Bustle Bride: Caroline Dill Hix

On this day full of love, we are celebrating Bustle Bride Caroline Dill Hix! Caroline and her husband, John met through mutual friends. They both went to college in Birmingham, but some of John's closest friends went to college with Caroline at Samford University. He moved in with them after they all graduated, so John and Caroline were around each other quite often. The very first time the pair met was actually at an engagement party almost exactly 3 years before they tied the knot on August 26, 2017. 

Caroline and John said, "I do," and danced the night away with friends and family at BridgeStreet Gallery & Loft right here in Birmingham, Alabama. She looked oh so stunning in her Paloma Blanca strapless aline gown. She also chose a beautiful Washington Millinery floor-length veil to complete her bridal look! Caroline is such a gem, and we're so thankful she chose Bustle!

“I loved the whole day! From getting ready, to the ceremony, and reception. It wasn’t stressful, but so much fun which is what I hoped for. The reception and band was a blast- we wanted a big, fun, dancing party!”

Vendors:

Photographer- Jett Walker Photography

Caterer- Iz Catering

Florist- Lillie Janes

Band- Just a Few Cats

Cake- Magic Muffins

Gelato- Nuzzi Gelato

Venue- BridgeStreet Gallery & Loft

Hair- Merrell Hubbard

Makeup- Emmy Hunt Makeup

Wedding Dress- Bustle

Alterations- Hollow to Hem

Bridesmaid Dresses- Bella Bridesmaids

Bustle Bride: Amelia Morton Haueter

Amelia Morton Haueter is our newest Bustle Bride! Amelia and her husband Larry began their forever together on August 6, 2017.  "We met online on Eharmony.  Larry laughs at himself because he paid for a 6 month membership but I was the first person to come up on the first day."

Amelia's dream dress was a gorgeous Nicole Miller lace fit & flare gown. She accessorized her bridal look with a fabulous ivory soutache edge veil, and a blush sash with glass crystals and beads. We so loved having Amelia in the store, and we're so glad she found her gown at Bustle!

“My favorite part of my wedding day was having all of my friends and family in one place.  I loved that we had kids running around and that my long time friend from New York came to play the piano and that my roommate sang and that Larry’s family from Wisconsin finally got to meet my family.  It was such a sweet day full of so much love and joy.”

Vendors:

Photography: Je Vois Photography

Venue, Food, Flowers, and Director: Stone Bridge Farms

Hair and Makeup: Irrelephant

Cake: Sweet Bea Bakes

Popsicles: Steel City Pops

Bustle Bride: Kathryn Mills Justice

We're over the moon to feature Bustle Bride Kathryn Mills Justice! Kathryn and her hubby Steven began their happily ever after on August 26, 2017. They exchanged vows at First Baptist Church Enterprise, and danced the night away at the beautiful Enterprise Country Club.

It is almost impossible to pick a favorite moment from our wedding day. From getting ready with my best friends to spending the whole night on the dance floor, every moment was filled with joy and gratitude. If I had to pick just one, it would be after our ceremony we had dinner waiting for us at the Enterprise Country Club in a room for just the two of us. We were way too excited to eat and spent the entire time talking about how great the day was and how thankful we were to finally be married. I am so glad we took the time to do this because it gave us a chance to let the fact that we were husband and wife sink in.

We so loved helping Kathryn find the gown of her dreams. She chose a beautiful strapless lace fit & flare gown with a scalloped hem and ruched bodice. Needless to say, Kathryn looked nothing short of stunning on her special day!

“Steven and I kind of grew up together. We are both from the same small town of Enterprise, Alabama and he was friends with my older brother. I actually had a huge crush on him when I was younger! We ended up reconnecting at an Alabama football game while I was in my junior year and he was living in Kansas City and the rest is history!”

