Accessories That Sparkle For Your Big Day

Aside from accessorizing with shoes, belts, and hairpieces, the perfect addition to tie everything together can be your jewelry. Whether your statement piece is your beautiful cuff bracelet, or your dangling and sparkling earrings, your jewelry can really wow! your guests.

Wedding jewelry is another fun way to make your bridal attendants feel extra special. Giving your bridesmaids a fantastic pair of earrings is a great way to show your appreciation to them for their great friendship. Another fun idea is to create a special look that you wear, your mom wears, and your grandmother wears. I did this for my wedding and it was so special. My mom and I went to a bead store and created bracelets that all were very similar in style and I gave them their bracelets on the wedding day to wear. It is sentimental and makes the receiver of the gift feel extra special.



You can wear pearls, diamonds, whatever you would like, and you will shine with beauty because it's your wedding day! I think less is often more with bridal jewelry, but whichever route you choose, bridal jewelry is the perfect icing on the cake for a beautiful wedding day look! Solutions Bridal Designer House has tons of wonderful options that we provide our brides on a daily basis. Come on in and check them out!

~Solutions Bridal

Gotta Love Martha

The Queen Bee herself always has the best ideas for entertaining! While skimming through marthastewartweddings.com I couldn't help but share these wonderful projects that might one day save you from a wedding decor dilemma.

Tea cups and cafe mugs are a beautiful alternative to your Grandmother's vase.

No linen? No problem. Bold patterned wrapping paper does the job and looks fabulous!

A family photo wall is a touching way to remember loved ones who are unable to attend the celebration.

Wedding Dress Alterations by Holly Smith

Tears of Joy Seamstress Services is the in-house seamstress used at Solutions Bridal Designer House. It is important to know everything you need to know about alterations for your bridal gown.

You should schedule your first fitting for your wedding dress about 6 to 8 weeks before your wedding and shoes are a must. If you have not found the shoes you are going to wear on your wedding day, then you need to have a shoe with the same heel height so you can get an accurate measurement on your hem. If you decide to change shoes to a different height, whether it be shorter or taller, you must let your seamstress know, because it can make the difference in having a dress too short or one that you will trip and fall on the day of your wedding.

When it comes to whether or not you should wear a bra, one suggestion I can make is that if you are a C cup or bigger, then a bra would be helpful. Some wedding dresses have a built in corset and a bra is not needed. But for a full bust line, the correct fitting bra will give you lift and a good profile. For brides who are looking for a more full figure profile, having padded cups sewn in is a quick and inexpensive solution.

Depending on the style of dress, wearing an extra petticoat or crinoline can give you a fuller skirt. It may also alleviate the need for a hem adjustment if it is less than an inch too long of if the hem is one that can't be altered because of a lace edge or beading that will all come apart when altered. You also need to get your weight as stable as possible. A drop or gain of more than 10 pounds will result in a major change in how your dress fits and will end up costing you more in alterations for numerous changes. Also remember that if your dress is very fragile and if it needs to be let out, stitching lines or creases from pressing may show.

Usually it takes 2 fittings when having your wedding dress altered. At the first fitting, your seamstress will pin your dress as needed to be taken in and talk to you about how you want your dress to fit. Please speak up with any concerns or suggestions you may have, or if you wish to add anything to your dress such as straps, trim, or cap sleeves. For strapless dresses, one important component in having your dress sit properly on you is to install an inside belt. This may need to be added to the waist of your dress before an accurate measurement can be taken of your hem. Also your seamstress will talk to you about what type of bustle will look best for your dress. Whether you chose a French or Traditional bustle, it should compliment the look and style of your dress.

Alterations will then be made to your dress and a second fitting will be required. The amount of fittings needed will be determined by the amount of alterations required. Your seamstress may wait to alter the hem until after your dress has been refitted and is sitting on you properly. If at all possible, bring someone with you to your last fitting. Your seamstress will want to teach you and whoever is with you how to get into your dress, how to do up the bustle, and care instructions for your dress until your wedding day. Your dress should be pressed and ready for you to take home.

