What NOT To Do Before Your Bridal Appointment

We recently watched one of our FAVORITE romcoms of all time, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, and if there is ANYTHING to be learned from that emotional circus, it’s the fact that knowing what NOT to do in any given situation speaks volumes. There are few things that sting worse than reflecting back on a moment where you went into something blind and wish that you could go back and try again—WHY can’t we all just have a pretty little do-over button?

This blog is here for you so you don’t have to mentally rewind your bridal appointment, wishing you could do things different.

Your wedding season is TOO SHORT to be stressed over every tiny detail!

TIP #1 - Don’t schedule too many appointments in one day

You shouldn’t feel pressured to attend more than one bridal appointment in one day. Over the years, scheduling 2-3 appointments in a single day became standard practice and we have seen the stressful effects that has had on our brides—talk about DECISION FATIGUE. Scheduling multiple bridal appointments in one day is a lot like trying to navigate that mile-long menu at Cheesecake Factory. TOO MANY CHOICES is a real thing. When you are able to give yourself more breathing room, this allows you to make clear decisions that aren’t filled with overwhelmed confusion. By limiting the amount of appointments you attend in one day, we promise you will feel empowered to make the decision that is right for you in an unclouded state of mind.

Tip #2 - Don’t come to your appointment in the wrong undergarments

What you’re wearing underneath the gown in your appointment matters. We recommend wearing skin colored undergarments with a smooth texture. That way, the gowns you try-on will look seamless and will give you the best foundation to make a decision that you are confident with. Avoid undergarments that are not your skin tone with a lot of lace.

Tip #3 - Don’t let ANYONE pressure you into a gown that isn’t you

While it should be a given that what you choose to wear on your wedding day should be YOUR CHOICE, for many brides it doesn’t always feel that way. It’s not a foreign feeling to have pressure from your family or friends to pick a dress that just isn’t you. We ESPECIALLY don’t want that pressure to ever come from your bridal consultant. At Bustle, we solidify a commitment to always being there to guide you into a gown that brings every bit of the magic that you deserve. As hard as it can be to fight the feeling to please everyone else on such a big day, please remember all these people are here to celebrate YOU finding one of the most beautiful opportunities life has to offer—love.

For more in-depth tips on managing good mental health during the wedding planning process, you can visit our blog here—we sat down with local therapists, McKinley and Melanie, and they gave us some much needed tips on keeping up the mindfulness.

To book your bridal appointment with us, you can visit this link here. We can’t wait to meet you!

BUSTLE IS DRESSED FOR CHRISTMAS

It’s no secret that we love the holidays. ESPECIALLY, decorating for the holidays. Let’s be real, some of the most fun we have over the Christmas season is scouring for the perfect scented pinecone. And while we’re busy trying to decide which poinsettia pillow best fits our aesthetic, we are finding simple joy. The feeling of accomplishment as each little corner comes together is a familiar form of serotonin. Decorating Bustle for Christmas was every bit of therapy that we needed it to be. While fun, we’d be lying if we said it didn’t come with a few…. hiccups. If you’d like to see our decorating feats AND blunders, you can watch our recent reel here <3

“Christmas is a season for kindling the fire for hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.”

— Washington Irving

We hope you all have a beautifully decorated holiday season. Sending all our love!

In The Shop October 2022!

It’s been a while since we shared a blog post specifically to swoon over some of our favorite wedding gowns. The Bustle bridal shop is often a front door for our team to escape. With a step inside this enchanted closet, we let reality wait in the parking lot for a few hours. If you open a window, some blissful serotonin might find its way out. Each rack is a cadence of texture and softness - a complete dream. A reminder that celebrating love and art will always leave a gentle space for effortless wonder.

“We don’t create a fantasy world to escape reality. We create it to be able to stay.”

— Lynda Barry

We would love nothing more than to have you in our shop so you can experience this simple magic for yourself. If you are interested in booking a bridal appointment with one of our consultants, you can schedule that appointment here.

SEE YOU SOON <3

Join Us for a Dress Appointment at Bustle

At Bustle, we want your dress shopping experience to feel special and catered to you. We know how easy it is to get overwhelmed at the thought of dress shopping for the first time. Sometimes the anxious feelings of what to expect in your appointment can be a voice that is hard to silence. We want to take you along with us on a bridal appointment so you can get a peek into what this experience is like at Bustle - no worries, no pressure, just magic. As always, if you have any questions or concerns that are not covered in this blog, please don’t hesitate to send us a message. We want your experience with us to be as effortless as falling in love with your special someone.

