A. Latrice Cushenberry

Today is the big day & I can't be more excited for this couple & to see our planning + style come to life.   Its been my pleasure getting to know you during this planning experience & I wish you all the best!  You have such a great family & friends support system, I know the best is yet to come!!

Cheers to Love + Happiness!


Be sure to check out their feature on Essence Magazine Online & also on The Brides Cafe!

I recently discovered that Pop Star Katy Perry had a new line of  false eyelashes that are exclusively carried by Ulta.  Katy Perry is definitely a fashionista in her own right and definitely rocks a unique style as only she can, from cotton candy pink or cobalt blue hair to sequin and major sparkles.

False eyelashes can take a bridal makeup from simple to fab in just a few seconds.  Falsies create a wide-eyed flirty look that will get any grooms attention during your first look, not to mention they look amazing in pictures!

Katy Perry teamed up with Lash Specialists Eylure and created 4 distinctive lash styles that allow brides to select just how dramatic they want to go with their falsies for their bridal style.

It's Wedding Wednesday + we are adding a bridal freebie to the mix!  We want to hear from newly engaged brides or brides that are almost finished with their wedding planning.

Simply leave us a comment + answer the following questions!

What do you enjoy about planning your wedding?  What are some special details that you are looking forward to on your wedding day?  What does your Maid of Honor mean to you?

The winner {will be chosen at random} will receive a custom embroidered Bride & Maid of Honor Bag!  What a great gift for any Bride + Maid of Honor to hold your wedding day goodies, right?!!!!!

Be inspired by this lovely bouquet & Spring style from The Bride's Cafe.  Enjoy this day with family and friends!  Happy Easter from Opulent Couturier!

Its hard to believe that almost two weeks have passed since I  had the greatest & somewhat life changing experience ever!  I've been a long time fan and respected the business leadership of Oprah Winfrey.  I mean Oprah has touched so many lives during her 25 years of being on television and she influenced me to "keep dreaming a bigger dream".  I wanted to hold off in posting my recap in order to coincide with the taping of our St. Louis show on April 9th at 7pm CST on the OWN Network.

Several weeks ago there was a open call for tickets for a live taping of Oprah's Lifeclass Show on the OWN Network in St. Louis, MO via Oprah.com.  Of course I posted a reminder on Facebook for my friends to try to get tickets, its a once in a lifetime chance especially since the Oprah Winfrey Show is off the air.  To give you the condensed version, I set my iPhone reminder the day of the ticket pool but little did I know that my friend Jasmine also registered as well because of my Facebook post..... A few days later I received an email that I was NOT selected to be in the audience, I was a little bummed but after years of always getting the busy signal when I tried to obtain tickets to the show, I was disappointed but it wasn't like I hadn't been turned down in the past.  Out of thousands of people what are the odds right??

On afternoon of  February 27th I received a text message from my friend Jasmine saying that she won tickets to the St. Louis Show & I was so excited for her.  Well a few minutes later she asked me if I wanted to go....Ugh YES you don't have to ask me twice.  Its OPRAH WINFREY LIVE!   Again, what are the odds of that really happening?  I was denied, she was accepted.  The excitement brewed for a few days that I was finally going to see Oprah Live and to put a cherry on top Bishop T.D. Jakes a very popular Pastor/Bishop of The Potter's House in Texas was going to be teaching the Lifeclass.  Pick me up off the floor! Now it was the question of what do I wear...??

We set out on our adventure to Lifeclass in St. Louis early Sunday March 25th. just the shear fact that I would see Oprah the next day had me pumped!  It officially set in when we pulled up in front of the Peabody Opera House 4 hours later to pick up tickets and the streets of downtown St. Louis were buzzing with excited show guests & it was decked out for Oprah's Lifeclass Tour. At that point I could not contain  myself in the truck & I think Jasmine got a kick out of  it because I am normally the cool, calm & collected type!  I mean I was going to see Oprah in exactly 24 hours from that point.  A definite pinch yourself moment!

After getting settled in at the hotel, we could not be in St. Louis without trying out Sweetie Pies, a local family owned  soul food restaurant.  Ironically they now have a reality  show on the OWN Network, called Welcome to Sweetie Pies!  Its a must watch, Ms. Robbie the matriarch of the family is such a little spitfire & a savvy business woman at 70+ years young!  While we were there Life Coach Guru Iyanla Vanzant arrived to have dinner!  I give Sweetie Pies a thumbs up on the food & our great service from Andre (Ms. Robbie's Grandson), if you are ever in St. Louis its a must visit restaurant, put your calorie counting to the side, because its true soul food!


