The Bridal Closet

THE BRAND NEW BRIDAL CLOSET!

2010-03-17T19:54:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone~

Today is the day! We've contemplated starting a Wordpress blog for a long time, and it's finally time to announce to the world that we have a

BRAND NEW BLOG!

To all of our loyal readers, thank you so much for following us! Our new blog has so much in store for all of you, so what are you waiting for? Get over there and read our first post!

New blog~ http://www.solutionsbridal.com/blog :O)

Loving Lazaro

2010-03-16T21:03:00.007-04:00

This ivory hand beaded and embroidered tulle trumpet formal bridal gown, with a sweetheart neckline and chapel train is GooOooorgeous! Where can you find this one of a kind dress?? Call Winter Park now to make an appointment to come in and try this gown on~ 407.647.8666

Side Note: We have very exciting news to announce for the Winter Park Location..... any ideas?? stay tuned for the big announcement! !!!!

~

Bahama Bride

2010-03-15T11:06:00.003-04:00

Hello loves~ I am back after a much needed vacation! Soaking up the sun, drinking pina-coladas and dancing to the band made me realize how much fun it would be to get married in the Bahamas!!! ( yes, I think about work while I'm on vacation- I can't help it I love the bridal industry!) I was laying out one day and just started putting together in my head the perfect beach wedding. I created this lovely inspiration board to help display my vision~

So of course we have to start with the dress- This gorgeous strapless chiffon slim gown with empire bodice, long flowing skirt and sweep train, by Anne Barge would be perfect for a beach wedding. Very light and slimming, this romantic gown would look elegant sweeping across the beach.
***Winter Park carries this beautiful beach gown***

In the upper right corner, is a picture of a very delicate flower hair piece by Lori London.
To view more collections, you can call to schedule an appointment for the Lori London Trunk Show~352.367.0070

And now for the venue~ the Bahamas. Remember, I am no photographer- just a bridal stylist, so these pictures are from my camera, but still gorgeous. My favorite place in the Bahamas hands down, would be the stunning Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island. They call it paradise for a reason~

I wish I was still there, but excited to be back to help all of our fabulous brides!

~

You don't want to miss this weekend!

2010-03-15T10:50:00.006-04:00

Solutions Bridal presents:

~March 19-21~
Be the first to view the newest 2010 collection of feathers, flowers, veils and tiaras from the amazingly talented Lori London accessories group.
Appointments will receive an exclusive designer discount.
Call the Gainesville store for an appointment
~352-367-0070~

Venue Love...

2010-03-14T10:00:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks ago we had an awesome opportunity to attend a Posh Pastry event called The Sweet Life, it was spectacular! The event took place at the Hippodrome State Theatre, in their new venue in the basement. This would be a great venue to hold a small rehearsal dinner, bridal brunch or even an elaborate engagement! I loved the rustic feel of the colums that could easily be transformed into a fully draped elegant room. No matter how you look at this amazing venue it is great! I cannot wait to see pictures of the next event they hold there!

-lb

amazing save the dates!

2010-03-13T11:06:00.007-05:00

One of our brides decided to put together these beautiful save the dates with pictures from Verve Studio. Below are some great pictures of the save the dates as well as some great shots from their engagement. Alli and Tim will be getting married next month and we cannot wait to see the amazing pictures from their big day!
-lb

Tropical Done Right...

2010-03-13T10:25:00.005-05:00

And looking beautiful in a Solutions dress! This is Lindsey and her husband Robbie's beautiful tropical wedding at Sweetwater Branch. Their pictures were done by the awesome Powers Photography duo. It is very hard to tastefully pull of the "tropical" theme and this amazing couple has done it perfectly. The coral with the teal is gorgeous and her dress from Watters works perfectly for the venue. Congratulations to the happy couple! Here are some of our faovrite shots of the day.
-lb

From Bridal Salon to Bridal Mag

2010-03-12T15:34:00.003-05:00

Pick up the latest issue of Brides Florida on stands now. On of our lovely brides, Cassie, was a selected as a real wedding feature. She wore a silk satin Anne Barge gown at her Santa Barbara wedding. We hope to see more of our brides published in magazines to come!

You're finally engaged... what next?!

2010-03-10T11:20:00.004-05:00

You said yes, you got the ring of your dreams, and now what? Slow down and think! You don’t have to run out and book a venue the following weekend just because they have your date available. Think about what kind of wedding you and your groom-to-be want to create. Something intimate and secluded, or something over the top and extravagant? A venue can certainly set the tone, and using your surroundings is a great start for your vision and your budget. Even the most skilled event producers can have a tough time transforming an urban loft to an Italian chateau. Especially when the chateau inspired venue was available and in your budget but you never looked into it.

Here are some amazing venues in Central Florida:

Rix Lounge: Trendy, lounge feel
Bella Collina: Italian inspired vineyard
Ballroom at Church Street: Large, elegant affair
Waldorf-Astoria: Formal, secluded garden
Grand Bohemian: Intimate, downtown rooftop

Heather M. Stewart- Stylish Traditions Wedding & Event Design

Saturday Social

2010-03-06T12:25:00.005-05:00

Socializing is always fun...but it's even more exciting when it's with Solutions Bridal! As a former bridal consultant with Solutions Bridal and now Owner of Pavé Weddings (a Wedding and Event Planning company based out of Orlando) , I always enjoy stopping by to help out in the salon and experience the atmosphere and excitement of brides as they find their perfect gown.

Joining us is Leslie Vega from The LV Studio. She is a pleasure to work with and her custom creations are amazing! When invitations are sent out, they provide your guests with the first taste of your wedding vision and style. Why not wow them from the start? Take a look at some of Leslie's extraordinary couture invitations. I promise you that you'll fall in love!

Have a Great Saturday!

~Nicole Drewery - Pave Weddings

Savvy Bride

2010-03-04T11:34:00.001-05:00

Lindsey and Kristin from Just Marry stopped by for a Saturday Social with some fun bridal quizzes. According to them I would be considered a savvy bride.....Which bride are you?

We were sad to pack up the stunning dresses from the McCaffrey Trunk Show...hello and goodbuy! A great buy for our brides and a 10% discount. Our next trunk show is March 12th- 14th~ Lori London Accessories~Call now to book your appointment

Can't wait for this weekend for Leslie Vega from the LV Studio to be in at the store. Check out her AmAzInG collections! I'll be at her event tonight, hope to see our brides there!

Planning for I Do

2010-03-04T08:52:00.004-05:00

As a former member of the Solutions team I know how much fun brides have while finding their dream gown. Champagne flows, you best friend cries, it’s an amazing experience! As a wedding planner, I also know that not every detail of planning your big day is as picture perfect as a Saturday at Solutions. With a background in the wedding industry I recently launched Stylish Traditions, a wedding and event planning company in Tampa. Starting today I’ll be writing weekly blog postings with helpful hints and planning tips on everything from finding the right flowers to budgeting. Helping brides create perfectly planned weddings, now that’s what I call an amazing experience!

Heather M. Stewart- Stylish Traditions Wedding & Event Design

2010-03-02T16:06:00.002-05:00

Please join Leslie Vega in a night filled with couture invitations in the chic studio of Caroline Johnson. Leslie Vega is the Creative Director for The LV Studio. She is also the master at our new website launching this month. The event is invite only, please r.s.v.p. to info@thelvstudio.com. or caroline@cjphotographer.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

Posh Pastry Tasting This Thursday!

2010-03-02T13:33:00.004-05:00

We are all sooo excited to attend and be apart of The Sweet Life cake tasting event by Posh Pastry this Thursday. There will be tons of wonderful vendors participating at this event ready to offer you tips and information to help you plan your big day!

The wedding vendors that will be present are...

If you would like to receive an invitation to this fabulous event, please visit the The Sweet Life blog and leave Kristy a message!
See you all there.

It's Raining New Gowns in Gainesville!

2010-02-24T15:30:00.005-05:00

We absolutely LOVE this time of year post-bridal market because we keep receiving FABULOUS gowns from our designers.
Today in particular knocked our socks off... we received a beautiful Jasmine Couture gown that brides keep calling us about!

This gown is perfect for the romantic bride, the beaded straps and bodice add jazz to the whimsical chiffon skirt.
Did I mention the va-va-voom low V back?

The first lucky bride that purchases this gown will get a special surprise!!
Curious aren't you?
Call the Gainesville salon today to schedule your appointment 352.367.0070

Make Mine a Mimosa...

2010-02-23T10:40:00.004-05:00

Breakfast in bed, spa treatments, photography session, AND a romantic dinner for 2 -um where can I sign up?

Wedding expert Susan Southerland, of Just Marry is hosting a fabulous Weekend Wedding Retreat! For $249 you and your fiance can enjoy a relaxing weekend at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. You will start the morning off with breakfast in bed, informative workshops from planning your guest list, to budgeting, creating center pieces and of course honeymoon planing. But that's not all...my favorite part is you get to create a signature drink for your wedding! How fun!