1.) Schedule an Appointment

We want to make scheduling your bridal appointment as stress free as possible. You can easily book your appointment by visiting our website here and following the prompts. Our bridal suites are intimate and allow enough room for the bride to bring up to 4 guests. 

2.) Share your vision with your consultant for your special day

Your Bustle stylist is here to make your dress dreams a reality. Our consultants have hours of training on the art of all things wedding gowns. They will listen to your vision so they can pull dresses that you would expect and some that you might not have seen coming. Often times, our brides say “YES” to a gown that is totally different from their original ideas. Our consultants’ job is to make sure YOU are the best thing about your wedding dress.

3.) Relax as your consultant thoughtfully pulls dresses for you to try on

Our collection of gowns is a bridal wonderland! Each consultant has spent intentional time getting acquainted with every gown. We love to take in all of the beautiful details and are trained to give you the best fit possible. Each dress is a unique work of art ready for its muse (i.e. YOU). While you sit comfortably in our relaxing bridal suite, your stylist will pull gowns for you to try. Everything about this process is purposely crafted for you.

If you are curious on what you can do to best prepare for your dress appointment, visit our in-depth blog post here! 

4.) Take your beautiful gown home the SAME DAY you purchase it

One of the BEST parts of our shop is that every dress in our collection is a sample gown. When you say “YES” to your dream dress, you get to take that beauty home with you that same day! No anxious waiting, no hiccups, just you and the dress that you can’t get enough of.

If you want a closer look into what it means to buy a sample gown, visit our blog post on Sample Gowns here!

To book your appointment, visit our website here! We can’t wait to see you.

Birmingham's Only Sample Gown Shop

So it begins, wedding planning is in full swing. As both your to-do list and excitement grow, the time has come to start the beloved google search for local bridal boutiques. With each click you feel yourself getting lost in the pool of wedding dress shopping options. SO. MANY. DRESS. SHOPS. We hope this blog can help you get to know our bridal gown shop and what makes it special. 

We’ve found that not all of our clients know Bustle is the ONLY all Sample Gown shop in Birmingham. What does that mean? We’re glad you asked!

Sample Wedding Gowns are dresses that have been tried on by brides but never actually altered or purchased. At a traditional bridal shop, brides will try on sample gowns and order their dress in a different color or size. But, what happens when the sample gowns run their course?

The act of seeking out the sample gowns in our shop reminds me a lot of the movie National Treasure. And if that’s the case, our intuitive shop owner is the Nicholas Cage of the wedding world. She puts so much intention in seeking out and selecting the gallery of gowns we have in the shop. Each gown is incredibly special in their own way. There are a multitude of reasons why shopping sample gowns at our shop is a wonderful choice. Below we will highlight some of our favorite reasons!

1. COST

At Bustle, EVERY gown is under $3,000. Buying a sample gown means that you will get the designer of your dreams at quite literally a fraction of the cost. We know the anxious feelings that can come when visiting a bridal boutique for the first time without knowing how many gowns will be available in your budget. It’s nerve-racking and uncomfortable. When you visit Bustle, you can breathe deep knowing that every gown is set at a price that is accessible for every bride.

2. SUSTAINABILITY

It’s no secret that buying second hand is an amazing way to reduce waste and cut costs. If wearing a used gown isn’t for you, shopping sample gowns is the perfect solution. It’s both devastating and unfortunate to think of a beautifully hand-crafted wedding dress going to the scrap pile. At Bustle, we give gowns a second life. You get a dress that is perfectly tailored to you, without ever being worn by another bride. Your wedding will be the first wedding day your gown has ever seen.

3. NO WAIT

The dreaded wait time for your ordered wedding dress to come in was already anxiety inducing. Calculating that wait time felt like a math problem that you could never solve. The wait only got worse for traditional bridal shops in recent years with the supply chain issues from the pandemic. At Bustle, there is NO WAIT. You get to take home your dream dress THAT day. Imagine saying “yes” to the dress and then your consultant giving you that same dress in a sleek garment bag as you leave your appointment. That is the experience you get with Bustle. Shopping sample gowns means there is no wait time. Supply chain issues, who?