Vendors:

Ceremony: First Baptist Church Enterprise

Reception and Food: Enterprise Country Club

Photography: Dunaway's Studios

Videography: HG Productions

Florals: Kimberlee's

Alterations: Hollow to Hem

Stationary: Your Paper Your Story//Lindsey Elliot

Hair and Makeup: Tenille Hemp and Jason Martin

Bridesmaids Dresses: Shop Revelry

Tuxes: Yancey Parkers

Bustle Bride: Caroline Woods Morgan

This week we're oh so excited to feature the beautiful Caroline Woods Morgan. Carly and her husband, Bo became officially husband and wife on May 16, 2015. They exchanged their vows at Vine Street Christian Church in Music City, Nashville, TN. On her special day, Carly was a sight for sore eyes in her lace fit & flare gown.

Carly has the most genuine heart, and a smile to match. She was such a joy to have in the store, and we're so thankful we had the opportunity to help her find her dream dress!

Bustle Bride: Kelsey Brown Sizemore

It was a beautiful August day when Bustle bride Kelsey Brown Sizemore and her hubby Josh began their happily ever after! Kelsey and Josh met a few years ago through a mutual friend who was Kelsey's roommate at the time. The pair quickly became friends and saw each other at church pretty often, then started dating a year later!

“The whole day was so fun- my favorite part was being with all of our favorite people! It’s amazing to have all of your friends and family together to celebrate you- really humbling. All the bridesmaids and family got ready together at my parents house and I loved sharing that time with all the girls. Josh and I both agree that the music during our ceremony was one of our favorite parts of the day. Several great friends from church played during our ceremony and it was so beautiful and really meaningful for us! ”

Kelsey was such a joy to have in our store, and we so loved helping her find her dream dress! At the end of the day, she couldn't see herself in anything other than her Lis Simon chiffon halter gown.

Bustle Bride: Catie Dennis Nichols

Our feature bride for the week is the lovely Catie Dennis Nichols! Catie and her hubby, Stetson, tied the knot on June 17 at First United Methodist Church in Dothan, AL. Following the ceremony, they danced the night away at the beautiful Botanical Gardens in Dothan.

The story of how the happy couple met is told by Catie in her own words. "Stetson and I met in high school when he was a sophomore and I was a senior. Things first kicked off for us at a high school basketball game when I was a cheerleader, the bleachers were crowded and I had no where else to sit before getting ready to cheer. We were playing our cross town rival in basketball! We joke that he told me I was going to gain weight eating a protein bar... Things sparked from there and we dated ever since! We dated 6 and a half years leading up to our wedding day so to say we were ready is an understatement." My dress was STUNNING! I want you to know I looked all over Birmingham for "the dress" and y'all had exactly what I was looking for. I knew a wanted something traditional with lace and satin and it is exactly what I go! I loved the back of the dress! It really added such a fun touch! Thank y'all so much for making a girls dress dream come true!

Catie looked absolutely incredible on her big day! She fell in love with a Tara Keely taffeta ballgown with lace bateau bodice. She was such a joy to have in our store, and we're so glad we had the opportunity to help her find her perfect gown!  Catie also had some kind words about Bustle and her dress buying experience, "My dress was STUNNING! I want you to know I looked all over Birmingham for "the dress" and y'all had exactly what I was looking for. I knew a wanted something traditional with lace and satin and it is exactly what I got! I loved the back of the dress! It really added such a fun touch. Thank y'all so much for making a girls dress dream come true!"

“Stetson and I both agree that the most fun part of our wedding day was the reception! All though the wedding day was full of sweet memories we will never forget we were both ready to celebrate with our friends who have loved us and supported us every step of the way! Our band, Creativity, was absolutely incredible! The tambourines and glow sticks really made the night a party! We look back and say people probably would have danced another hour if the band didn’t stop and we didn’t have a 2 hour drive to catch a flight at 5:00 am the next morning! It was truly all I ever dreamed of! ”

Vendors:

Photographer: Jett Walker Photography

Wedding Planner: Debbie I. Yurevitch

Make Up: Carly Morgan

Hair: Sydney Carter

Flowers: RKB Flowers

Catering: Pans and Petals Catering

Cake: The Flour Sack Bakery

Band: Creativity

Videographer: Mike Barfield//MaKale Productions

Bustle Bride: Lindsey O'Quinn Davis

Our newest Bustle Bride is the beautiful Lindsey O'Quinn Davis. Lindsey and her husband Jay Davis said, "I do," on a beautiful August day at Aldridge Gardens in Hoover, AL.

