 Over a year ago, before we had to worry about pandemics or the cares that come with a new year, these two sweethearts were married. In May of 2019, Carlie Mickel and Dylan Deskins committed themselves to each other at Trinkle Mansion Bed and Breakfast in Wytheville Virginia. They chose a beautiful spot to say their vows and the day turned out to be gorgeous. A small family ceremony was all it took, and some skillful planning as a bride. The Preparations and CeremonyCarlie had the ceremony down to the minute and this included picking up flowers, the drive from Elkin to Virginia, getting ready and then being escorted down the hall and stairs to meet her future husband. "Dylan and I chose to write our own vows, no matter how badly we stumbled through them. As our unity symbol, we had a sign that says Mr. and Mrs. and our wedding date with an accompanying lock that has no key. After we were pronounced husband and wife, we hugged each of our family members and then went into our first dance. We danced to "Dance with Me" by Morgan Evans featuring Kelsea Ballerini. Then we had cake and neither one of us trusted the other while feeding the other. While our guests ate cake, Dylan and I ran away to take pictures. After pictures were through we came back to our family for them to say their goodbyes."  The Couple This couple met through a mutual friend and on a blind date. After finding each other in classes at Wilkes Community College, they kept seeing each other and their relationship grew. The Dress "Cost was not an option when I was looking for my dress. I told myself that I would know when I had the 'one' and I was going to take it home at whatever cost. I chose not to look at many bridal gowns because I didn’t want to overthink every detail of every dress I tried on. I knew I wanted sleeves but that was the only requirement I had for the dress."  "I looked amazing in the dress and it was a big part of choosing it. It was the first dress I tried on and I felt tears come to my eyes and I brushed them off. I tried on two other gowns but I kept comparing them to the first gown. My gown had sleeves that could be added to it and I just couldn’t stop looking at myself in it."  Congratulations to Carlie and Dylan on their new life together. We loved helping make part of your wedding dream happen.
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 Our Annual National Bridal Sale Event is happening in a matter of weeks... just over 2 weeks in fact. Below are the details, some things to remember, a sampling of dresses and an encouragement to make your appointment and come see us. HoursReservations Required for ALL DATES Saturday, July 18: 10a until last scheduled appointment at 5p. Reservations last 1 hour **Maximum of 2 guest per bride** Tuesday, July 21 - Saturday, July 25: 10a until last scheduled appointment at 4p. Reservations last 2 hours **Maximum of 2 guest per bride** Off-the-Rack Wedding Dresses are between $100-$900. *Special Orders are 10% off the regular price and that can mean savings up to $100. This is the only time of year we discount special orders and it's super exciting! Make your appointment asap!  Prom goers, Bridesmaids & AccessoriesHeads up to those of you looking for a gorgeous gown, cool accessories or a bridesmaids gown for an upcoming wedding. We have items for you too. Saturday, July 18, from 10a-5p only. Walk-in Only, First Come First Serve Number of people in the store at one time will be limited What’s on Sale Off-the-Rack Prom, Bridesmaids and Social Occasion Dresses = $10-$298 Closeout Accessories $1 - $25 We also have jewelry, veils, garters, men’s accessories, and more. The Fine PrintCome ready to shop and with just what you need: cash on hand, an idea of what you're looking for, a pal and an open mind. Brides and prom goers often find something when they weren't sure what they wanted.