4. FEWER ALTERATIONS

Even though our shop is a sample dress boutique, that doesn’t mean you will be shopping alone. Bustle will always make sure you have the most elevated shopping experience. We have the sweetest, most intentional bridal consultants ready to guide you to the dress of a lifetime. Because our consultants will be bringing you gowns that are tailored to your style and body, this greatly decreases the amount of alterations you will need. You are getting to try on every gown with the knowledge that you will take that dress home. We aren’t blindly ordering a size with the hopes that when it comes in, it will fit like you envisioned. We’ve found that aside from minor alterations—like a hemline taken up or waistline taken in—our brides rarely make alterations to their gown.

It would be an absolute honor to help you find the dress your heart has been looking for. You can make your own bridal appointment here. And if you have any pre appointment questions, don’t hesitate to send us a message on instagram or visit our chat portal on our website. Our team loves to post reels of new arrivals on our instagram - you can find our recent reel here! We can’t wait to see you! 

Expert Tips: What You Need To Know Before Your Bridal Appointment

“Clothes are the story of our lives. And if you were to gather all the clothes you have ever owned in all your life, each baby shoe and winter coat and wedding dress, you would have your autobiography.”

— Linda Grant (2010). “The Thoughtful Dresser

We believe the process of discovering your perfect gown should feel like falling in love. We all come to love in our own way and choosing the right gown should mirror that significant experience. We hope that this blog will help ease any dress anxiety you might have and give you the confidence you need to say “YES” to your dream dress.

1.) Consider your wedding date when scheduling your appointment

One of the beautiful benefits in being a Bustle Bride is that all of our dresses are Sample Gowns.  This means that every gown you try-on in the shop is available for you to take home that SAME day - no backordered or delayed gowns here! With all of the supply chain set-backs in the industry, knowing that you will leave with your dream dress in hand is the kind of bliss we all need right now. Keeping your wedding date in mind is also important because you want to allow any extra time needed for alterations.

We want to make scheduling your appointment at Bustle completely stress-free. You can visit our website here to set-up your appointment today.  

2.) Be intentional when selecting your Entourage

Your bridal gown appointment is all about YOU. One of the things our bridal experts have learned in their many years of experience is the more you are able to mindfully condense your bridal entourage, the better. The days of needing a crowd of people surrounding you through such a significant decision are over. We have found that intentionally inviting 2-3 of your dearest loved ones makes for an enjoyable day for both the group and bride. We don’t need to tell you that you deserve to feel only love and encouragement on your bridal appointment day - but in case you need to hear it, You deserve to feel immense love and support on your special day. PERIOD.

3.) Don’t exhaust yourself with appointments

You shouldn’t feel pressured to attend more than one bridal appointment in one day. Over the years, scheduling 2-3 appointments in a single day became standard practice and we have seen the stressful effects that has had on our brides. When you are able to give yourself more breathing room, this allows you to make clear decisions that aren’t filled with overwhelmed confusion. By limiting your bridal entourage and the amount of appointments you attend in one day, we promise you will feel empowered to make the decision that is right for you in an unclouded state of mind.

4.) Come to your appointment prepared

The easiest way to feel confident in your bridal appointment is to come prepared. We can always promise you that with Bustle, our sweet stylists are here to make sure you feel comfortable and seen. But, there are a couple things you can do to feel your best on this special day.

• Wear the right undergarments. What you’re wearing underneath the gown matters. We recommend always wearing nude undergarments.

• Do a little research before hand on what styles you are interested in; but be gentle with yourself. Most often, our brides feel the most stunning in a gown that is completely opposite from what they pinned on their Pinterest board. Knowing what you like, while being open, is the best formula for dress success.

“I want people to see the dress but focus on the woman.”

— Vera Wang

Bridal Gowns as Taylor Swift Eras

At Bustle, we know All Too Well that finding the gown of your Wildest Dreams can be almost as hard as finding a Message in a Bottle. Most of us have been Enchanted at the idea of our bridal gown since we were Fifteen. We want to see Sparks Fly, we don’t want to just Tolerate It. Everyone’s Love Story is unique to their own experience and your dream Dress should always reflect that journey. Call It What You Want, you are Gorgeous. You are Fearless. You spent years looking for your Forever and Always, your Holy Ground. We’ve all had our fair share of Champagne Problems. Now is the time to be your own White Horse and enjoy what you worked so hard for. We Are Never Getting Back Together with the idea that we aren’t enough.