For more information on Weekend Wedding Retreat call 407.239.3955

Just Marry will be here at the Winter Park Solutions for a fabulous Saturday Social!! They can give any advice on wedding planning and offer many packages worth checking out.

--

what we call a "wow" reception....

2010-02-22T13:32:00.006-05:00

Kelli was an adorable bride of ours with a vision for an amazing reception at the University Club of Jacksonville. The black colors with the amazing pops of color make this reception one the guests will never forget. The dress she is wearing is made by Jasmine and was customized for her to that beautiful sweetheart neckline you see in the pictures. We were thrilled to get these amazing pictures of a beautiful wedding. Enjoy!
-lb

Counting down till her wedding...

2010-02-20T11:20:00.007-05:00

This is one of my most cherished brides. She is a total sweetheart and I have gotten to know her mom as well, such a close precious family. Her wedding is a summertime wedding and her venue is the oldest house in St.Augustine. They are doing the horse drawn carriage and everything. Arin is such a sweetheart and one of those people you meet and felt like you have known for years. I can't wait to see her wedding pictures, but until then here is a great engagement session done by Lindsey Troph at Pure By Lindsey .
-lb

Stunning colors....

2010-02-20T10:38:00.006-05:00

This beautiful bride is the perfect example of how bold colors can be used in a simple outdoor wedding. The pictures below are of Laura and her beautiful wedding shortly after thanksgiving with her family and close friends. The intimate outdoor setting was perfect for her flowy Watters dress and beautiful bold pinks, purples and blues.
Her pictures were done by the very creative Lindsey Tropf with Pure by Lindsey.
Enjoy!
-lb

Real Weddings

2010-02-19T12:46:00.004-05:00

This is one of our fabulous brides, Whitney Carmichael, who shot her wedding with the awesome Kara Pennington. The wedding took place a view days after Christmas and was just darling. Here are a few shots we loved of her, she wore a Marisa gown and a NattyB necklace.

When brides look like models....

2010-02-19T11:16:00.004-05:00

This is one of my brides, who happened to choose one of my favorite photographers to do her pre-wedding and wedding pictures. The wedding took place at the Cloister Sea Island Resort. The amazing photographer that I am speaking of is of course, La Dolce Vita Studios. I am always blown away by the duo, Melanie and Bradford Watson, who definitly rocked this shoot. (as usual)I can't wait to see their wedding album, they are truly a beautiful couple. The first shot here is of the venue, which is stunning! The rest are some of my favorite shots that were done around the resort.

-lb

Looking for a new Bridal Consultant in Gainesville!

2010-02-18T14:13:00.000-05:00

Interested in the wedding industry and bridal fashion? Do you have a sense of style? Most importantly, do you have an exuberant personality?! If the answers to these questions are yes then you would be a great candidate for a new Solutions Bridal consultant!

If you are interested in applying, please fax your resume to Marissa at 352-374-7293! Work hours are approximately 25-35 hours per week.

Website Updates!

2010-02-16T12:09:00.003-05:00

Be sure to check out some exciting updates to our website coming up soon! The fabulous Leslie Vega has been hard at work and we are so excited to show everyone the final product soon. Leslie is an amazing graphic designer, so for our vendors out there who need any help with their web sites, we would definitely recommend her. She also makes beautiful invitations, stationary, and business cards, so check out her web site!

Keep checking back soon for more details!

Solutions Bridal Meets America's Next Top Model Winner

2010-02-15T21:21:00.022-05:00

Okay, so I have a slight America's Next Top Model obesssion... ( yes, I watch the marathons) so I was ecstatic to find out that season 10 winner - Whitney Thompson, would be doing a photo shoot wearing one of our very own!!!! How crazy is that???? Whitney, now a brunette bombshell, is wearing a gorgeous strapless champagne peau de soie ballgown by the talented designer Judd Waddell.

Wedding & Fashion Photographer- Scarlett Lillian
Stylist- Melanie Pace
Dress- Judd Waddell

For more fabulous pictures go to Scarlett Lillian's website

The Florida Bridal Expo

2010-02-15T11:53:00.005-05:00

We would like to thank everyone who came out to the Florida Bridal Expo on January 31st! If you weren't able to make it, you missed a wonderful time! With over 50 vendors, brides and grooms from all over the North Central Florida area enjoyed wedding planning tips, cake tastings, honeymoon ideas, photography packages, and many other vendor treats! At the end of the expo, guests were able to view a fashion show featuring over 75 of Solutions Bridal's bridal, bridesmaid, and flower girl gowns! We hope to see all of our amazing vendors and guests at our next expo this September!

Photographs courtesy of Adore Events and Footstone Photography.

Tiers to you!

2010-02-15T10:29:00.000-05:00

New Arrival at the Orlando store, "Tyler" by Watters & Watters has our brides mesmerized. Style Tyler, as I like to refer to her is a silk organza strapless fluted gown with tier layers.

Tyler can be dressed up with a satin ribbon with crystals to make the dress more formal or you can add a delicate flower sash designed by our own~ Kari Roy~ ( see bottom picture) Both give the dress the finishing touch!

Tyler is a perfect example how accessories can make a dress. If you would like to try on this gorgeous dress call now to make an appointment with one of our very own Bridal Stylists~407.647.8666

Breaking News!!

2010-02-13T11:33:00.004-05:00

We are so pleased to hear that JLM Couture just announced Lazaro as the new head designer of the Tara Keeley Collection! The company said that Perez Lazaro will still continue his duties as head designer of the upscale Lazaro collection while also designing for the company's mid-priced gown collection, Tara Keeley. Lazaro, pictured below, says that he is enthusiastic about the opportunity!
Although we don't currently carry Tara Keeley here at the Gainesville store, we are looking forward to market this upcoming Fall to see what the new collection has to offer!!

We had a little visitor today in the Gainesville store...

2010-02-12T15:24:00.002-05:00

Stephanie Futch's Flowergirl, she was presh! :)
-lb

The Newest Bridal Stylist

2010-02-12T14:49:00.004-05:00

Hello,

My name is Tanya Douglas, and I'm the newest stylist and bridal consultant here at Solutions Bridal. In joining the team, I bring a creative, designers' eye for style. I've recently graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Landscape Architecture. I've painted for almost 14 years, and have worked in creative environments with clients and diverse design teams.

Upon coming into the shop, I would like to take a few minutes to talk and get to know you, and also to find out more about the type of wedding you are planning. This allows me to be able to choose a dress for you that fits your personality - something that you will feel great in on your wedding day. I'm happy to suggest any design changes that we can make to "a dress" to make it "The Dress". You may want to change the neckline, or you may want to add more beading or take beading away, and you might even want to consider shortening a dress to a "tea length". Accessories can also change the entire look and feel of your wedding ensemble. A different veil, hair piece, sash, or shoes can alter the character of a dress to fit your personality perfectly. There are so many options!

My favorite dress in the shop right now is a dress by Anne Barge. It's my favorite because it's a wedding gown with pockets! the pockets are part of the folds in the skirt and are formed with how the fabric is cut. It is unique, and it would even look great hemmed as a "tea length".

You can learn more about me and review my design portfolio at tanyaldouglas.com. If you go directly to tanyaldouglas.com/About, you can view my bibliography and some of my favorite personal photos.

I look forward to meeting you and helping choose "The Dress" for you. Come and see me at Solutions Bridal Designer House.

Tanya

2010-02-12T12:09:00.004-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

{a special word from your photographer}

I am so fortunate to be in the business of capturing LOVE on film. From the silly moments and glances that a couple in love shares to the love that a woman and man share for their children. It is my life mission to not only love but to capture personal love stories.

Eight years back when I was first discovering my love and passion for photography while in Seattle, I attended what I thought was a silly corporate seminar. The message that was unveiled at the end of the two day seminar was that in life one should "LOVE, LEARN & LEAVE a LEGACY!"

Photography has been a LOVE for me because it has provided a haven for me to explore and take witness to moments that I may have overlooked. When searching for the perfect images through my lens, I feel really alive. My heart slows down as my eyes explore and take in all the visuals. When I have my camera in hand, I feel as though I am truly living in the moment. My LOVE of photography has guided me and my amazing clients constantly push me to see differently, explore the ordinary, and see the extraordinary!

I am so grateful to my many life teachers. From those who guide me everyday to those who have helped me to unleash my creative potential through their teachings. I enjoy photography so much because every day I am LEARNING. One can never know it all in this industry. Technology is constantly changing and pushing me to new heights with my art. In honor of those how have taught me, it is my goal this year to give back and teach those who are seeking to LEARN. Seminars will be launched in the second part of 2010.

Photography is my way to leave a LEGACY for many generations to share. An image can last forever. Generations upon generations will cherish their family history. There is nothing sweeter than when a client comes back several years later and tells me what it meant to them when their son or daughter was old enough to enjoy their wedding images.

I hope that you too can find a unique way to share with the world your amazing talents. It is my Valentine's Day wish that you too choose to LOVE, LEARN, & LEAVE a LEGACY.

