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House of Rêve Brand Launch

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Left: Julianne Dean, Right: Scout Campbell

Julianne Dean started working at Bustle this past spring, and last month she launched her new fashion brand, House of Rêve, with her best friend, Scout Campbell. Julianne and Scout also run a balloon styling business in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa called For Love and Loons. These ladies are so talented and full of amazing ideas, and we are so excited to share their most recent one with you. We asked Julianne a few questions about House of Rêve so we could give you all the details!

What made you decide to start House of Rêve?

Being best friends with different body types, we have learned everyone has insecurities even when you don't realize it. Fashion has always allowed us to express ourselves and feel confident in our own skin. By creating House of Rêve our mission has always been to do this for others by eliminating the standard that there is only one definition of beauty.

How did you come up with your business name?

This took us a minute to get right. We knew we wanted something unique and something that really represented us as a brand. After going through a million different names, we first landed on the name Stevie. However, clearly we went in a different direction. The word Rêve means ‘to dream’ in french, and was actually the name of my first design collection. This became such a key part of House of Rêve, because we wanted to make every girl feel like a "dream girl" . We run the store out of our home in Tuscaloosa and thought "house of" combined both the fashion flare and our actual reality.

Tell us about you and your business partner. How did you meet and decide to start your business?

My business partner is also my roommate and best friend. We have always shared a love for fashion and creativity. We have known each other since 6th grade. In fact, House of Rêve is our third business together. We ran a t-shirt business through instagram when we were in high school, and realized we were the perfect team when it comes to running a business. In college we decided to start our own balloon styling company, For Love & Loons, which we still continue today.

I am so lucky to be able to do what I love, especially when I get to do it with my best friend. House of Rêve is built on our two different styles. Scout has a western chic style and I bring the west coast flare. Having had three businesses together now, we have really gotten to know each other and how we work together. Knowing each of our strengths and weaknesses has become a huge part of why we work so well together. What I lack, she has and vise versa. Could not do this without her talented self and I am so thankful for her!

If there is one thing you wish every girl knew about fashion what would it be?

At House of Rêve we strive to bring out the most confident you and I believe fashion allows us to do just that. It gives us a way to express ourselves without talking. If we could say one thing to the women that shop with us it would be - you are so much more than the size of your dress, the tag does not define you! You are fearfully and wonderfully made and YOU and your own style are what makes fashion so fun.

What can we expect from House of Rêve in the future?

We would love to have a Rêve Girl campaign where we can feature some of our amazing customers. We may even try out carrying mens clothing.

Want to learn more about House of Rêve? You can shop the website or visit their Instagram page @shophouseofreve.

Scout Campbell

Daughter's Baking Grand Opening

We’ve been huge fans of Daughters Baking for the past few years and did an interview in 2019 with owner, Mallory Webb, about this fabulous boutique cake shop and how it all started (read interview here). At the time, it was being run out of a shared kitchen in Homewood, AL by Mallory and one assistant. Since then, the business has grown to a fully staffed team and now Daughters Baking is opening it’s first storefront in the heart of Mountain Brook on July 29th, 2021. During this busy time, Mallory was kind enough to answer some questions for us about her blossoming business, so we hope you’ll take a look!

What made you decide to open your own storefront?
In our previous location, we were limited to only serving customers via online pre-order, and we had limited customer engagement. We have dreamed of having a storefront for awhile so that we can serve customers more conveniently, and accommodate last minute and walk in orders - as well as smaller cake portions for those cake cravings! We also plan for the storefront to allow us to accommodate our bride and grooms more easily in working with them.

What do you wish your customers knew about your cakes/your business?
I hope our customers know that this business is so much more than just about making great cakes. we truly want to be a positive influence in the community and beyond, and to spread joy and hope to people through these cakes and the business. This is both to our customers and to our staff.

Do you have a favorite cake flavor? If so, which one?
My favorite is a special item we did last year - the Coffee Banana! I love our Banana Layer Cake as well. and the Pumpkin Brown Butter!