In the off chance that you haven’t picked up on it yet, this week we are inspired by the ever lovely, Taylor Allison Swift. For so many of us, this woman has helped shape the way we look at love and heartbreak. She gave a voice to our feelings at every stage of our lives. We couldn’t think of a better way to channel this inspiration than taking a trip down the many eras of Taylor Swift. We hope you enjoy our tribute and find the perfect gown from the album that pulls on your heartstrings. Whether you’re a Lover kind of girly or a Folklore type of bride, at Bustle we have a gown for every aesthetic. 

Are you ready for it?

“I think that the perfection of love is that it’s not perfect.”

— Taylor Swift

Debut Album

Gown Designer: Rebecca Schoneveld

Fearless

Gown Designer: Paloma Blanca

Speak Now

Gown Designer: Jenny Yoo

Red

Gown Designer: Wtoo By Watters

1989

Gown Designer: Anne Barge

Reputation

Gown Designer: Tiadora

Lover

Gown Designer: That’s Bliss by Monique Lhuillier

Folklore

Gown Designer: Wtoo By Watters

Evermore

Gown Designer: Modern Trousseau

If you would like to see the gowns in action, check out our Instagram Reels for all the twirls.

2021 Bustle Christmas Gathering

“The discovery of a new dish confers more happiness on humanity, than the discovery of a new star.”

— Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

In the wise words of Kacey Musgraves, “let me set the scene…” It’s a beautiful December night in Ross Bridge and the community is now a panoramic view of fresh poinsettias and glistening lights. The Bustle Team is welcomed into Chef Tyler and Jennifer Lyne’s charming home for our very first Supper Club. The environment is incredibly warm and buzzing with intimate conversation between familiar faces and strangers alike. Chef Lyne opens up our ten course meal with sincere sentiments expressing the profound influence that can be experienced when a thoughtful meal is shared among loved ones.

The beauty of food is that it has the ability to bring everyone together, regardless of our differences. With every glass held high in the candlelight, we eagerly await the meal to come. The amount of intention that the team at Tasting TBL puts into each course is truly remarkable and unlike anything we have experienced before.

Our meal begins with a canapé course complete with Blue Crab Hand Rolls, Beef Tartare, Pomme Aligot Mochi, & Black Truffle Puffs - sensational. Each course somehow felt like the main character in its own production, leaving every person on our Bustle team unanimously agreeing that this is the best meal we have ever had. We finished the night with a decadent chocolate cake, layered with eight (yes EIGHT) layers of absolute perfection. The cake is a merriment of hazelnut praline and chocolate mousse, adorned with warm chocolate sauce. Can we come back every night, please?

Celebrating the Christmas season is easy when we have all of you to be thankful for. We want to extend the warmest wishes to you and your loved ones this holiday season. Merry Christmas from Bustle. We hope your days are merry and filled with the best bites. If you would like to attend Supper Club for yourself, visit TastingTBL.com.

Bustle's 8th Birthday

We recently celebrated 8 years of Bustle! To mark the occasion we gathered for a birthday picnic at the home of Meredith Carter (Bustle’s owner). Southern Charm Picnic Company set up a luxury picnic spread complete with candles, cushions, flowers and festive decorations. We enjoyed our time together, sipping wine and eating from the ultimate charcuterie board put together by Martha May Designs. Then we took turns getting treated to manicures by Lily Wen. What an incredibly fun way to ring in Bustle’s 8th year!

We’re so excited to share the photos from the evening, taken by the talented Meghan Murphy Gray.

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“I am so grateful to be able to celebrate 8 years of Bustle. I could not be more proud of the women on my team — you ladies make this place special and I love you more every day. You are bright and lovely and have a special way of making other women feel beautiful. Thank you for sharing your time with me and with our brides. I could not do this without you. ”

— XO Meredith

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Bustle Team

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Bustle started 8 years ago this August, and since then we have grown and changed a great deal. As we’ve added to our numbers, we knew we had to introduce our Shop and Media team to you. The Bustle Team is the heart of our business, and we are so excited for you to meet everyone!