All Sales Final - No Holds - No Checks Some items are CASH ONLY Some restrictions & exclusions apply See store associate for details Schedule your appointment and, as always, we look forward to helping you find your dream gown for a much more affordable price than you anticipated! In Wedding Mistakes to Avoid blogs One, Two & Three, we've covered a lot of territory: everything from whether to diet, to how you arrange your reception tables to how to treat your guests to when to announce your engagement, we've tracked the best ways to handle what may come up. In Part 4, we cover even more. Get your pens and wedding planning journal out and let's go! Mistake 15: You Overdecorate I'm not suggesting that the above is too much. It's lovely. But know your theme, your crowd, your budget and decorate accordingly. Coco Chanel was fond of saying, "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off." She was right. Same with your decorations. Sometimes more isn't better. It's just more.  Mistake 16: You Get Ring EnvyThe person you are going to spend the rest of your life with has bought something just for you. It was picked out with YOU in mind or is an heirloom befitting your hand. It was given in the hope that every time you looked at it, it would remind you how loved you are and how sacred your vows are. Don't go "shopping" in your imagination after you have your engagement ring. It smacks of ingratitude. You are better than that and your engagement ring belongs to no one else. THAT is special.  Mistake 17: You Don't Think Beyond "per head" If you feed them, they will come. So you make your list and you find a catering package that you can afford. Done, right? Nope. Some couples forget that they still have to hire a florist, a photographer, book the venue and band and that can often double or triple the wedding budget. Set a budget and then divide the costs by priority. Your "per head" price will be more accurate that way. Mistake 18: You think you're a bakerIf you are a professional baker, skip to Mistake 19. If you are not, listen up. Now is not the time to take on a project so time-consuming and so personal. Unless you plan to serve simple cookies - and we wouldn't suggest even taking that on - hire a baker to handle your cake, cupcake tower, or whatever for your wedding sweets. If you need more encouragement about walking away from baking, check out Nailed It. Mistake 19: You don't make enough time for hair, make-up and photography Every member of your bridal party needs time for hair, make-up, nails and with a pro. Don't rush yourself or anyone else in your party. You'll want the photographer to capture your time together as a group, as well as get images of your group in your gowns, then images of you with your mom. If there is a "First Look. that will also take time." Plan accordingly. Make it fun and schedule plenty of hours. Add champagne, but not too much. Hydration is key too! Mistake 20: Your Photographer is Over Scheduled Pros will bring an assistant and usually a second shooter. That said, they cannot be everywhere at once. In the same way you have a game plan for your time, your photographer will have a timeline and a shot list. Make sure that everyone is clear on how the day is going to unfold and which shots are the most important.
We've gotten requests for more help, so we'll have at least one, probably two more "Wedding Mistakes" blog. Stay tuned!  Haley & EthanHaley Joines and Ethan Matthews were married in December of 2019 and we cannot believe that they are half-way to their first anniversary. They married at the Barn at Blueberry Hill in a small ceremony. They met in high school and have been inseparable since. Theirs is not a love story with a bunch of ups and downs and craziness. They fell in love and that was that! While they like living in North Wilkesboro, they are anxious to get back to Traphill where they have deeper foundations.  The WeddingOur wedding day was absolutely everything we could have wanted - and more! I wanted a winter wedding, and he just wanted to marry me. From all the live greenery, to the s’mores and hot chocolate bar and dancing the night away with all our friends it was definitely a day that not a lot of people will forget! Our colors were burgundy and a dusty blue and my dress was “almond”. It was absolutely perfect!   The Dress"I thought I wanted to have a dress with sleeves, and I was wrong! Of course I knew I did not want white because I am so pale, and once I tried on my dress I knew that was it! The color was amazing and I had not seen anyone with that color dress (even though I purchased it in 2017 and didn’t get married until almost 2020!)  "Kelly is overall an amazing person, who will be truthful with you and if something doesn’t look right she will let you know! That’s what I love about her!" We loved dressing Haley for her big day and she chose well. She added a fur wrap and looked amazing! Store owner Kelly had this to say; "That's why I have always loved working with Haley, she's not afraid to step outside of the box and be a little different. She needs a gentle push every now and then, but in the end she lets her awesome personality shine through her fashion!"   Haley loved the lace on her dress and especially the color. She hoped for something that didn't have the classical bridal white or cream.  Congratulations Haley and Ethan! We wish you many more years of love and happiness!
