiful Jewelry at an affordable price check out Stella and Dot Jewelry!  Local Stylist Karlee Hickman can help you select beautiful jewels for any style and price point, perfect for bridal and shower gifts or even the wedding itself.

Karlee Hickman 

530-863-0362

karlee123@mac.com

www.stelladot.com/karlee123

Wedding Tip Wednesday!

For a southern country wedding only a 20 minute drive from the city check out Bonne Terre Country Inn and Cafe! With a beautiful chapel and stunning landscaping and grounds, it's a perfect place to say "I do!" 

Reservations and Information 662-781-5100  

Wedding Tip Wednesday

Embroidered “Mr.” & “Mrs.” sashes from Elegant Chair Solutions are a fun and beautiful way to differentiate the couples table from the rest of the reception area.   

(Photo Credit: Elegant Chair Solutions)

http://www.elegantchairsolutions.com/

901-496-7222

Have your own Kate Middleton Moment Courtesy of Carriage Tours of Memphis!

Many girls dream of being a princess on her wedding day.  Luckily for brides of the Mid-South, Carriage Tours of Memphis is here to help fulfill all your Kate Middleton fantasies by providing show stopping entrances or exits worthy of royalty.  The company, well known for their scenic tours of downtown Memphis, have been serving the Mid- South since 1980 making them the oldest and most experienced carriage company in the area.  Additionally, they offer two different styles of carriage to help make your wedding day complete.  The first one, reminiscent of the classic Cinderella fairytale looks stunning in photographs and is sure to be a wonderful way to be taken to your own “Prince Charming”.  The second carriage, “The Victorian,” features a more understated yet equally beautiful design.  Its black and white color scheme goes perfectly with any theme or décor and will certainly provide a distinctive yet elegant touch to your celebration.  Either carriage is sure to provide a memorable wedding element for both you and your guests for years to come.  Additionally, Carriage Tours of Memphis can transport either of their special wedding carriages and any of their twelve horses to any location in the Mid-South.  While the company warns that “glass slippers are not provided,” they do certainly offer an amazing way to live out your princess for a day fantasizes and give your wedding a little something extra!  After all, who says a little "horse play" is a bad thing on your wedding day?

901-527-7542; http://www.carriagetoursofmemphis.com/index.html

The Cinderella Carriage

The Victorian Carriage

Wedding Tip Wednesday!

A similar element on the Save the Date Cards, Invitations, and Programs, in this case a willow tree pattern, provides a stylish way to incorporate a theme

(Photocredit Three by Me Design) http://www.threebyme.com/

Wedding Tip Wednesday

 

Orange Roses+ Light Green Berries = The perfect bouquet as the season transitions from hot summer to early warm fall...      (photo credit Tindall Farmer Photography)



Wedding Portraiture: A Timeless Tradition Sure to be Cherished for a Lifetime!

One of the oldest traditions in weddings is one that is sometimes overlooked in modern events, the tradition of the Bridal Portrait on canvas. Since before the renaissance, brides have been elevated to their just esteem by having their likenesses captured in oil portraiture to cherish and pass on to future generations. The vibrancy and emotion that is presented in an oil portrait can not be duplicated by any other process. Each stroke of the brush captures the warmth and magic that is the essence of this most important event in the life of a bride.

Tommy Williams, of Tommy Williams Art Source, has been a professional artist since 1977. He has studied the methods of oil portraiture from masters that can trace their lineage back to Michelangelo. Tommy takes special care to make sure that every detail that encompasses this special time is reflected in your portrait. He says “I help people preserve the things they are passionate about on canvas and create a lasting heirloom.” The process is not fast but the end results are worth the wait

Feel like you are stepping back to a time when attention to detail and supreme craftsmanship were the order of the day. Imagine the admiration of your guests as your completed portrait greets them at your reception. Think of the years of enjoyment that you will have, reflecting on this day, ever time you see your painting.

Sitting times are required for the accuracy of your likeness. Please reserve your portrait as early as possible.

Tommy Williams' Art Source, (901)-212-3961; tommywilliamsartist@yahoo.com

Beautiful, Elegant and Most Importantly Delicious!!!