Lindsey and Jay met on the last day of their freshman year at Samford University; however, is wasn't until the first day of sophomore year that they started to get to know one another and go on dates. They finally became "official" on October 9, 2014, and the rest is history! 

Lindsey chose a gorgeous Ivy & Aster strapless gown with tulle skirt and lace detailing bodice and hem, and we're so thankful we had the opportunity to be a small part of Lindsey's special day!

“Other than walking back down the aisle with Jay and the surreal feeling that we both experienced, my favorite part of the wedding was the reception where I got to dance the night away with my spouse, friends and family all by our side! It was such an incredible night that we will cherish forever and ever!”

Vendors:

Venue: Aldridge Gardens

Photography: Leah Grace Photography

Catering: Savoie Catering

Florals: Vera Flora

Linen: Décor to Adore

Cake: Cakes by Kim

Entertainment: Act of Congress

Prop/Lounge Rentals: Prophouse

Lighting Design: Lighting the Way

Tent Rental: Special Event Rentals/Gameday Events

Car Rental: Coats Classic Cars

Bustle Bride: April Miller Atchley

We're so excited to kick off the new year, and to celebrate 2018 we have the sweetest new Bustle Bride! April met her now husband during their freshman year at Samford University. John Kelly says it was then that his crush on April started, but it wasn't until a year later when he asked her on a date, and the rest is history. April and John Kelly said, "I do," on a beautiful September day in North Carolina.

April has the most genuine heart and the sweetest spirit to match, and we so loved helping her find her dream dress! She looked absolutely stunning on her special day in her Anne Barge tulle ballgown with a beaded lace bodice. Also, her lovely bridesmaids wore the champagne Eliza & Ethan multi-wrap gowns that we carry in store! 

“It’s hard to narrow it down to one thing, the whole day felt like an absolute dream. Aside from marrying my best friend, the dance floor is high on the list and maybe only second to having everyone we love and treasure all in one room celebrating with us. At one point we took a moment to look around at all the faces around us and let it sink in. Joy does not even begin to describe how we felt!”

Vendors:

Venue: Charlotte Country Club

Photographer: Christine LeGrand Photography 

Flowers: Tina Bondurant 

Wedding dress & Bridesmaid Dresses: Bustle

DJ: Mike at Split Second Sound

Expert Tips: How to Choose a Wedding Cake Style

Trend Alert: The Most Beautiful Wedding Cakes Right Now

Wedding planning includes making a lot of decisions. Some of them are downright boring, such as choosing the seating arrangement and making a realistic budget. Some can be truly wonderful – there is nothing boring about trying out wedding dresses or choosing a wedding cake by looking at pictures that come quite close to being a work of art or coming up with your own unique idea for the cake style. If you are having any doubts about the cake, here are some trendiest wedding cake styles you should know about.

Images courtesy of Unsplash

Floral Cakes

Floral wedding cakes are always in vogue, but the style, texture and dimension of flowers are changing depending on the current trends. These days “the rosette” look is taking over the wedding cake world, with its allover textural sugar roses. Since they are very rich in texture, they are usually subtle in color, mostly only white, pale pink and beige. Fresh flowers are still on top of their game (and on top of many wedding cakes), and sugar-made flowers made a huge comeback in the form of bouquets.

Rustic cakes

Rustic wedding cakes are usually associated with a woodland theme. Their main characteristic is that they are mostly minimalistic and the color of choice is almost always white or ivory. The decoration is subtle, yet very eye-catching, because it contains fresh flowers and leaves. What truly makes these cakes stand out is the display which fits in with the theme perfectly. A wood tree ring is the ideal rustic cake display, and it can be further decorated with foliage and moss.