Sweetie Pies....great food, laughs, business etiquette discussions & branding chats took place while in line for our food!    Wow we could have made magic happen if the right person was listening.... I had to start a "pay per word" virtual charge account for Jasmine because her business branding mind was going 10000 miles per minute while we were in line. *Sweetie Pies Call Me, we have great branding ideas...*  All I wanted was a picture with Ms. Robbie....it was achieved!  *smile*







I don't want to give the Lifeclass show away {Tune in Monday Night April 9, 2012 at 7pm CST}  but I do want to share key points that made an impact on me.  So many things sparked healthy conversation on the ride home also....it was a great experience!  Oh yeah that's Oprah (Via my iPhone below)...Eeeeekkkkkkkk!  I must say that throughout the show taping I could not believe just how real/down to earth Oprah was with her staff & also the audience.  She is a true professional that operates with integrity, what a great business model/mentor to look up too.  I know people that make $50K+ and think + act like they have arrived & need special treatment in public....Oprah was the opposite....  {I Digress...Quickly}   Her transparency at the end of our class session was golden and I know that the OWN Network has great things in store!  If you don't watch or have the OWN Network its a MUST add for your cable viewing!  The shows are really great & thought provoking.

• Let your passion lead you to your purpose.
• You are significant.  If it brings you gratification + fulfills you its your purpose.
• Don't spend time/energy being what you are not, its through disaster & adversity that you find yourself.
• Passion + Purpose are partners.  Its your GPS System.  So things that are authentically true to your DNA.
• What is the transportation that leads to your purpose destination? 
• Listen to your inner voice.....
• Don't allow your situation to become your launching pad.
• You need Passion to withstand the obstacles while moving toward your purpose.......
• The greater the digression the stronger the progression...
• Money without purpose does not make you.  Don't chase provision, let it chase you!  (Love This)

• Have a goal but also a strategy to get to your purpose & passion.
• Your life really matters.....Do you believe that?
• When your space is small don't depend on people to get you to the next level.
• You can not embrace your future, if you are holding on to your bad history.
• We can not reap a dividend where you are not making a deposit,
• To Live on Purpose you have to be intentional!  
• To resist your fear your faith will get bigger...
• Gratitude is a hate check....
• LOVE will always leap over excuses and find a way to get it done...

Its so exciting to see our bridal styling featured on one of my favorite wedding blogs, we were featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs for a Glamourous Southern Bridal Style Shoot.  If you are anything like me, you hope that bridal glam is here to stay.  I am all the about the diamonds; sparkles & gorgeous wedding gowns and I am so pleased to have worked with such an amazing team!

The stunning gowns are by Nashville based designer Olia Zavozina.  I could not have achieved the glam photography without the amazing eye of  photographer  Leslee Mitchell,   If you want stylish bridal photography she gets it ladies!  Kristen Kuehn is by far the most talented bridal accessory designer today. She designs with the stylish bride in mind & such quality!  The beautiful vintage Rolls Royce from one of my favorite transportation companies in Nashville, Grand Avenue Transportation..  Carnton Plantation is a great venue in Franklin TN and their staff was impeccable.  They really allowed my vision to take flight and I am thankful for their partnership.  A list of all vendors + talent will be provided at the conclusion of this post.

Bridal styling is a service that I've been so excited to add  for 2012 brides.  Its one thing to purchase a wedding gown, however when its properly styled with just the right accessories, shoes,  hair styling, etc  its the total package!  Brides don't be afraid to accessorize on your wedding day!

Be inspired by Southern bridal glam.......

I had the pleasure of attending theFix with Jasmine Star (J*) on Tuesday night at aVenue in downtown Nashville. The night was filled with great information, networking & inspiration.  I chose to attend theFix not for photography information but to be inspired to take Opulent Couturier to the next level in client development & marketing.  I love Jasmine's work but equally I love her interaction with other photographers and event professionals on her blog & within the J* Facebook community.  She definitely gets it & is so humble, relatable & full of charisma.  I could hang out with her any day, "Brown girls" represent!  Can I get an  "Amen" somebody!

