Monthly Archives: February 2012

Guest Post: Rhonda Patton on Wedding Décor

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Rhonda Patton

Rhonda Patton, of Rhonda Patton Weddings & Events

I do a lot of weddings each year, providing floral and event design … however, the Goodwill Wedding Gala is special.  I’m excited to use my creativity to transform the Rivergate Goodwill store into a beautiful and unique space for the wedding gala.  The décor will flow from the lobby throughout the event space, and will feature whimsical floral arrangements.  There will even be a mock reception space.

I am a huge fan of Goodwill because I am familiar with their mission of providing jobs and training to people with disabilities or others who need help finding a job. I also love all of the great deals you can find at the Goodwill stores.  Not only can you dress your wedding party, but you can also find unique decorative pieces for your home or wedding tablescapes.  I went to the Goodwill store on a treasure hunt for the right pieces to create a vintage inspired look.

I found the perfect vintage-inspired vases for under 10 bucks!  I paired blue and amber antique glass bowls with distressed urns filled with fresh hydrangeas, tulips, amaryllis and succulents. I also found the metallic blue and amber votive holders at Goodwill.

Goodwill is a unique place with unique finds!  So mark your calendars for 6 a.m. Saturday, March 17, and come find your dream dress, engagement party ensemble or jewelry to complete your bridal look at the Rivergate Goodwill.  You’ll also have the opportunity to preview some of my floral and event designs.

Rhonda’s five tips for organizing an event:

  • Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Purchase the main pieces and accessorize the rest!
  • Everything does not have to match but it must complement.
  • Ensure your theme is cohesive.
  • Paint can transform any space, even if it’s just an accent wall.
  • Incorporate a wow factor or conversation piece in each space.

Rhonda Patton is an event and floral designer living and working in Nashville, Tenn. To learn more about Rhonda and her services, visit her website at Rhonda Patton Weddings & Events.

Have a Look at our Wedding Gala Lookbook!

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If you’re as excited as we are for this year’s Wedding Gala, you’ll love perusing through these photos, all shot on location at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville. You’ll find these items and more from 6-9 a.m. Saturday, March 17, at our Goodwill store in Rivergate.  We will have wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses, mothers dresses, flower girl dresses, shoes, jewelry accessories and more.  All wedding gowns will be priced under four hundred dollars.

Thanks to Matchless Transportation for providing the vintage 1959 Bentley and Street Tuxedo for providing men’s attire for the photo shoot!

Why iStyled.me?

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a brief interview with Lisa O’dell, INVEST chairman at Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Magnet High School in Nashville

Hi Lisa! What is INVEST, and what is your role responsible for?

I am in charge of raising funds that the Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) uses to pay for financial voids at the school. The money is used for continuing education and seminars for the teachers, expensive supplies and technology for the science, engineering and math departments, supplies and materials for other classes including subscriptions to The Wall Street Journal and The Economist, tutors, ACT and SAT prep classes, etc. The istyled.me event is part of the INVEST campaign and we are hoping to raise at least $3,000.

How did you decide on a fashion show?

Raising money is not easy and can be a real chore. I thought a fashion show would be a fun way to raise money and to allow students to be creative and show off their unique styles.

Why partner with Goodwill?

Looking good and owning your style is very important to high school students, but not everyone can afford to shop at J. Crew or Abercrombie and Fitch. I’ve been shopping at Goodwill for years and I introduced my daughter to the concept when she was in middle school. Now that she’s in high school, and at a school that does not mandate standard school attire (SSA), she revels in the opportunity to showcase her own style. As part of that, she shuns most popular stores because of the cost and her fear that she will go to school wearing an outfit that someone else has on. Goodwill allows her to create a unique style … and one that doesn’t break the bank. The event is a tribute to my daughter and the fun we have together and to Goodwill, an organization we support and one that in turn, creates many necessary jobs in Middle Tennessee.

When I shop at Goodwill, especially on the First Saturday of the month, I see students from all types of schools – public and private and from many of the local colleges. I know the great deals you can get at Goodwill and so do they.

Interested in participating in the iStyled.me challenge? Here’s how it works:

Meet Penelope

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“Everyone has the same goals—to feel important and appreciated.”

It was a slow and gradual transition from light to darkness for Penelope. Over the course of many years, retinitis pigmentosa robbed her of her eyesight. Without her sight, Penelope had to move on from her career as a medical technician working with cardiac patients to a job where she could regain her independence. She found just that at Goodwill, where she is a member of the hanging team.

Watch and learn more about Penelope: