Now that we've passed Easter, we are prepping for the wedding season and there is no slowing down. So here are some of the "best tips from brides" for all of you brides out there who are gearing up! Many of these you have already heard, but that's why they are so solid. BreatheThe planning process can be stressful, but it doesn't have to be all of the time. Enjoy the details, Take time to consider your options and remember that some day you will be telling the story of your wedding and everything around it. Make yours a story of fun, abundance and balance. Take Pictures before the I DosAt the reception, you'll want to spend time with guests and family - those who love you and have made arrangements to be there for you. Even if you don't do a "first look" with your spouse to be, get as many group shots or you with attendants and him with his groomsmen, you with your parents, etc. as you can. You'll have those in "the bank" (as it were) and can enjoy the rest of the day. Don't Sweat the Small StuffLadies: we know you've been told this already and it is difficult to take it to heart, but please try. Things can go wrong, but so what? They make the best stories. Remember that you are surrounded by people who absolutely adore you. Whatever it is that is slightly "off", you will survive it. Have a PlanA detailed itinerary will help you feel not only less stressed, but it's a nice way to keep everyone on the same page. If attendants and guests know where they are supposed to be, what they should be doing and when, they - and YOU - can relax into the flow with very little upset to the day. Have someone pack up your food!You've heard this one many times too, and modern brides are not shy about dining, whether it is a sit down dinner or buffet. BUT, as a couple you will be moving through the day based on the timing of things and you'll want to visit with everyone at the reception. You may forget to eat. Ask your planner or a member of your wedding party to have the caterers pack a basket of all the delicious food from the reception. You can nosh on it later! Don't Forget Your SpouseBrides often tell us that they spend time with their mothers, close family and bridesmaids before the ceremony and work the crowd of beloved guests at the reception, only to realize that they didn't spend as much time with their new husbands. Yes you have your whole married lives ahead of you, but the party is FOR YOU. Take time to soak in the moments, make eye contact with each other, laugh together and celebrate. Speak up during the ToastsWhile normally the Best Man and Maid of Honor, fathers and best friends hold court with stories and affection, guests appreciate it when the bride and groom stand to say a word or two. It's a chance to share your depth of feeling for each other and to say thanks to your guests. We wish all of our Bridal Traditions brides and grooms the very best as the season gets into full swing.
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Bridal Traditions bride Rachel married her beloved Zack at Williams Farm in November of 2021. The CeremonyThese two had a beautiful fall barn wedding, which was perfect for Rachel's palette, which featured navy and burgundy. Rachel carried a bouquet studded with her favorite, the sunflower. We love all of our brides, but it's always refreshing to see fall or winter themes. Meanwhile, the sun was shining and Rachel and Zack's ceremony proceeded perfectly. According to the bride, the entire day "was so much fun!" The DressFor a fall wedding, we always have to consider weather, especially when the venue has outdoor elements. Brides should be comfortable and feel gorgeous. The last thing that we want is a bride who feels beautiful, but who is ill prepared for a change in temperature. North Carolina hosts hot winter weddings and cold summer ones from time to time. Rachel: "I wanted my dress to have sleeves, but was unsure of anything else. I honestly didn’t think I would get my dress on the first day but Kelly and Bridal Traditions had exactly what I needed!" The lace sleeves ended up being perfect for this bride. What we love about Rachel's dress - beyond the fact that she looked perfect in it - was that the details suited the season and outdoor temps, and when complimented with her veil and bouquet - suited HER. She was spectacular. Our BT team sends this couple of newlyweds our sincerest congratulations. Cheers, you two! Photo Credit: Rolling Brook Photography