Along with the first dance and the tossing of the bouquet, one moment always stands out at a reception, the cutting of the cake.  With the help of Karen Brown, owner of Brown Baguette Bakery and Café and one of her amazing creations this important ritual is sure to stand out in the minds of your guests for years to come. Located at 7090 Malco Blvd, Suite 105 in Southaven, ten minutes from Memphis, this full service bakery and café is truly a holy grail of sugary delights.  With twenty years in the business Karen has seen it all!  Her experience includes working at the Peabody downtown and creating special dessert for Oprah in honor of her visit to the Mid-South.  Most importantly, Karen prides herself on really working with her brides to achieve their unique confection vision.  

 Her beautiful wedding cakes are made from all real ingredients and the difference is readily apparent.  Each and everything created by Karen in her shop is without a doubt delicious!  In addition, she proudly maintains that hers is the only shop in the surrounding area to make their own frosting in house.  Although Karen can suggest some basic flavors for couples to incorporate into their cakes she is more than happy to work with them to create something new and different to resonate with their own individual style.  Karen makes it clear that she is never one to shy away from a challenge and makes every effort to collaborate with her brides to truly realize their vision! Every tier of cake incorporates four layers and each of these layers can be a different flavor.  Her Oreo cake features Oreo cookie pieces baked into the cake giving it a sweet crunchy texture.  Karen’s key lime cake is also a true standout.  Made with real lime juice, this flavor is a perfect mix of tart and sweet that makes it a to die for delight that is sure to have your guests coming back for seconds (and thirds)!  Karen can also craft beautiful, elegant pastries, cupcakes, or creations perfect for bridal lunches, engagement parties, or any other occasion requiring a special confection.  So for a beautiful, high-quality cake that is unbelievably delicious look no further than Brown Baguette Bakery and Café!  

http://www.brownbaguette.com/

7090 Malco Blvd.,  Suite 105,  Southaven, MS; 38671
Phone: 662-349-7434





The Makings of a Beautiful Occasion!

Picking a wonderful wedding venue is one of the most crucial parts of the whole planning process because it sets the tone for the rest of the celebration. At Chimes and Occasions located at 201 South Cooper, owner Madeline provides a beautiful, simple yet sophisticated backdrop for brides to realize their unique wedding vision.  The property itself is made up of two buildings.  The first, a beautifully constructed chapel exudes a sense of old world elegance.  Its antique pews and beautiful details comfortably accommodate 125 guests.  Madeline says, “When we renovated this structure I wanted to make sure each element of it would photograph beautifully.”  From the 15 foot ceilings to the magnificent antique doors salvaged from the oldest home in Collierville to the beautifully appointed bridal dressing room this goal is definitely accomplished.   Each aspect of the chapel provides a wonderful backdrop for vows.  Furthermore, it has a number of beautiful decorations already on hand for no additional cost.  However, brides are also welcome to bring their personal touch with their own décor.   

The other structure on sight serves as an equally beautiful spot to host a reception. With hard wood floors and a charming patio, this space coordinates wonderfully with the elegance of the chapel, providing an easy transition from ceremony to reception or can be rented separately, if a couple prefers to exchange vows in their own home church.  Like the chapel, the reception hall provides a number of items such as chairs and linens at no additional cost, leaving it up to the couple to decide whether or not to incorporate them.   In addition, while Chimes and Occasions does not offer its own catering, they do have a full service kitchen.  They are more than happy to recommend excellent caterers but also encourage couples to arrange whatever food they want including home cooked dishes.  All in all Madeline says “I want people to truly feel at home here and to do whatever they like to have a great wedding.  If they can think it I’ll do my best to help them achieve it!”  So for a convenient, beautiful wedding spot you can truly make your own Chimes and Occasions is certainly something to “chime” about!  



Elegant and Timeless Photos Every Bit as Unique as You are!

Timeless wedding photographs are a wonderful investment that will remind you and your groom of your special day for years to come.  However, deciding on a photographer for wedding pictures is an important, yet sometimes difficult part of the planning process. It is imperative that the resulting prints are a worthy depiction of the couple themselves, as well as their own unique style. Taking the time to find a wonderful photographer is well worth the effort. A great option for brides getting married in the Mid-South is Tindall Farmer of Tindall Farmer photography. As a mother of three who specializes in natural light and on location photography, Tindall Farmer understands the deep inherent value of an unplanned situation. In her work, Tindall strives to capture the true essence of moments themselves, rather than relying on predetermined stereotypical poses and preplanned camera forced grins. She keeps her eye out for children dancing between dinner courses, laughter between friends and all of the other little details that make a wedding truly memorable and unique.  Even her supposedly “formal” portraits of the bride and groom are thankfully absent of the stuffy attitude seen in many bridal photographs and exude the same simple elegance present in the rest of her work.