Brittney Matherly married Jeremy Parks at Gambill Estates a year ago and we love them so much we wanted to revisit their wedding and wish them a very happy anniversary! So here goes!  The WeddingThis couple adores the outdoors and definitely wanted to get married outside. They chose a venue that had both indoor and outdoor options in Roaring River and it turned out to be a wise way to go. They'd hoped to say their vows near a 100+ year old tree surrounded by 150 guests on a gorgeous May day. When the guest list expanded and the weather didn't cooperate, they ended up having the ceremony under the pavilion. "It was the best of both worlds."  "We chose to have a rustic/country theme. I loved the trend of rustic/barn weddings. This theme also gave Jeremy the chance to wear his jeans and boots like he wanted, haha. Also, I love sunflowers, so I wanted a way to incorporate them into our wedding and flower arrangements." The couple incorporated baseball bats and there were sweet images taken by Waterhouse Studios of everyone under umbrellas. Brittney: "Decorations for the reception included white tablecloths and burlap table runners and wood round centerpieces which were cut from a tree off of mine and Jeremy’s land where our house sits now. We placed mason jars filled with clear rocks and lights, as well as sunflower and daisy arrangements on top of the wood rounds. We also had small lit candles on either side of the centerpiece. Guests were served a BBQ dinner from Brushy Mountain Smokehouse and had the option of glass bottled drinks such as RC and Dr. Pepper. We had cupcakes with assorted flavors (chocolate, vanilla, and honey bun) with cream cheese icing made by Alaina’s Bakery. We love baseball and Jeremy played from the time he was a little boy, so we had personalized baseball jerseys made where people could sign or write words of advice on them."  The Couple Their story is a sweet one starting in daycare. Seriously. Brittney was looked after by Jeremy's mom when she was just a baby and they still joke about it. Their relationship became something in high school when they actually were old enough to date. When it was time for college, it became harder and harder to make time for each other so they took a break. They came back together in 2016 and decided to give it another try. Nearly a year later, on the anniversary of Brittney's childhood heart surgery, Jeremy proposed telling her that even though her heart was fixed as a child, he wanted to be the one to take care of it for the rest of their lives. That's a mic drop, if there was one. The DressBrittney knew that she wanted to be married in white and had some preferences in mind when she came to see us at BT. No mermaids, no trumpets, no strapless dresses. Please and thank you. But she shared later that she didn't stick with all of her biases. It happens. "There was a dress that I tried on that was form fitting. I had seen it online, and I knew it was going to be the one. I tried it on and hated it! Then, my mom picked out an ivory A-line style that had a good amount of lace detail, a belt made into it, a short train, and several layers to it that gave it a little 'poof.' She insisted that I try it on, and I fell in love! I loved the lace detail and the simple belt that was made into my dress. I also loved the “V” in the back with the lace detail. To me, these small details made my dress beautiful and elegant. Kelly let me roam and look around as much as I wanted, but was always there to answer any questions that I had or give me advice when I needed it. I was set on not having a veil. She insisted that I try one on just to see and joked that she wouldn’t let me leave until I did. I tried one on that was hip length and had the same lace detail as my dress. As soon as Kelly put it on my head, I loved it. It really made me feel like a bride. I also loved how BT would hold your dress after it came in as long as you needed it. I ordered my dress in January 2018 and my wedding wasn’t until May 2019, so it was nice to know I had somewhere to store it and didn’t have to worry about it."  During one of the hardest and strangest and most upsetting years we've seen to date, we gotta focus on love and that's what we're going to do. We are sending love and light to Brittney and Jeremy today and every day. Congratulations on finding each other!
Wedding Mistakes, there are many! We've been passing them along and here is Part 3. Mistake 9: You Skip on Bridal GiftsYou love these people. Your attendants love you too. They are going to spend on their wedding attire, whether bought or rented, travel, gifts, ask for time off and they are going to spend their precious time helping you, laughing with you, consoling you and celebrating with you. Some attendants spend up to $1000, so discuss what makes sense, but BUY SOMETHING TANGIBLE. Whether it's $75 or $150 for each, do something to remind them that you love them and appreciate them.  Mistake 10: You Don't Feed Your VendorsYes, the bride and vendor relationship is transactional, but it often becomes personal because of the occasion and because you've put your trust in these folks. Please, PLEASE we beg you, TREAT THEM with more than money. Make sure that your planner, photographers, DJ and band, set up crew and others are given a little to go box or an extra love up in the form of food or a snack. They need sustenance too.  Mistake 11: You Don't Treat Your Single Friends WellThis one is important, as it will say a LOT about how thoughtful a bride you are. Seat people at tables based on their shared interests, hobbies, lifestyles, etc. Don't dump all of your single friends at one table in the hope that some wild Fate Fairy will make a love match or they can all commiserate together. Single folks are interesting, fun and can hold their own, so don't group folks based on marital status. If you have a single friend who is like family, seat them with members of your family who will adore them as you do.  Mistake 12: You Set a Boring, Predictable TableThere is nothing wrong with tradition, so if you have a theme in mind and the place settings, flowers, candles, etc are part of that holistic vision: go for it. But we've all seen boring. A sit down dinner means coming up with ways to make the space and tables interesting and unique while still allowing guests to see each other and chat. If you're serving a buffet, keep the centerpieces fun. But the rule to remember when setting unpredictable tables is to use different shaped tables, add fun colors of napkins, flatware, candles and floral arrangements and mix it up.  Mistakes 13 & 14: The Written WordMistake 13 is forgetting how important it is to use paper. Send paper invitations. Yes, the digital age has been here for 2 decades, but a paper invitation, save the date card and thank you note say soooooooooooooo much about your style and character. Just do it. You will not regret it.  Mistake 14 is sending your Thank You Notes too late. You have a year, but pretend like you only have a quarter of that. Get them done in under 3 months and the love from your guests (who gave you gifts and celebrated you) will flow. Hand write them and get 'em in the mail.  Keep your eyes peeled for another blog with more mistakes to avoid.