What's your favorite part of running your business?
It is hard to say at the moment! It feels like i am doing so many different things at once. I think goal setting, building up team members, and building a foundation to a positive work culture is fun to me. I enjoy the leadership element of establishing overall operations and work culture.

What are you looking forward to for Daughter's Baking?
I am looking forward to when all new people are fully training, and we are operating smoothly being located in the new storefront, and we can start getting creative with what we want to do with the space — like wedding tasting events, bridal events, parties, and more! We can also start playing around with new products that we may want to serve!

Our goal is to never sell out of our menu item cakes. However, all cakes are first come first serve for the day, unless pre-ordered 3 days in advance via online or paying in the store. Once we open the store, we will have smaller versions of our cakes - served in 5 ounce cake cups. We also will have a “tasting package” option that gives customers an opportunity to try four different seasonal flavors in a 2.5 cup portion.

Daughters Baking store hours are Monday - Friday from 10—5pm and Saturday from 10—2pm. If you’ve never tried one of their cakes, we highly recommend visiting the new storefront! To read more about how this wonderful Birmingham business got started, visit Daughters Baking’s website.

Bustle Team

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!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Business Feature: Cala Coffee Company

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Cala Coffee Company is a new local coffee cart business that started in Birmingham run by Josh and Melanie Cosio. They launched the business in February. Josh and Melanie are both from California and moved to Alabama 5 years ago, which is how they came up with “Cala” Coffee (California + Alabama). They roast, package, and ship their coffee beans and also serve hot and iced handcrafted coffee drinks from their coffee cart. We did a Q&A with the owners so you (and we!) could find out all about it.

How did Cala Coffee get started?

We ask ourselves the same question (haha)! Cala Coffee started off as us buying a small roaster to roast coffee for ourselves and as gifts for friends + fam. Once people caught wind of this, we started getting orders and we outgrew our first roaster before we even unboxed it! That’s when we knew we had something and we decided to run with it.

We’ve always dreamed of owning a small business, we just didn’t know what it would be until earlier this year. Coffee has always meant a lot to our relationship - first, it fueled our drives to visit each other while we attended different colleges, next it became our favorite way to connect with a new city we visited, and now it is a way for us to chase our dream together.

What was the biggest challenge?

There aren’t enough hours in the day!
We both work full-time jobs (Josh is an event manager with Framework Events, Mel is a physical therapist at Birmingham Physical Therapy) in addition to Cala. Thankfully we are passionate about all of the hats we wear, so we stay motivated (+caffeinated ).

What is your personal favorite coffee blend? What's the most popular blend?

We both have been LOVING beans from Ethiopia. We prefer a light roast with fruity notes, so our favorite offering right now is Just Peachy. Our most popular is Happenstance, which is our medium roast.

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What do you wish customers knew about your business or about your coffee?

You can rent our cart (+us)! We love doing private events such as weddings, employee/teacher appreciations, and parties/showers. Pricing is determined on a case by case basis and we work with our customers to curate a menu that’s perfect for their event. Shoot us an email to calacoffeebhm@gmail.com for more info!

Additionally, we can do custom bags for gifts/wedding favors! We can create a label that fits our customer’s vision + package our beans of their choosing in 4, 8 or 12oz bags.

What's your favorite part about running your business?

We love the challenge and working together, especially at events! Josh’s full-time job has him traveling quite a bit throughout the year, so we really enjoy getting to park our cart somewhere for a few hours to connect with each other + our customers!

What’s the mission and heart of your business?

Our mission is to help others feel present, connected + energized!

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This comes in several forms, such as enjoying a cup of Cala with loved ones at home, grabbing a handcrafted drink from the cart and shopping at Birdsong Farmers Market, or teaming up with local vendors + organizations we support to broaden their reach.

What does the future look like for Cala coffee? What are you looking forward to?

Only time will tell! Right now we are working on getting our bags + cold brew concentrate into a few local shops. We are looking forward to getting more events on the calendar because we love getting to see people’s first sip!

Do you ship your coffee?