During the course of the evening she spoke about her business, struggles in starting up, building a community of professionals to create value added partnerships & also being intentional in everything that you do.  She asked the question that I have been pondering over since Tuesday night.  What does success mean to you?  WOW, so simple but yet powerful.  Everyone has their own definition of success but its up to us to define what that is and not compare that with the next person.  What I consider success and what you consider success are 2 totally different things.  Only you can write you own story and create your own definition by living in your true meaning of success.
So I challenge you today to define for yourself what success really means to you & write down your plan to achieve it!  Amen!

I recently discovered a great website thanks to my sister that would be a great travel option for wedding guests.    If you are planning a wedding one of the many things that have to be completed on your planning checklist is reserving hotel room blocks.  Or if you are working with a planner, this is a service that should be offered to you.

Home Away is a cool website that allows you to book a variety of housing options from single family homes, downtown condos, beach front homes, cottages & so much more.  The website is very easy to navigate through and search for locations & it shares a rental calendar of availability. What I love about it also is that its not just for US travel, but also international travel {for destination weddings} as well.  This would be a great travel option for your guests because if there are couples or families traveling in from out of town, in many cases this would be a more affordable option than reserving a hotel. Also since they are furnished locations with all the amenities of home they could also stock the kitchens and save more money on travel meals by cooking at there "weekend home" before the wedding.

Another really great option in using Home Away is for bachelor and bachelorette parties that may be planned in other cities! The locations for Miami/South Beach & Las Vegas are awesome!!  I was very impressed with the Nashville Tennessee rental locations especially in the downtown area.  They are perfect to many of the tourist attractions & if you are getting married in the heart of downtown many are also in walking distance and parking would be included!  That's a major score, right!

Leave me a comment & let me know what you think of this alternative for your wedding guests!  I love this concept, and will be recommending it to my clients & will use it for personal travel!

I am so excited that Randy Fenoli is coming to Nashville on March 11, 2012  to film the TLC show  Randy to the Rescue!  I have been really anxious as the news has been unfolding via The Bride Room's blog & I could not wait to share!   I am a true fan of Say Yes to The Dress & as a wedding stylist I love pretty dresses and lots of sparkle & I adore Randy's personal style & bridal styling expertise.

Brides this is your chance to have Randy's expert advice on styling you & your dream dress for your wedding  day!    I've purchased my ticket for the presentation & would love for you to join me there!  Dress fittings of course are by appointment only, and you never know it could be your chance to meet Randy!  If you are a Nashville bride and interested in this event, submit your application that just may be selected for a consultation with Randy Fenoli!!

For ticket information be sure to head to The Wedding Guys website!

See you on March 11th!

I couldn't let this day pass without sharing a little Mardi Gras style inspiration!  Happy Fat Tuesday!

"Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez" ~ Let the Good Times Roll

"OMG, there are so many decisions that have to be made during the wedding planning process, how will I make all the right choices?"  Yes this is a normal question that I receive from brides during their wedding planning process.  
As a wedding planner I see a variety of emotions & personalities during the planning process, 1st - pure bliss & excitement of the engagement, 2nd - Super Bride armed with her wedding glossies & planning binder & rhinestone embellished t-shirt, 3rd - stressed  & anxious bride whose dealing with the budget & that wants to please everyone  & 4th - I am no longer worried bride, I trust you & it will be beautiful.  Roller coaster ride right?  


 All these of these emotions are perfectly okay during the wedding planning process its all about how you channel your stress and anxiety.  With so many important decisions that have to be made its always good to take a step back, have your "WoooSah moment" and relax.  If you've hired a great planner they will be able to sense this & should urge you to relax and put everything into perspective that may be the cause of your stress of anxiety.  








 Best wishes! 

May your day be filled with lots of love, hugs, flowers, kisses & things that sparkle!  For the ladies that are hoping tonight is the night he puts a ring on it, we are excited for you & the possibility!  I look forward to chatting it up with many newly engaged Nashville brides very soon!

Everyday is filled with love, but today is extra special, do something nice for yourself and those you love.