Happy Valentine's Day - XOXO

Mikaella Bridal Showcase

2010-02-11T12:09:00.010-05:00

Come preview the latest designs by Mikaella and find your dream gown at the Gainesville location on February 19th - 21st!!

Enjoy cocktails and helpful tips from local vendors including The Flower Pot Bakery!

Appointments are recommended and will receive a special discount at the event!

Pictured above:
Wedding Gowns by Mikaella
Flowers and Cake by The Perfect Wedding Guide

Dream Designs

2010-02-11T01:19:00.000-05:00

Danielle Evans from Dream Designs will be joining us at the Winter Park Salon for another fabulous Saturday Social. With over 20 years in the floral business, Danielle can help you create your dream wedding. One of Danielle's weddings was just featured in the spring issue of Central Florida Bride.

Dream Designs is an actual storefront that carries distinctive casual and fun Bridal apparel. From personalized attendants gifts, flower girl baskets, ring pillows, guest books, wedding albums, and wedding favors you will be impressed with the variety and quality of their offerings.

Whether you are searching for unique bridesmaids gifts, groomsmen gifts or even a gift for yourself, make sure to stop by this Saturday to see all of her work. Or you can contact Danielle yourself to schedule a consultation~

Real Wedding: Nancy & Anthony

2010-02-10T12:44:00.009-05:00

First look! Recently at the Kanapaha
Botanical Gardens in Gainesville Florida Nancy & Anthony tied the knot!
Nancy looked beautiful in her beaded and embroidered Jasmine Couture Gown.
The scalloped detail on her veil complemented perfectly to the edge of the dress.

Pictures courtesy of: Verve Studio

Real Wedding: Brittany & Tony

2010-02-09T10:52:00.000-05:00

This lovely couple tied the knot December 12th at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. Brittany's dream wedding all began with one stop into Solutions Bridal. Finding her Stunning Marisa silk satin dress with her Mother and her bridesmaid dresses all in one place was such a relief.

From veil, to shoes and dress, Brittany looked Stunning!

I could not just pick one picture from their wedding, they all were so great so I made a collage for Brittany & Tony.

Venue- Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel
Dress, Veil & Shoes- Solutions Bridal
Flowers- Petals by Design
Invitations-Jean M.
Cake- Party Flavors
Hair- Megan Nuciforo
Make Up- Maria Merchan

Congratulations Brittany & Tony Rodgers!!!

2010-02-08T15:14:00.000-05:00

Solutions Love

2010-02-08T14:54:00.005-05:00

We just received the sweetest email from our bride Allison! Check out her wedding pictures. The wedding took place at the Lake Mary Events center. Heather Ahrens photographed the silk McCaffrey gown and Black Jim Hjelm bridesmaid dresses. Thanks to Brittany with Tickled Pink Brides, the whole look came together perfectly on the wedding day.

Letter from our bride:

Solutions girls!,

I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you guys! I had such an amazing
experience at Solutions! Amy was my consultant and she was just amazing! She spent almost 4 hours with me as I tried on what felt like a thousand dresses and never made me feel rushed! She kept telling me "its just like falling in love... When you know you know" and she was right! Before she even had MY dress zipped up I was in tears and in love... I couldnt help but hug her since I felt like she had made my dress dreams come true :) My mother, mother in-law, one of my bridesmaids and I were all in tears as Amy poured champagne for our toast! It was exactly like I always dreamt it would be! I always looked forward to going into Solutions and seeing you girls, the new dresses and accessories and purchasing not only my dress but my veil, hair piece, jewelery, bridesmaids dresses and bridesmaids gifts! How could I have gone anywhere else after Amy and Tali made me feel so special every time I stepped foot through those doors!

Thank you so much for making my hunt for the perfect dress so PERFECT!
Allison Raudebaugh (Vandeberghe)

Complete Package

2010-02-04T16:38:00.013-05:00

I am super excited about another fabulous Saturday Social approaching~

Simone from Makeover Station will be in the store this Saturday for a free make up trial for brides only~

Call now to make your appointment with her, spots are filling up fast!

Simone is amazing at what she does and knows how to make every bride look stunning on their special day

While you are getting pampered make sure to take a look around at all the new Erin Cole Accessories. We are hosting the Erin Cole Trunk show February 5th-14th at the Winter Park Location . All Erin Cole items are 10% off for the trunk show and they are GORGEOUS!!
The dress is always center attention, but the accessories are essential in completing the brides total appearance on her wedding day! From earrings, veil, to hair accessories, Erin Cole has the whole package to make any brides look complete.

2010-02-03T11:47:00.000-05:00

Eat, Drink, and Be a Bridesmaid!!

2010-02-02T13:21:00.000-05:00

So maybe you didn't get the rock this year, but you can still rock it out in a super fabulous dress at your friend's wedding. This week is all about bridesmaid dresses!!!

pictured above ( new Watters & Watters bridesmaid dresses)

We just received a ton of Lazaro bridesmaid dresses! We are hosting the Lazaro bridesmaid trunk show February 4th- 14th! at the Winter Park location. You know what that means!!
Dresses galore!!
Call now to make an appotinment to view the spring 2010 collection and receive 10% off Lazaro bridesmaid dresses only!!!

pictured above: New Lazaro spring collection

Pictured above: New Floor-lenght Lazaro bridesmaid dresses

The Secret is Out!

2010-01-29T13:21:00.008-05:00

Everyone knows how amazing Solutions Bridal is.....or do they??? We would love for our brides to refer us to their friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, gym buddy... etc.

You looked amazing in your dress from us, and so should your friends! so go a head and send them our way~

Brag about us! We would love for you to! But, wait there is something in it for you...

We have referral cards to hand out to all our brides. If you refer a friend and they purchase their dress with us and hand us their referral card with your name on it, you get a goody in return!! - And who doesn't love surprises?? Trust me ladies the surprise is worth it!!!

Rivini Trunk Show

2010-01-28T10:19:00.010-05:00

It is so exciting with all the new RIVNI dresses in the store at Winter Park SB!!! okay, so the other day I went to brides.com to get a preview of the new RIVINI 2010 collection and the pictures did not do them justice!!! They are absoluely GORGEOUS in person!!!

So this weekend is super busy for BOTH stores. I know all our brides in Gainesville area have already bought their tickets for the expo....or will soon. You have until Sunday and they are more at the door so buy your tickets now!!

For all our brides in the Orlando area call now to make an appointment for the RIVINI Trunk show~ 407.647.8666
from left to right: Irise, Brindi, & Lismora

Benefits of a Trunk Show
You get to see the new collection (they will be in the store for this weekend only)
Expert representative from RIVINI, Indira will be in the store to answer any questions
You get to work one on one with Indira
You get 10% off on RIVINI dresses only
Champagne Toast or Mimosas when you purchase your dress!!

Man, I wish I was a bride this weekend!

Two is better than one

2010-01-25T16:21:00.010-05:00

We were so fortunate to host Michele Butler with Michele Butler Events and Maureen Hall with Maureen Hall Stationary this past Saturday at the Orlando location for another successful Saturday Social!!

These lovely ladies are two vendors that are a must have!

Michele Butler is a highly respected wedding planner for Central Florida. Some of her weddings have been featured on the Travel Channel and "Whose Wedding is it Anyways?" Michele is very personable and professional and great with detail.

Are you already planning your wedding? Well, you are still going to need day of assistance. Michele Butler has a package for that as well. For more information you check out her website.

Maureen Hall has been in the business for over 30 years. From Save the Dates to Wedding Menus to Programs, Maureen can do it all! She is located right down the street on Park Avenue in Winter Park. To see some of her stunning work, you should stop by her store. For more information check out her website.

Top 10 Reasons....

2010-01-25T15:33:00.002-05:00

to come to the Solutions Bridal Expo this Sunday from 12-4:30 @ The Hilton!!
Call 352-367-0070 for tickets today!

The top 10 reasons to be at the show this Sunday are:

10. Drop your fiance off at the poker tables! How convenient!
9. Checkout out the hottest reception venues in Gainesville, The Hilton!
8. See and smell the amazing flowers from awesome floral designers!
7. It's a great girls day out or mother/daugther day!
6. Get your picture taken in the Photobooth! Take it home with you as a souvenir!
5. Eat yummy food from every caterer in town!
4. Plan every detail of your wedding in 1 place! Very cool!
3. Taste the sugary goodness of several different cake artists!
2. See the newest lines for spring 2010 from Bridal Fashion week in New York
1. Win a free honeymoon cruise!!

2010-01-25T11:08:00.005-05:00

Looking for that perfect bridesmaid gift? Lauren Wycoff, owner of Green Forest Jewels, makes handmade pieces that can add a special touch to your wedding day. We paired one of the Lazaro Bridesmaid dresses with a Green Forest Jewels Cocktail ring. To see her full collection make sure to check out her online store at www.etsy.com/shop/LaurenWycoff.