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Meredith Carter - I’m the creator and owner of Bustle. Friends often ask how Bustle was started and it really is sort of funny - I was at a Birthday dinner when a friend and I started talking about what I wanted to do with my career. She threw out the idea of opening a bridal shop, which had never even crossed my mind. Her comment spiked my curiosity so I did a little digging. At the time, Tiny Weddings Bham had a space in Bluff Park that they allowed me to share with them. It was really only a matter of weeks from that birthday dinner that we opened Bustle’s doors to sell “pre-loved wedding gowns” or, dresses that had been altered and cleaned. We transitioned a few years ago to exclusively selling new or sample wedding gowns off-the-rack. This is the perfect fit for Bustle because it allows us to sell gorgeous, designer gowns at a fraction of the cost. When I’m not at Bustle, you’ll probably find me at my brother’s house watching Tiny Kitchen with their 3 year old!

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Cherry DeRosa — I’ve worked at Bustle as a bridal consultant for an amazing 8 years! Meredith (my daughter) had a vision for a bridal shop, and she opened Bustle within 4 months. I joined her and I’ve had such fun meeting sweet brides over the years. When I’m not working at Bustle I’m spending time with my grand babies — that’s the best! I also enjoy sitting at an outdoor restaurant sipping a cappuccino, or having dinner with my husband or shopping at At Home in Homewood.

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Jessica Hammock — I’ve worked as a bridal consultant at Bustle for the past 6 years. I started working at Bustle after I purchased my wedding gown from Bustle and instantly loved Meredith and the shop! When I’m not working I’m spending time with my husband Jamey and our two sons, Levi (3) and Oliver (almost 1). I love sweets — two of my favorite places to visit are Hero Donuts and Big Spoon Creamery.

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McKinley Landen— I’ve been a bridal consultant at Bustle for 2 years and I love helping brides find their perfect dress! I came to Bustle to shop for my own wedding dress and I enjoyed the experience so much. I am a full-time therapist, so I wanted something light and fun to do on the side. I have loved being able to serve brides. When I’m not working I love spending time with my husband and our two pups. We love going to Local No. 39 in Homewood — they have the best sweet tea chicken sandwiches and a fun environment!

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Julianne Dean - I just started as a bridal consultant at Bustle and I’ve had so much fun helping brides find their dream wedding gowns so far! I own a balloon styling company called For Love and Loons so when I’m not at Bustle I am usually decorating different events. I also love going shopping and getting brunch with the girls. My favorite local Birmingham restaurant is VINO for amazing food, wine and art.

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Lily Willis — I am new to the Bustle team and just started as a bridal consultant. I followed Bustle on Instagram and wanted to be a part of this sweet environment, especially because I had shopped here before and knew how special it was. When I’m not working at Bustle I’m most likely studying. I’m a full-time student and currently completing my Dietetic Internship and Masters of Science at Samford (I graduate in December), and then I hope to work in clinical nutrition. In my free time, ideally I would be outside by the pool or eating at my favorite restaurant, The Essential.

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Laine White — I’m the Media Director for Bustle, so I get to curate our social media feed, plan photoshoots and giveaways and collaborate with my friend Claire. I am most often with my little girl, Rowan who was born in January of this year. She is quite the adventure and my husband, Tucker, and I have enjoyed every moment of parenting her so far. I also work as a manager at Breakout Birmingham and for the Breakout Games marketing team. When I’m not working you might find me at my favorite bagel shop, Homewood Bagel Company, or at Seeds Coffee.

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Claire Jackson — I’m the blog manager and marketing assistant at Bustle, so I get to do fun photo shoots, write blogs, and collaborate with Laine on ideas for social media. I got my wedding dress at Bustle, and I just loved the people and the atmosphere here. I’m so glad I’ve been able to work here 3.5 years so far! I’ve also started doing real-estate photography which I really enjoy. I spend much of my time hanging with my one year old daughter, Eleanor and my husband Daniel, and we have a little boy on the way! You might also find strolling around a garden or plant shopping (my favorite is Shoppe in downtown Bham) or having coffee and pastries outside at Continental Bakery.