July 2011 Archive

Sage Wedding Pros recently interviewed Amber Housley of Sweet Life Designs on her designing business’s success! Here’s a snippet…

Amber Housley
Owner, Sweet Life Designs
Nashville, TN
www.sweetlifedesigns.com
Established 2007

Why did you start your business?

After my own wedding in 2007, Sweet Life Designs was officially founded. I began working with my day of coordinator, helping her with marketing and rebranding her business (now A Delightful Day Event Planning), and also assisting at weddings. From there I found our clients were wanting custom invitation suites that wasn’t like what all their girlfriends’ wedding invitations were like (think: thick, beige and engraving). Instead they wanted color! Pocketfolds! Whimsical designs! Everything that I could do very well.

We were also really desiring to take the details to the next level. It was more than just invitations, we wanted every little paper detail of the wedding to be perfectly coordinated. Now after assisting, planning and designing weddings for five years, I’ve expanded my business to offer full event design services as well. For me, designing and styling both the paper goods and the whole vision or theme for a client’s event is a dream come true and a great marriage of my talents.

Do you have any cool goal-setting tips to share with us?

Post them where you can see them. I have a memo board in my office that I glance at throughout the day. Not only are my goals posted but it also has my personal mission on it. When the going gets tough, it is a good reminder to see what my purpose is and why I do what I do. And also a good check-in to make sure the activity or project I’m working on is all in line with my purpose or goals.

What do you find to be the biggest challenge as a business owner?

The biggest challenge is staying true to yourself and focusing on what talent or service YOU have to give. It’s so easy to get caught up in seeing what everyone else is doing, spending countless hours on other sites or social media, comparing yourself and what shortfalls you may have when really that time could be better spent focusing on you and your business. It’s taken me awhile to come to that place where I really feel my business is an exact reflection of me and my personal style. It’s so much easier just being me!

See the original post here!

~ Kelly

It’s not just that Wicked (favorite.musical.ever.) is coming back to Nashville… there’s just something about that pretty color that draws me in and can’t escape my mind when I’m dreaming of my own future nuptials. I’ve got this dream of walking down the aisle in emerald green satin pumps, bedecked by bridesmaids in varying shades of charcoal, black, and mint… Art deco accents everywhere (from the emerald-cut emerald ring to the architecture of the reception site)… Ahhhh, dream!!!! I die. Enjoy!!!!

Pretties, clockwise from top left:  chanel, badgley mischka, cake deco, dresses by modcloth, damask print room, judd waddell, deco chandelier earrings, tiara, invite, mad men engagement shoot, emerald ring, city hall.

Inspiringly,
~ Kelly

Check out The Bride Room Blog this week to see some wonderful featured wedding gowns in their sample sale!

One of the Featured Tuesday Dresses!

Color: ivory {as photographed above}

Size: 8 {great condition} | Size: 4 {new}

Clean lines & simple as is | perfect gown to accessorize with jewelry, belt, fab shoes!

From their blog:

Is a sample gown the one for you?

• are you having a short engagement? standard shipping on wedding gowns that are ordered is 4-6 months. though most designers offer rushes, buying a sample can save time and stress of knowing when the gown will arrive.
• do you love a great deal? a couture gown on sample sale can save you thousands of dollars. last week, both girls who bought dresses off the rack saved much more than they spent. it’s worth being up front about budget, so we know which samples to show you and how to help you work within your ideal dress budget.
• do you happen to be sample size? if dresses are fitting well as you try on, it could be just an awesome way to get a great gown for less money. sometimes it’s meant to be.

Sample sales may not be for everyone, but they are purely magical when they do work out!!! Please know that we will disclose any issues with the gown of which we are aware, and only sell the dresses that are wearable with a little time and care. We want you to be beautiful!

~ Kelly

StudioWed barbershop, Uncle Classic, is offering unlimited summer haircuts for only $100 (3 months for $100!).

Tame those summer tresses, and while you’re in, check out their Groom Grooming options for your wedding!

~ Kelly