Bridal Traditions took part, yet again, in a styled wedding photo shoot. We LOVE participating in these, you guys, because they not only allow us to showcase some of the styles we carry at our boutique, but they provide our BT brides with great ideas, and introduce vendors you may want to engage. Enjoy the details and see the entire vendor list at the end of this blog! The SettingThe indoor and outdoor spaces at The 1915 are a sleek mix of the modern monochromatic and soft traditional atmosphere. A bride with a vision can create nearly any kind of theme and pull it off in this space. Details & TexturesFor an English Tea themed wedding, the colors, textures, and florals made a big statement. The palette of gold, teal, rose, cream, and bronze was mixed throughout, and of course, you have to have the right china, fabrics, flowers and linens to pull the theme together. If you were seated inside or out, you knew you were at a garden party. The AttireThe bohemian, or more "cottage core" style of gown was provided by Bridal Traditions for this shoot and the sleeves are the big giveaway that this is romanic, relaxed, and pastoral. The bridal gown had both lace and tulle lended a wistful elegance in the cut of the gown and the veil. The groom wore a pale tan suit, complete with vest and pale rosy gold tie. While these two did not actually get married, they appear ready for the close up in a period piece on Netflix! The glory is in the details and this shoot provided so many. The VendorsAttire: Bridal Traditions
Venue: The 1915 Cake: Angie Walsh Photography: Shew Ridge (Christine Williams) Florals: Bella’s Floral Designs Rentals: Signature Event Rentals Cookies: Indulge Baked Creations Makeup: Emily Cirillo Hair: Megan Hall Stationary: Kayla R Johnston Ashley Fox married Hunter Shook just before Thanksgiving of 2021 in a lovely outdoor ceremony at Emerald Hill in Hiddenite, NC. These two met in middle school and became friends, texting and chatting, but mostly keeping their distance. After high school graduation, they remained in contact, but with no special relationship. One day Hunter asked Ashley to dinner and the rest is in the books! They were inseparable and are now happily husband and wife. The CeremonyThe couple had a sweet first look moment together captured by their photographer Malea Hoots (@maleamae.hoots), and then said their vows under a bright sky surrounded by 130 of their closest friends and family. Ashley shared that the preparations on the day were, for her, pretty special. "The most memorable part of the day was getting ready with some of my closest friends and seeing all of our family and friends come together to support us. Amy and Kendall Pendergrass from Studio 180 in Statesville did an amazing job doing my bridesmaids hair." The DressAshley: "When I set out to buy my dress, I had several different photos of dresses from Pinterest that I'd pinned and liked. I knew I wanted some form of lace detailing, and for it to be flowy. Other than that, I was completely open to my different options." November weddings can be dodgy weather-wise, but the cap sleeves on her gown turned out to be just right. She got the lace she wanted, the flowy skirt, and the deep V in both front and back made this bride a stunner. "Kelly at BT made my gown shopping so pleasant and easy. She had so many different styles and options for me to try on to be sure I knew that I was exploring all of my options. Her patience with me while I tried on and decided was impeccable. When I came back into the shop looking for accessories she was so helpful in helping me match everything up with what would look nice with my dress." BT loved being a part of Ashley's look and the couple's big day. Congratulations to you guys! We wish you only decades of happiness and a bright future.
We are deep into prom season, ya'll.... and we are drowning is sales and gowns and happy prom goers! While we fill orders and make dreams come true, we thought we'd share a few more of the designs we're seeing for 2022. Have fun out there, guys and gals!
Walking OutThe origins of prom come from the word promenade, or to walk out in public. In time, it was associated with young couple going out together and girls being of age to receive boys in polite society. The debutante balls and other elements ebb and flow based on the times and regional shifts, but prom - as we American kids know it - is a mid-Spring ritual. It's a cultural marker. It's a party! Time to get dressed and go out! Bridal Traditions is ready for Prom 2022 and we have styles for both guys and girls. Suits and tuxes for the guys are available for purchase and to rent. The sooner you plan, the sooner you can have yours ready to go. It is March already, by the way. For the girls, the designs are luxurious, modern and cool. Gemstones and jewel tones, shimmer and shine, with cut outs and deep Vs, there are plenty from which to choose, ladies! On average Bridal Traditions has approximately 100-125 prom dresses in-stock, in sizes 00-24. Prices range from $10 for closeout dresses to $498 for new styles.
