The Bridal Closet

We ADORE this New Company!!

2009-11-16T17:17:00.004-05:00

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.

Trick or Treat!

2009-10-18T18:00:00.000-04:00

This Halloween our Winter Park store is having a wonderful treat for our brides... we're having a sale so good it will scare you! Gowns over $2,500 will be $250 off and gowns over $4,000 will be $600 off from 10/30- 11/1. Now that's spooky.

We'll also be hosting a Saturday vendor meet and greet with Susie Weiss from Wonderful Weddings and Richard & Brian from Flourish. It's going to be a very Happy Halloween at Solutions!

Make sure you stop by, you'll sure be in for a treat!

Photo By: http://mixmingleglow.com/

Room Service: Organic Orlando

2009-10-17T10:30:00.003-04:00

A few of us from Solutions Bridal attended Room Service's showcase event, Organic Orlando. The event was absolutely amazing & fun! There was live music, belly dancers, wine & beer & tons of food! Room Service is a furniture & event rental business that has become one of the largest rental companies in the United States. They do an amazing job putting events together & creating completely unique looks. We applaud Room Service for an incredible night & a job well done. -Brittany E.

Tears of Joy Seamstress Services

2009-10-16T10:30:00.009-04:00

Everyone here at Solutions Bridal of Winter Park loves our in-house seamstress Holly Smith! Holly has been altering dresses for 16 years & owns her own alterations business called, Tears of Joy. Holly started altering wedding dresses 7 years ago & has loved every minute of it! She has told us seeing the Bride happy with the final outcome of her dress is the best part of her job! She does fittings at Solutions Bridal Wednesdays and Sundays; however, will alter any other brides dress with special requests on any other day. Holly works with all types of fabrics & bead work. Holly's advice is to give her 6 weeks till the wedding & to have your weight stable! Holly's contact information is (407) 760-4886 www.tearsofjoy.com. Here are some photos of Holly with one of our Brides, Marie Cicerelle getting her alterations done! -Brittany E.

A brand new dress!

2009-10-15T16:17:00.003-04:00

A new Kenneth Pool dress, the Botticelli arrived today at our Winter Park store & it is stunning! The dress is a silk satin/tulle, with silver beading and curved neckline. We have many Kenneth Pool dresses in store & all of them are remarkable! Kenneth Pool is Amsale Aberra's collection that emphasizes couture & dramatic details. The dress will be here in store until next Friday! Please feel free to make an appointment with us & take a look at this beautiful gown as well as many others!

Re-wearing your bridesmaid dress.

2009-10-15T14:13:00.003-04:00

This past weekend I stumbled upon the style guide for bridesmaids. As every soon-to-be bride knows, picking out the perfect bridesmaid dress can be a stressful event. Questions arise rather or not the girls you've selected will be able to re-wear their bridesmaids dresses. We say go for it! In Style Weddings Summer 2009 issue gave some great hints on how to re-wear and turn your bridesmaid dress into a hot new look for a party or date, and with the right accessories for the office too! Some ideas to re-wear your bridesmaid dress to the office are to match it with a short sleeved cardigan, heels and fun accessories such as a plated necklace. Re-wearing your bridesmaid dress to a date or party is less of a challenge then you might think. Matching the dress with a vintage belt, clutch, and a unique cuff is the perfect look to a semi-formal night out. Hope these ideas are insightful & valuable! -Brittany E.

The Vera Wang SALE!!

2009-10-12T16:24:00.000-04:00

I have been talking about this for days now, and I am SO excited to finally announce it... we are selling one of the hottest Vera Wang gowns on SUPER SALE!!

Here's how this sale works... email me at kari@solutionsbridal.com to set up an appointment. This sale is first come, first served... so the first to email me gets the first shot at taking the gown home!!!

It is a sample size 10 in Light Ivory. This is VERA though, so this dress fits more like a size 6-8. The dress just went through a rigorous cleaning process, so it looks straight from the designer!

