Congrats Caroline!!!

We got a super special surprise visit today from one of our VERY favorite wedding photographers... Caroline Johnson! And guess what?! SHE'S GETTING MARRIED!!! We had a great time helping her pick out a dress for her upcoming wedding... and she is going to look amazing!

Check out this cuuuute picture of Caroline and her daughter, Riley:

Caroline, we love you! And we know you and Blair are going to have the most fab Fall wedding! We can't wait to see some PICTURES!!!!

Barbie GOT MARRIED.... Vegas style

So apparently she had her bachelorette party at the Palms and GOT HITCHED at one of the Vegas chapels!!! She definitely looks fabulous though, dontcha think?

Photo SOURCE.

Here's how we'd put a similar (but equally fabulous) look together!

Gorgeous short dress by Watters:

Veil & Tiara by Bel Aire Bridal

Hot strappy sandals by Touch Ups

And for a twist, compare these next ones (from Touch Ups) to Barbie's hot pink bachelorette party shoes ... and they can be dyed in hot pink (as shown in the pic of our bride Tracy!)

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Newest Bridal Trend??

....pockets! Most people couldn't imagine pockets on any dress, let alone your wedding gown! Contrary to what seems "normal" pockets in gowns are becoming very popular. They look gorgeous and are even practical! Here is an Anne Barge wedding gown and Dessy bridesmaid dress we carry in the store! We are loving the pockets! The Anne Barge happens to be my favorite in the store!

The Dash was a SUCCESS!

We received a lot of pictures from Footstone Photography today from our Dash for the Dress event, and we couldn't WAIT to share them with all of you!!! Feast your eyes on these captured moments:

The line started forming at 5am!!!


Newell with an amazing group of girls! Look at the coordinating shirts they made for the occasion... the front says "Made with Love,"

and the back says... "If you are reading this shirt, you are too close to my dress!" SO CUTE!

Ana Soler came from Golden Ocala to serve breakfast to our dashers! Golden Ocala is definitely one of our favorite venues!

The GORGEOUS cocktail dresses on SAMPLE SALE!

More dresses!

And now for the main attraction... the WEDDING GOWNS!

Beautiful beadwork on super soft silk satin!

Getting the counter ready for some craziness!

The line is growing...

And a huddle from the team. We yelled 1, 2, 3... DASH FOR THE DRESS!

Doors opened to the first group. Check out the mom in the yellow shirt. She means business!!

Lots of girls scrambling to find "the dress!"

Dig girls!!!

Now the racks are looking more bare. Girls ran to the fitting rooms with ARMFULS of gowns!

SMILES!

Off to the fitting room...

Travis serenaded all of our brides-to-be! :::SWOON:::

The next group waited outside and stared in at the first group picking their dresses.

Yay! First to the Cash Register got a FREE GARTER!

Scouting the gowns before the doors opened for Group #2!

Gorgeous bouquets donated by Prange's Florist for the event!

Cleaning up the fitting rooms between groups of dashers!

A dad waits patiently as his wife and daughter fight to find the dress!

Girls grouped around the mirrors together to assess their choices.

Nicole knew the gown was the one once she tried it with a black satin sash!

Yay!! Smiles at the finish line!

And I couldn't help but post this super funny moment that was caught on camera!!! haha!

We had a blast last Saturday at the event, and we raised so much money for breast cancer research! Thanks to all the girls for coming out and the lovely vendors who donated their goods and services to make our event possible!!

Special thanks to:
Footstone Photography
Allure Boutique
Prange's Florist
Golden Ocala

**All photos by Footstone Photography**

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:

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