We offer free local delivery and we ship nationwide for a flat-rate of $5!

Business Feature: Gaia Florals

We got to visit Gaia Florals, a wonderfully unique flower shop in the heart of Birmingham. Inside, the shop was filled with a selection of the most beautiful and uncommon blooms we’ve ever seen. Sarah Marshall, who owns the business told us all about her journey to opening the shop, and we are so excited to share the details with you in this little Q&A.

Sarah Marshall - Owner of Gaia Florals

Sarah Marshall - Owner of Gaia Florals

What's the story on how Gaia Florals got started & what made you decide to start a floral business?

Honestly, it just kind of happened. Unplanned. I was a nurse before moving to Birmingham- I was not satisfied in this career. When we moved, I began staying home with our daughter (who was 1 at the time). I quickly realized that I needed something more than strictly being a mom/wife. I started playing with flowers at that point- it was something I could do as a hobby and still be able to focus on Tatum.

It all started with playing with design (arrangements/bouquets), and I quickly realized how much I loved this art form. I couldn't afford to continue to buy flowers for practice so I started growing my own. Long story short, I deeply loved starting plants from seed and began doing this heavily. I grew them in my yard in Crestline Park, so it wasn't a "farm" but it allowed me to routinely have flowers in my hands. I began reaching out to other growers and formed friendships with many of our local flower farmers. In 2019, Holly Carlisle hosted us in her studio once/week for a local flower "market". Through that time, I realized how much I wanted to just run with this... I knew I wanted to continue.

Owning my own shop was not part of the plan, but I am so thankful that it worked out. My current landlord, Ward Neely, reached out about us having a permanent space at The Battery downtown. As a collective, we planned on doing this, but when the collective approach didn't pan out I still stuck with it. With the support of almost all of the local growers, I took the plunge solo. It was horrifying and I wasn't prepared but it was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.

Where do you get your inspiration from for your arrangements?

Previously, I was heavily inspired by other designers. This is really how I learned. My first main floral crush was obviously Holly Carlisle. Being able to work around her in her space was unbelievably inspiring.

Of course, I still follow some real badasses on Instagram and love their work, but now it is all pretty much my own intuition — which has been a super cool evolution. I just love nature, the change of seasons, the hope and happiness that it brings and the language of flowers — they can say so much without saying anything. It is all so fascinating to me, and I am so thankful to be able to create beautiful floral art daily.

What are your favorite flowers to work with?

I mean, it truly changes week to week! It varies so much by season, so favorites are hard to pick for this reason. I've also realized how much it varies from day to day — I am drawn to different flowers/colors based on my mood, the weather, and many other things. I love the bright and cheery colors but also am ALWAYS a fan of moodier, richer, deeper, and darker blooms. I think some of the less recognized flowers that I am obsessed with are: fritillaria persica, dyed ranunculus (new to me this year and I just can't get enough!), poppies, hellebores (this might be one of my all-time favorites), and I freaking love a specialty carnation.

What is your dream project?

Oh wow. I mean... business-wise, my brain doesn't stop. I have a few business plans/goals that I am not disclosing yet, but in regards to a design project, I would love to create installations for hotels, restaurants, and bars. I love a vibey place and am a huge fan of large installs. I would love to use a blank space and totally deck it out! (If you have watched Full Bloom on HBO — I would absolutely love to do a floral room/immersion experience like on the season finale.) And also, I am obsessed with The Atomic Lounge in downtown Birmingham and would love to drench them in mid-century, wild designs. Any project that has specific requirements/vibes to work within excites me— I love making something with someone or somewhere in mind.

What is your delivery process like?

Our delivery process is simple. Since we are small and do not yet have a delivery vehicle/designated driver, deliveries are done by myself or my employee. We do not currently cover a very large area but hope we can expand as we grow.

If you’ve never visited Gaia Florals, we highly recommend it! It made our hearts happy just walking into such a beautiful, flower-filled place. Now we know where to get the floral arrangements of our dreams!

