Sara and Nick’s wedding day was filled with plenty of fun, joy, and nothing less than complete happiness. By the looks of it, one would never know that at this beautiful Cypress Grove Estate House wedding, temperatures were in the low 60’s {chilly to us Floridians}! Sara and Nick were not going to let anything get in the way of their special day. Thank you Sugar Pop Films for catching every moment of this special day on camera for us all to sit back and enjoy!

Sara and Nick SPS from SugarPop Films on Vimeo.

How exciting for us that Solutions Bridal Designer House will now be carrying wedding gowns by Marchesa Bridal and Jenny Packham accessories! Starting late summer 2013, brides will be able to find these stunning couture lines at our favorite bridal shop in town. We can’t wait for our Tickled Pink brides to wear some of these looks on their wedding days!

Our friends at Imprint Cinema visited NY Bridal Market last month with the buyers of Solutions Bridal and brought home this quick look at what you can expect to see in stores soon:

Solutions Bridal’s Big Announcement from Imprint Cinema on Vimeo.

I’m asked all the time for ideas on thoughtful and original bridesmaid gifts. These ladies were chosen as your wedding party because they mean so much to you and it’s nice to honor them with a special gift prior to the wedding as a thanks for their support and love. Maybe a good question when coming up with a gift for your girls would be to ask yourself what YOU would appreciate receiving. I asked myself that same question and came up with this list of ideas:

A dainty and adorable rose gold heart ring by Catbird

Kate Spade ‘bridesmaid’ bracelet

This, or another chalk art framed print

Fun glitter clutch they can use at the wedding

A hot stone massage gift card for the week after the wedding festivities

Have you ever looked down at your left hand and wondered, “Why does a wedding ring go on our left ring finger”? Prior to our understanding of how the circulatory system worked, people believed that a vein flowed straight from the third finger on the left hand to the heart. The vein was then called vena amoris, Latin for “vein of love”. It was only fitting that the trend emerged to wear wedding rings on that left hand “ring finger” as a symbol of a couple’s eternal love for one another. While medical science has developed, I’m glad that this tradition hasn’t.

One of the most beautiful places in Florida for a wedding has to be Bella Collina, a Tuscan-inspired golf club in Monteverde that makes you feel like you have completely left the states and been transported to Italy. Pair that scene with a beautiful bride and groom and lots of style, and there you have it… an all around gorgeous wedding! Elle and Christian were married the day before Easter and we were blessed with great weather for their outdoor ceremony. On the day before her wedding, Elle did a bridal portrait shoot with her photographer Brian Sumner, and the result is totally editorial and magazine-worthy. Enjoy the pictures and congrats to Elle and Christian!

A bride puts a lot of thought into the many details that make her wedding day special and stand out from all the rest. One of the most thought provoking details is the Father/Daughter Dance and the song the bride will choose to represent the special bond between her and her father. Our DJ Rocks gave us 5 of the most requested Father/Daughter songs . . .

1. “Butterfly Kisses”- Bob Carlisle
2. “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”- Elton John
3. “What A Wonderful World”- Louis Armstrong
4. “You Raise Me Up”- Josh Groban
5. “My Wish”- Rascal Flatts

Here are a few more of our current favorites for your father/daughter dance:

• “When the Stars Go Blue” - Tim McGraw
• “Kind and Generous” - Natalie Merchant
• “Little Miss Magic” - Jimmy Buffet
• “I Loved Her First” - Heartland — MAJOR tearjerker
• “Daddy’s Little Girl” - Michael Buble

In case you hadn’t noticed, baby’s breath has made a big comeback in fresh new uses for weddings. Many of us used to think that baby’s breath was a trend of the past but I’ll be the first to say that I just love the ways I’ve seen it used in the past year. Our brides have used it in mason jars (of course!), large ballroom centerpieces, and as wreaths on church doors. Just last weekend I added it to vintage silver tea pots to accent an escort card table. Here are more ideas on how to incorporate baby’s breath into your wedding decor.

Baby’s breath chandelier and chair monograms from Elizabeth Anne Designs

Baby’s breath escort cards display in a vintage suitcase by Intimate Weddings

Adorable boutonniere made with a velvet stem wrap, yard and a button as featured on Wedding Chicks

How incredible is this baby’s breath altar!? Featured first on Style Me Pretty

Photo by Cheslea Nicole Photography

1. Take 10 minutes to be alone as a couple. You’re finally married! Take a quick walk away from your wedding guests before you join them for the reception. Let your photographer trail behind if you’d like for some extra candid pictures.

2. Eat! Enjoy the delicious foods you have spent so much time deciding on. If you’ll be taking pictures during cocktail hour, ask the wait staff to bring you a plate of the hors d’oeuvres so you can take a few bites before heading into the reception.

3. Take photos while your hair and makeup are still perfect. Remember to get a quick picture with just your mom/dad/grandma…right after the ceremony may be the only chance to get that shot before the hustle and bustle of the reception begins.

4. Switch shoes so you can dance the night away.

5. If you’ve got a signature cocktail served at the wedding, order one!

Every bride wants to look like a million bucks on their wedding day. In fact MANY of our clients mention wanting to be in great shape for their wedding (and that beach honeymoon!). So what should you be doing in these last few weeks or months to get wedding-gown ready? We’re all about being the healthiest YOU you can be and we encourage brides to try something new to shake things up, like a CrossFit or boot camp class, train for your first race during the engagement, Bar Method classes, hot yoga… the list goes on and on! What we think is important is that you truly enjoy your engagement and make it memorable by planning well for your big day but also indulging now and then as you celebrate with your family and friends. With a little research, we’ve put together a 10 step wedding diet that will no doubt leave you feeling healthier, slimmer, craving less sugar and carbs, and with enough energy to dance the night away at that reception you are looking forward to!

1. Eat every 3-4 hours. Choose a lean protein, a healthy starch, and a vegetable.
2. Eat foods that are low in sodium and cut as much sugar as possible. Keep a food journal if necessary to track what you’re really eating.
3. Try to stay away from flours, even if it’s whole wheat. Baked goods, bread and pasta won’t keep you full and can leave you bloated and craving more.
4. Keep snacks like almonds, popcorn and clementines on hand. Don’t let yourself get to the point that you’re starving, when it’s easy to overeat.
5. Eat small meals and pay attention to serving sizes.
6. Eat foods rich in fiber.
7. Take a couple days a week to bulk cook. Make lots of chicken, fish, tuna, turkey, brown rice, and vegetables and pack your own lunch for work!
8. Drink half of your body weight in pounds in ounces. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds you want to drink 60 ounces of water daily.
9. Eat REAL FOOD. The less processed and packaged, the better.
10. Do some type of cardio at least 3-4 times a week and vary your exercises so your body doesn’t get bored.

See more tips and menu ideas from Michelle Marie Fit

We’re proud to show off Jenny and Nick’s video trailer from their wedding at Knowles Chapel at Rollins College in Winter Park and reception at the Historic Dubsdread Ballroom. Orlando videographers Imprint Cinema put together a video that shows off the gorgeous dress from The Collection, wedding day makeup by All Faces Makeup, the beautiful car by Cole’s Classic Cars, floral and decor by Atmosphere’s, and Chiavari chairs by A Chair Affair. Anna Cakes provided the pretty (and pretty delicious) cake, Soundwave was responsible for keeping guests on the dance floor, and Scott Craig Photography captured the wedding day in photos. Enjoy this sweet video and congrats to Jenny and Nick!

Jenny and Nicks Wedding Film by Imprint Cinema! from Imprint Cinema on Vimeo.