We get questions about showers! Most everyone knows stories about how and why they started, but are not sure about the best way to handle 21st century changes – especially in light of more flexible advice.

A question that we are frequently asked is about “mandatory” shower gifts. If one is invited to a bridal shower and plans to attend, yes – a gift is in order. Shower gifts are usually smaller and more personal than wedding gifts. However, if you cannot attend, a gift is not required or expected.

If one is also invited to the wedding but cannot attend, the giving of a gift is optional. We say “optional” because the norms around this are changing. Traditionally, if one was invited to a wedding but could not attend, a gift was not necessarily expected. If the couples were close friends and/or relatives, a gift was usually sent anyway. But today, some experts are suggesting that a gift be sent even if the bride and groom are only casual friends of the invitees. Emily Post experts now state, “You traditionally respond to a wedding invitation with a gift whether or not you are able to attend…”

For more help with questions about “how to” do stop in and let our experienced consultants assist you.

Bel Fiore Bridal is so proud to announce that our FIRST EVER wedding dress giveaway was a success! We gave away many wedding dresses to so many deserving brides. We enjoyed meeting each & every one of them & hearing their stories. We are so honored to be a part of their special day.

We could not believe that so many brides, braved the cold & the first one even arrived at 4 AM!!!

Here’s a photo of one of our lucky brides, Kara & me!

Click here to check out our facebook page for lots more photos of our crazy, fun & exciting day!

Here’s the original post regarding the Brides Across America event & our spot on the local news.

Stay tuned for announcements regarding our next event!

All traditions have to start somewhere. Today’s brides are busy creating their versions of “new” traditions. Our staff of experienced consultants can help you find or create the tradition that expresses your individual thoughts and preferences. We have a big file of successful ideas and very creative staff members.

• One of our favorite ideas worked for a bride who was marrying for the 2nd time. Both she and her fiancé had children and grandchildren from previous marriages. The combined total was too large to include everyone in the ceremony. Trying to figure out who should be in the wedding party was impossible. The solution? The bride walked down the aisle by herself carrying an empty basket. Her trip down the aisle took her past every child and grandchild from both sides and each of them held a flower that they put in her basket. She reached her groom at the altar steps with a basket filled not just with flowers but love from everyone in their new combined family. Great Idea.

• One bride we know had formal traditional wedding photographs done before the ceremony, but she also arranged for an artist friend to attend and sketch various scenes from the ceremony and reception. Simple pen and ink versions of her wedding added a beautiful dimension (plus gave reception guests something fun to watch).

• A recent bride, who is an active environmentalist, chose as favors for her wedding, miniature seedlings obtained from the state forestry department. Each seedling was planted in a paper cup the color of the wedding theme and tied with a raffia bow. The seedlings – along with a thank you note and planting instructions, were put at each place setting as wedding favors. The couple estimated that over 200 new trees were planted in their honor.

• Couples with strong ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to incorporate those traditions into their own weddings. In addition, toasts to the new couple should be prepared in the languages of their origins whenever possible. If no one in the family can still speak the original language, contact a local university for help withtranslations. Serving some ethnic foods, planning some ethnic décor and incorporating some of the traditions in the ceremony can be powerful reminders of one’s history.

Did you do something unique & special at your wedding? What was it?

On 11-11-11, Bel Fiore Bridal will team up with the national charitable organization Brides Across America by donating couture wedding gowns to military brides. In celebration of Veteran’s Day, Bel Fiore Bridal will honor military brides and saying thank you to our troops by giving away designer wedding gowns.

Check out Rachel on Good Day Atlanta!

Special savings for non-military brides, as well.

The event will take place at Bel Fiore Bridal, located at 4400 Roswell Rd, NE., St. 168, Marietta, Georgia 30062. November 11, 2011. 11am-6pm or until the wedding dresses are gone.  Brides will be serviced on a first-come, first-serve basis. Brides are encouraged to come early and secure their place in line, as there is a limited supply.

In order to qualify, brides or their fiance must be on active duty in the military, either currently deployed or deployed within the last five years to Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Libya, Japan or Kuwait.  Identification and deployment papers must be presented at the event to qualify.