Layla & Paul ~ 2009 Grand Prize Winners!

2010-01-21T19:57:00.004-05:00

Solutions Bridal is so excited to spotlight one of our Grand Prize winners from the 2009 Florida Bridal Expo. They won a $5,000 wedding day package, including contributions from the best wedding vendors Gainesville has to offer! It is so special to get to know the winning couple and realize how much they truly deserve this extraordinary prize. Layla and Paul met in Gainesville in 2004 while walking their dogs. They have a beautiful love story, and an even more amazing journey to their wedding day. Paul is in the Armed Forces, and he was in Iraq before coming home recently. Knowing that he has devoted his life to protecting our amazing country makes this story hit home even more.

The beautiful couple will be getting married this Spring in Gainesville, and they will be using some of our favorite vendors. We are so excited to see pictures of their big day later on this year. Paul and Layla, we hope your wedding day is more than you ever dreamed it would be and that your marriage is full of love and laughter!! Congratulations!

For those of you readers who are interested in being one of our Grand Prize winners {a $5,000 wedding day package}, you can purchase tickets to the 2010 Florida Bridal Expo here. Tickets are selling out fast, and don't forget the Expo and fashion show is Sunday, January 31st! {You must be present at the Expo to win.}

Vendors they are using:
Adore Weddings and Events
AP Limousine
Crevasses Regency Florist
Ms Debbie’s Sugar Art
Plantation Hall at Haile
Posh Pastry
Solutions Bridal Designer House (Yay! That's us!)
Storybook Events DJ
Sweetwater Branch Inn
The Plant Shoppe Florist
Verve Studio Photography

Worth the wait

2010-01-21T11:24:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I have been patiently waiting for these pictures.... the photo shoot took place at the lovely Bella Collina back in December. And it was well worth the wait for the turn out. The pictures are killer!! But I mean how could they not be in a Solutions dress?

Photos courtesy by the talented Brad & Melanie Watson with La Dolce Vita Studio Photography

Dresses are ( from Clockwise) : Anne Barge, "Phoebe" by Kenneth Pool, "Sophisticate" by Kenneth Pool and "Fifi" by Badgley Mischka.

Kudos~

Location- Bella Collina Country Club

Photographers Brad & Melanie Watson- La Dolce Vita Studio Photography
Stylist- Melanie Pace
Make Up Artist- Jillian Caro

Dresses
Short tea length dress by Anne Barge
Sophisticate by Kenneth Pool
Phoebe by Kenneth Pool
Fifi dress by Badgley Mischka

Hair Buzz

2010-01-18T10:56:00.000-05:00

I love when we get new arrivals, it makes me feel like it's Christmas again! We just received some new hair accessories from Lori London and they are gorgeous!!

My favorite is this beautiful ivory silk flower hair clip. It has feather accents with a crystal center piece in the shape of a flower.

I think it would look great for a beach wedding or an outdoor spring wedding and stunning with our Watters- "Torrean" gown.

This flower could be worn several different ways. Mollye demonstrated the classy updo. It would also look amazing on a side pony tail in curls, or even with long straight locks.

Pink + Green + Yellow

2010-01-17T10:30:00.003-05:00

This week's Inspiration Board was inspired by Spring! Shades of pink, green, and yellow bring in flirty touches to the perfect outdoor Spring wedding. With the classic bridal gown inspired by Watters, your wedding will be an event your guests will not forget! Also, check out the brand new flower girl dress by Us Angles that just arrived into our Gainesville location. It's a perfect simple dress for any flower gril!

Sources:

Bridal Gown: Austin by Watters
Bridesmaid Dress: Dessy Style 2787
Flower Girl Dress: Us Angles
Shoes: Salon Shoes
Cake: The Knot
Boutonniere: The Knot
Reception: The Knot

~WELCOME LAZARO~

2010-01-16T14:11:00.008-05:00

Spring 2010

I am so excited to share with you our newly added collection, LAZARO. The first dresses of many have now arrived into our Gainesville location.

LZ3008

This Ivory silk shantung formal bridal ball gown has a ballerina sweetheart bodice, ruched waistband that is accented with vintage fresh water pearl brooch, full gathered skirt with silk flowers at back and chapel train.

LZ3018
Antique silk faced satin formal bridal ball gown, draped sweetheart bodice with wide jeweled band at natural waist, box pleated skirt, chapel train.

Which one of these fabulous new dresses will be our EXPO Show Stopper? Tickets are on sale now at SolutionsBridal.com

There will be more to come. Call to make your appointment today!

Swag Bags

2010-01-13T10:00:00.001-05:00

Have you ever wanted a fabulous gift bag full of free goodies like the celebrities get??

Well now you can!! All of our brides here at Solutions in Winter Park are treated like A-list stars and receive first class service. We have put together our own version of the "Swag Bags"

For every bride that purchases their dress with us will receive this amazing gift bag. The value of the bag is estimated around $900!!!!!

Everyone is going crazy over these bags!!!

Our Swag Bag includes: Make up, spa package, spray tan/tanning package, calendar to write dates on, favors, stationary, thank you cards/invitation package, discount on florist package and many more...

We would like to thank all of our sponsors:

Amy Morelli with 2ucollection
Anna Cakes
Dream Designs
Greenery Productions
Maureen Hall Stationary & Invitations
Nu Visions Photography
Pearl Beach Paperie
Studio Cara
Tan 310
The Beauty Spot
Vitality Day Spa

* Swag Bags coming soon to Gainesville Location*

The Florida Bridal Expo

2010-01-12T15:20:00.003-05:00

Come to Solutions Bridal's Florida Bridal Expo on January 31st at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center! Tickets are on sale now at Solutions Bridal in Gainesville or online at solutionsbridal.com for $9. Get your tickets now before the price goes up to $15!

You may also purchase VIP tickets online for $25. VIP brides will receive a VIP bag, early viewing of the vendors, and will get front row seating during the fashion show. They always sell out fast, so make sure you get yours before they are gone!

Over 50 vendors from entertainment to catering will be participating and you will have the opportunity to meet and greet with all of them! These vendors are from the surrounding areas of North Central Florida and can take care of all your wedding needs.

Looking for the perfect wedding dress? Check our our fashion show at the expo, take note of all the dresses you love, and make an appointment to come into Solutions Bridal to meet with one of our consultants after the show!

Four grand prizes include a 4 day 3 night Honeymoon Cruise, two Wedding Giveaways each valued up to $5,000 and a $500 Bed Bath and Beyond gift certificate!

Hope to see you there!

Photos courtesy of TJM Studios Photography

A Message From Our Seamstress:

2010-01-12T11:18:00.002-05:00

Wedding Dress Fittings

You should schedule your 1st fitting for your wedding dress about 6 to 8 weeks before your wedding and shoes are a must. If you have not found the shoes you are going to wear on your wedding day, then you need to have a shoe with the same heel height so you get an accurate measurement on your hem. If you decide to change shoes to a different height, whether it be shorter or taller, you must let your seamstress know, for it can make the difference in having a dress too short or one that you will trip and fall on the day of your wedding.

When it comes to whether or not you should wear a bra, one suggestion I can make is that if you are a C cup or bigger, then a bra would be helpful. Some wedding dresses have a built in corset and a bra is not needed. But for a full bust line, the correct fitting bra will give you lift and a good profile. For brides who are looking for a more fuller figure profile, having padded cups sewn in is a quick and inexpensive solution.

Depending on the style of dress, wearing an extra petticoat or crinoline can give you a fuller skirt. It may also alleviate the need for a hem adjustment if it is less than an inch too long or if the hem is one that cant be altered because of a lace edge or beading that will all come apart when altered.

You also need to get your weight as stable as possible. A drop or gain of more than 10 pounds will result in a major change in how your dress fits and will end up costing you more in alterations for numerous changes. Also remember that your dress is very fragile and if it is needed to be let out, the stitching lines or creases from pressing may show.

Usually it takes 2 fittings when having your wedding dress altered. At the 1st fitting, your seamstress will pin your dress as needed to be taken in and talk to you about how you want your dress to fit. Please speak up with any concerns or suggestions you may have, and if you wish to add anything to your dress such as straps, trim, or cap sleeves. For strapless dresses, one important component in having your dress sit properly on you is with an inside belt. This may need to be added to the waist of your dress before an accurate measurement can be taken of your hem. Lastly your seamstress will talk to you about what type of bustle will look best for your dress. Whether you chose a French or Traditional bustle, it should compliment the look and style of your dress.

Alterations will then be made to your dress and a second fitting will be required. Depending on the amount of alterations will ultimately determine how many fittings you will need. Your seamstress may wait to alter the hem until after your dress has been refitted and is sitting on you properly.

If at all possible, bring someone with you to your last fitting. Your seamstress will want to teach you and whoever is with you how to get into your dress, how to do up the bustle, and care instructions for your dress until your wedding day. Your dress should be pressed and ready for you to take home.

For more information please check out Holly's blog.