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Business Feature: Refined Birmingham

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We did a little Q&A with JoAnna Feldewerth to find out about her new business, Refined Birmingham. JoAnna was a Bustle Bride and she and her husband were married July 21, 2018 (to see their wedding feature click here). We are so excited to share her beautiful, creative work.

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How did you come up with the idea for Refined Birmingham?

The idea of Refined Birmingham started towards the end of last year. My goal was to have a small creative business that featured handmade art, home decor, accessories, stationery, apparel, and other crafts! I am someone who has a million creative ideas, so as soon as I get home from my full-time job, I spend time with my husband Andrew and our dog Remmy, and then start creating.


When did Refined Birmingham start and how did you choose the name?

I started making items for Refined Bham in November 2020, and officially launched my Etsy shop on January 1, 2021! Since then, I have sold out almost all of my terrazzo home decor pieces, I have launched mask chains, tea towels, phone cases, badge reels, napkin rings, makeup bags, and tees, and I have been working on at least 12 other items to launch over the six months - stay tuned for those! I can't wait to share them with everyone.

I chose the name "Refined" for two reasons... First, my hope and prayer is that the Lord continues to refine me as a wife, daughter, sister, friend, and business owner. He has taught me so much already, and I am confident that He will continue to shape me and use me for His good. The second reason is that, as mentioned, I have so many ideas constantly running through my head for new goods to make. I want to take all of my thoughts and ideas and "refine" them into a successful business.


You have a beautiful assortment of products! What are your favorite ones to make and which are the most popular with your customers right now?

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My most popular items right now are my handmade jesmonite trays and coasters. My material is shipped from a small shop in Singapore, so it can get pretty pricey, and takes a while to arrive! Jesmonite is a non-toxic, water-based, eco-friendly resin that is so fun and safe to work with. After measuring and hand mixing the jesmonite, I add my terrazzo pieces to create a terrazzo look, or my special pigments to create a marbled look. I then carefully pour the mixture into a mold and let it set. After roughly an hour, the pieces are ready to be sanded... this is hands-down the hardest part! I spend hours wet-sanding each piece by hand, running through sandpaper pretty quickly. Although they are the most challenging to make and most expensive products I make, the jesmonite items are my absolute favorites. I get so excited to see how the pieces turn out!

The mask chains are also fun to make! This past Christmas, before I officially launched my business, I wanted to do something special for my family. At that point, I had already made and sold a few mask chains (which are so cute and functional), and I wanted to make some for the women in my family! I took a few of my Nana's old necklace chains and, keeping the original clasps, created custom mask chains for each of them. It is so special to wear a piece of her so close to our hearts each day! While I do sell mostly my own creations, I love making unique custom orders.

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What does the future look like for Refined?

I am hopeful that the future of Refined Bham will be full of hard work, joy, and blessings. I am so grateful for the amount of support from family, friends, and even strangers as I step into this new chapter of my life! It means the world to me.

If you are looking for a unique and handcrafted gift to give, I would love for you to check out my shop on Etsy, follow me on social media (RefinedBham), and come say hi at future events. I am so thrilled to share my passion for creating, and work hard to have a little something for everyone - thank you for shopping small, and for shopping Refined!

Expert Tips for Your Dress Shopping Experience

You’ve just said “YES” to the man of your dreams, now it’s time to find the perfect gown. If you've ever seen "Say Yes To The Dress," you've seen some super stressed brides and gown shopping horrors. Here are a few quick tips to keep your day stress-free.

Real Bustle bride, Trina Cobb Ware. Photo courtesy of Jett Walker Photography.

1. Make an Appointment

Making an appointment with a wedding gown salon is just as important as scheduling an appointment with your doctor - you would never just pop-in on your dermatologist, right?

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Making an appointment allows the salon to prepare for you. They’ll be expecting you on the decided date and time and your consultant will be able to focus entirely on you. Without an appointment, there may not be anyone available to show you dresses - yikes! 

Okay, so you’ve made an appointment. Don’t get caught up in the moment and make 3 appointments for the same day. If you don’t find your dress at the first salon, then go ahead and make second appointment. Decision exhaustion is real - your brain can't handle looking at too many dresses in one day!