 

Illustrated cakes

Do you want to have the concept of your first date drawn on your cake? Maybe the theme from your wedding invitations? Would you like to have the lyrics from your favorite songs written on the cake? How about an illustration of a superhero? A classic art masterpiece? A graffiti from your neighborhood? With the new trends of hand-painting illustrations on wedding cakes, anything is possible.

All-white

It’s always a nice day for a white wedding, so why wouldn’t it be a nice day for an all-white wedding cake? You may think that white wedding cakes are boring and not worthy of such a major event, but there are beautiful ways to make them more outstanding, by adding all-white embellishments. White details like sugar flower cascades, piped embroidery, jeweled decorations or quilted fondant can transform the plain white cake from monotonous to impressive.

Fruity

If you are one of those wedding guests that always choose fruit instead of chocolate cake, fruity cakes which are not only made with fruits, but also embellished with fruits, could be the thing for you. A pear on a cake top instead of a flower, might sound silly now, but when you see it in reality, it may blow you away. All fruits can be used to make the wedding cake more beautiful, including plums, strawberries, raspberries and oranges.

 

Ombre design

From hairstyles to fashion and interior design, ombre style of painting has found its way into every aspect of our lives, including the weddings. This glamorous and whimsical way of color transitions is truly an artful idea. Depending on your taste, you can opt for a rich saturated hue that fades away toward the top or the bottom or make a transition from orange to yellow and then to white. For the most subtle and sophisticated effect, choose a cake that goes from ivory to white.

No wedding cake at all

If you want to make your wedding day as unique as it can be, you can consider giving your own twist to the traditional cake:

●      Many catering companies are offering an interesting candy bar station, where you will have bottles and jars filled with homemade sweets and decorated so that they match your wedding theme.

●      In some confectionaries you will even find individual wedding cakes that can be made with special inscriptions for each guest.

●      A three-tiered cupcake, macaroon or donut tower has become such a popular choice that you can find it anywhere.

These were some awesome wedding cake (or not) trends you should consider if your wedding date is getting closer. Each of them is beautiful in its own way; you just need to find the one that suits you the best.

 

Georgia Selih is author @highstylife.com. By nature an artist, by profession a journalist. An irreparable print lover who is enjoying this hot digital affair.

Bustle Bride: Kathryn Dinsmore Marcum

We're over the moon to announce that Kathryn Dinsmore Marcum is our Bustle bride of the week! Kathryn and her husband, Austin, began their happily ever after at a gorgeous covered outdoor venue at 4-H Center in Columbiana, AL on August 6, 2017.

Austin and Kathryn have known each other for years! They met at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL in the second grade! "He is the most fun person to be around and we quickly became friends in middle school. Our friendship continued to grow and we started dating our sophomore year of high school! We dated long distance through college, as he went to the University of Alabama and I went to Auburn.  Shortly after graduation, this past August, we got married! It was the best day celebrating with family and friends!"

Kathryn was an absolute dream in her Ivy & Aster Organza scoop neck gown! She also made the gown a one-of-a-kind by adding lace to make beautiful sleeves to add a little something extra and tie in the lace at the hem of the gown. She also chose a plain edge ivory veil to complete her bridal look!

“Looking back on our wedding day, one of our favorite parts was celebrating with the people we love dearly!  We are so unbelievably grateful for the people who have prayed for us, supported us, and encouraged us to look more like Jesus throughout our relationship and as we became a family on our wedding day!  It was the sweetest blessing and joy to be surrounded by family, friends, and a bridal party who we have known for years to celebrate with on that hot August day!”

Vendors:

Ceremony and Reception Cite: 4-H Center

Wedding Coordinator: Kristin Maynard

Flowers: Susan Milner Design

Photography: Mandy Owens Photography

Videography: Alan Harned

Food: Full Moon BBQ

Cake:  Magic Muffin Bakery