Get Great Ideas Online!

When you first meet your wedding planner, it's good to come with some general ideas about how you want your big day to look. Here are some websites we  here at It's A Bridal Thing think will help get you started!

Want to see how Jessica Alba, Carrie Underwood or Gwen Stefani  looked on their big day? Take a look at In Style Weddings. They have their Best Dressed Celebrity Brides list which includes people like Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Diana and Katie Holmes. They also have great galleries of wedding cakes and  floral arrangements organized by color!

 The Brides.com Idea Gallery is another great resource! In addition to having wedding cake and floral galleries, they have galleries for  Stationary and Invitations, Wedding Favors and Food and Drinks!


A Wedding Sketchbook is a blog by Michelle Mospens. She details her thoughts on unique wedding invitation ideas, how to make the most out of an engagement photo shoot and backyard wedding reception ideas. Our favorite part of her site is her Wedding Color Trends for 2011 Part 1 and Part 2. Some of Michelle's picks for 2011 wedding colors? Amazon Green, Oyster Gray, Mauve, Celadon, Violet Purple and Clementine Orange!


Want something to help you put all of these ideas together for when you meet with your planner? Try The Knot.Com's Wedding Inspiration Boards. All you do is choose the template you like best, add images(either from The Knot's website or your own photos) and save and share. Tons better than Post-It-Notes in all of those bridal magazines you've bought!




Here are a few non-planning websites that we want to share.

My Wedding.com allows you to make a wedding website, with all the bells and whistles for FREE. They offer beautiful design templates, photo galleries and you can even add music!

Need a laugh to relieve wedding stress? Check out And The Bride Wore... . Hilarious site that covers fashion mishaps from wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses and even tuxedos. 

As always, we here at It's A Bridal Thing are here for all of your wedding planning needs! We cover everything from gowns, tuxedos, flowers and invitations! Call us at 704-893-0201 and let us give your big day a beautiful touch.

Be Jeweled for your Big Day!

Finding wedding day jewelry can be as difficult as finding a great gown.

You want that perfect match between beautiful and classy, unique and elegant. The choices that are available between the internet, mall jewelry chains and hometown jewelry stores can be overwhelming.But, finding that perfect piece can make the digging worthwhile.

If you are really wanting that one of a kind piece to round out your wedding day wardrobe try Etsy.com  .

There are thousands of handmade, unique designs that would be perfect for your big day! Not only that but, some of the Etsy artisans are willing to create custom pieces based on your wedding colors or just your personal preferences!

We have gone through the Etsy site and pulled out a few of their incredible artists for you to look at. Enjoy!

Just a reminder to take a look at our great coupon at Merchant Circle.com! And become friends with us on Facebook and Twitter!

 Alexia Ruzoa's(http://alexiaruzoa.etsy.com) beautiful designs are earthy, funky but, very classic. Her use of natural gemstones along with  brass links, in various finishes, creates a great look for a more edgy bride.

Alexia Ruzoa-Histoire D'amour Necklace and Earring set with freshwater pearls, glass pearls and crystals. $89.00

Alexia Ruzoa-Pink Flower Necklace and Earrings Set with pink and fuschia glass pearls and burgundy crystals. $ 26.00

Alexia Ruzoa-Giardino Verdi Necklace and Earrings Set with pastel and forest green glass pearls and lime crystals $48.00

Jewelry by Roz(http://jewelrybyroz.etsy.com) these creations will give you that something blue in an elegant and beautiful way.  

Jewelry By Roz White Glass Swarovski Crystal Dangle Necklace with grey and sapphire blue swarovski  crystals. $36.00

Jewelry By Roz-Textured Loop with Blue Swarovski Crystals. Sterling silver textured loop with Sapphire blue swarovski crystals and white beads. $28.00

Fine Art Reflections(http://fineartreflections.etsy.com) has classic Victorian and nature inspired designs. Perfect for traditional and non-traditional brides!

Fine Art Reflections-White Pearl Branch Bracelet.Nature inspired bracelet with branch centerpiece, frosted white lucite leaf and   Swarovski creme pearls. $21.00

Fine Art Reflections-Victorian Silver and Pearl Earrings. Antique silver earrings with Swarovski pearls and silver filigree diamonds. $19.00

                                              

Fine Art Reflections-Antiqued Silver Ivory White Pearl Necklace with sterling silver art nouveau pendant accented with Swarovski ivory pearls. $26.00

DDurda's designs(http://ddurda.etsy.com)are full of bling!