With fifteen years of experience within the fields of family, portraiture, and wedding Photography, Tindall believes that it is important to truly listen to her clients.  She lets her bride and grooms dictate the mood and tone her photographs take on in order to adequately capture their special day. She is more than willing to customize her services to cater to the individual vision each couple brings to their wedding. In addition to offering wedding photography around the Mid-South, Tindall Famer also takes stunning engagement session photographs and can travel to various locations for destination weddings. Her studio also offers custom made invitations, custom prints, and wedding albums featuring Tindall’s beautiful photography.  While her photography varies greatly based on the couples and the weddings themselves, all of her work is united through the unmistakable beauty and elegance each of her prints embodies.   

tindallfarmerphotography.com

tindallfarmer@hotmail.com; 901-309-6982; 901-378-2224



Wedding Pictures Reimagined

Long after the last slow dance has ended and the bouquet has been tossed beautiful photographs serve as an invaluable connection to your wedding day.  Pictures are one of the only physical reminders of your special day so selecting a fantastic photographer is of utmost importance. Lyndsi Metz of Lyndsi Metz Photography began her career right here in Memphis while still an art student at University of Memphis.  Together, she and her husband specialize in portraiture, fine art, and wedding photography.  With an eye for color and form her photographs truly capture the moment in a beautiful unexpected way.  Her artistic background enables her to go beyond the surface of a scene and bring out details others would miss in the flurry of activity.  “I like to focus on the details of a wedding; the rings, the dress by itself, the patterns.  I feel like these are the things that give a wedding character and personality” Lyndsi says.  Without question, Lyndsi and her husband go the extra mile to ensure they get the perfect shot.  When fireworks happened to go off during a recent Memorial Day Riverboat wedding, they made sure to capture them as the background in pictures of the bride and groom.  “It was totally unplanned but I saw the moment and really felt like it added something extra to the photographs and when they came out it really did look great!” 

Her engagement photo work is equally stunning and is sure to capture your guests’ attention on save the date cards and reception table photo displays.  Lyndsi and her husband also offer a variety of mounting options for their photographs, ranging from traditional leather and silk bound albums to glossy novel sized photo books.  They can also create prints suitable for framing and picture collages.  At its core, Lyndsi Mets Photography strives to incorporate a fun, unique, and artistic edge to traditional wedding photography. Lyndsi’s photography truly stands out and the prints will be cherished mementos for years to come.  If a picture is worth a thousand words than a truly exceptional one, like the work Lyndsi provides for the couples she works with are worth more than words can ever express.         

                                                    

An Elegant Solution!

Selection of a certain color or pattern to work into various aspects of a wedding provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the unique tastes of the bride and groom.  Elegant Chair Solutions of Memphis, TN offers couples a fantastic way to incorporate personal style through the look and feel of a couple’s reception table and chairs linens.  Owner Shelia started the business a little over a year ago after encountering problems while attempting to decorate for her son’s prom in a simple, classy, affordable way. However, after seeing stretch chair covers used at a local event, she fell completely in love with their ability to make over a space as well as the many options adding sashes provided.  “I loved the affordable elegance of these chair covers and once I saw their ability to completely transform a room I knew they were something special” she explained.

 The company offers stretch chair covers in four colors, white, ivory, chocolate and black as well as two different styles of table cloths in corresponding colors.  While the chair covers may not be necessary for the furniture available in some spaces, their ability to dress up even the most utilitarian of chairs is truly amazing!  The overall look of the reception can then be completely customized with the addition of table overlays, runners, and chair sashes.  Each of these elements is available in many different fabrics and countless shades spanning all the colors of the rainbow.  The company currently carries them in every dress hue offered by David’s Bridal and many other hard to find shades as well.  The sashes can then be further customized with flowers or rhinestone buckles and tied in a multitude of ways depending on the taste of the bride and groom. 

Overall, Shelia says her business strives to “give couples the chance to express their own style in a high class way without having to pay a high price tag.”  By focusing solely on stretch chair covers she can offer them at prices far below competitors who don’t specialize.  She also works hard to match the many color combinations couples may present her with.  She currently has hundreds of sashes in stock and adds new color and pattern trends frequently. Whether a casual afternoon garden affair or an elegant evening black tie ball, Elegant Chair Solutions offers countless options that are sure to fit every taste all at a great price! And as Shelia says “Why have plain chairs when all you need is an Elegant Solution?”