Lastly, the cost of alterations average anywhere between $300-$500, but will ultimately be determined by the amount of work you have done to your gown and by how much time it takes. Your seamstress should be able to give you an estimate of the cost after your first fitting.

Datz What I'm Talking About!

As a Tampa resident I can officially say that I'm obsessed with the local South Tampa foodie market and loft bar, Datz Delicatessen. Not only do they have an amazing wine and beer menu, tons of yummy sweets made in-house by their pastry chef, and the best (and biggest) sandwiches you've ever had.... but now their catering big events! Big as in your engagement party, bridal shower and wedding!

Most locals recognize Datz for their creatively named sandwiches and homemade chips with the blue cheese drizzle. Not that you can't order tons of deli items for an event, but now you can order whatever kind of cuisine your heart desires with a completely customized menu. From roasted vegetables and couscous to smoked salmon with pickled cucumbers, the options are endless and their team is more than happy to help create a unique menu for your event.

Hairpieces For Your Big Day

Some brides find the perfect dress and the perfect veil, but they are searching for that extra piece to really put the icing on the cake. A hot trend that we are seeing more and more is that brides are taking off the veil after the ceremony and putting a fun hairpiece in for pictures and the reception.

At Solutions Bridal we have so many beautiful hairpieces that are perfect just for this. We have hair pins that can be put in and incorporated into the hairstyle to add a little extra sparkle. We also have great feather hairpiece and flower pieces that make beautiful statements for your wedding day!

Hairpieces are also a great alternative for the brides that don't really want to wear a veil. They can still carry on the veil tradition by wearing something in their hair, and yet it is a new and unique option!

Visit Solutions Bridal to see all of the wonderful options that we have for all of you blushing brides that love hairpieces!

~Solutions Bridal

The Difference Between Plum Raisin & Sugar Plum

Pantone Colors: Plum Raisin & Sugar Plum

Great news for brides that can seriously tell the difference between two shades of plum! Pantone has partnered with the bridesmaid dress designer, The Dessy Group, to provide a color guide that can be used to plan the perfect color pallet for your wedding. Whether you're a "Victorian Lilac" or a "Cherry" bride, Pantone has the perfect color for you!

Pearls, Pearls, and More Pearls by Meg Surrell

I’m just going to come right out and say it. Loud and proud. I’m not ashamed. I LOVE PEARLS! I love them. They are to me, classic, timeless and pretty much look amazing with any outfit. Not many people know about the culturing process or how it got started, or even what a cultured pearls is. So I took it upon myself to inform you brides (and anyone else who is reading this blog) about the amazing world of pearls. So sit back, relax and enjoy the reading!

Pearl diving first began centuries ago when divers would dive down to the bottom of the ocean and grab handful’s of mollusks, put them into a bucket, and bring it up to the boat. Needless to say, they became frustrated easily when no pearls were found. Why you ask?!(Because I am sure you are) That is because there is only a 1 in 10,000 chance of finding a natural pearl in the open waters. And that is when the culturing process started.

The culturing process is very interesting and intriguing. They take a perfectly round shell and surgically insert it into the oyster at a very young age. (need not worry, it does not hurt the oyster, they barely feel it.) The oyster builds up its defense mechanism, known as nacre, and it hardens and crystalizes, hardens and crystalizes, and over time it becomes a pearl. It takes anywhere from 2-4 years to fully form a pearl.

The Akoya pearl is one of the most popular and well known pearl. The Akoya pearl can be found in stores like Tiffany’s and Cartier. The Akoya pearls are cultured in the South Sea’s of Japan and are perfectly spherical in shape. They are also known for their natural luster (the shiny part of the pearl, it’s just a fancy way of saying shine).

Pearls are not just for girls though. (Yes, loud gasp) In Ancient Roman times, Men would wear strands of pearls to protect them. Also, when pearl diving first began it was thought that women had a stronger heart and lungs than men. Kinda interesting…

So ladies and gentleman, that is my little lesson to you. I hope you enjoyed it. Here are some AMAZING pictures from one of our designers at Solutions Bridal. Paris, uses Swarovski glass pearls. Everything is handmade in The United States and is a wonderful company! I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as me!!