She'll Wear it Again?

Inevitably in the wedding + bridesmaid dress world, we hear "you'll wear it again" from time to time :) :) ....and well, rarely does that ever happen. You've heard it, we've heard it....we've all said it, and very few of us have done it ...

Enter Erin....Erin was married last April in an art museum in Atlanta, Georgia. Erin had us at "hello"....charming, smart, and very artistic. She's sure of her style and confident in her decisions. Hard not to love a girl like that ;)

So Erin chose a very lovely Melissa Sweet gown that was traditional but edgy, feminine but modern. In a word, it was perfect for her. The talented Holly Jones captured this image of Erin.....

Skip ahead 12 months....Erin is one of the lovely brides who has kept up with us (seriously, when we say we want to keep in touch, we mean it!!!)....and lo and behold, she tells us she has modified her wedding dress. Into a cocktail number. With the intention of wearing it again.

*AHA!* Wear your wedding dress again? Love it! So sentimental, so romantic...in a way, even sort of practical! (Girls, we can justify anything! :))

The darling seamstress at Oakwood Cleaners who altered Erin's gown the first time she wore it took the hem up again.... this time, a lot! :) We were so thrilled when Erin popped in to show us the final product....that's right, her mother - a talented artist! - hand painted the dress and Erin is sporting it to a family wedding in Ireland this month. Just can't *wait* to see it all together!

Erin...thanks for sharing! Just love this little dress! What a fun treasure for you to have! All the best!! {Keep up with Erin and her creative, fun, artistic ventures here!}

Fiesole Friday : Inspiration!

We are so thrilled to introduce you to our newest gown from Reverie by Melissa Sweet!! Sweet Fiesole is a warm, vintage tea-length beauty...she's every bit as southern as she is classic. Already we love, love, love her.

We got so excited we put together a whole inspiration board of ideas based on sweet Fiesole...hope you enjoy!

Fiesole by Reverie | Valentina shoe by Grazia

Engagement Party/Rehearsal/Bridesmaids dresses by Amsale

Cake by The Bake Shoppe | photo by Kristyn Hogan

Fireworks hair ornaments by Toni Federici

Floral bouquet by Big Events Wedding | Photo by Michael Howard

Monte Carlo earring by PARIS

Custom bracelet by Haute Bride | Men's Suit JCrew

Cheers!

This One's For the Guys....

Today is so fun for us! A great little post to introduce you to PARIS by Debra Moreland's newest design....cuff links!!!

When we saw these at market it was such an AHA! moment! Cuff links by PARIS! Genius!!!

Girls, you can gift your groom (or your dad!) these gorgeous pieces that he'll have forever...and they can totally coordinate with all of your PARIS goodies.... we are totally in love with them! {Why didn't WE think of this!!!!}

{special thanks to Street Tuxedo for the men's shirt ;)}

One of Our Own!

Many of you will remember sweet Liz from her glory days here at The Bride Room :) Liz worked with us from June 2008-June 2009 before heading to grad school for some higher education. Though we are so so so proud of our dear Liz, we miss her like crazy!

A couple of Saturdays ago, we got the call: her relationship status had officially changed and our very own Liz needed an appointment to try on dresses :) :) :) :) :) {We can't help but feel like surrogate Nashville mothers to her and our immediate response was::: she's all grown up!!!!!!!!!!}

Her mom was in town yesterday so we booked her a time to do a preliminary round of dress shopping....She looked so fabulous in everything....we can't help but wonder....who will Liz be on her wedding day??

fashion foward?

modern + fresh?

sweet + sassy?

soft + traditional?

Liz + Steph :: take 1

{can't wait for the picture of Liz + Steph at her wedding*}

(Don't worry, Adam, we didn't take any photos of anything that could be a *real* contender...and there were definitely a few!)

{*Liz, did you see how we just invited ourselves to your big day??? :)}

We know for sure that Liz's wedding day will be every bit as sweet and thoughtful as she is. So, so so happy for you, Liz!!! We love you!!!!!