2. Know Your Budget

Knowing the dress budget before the first appointment will relieve so much stress. I PROMISE.

If you are paying for the gown, do some research and come up with a number both you and your fiancé are comfortable with.

If someone else is paying, have a conversation before your appointment. This may be uncomfortable initially, but totally worth it in the end. If you know the budget is $2,000, you won't need to wonder if you should try the $3,000 gown in the window!

Consider accessories and alterations. Go ahead and budget for accessories such as a veil or earrings. Most brides need some amount of alterations on their dress, even if it’s just a hem, so make sure your budget has some wiggle room!

3. Limit Your Entourage

It may be best to leave the big party for the wedding day and other bridal festivities. Too many opinions during your appointment can be overwhelming and confusing.

You’ll be the one wearing the gown when you say “I do,” so it’s important to bring only those whose opinions you trust and who encourage you to find the dress that makes you feel the most beautiful.

4. Have an Open Mind

So, you've probably been adding photos to your wedding dress Pinterest board for years. That's ok! In fact, it’s a great idea to do some research on different styles and fabrics to find what you like before your first appointment. However, it’s equally important that you go into each appointment with an open mind. It's not uncommon to fall in love with a dress that you never even imagined trying on!

5. Don't Be Afraid to Say, "Yes!"

Most likely you'll be able to find a dress you love at every bridal salon you waltz into. That being said, it’s okay to find "the one" at your very first appointment! Don’t overwhelm yourself by thinking you need to try on every gown in the city before you can decide. It’s actually pretty common for brides to purchase one of the first dresses they try on when working with an experienced bridal consultant.

So, when you find a gown you love, stop looking and say, "YES!"

Real Bustle bride, Emily Brooks Hamby. Photo courtesy of Sweet Julep Photography.

Bustle is a bridal salon nestled in Homewood, Alabama providing a high-end shopping experience to style-savvy brides on a budget. Bustle specializes in designer sample wedding gowns straight off the rack. Visit Bustle's website to learn more!

Bustle Bride: Rebecca Atkinson Strickland

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Rebecca Atkinson and Whit Strickland first met in September 2018 on a blind date set up by her aunt and his mom! Rebecca was a substitute teacher at the elementary school where Whit’s mom, Emily, worked as a librarian, and Rebecca’s aunt, Paula, often volunteered. Emily and Paula, who were good friends, decided to play matchmaker and set them up on a date when Whit moved home to Birmingham, AL. Turns out Whit was open to the idea and he called Rebecca to make plans for their first date!

Whit and Rebecca Strickland were married May 2nd, 2020 in Birmingham, AL. Because of COVID-19 they had to forgo their big wedding plans, and instead, had an intimate ceremony with their closest family. Rebecca said, “The only guests in attendance at our wedding were our parents, one of my maids of honor, and my aunt.” Despite the change of plans, Rebecca said their wedding day could not have been more wonderful. “As much as I would have loved to have all of our original guests there, it ended up being absolutely perfect. There was no stress, nothing felt rushed, and everything just went so smoothly. It truly just felt like the whole day was all about us and we were able to focus on what really mattered.”

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“As difficult as 2020 was at times, it will
always hold some of the sweetest and most
beautiful memories for us. ”
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One of Rebecca’s most cherished memories of the day came at the end of the ceremony. All of their original guests had been given a Zoom link so they could watch the wedding live and still be a part of the Stricklands’ special day. “After the ceremony was finished, our photographer (Jessa Torres) asked us to go to the front of the church so that we could take some pictures there. When we got out there we started to take pictures, and then we saw a line of cars coming towards the church. One of my bridesmaids had set up a surprise car parade for our guests to show their support and make us feel loved.” Since their bridesmaids and groomsmen weren’t able to attend the wedding in person, some of them decided to meet together in a nearby parking lot to watch the wedding together on their phones, then they joined the parade! The COVID-19 pandemic may have altered their wedding plans, but it was still a perfect day for the Stricklands.