Tons of gorgeous designs with Swarovski and rock crystal beads. Perfect for the high glamor bride.

DDurda Pure Heart Necklace with Swarovski crystals and Bali Sterling Silver Beads. $105.00

DDurda-Crystal Clear Bracelet with Swarovski crystals and sterling silver beads. $42.00

       

DDurda-Large Rock Crystal Quartz and Sterling Silver Earrings. $25.00   

                                          

What do to do?

You have found the perfect gown, shoes and jewelery. Now, what to do with your hair?

For some brides wedding day hair is an afterthought, for others it's the only thought.

When you are thinking about that perfect style keep a few things in mind

1. The style of the dress - You want to make sure your hair doesn't cover any of the accents on your dress or take away from the style of the dress itself.
2. Shape of your face- Pick a style that frames your face and brings out your best facial features.
3. Not the time to be daring- This is not the time to try out that new hair color you have always wanted or to put in the Rapunzel length extensions. If you are itching to try something new, have a hairstyle run through a few weeks before.
4. Make sure it is something you are comfortable with- Don't let your bridesmaids talk you into a loose chignon when you love having your hair down! Remember, this is your day and you should be happy with every part(no pun intended)!

Here are some great wedding day hairstyle ideas for every bride!

This curly up-do accented with flowers would be great for an outdoor fall wedding. Think about it accented with orange spray roses, mini sunflowers  or orange Mokera orchid stems as a nod to the season.

This style evokes 1940's Hollywood glamour. This sleek and chic do is wonderful for a nighttime wedding and easy to maintain on the big day.

Stylish and elegant this natural style is perfectly accented with a sculptured flower. Perfect for a destination wedding!

Short, but not on style! Accent short hairstyles with headbands, or jeweled accessories, to provide a beautiful accompaniment to your gown.

This straight style is accented by a jeweled headband but, could easily be done in ribbon that matches your bridesmaid dresses.









This was just a taste! For some other great ideas take a look at the hairstyle galleries at:

•  Martha Stewart Weddings
• The Knot
• Brides

Fall and Winter Weddings

Hello Friends!
It's the time of year when the leaves start to fall, the air gets colder and the possibility of snow is upon us(maybe!).

Image:Evgeni Dinev/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Did you know that October is second only to June as the most popular wedding month!

Some great fall/winter wedding ideas are:

 Instead of a traditional wedding cake why not have a decorated spice or pumpkin cake?

Colors for the seasons include ones found in nature like rich oranges, browns and greens; as well as jewel tones like reds, purples and blues.

Consider having your fall wedding at an apple orchard or old barn to take advantage of the beautiful scenery of the season.

What about flowers? For Fall mums, roses and daisies are generally inexpensive flower choices for fall and dried wheat stalks make a great bouquet filler. Winter choices could include crocus, lilies and tulips. Think about using dried eucalyptus and holly berries for accents.

Imagine a winter wedding at an old inn or historic house with fireplaces and picture windows to look out at a fresh blanket of snow.

Some winter wedding favors could include snow globes, gingerbread house making kits or an ornament that commemorates the wedding date!

Image: Aleksandr Kutsayev / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


We here at It's a Bridal Thing! are here to help you will all of your wedding needs. We can coordinate everything from wedding planning, dresses, tuxedos and flowers. Just give us a call at 704-893-0201 or visit It's a Bridal Thing.com to set up an appointment.


We are offering a 10% discount on Bridesmaid dresses from now until December 31st! Please see our coupon at Merchant Circle.com for all the details.  

Wedding Etiquette and websites that can help!

How long can I wait to send out Thank-You notes for wedding gifts?

Who pays for the entertainment at the wedding?

We are sure you brides are thinking about some of these same questions!

Just relax(If you need help with that look at our last blog!)

It's a Bridal Thing is here to help!

Here are some recommendations of some of our favorite Wedding Etiquette websites and books.