Erin + GR | April 24, 2010

So fun to bring to you a real wedding today of one of the very sweetest brides ever :)

Erin knew exactly the look she wanted - lace and vintage and warm. The Vineyard gown she chose was simply perfect - both for her and the overall tone of her darling wedding. Think tiny, tiny chapel in a tiny, tiny Tennessee town on a sunny Spring day. Amazing :)

One of our favorite memories of Erin was when she arrived at the Paris Trunk Show and requested no veil. She was definitely not going to wear a veil.... :) :) We are all about respecting our sweet brides' wishes, but then again, Erin was up for experimenting... and voila! Now, seeing these photos, can you imagine her complete look without this stunning veil and flower by Debra Moreland of Paris?

Erin and her family couldn't have been any sweeter...we were delighted to be a part of such a special day!!

Big, huge, The Bride Room thanks to Jen and Ann of Photographix for letting us share these photos...

Do yourself a favor and check out their blog post from this sweet wedding....Erin put a very sophisticated spin on a yellow and grey theme. Everything was just as charming as it could be....just like the bride herself :):)

Susan | Bridal Portraits

We are so excited to bring you these images today! Susan was a beloved bride of The Bride Room who was married just eleven days ago. She was so sweet to jot us a note from Maui (not jealous or anything!) to let us know that her fab photographer Mel of La Dolce Vita Studio had posted her portraits!

Susan is one of the lucky Platinum by Priscilla of Boston brides who got to meet the designer of her gown in February. It was especially fun for us because Susan seemed to really understand what an amazing opportunity it was to meet her gown's creator. So so fun!

Susan in red, with her cousin and the designer

photo by yours truly, on the good ol' iPhone :)

Enjoy this eye candy from Mel's blog....

Many more gorgeous photos here!

Venue: Cheekwood

Dress: Platinum by Priscilla of Boston

Veil: Toni Federici

Shoes: Grace

Shoe Brooches: Haute Bride

Something New (Part Two)

It's no secret that one of the greatest joys of this work are the relationships that we make. We meet just the nicest people...and everyone loves to talk about a wedding! So we hear the most wonderful stories and celebrate the most amazing time in life!

Not only do we meet these dear brides and their families, but we also have the opportunity to work alongside some stellar vendors in town. Stellar as in...people-first, relationship-based, ethical, creative, savvy business people. The past couple of months we have been working with such folks on various photo shoots and marketing projects. It has been a wonderful time of creativity and it confirms what we already know - Nashville brides are so fortunate to have such wonderful resources!

As you all know, this is truly a small town...so when we finally get to meet photographers and florists and other vendors who we've heard so much about, it's like we've known them all along....only better! That is certainly the case with photographers Chris and Adrienne Scott. The Bride Room and Chris and Adrienne have had several mutual brides recently (you might remember Andrea in her gorgeous Priscilla of Boston?) and now we've collaborated on a photo shoot coordinated by Amy Lynn Larwig. Amy Lynn, make up artist extraordinaire, was putting together a promo video and invited us to be a part...Chris and Adrienne did the photography and voila! A most lovely set of images ensued.....

Gown: Amsale | Veil: PARIS

To see a more complete set of photos, and to get to know the photgraphers better, visit Chris and Adrienne's blog.

{Side note...girls, if you love a birdcage veil, consider something like this one with lace...it photographs so beautifully and gives a warm vintage touch. Love it!!!}

Surely this parallels your wedding planning process? The details have been labored over and meticulously decided, and they are important. But what you will remember most about your planning and your big day are the people who have walked beside you and made it all happen.

We celebrate our long-standing relationships and honor those people who have shared brides and created magnificent memories for years. Today we are so excited about our new friends and the promise of more fun and love in the life of The Bride Room!!

Cheers...Happy Monday :)

Something New (Part One)

Hello sweet friends! It has certainly been a season of change for us at The Bride Room ....some of it has been voluntary (dresses!!!), some of it not (floors!!!)...but you know, we are discovering that change can be a really good thing :) :)

Sometimes, when in the midst of activity and mile-long to-do lists and things that are out of your control, your schedule and work systems get a little crazy. {Can we get an amen?!} So please accept our apologies for being so quiet the past few weeks....but know that we are back and our heads and hearts are full of things we want to share!!!