901-496-7222, http://www.elegantchairsolutions.com/

Before ECS

After ECS

Bubbly Beauty Happy Hour

Thank you Midtown Acupuncture and The Barefoot Bride for  hosting a fabulous evening of Bubbly and Beauty Happy Hour at this month's Cooper Young's Thursday Night Out on June 2, 2011.  These are some things that you missed out on! Midtown Acupuncture ~ Pearl Elixir cocktails with facial rejuviation demos and samples by Jessica Stella and Dot Jewelry ~ stylist Karlee Hickman was on hand demoing how accessorizing can change the look of any outfit ~ Someone WON a piece of Stella and Dot jewelry The Barefoot Bride~ Ladies shopped the discount formal rack with formals starting at $10                                   One lucky lady WON a $50 gift certificate to The Barefoot Bride Everyone relaxed to Chair Massages that were available by Christine! AM Photography gave away a FREE bridal session to one lucky bride! Thank you for capturing amazing photography of the event! Do not miss out on the next Bubbly and Beauty Happy Hour during Cooper Young's Thursday Night Out on  July 7, 2011. MIX by Amy ~ delicious mini cupcakes!  Two dozen cupcakes were given away!! Adventure Bootcamp of Memphis ~ Ladies signed up for the BEST workout in town for $2 for their first week. Adel Amor Cosmetics by Alexandra Nicole ~ Makeup demos that include the smokey eyes, Kardashian pouty lips and more! Someone won a free bridal makeover Zerona demo and special pricing! As seen on Dr. Oz, a non invasive lipo. Jamazin Tans ~ $25 spray tans on site!

Sneak Peek of the Upcoming Mid South Wedding Guide Issue's Photo Shoot

We had a great time with the photo shoot for our upcoming fall issue. Michelle Stone captured some amazing shots of the brides and the beautiful location. She also came up with the concept for each bridal look, which each of our talented local vendors brought to life with their unique talents and creative vision. We want to thank Bonne Terre for letting us use their beautiful facility for our photo shoot location. Crystal Shields at Me'Lange A Modern Salon in Olive Branch did an amazing job with the models' hair by creating a different look and style for each model. The Models' makeup was done by Carey Ann Pearce (who does remarkable work by paying close attention to the tiniest detail). Karlee Hickman creates her magic by styling the ladies in classy Stella & Dot's jewelry. Each jewelry piece perfectly completed each look. We want to thank Barefoot Bride for letting us use their beautiful dresses that were just breath taking on each of our gorgeous models. Olive Branch Florist did a fabulous job creating four unique bouquets to match each different style and look. Also want to thank our Models Mariel Lane(Miss Tennessee), Jessica Smith(Former Miss Olive Branch now mother of two and RN ), Lexy Wilkerson (local model), and Jessica Mathias (former Miss Mississippi Teen USA and Miss Mississippi USA now studying for her Doctorate in Education). We appreciate each one of you for working together to make this photo shoot a success.

In Honor of Our 10,000th View of Mid South Wedding Guide Website

We have launched a new and improved website! We've made it easy to access and added more "glitz and glam." We are thrilled with the growth of Mid South Wedding Guide during the past three months. 10,000 views during this time is an accomplishment that we never dreamed we could achieve. We are humbled by and grateful to the fans we have acquired since beginning this journey. Our focus is to provide our readers with essential tools that will guide them through their wedding planning. We hope to keep our readers engaged by providing them with the most accurate information on the newest wedding styles and trends available in the Mid South Wedding Industry.

We encourage our readers to take full advantage of all that we have to offer in our Mid-South area which provides services for all styles of weddings.Our readers will have access to florists, catering, gowns and, reception and ceremony design, beauty needs, wedding planners, photographers, honeymoon planning and much more. Brides are inspired by by what they see and read in bridal magazines. They often bring pages from these magazine to local vendors when planning for their unique wedding. Mid South Wedding Guide is printed on high quality paper (approx "8x11") in full color. Don't be left out in expanding your marketing to a new type of bride. Advertise with Mid South Wedding Guide today!

www.midsouthweddingguide.com