Yes........... there are pitfalls with planning and executing a wedding, but avoiding those is what Bridal Traditions is here to help with.  The CoupleCandice Martinez and Austin Stanley met after they both ended long relationships with others. They became friends, talked off and on for a couple of years and then realized that there was more to their friendship than getting over others. On October 5th of 2019, the couple was married at Williams Farm in Roaring River, NC.  The WeddingThere wedding was rustic, with elegant touches. Candice shared that her favorite moment was seeing Austin and the moment he saw her. "His expression was so sweet."  The Dress "I honestly had NO idea what style of dress I wanted. I didn’t even have any specific inspirations to go with. I walked in [to Bridal Traditions] one day and there was a dress and my mother said 'that’s it, Can!' I looked at it and said, 'mom, that’s too much dress! I don’t want anything with that much going on.' Turns out, that was THE ONE. I tried on so many different styles and had multiple options, and Kelly made this so so easy for me. But I felt so comfortable in my first and last option that I went with it. "   Candice loved the details of her gown and her bridesmaids purchased their gowns and the guys their suits from us as well.
They are such a sweet couple and she looked gorgeous! Congratulations to Candice and Austin Stanley! All the best from BT. A couple of months ago, we shared Part One of our look at those Wedding Mistakes Brides Make when planning or executing their weddings. You will find Mistakes 1 - 3 in that blog. Today, we continue with Part Two! Mistake 4: You Announce Your Engagement Too Soon Announce that you are engaged on social media - absolutely - and especially if you have lots of folks who will want to know that you don't see often. BUT BEFORE THAT - call, Skype, Facetime, visit if you can, those closest to you. For starters, they are closest to you for a reason. They are friends and family and they will want to celebrate with you, see the ring, hear about the proposal and tell you how loved you are. Secondly, these same people will more than likely be in the wedding, be your support system and will be hurt if you leave them out. They are going remain close to you LOOOOOOONG after the ceremony. Don't tell the entire world before you inform your favorite people. Mistake 5: You include your registry on your Save the Date or Invitation In the South, we hate tacky and putting your registry info on your invitation or save the date is a wee bit on the tacky side. Tell your inner circle (see Mistake 4 above for confirmation of who they are) and let them disseminate that info for you. If you've set up a web page, you can share it there, but old fashioned as it sounds, word of mouth is still the best way to loop people in about where you are registered. Mistake 6: You Crash Diet There is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best on your wedding day, but drastically changing your diet to become a completely new person won't work. You should be you and look like you. Don't make yourself sick by trying to go from a size 14 to a size 2. If you want to adopt a healthier lifestyle before your wedding, good for you! We encourage that. But start a new regimen at least 6 months before your wedding date. Mistake 7: There is too much time between the ceremony and the reception Believe us: you've thought about this as a wedding guest: the time between the sweetest I Dos you've ever seen and the time when the drinks flow, dancing begins and toasts are made is way too long. "Why don't we just sneak away? We can say something happened and we had to run off. There's a cool new restaurant 5 blocks from here and we're already dressed up! The bride won't notice!" Well if you've thought about it then others have too. Too much time between the ceremony and the reception is a foul. Have an activity. Serve drinks. Let the band start playing fun music. Line folks up for signing the guest book while hors d'oeuvres are passed. You'll be glad you did. Mistake 8: You feel that you HAVE to try an Up-Do. Brides look angelic with their hair piled up and covered with a veil, but if it doesn't suit your face, don't do it. Princess Grace of Monoco - hair up. Princess Kate of Britain - hair down. Try it out before and see if it looks as amazing as you'd hoped. But it's YOUR DAY. The last thing you want is an Up-Don't.