All military brides must provide documentation showing:

• Military ID of Active Duty personnel – front & back
• Driver’s License / ID for Fiance’
• Deployment orders or other qualifying proof – indicating service within past 5 years or upcoming 6 months.
• Proof of Engagement

Applications may be filled out upon arrival to event or in advance (contact store for details)

Visit Bel Fiore Bridals’ event page for more details & a list of local supporters.

See Brides Across America website for more qualification details. Not valid with accessory package or any other offers or promotions.

Hello Atlanta Brides!

Bel Fiore Bridal sat down with Cheryl Estes of Sweet Seats, Atlanta’s number one Chair Rentals & Covers company, to learn some valuable tips for brides on their wedding day and choosing their chair & cover rental company.

1) How did you get started in the chair rental business?
I’ve always loved coordinating events and helping others celebrate the milestones in their lives. Rentals seemed like a natural part of my passion’s progression as well as an excellent way to fulfill a need and continue helping brides prepare for their special day.

2) How do chair rentals work?
Oftentimes, brides have decided that they want specialty chairs for their wedding ceremony and reception, so sometimes it’s a matter of deciding on the color of chair, which color cushion will help enhance their decor, and how many chairs they will need. If the bride would like a complimentary consultation at the venue with the chairs to help them make a decision, I am happy to offer that as a part of their selection process. Once they know what they want, I send them an estimate and contract for them to take a look at, and their $200 non-refundable deposit establishes them on the Sweet Seats calendar. I strive to help the bride select a specialty chair that is stylish and will compliment their decor, as well as align with their budget.

3) How does chair rental pricing work?
Sweet Seats offers chair rentals that range from $2 to $11 per chair and delivery rates that start at $125. For example, an order for 100 silver chiavari chairs with white cushions that will be delivered to a venue in metropolitan Atlanta will cost approximately $675 (before taxes).

4) Do you service more than the Atlanta area?
We do service areas beyond Atlanta, and charge delivery rates based upon the miles from our metropolitan Atlanta are location. The rental rate per chair is the same whether your venue is in Atlanta or Albany, but the delivery rate is determined by the distance and time involved with the event. For example, an overnight stay may be required and the cost of lodging will be included in the delivery rate.

5) Are chair rentals necessary?
Chair rentals are necessary if the venue doesn’t offer any chairs, if they don’t have enough chairs to accommodate the guest count, and/or if the bride would like a specialty chair to truly enhance the decor and theme of the wedding and reception.

6) Do you offer any other services or products?
For smaller events such as rehearsal dinners and bridal showers, Sweet Seats does offer some 60 inch round and 6 foot long tables. For an additional fee, we can rent a larger number of tables and bring tables and chairs to the event. Sweet Seats partners with some fabulous vendors in the metro area and can provide satin sashes and other satin linen that can be delivered with any Sweet Seats event order.

7) Tell us why brides should choose Sweet Seats for their chair rental needs?
As the owner of Sweet Seats, I understand that planning a wedding can be especially stressful, and that there are a lot of very important decisions to be made during the planning process. I know the secrets and the system to event rentals that help ‘sweeten’ the bride’s special day so she can focus on her groom and on celebrating this milestone occasion with her true love!

Is there something extra you offer brides?
Any bride planning a wedding must sign up to receive the Sweet Seats free e-guide titled, ‘Top 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting an Event Rental Company’ that is an extra bonus to help during the wedding planning process. This is a free must-have extra that is available to any bride who goes to the www.sweetseatsatl.com website and joins our list!

9) What makes you & your services unique?
I offer brides access to secrets and a system to event rentals that will save them a lot of stress, time and money so that they can enjoy their special day!

10) How can brides contact you?
I am available by phone at 770.876.1079 Monday through Friday from 9:30am to 6:30pm and on Saturdays and Sundays by appointment. I can be reached by email at cheryl@sweetseatsatl.com on Facebook at Sweet Seats and on Twitter @SweetSeatsAtl during and after traditional hours. Feel free to reach out!

Every week we hear about a new themed shower for a lucky bridal couple. If you are planning to host a shower for the couple or the bride alone, here are some of the more interesting party ideas we have seen.

• Around the World is the theme. Food served would be cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from many countries. Gift ideas would include maps, travel accessories, gifts for the home with an international flavor, ethnic food stuffs from places the couple plan to visit, photo albums.