THE BEST PART: We usually sell this dress for $3,200, but we will be taking $2,000 off the price for a final price of: $1,200!!

Here are some pictures and details about the gown:

English netting... cross-over rouged bodice with beaded detailing... fit and flare, trumpet style skirt... sheer straps that can be worn off the shoulder... gathered back detail accentuating the natural waist... OH MY!

Email me for more details or to set-up an appointment to make this gown YOURS!
kari@solutionsbridal.com

Real Brides Go Editorial

2009-10-09T11:26:00.000-04:00

Image by Rivini Bridal

With many thanks to Abby Liga Photography and our Solutions Bridal Stylist, Alicia, our Rivini gown "Thirteen" was transformed. The concept of the shoot was to showcase how a bride should celebrate her marriage by having unique, fashion-forward images taken of her days before her wedding. As Abby mentioned on her blog, everyone is looking for something different. These shoots represent who the bride is. Sometimes the bride gets suckered into wearing sister's early 90's veil down the aisle or the blusher over the face for her father. These are all great wedding traditions that are hard to do without, but may not necessarily represents the bride's personal style. The Couture Dress Sessions by Abby Liga gives the bride a chance to experience what its like to be on an editorial shoot adorn with accessories she loves. As consultants we have seen the same dress look completely different on two different brides. The dress really does become the brides after all the accessories, hair, and make-up styles are selected.

Vendors We Love: Posh Pastry!

2009-10-08T11:48:00.008-04:00

It all started with a birthday cake...

Another vendor we absolutely love in the Gainesville area is Kristy from Posh Pastry! We recently got to spend time with Kristy when she participated in Denim & Diamonds Bridesmaid night at Solutions Bridal. Kristy wowed our brides and bridesmaids with DELICIOUS chocolate covered pretzels and DECADENT chocolate cake samples. We asked Kristy a few questions about Posh Pastry and how she got started in the biz.

"I wanted to make a cake for my son's first birthday, so I went to Michael's and took the cake decorating classes. I made his cake and it was a big success. Everything grew from that one little cake. I made more and more cakes for friends and family, learning lots along the way. I took all the classes that I could find, even attending professional classes at a pastry school. I was asked to make a very large alligator cake for UF and that's when Posh Pastry was born.
We built my cake studio, registered my business and got it licensed the week before the cake was due."

Posh Pastry offers the bride much more than a traditional wedding cake.

"I offer a new, fresh, approach to wedding cakes. Posh Pastry doesn't make
your grandma's style cakes. I specialize in modern cakes with a clean
contemporary edge. Each cake is completely custom designed just for the
bride and groom. We can do almost anything with cake. I've never said, 'I
don't think I can do that' and that has led to some pretty cool cakes! Our
sculpted cakes really set us apart from the rest. I've made a six foot
alligator, a life size guitar, a Porsche, and even a bag of Twizzlers!"

Posh Pastry also offers custom designed gourmet chocolate pretzels. They are
hand dipped and custom decorated to fit any color scheme, so they make great
favors. They look beautiful and taste amazing!!

It's All About the Moms!

2009-10-04T10:00:00.000-04:00

With all of the hard work that goes into planning a wedding, mothers of the bride and groom often forget about taking the time to pick out something for themselves to wear. Don't let this happen to your mother!! During busy wedding seasons, we frequently have a influx of mothers coming in a couple weeks before the wedding to find their dresses. Then, they become a little overwhelmed when we tell them the dresses can take 3-4 months to be made and shipped in for them. Don't fret moms, we have a solution!

Introducing the Jade Trunk Show coming up in our Gainesville Store!

From October 9th -11th, the newest dresses from Jade's Mother of the Bride collection will be coming to our store, and we will even be offering an Exclusive Designer Discount!! Call in today to make your appointment! The spaces are filling up fast! {352.367.0070}