Hot Off The Press

2010-01-06T17:15:00.004-05:00

Badgley Mischka's new bridal design, Fifi, is stylishly introduced in InStyle Weddings. The dress is delicately shown with a stunning drop earring and a more trendy chunky bracelet. The gown has a sweetheart neckline paired with tiered pieces of silk organza. So many brides are looking for a soft flowy dress, but down want the baby doll dress that hides their figure. This dress is a great balance between the two styles.

We will be receiving our very out Fifi in just a matter of weeks. To schedule a try on appointment please give our Winter Park / Orlando location a call: 407.647.8666

Hello 2010!

2010-01-02T22:07:00.028-05:00

Romance is in the air here at the Winter Park Salon, we are all in love......in LOVE with the new Kenneth Pool Dress that is. The 2010 collection "Romantic" is sweeping us off our feet!
Pictured above (clockwise): Amy, Christina, and Michelle

Romantic is a royal duchess strapless satin gown with a sweetheart neckline, asymmetrically ruched bodice and bustled skirt. With silver jeweled appliqué accents empire and a side sash this dress will turn heads no doubt! Three of our bridal consultants tried on the gown and it looks AmAzInG on all of them!!

I put together a little inspiration board that would look great with this royal duchess satin dress. If you can't get enough of "Romantic"- just wait! There will be more jaw-dropping gowns for the Kenneth Pool Trunk Show January 8th-10th! Call now to make an appointment!

Another successful Saturday Social~ Thank you Jensen Larson it was a pleasure to have you both!

Bride on the Go? We Heart the IPhone App!

2010-01-02T11:19:00.005-05:00

Brought to you by BRIDES Magazine, Brides Dressing Room (PERFECT FRIEND TO THE BRIDAL CLOSET) is the first digital shopping for brides. From your iPhone, you can browse both wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses from all of our designers, from Jasmine to Alvina Valenta. When you find a gown you like, track it down at one of our stores- Winter Park or Gainesville. Then make an appointment for you to try on the dress of your dreams.

HOW IT WORKS• Browse both wedding dresses and bridesmaids dresses by silhouette, brand and price• Search by neckline, sleeve style, skirt style and length• Tap ‘Find It Near Me’ to find a nearby store within 50 miles. • Confirm the item is available to try on by simply entering your contact information. The Brides Dressing Room team will place a call to our stores during normal business hours and make an appointment for you so you can try on the dress of your dreams• Within 10 minutes, you will receive an e-mail and/or text message with details. You will even have the name of the salesperson to find when you get in-store.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS APP...WOULD YOU OR ARE YOU USING IT?

Picture this!

2009-12-28T12:38:00.005-05:00

You just recently became engaged and have no idea where to start, so of course you call Solutions Bridal to make an appointment to look for your dream dress. You come in, greeted by a friendly staff, try on the perfect dress and BOOM- you meet an amazing photographer, but not just one... TWO. Jensen Larson of course!! And just like that you've found your dress and booked your photographer and killed two birds with one stone! Viola!

It can be this easy trust me! Come stop by the Winter Park salon, this Saturday, January 2^nd to meet the outstanding photographers Jennifer Sens and Eric Larson of Jensen Larson Photography.

Their background in analog photography and photojournalism and numerous awards they have received make them the ideal choice for any bride. So come stop by and meet this amazing duo!

2009-12-23T15:14:00.002-05:00

We at Solutions Bridal hope you and yours have a safe and happy Christmas. Solutions will be closed Thursday and Friday, but will reopen Saturday, December 26th. Call 352-367-0070 in Gainesville and 407-647-8666 in Winter Park to schedule an appointment and ask about our Holiday sales.

2009-12-23T10:10:00.003-05:00

We just got news that Caroline Johnson Photography is in search for interns in the Orlando area. This is an exciting opportunity to spice up your resume and learn from the best. If you fit the descriptions below please contact Caroline@cjphotographer.com by January 5th.

Also, check out her blog to get a taste of the everyday life inside the Studio at www.lifewithcaroline.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST | aka Creative Media Genius | internship

The Social Media specialist who will crown the first ever the title of "Creative Media Genius" is set to start early January. Qualified candidates will currently be enrolled as either a Communication, Journalism, Marketing, Advertising, or in a Visual Media program. Throughout the term of the internship you will learn about how to creatively utilize Social Media to continue to leverage the studio as a leader in the wedding and couture portrait market. All the necessary tool for execution will be provided to maximize the experience. The Social Media Specialist will need to present a social media plan and work the plan over the four months with Caroline Johnson Photography. Possibility for a longterm paid position upon completion of internship.

CREATIVE DESIGN | aka The Less is More designer | internship

The Creative Designer will be guided through the entire graphic design process that photography requires. The ideal candidate will have experience with Mac platforms, have a strong foundation with Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, and the aptitude to learn Aperature and Lightroom. Projects to work on will consist of in house promotional pieces, Newsletter Design, E-mail Blast Notifications to vendors and clients, Album Design. A close hands on approach will take place through Management to guide and ensure that your skills sets are enhanced by the experience. Interns must commit to a minimum of 20 hours a week over a 4 month term. Possibility for a longterm paid position upon completion of internship.

Shoes That Really Shine!

2009-12-21T15:57:00.016-05:00

The latest line of bridal shoes from Angela Nuran are sure to put a little extra skip in your step!

Before she began designing shoes, Angela started "A Dance to Remember" studio, teaching brides their "first dance." As a frequent guest at her clients' weddings, she noticed so many brides kicking off their uncomfortable heels halfway through the reception so they could actually enjoy their special day pain-free. That's when Angela realized she had the ultimate solution to every woman's shoe dilemma-- a hybrid shoe that combines the beauty and style you want, with the comfort you need. In 2007, her very first line of bridal shoes was born.

And starting in January 2010, Solutions Bridal will offer Angela's latest creation, The Astoria. It comes in white, pearl and black and features a super cute buckle at the toe and ankle covered in gorgeous Swarovski crystals. And here's the "kicker"... there are none of those annoying prongs to snag your dress. The toe and ankle straps are adjustable, so you're comfortable whether your feet are wide or narrow. And with extra thick padding and a choice of 2 1/2 or 3 1/2 inch heels, you'll literally feel like you're walking on cloud nine on your wedding day!

Spreading Holiday Cheer!!

2009-12-19T10:51:00.012-05:00

Santa and his elves decided to spread some holiday cheer around Gainesville yesterday.

Look for some of your favorite vendors as Santa suprised many of them with goodies and gifts! Happy Holidays to everyone from the Solutions Bridal Crew!

Joining Forces for Holiday Fun

2009-12-19T10:41:00.004-05:00

The Winter Park and Gainesville stores came together for a wonderful Christmas trip in Orlando this past week. We all had a lot of fun meeting new people and seeing old friends. We spent a wonderful night on the town at Church Street Station and a fun day at Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios. Thank you so much to Newell and the Fox family for spending a great couple days with us.

the gainesville girls having fun @ Universal

both stores going into Islands of Adventure

dinner at Ceviche (yummy!)

outside of Embers in downtown Orlando

Jemma Colemman & Jim Hjelm

2009-12-17T18:17:00.007-05:00

Together this duo was amazing. A few weeks ago the Gainesville location had a Jim Hjelm trunk show and had the pleasure of having Jemma Coleman in the store. Here are a few of our favorite shots from the day!

Real Wedding: Shelby and John

2009-12-17T16:41:00.005-05:00

Shelby was one of our brides at the Winter Park store, and she was so awesome to work with! She was in one day when we had Chad Pilster from Pilster Photography in the store, and they hit it off! Chad photographed her engagement session photos as well as her wedding, and they turned awesome! Here are a couple to take in and then make sure to visit his blog to look at the rest of his work and Shelby's wedding:

Have you ever received a compliment in the mail?

2009-12-15T12:59:00.004-05:00

These compliment cards are a new trendy way to send out thank you cards. And from the engagement gifts, bridal showers to the wedding presents our brides are busy bees writing away their thank yous.

Some compliments include "I Love Your Style," "You Bring a Smile to my Face," "Your Friendship Means the World to me," "You're One-of-a-Kind." How cute and clever are these to send out to all your friends and family.

Amy Morelli from 2ucollection has designed these clever postcards that are sure to brighten anyone's day! For more pictures check out her website: www.2ucollection.com

So instead of mailing out thank you cards, why not send a compliment?

Solutions Bridal Closed Wed, Dec 16th

2009-12-15T11:46:00.004-05:00

Both Solutions Bridal locations will be closed on December 16th. If you have any questions or need to schedule an appointment please contact Gainseville (352.367.0070) or Winter Park (407.647.8666). You can also email me at tali@solutionsbridal.com. We will re-open on Thursday, December 17th at 10:30am. Sorry for an inconvenience. We look forward to helping you.