Rebecca reflected, “I think sometimes people get caught up in all of the planning that goes into a wedding, and when the big day finally comes they aren’t able to fully enjoy it all because there is so much going on. I’m so thankful for the way that everything ended up playing out that day. As difficult as 2020 was at times, it also will always hold some of the sweetest and most beautiful memories for us.”

Congratulations, Whit and Rebecca Strickland! We wish you all the best in your marriage.

Photos by Jessa Torres

Florals by Michelle Wright

Expert Tips from Savor Style’s Courtney Wright

Recently we visited the home of Courtney Wright, owner of Savor Style, a Birmingham business that features custom grazing boards and styled spreads. She invited us into her lovely home to share tips about creating the perfect grazing board (popularly known as a charcuterie board) and about her journey to running her own thriving business.

The Savor Style Story

Courtney had previously worked in marketing, catering, and for two wedding coordinators (all jobs with skillsets that translated well into her new business). After having her triplets —Liam, Elin, and Lachlan — she decided to stay at home with them for a while. Even though she loved being home with her babies, Courtney was in search of a creative outlet, and after some encouragement from her friend Susan Gordon (Susan Gordon Pottery), she began her business, Savor Style. Charcuterie and grazing boards were becoming popular in Europe and other areas so Courtney decided to bring delicious styled spreads to sweet home Alabama.

This line of work really suited Courtney because she loves grocery shopping, and sourcing ingredients is one of her favorite activities. She especially loves working with Pepper Place vendors, Stonehollow Farms, and Susan Gordon Pottery (whose pottery pieces are often featured in her boards). Whether she is browsing the aisles at Trader Joe's to find the perfect items for an at-home board or working directly with local farms and vendors to find the best fresh ingredients, she is loving every minute of it! One of our favorite things that Courtney offers is curated gift boxes which feature her favorite products from local and small businesses. It includes a mini graze board and non-perishable items, so it can be shipped anywhere!

Courtney taught us so much about grazing boards during our visit. Did you know that “charcuterie board” actually refers to a board with only meats? That’s why Courtney calls her delicious delights grazing boards because they are filled with a variety of cheeses, meats, crackers, fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts, herbs and jam or honey. Wow what a spread! Courtney put together a delicious grazing board while we were chatting (head to our Instagram page if you’d like to see her process!), and we loved watching her transform a simple wooden board into an edible masterpiece.

Expert Tips to Build Your Own Board

We asked Courtney for some expert tips for creating our own grazing boards at home. She suggested that when setting up a grazing board, you should think about which flavors pair well together and put them near each other (example: salami and cheese instead of salami and chocolate). You should also prepare the board so that it’s easy for you and your guests to eat by slicing the cheeses, folding the salami, etc. Gravitate toward berries or dried fruit since fruits like apples and pears tend to go brown when sitting out. You can use beautiful small dishes for olives, honey or soft spreads, and they give some interest to the look of the board and give you something to build your other ingredients around.

Grazing boards are perfect for so many occasions including engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and even weddings. They really work well for small or large events. We highly recommend checking out @savor_style on Instagram for more amazing tips and beautiful inspiration. If you are planning your own get together and you really want to impress your guests with a styled spread, we highly recommend letting Courtney Wright work her magic for you!

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Birmingham Small Business Gift Guide

Shopping small is so important this time of year, especially in the midst of Covid-19. The Birmingham small business community is full of so many incredible makers and shop owners, and we are lucky to share our city with so many talented individuals! We wanted to make shopping small easy and convenient for you, so we’ve gathered together some of our favorite local artists and makers to shop from this holiday season!

P.S. We are partnering with many of the featured businesses below to bring you a HUGE giveaway, so be sure to visit our Instagram so you can win many of these gorgeous items for free!

Susan Gordon Pottery

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Susan’s incredible hand made pottery pieces and jewelry are timeless classics for any Birmingham household! Her hand painted ornaments would be the perfect gift for your loved ones or would be a great gift for yourself to snazz up your Christmas tree! Click here to visit the Susan Gordon website and start shopping!

