So I’ve already selected my style of dress for the BIG DAY, though I haven’t settled on a specific design yet.  I will divulge that it will be a mermaid style and accented with beading, crystals, and lace.  Now, I’m in the process of picking out my shoe style.  I’d like something comfortable that I’ll be able to wear all night without having to think about slipping or having my tootsies pinched—yet, I want to stay chic and stylish too. Here a few designs that I adore at various price points, colors, and heel heights…which is your fav pick?  What style of shoe did you wear on your BIG DAY?  Did/do you wear your shoes afterwards?  Any advice for me?

• White Ruched Peep Toe Heel $995
• Diamond Accented White Peep Toe Heel $145
• Light Blue Peep Toe Heel $151
• White Flowered Peep Toe Heel $78
• White Sling Back Peep Toe Heel $298
• Nude Simple Heel $735
• Nude Peep Toe Heel $895
• White Bow Peep Toe Heel $219

This past Sunday, I was able to attend the Modern Luxury Wedding Expo in San Francisco!  I had an amazing time snacking on cake samples, fancy hor d’ouvres, and sipping champagne.  I discovered a photo booth company that’s actually based out of Tennessee (and is more cost efficient) that I now plan on using for my reception, entered to win many romantic honeymoon vacations, and I snagged the regional issues of both Brides and The Knot! Can you believe I even tried on a wedding band with so many diamonds that it was priced at $12,000!  It was a bit gaudy, but can one really have too many diamonds?  There were also some gorgeous reception table settings that I was able to draw inspiration from…check out my picture highlights below!

I adore this candle filled table setting...so intimate and romantic!

More of the silver and cream colors that I adore! This is the best reflection of what my table settings might mirror.

This cake designer makes these amazingly detailed floral confections...so beautiful!

Isn't this gorgeous for a beach reception? From the coral adorned table cloth to the sand dollar accents, this is beautiful!

Don't get to these expo events too late or you might miss the champagne!

I’m going to disclose right now, that I work for BlogHer…they are the ones who got me excited and confident (tech wise) in starting my blog–for which I am very grateful!  Luckily,  I was able to attend their 2010 conference in NYC this past week and had such an amazing time while there!  Not only was I able to meet the NY BlogHer team that I work with daily, but I was able to meet so many other bloggers (some of who I love & read on a weekly basis)!  There were a multitude of sessions that focused around topics for giving bloggers that insider info to make their blog that muchbetter and utilizing other forms of social media to expand one’s audience and reach.  Here’s another of my fav parts fromthe conference–the expo floor!  It was an amazing well thought out experience where I met tons of celebs, ate some cupcakes, and mingled with some of my fav advertisers!  Here are a few snapshots that made my week!  

Me & one of the stylists from Sex & the City!

Makeovers compliments of P&G!

BlogHer girls, me, & TAMRA from Real Housewives! and YES--she's a spokesperson for Quickie! HAHA

Bruce Jenner...sadly Brody did not show up...

Who doesn't love cake...honestly. They were giving out FREE CUPCAKES!

Padma...she's just as gorgeous in person as on TV

Registration Booth--where I gave out swag bags ALL day on Thursday.

Ok…I see that most of postings on my homepage are wedding categorized, but when a girl finds a cake this gorgeous, she can’t help but to show it off!   For my cake tasting in Nashville, I was able to scroll through the designer’s previous creations and select my favorite elements of each to create my own custom cake.  This was so much fun and Stephanie, owner of The Sweetest Day who’s been designing cakes for over twenty years, was extremely helpful, honest, and friendly.  I loved how her cake samples were full-sized cupcakes and not wimpy little morsels.  Mmm…they were so good too…my mother, aunt, and I ate every bite of them!  

Here are the three designs that best reflect what I’ve ordered. The first cake is the shape that will be used. I think it’s more unique than just a rounded shape…thus it also looks more expensive for the designer to make.

Hexagon Shape and Four Tiers

This second cake is the color that will be used. Isn’t that beautiful!?  I just adore this!  Stephanie will be using the fondant icing on top of butter cream frosting so that each slice still has that perfect creamy texture.  Then she will be airbrushing the pearlized color by hand upon every inch…Wow!

Airbrushed Custom Fondant Icing Color

This third cake shows how my custom creation will have those fancy-looking fondant swags cascading down the length of the cake.  I love how delicate they look.  She will also hand-draw the intricate icing swirls that you see. I plan on having the flowers, blue hydrangeas, located at exactly the same spots as below.  Instead of a random bride/groom statue at the top, I’ll have more of the blue hydrangeas sitting atop the highest tier.

Fondant Swags and Fresh Flowers

Now that you’ve seen my design…tell me what flavor you think it should be!? I’m still undecided about this.  What flavor was your wedding cake?  It can’t be red velvet though as this is the groom’s cake flavor—can’t leave out this southern tradition!

I’m currently en route to the SOUTH…heading back home to Tennessee so that my wedding plans can officially commence!  I’ve been planning this special trip for months: scheduling potential wedding vendor meetings, planning out a menu for the reception caterers (so that I could have a tasting this summer while everything’s in season), and emailing back and forth with florists, photographers, cake bakers, etc…whew…

 Luckily, I’ll have my beautiful Mama (just further claiming back my southern vernacular), Aunt, and best girlfriends since childhood with me there to sift through the decision making.  I’ll be MIA here on Honeysuckle Chic until next Wednesday, but no worries as I’ll be sure to take plenty of pics while away to share with you all.

 XOXO Ashley

Since the wedding will be held in Nashville, I’ll be scouting out ceremony and reception venues, enjoying two cake tastings (yum), and speaking with photographers and the most awarded/acclaimed florist in the south.

In Chattanooga, where I’m from, I’ll be partaking in my reception menu tasting, browsing through bridesmaid gowns, and trying on bridal gowns—hopefully narrowing it down to “the one!”