Best,

Tali Gallo
Director of Sales

2009-12-11T13:45:00.003-05:00

Laura & Michael tied the knot this past November at a backyard wedding in Gainesville. Laura selected a gorgeous Watters chiffon wedding gown to go with the quaint outside scenery. Lindsey Tropf of Pure Photography was there to capture the day. We love the sneak peek pics, can't wait to see more.

2009-12-10T12:02:00.003-05:00

Come celebrate the Holidays at Solutions Bridal! The holidays are a great time to find your gown and bridesmaid dresses before the new year's rush. January is the busiest time in the bridal salons due to the overwhelming amount of clients that get engaged in December, but still want a May-July wedding. We are encouraging all of our clients get their orders in before the new year. Pop into one of our salons today. We are open 7 days a week with a personal consultant available to assist you.

Saturday Socials

2009-12-08T14:26:00.023-05:00

My favorite quote is by Coco Chanel ~
"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous"

and with the accessories from Paris, every bride will be! This past Saturday we hosted the Paris Trunk Show at the Winter Park Salon. All of the collections were GORGEOUS!

The trunk show went amazing, our brides came in and Debra and Hannah went to work accessorizing with each gown.

Roozbeh Meghdadi from Distinct Concept was there to capture every moment! With his eye for detail and creativity he would be an execellent wedding photographer for any bride.

To add the topping to the cake, or should I say cupcake, Karen Alvarez from Cupcake Crazy brought delicious cupcakes with her! With Godiva Chocolate fillings, it was too hard not to go back for seconds!

New Arrivals!

2009-12-04T10:00:00.000-05:00

Christmas has come a little bit early to Solutions Bridal in Gainesville. A few of our new stock pieces from our designers Fall 2010 collections have come in! Meet "Dallas" from Watters bridal:

This gorgeous dress is similar to one of the store favorites from the Spring 2010 collection, "Torreon," except Watters has added straps and made a few beautiful changes to the embroidery and lace.

We also received some new bridesmaid dresses from the Dessy Group. This cute dress would look great on a large group of girls or be stylish on it's own as a rehearsal dinner dress:

One of the great things about the Dessy bridesmaids dresses is that they come in a wide variety of colors. Bridesmaids can match any color palliate that a bride could dream of. They even come in white and ivory , so a bride can even do one of the bridesmaid dresses as a reception dress.

Sneak Peak

2009-12-03T11:12:00.002-05:00

The adorable Anne Barge tea-length wedding gown arrived today! Designers seek inspiration from all mediums. This particular dress is inspired by the famous painter Edgar Degas.

There will be some exciting things going on with this dress on Monday. Make sure to check back in!

Cakes Created with YOU in mind!

2009-11-30T14:13:00.011-05:00

Solutions Bridal was so fortunate to have KB's Kake Kreations Gainesville store yesterday! Our brides (and consultants!) indulged in delicious truffles of many flavors. From the decadent "Wedding White" truffle to the Creamy Chocolate Peanut Butter, KB's Kake Kreations is sure to have just what you are looking for on your special day!

We had a few minutes to sit down and chat with Kathy and ask her a few questions about how she got started in the biz.

It all started when Kathy made a cake for her daughter's wedding. She received so many compliments on her creation that she decided to make her talent into a business. 7 years later, KB's Kake Kreations is producing one-of-a-kind cakes and truffles and was the 2008 and 2009 Pick for The Knot Best of Weddings.

Kathy says her favorite thing to make is her famous truffles and her favorite flavor to eat is the espresso truffle. The espresso truffle flavor has been said to taste like "the most expensive coffee in the world."

KB's Kake Kreations lives up to their promise when they say they create cakes with YOU in mind. Kathy once created a 5-tier Vegan cake for a Bat Mitzvah that is still talked about amongst local event vendors.

For more information, check out the KB's Kake Kreation website!

We want MOORE!!!

2009-11-27T17:39:00.003-05:00

Mimosas, fresh whipped cream and berries, and home made croissant sandwiches... a yummy way to spend Black Friday!! The Winter Park store featured Moore Fine Foods today as Brides took advantage of our 20% Off Thanksgiving Sale. What a pleasure it was to have Mr. Kevin Moore serve up goodies and meet our brides! We enjoyed him so much we invited him back again tomorrow. Come bright and early at 10:30am tomorrow Saturday, November 28th to taste his treats and find your gown! I promise, you'll leave wanting Moore :)

Models Needed!

2009-11-25T10:00:00.002-05:00

Solutions Bridal is looking for runway models for our Florida Bridal Expo January 31st, 2010 at the University of Florida Hilton in Gainesville. In order to choose our models we will be holding a casting call on Friday, December 11th. No prior modeling experience is necessary, just lots of energy and a great attitude! Sample gowns are typically bridal size 10/12, which compares to a normal dress size 6/8. Height 5'7" and above is also recommended. If you are interested please contact our fashion show director at solutionsbridal@gmail.com.

Solutions Bridal Hearts Jim Hjelm & Jemma Coleman!!

2009-11-24T21:56:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday, Solutions Bridal in Gainesville held a trunk show for the brand new Fall 2009 Jim Hjelm Bridesmaid Collection. The dresses were gorgeous, and we had so many fun brides and bridesmaids in the store during the day! We also had Jemma Coleman and her husband David, local Gainesville wedding photographers, in the store to capture the moments of the day!! Check out these compilations of images she made for us... we love them! Aren't Jemma's pictures gorgeous? They definitely captured our Trunk Show beautifully!

Attention SB Brides!

2009-11-24T15:50:00.000-05:00

We are in the process of compiling a scrapbook to display at the Florida Bridal Expo January 31, 2010 and we need your help! We want you to share your Solutions experience with all of our future brides. Any stories, wedding advice, or pictures from your wedding day would be greatly appreciated! You can mail your message to 6450 SW Archer Rd., Suite 230, Gainesville, FL 32608 or e-mail us at solutionsbridal@gmail.com. As a special thank you for your help you will receive $25 toward any accessory or gown cleaning/preservation!

Photo courtesy of Footstone Photography

Guide to Style

2009-11-24T11:31:00.003-05:00

The cover of Bridal Guide features one of the several new pieces from the Lori London Spring collection. With flowers being the hottest trend, its no surprise Lori London was picked the designer for this fashion shoot. Both Solutions Bridal carry the Lori London line and will be hosting a Spring Trunk Show. Make sure to call your local SB to schedule an appointment to try on this flower piece and many others!

New Moon Ticket Winners!!

2009-11-23T13:55:00.003-05:00

It's time to announce the winner of the tickets to see New Moon!

We used a very complex random generating process from Random.org involving randomly selecting a vendor who has a blog/facebook/twitter, randomly selecting one of those from the vendor, then randomly selecting a commenter/retweeter. Ahhhhhh! After all that, winners have been selected and will be contacted by the vendor they commented on. :)

From Posh Pastry’s Blog: Kaci Tetstone
From Pure’s Twitter: Amanda (SwoonOverIt)
From Unique Design’s Blog: Kathy (KB Cakes)
From My Facebook: Shanna Dixon

Shanna is one of my brides here at Solutions, so I was so excited to tell her the good news when she stopped by to pick up her gown yesterday!

Congrats to all of the winners!!

Gift of thanks for all of our amazing clients...

2009-11-22T14:19:00.001-05:00

2009-11-20T15:24:00.001-05:00

Loving these pictures!

2009-11-20T14:49:00.007-05:00

Wow, wow and more wow! We got the files of the pictures back from the Adore photoshoot with Footstone photography. They are absolutely stunning! We cannot wait to hear more about excting new things with both of these amazing companies! Here are some of our favorites of our lovely consultants in Solutions dresses!

Real Wedding: Michelle & John Dill

2009-11-20T12:47:00.007-05:00

Michelle and John are the ultimate Solutions Bridal couple! We helped with the gown, accessories, bridesmaid dresses and tuxedos. During all of this, we really got to know the couple. We even got to see Michelle the day after as she dropped off the tuxedos. (Note to wedding planners: please include this in your services)

Their photos just went up on Damon Tucci's blog!

Wedding Chicks Feature

2009-11-20T09:47:00.002-05:00

Check us out on Wedding Chicks! The Twilight photo shoot was snagged for feature on this couture bride-loving blog.

Real Wedding: Sara & Mark

2009-11-19T10:01:00.008-05:00

I was so excited to pictures from one of our favorite Gainesville brides this week over on the Rob Witzel Photography blog! Sara and Mark's wedding at the Sweetwater Branch Inn was absolutely gorgeous. They look like they had so much fun! Sara looked amazing in her beautiful dress from Watters bridal that she customized by adding extra fabric to create cap sleeves. Her bridesmaids dresses were from Watters bridesmaid line. They perfectly complemented the beautiful boquets that were done by Prange's Floris t. The wedding was coordinated by Adore Weddings and Events. We are so happy to have been a part of this amazing couple's big day, and wish them happiness in their new life together!