We sell off-the-rack only, so shop early for the best selection! Fitting room reservations are recommended for Saturday shopping. To see more, follow our social media and visit our prom page. Get excited and come see us! 2022 may very well be one of the busiest years for those of us in the wedding industry. Wedding postponements, cancellations, venue swaps, vaccination hurdles, and frustration all met with reckless optimism, and that is to be celebrated. Reckless optimism for the win! 2022 is going to be THE MAKE UP YEAR! The coming months are the most popular months for weddings, so here's what the experts are sharing about what is IN for spring weddings! Themed WeddingsThese are not only still very much "IN," they are even more popular. There's nothing wrong with traditional services, but themes like Old Hollywood, Carnivale/Mardi Gras, Disco, Garden Parties, Star Wars or Bridgerton are now seeing their debut. Textural DetailsWhile gold has been the standard bearer, silver speaks of an older, more medieval time ... as if you're in Old Europe and everything is imbued with fairytale magic. Couples are including more silver and platinum in their decor and using it with style. Rose and white gold are still in the mix, as well. Themed wallpaper and themed walls are also a hit for the ceremony and the reception. These provide a lovely backdrop for capturing photos of the couple and their guests. If you have a style that you're trying to match - from Art Nouveau to Living Wall - consider a themed wall. Virtual Save-the-Date & DetailsPeople need to be kept up to date and the traditional cards, save the dates and extras are still great. But these days, brides and grooms create websites and social media sites, hashtags and eblasts for their weddings. Consider keeping your attendants in a text thread, creating an account for your helpers and vendors, and then sending out any last minute changes to guests via electronic communications. It's in real time and can save you - and your guests - big time confusion and headaches. These bits of communication also let everyone in on the excitement as you build toward the big day. Hanging Florals & Twinkle LightsWhat else is there to say?! Twinkly lights and hanging florals are still IN. Make it a Weekend WeddingWe've been cooped up for 2 years. People want to see each other, so the long weekend wedding format is back in play. You don't have to burden everyone with the expense of getting to Bali for a destination wedding ......... although that would not be horrible. Consider choosing a spot that can accommodate your party and ceremony-- a resort town, a campground of fun tiny houses, a popular lake or park with cottages, or a hotel with great penthouse rooms and a spa nearby, and invite your guests to come on Thursday and leave late on Sunday. Everyone can indulge! We say this to brides and grooms who come to BT for their attire: KNOW THYSELF. Couples who know who they are and what they want will create the wedding day that makes THEM the happiest. Start there and you cannot go wrong!
And the verdict is in: our suit game is strong and yours should be too if you are a groom-to-be. BT has a variety of options, because not everyone wants to wear a tux, or buy a suit. Depending on your wedding day theme, the season, and your budget, grooms can look like they should when saying, "I Do." Rent or BuyWe carry 5 distinct styles of suits in our rent or buy category, ranging from $235 to under $500. Each member of your wedding party may either choose to rent or buy their designer suit in one of these styles. Purchase in Stock at BTMen may also purchase suits directly from us off the rack at BT. If your style is out of stock, we can also order online. These suits are priced at only $200 and will serve you well into the future. Consider it an investment! Special OrdersGrooms who choose to purchase a suit that is not one we stock, may special theirs through us. BT keeps store samples of suits that you may choose from and then we place the order. We ask that you plan ahead and allow up to 12 weeks for delivery. Costs of these suits run from approximately $240 - $280, with matching vests available for around $60-70. Tuxedos to Special OrderThese classic and modern style tuxs are available for special order ONLY. As with some of our special order suits, allow up to 12 weeks for delivery, if the warehouse is out of stock
The tuxedo coat and pant purchases are approximately $199-$269. Sarah Perry said "I Do" to Jacob Fulp in November of last year at Red Cedar Farm in Granite Falls. These two met while Sarah was in college and months later realized that they had so much in common. They both love video games and creative projects, and own an online jewelry business that they run together. Jacob is the creative force and she assists him. They are an adorable couple and we were so happy to help outfit them. The DaySarah shared that the wedding day was fun, if not perfect, but their smiles say it all. She and Jacob laughed a lot, especially with their photographer Sarah Huffman while cutting the cake. These two know how to enjoy the little moments encased in the big moments. The DressThis bride didn't have lots of requests when she came to us. They were getting married in November, on the anniversary of when they first met, so one would expect a gown with sleeves or something autumnal, but the weather turned out to be warm and sunny. She chose well! Sarah: "I ended up with a strapless dress I fell in love with! If it wasn't suggested, I never would've even tried it on! I also wasn't planning on a veil, but once it was placed to finish the look, I almost cried. I knew I wasn't leaving without it." Sarah: "The team at Bridal Traditions was as easy-going as I am, helping every step of the way and explaining all the attachments of the dresses. I didn't even need to alter the dress after ordering it!" Congratulations Sarah and Jacob!! Cheers to many, many years of happiness!