• Nature’s Wonder is a perfect theme for couples that enjoy activities in the out of doors. Plan to hold the shower at a picnic site with a campfire. Foods are picnic fare and gifts are certificates for outdoor providers, camping equipment, comfortable outdoors clothing, cooking equipment, backpacks and perhaps a cookbook made up of camping recipes from friends.

• Gardening is a wonderful opportunity to gift a couple that love to dig and watch things grow or who are fans of  organic foods”. Gifts could include gardening tools, hats, gloves, seed packets, favorite plants, watering cans, reference books and cuttings from friend’s gardens.

• Hospitality is a party themed evening for the bridal couple as guests shower them with wine bottles, various cheeses, unusual or favorite beers and serving glasses to match the wine or beer gifts, and serving pieces.

• Tools/Gadgets make a wonderful theme for a couple that shares these interests. The items to be gifted can come from hardware, home improvement or interior design stores and catalogues. Guests should try for both the unusual and the basics depending on the equipment the couple may already possess.

If you find yourself stuck for other party ideas for the bridal couple, do stop in and chat with our experienced bridal consultants.

What was your bridal shower theme?

Hello Atlanta Brides,
Are you wondering how to tie a sash on your wedding dress? Check out this video, as Bel Fiore Bridal explains multiple ways you tie your sash. Utilize several of these options to change up your look on your wedding day!

Can’t afford a wedding like Prince William and Kate? Not to worry! Our experienced staff of consultants can help you to create a beautiful wedding no matter the size of your budget.

Before you begin stop and talk with one of our staff that will be your advisor throughout the process. Whether you have six weeks or six months to plan, we can help you make wonderful wedding memories. Here are some ideas to help you save dollars.

• Plan your wedding for “off season” and pick the day carefully. Depending on where you live, November and January are likely to be slower months for weddings. That should help you find the caterer and/or reception venue more easily.

• Many wedding related businesses offer specials in these months enabling you to enjoy savings.

• Consider being married on a Friday night instead of Saturday night. Or consider a morning wedding followed by a brunch instead of a sit down dinner. Time of day of your event can make a difference in costs.

• Take care of the “something borrowed” by asking a friend or relative to borrow a piece of jewelry.

• Let seasonal themes decorate for you. If you are getting married between Christmas and New Years, the church you choose will already be decorated, thus saving you floral expenses. The same will be true of your reception venue.

• Let your iPod furnish your reception music instead of an expensive band or DJ.

• Let a friend with a passion for “classic cars” be your limousine for the day.

• Hire a professional photographer for the formal and ceremony shots only. Have friends and wedding party members take the informal party shots from the reception. We have other wonderful ideas that can help you create the dream you can afford. Stop in and talk with one of our experienced consultants.

Do you have any suggestions on how to save on your big day?

Not in the traditional sense, of course, but let me tell you how Bel Fiore Bridal can be your greatest asset in planning your wedding. I was interviewed for an article by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the journalist said something that sparked this idea. The idea that Bel Fiore Bridal acts like your best bridesmaid, we have your best interests in mind and want you to leave happy each time you visit our store.

What is the role of the bridesmaid or maid of honor? Typically, a bride would choose ONLY her closest family & friends to stand up with her and support her in this very important step in her life. Remember, if your bridesmaids truly are there to support you, they will wear WHATEVER you choose in whatever color you choose and with a giant smile on their face!

We view it as a true honor to be chosen as the bridal shop from which you purchase, probably, the most important garment you will ever wear. So honored, we view with the same respect in which you will bestow upon your maid of honor.

When you purchase your bridal gown from Bel Fiore, all the details are covered. We keep on top of your bridal gown order and apprise you of any changes. In addition, we will remind you of any upcoming deadlines or events that you may be interested in. We think of you as a part of the Bel Fiore Family and treat you accordingly.

Your Bel Fiore consultant is available to you throughout your entire wedding planning process for anything from bridesmaid advice to photographer recommendations.

When it comes to choosing the style for your most important gals, we’re here to help. We offer hundreds of styles in thousands of colors to satisfy even the pickiest of brides and bridesmaids. And if you need an intermediary or just an opinion, we’re here for you!

Remember, Bel Fiore Bridal wants to help you with ALL your wedding attire needs. Schedule an appointment today!

Have you ever wondered how to lace up a wedding dress or maybe you just need a refresher after your bridal consultant showed you how? Well, here is video Bel Fiore Bridal put together to show you how!

Check it out!