Kicking off our Something New posts {there are a few :) :)}....here's what we've been up to....

For starters, those of you who follow our tweets and facebook know that our floors are new! If you walked in the store today, you might have no idea that anything ever happened, and for that we are thankful! We are also so very grateful that the turn around was quick, and we were still able to conduct business! A big thanks to the gals who joined us in the bridesmaids loft for what is sure to be a very memorable PARIS Accessories Trunk Show :)

Also new...what else??...dresses!! New dresses are arriving here and of course we are in L O V E!! Our newest collection, Reverie, is off to a strong start with this gorgeous piece called Paris. She is fresh and fun and a little unexpected but with a fantastic shape and structure.

We also received a Monique Lhuillier from the Fall 2010 collection that we've long been anticipating! The gorgeous Meringue bustier is nothing short of show-stopping...truly can't wait to get you girls in this piece...so stunning!

....on the runway.....

....and on a real bride with this stunning PARIS brooch....

Stay tuned for some more new things in the coming days. Hope you all are well...Can you *believe* it is mid-May? Where, oh where, has the year gone?? Oh wait...we don't need to tell our sweet brides how quickly the year is going!! :)

Store Hours Altered ::: New Floors!!!

Hello sweet friends!!!

Our apologies for being a touch MIA lately...as you can imagine, all of our energy is being shifted to maintaining regular operations around the store. We have been so fortunate with timely deliveries, understanding brides, and patient vendors. Many, many thanks for your kindness!!!

We've been thankful to be in the store this past week....but this week will be a little different! We know for sure that Wednesday, May 12 & Thursday, May 13 we will not be open. The pretty new floors are being installed and it is not an environment conducive to business-as-usual...We will be continually assessing progress and will update you about Friday as we know.

Please call or email us if you have questions - we will be checking email and voicemail periodically. It is our most primary intention to maintain continuity of care for each of you. We appreciate your patience as we manage under unusual circumstances.

We are taking appointments for this Saturday, and the schedule is filling quickly. Please understand that we are definitely appointment-only as we accommodate brides who have been so patient to wait their turn. :)

As with any construction, we are hoping that installation goes smoothly and without delay. Join us in keeping your pretty little fingers crossed! Believe it or not, we are more anxious than you are to be fully operating again :) :)

Stay tuned for updates/changes/news-of-opening-celebrations :):)

PARIS Trunk Show Update!

Ladies and friends! Thanks for all of your support and concern the last few days...we are carrying on, doing what we can, and counting our blessings along the way!! Thank you so much for all of your patience and understanding...we are so grateful!

We are especially happy that this weekend's PARIS Trunk Show will continue!! There will be a few modifications but the PARIS treasures you have been waiting for will be here!

Thank you for understanding that now more than ever, appointments are required for this accessories show. This will certainly help us manage the schedule, help you get the most of your appointment, and plan for the day's activity.

Brooches, veils, bracelets, earrings, oh my! Bridesmaids gifts, Mothers pieces, custom bridal goodies!! It will be a very lovely weekend....

615.297.9899 | thebrideroom@comcast.net

*Sadly, we still can not accommodate bridal gown appointments. Please email or call if you wish to be put on the waiting list! Thank you for your understanding!

Update | Flood 2010

We are recovering....but open, safe, and thankful...oh-so thankful...

As some of you know too well, Mother Nature was in full force this weekend in our beloved Music City. The Green Hills area was impacted, and unfortunately, we were not spared. The Bride Room experienced some flooding due to the record-breaking rain, and we are looking at the immediate future as days of recovering and restoring our precious store.

Please know that our dresses and merchandise are completely okay- we couldn't be more thankful or relieved to report that our brides' dresses and treasures as well as our samples, veiling, jewelry, furniture, electronics, etc. are completely fine. Perfect, in fact. We are thankful for the blessings (miracles?) around us.

Our floors, however, will have to be replaced. Inconvenient? Unfortunate? Yes. Tragic? Catastrophic? No. We are so grateful to say that the damage done is not permanent and not personally devastating. We are some of the survivors of this unexpected flood who can - and will - come out okay.

