The DASH is COMING!

We are just 4 short days away from our 1st Annual Dash for the Dress Event! We are getting really excited about having so many new brides in the store and all of the excitement that comes along with finding the perfect wedding dress. Not to mention, these girls are going to be getting their wedding gowns at seriously discounted prices!! Gowns start at just $99, and doors open at 8:00am {so come early}!! **This event is Cash-only**



Tell your friends.
Spread the word.
Shout it out loud.
The DASH is COMING!!!

Source. {Running of the Brides in Boston, MA}

Source. {Running of the Brides in New York, NY}

P.S. A portion of proceeds goes to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and what's not to love about that?

Meet Miss Gator!

One of my May 2010 brides came into the store recently and told me about her brand new wedding blog, Gator Bride. I ventured onto her site, and I found the cutest, most creative blog I have seen in such a long time! She highlights her own wedding details and also provides wedding inspiration for other brides living in Gainesville, Florida (and even those that don't!). From local venues to her super cute, etsy-made cake toppers, what's not to love? And she even refers to herself as Miss Gator! {swoons} :O)


Solutions Bridal <3's Miss Gator!!

Spending time with Avie....

Today in the store we had Ann Marie from Avie Wedding Planners in the store. She was so sweet and set up this wonderful display of information and goodies for our brides. It was a pleasure getting to spend the morning with her! We enjoy hanging out with our favorite vendors, outside of events.

If you are unfamiliar with Avie, they are one of the leading Gainesville Florida Wedding Planner and Coordination Agencies. From start to finish, A'vie is ready to insure your event not only exceeds expectations, but also becomes a date for all to remember. On the day of your event, you can relax and enjoy the celebration knowing that you don't have to worry whether the band will be on time or the decorations are being placed in just the right places. Whether you need a little help or a fully planned event, A'vie Weddings & Events is ready to help make your event a success.

Here is their website for for info: www.avie.biz !!

IBW: Ivory + Black + Purple

This week's Inspiration Board was inspired by a romantic hue of purple and features one of our favorite Watters & Watters wedding gowns. I was skeptical how this would look, but now I'm really digging this super sultry palette!!

Sources:
Wedding Gown: Watters & Watters (photo by Caroline Johnson)
Ivory Tablescape
Purple Lounge: One Wed
Flowers: The Knot
Purple Tablescape: The Knot
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Flowergirl Dress: Watters & Watters
Cake: The Knot

I Noah a Celebrity!

Most brides get excited with a sweet card or message from their fiance before the wedding, but our bride, Becky got a special surprise seeing former Gator and now Chicago Bulls Basketball star, Joaquim Noah! One of our favorite photographers, Powers Photography made sure to get this exciting shot-it has to end up in the wedding album!

Becky wore a gorgeous Mikaella Bridal dress. We can't wait to see more pictures!

Thanks Powers for giving us this sneak peak.

Brides & Bellinis

Brides & Bellinis just the name sounds fun! Avie & Masterpiece Weddings are planning an exclusive Bridal Reception just for you! Brides can come and mingle with Gainesville's most-raved vendors & other brides over cocktails & dinner. Unforgettable Event's gorgeous flowers and decor will also be there to create an atmosphere every bride will want for their wedding. This event that you won't want to miss will be held at Gainesville Golf & Country Club Sunday, June 28th, 2009 from 4-7pm.

For more information you can check out http://www.bridesandbellinis.blogspot.com/.

RSVP with Masterpiece Weddings 352-317-3222 or A'vie 352-338-7577

Check Us Out on www.WeddingWire.com!

Our page on WeddingWire.com just received a complete makeover! For anyone not familiar with the site it is a fabulous networking and informational tool for brides and vendors. I love the way clients can rate their experiences with us, it's so wonderful to know how happy they all are. Check out our page and leave us a fun note!

Is Vera Wang the Next Celebrity Dancer?

YES! E News has reported that Vera Wang has signed on for the next season of Dancing with the Stars. I am sooo excited for one of my favorite designers to strut her stuff on the dance floor. As a former figure skater, I'm sure she has some moves the runway has not seen yet. I just hope that they will let her design her own costumes... they would steal the show!

"The Hangover" Wedding Style

The plot of the movie "The Hangover" may be every bride's nightmare: Just two days before his wedding, the groom, Doug, takes three of his friends to Las Vegas for a crazy bachelor party. The next morning the three friends wake up and find that Doug is missing and they have little time to find him before making it back in time for the wedding. The movie is hilarious, but may not for the bride who is faint-of-heart. However, the wedding in the movie is GORGEOUS, so if you still need some inspiration I would definitely recommend checking it out. The bride's dress in particular is stunning. The strapless silk organza A-line dress by Amsale features a sweetheart neckline with shirred bodice, natural waist, and satin ribbon with floral detail. You can check out more views of the dress, as well as the rest of the Amsale collection on Brides.com. The Amsale website also has further details.

IBW: Pink + Black

For this Inspiration Board Wednesday, I cheated a little bit. One of the other Solutions' girls gave me the idea to do an inspiration board around the color scheme for my upcoming August wedding. So I took a bunch of pictures off of my personal wedding blog and found a GORGEOUS Justina McCaffrey gown that fit the mood perfectly. And voila, this pink and black inspiration board came to life! I just love these colors together... it's the perfect fusion of femininity and masculinity {that's what made my fiance happy!}

Sources:
Gown: Justina McCaffrey
Bouquet: McLellan Studio
Escort Card: Kee to your Heart blog
RSVP card: Unique Designs
Centerpiece: The Knot
Pink Cosmo Martini: The Nibbler
Shoes: Kate Spade
Candy Buffet: Budget Dream Weddings

Monogrammed Veils

Wedding customization is one of the biggest trends in the wedding industry right now, so I love it when brides come up with new, creative ways to add a personal touch to their day. This is not often requested by brides, but one of the services we offer our to have their monogram put on the edge of their veil.

