The Atlanta Bride

Bel Fiore Bride: Haley O’Neal-Kiser

Meghan — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:40:09 +0000

Congratulations Haley and Jacob! Best Wishes!!!

Wedding Day Emergency Kit

Meghan — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:12:54 +0000

As Magdalina finalizes her last minute wedding details, she asked my advice for what to put in her Wedding Day Emergency Kit. I printed my blog post from many months ago for her, and thought I’d repost it for you as well!

Pack these up, give the bag to your Maid of Honor, and you’ll have a lot less to worry about if something unexpected pops up!

Check out the post HERE!

Happy Planning!

Welcome Cynthia Rowley Bridesmaid Dresses to Bel Fiore!

Meghan — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:15:11 +0000

Welcome Cynthia Rowley Bridesmaid Dresses to Bel Fiore!

The Dessy Collection’s newest line, Cynthia Rowley has just arrived to the racks of Bel Fiore!

Since these dresses are a part of The Dessy Group, they are all available in the wide variety of Dessy Colors, including exclusive Pantone hues!

Schedule your appointment to view them TODAY or shop them online!

Bel Fiore Bride: Lindsey Casey-O’Neill

Meghan — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:59:25 +0000

“I wanted to let you guys know how thankful I am that I found my dress at Bel Fiore. From the first time I entered the store, I felt so welcome. Magdalina helped me find the perfect dress and I could not have been happier. The bridesmaids dresses were the PERFECT color, which I thought was going to be the biggest problem. But yet again it was simple. The rest of the staff was great from alterations to picking the dress up to bringing the Tuxes back the day after. I tell all my friends about your store and hopefully I can make a trip back with one of them sometime in the future. Thanks again for everything!!”

Lindsey Casey-O’Neill, July 10th, 2010

Bridal Gown: Ella Bridals

Bridesmaids: After Six

Shoes: Coloriffics

Custom Feather Flower Headpiece: J&K Designs

Tuxedos: Savvi Formalwear

5 Reception Disasters – And How To Avoid Them

Meghan — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:00:52 +0000

There are some difficult to anticipate problems out there — but you don’t have to worry, because The Knot is giving us the heads up!

Wedding Disaster #1: Wild Child

The Problem: Your flower girl, ring bearer, and young cousins: so angelic during the ceremony, so C-R-A-Z-Y after overindulging in your sugary wedding cake. Kids will be kids — but that doesn’t mean they must be screaming, crying, and racing around a formal reception.

The Solution: You can put them in tiny gowns and tuxedos, but you definitely can’t force them to uphold a formal atmosphere. If you’re inviting kids to your celebration, you have to understand they might not make it through without getting rambunctious. That said, there are some great ways to keep them from knocking things over and making a mess.

Tykes that are part of the party should get their own table — sans centerpiece. Instead, cover the table with butcher paper and leave a box of crayons at each place setting. Rather than a five-star meal, serve a kid-friendly favorite, like mac ‘n’ cheese or chicken fingers, which they’ll like better. If you’re worried they’ll go wild, set up the young ones with sitters, either on- or off-site. Get the crew an extra hotel room and show a double feature of The Lion King and Shrek, or hire a clown or magician to come in and entertain them. With the kids out of your hair, you (and the many appreciative parents among your guests) can keep things adult.

Wedding Disaster #2: A Ruined Wedding Dress

The Problem: It’s the morning of and it’s raining. The wedding ceremony and reception are being held inside — but first, the bride has to get there in her voluminous princess-style gown. You could throw a tarp over her or roll her up in a carpet, but we’ve got a more stylish option.

The Solution: No couple wishes for rain on their wedding day, though we hear it is considered good luck. If you’re worried you’re going to get lucky (even if it’s not in the forecast), consider packing a golf umbrella. Why? It’s the only cover large enough to get the bride from the limo to the church to the reception to the hotel without letting raindrops mar her gown. And besides, some of our all-time favorite wedding photos are of newlyweds smooching beneath an umbrella big enough for two.