Alvina Valenta at TWILIGHT

2009-11-17T11:42:00.003-05:00

Due to a slight obsession, {Unique Designs} wanted to create a Twilight wedding invitation, an idea which blossomed into a full concept design and shoot. The intent was not to replicate Bella & Edward’s wedding, which was actually an Anne of Green Gables dress and was filled with white flowers, but to make another wedding style based on the mood and concept of Twilight. To acknowledge Edward’s personality, we chose a dramatic look with bold flowers, strong reds, and splashes of black feathers. To incorporate Bella, we wanted to take a vintage twist which can be seen in the creams, vintage brooches, and antique lace.

Now how did Solutions Bridal play into this fabulous photoshoot? We handpicked the gorgeous Alvina Valenta antique lace gown that "Bella" wore during the shoot! This gown is actually a top favorite among the bridal consultants at the store, so we were thrilled to have it featured in such an amazing concept photo shoot!

A HUGE canvas of one of these images will soon be hanging in our Gainesville store! You'll have to stop by later this month to see which one was chosen. ;)

**TWILIGHT GIVEAWAY!**
All of the vendors are coming together on this one! Post comments on this post, Twitter, Facebook, other vendor blogs, the Wedding Chicks blog, basically anywhere you can find the Twilight photos, and you will be entered to win one of four pairs of tickets to see New Moon!!!

Now for the best part...

Who were these amazing Gainesville wedding vendors?!?

Concept & Event Stationery - Unique Designs www.daretobunique.com
Photography - Pure: Photography by Lindsey Tropf www.purebylindsey.com
Concept Designer: Flowers & Tablescape - Event Divas www.theeventdivas.net
Cake - Posh Pastry www.poshpastry.com
Hair - Stephanie & Lonie Carpenter from Mode Salon www.amodesalon.com
Makeup - Sarah Hunter from Mode Salon www.amodesalon.com
Accessories - Kari Roy http://www.kariroy.net/

Female Model - Chanel Bird chanelb17@aol.com
Male Model - Bobby Swan
Wedding Dress - Solutions Bridal www.solutionsbridal.com {That's us!}
Tux - Tuxedo Junction www.tuxedojunction.com
Linen Rentals - Celebration’s Catering www.celebrations-catering.com

We ADORE this New Company!!

2009-11-16T17:17:00.005-05:00

So the cat is out of the bag today... Avie Weddings and Events has now become Adore Weddings and Events. Their name change would not be complete without a complete rebranding, which we were so excited to be a part of! Three Solutions Bridal Consultants- Lauren, Hilary and myself, are the faces of the new Adore marketing campaign!! And best of all, during our photoshoot we got to show off a few of the gorgeous Solutions Bridal gowns!

Adore's brand new blog was released today as well as three pictures of us that we couldn't wait to share with everyone!! More pictures and info about the new company will be available later this week when their full website is launched.

Check out the photos below, and then visit the live version here.

Exciting things with our Fav Vendors!

2009-11-13T11:39:00.004-05:00

Our friends over at Avie have some exciting new things going on!

Debut of the suprise is coming out Monday! Be on the look out!!

Real Wedding: Ashley & Justin

2009-11-13T10:30:00.000-05:00

We are proud to announce one of our brides, Ashley Abide tied the knot last month on October 16th! We're so excited to show you a preview of the photos from her wedding, provided by the Damon Tucci blog. Damon shot the photos of our stunning bride at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes. Ashley wore our Serena dress by Rivini which fit her perfectly. It was a beautiful event and we were more than thrilled to see the final outcome of her dress.

Raving Reviews...

2009-11-11T21:46:00.001-05:00

I just stumbled upon a loving review of our Solutions Bridal Orlando location. Check out what this friend of a bride-to-be had to say:

Saint Paul, MN
9/2/2009 I am not a bride, but the friend of a bride-to-be. We were headed to the Collection when we drove by Solutions Bridal (we are not originally from Orlando, so we were rather ignorant about the available bridal shops). After our scheduled appointment at Collection, we dropped by Solutions without an appointment. They invited us right in.

This shop is exactly what you picture a bridal shop to be. The floor is wide, and there is a large platform at one end of the store with several mirrors so the brides-to-be can see themselves in all their glory. The floor is very spacious, so it is easy to browse through the dresses. We were not very familiar with a lot of the designers, having focused on Vera Wang and Monique Lhuillier (I know, I know), but we found an amazing selection of dresses we loved. It is not true that all the dresses are the Cinderella sort. Many are, but this is not my friend's taste, nor mine, and Solutions had plenty of options to satisfy someone who wants a more simple and tasteful look.

The salespeople were very helpful. I asked for champagne and promptly received it (it was only on my fourth glass that I started to suspect it was nonalcoholic). All of the sample dresses were in very good condition. They gave my friend a bustier and some heels to help with her trying-on. They even put up with me circling the store, rifling through the dresses, throwing back glass after glass of (unfortunately nonalcoholic) champagne, and giving out loud opinions on every dress my friend tried on (and several the other brides tried on as well).

In the end, we found the dress. My friend looked amazing. This bridal shop is like one you see in the movies--the atmosphere was just so perfect. It really was such an amazing shopping experience. My friend's total wedding dress shopping time: 4 hours, 13 minutes. And the dress turned out to be about 3 thou cheaper than the Vera Wang she had originally had her heart set on--can't get better than that!

I should mention that this is a boutique store with a small selection of designers, but this is exactly what a bridal shop should be.

Source

My Florida Venue Picks

2009-11-11T10:50:00.001-05:00

#1: The Ringling Museum: Ca d'Zan Mansion located in Sarasota, Florida. This Terra cotta "last of the Gilded Ages" in America gives a royal, vintage feel. Your guest can tour the museum as your bridal party takes pictures. One of my brides got married there last Spring in a silk taffeta Marisa gown adorn with a lace bolero. Lace and pearls is a great way to tie in this "piece of art" venue.

Source

#2: Carillon Weddings in Carillon Beach, Florida. When I think of Florida weddings this is the first one that comes to mind. Its the ultimate beach wedding hot spot located in the panhandle. Within one location they have the beach, chapel, garden, and can arrange for a tent as well. A clean line, airy dress from Watters, Marisa, or Alvina would fit perfectly into this oceanfront view.

Source

#3: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, Miami, FL. Similar to the Ringling Museum your guest can explore the museum and gardens of Vizcaya as they mingle by the ocean bay. There is a certain formality that can not be denied with this site. Vizcaya has hosted many royal guest including

Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II, President Ronald Reagan, and King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain. We suggest going with a traditional ballgown such as Bel Canto by Kenneth Pool.

Source

#4: More closer to home, Portifino Bay Hotel in Orlando is a popular destination spot for local weddings. This venue provides a little taste of Italy with piazzas and bay view. There is also an elegant ballroom for a more formal setting. Depending on what direction your going for we would recommend going for a more architectural pleasing dress with touches of lace or beaded embroidery.

Source

#5: For our Gator Brides we couldn't leave out the only venue located on University of Florida property. One of our very own consultants, Kari, exchanged vows at the Baughman Center. Over looking Lake Alice, this quaint chapel is ideal for a 100 person wedding. You could pull off several looks for this venue, but we would recommend staying away from the ballgown due to the narrow aisle.

Source

~ Those are top Florida Venue Picks! Make sure to post a comment if there are any venue hot spots you've found! ~

Both Eyes Shut

2009-11-10T09:40:00.005-05:00

The new Collections of bridal hit the runways this past October in New York and Chicago. There are all these fun new twist to the wedding gown that I've never seen before. As exciting at this is, it can also be a tease. If your wedding is Spring 2010 most of the gowns you are seeing online and in the new magazine issues are not for you. These gowns are in the process of being made for the stores and will make their debut this coming January or February.

So let's say your wedding is April and you are waiting for the Spring 2010 collections to come out. That only leaves you two months to order a dress and have it altered. Whew, that's a crunch that could leave you with hefty rush charge.

Instead, look at the images of the new dresses if you can't resist. You can still catch a few excellent ideas by taking a look at the editorial shots. Just don't get your heart set on a dress that is still in production. Its not meant to be. If you see any fabulous accessories, you could have time to order those in for the big day. The good news is, the new spring line isn't technically for Spring weddings it just represents when the line is coming out. Bridal isn't like street wear. Some of my all time favorite gowns are from collections a couple of years back. Those are the ones that have stood the test of time.

The Alvina Valenta shown is from Fall 2006. Its one of my favorite gowns in the store. I would be more than happy to wear that one down the aisle!

OMGorgeous Rivini Gown for SALE!

2009-11-07T10:46:00.011-05:00

Solutions Bridal's GORGEOUS Rivini gown, Lusso, is up for grabs! The retail of the gown is $5255.99 but for only a short time you can bring it home for $1450!!!

This incredible gown is a double faced silk duchess satin in ivory with OUTSTANDING tonal embroidery around the bodice, and throughout the train. The Lusso is a size 10 in ivory and is flawless. The dress and train and craftsmanship definitely speak for itself...