We will operate under normal business hours as much as the floor replacement permits. Please understand that there will be some adjusted hours along the way. We will communicate these changes as much and often as possible. (Do you keep up with this blog regularly? Check our twitter? Have you friended us on facebook? Now might be the best time to do that...:) )

Ultimately, we are still here to help. We want things to resume and carry on as normal - believe us! :) Normal bridal appointments simply can not be accommodated in our space at this time. We are glad to help with other details, though -- bridesmaids measurements, color palettes, anything else! Many thanks for your understanding and patience during a time of transition and unusual circumstances.

We believe that this is a unique crisis for this town. What we know for sure is that the people of Nashville are generous and the collective spirit is one of compassion and charity. It is difficult and humbling as a small business to see our own people struggle - this, the very same community that has supported us and allowed us a place to call home. To those of you calling and emailing us and checking in - the biggest, warmest thanks to you!!! Brides, friends, vendors, colleagues....your concern is so, so appreciated.

We gratefully look forward to sunnier days :)

Stay tuned for more information and updates...

Paris Accessories Trunk Show | May 7 + 8

It's time again for the always-anticipated Spring PARIS Trunk Show!

PARIS by Debra Moreland is a collection of accessories and veiling designed and loved by Debra and her team of artists in Cincinnati, Ohio. PARIS is known for their impeccable design, attention to detail, and heirloom quality.

We can't emphasize enough what a treat it is to be styled personally by one of PARIS' own...it is a special day to complete your look and find the perfect final touches for your gown....

And don't forget! There are some amazing pieces for mothers of the occasion and bridesmaids, too! Brooches, necklaces, earrings, bracelets...they can all be customized to size and color for your wedding!

{appreciative for Michael Howard always getting these detail shots!}

Our appointments are filling already so please call or email as soon as possible for your time...this show is always appointment-only, as the full collection will be here and we want you to have the best possible experience!

See you soon!!

Design Inspiration | Alice in Wonderland

It is always a thrill to be included on projects that local genius stylists-photographers-artists-planners-venues-{insert-your-favorite-vendor-category-here} are dreaming up...

So when Latrice of Opulent Couturier invited us to be a part of her dreamy Alice in Wonderland shoot, we were honored, excited, and immediately on board! Probably no one could have planned a more beautiful Saturday for the shoot at Centennial Park in downtown Nashville...the photos are a testimony to both the lovely spring weather and amazing styling! We were sad to miss it {we were at market, in case you missed all those tweets ;)} but super excited to see the images today featured on a very fab wedding & design blog.

The darling model is a new friend of The Bride Room...the devastatingly gorgeous and impossibly sweet Betsy. We met her through a recent fashion show (more on that later!) and fell in love instantly! :) It is *truly* an honor to have her in this Monique Lhuillier gown. Perfection! {Besty, you can model for us any time :) :)}

Many, many thanks to Latrice for thinking of us, Hillary for the amazing floral styling, and to photographer Kristyn Hogan for her incredible point of view on a relevant and current theme...the magical, whimsical, fantastic Alice in Wonderland...enjoy!

This Weekend!!

Hello, hello!

Just your friendly reminder that if you don't have your appointment for the Amsale Trunk Show this weekend, it's not too late...there are still a few appointments left for Saturday and there are dresses with your name on them. Yes, yours. And yours. And yours, too.

Fresh from seeing her new collection at market, it is so fun to have a Trunk Show. We are deep in new designs and ideas, so having a store of lovely gowns that aren't normally here is timely and welcome.

A look below at the gowns we have for the weekend- truly something for everyone. And if you are looking for a rehearsal or reception dress, the Little White Dress by Amsale is for you!! Don't miss the chance to see these dresses in person....they are so beautiful!!!

Little White Dresses:

*********

As if all that beauty isn't enough for one weekend...don't forget about Sunday! The Eye Candy Salon Bridal event + Fashion Show sponsored by yours truly. You can read more about it here....it's supposed to be 70* and sunny Sunday!! The perfect weather for a bridal show!! Can't wait to see you there!