Be inspired.....XOXO

Its so hard to believe that today is my 2 year Making Things Happen Anniversary, our class was facilitated by Lara Casey, Jeff Holt & Jeremy Cowart who served as our host.  I entered the studio where the intensive was held alone & unsure what was in store for me for the day.  However I left with a feeling of camaraderie that I connected with so many new entrepreneurs wanting to accomplish big things in their career & life.

I've posted a few updates during the past 2 years of where I was on this journey here, here & here.  It wasn't until the past few months that I started to realize that everything that I documented from that day until now was starting to come to fruition.  I am a firm believer that your thoughts become things and speaking life into your current situation will always have a greater effect on your "not yet".

Its been a definite journey for me, because of how my mind works & I want to ensure that at this stage in my life that I am doing things that are intentional & because I want to do it.  Early in my career it was all about trying to do what I thought was popular in my area, which that's great but I wasn't being 100% authentic with what was in my heart.  Yes I am a wedding planner, I am organized, proactive & I know that I am good at maintaining a sense of calm & control even in the most heated situations.   However for me there was something missing in what I was doing as it related to the wedding industry.  Going back to wanting to go with the flow or what was popular in my area, I was very unsure with how styling & most importantly event styling would be received, I mean I live in Nashville, Tennessee aka Music City. In 2010 when I renamed my company to Opulent Couturier Event Styling & Planning it was a leap of faith but honestly there was also a little fear involved.  It was perfect (or divine timing) that I attended MTH 2010 the day after the official launch of my new company name & focus.  Having to proclaim to a room full of strangers with boldness & confidence who I was & where I saw myself in 1, 5, 10 years was a challenge but at the same time it energized me.  I am grateful for that time & how I can look back & appreciate the spark it lit within me to follow through with the goals both short & long term that I wrote in my MTH journal.

So here we are February 10, 2012 I am sitting in my office and I am thankful to have been able to experience everything that has happened over the past 2 years and the friendships I've gained because of Making Things Happen.  There have been some challenges & learning curves but overall I've had a great journey getting to this point.  I will be the first to say that I am not where I want to be, but my path is so much clearer & I am focused on what drives me and brings me total happiness.  Without God's grace & mercy and self love I am nothing & I start each day thankful to do what I love. I am looking forward to 2012 being very exciting with the new services that I will offer brides with overall wedding styling which includes bridal styling.  Also launching in April 2012, will be Opulent Couturier Style, Personal Brand Styling for Professionals.  This new addition excites me with all the possibilities of working with so many gifted professionals both in the wedding industry & also other professions.  More on that very soon.....

As I close, the Making Things Happen 2012 tour is kicking off very soon and I would encourage anyone that wants to change & connect with other like minded professionals to sign up for the Intensive.  It will be a great investment on yourself but also your company!  To find out a little more of what's been happening in my world, check out this week's Making Things Happen Alum Spotlight {Here} & thanks ladies for the feature!

My heart is singing with this oh so pretty and feminine color palette.  Coral + mint green is sure to be a popular color combination for 2012 weddings.  Coral is a hue that can be paired very well with many other colors however pairing it with mint green is fresh and a bit whimsical.

Spring & Summer brides if you are still deciding your wedding colors this color palette works well anytime after    Easter and can carry you through until September.  Accent possibilities are endless but pairing with jute or a hint of burlap would be perfect!


Be inspired by coral + mint green...!

Mamie + James is a Mississippi based company that creates custom garters & bridesmaid dresses.  I discovered this great company over the weekend & their designs are dainty but also full of details.

Brides I know how important it is to find just the perfect accent accessories for your wedding day style. Having custom pieces will make your day extra special but it will also allow you to create your own traditions for your future children.  I just love the idea of starting a hope chest of items that can be passed down from generation to generation within a family.  Our parents, grandparents & family members do it, why not start your own legacy!

Mamie + James is the perfect company to start this tradition, be sure to visit their Etsy Shop for more designs and visit them on Facebook!

Its classy, stylish, and comes in a variety of colors with silver/aluminum glass being the most popular.  Mercury glass adds an added flair to your wedding style & decor.  The range of these glass vessels & candle holders can appeal to brides that have a love for shabby chic & extend to the modern bride.

Be inspired....

Its so nice to have the professional expertise of Dr. Keisha L. Bean back with us this year. Dr. Keisha Bean is a licensed psychologist here in Nashville and has been featured many times on the blog as it relates to healthy marriage & relationship.  I would highly recommend her services if you are seeking an unbiased relationship expert! 