Elam Estate Antiques

Antique shopping is a fun way to add unique details to your home and to make more sustainable purchases, but it can be hard work to find the hidden gems! Sarah from Elam Estate Antiques does all the hard work for you by curating the loveliest vintage and antique pieces in her Instagram shop. Instagram shopping is so fun and all you have to do is give her a follow and browse all the lovely pieces she has on hand. You can pick up from her locally or she can ship directly to you.

Sidewalk Film

Do you have a friend or family member who already seems to have it all? Experiences are the way to go for this challenging gift recipient! Sidewalk Film is Birmingham’s very own local theater and is so much fun to attend. Their concession stand is full of delicious and local snacks and drinks to add to the experience. They are being extremely diligent about Covid-19 safety, and are definitely much more safe than a big chain theater, so visit their website to purchase tickets or a gift card for your favorite film junkies!

Breakout Birmingham

One of the most unusual activities in Birmingham, this live action escape room experience is fun for puzzle and adventure lovers of all ages! You and your team will have an hour to solve the puzzles, riddles, and clues to accomplish your mission and escape from one of 8 different story lines like the Submarine Survival, Mystery Mansion, or Runaway Train. Breakout is offering 20% off all gift cards right now, and with exclusively private rooms, this is a great and Covid safe experience for you to give to your loved ones. Checkout their website to book a game or purchase a gift card!

Trove Design Shop

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Trove is a Birmingham, Alabama-based gift and home goods store that offers so many beautiful treasures that would be perfect gifts for anyone on your Christmas list! They have beautiful Holiday cards and gift tags that would be a perfect touch to your gift wrapping. We are also enamored with their stunning ceramic pieces and wall art. You can visit the Trove shop in person or order on their website for curbside pickup or shipping.

Ashley’s Famous Cookies

Cookies warm the heart and the soul, and Ashley pours so much love into every crumb! You will be the hero of the holidays when you show up with a box of her scrumptious baked goods. You can even ship a variety box of cookies to your loved ones if you are having to avoid holiday travel, so don’t wait too long to order! Click here to check out her website and browse all the flavors Ashley hand makes!

VAE Creative

This new Birmingham business was born in the midst of a Covid summer and the owner, Virginia, has a passion for creativity, love, and systemic change. She hand makes stunning resin jewelry and art that is as gorgeous as it is unique. You can purchase already made pieces from her Etsy shop or order a custom piece through her Instagram! We are really loving her citrus slice coasters and think they would be such a wonderful gift for someone with great style.

P.S. We think it would be lovely to send wedding florals to Virginia for a custom piece of jewelry designed with bits and pieces of your wedding embedded in her work!

Chocolata

Chocolata has a variety of beautiful chocolates and sweet treats to choose from. Their cocoa confections are as beautiful as they are sweet! We are huge fans of their decadent sipping chocolate that is SO much more luxurious than any hot chocolate you’ve ever had. It’s rich, warm, and oh so creamy! This would be the perfect treat for Christmas morning by the fire or a delicious stocking stuffer. You can visit their shop or purchase from their website directly!

Noha Nadler

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Growing up, Noha learned how important it is to celebrate culture and heritage through exploring her Egyptian roots. Now she incorporates the rich textures and colors that she saw on trips to Egypt into her stunning bag designs. She has lots of different designs and styles to choose from, and each one is so unique and beautiful! She also has some adorable leather hand sanitizer cases that would be the perfect stocking stuffer. We can’t get enough of Noha’s designs and are sure that her bags are going to be top on your Christmas list! Visit her website to shop and be sure to send a link to your hubby for a Christmas hint!

Club Duquette

With trendy clothes and good vibes, this Birmingham based shop has something for everyone. The artist and musician team of owners are full of creativity, and that is reflected in the clothing, accessories, and home goods that are hand selected and created for Club Duquette. They even have a signature scent! To shop Club Duquette, visit their website where you can even book a private shopping appointment in store!