• Emily Post Weddings- This is the Queen of all etiquette. If she doesn't know no one will. Everything from "I don't like my ring, should I tell him?" to "I am a bridesmaid but I can't afford it. What do I do?" is covered by this maven!
• The Knot: Ask Carley- The Knot has charged their Editor-In-Chief Carley Roney to answer your wedding questions. She has full Q&A list for topics like planning, reception issues and the best way to incorporate your families traditions and customs.
• Brides.com Wedding Etiquette and Guests- The classic go to for anyone getting married! They have their own compendium of etiquette. Their guide even covers cake and food.
• Wedding Etiquette Hell: The Brides Bible to Avoiding Everlasting Damnation- The blurb says: "Hamilton, a wedding consultant and creator of EtiquetteHell.com, lays out basic etiquette rules in chapters arranged by topic (e.g., attendants, invitations, and showers) and then illustrates them with hilarious, real-life stories that drive the points home."
• The Everything Wedding Etiquette Book- Covers every part of the wedding process from engagement to should you hyphenate your name. This book truly has Everything!

Just a few snippets from the tons of available resources!

But, let's go a bit further. If you don't have time to read or research, let us help you!

Send us your Wedding Etiquette questions for us to answer on the blog.
E-mail us at leah@itsabridalthing.com  and we'll try our best to help you and others out in the web wedding world!

How to have a Stress-Free Wedding Day

The big day is almost here and the stress has almost pushed you over the edge.
You have confirmed the food, flowers, band, location and officiant.
After much wrangling, everyone has gotten fitted, altered and has their wedding attire.
You made sure that the dinner seating doesn't have Uncle Carl next to your soon to be Father-In-Law because you remember the fireworks at Thanksgiving.
The rings have been fitted, purchased and given to the best man.

The stress of planning a wedding can be monumental. All of the little details that need to be checked and double checked, to insure a perfect day.
Here are some great suggestions to make your day stress-less!

Candy Freeman from the Younique Boutique suggests:
" Pack and bring along a bride's emergency kit which includes, extra panty hose, clear nail polish for runs, Kleenex, aspirin, spot remover, static cling spray, hemming tape, band-aids, a sewing kit with safety pins. For the groom's kit include: mouthwash, breath mints, razor, cologne and comb. They sell these kits already made online as well." Side Note: Clubwedd at Target.com has a great list of things needed for a Wedding Day Survival Kit.

Linda Pergola, from the TLC show, Masters of Reception says:
"Make sure all your vendors are paid well in advance. You don't want to be carrying around money the day of your wedding."

Rachel West of Rachel West Designs suggests:
"Assign a special person who will act as the main person to go to should any member of the bridal entourage have any questions. Make sure that everyone knows who this person is. He/she could be a friend, a family member or even a member of the bridal entourage.
Whoever you choose should be able to make the decisions on your behalf. As he/she is going to be responsible for your big day, make sure that he/she knows what your idea of a perfect wedding day is so he/she can make the decisions accordingly."

Lisa Barr, Bridal writer for the New York Examiner says:
"You’ve already packed your suitcase so this isn’t something you have to worry about. Let me say it again...if at all possible at least two weeks before your wedding (earlier if you can), pack what you need for your honeymoon. Leave your suitcase at the ready so this is one thing you won't have to worry about, days before the wedding when you will have other things to do. Believe me, there is nothing like getting to your honeymoon and realizing you forgot something (extra contact lenses, a tooth brush or paste, 1 shoe - I could go on)!! Also, make sure after your wedding that your best man has the grooms tux (if applicable), your maid of honor has your dress (again, if applicable) so all you have to worry about is each other."

Finally, your friends here at It's a Bridal Thing suggest:

• Make sure you have done a Wedding Dress run through with shoes. Just to insure that you feel comfortable moving around in your dress!
• Assign a relative beforehand to be in charge of your wedding gifts on the day. Make them a copy of your house key so they can take them home after the reception.
• If you aren't using a wedding planner, ask a friend(who's not in the wedding party) to be the "Stage Manager" for the wedding. They can help to make sure the wedding party enters in the correct order, keep you posted about seating progress in the ceremony area and open the doors for you to make your walk down the aisle.
• Make sure you eat and drink! Assign a member of the wedding party to stock up on snacks(the good and bad kinds) and drinks(Gatorade, juice, sodas and WATER). The last thing you want to do on your big day is pass out!