Considering it’s the start of a new year and New Year Resolutions are in full force; I found it timely to address the topic of self-sabotage. Self-sabotage is a process that keeps us from sticking to our commitments to ourselves. It keeps us from achieving our goals. It’s a process that causes us to become our own worst enemy. It involves the inconsistency between what we say we want and what we do to get it. The pattern of behavior that expresses the need for one thing without putting supports in place to meet that need. Ultimately, self-sabotage involves the things WE DO (not others) that keeps us from getting where WE SAY we want to go.

Its super exciting to see retailers expanding their customer reach & exploring the world of weddings.  Bebe who definitely does fashion & style right will launch their own line of bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses & accessories in March 2012.  Designing this collection is none other than Project Runway runner up Rami Kashou  & he will create 10 stylish & chic bridal looks.

The bridal collection will be sold exclusively in 4 stores:  Oak Street in Chicago, Soho in New York, Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles & Aventura in Los Angeles.   What a great excuse for a girls weekend in one of these 3 cities & find your dream wedding dress!  Dress will also be available  online & prices will range from $950 to $2500 on bridal gowns.

Here's a sneak peak!  Do you love it?

I am so excited to share the new brand & identity for Opulent Couturier Wedding Style & Events.  I knew that as I prepared for a new year of working with our great clients & potential clients that I wanted to share an authentic side of what the company has evolved into.  Style is who I am & what I am passionate about and I wanted to be able to show that at first glance.

I am so grateful to have stumbled upon the fresh design services of Deluxemodern Graphic Designs out of Sonoma County California.  Christine Tafoya, the Creative Director is clearly a lady that knows fashion, style & most importantly design.  Its so funny because I stalked her Facebook fan page for over a week before I inquired about branding services.  I related to her personality first & the designs sealed the deal.  We finally connected & I shared my vision and it was magic and the vision look flight. The entire design process was flawless and I can't say enough about the Deluxemodern Design team.

This year we will offer  new services that I can't wait to share over the next few weeks!  One new addition will be Bridal Styling!  Its my passion to create a cohesive & flawless look for brides & their entire bridal party and in 2012 we will personally style brides.  To say that I am excited is definitely an understatement!  More to come, stay tuned!

Its my pleasure to share Opulent Couturier Wedding Style & Events!  Cheers to a stylish 2012!

Now you can have your cake & drink it too!  Are you in search for the perfect wedding signature drink,   Pearl Wedding Cake Vodka makes a great signature libation with the bride & groom in mind.


More about Pearl Wedding Cake Vodka  & the St. Louis based Luxco company:


 Now brides, and their grooms, can have their cake and drink it too. St. Louis based Luxco®, a leading beverage alcohol supplier, "cordially invites you to share in the celebration" of introducing the ninth and newest flavor extension in the award-winning line of Pearl® flavors – Pearl Vodka's WEDDING CAKE™.

If there is one thing that I love & wish I could do more of  is entertaining at home.  I love the closeness & intimacy of in-home parties.  With New Years Eve around the corner, its the next opportunity to entertain family & friends with style.

The inspiration below allows you to create decor with decor elements that you already own or simple DIY craft ideas.  I love the NYE countdown champagne flutes & the collection of clocks on the mantle.  For a fun & interactive element you could request that each party guest bring their own clock  to decorate the mantle or designated table in your home.  The variety of colors and styles will create a unique focal point in the room.

Be inspired.....

Although we're at the start of winter, I can't help but daydream about Spring.  I am  loving the Pantone Spring 2012 Fashion Color Report!  All the blogs & social media were abuzz about it but only focused on one color....Tangerine.  Don't get me wrong, I love all things tangerine & it compliments tan or darker complexions very well.  However I adore all the colors in the Spring 2012 Fashion Color report!    The colors are so rich & vibrant as a dominant color or even as an accent to any wedding color palette.

What's your favorite color from the Pantone 2012 color fashion report?  Are you incorporating any Pantone colors for 2012 into your wedding color palette?

Be Inspired by THE colors of the 2012 Spring season.


Colors:  Tangerine, Solar Power, Bell Flower, Sodalite Blue, Cabaret

 Colors:  Margarita, Sweet Lilac, Cockatoo, Driftwood, Starfish