Wedding Disaster #3: Drinking and Driving

The Problem: You know it’s a successful party when you start running really low on supplies — especially liquor. Everyone’s had a good time, but everyone might not be fit to drive. What do you do about that?

The Solution: You already know that lots of responsible brides and grooms book buses or shuttles to ferry guests back and forth from reception to hotel. What you might not know is that you may need more runs than you think. While no one’s going to say they require a ride prewedding, after a few too many cocktails they might. A couple more bus runs will ensure you’ve got a seat for everyone to get home safely.

Wedding Disaster #4: Blinding Sunsets

The Problem: Little can beat a wedding reception site with amazing sunset views — unless guests are blinded by it. Same goes for candlelight receptions overwhelmed by natural light. Who knew what all those windows could do!

The Solution: Don’t fall out of love with your reception site’s great view — simply arrange to see it at the time of day that your wedding will take place. If you know that there will be a lot of light (or just a little), you can plan your lighting accordingly. Remember that the season will affect light too. Worried it will be too bright? Rent sheer, colorful drapes or simply hang fabric so the sun can still shine in — it’ll just tone it down a bit. Will your sunny site be too dark come evening? Turn low lighting into mood lighting with strategically placed candles.

Wedding Disaster #5: Burned Out Candles

The Problem: Is someone turning down the lights on your romantic, candlelit reception? No, wait, it’s actually the candles that are burning out! Yikes!

The Solution: You don’t want your wicks to wear out before you do, so when you’re shopping for reception decor start by picking up one each of a few different candles. On a day when you’ll be home for a while (we know you know, but never leave burning candles unattended), light them all at the same time — on the hour works best, since it’ll be easiest to remember — and see how long they burn. You need not sit there and watch, just check periodically to see how far they’ve made it. Once you know your votives, tapers, or columns can cut it through drinks, dinner, dancing and, of course, your grand departure, you’re safe to buy the quantity you’ll actually need. And you’ll be all set to light up the night.

Bel Fiore Bridal’s Lovely Ladies: Magdalina Belotserkovskaya

Meghan — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:05:10 +0000

Bel Fiore Bridal’s Certified Bridal Consultant, Magdalina Belotserkovskaya!

Hi Ladies! I am a recent graduate of Kennesaw State University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

Currently, I am planning a wedding of my own and I never really knew what goes into it all. The process is hard work, but at the end it’ll be totally worth it. I will be getting married on September 11^th, 2010!

I have been a bridal consultant for over two years. What led me to my job in the bridal industry was the idea of helping brides find that special wedding gown for their most memorable day. It is so nice to see the joy on girls’ faces when the idea of their perfect dress comes to life in front of them! They can see it in the mirror and the feeling of happiness takes over them!

My retail experience is over 10 years long and I have enjoyed making people look their best. The bridal industry has been the most fun and rewarding and my favorite part of my job is getting to see the pictures from the weddings and seeing how everything came together.
I do not have one style or trend of wedding gowns that I like the most, but what I do like, are the more understated wedding gowns. In a simpler gown, everyone sees a beautiful bride in a beautiful dress, and not just the wedding gown.

My advice for future brides:

1. Make sure you have fun. This is supposed to be a great time in your life not a stressful one.

2. Bring with you only the people whose opinions will matter in your final decision. You can always bring back others once you have picked out your wedding gown.

2. There is such a thing as trying on too many dresses! At some point you are just trying on and not looking for the wedding gown of your dreams.

3. Pick the gown you love! YOU are the one who will be wearing it.

Holiday Party Dresses! Order Yours TODAY.

Rachel — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:01:38 +0000

Atlanta Brides -

Don’t forget to check out Bel Fiore Bridal’s selection of dresses suitable for all your holiday parties!

Schedule your appointment today to order your holiday party dress!

Bel Fiore Bride: Adrianne Carter-Hargrove

Meghan — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 15:45:22 +0000

Eight things to do BEFORE you say “I do”

Rachel — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:07:22 +0000

Getting dressed in your wedding gown can be stressful on your wedding day. Here are some tips on what to do once you take your bridal gown home and how to prepare for your big day BEFORE the big day arrives!