Source.

It looks STUNNING in photos! I love the shots I've seen with the veil blowing in the wind and the monogram showing against the blue sky. Check out this awesome photo:

Source.

Real Wedding: Kate Gissy

On May 16, 2009 Kate Gissy and Jared Saft married at Portifino Bay Hotel at Universal! It was a pleasure helping Kate through out the months during her planning stages. Check out Damon Tucci Photography for more images.

Its all in the Details:

Gown: Rivini Designs
Bridesmaids: Amsale in Ocean Blue
Photography: Damon Tucci
Wedding Planner: E-Events

While listening to the classic "Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend" song in the store I came to the realization that they haven't always been the go-to rock or tradition!
The tradition of engagement rings dates back to the Classical era, and for the first few hundred years of the tradition, only the wealthiest nobles could afford precious stones. Most rings were actually just simple metal bands! The tradition of the ring finger came from the belief that there was a vein running straight from what is now known as the left "ring finger" to the heart.

When a larger portion of the population became able to afford rings with precious stones (not just diamonds) engagement rings became highly symbolic. Sets of stones would have personal meanings. A ring style commonly made used the birth stones of the engaged as well as their parents to create a ring. The Victorian tradition of engagement rings included precious stones such as Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Vermarine, and Emerald which spells Love! Some engagement rings during this era also contained compartments for a lock of the betrothed's hair (ahh really?).

The tradition of diamond solitaires actually all began with a campaign by De Beers in the 1940's!
Some other food for thought is that diamonds can actually be a boys best friend too... it is still traditional is some places for the man to wear an engagement ring too!

One Kings Lane features Mindy Weiss

If you haven't heard of One Kings Lane before, it's an exclusive website for designer home furnishings at sample sale prices. I frequently browse their site just looking at all of the pretty stuff. However, today I will be making my very first purchase. They are featuring a Mindy Weiss sale that ends tomorrow at 11am.

Mindy Weiss is one of the most sought after event planners in the U.S., and she also designs some of the most darling wedding accessories. Check out these products of hers, all featured on One Kings Lane:

Cake Serving Set

Groom's Survival Kit

Mr. & Mrs. Passport Covers

"Wish" Guest Book (has really cool envelopes for guests to leave wishes for the bride & groom)

One Kings Lane is an invite only site, so if you are interested in checking out these goodies by Mindy Weiss, you can email me at kari@solutionsbridal.com, and I will send you over an invitation to One Kings Lane as soon as possible.

Fairy Tale Flower Girl....

Today we had a bride come in the store to try on "the one" and pop champagne. Our lovely consultant Kari got to share a very special couple hours with alot of the brides friends and family. During this time we learned a lot about the very talkative flower girl, Catriona. Cat, as she so clearly told us her name is, is a very special young lady. She was one of the brides patients at Shands about 4 years ago and they have become very close since then. The now 8 year old Cat has had both a lung and heart transplant, both in March of this year. She happens to be one of the most positive young ladies the store has ever met. The couple got legally married on Cat's birthday in her honor and are very excited to have her as the flower girl in their celebration of marriage coming up in November of this year. We had a great time with the bride and her family and especially enjoy meeting Cat! We cannot wait to see pictures from this joyous event!
This is a picture (off a phone) of Cat, holding her dress of choice! Too cute! :)

White + Green

It's that time again... Inspiration Board Wednesday!

Today's board was inspired by a gorgeous Judd Waddell gown, which perfectly matches a serene, natural color scheme. We are loving this gown... and if you notice the ring bearer. He carried the ring down the aisle in a bird's nest!! How adorable!

Sources:
Gown: Judd Waddell
Centerpiece: La Dolce Vita Studio
Flowers: The Knot
Flowergirl & Ringbearer: La Dolce Vita Studio
Invitation Suite: Milkmaid Press

Here Comes the Bride...To Save the Day!

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) - Georgette Fogarty-Clemons was heading home from her wedding Sunday evening, looking forward to relaxing with a few friends. Her friend was driving slowly because they had some leftover cake in the car, along with hydrangeas and lilies still in water.That's when Clemons spotted smoke from the side of her neighbor's house in Bridgeport and told her friend to back up and stop.Still in her wedding gown and high heels, Fogarty-Clemons jumped out of the car."I stepped right into a pile of mud," Fogarty-Clemons said. "I just thought to myself, 'Oh my God, my shoes.""Where are you going?" asked her friend, Hanifah Bost, thinking the smoke was from a barbecue. Guests following them were equally perplexed."That's fire," Fogarty-Clemons said. "Come on; we have to tell them."Fogarty-Clemons made it to the house and pounded on the door, alerting the residents to the fire. A woman and her 16-year-old son and their pets were able to escape unharmed."We have no way of knowing what would have happened had she not come to the door," said Susan Schneiderman, who owns the house that caught fire.As firefighters arrived and battled the blaze after members of the family were alerted, Clemons folded her muddied wedding dress nearby."She was doing her best to get everybody out," Bridgeport Deputy Fire Chief Bruce Porzelt said of Fogarty-Clemons. "It's got to be a funny thing to end up doing that on your wedding day, in your wedding gown."