We recently shared our Bride Guide with you and now we want to make sure that the guys know that they aren't just wanted at the altar. All during the wedding planning process, there are opportunities to help the bride. A variety of the work will be negotiated by her, but fellas: don't absent yourselves from this chapter. You also have some stuff to take care of, and this pre-married period is an opportunity to show who you'll be as a husband. Help with the Guest ListWe'll start with the easiest task: helping create the guest list. You know your people and she knows hers. Combine them and compare them against your budget and vision and you're off to the races. Knowing the headcount and budget will allow you to plan well and will reduce stress. Reducing stress is a big deal. Help her hire a Dream TeamHelp your bride hire vendors who understand you, know what you want, are supportive and great at what they do. This is the team that will show up for you and bring their best, so do this together. Be of Service to your Wife-to-BeTake any items off her list that you can tackle. Doesn't matter how small the task, if getting it done matters to her, then shoulder in, grab your car keys or internet connection and knock it off of the to do list. Weddings are stressful. Go ahead and prepare for some stress, coordination and crazy schedules as you start gearing up for the day. The closer you get to the day, the less time you'll have for planning. And doing even a short list of easy tasks will make you a winning groom. Handle the Rehearsal DinnerNot only is the rehearsal dinner your responsibility - according to the social contract we all signed - but it's actually one of the most memorable parts of the wedding weekend. It's a party! Ask her best friend or yours, reach out to your classiest and most organized pals, and plan a dinner that is (1) a night off for her, and (2) a celebration of how you got here, and what's to come in your lives together. Provide Emotional SupportWhether you know exactly what is wrong, or how it happened, or who caused it - BE THERE. Just listen and let her talk through it. Absorb the anxiety and release it for you both. Try to remind each other not to sweat the small stuff. Help your GroomsmenWhether you are renting or buying, have chosen suits or tuxes, prefer crazy socks or cowboy boots, YOU have to get your own wedding clothes pulled together and help your best man and groomsmen through this process. The bride and her bridesmaids will have their hands full with their own attire, so lean in and take this task on. Try on your wedding attire....THE MINUTE IT ARRIVES. You can thank us later, because this #protip will save you, guys. We are living in a golden era of overnight, if not immediate, delivery, items arriving via drone, and rushed ordering. That does not mean that mistakes won't be made. Grooms: try on your wedding attire the minute you get it. Finding out that your shirt is two sizes too small on wedding day is not only going to cause acid reflux while you scramble to make things right, it may not be fixable. Try on every item as if that day was THE day and if you're satisfied, hang them up to keep them clean and you're good. Remember that this is about your marriage...... not your wedding. The wedding is months of planning executed on one day. Your marriage is for life, so relish the little moments, and let this time be one where you bond more, fall more in love and learn how to plan, solve problems together and make the day about you and your future.
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