1. Once you get your bridal gown home, take your train out of the garment bag (it’s ok to leave the bodice of your gown covered by the garment bag). Hang your bridal gown where it will be safe from children or pets, it’s best to keep your gown in a closet or dark room to protect it from light and dust. Another helpful tip is to put a white sheet on the floor to protect the hem of your gown.

2. Make a list of everything you will need the day of the wedding–including things for emergencies. If you are dressing in your wedding gown away from home, double-check your list before you leave the house.

3. Several days before the wedding, look over your wedding gown and wedding accessories and make sure everything is ready to wear. Hang your veil near the shower to smooth any wrinkles or let a Specialist at Bel Fiore help you.

4. Wear your shoes around the house so you will be comfortable the day of the wedding. You might even rub the soles against a sidewalk or other rough surface to make them less slippery.

5. Arrange for someone (two “someones” are even better) without a fresh manicure or dark polish to help you dress in your wedding gown. Or hire a professional dresser who will take responsibility for your bridal gown all day and make sure you are dressed perfectly in a bridal gown that is not creased or wrinkled and is bustled properly.

6. Make sure you know how to bustle your wedding gown and show whoever is helping you dress how to do it, too. Pin five or six safety pins to the underside of your wedding gown. They will not show, and you will be glad they are handy if your bustle loops break.

7. Allow plenty of time to get dressed in your wedding gown. Allow even more time if it is raining.

7. Worth repeating–allow plenty of time to get dressed in your wedding gown. Allow even more time if it is raining.

8. Most important, remember to relax and enjoy every minute of your special day because your wedding day will go buy all too quickly!

What have you done to be sure you are prepared for your wedding day?

How To Fight Wedding Day Sickness

Meghan — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 14:15:35 +0000

Ways to Handle Feeling Ill on Your Big Day

Among the many things you can’t control on your wedding day is getting sick. Flue, cold, allergies; as long as you’re human the possibility exists. The first hurdle you need to get over is that, like any other mishap, it’s not going to ruin your wedding. There are other ways to deal, too. Here are some remedies!

Most of us know how our body reacts to illness, so be prepared. If you get a cold or flu (and when you’re exhausted, the chances of that arise), talk to a doctor and get specific advice on what to take the day of your affair. You can do your best to avoid colds by getting sleep (it’s not worth staying up 24 hours to perfect your guest list if you’re going to be too sick to greet people), and making sure you eat right. Do not stop exercising, either. The added bonus of physical exertion is that you will actually have more energy. Obviously, staying away from anyone who’s ill will help, but don’t get paranoid; before your wedding, contact with lots of different people is unavoidable.

On the day of, stay away from coffee or anything with caffeine, and keep drinking juice and water. You should have an emergency kit at all times, and keep any medicines inside, as well as things like tissue and aspirin. If you need to, have a cup of decaffeinated tea near you at the altar, and walk around with it at the reception. Your guests will sympathize with your situation.

Also, limit your activities: Tell the crowd that you’re a bit “under the weather,” and keep the dances short—if you need to, they can be cut. Make sure you don’t over-extend yourself or get dehydrated, and allow the guests to come to your table; not vice versa.

The one sickness that you can cure is a hangover—by not drinking too much the night before your wedding. If the rehearsal dinner is being held on the evening prior, keep imbibing to a minimum. In addition to being hangover-free the next day, you’ll have much-needed energy. These days it’s common to have the bachelor and bachelorette parties a few days before the ceremony, not the night before. This way, you can feel free to over-indulge (should you wish), and not have to say “I do” with bloodshot eyes.

If you are hung-over on the day of your wedding, treat it like any other illness. Some planners recommend taking a shot of brandy, or having a Bloody Mary, as a “hair of the dog” cure. That option is up to you; just make sure that you don’t have too much. It’s a walk down the aisle, not a trip!

I thought this picture was funny!

Thanks to “Our Wedding Day” for these helpful tips! Happy Planning!