Hopefully, these tips will help you make sure that your wedding day is a stress free celebration.

If there is anything we here at, It's a Bridal Thing can do to help you plan your
celebration we are just a call away!

Going Green!

In this age of reduce, reuse and recycle, most of us want to be Green.

It can be an overwhelming task when thinking about how do do that when planning a wedding.

Take a look at some of these great resources we have found to give you a hand!

Planet Green has a wonderful article called Top Green Wedding Tips. My favorite one on their list is trying to source all of your wedding needs locally. Try getting fruits and vegetables from a local farm or beer for the reception at a local brewery.

If you haven't signed up on The Knot.com it is a must! Not only do they have wonderful wedding planning tools they have a whole section devoted to Green Weddings. Articles like 6 Eco-Friendly Wedding Reception Ideas and Your Eco Friendly Wedding Guide will give you a great start to going green.

The Green Bride Guide is an all encompassing site with sections on learning about green weddings, planning a green wedding and where you can go on a green honeymoon!

Martha Stewart Weddings has a go to guide for Eco-Friendly Wedding Planning. Everything from a guide of Eco-Friendly products to use for your big day to where you can source Eco-Friendly products.

We hope this list of sites gives you a start on planning your eco-friendly wedding celebration!

Get that look for less!

We are gearing up for the Fall/Winter season here at It's A Bridal Thing!

Picking your gown can often be the best and most overwhelming part of planning for your big day. You spend hours gawking over the Vera Wang, Monique Lhuiller and Amsale gowns. All the ruffles, all the lace and ALL THAT MONEY!

Don’t worry! The experts at It’s A Bridal Thing are at your service.

We have taken a look at some Bridal Couture collections for Spring 2011 and found some comparable gowns made by Bonny.

These gowns still have all the glam without breaking the bank. Even better they are all available to be ordered here at It's A Bridal Thing!

Let us help you make your walk down the aisle, like a walk down the runway.

On the left are the couture gowns from Monique Lhuiller, Priscilla of Boston, Vera Wang and Amsale, respectively. On the right are the goregous pairings by Bonny.

Make It a Special Bouquet for a Special Day

A Bride's Bouquet

A bridal bouquet is an important element of the bride's wardrobe and should be crafted with special attention. Select the bouquet by determining what colors and shape is most attractive for you. Keeping in mind that the bouquet should be carried low enough so that all the intricate details of your gown are enhanced and complimented. Options: Creative and skilled floral designers are able to produce many sizes, shapes and styles of bouquets; while there are assortments of colors to choose Popular styles for bouquets are the cascade, cluster, contemporary and hand-tied garden bouquets.



The traditional bridal bouquet is made up of white flowers. Stephanotis, gardenias, white roses, orchids and lilies of the valley are popular choices for an all-white bouquet. If you prefer a colorful bouquet, you may want to consider using roses, tulips, stock, peonies, freesia, and gerbera, which come in a wide variety of colors. Using scented flowers in your bouquet will evoke memories of your wedding day whenever you smell them in the future. Popular fragrant flowers for bouquets are gardenias, freesia, stephanotis, bouvardia, and narcissus. For any flower selection; it's a great idea to research their season and assure its availability.

For floral ideas and tips, visit www.ncfloraldesigns.com

What is the Full Service Experience?

It's a Bridal Thing is an intimate full service bridal boutique located in Matthews, North Carolina. This bridal boutique is like no other. What is full service, you ask? Full service encompasses so many aspects and details for any formal event. For It's a Bridal Thing, "full service" is knowledge, fashion, trends, and enthusiasm for their customers' shopping experience. It's any one's stop where you'll see the excitement, sincerity and honesty. It's clear that their customers will know exactly what the fabrics are, who the designers are, any costs associated with their order, and the list goes on. This intimate bridal boutique is constantly working and representing the customer’s best interest from start to finish. And you can't find that just anywhere... So when you order from this full-service salon you can relax- the rest is their job.