This one time offer is first come first serve, don't miss your chance to have your perfect Rivini gown on your wedding day for about 25% of the original price!
Contact Hilary at Solutions Bridal to make an appointment for this gown... it won't be here long... 352.367.0070

Badgley Mischka Trunk Show!

2009-11-05T15:46:00.006-05:00

Starting tomorrow a very exciting in-store event is taking place. The Badgley Mischka Trunk Show! The dresses will be a mix of best sellers as well as their new line, plus you can take advantage of the 10% off discount throughout the weekend. Dresses range from 3500-15000 giving every Bride plenty of amazing styles to choose from. Shawne, one of Badgley Mischka's fashion experts, will also be joining the fun until Sunday. Charity De Meer, a local Orlando photographer will be taking photos on Saturday and Simone from Makeover Station will be offering free makeup trail! We will be kicking off this amazing trunk show with Mimosas to celebrate the weekend! We invite all Brides & Bridesmaids to join us for this special event.

Come Join The Team

2009-11-03T18:25:00.004-05:00

The Winter Park salon is looking to add two new bridal consultants to the team! To be a bridal consultant you must be passionate about all things wedding and fashion. Our salon has won numerous awards for customer service. We constantly strive to be the most innovative team providing honest style advice to all of our brides. Wedding industry related or customer service experience is preferred, but not a requirement. We will teach you all the tricks to the trade anyways!

The hours are 25 per week, but will increase to 30-35 hours in January. At 25 hours you are considered full-time and all of the company benefits apply. Only serious applicants please. We are looking to hire someone that can be a part of the team for at least a year.

If you think you have what it takes, please send your resume to tali@solutionsbridal.com. No phone inquires will be accepted.

a "Gleeful" Wedding!

2009-11-03T14:12:00.005-05:00

The new Fox TV show "Glee" is sweeping through Solutions Bridal lately. We love this show!! It's funny, and it always gives us something to laugh about together on Thursday mornings.

And just when we thought the show couldn't get any better, the writers put super cute and stylish little Emma in a wedding dress!

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Not only am I in love with the idea of Emma's headband, but her gorgeous gown is reminiscent of a stunning Mikaella Bridal gown! We love this look and agree it would be perfect for a classy Florida wedding!!

FREE Make-up Trial

2009-10-29T14:59:00.004-04:00

Come join us on November 7th for your free make-up trial with Simone! She will be in the Winter Park store from 11:00-4pm by appointment only. Simone is the owner of Make-Over Station located in Orlando. She is our go to make-up and hair stylist when it comes to all of our fashion shoots. With over ten years of industry experience, she has developed unique techniques to give you that bridal glow. The magazines suggest coming into your bridal appointment with hair and make-up similar to what you would wear on your wedding day. This is a great opportunity to see your whole look come together.
Please call the Winter Park store today ~ 407.647.8666

Have a Funny Proposal or Honeymoon Story?

2009-10-29T14:39:00.004-04:00

The WS Publishing Company is in the midst of producing a new book. Their books are sold in over 6,000 national locations. They are on the hunt of the funniest proposal and honeymoon stories. If you interested in getting your story published, please contact Brettan Bablove. Here are the details:

Name: Brettan Bablove
Email: brettan@weddingsolutions.com
Deadline: 05:10pm PACIFIC - 30 October

I am looking for crazy, funny or outrageous proposal or honeymoon stories.
Please send me the story as you would share it with a friend and I can edit
for clarity.

The submissions that are chosen will be featured, along
with your name, in a new book from WS Publishing Group, the leading
publisher of wedding planning titles in North America. Our books are sold
in more than 6,000 stores.

This particular title will come out in all
major stores next summer. This is a cool chance to be featured in a book
that will be read by thousands of brides, grooms and wedding
guests.

Please put HARO Proposal/Honeymoon stories in the subject line.
Thanks in advance!

Real Wedding: That makes you want an Invite!

2009-10-28T20:44:00.008-04:00

Recently, our lovely bride Kiimberly dropped off her Kenneth Pool wedding gown to get it cleaned for an additional photo shoot. We took a peek at the gown to see the wedding day damage. We can always tell how much fun a bride has by the look of her wedding gown. Let's just say, she got her moneys worth of fun! After seeing this bridal gown, we had to keep an eye on her photographers blog. The pictures are up. Take a look at the Vue Photography for a full display of Kimberly's big day. The pictures say just as much as the dress does. We are so fortunate to have this amazing couple as one of our clients. She fell in love with her fiance in elementary school. Their story is quiet unique and special. Thanks Kimberly for sharing it with us!

Ways to Broach!

2009-10-25T15:43:00.012-04:00

We just received new broaches to add to our collection. Checkout all the creative ways our team has come up with to add that unique touch to your wedding day. Make sure to comment if you have an idea of your own!

Make the Neckline into Sweetheart:

Add to a Sash:

Use as shoe jewelry:

Add more drama to the bustle:

Add more attention to the unique elements:

Create into a hair piece:

Use as bouquet jewelry:

New York City Bridal Market

2009-10-24T10:27:00.015-04:00

This past week Alicia, Amy, Tali, and myself (Marissa) attended Bridal Market in New York City! It was an amazing experience to meet all of our designers and pick out all of the new dresses for next season for both the Winter Park and Gainesville stores. One of my favorite moments was when we got to meet Anne Barge! (She is the teeny tiny one in the middle in the picture below.) Her fashion show was incredible, and she is so incredibly sweet and humble.

We also got to attend the Martha Stewart Weddings party at The Plaza Hotel. It was a great opportunity to mingle with designers, speak to consultants from other stores across the country, and eat yummy food.

It wasn't all about the dresses at Market. We looked at some amazing bridal accessories as well. Some of my favorites were the fabulous shoes from Salon Shoes/Grace Footwear, and the belts and cage veils from Erin Cole Couture. Erin (on the right in the picture below) dressed her model up with some crazy accessories for us!

All of the collections that we saw while in New York were amazing, but there were definitely a few stand outs for me. The Rivini dress below was very simple, but the beaded belt at the waistline was gorgeous.
Marisa is one of my favorite collections that we carry at Solutions, and their new collection definitely didn't disappoint. We were all obsessed with the dress below. The top is satin and fitted, but the bottom is made out of romantic organza that swirls into a unique flower detail. I cant wait to see it in the store!
We saw a lot of tulle ball gowns on the runways, but this dress from Jasmine Couture is a must have for the bride who loves a little bling!

The Kenneth Pool shown below was quite the stunner. Any bride in this dress will definitely turn some heads!

It was hard to pick a favorite out of all of the dresses that we saw, but for me I think it was this amazing Kenneth Pool. It is hard to tell from the picture below, but the bead work on the skirt is incredible. The wrapping on the bodice was oh-so-flattering, and the way the organza skirt flowed was so romantic. I think I'm in love!

I cant wait for all of the new dresses! We should see them arriving in the stores at the beginning of 2010. I will be working on posting some of the other pictures on our Facebook page over the next week or so, so make sure to check them out. I would like to leave everyone with my list of the TOP 5 TRENDS that I saw on the runway:

#5: Details in the Fabric: We definitely saw less all over beading and full lace gowns. Most of the drama came from the volume of the fabric, and the way it was draped, folded, rouched, and molded.
#4: Showing off the Natural Waistline: Lazaro, Rivini and Kenneth Pool were among many of the designers who used beading or other details to accentuate a dress' natural waistline, which typically hits at the smallest part of a woman's torso.
#3: Beaded Belts: Watters, Lazaro, and Anne Barge showed of beautiful beaded belts to accessorize their dresses. Many of them came in an array of different colors and fabrics.
#2: Flower Power: Flower details were a huge trend on the runway. On one dress they were quarter sized and crystal beaded, and on another they were huge and swirling out of the skirt of the gown. Look out for them popping up in unexpected ways!
#1: The Ball Gown is Back!:(But it's not just for princesses!) We saw a ton of fuller skirts on the runway. Tulle was definitely a favorite fabric among the designers showing this shape, but they often added beading or belts to update the look. Many designers also used organza in their ball gowns to create a more airy, romantic look. Personally, I loved this trend and I cant wait to see what our brides think!

Glam Going Rebel

2009-10-22T09:36:00.010-04:00

Rebel Glam photographer, Charity De Meer, scooped up our Torrean gown for a fashionista filled shoot. Since Sunday, the Solutions Bridal buying team has been at NYC Bridal Market. The shoot is filled with the same energy we have found here. Brides (including Southern belles) are starting to push the envelope. I just can't explain how excited we are about it! We have been running from one designer showroom to the next in search of the best of the best in bridal. The Spring collections are all about luxurious organzas, hand-crafted rosettes, natural waists, tulle skirts, and delicately placed beading. It was difficult to come across a full beaded gown. The designers are taking a more softer feminine approach, but adding drama by styling the gown with vintage inspired jewelry. After seeing Charity's photographs, I just got all excited again about the current bridal trends. Spring 2010 can only be described as nothing less than dreamy.