More to come! If you are taking notes, stay tuned! Bridal Traditions held our annual Wedding Expo in early March of this year and we were happy to see a gathering of great vendors and brides, grooms, parents and their pals eager to learn and make notes. This year Kelli Rodriquez of Embellished Events for You was our event Co-Sponsor.  Exhibitors in 2020 included wedding photographers like Cynthia Viola and Nicole Huffman, wedding venues like The Emerald Hill, Winding Creek Wedding Barn and Chapman Farmstead, A&J Rentals, Rustic Flair, Bliss Vacations, The Pearl & The Petal and Indulged Baked Goods, among many others. We'd be remiss if we didn't thank our dear friends and tireless compatriots Misty and Ryan Case of Pixels on Paper for capturing photos of the Expo this year as in years passed. BT is celebrating our 20th anniversary and it's time to pass the torch, after 13 years of hosting this massive event. When I started the Wedding Expo in 2007, it was a way to truly showcase what the vendors in our industry and our area could offer brides and grooms and the vendor list has always been impressive.
Now, we're happy to announce that Kelli and Embellished Events for You will be taking over as the event sponsor. We could not be more excited to see what she will do with this event. Good Luck, Kelli! Yes, we're still celebrating 20 years in business and probably will continue to for some time. Two decades flew by and yet here we are still chugging along and loving what we do at BT. What I shared in the 20th Anniversary - Part 1 blog was a bit of the history - the Origin Story, if you will, and our growth, and commitment to community outreach and connection. That trip down memory lane was, well, …. a trip. I loved going through old images and remembering the specifics of those moments, days, celebrations and hard work. It reminded me for the thousandth time that no one person does something alone. It also reaffirmed that a girl with a dream can be unstoppable.  For this blog, I want briefly to touch on the more personal gains and revelations I've had from starting and owning my own business for 20 years. Friendship & TeamworkYou know who you are. My support system consists of smart and funny friends, collaborators who make me better at what I do, my sisters in life and "mother confessors" and some fellow wedding vendors, sales reps and business-minded others who help me stay at the top of my game. I love these people to bits. They work with me, they laugh and cry with me, challenge me, lift me up, remind me of my priorities and have made me a better friend, wife and business owner. If you are just starting a business, I suggest having a team around you of those who love you and whom you trust. There are friendships, collaborations and dreams fulfilled to be sure thanks to my friends, co-workers and family. Cold evenings getting ready for parades, many many late nights planning for the Wedding Expo, being a part of community events, reviewing and purchasing inventory, and helping brides and prom-goers find what they need are just a few of the things this tribe has helped me with, and all the while laughing. And yes, my dog Lexi is a member of the team. Body ImageAs the owner of a bridal boutique, one of the biggest take-aways from my job over these two decades is the knowledge that there is a dress for every woman and we are all amazing, regardless of "shape." Girls: listen to me. You are beautiful and so is your figure. You matter. You are loved. Of course we want to look our best, especially on our wedding day, and most women have a body issue they are dealing with. I too have struggled with body image over the years, but I have also gained insight and wisdom, and I try to apply it when helping guests in my boutique. So I say - with conviction - when you come into BT, you are seen as a beautiful creature who deserves an amazing gown. Period. If you want to wear a dress that you love, a dress that makes you happy, you should! I love seeing girls try on something that they don't think will work - or society has told them is off limits - only to find out that they love it. It gives me a lump in my throat just remembering even a handful of those times, and there have been many. Supporting women in this way has been one of the greatest gifts in my professional life. Know Thyselfand trust yourself. If you are a little girl out there I hope you'll know that, for me, this has always been about more than gowns. I love them, don't get me wrong, but it has also been about following a path. As you learn who you are, you can begin to trust that knowledge. I want you to know that you can do it. I'll say it again. YOU CAN DO IT. You who are wondering what you're made of... You who love something but aren't sure that you can make a career out of it... You who are just finding or developing your passion.... You who sees the hurdles might outweigh the positives.... I put one foot in the front of the other, day after day, year after year. I reached out to others, I prayed for discernment and I worked my buns off. I promise that no matter what, during the process of challenging yourself, you'll find that inner toughness and spark that comes not from some bolt out of the blue but from perseverance, faith and hard work. Even when I felt like I knew what I wanted but was unsure of getting it, I kept going, I kept trying, I kept asking questions. There's taking a chance and there are calculated risks. I like the calculated risk, but I also took chances. I just kept learning and the more I did, the better I was and that turned my passion into my livelihood. The girl who loved playing with Barbie's in evening gowns was suddenly a small business success story.
So I'll say it again: 20 years of business is a big milestone that I am so proud of, so humbled by and so grateful for. Thanks to every single one of you who have been a part of this journey and for all of you I cannot wait to meet and serve in the future. And to all the girls out there wondering: I believe in you. |
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