Reducing Reception Costs

Many brides with a strict budget may question etiquette and their guest list; ceremony vs. reception. The question stands: Is it acceptable to have two types of guest invitations to keep the reception guest count to a minimum?
While it's true that keeping the guest list small is the best way to reduce the reception budget, inviting guests to the ceremony but not the reception isn't always the best way to minimize costs. Just imagine how hurt you'd feel if a friend invited you only to her wedding and later you found out she held an intimate and lavish reception for only a select few.
However, there are a few exceptions; and few only defines two rare exceptions. Sometimes, couples open their ceremony to the membership of their congregation or synagogue. The invitation is issued with an announcement in the weekly bulletin, or by the clergy person. In this case, only those guests who receive a reception invitation attend the reception.
In the other scenario, only very close family attends a reception. All other guests are simply invited to the ceremony, with no mention of "reception to follow." If you can, arrange for punch and cake immediately after the wedding ceremony so that you have an opportunity to thank people for coming and offer them refreshment. Then plan your very private reception for later in the day or the following day.
It is okay, however, to flip the situation around—inviting more guests to the reception than to the ceremony. Just be aware that any guests invited to a reception only (whether it's held the same day or a month later), don't have an obligation to give a gift. Many choose to send one anyhow, but don't be offended if you don't receive gifts from everyone.

We've Moved!

We are proud to announce that we have moved into our new and larger location. We are able to give a larger selection, maintain affordable prices and work with the entire bridal party all in one location. We strive to give personal services for each customer we work with.

Visit us at our new location with great access to I-485:

It's A Bridal Thing!

13005 E Independence Blvd

Matthews, NC 28105

P (704) 893-0201

T (800) 804-2082

F (704) 893-0162

Call and schedule your appointment today for your bridal party. We are here to help with all your wedding needs from wedding gowns, bridesmaid dress, tuxedo rentals, formal shoe wear and more!

It's All in the Linens

Every bride we work with wants that special touch to accent their wedding day. She'd like her wedding day set apart from her friends and family members. Totally understandable!

But, it can be really easy to get lost in all the details and ideas that go into creating the theme decor for a reception after reading magazines, posted blogs, and snapshot images on the internet. Not to worry- There are endless possibilities to have a big impact from one simple idea.

And that's color. Color is one of the greatest ways to create something that is eye-catching yet, memorable. Sometimes, people are a little apprehensive to incorporate "color" because tradition, for years has been white washed.

But, many weddings have displayed that color adds personality. It's great to add your personality to your wedding. And the easiest way to do it; is to introduce it through the table linens.

Linens with color and texture can impact a tablescape in a major way and it even allows for minimal; additional decorations. Brides, choose your colors and let your wedding planner use their expertise to create a vision and theme that you and your guests will wow over!

Bridesmaids can have the look too!

Brides want to look absolutely stunning on their wedding day. Who's to say that bridesmaids wouldn't like to have their own glow too?

It's a Bridal Thing! has a wide selection of bridesmaid dresses that offer elegance, value and fashion. We are delighted to offer our signature collection by Alexia Designs. Their designs have received much recognition and awards which highlight their talents for outfitting bridesmaids all across the country.

Alexia Designs defines attractive, luxurious, elegance, extraordinary, irresistible and affordable. Shop the different collections of Alexia Designs right at your fingertips www.alexiadesigns.com Every wedding should have its unique touch! That's why our intimate boutique only offers the best.

Our boutique has many styles and colors available to fit the theme for any wedding. Come on in and bring the bridesmaids along! Appointments available at www.itsabridalthing.com Contact us page.

Fresh ideas, New Trends and a Fabulous Team

Happy New Year Brides and Grooms! Wow 2010... We've come into a new decade.

For us, it's a time a bliss. We have fresh ideas, new trends to display and a fabulous team to bring it to the spotlight.

The wedding industry has grown tremendously. And we find ourselves appreciating the vintage styles of past more so now; then we did years ago. That's why our bridal store has inventory to fit any bride, any theme, and any season.

Your wedding date will approach quickly. Do yourself a favor and allow our professionals to help you with the various items on your checklist. We've made it easy for you- it can be done all in one spot! Hire your wedding planner, design the theme to your venue, select your wedding dress, create your floral arrangements, and custom design your wedding invitations- and color coordinate his tuxedo.

What more could a bride ask for?